Chapter 134 - Episode 8: Southern Flatlands
For the second week, I'm in charge of the southern mountains of the Flatlands.
Apparently, boars and foxes appear here too.
Neither of them attacks sheep or eats clover, so I'm relieved on that point. Foxes make me somewhat uneasy, but it should be fine if we have wolf urine.
There are three things I want to confirm here.
"Paul-san. If a highway were to pass through to the south, around where would it be?"
First is the highway leading south. If we're too far from it, transporting the goods produced on the land we bought will be difficult. If possible, being near the flow of people is better.
Since the place where we buy land will also be the location for the Marcelo Company's office, I can consult Paul-san without hesitation.
"The further west you go, the lower the mountains get, so it probably won't be that far from the centipede's hole. After that, wouldn't they pass through where the space between mountains is wide?"
Certainly, it's better to pass through a valley than to pointlessly shave down a mountain.
"Then we'll know in one shot from the sky."
"Umu. Once we've scattered the boar bait, let's go explore the terrain for a while."
"Please. Also, I have two more things."
"What are they?"
One is the location where medicinal herbs grow. If medicinal herbs grow near the land we buy, it gives Mary a reason to come to the Flatlands once a week. The pioneers shouldn't just be middle-aged men. We have to make full use of Mary's ability to attract customers.
I asked Paul-san, and we decided to actually go around and look.
"What's the other one?"
"Lyudmila mentioned it, but how about raising pigs?"
"Pigs? Pigs don't eat things like clover, do they?"
"That's true, but apparently they eat acorns."
"Acorns?"
"Yes. She said it's good to graze them in the forest and let them eat acorns."
Raising a sow is difficult, so we'd buy piglets and graze them. They supposedly grow large in about six months, so if we buy them in summer, we should be able to sell them by winter. While they are piglets, we'll have them eat bulbs and roots of forest grass and give them oats; then, when autumn comes, we'll release them into the forest to eat acorns. The oats for the piglets can be covered by the agricultural experimental station or the third field.
"Do they raise pigs at the orphanage too?"
"No. They didn't raise them at the orphanage, but Lyudmila said she learned it at the place where she went to help out."
"Hmm," he said, crossing his arms.
Grazing livestock in the forest is generally prohibited, but apparently, pigs are the only exception. This is because they eat acorns instead of tree buds.
"However, while there don't seem to be bears or wolves, there are foxes, right? Setting aside the big ones, won't the piglets be attacked in the forest?"
"Yes. Since we have to keep watch, I don't think we can raise many. Maybe two or three to start with."
"In other words, a place with many trees that bear acorns would be good."
"That's right."
"In that case, why not make it the western edge? That way, there are forests in two directions. It's also away from the rocks where niter is found, so the soil quality should be better. The mountains around here have many trees that bear acorns. Anywhere would be fine, but it's better if it's close to the land you bought. That way, it's easier to gather medicinal herbs too."
I see. That makes sense.
"But if we make it the western edge, isn't it a bit far from the centipede's hole?"
"Nonsense. It's only about an hour's walk. Being surrounded by forest, the soil might be a bit richer. Let's go and see for ourselves."
We set the bait we prepared in a place with few trees and immediately headed for the western edge.
From the sky, the terrain is generally clear. The mountains are highest in the east of the Flatlands and gradually get lower toward the west.
The area around the centipede's hole is the lowest, and from there it gradually gets higher again, eventually hitting the western mountains of the Flatlands.
"This area seems to be where the valley is widest."
It's a bit to the west of the centipede's hole.
I can't say it's straight, but several valleys that wouldn't be strange to have rivers in are stretching south. It's just about midway to the western edge.
"How about the acorns?"
I turned my eyes to the forest extending from the mountains.
"From the look of it, it's the same everywhere. It seems it was originally a beech forest. Quite a few seem to be planted."
"Humans eat acorns too, right?"
We ate them sometimes at the orphanage. Not as a staple food, but more like a snack.
"Yeah. But apparently, people don't eat them much lately compared to the old days."
"Why?"
"They've become extravagant. When my grandfather was a child, children used to gather them often and even eat the bugs inside."
At the orphanage, we were taught not to eat the ones that float when soaked in water. That's because bugs have eaten them.
"They're sweet, so I like them, though."
"You girls are making bread at your place, aren't you? Why not mix in acorns? Apparently, there used to be things like that in the past."
Acorn bread, huh. Angelica-san was making bread with raisins, chestnuts, and walnuts.
"Shall we try making it once next time?"
"I've made it with my mother before!"
As expected of a child of the forest.
"Bonnie, can you make it?"
