CHAPTER 152: The situation is a bit uncomfortable, isn’t it? (1)

Everyone silently gazed at the wheat fields for a while.

They had already seen the sprouts growing before Ghislain left for the capital.

But now, looking at the vast fields filled to the brim, they realized just how extraordinary Ghislain's accomplishment was.

Moreover, despite it not being harvest season, the golden fields shone brightly. The growth rate was remarkable, far exceeding that of conventional wheat.

Ghislain inspected the condition of the wheat carefully and nodded.

"It looks like it can be harvested soon."

Though a few stalks were still slightly green and not fully ripened, most were at a stage where they could be harvested immediately without issue.

Lowell replied with a smile.

"Yes, we should be able to start the first harvest soon. Preparations have already been made."

"Good, make sure to distribute it generously among the villagers. There's a lot of work to be done, so they'll need to eat well."

"With this yield, there will be plenty left over even after sharing with the villagers. We won't have to worry about food until next year. Plus, we'll be able to harvest again in a few months, so we're set for several years."

Lowell's confident words made Ghislain chuckle.

"Don't think about stockpiling. Focus only on feeding them well. We'll need to expand the farmland several times over."

"What? Why?"

"You'll find out once we're back at the castle," Ghislain said, changing the subject, and turned to Claude.

"Claude, gather the vassals immediately. We need to go over the overall situation, address any shortcomings, and discuss the next steps."

"Understood."

Although Lowell had taken on the role of acting head butler, there were bound to be areas where things were lacking. After all, he didn't command the same authority as the lord or head butler.

On the way back to the castle, Claude sidled up to Lowell and whispered.

"Hey, bro. Did you stash what we talked about?"

During Ghislain and Claude's absence, Lowell had also handled dealings with the merchant guilds.

Claude had suggested that Lowell try to skim a little for himself while negotiating prices—just a small stash for personal use.

But Lowell looked uncomfortable and replied awkwardly.

"How could I do something so dishonest?"

"What? You used to be a total scoundrel! You squeezed this estate dry in the past, so why the sudden moral high ground? Feeling like living a righteous life now?"

"I told you, I don't do that stuff anymore. Back then, I only did it because the previous lord ordered me to."

"Wow, I guess I'm the bad guy here. I'm the villain! I didn't realize pocketing a little after 20 years of unpaid work was such a crime!"

"…"

Lowell chose to ignore him. Arguing with Claude only ever ended badly.

Claude sighed heavily and spoke in a calmer tone.

"Well, fine… You've worked hard and done a lot, so I suppose you deserve a reward."

Lowell, who had been resisting engaging, perked up at the word "reward" and turned to look.

"What kind of reward?"

Claude grinned mischievously and raised his fist.

"A deadly reward."

Smack!

"Ow! Why did you hit me?"

Lowell yelped and instinctively raised a defensive stance, only to accidentally elbow Claude in the chin.

"Ugh! You hit me? This is mutiny!"

"Ah, I'm sorry! Can we call it even since I gave you a reward back?"

"Like hell we can! Get over here, you're dead."

The two flailed their arms at each other, resembling puppets caught in a gust of wind. Watching the scuffle, Belinda gave them a look of disdain.

"Seriously, neither of you can fight, so what's the point of all this?"

Hearing their bickering from behind, Ghislain couldn't help but laugh.

This lively, relaxed atmosphere was something he could only feel here, in his own domain.

***

Once all the vassals had gathered, they reported on the progress of their respective duties to the returning lord.

Lowell, the acting head butler, spoke first.

"The wheat has grown, so there will be no issues with food supply moving forward. The expected yield is so substantial that we're planning to gradually reduce the amount of grain we purchase from the merchant guilds."

As Lowell finished his report, a sense of pride spread across the faces of the vassals.

This was an estate that had once struggled to feed even its small population.

But now, the impoverished estate had secured enough food to rival others in the region.

Bellinda tilted her head curiously and asked.

"So, how much are we talking about?"

"Even just this harvest will yield as much as several northern estates combined."

"Oh, come on. Most northern estates are poor. They barely have any farmland and rely on importing food. Adding up their yields isn't saying much."

Belinda's comment wasn't wrong. Aside from Fenris, most northern estates were in similarly poor conditions, with Rayfold being a notable exception.

Northern estates survived more on the resources of their mountains, forests, and rivers than on farming.

Lowell nodded in agreement and elaborated to make it clearer.

"With a little more farmland, we could rival the great estate of Rayfold. While our total yield is still slightly lacking, in terms of population sustainability per unit area, we might already be the best in the kingdom."

"Wow…"

Belinda's eyes widened in admiration.

Rayfold, ruled by Amelia's father, boasted the largest plains in the north.

Its vast food production was what allowed it to become a great estate.

And yet, Fenris, with only a tenth of Rayfold's population, was producing a comparable yield!

Although the total production was still smaller, that was only because Fenris's territory was smaller—a limitation of size, not efficiency.

Belinda finally relaxed and let out a deep breath.

'Ah, the young master has done something truly remarkable. How did he even think of this?'

She had spent much of her time fretting over Ghislain's seemingly reckless ventures.

While they had all succeeded, none of them were normal by any standard.

But now, with the food problem solved and steady income from cosmetics, there was no reason for him to stir up more chaos. Her worries were over.

'Fenris just needs to keep developing like this. And if he inherits Perdium, our young master could even become a great lord. Ah, if only our late lady could see this… How proud she would be to know I raised him so well!'

Not only Belinda, but the other vassals also began to let down their guard.

Although the estate's businesses weren't fully established yet and required management, it seemed likely that they'd be able to live without major concerns soon.

But their relief was short-lived when Ghislain's next words threw them into confusion.