"I can, but it takes quite a bit of effort."
"How do you do it?"
"You have to roast them, then remove the shells and turn them into powder. It makes your hands hurt and it's hard work. So, small cookies might be better than bread."
"That sounds great!"
Beatrix bit at the idea.
"Let's make acorn cookies when autumn comes. Like chestnuts, they're sweet on their own, so I think they'll sell."
If it's cookies, we can vary the price. Gathering acorns doesn't cost money. If it's just time and effort, we can probably manage.
"You girls really work hard at various things."
Even Paul-san praised us.
"Can you tell the difference? Even with acorns, the ones with bitterness have to be leached. If it's the beech that's common around here, it should be fine."
"I was taught at the orphanage."
"As expected of Bishop Catherine. No, was it Jennifer-sensei?"
"It was Amy-sensei. After all, she's a former hunter."
"The Headmistress would probably eat them without caring about the bitterness."
"She might not even peel the shells."
Hey now, is she the same as a pig? She'll scold you.
We decided to actually descend and check the state of the forest.
Fortunately, there seem to be many acorn trees. Old nuts are also fallen on the ground.
"Wouldn't this area be good? The acorn trees are growing in a cluster."
"There seem to be squirrels and field mice too!"
Being a hunter, Bonnie can distinguish the footprints of small animals.
"It's good there are no bears. If there were, they'd have eaten a massive amount of acorns. Those guys shake the trees to drop the acorns and eat them; they'd wipe out several trees entirely."
"Do boars eat them too?"
"Umu. That's why you have to work hard at hunting them."
I hadn't considered that we'd have to hunt monsters to protect the pig feed. You really don't know these things until you actually try to do them.
From now on, things I never even thought of might come up one after another.
"Bonnie, what other animals do you think are here?"
A test had begun. According to Paul-san, if you look at the forest, you can tell what kind of animals are numerous.
"Since there's little undergrowth, there might be many boars. But since the tree bark and buds haven't been eaten, maybe there are few deer. Since there are few fallen acorns, there are probably many squirrels and field mice. Therefore, there might be many foxes too. Since there are many birds, there might be few snakes."
"Umu. You understood well."
"Ehehe."
It seemed she was correct.
"If there's little undergrowth, it'll be easier for the pigs to find acorns. On the other hand, since there are few thickets, the types of medicinal herbs will be limited."
"Then this place is more suited for pig grazing than medicinal herb gathering, right?"
"In exchange, there are many rivals, so besides monster hunting, you'll have to hunt squirrels and birds too."
So pig grazing doubles as hunting.
However...
"While it's better to have little undergrowth, animals that eat undergrowth also eat acorns, don't they?"
"Hoho. You noticed."
"Then what should we do? Since it's state-owned land, we can't build fences or anything, right?"
"Leave it alone until the end of summer, and when autumn comes, it's a hunting festival. As you know, boars taste good. It's just right if you can hunt them to the extent that they don't turn into monsters."
It seemed better to do boar hunting every week to protect the acorns.
"Next are the medicinal herbs. It's better to have thickets for medicinal herbs."
"Flora says there are more in the valleys of the southern mountains."
"Then let's go see."
We immediately rode the bowl to the south. The forest extending from the foot of the mountains wasn't that wide, so we reached the mountains in no time. Even walking through the forest wouldn't take that much time.
"Hmm. Indeed, there are more in the mountain shadows."
Since it's the north side of the mountains, the slopes that form the boundary with the forest are all in the shade.
"You said you'd buy three fields. Wouldn't it be good to buy three in a row along the forest extending from the southern mountains? Or maybe two, and one on the west side lined up vertically. You could put the company office and well in the northeast corner. Since damage occurs if boars or foxes appear, ordinary farmers won't suddenly develop land close to the mountains. Since there are no competitors, it's just right."
Beatrix and Bonnie were nodding too. If we buy wasteland along the forest and then the forest gets developed, it would be disastrous. If there's no worry of that, it's perfect. The primary candidate site has come together.
When we returned to the place where we scattered the bait, there were eight boars.
Since Matilda isn't here today, there's no final battle.
"We'll aim from above."
Bonnie took down one with a Holy Water arrow, and Beatrix and I took down one together, successfully bagging two.
The remaining six ran away, but that's for next time.
"Not many hunters have entered here until now. It's a shame there are no bears, but there seem to be many boars. Since the monsters around Nakanohara are gone, let's earn with boars."
"Why are there no bears? The mountains are quite wide, so it wouldn't be strange if there were bears, right?"
"The bears are in the northern mountains. Beyond that is the territory of monsters."