"What do you mean, reduce food imports? Didn't I tell you to keep buying until I said to stop?"

Ghislain frowned, as if baffled by the very idea.

Lowell, startled, tried to explain.

"Huh? But we already have more than enough. With what we received as support, there's no way we'll run short. After this harvest, we'll even have a huge surplus."

"No, it's not enough for me. Keep buying. Don't stop until I say so."

"Ah… Understood."

Faced with the firm order, Lowell nodded reluctantly, though clearly perplexed.

He couldn't understand why Ghislain was stockpiling food so aggressively, but having extra wasn't necessarily a bad thing. He decided to let it slide for now.

If it gets excessive to the point of rotting, I'll step in and say something then.

The other vassals exchanged similar glances, sharing the sentiment.

Ghislain, meanwhile, nonchalantly moved on to the next topic.

"How's the progress on the new residential areas?"

Lowell glanced briefly at Alpoi and the mages before responding.

"It's slightly behind schedule, but it should be completed within a month. We've prioritized finishing the roads and waterways connecting to the existing villages."

"Any incidents?"

"None so far. The mercenaries are patrolling in shifts, so security has been maintained."

The population wasn't large, and most residents were careful not to stir trouble, wary of returning to their previous hardships.

Troublemakers were often dealt with by their own neighbors before anything escalated. It was nearly impossible to cause significant issues.

"Any other concerns?"

"Well… Raising the living standards of the residents is still a challenge. For now, we're negotiating with the merchant guilds to purchase essential goods. We're also planning to gradually expand facilities like hospitals and libraries by recruiting specialized personnel."

Providing food and housing was just the beginning. Improving quality of life required additional goods and services.

Lowell smiled confidently as he added, "With the supplies you've brought back, there shouldn't be any major issues for a while. These things simply take time."

As the general report on the estate concluded, the other vassals began eagerly detailing the progress of their own responsibilities.

"Maintaining the pastures took a bit of Rune Stone usage, but there were no major issues. We'll soon be able to start breeding horses."

"The workshops, granaries, and bakeries are nearly complete."

"As you instructed, we've built government offices in each village to handle administrative matters."

The vassals chattered excitedly.

The estate, once considered beyond saving, was gradually coming back to life.

Though it had only just begun to resemble other functioning estates, the vassals were already elated.

After hearing all the reports, Ghislain merely nodded a few times, as if it was only natural.

"Alright, it seems like the bare minimum has been established."

While others viewed the changes as miraculous, Ghislain remained far from satisfied.

Although they tried to paint a rosy picture, the reality was that only the city around the lord's castle and a few nearby villages had been improved.

Even the infrastructure they'd built was bare-bones, providing only the essentials for survival.

'It's not enough. Not even close. At this rate, it won't last.'

From an objective standpoint, Fenris was still a small, poor, and humble estate.

Its only standout feature was its magic enhancement of food production.

Others might be content comparing it to its past, but Ghislain knew better.

From now on, everyone would need to work together toward the goals he set.

"You've all worked hard. Before we discuss the future plans, let me share the results of my visit to the capital."

Everyone was already aware of the wealth Ghislain had brought back.

They looked at him with eyes full of hope, expecting rewards for their hard work.

"…The Marquis Branford has agreed to become our guardian. Both my father and I are now members of the Royalist faction. Keep that in mind."

"Ooooh!"

The unexpected good news drew exclamations of amazement from the vassals.

The Marquis Branford was a noble so powerful that even in this remote region, his name was well-known.

With him as the estate's guardian, no one in the north would dare to touch Fenris.

For the vassals, who had been increasingly worried about neighboring estates like Perdium attacking as Fenris developed, it was a relief.

"…Furthermore, Young Lady Branford has invested 300,000 gold in the cosmetics business. The products are already gaining popularity in the capital and will soon spread throughout the kingdom."

"Ooooh!"

But Ghislain wasn't done yet.

"Additionally, a large number of people will be relocating to Fenris. These are individuals the Royalist faction is sending to support our estate."

"Ooooh!"

The vassals were ecstatic at the continued good news.

As the foundation of any territory's wealth and military strength, people were the most critical resource.

Yet, increasing population was one of the hardest challenges, as it couldn't be done quickly.

'To think we're receiving such a vital resource in large numbers!'

One vassal asked excitedly.

"How many immigrants are we expecting?"

"At least 50,000."

"Hahaha, that would be wonderful."

The vassals laughed, thinking Ghislain was joking. Such a number was far too large to be taken seriously.

But neither Ghislain, Claude, nor Belinda showed any signs of humor. Their expressions were calm, almost grim.

One vassal, sensing something amiss, began to sweat nervously and asked.

"Are… Are you serious? 50,000 people? That's impossible."

"What's impossible?"

"Our estate can't support such a large population. We don't have enough housing, and food will run short."

Ghislain nodded as if agreeing and replied matter-of-factly.

"You're right. So now you know what we need to do."

The vassals turned to Claude, silently pleading for him to intervene.

Feeling their stares, Claude cleared his throat and stepped forward.

"You're all quite shocked, I see. I understand how you feel. But it's already decided. There's nothing I can do to stop it."

His indifferent tone made the vassals think the same thing.

'Why is this so-called head butler so nonchalant?'

Ignoring their glares, Claude shrugged and continued.

"Nothing will change. The scale is just… much larger. We'll keep building houses, expanding farmland, and improving welfare facilities. What else is there? Right?"

Claude glanced at Ghislain for confirmation.

Ghislain nodded.

"Of course, that's all necessary. But there's something else we need to do."

"What's that? Is there more?"

"Yes. We need to prepare for war."

The vassals' expressions turned strange.

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