"In other words, there are no strong monsters where there are bears?"
"That's right. That snake was an exception. You see that mountain range covered in perennial snow? That area is probably a nest of truly strong monsters. From there, as you get closer to human settlements, the monsters should gradually get weaker."
Does that mean... beyond the Northern Pass, it won't just be Orcs?
"No, it seems there aren't any particularly strong ones in the north of these Flatlands. The problem is from the north of Nakanohara to the Western Plains... you know, where we went the other day? Apparently, it's around there."
The area across the mountain stream, so to speak. That's why Morgan-san is keeping watch.
"Prince Roberts is working hard in the Northeastern Forest. What about the north of Nakanohara?"
"I don't know. It's been untouched until now. Further north of the mountain range covered in perennial snow is the Royal Capital region, but there's a forest where the Demon Lord lives just north of where those strong monsters are. Some say there's a connection with the Demon Lord. His Majesty the King and Prince Roberts might be thinking of something."
It's a domain that even the Seven Heroes led by Henry-sama couldn't touch.
The Northeastern Forest, the north of Nakanohara... I wonder what on earth is there.
Once we returned to the centipede's hole, Beowulf and Will were calling us.
Wondering what it was, I went over, and they were holding several white stones.
"Niter?"
"Yes. It was mined for the survey. I got a little bit."
"I was thinking we could process this into accessories and sell them in the shop. What do you think, Bonnie?"
When I looked at Bonnie, she was tilting her head.
"Matilda might be better at it."
Bonnie's creations combine tree branches and bark; she doesn't usually use tools for processing hard materials. In that regard, Matilda handles chisels and punches.
That Matilda was apparently diving into the hole as a member of the workshop.
"She said they're going to set gunpowder. They should be coming out soon."
As I watched, the three from the workshop came flying out of the hole.
They went to where several shields were lined up and hid behind them.
Looking at her running figure, is it my imagination that Matilda seems to have the best physique?
A muffled sound could be heard.
It seems it went well.
After a while, smoke came out of the hole.
The three who went inside brought back several rock fragments and showed them to the priest who was the surveyor.
I went over to see for my own education, and they showed me.
"Priest Jeanne. This white band-like part of the rock. This is niter. We crush this into powder to use as a material for glass."
"Which means this part has to be extracted."
"That's how it works. In the mining process, craftsmen break it apart with hammers to extract it. If the purity is high, it can be mined as crystal, quartz, or in some cases, amethyst."
Jewels. If they can be harvested, it truly becomes a mountain of treasure.
"However, unfortunately, this rocky mountain doesn't seem to contain such minerals. I can't say for sure until I investigate further, but it's only to the extent of being a material for glass when crushed, as we first discussed."
As expected, a mountain of treasure isn't found that easily.
"The vein isn't very large either, but since this entire rocky mountain seems to be a mineral deposit, it might be promising for glass processing."
Apparently, the mage specializing in digging checked various spots, including the top of the rocky mountain, by digging holes.
As for mining niter, they mine it as if shaving the rocky mountain, and it's over when it's gone. Even if it's small, one rocky mountain will disappear. It should last for a while.
"Is it possible to have the niter that comes out during the mining process sold to us cheaply?"
"There's no problem as long as you pay an appropriate amount, but what are you going to do with it?"
He was tilting his head. That's natural. Normally, people don't buy stones.
"Even if they're small, I'm thinking of processing the beautiful parts into accessories."
"If it's just that much, I think using the waste stones produced during the mining process would suffice."
"Waste stones?"
Apparently, they are generated in large quantities during the process of breaking the rock to get the niter. It refers to the parts that don't contain niter; very small bits of niter are stuck to them here and there, but since it's just a hassle to take the small ones, they are thrown away. Mountains of such waste stones are formed at various mines, and they are supposedly troubled by the disposal.
"No one will complain if you take such waste stones. Oh yes, farmers also pile them up and fix them with mortar to use instead of stone walls, so they can be used effectively like that too."
I was taught something good. In the future, I might be able to protect the sheep and pigs with waste stone walls.
When I thanked him, he encouraged me, saying, "Do your best."
Apparently, a church won't be built in the development area until the development has settled down and it's stable as a settlement. In other words, until then, specially dispatched priests or stray priests like me who participate in the development will take on prayers for ceremonial occasions. Of course, since I'm a stray, I won't be participating in such events in cooperation with church priests. However, the burden on the dispatched priests differs depending on whether there is even one priest present. Especially regarding funerals, it's not something that can be refused without reason. Because the souls of the dead would wander.
The fact that I, a priest, am grazing here has a great meaning for the Church.