Chapter 203

-Clunk, clunk.

The footsteps of countless residents head towards the central hall.

After meeting with Carsein, they encounter a small group including the village chief Brem, who they were waiting for here.

“Did the young master say anything?”

Brem, as if probing for results, gently begins, but Marf steps forward and directly refutes his claim.

“Hmph! As usual, he just spouted nonsense!”

“You.”

“What did he say? The p… p? What was it again?”

“pH.”

“Yeah! While showing data scrolls about how soil properties differ, we can’t just believe that blindly!”

Following Marf, other companions join in.

“Just like Marf said. We could have been tricked, couldn’t we?”

“Yeah! They might have manipulated the data on the scrolls to match their production volume!”

“He’s always been a liar anyway. He said our territory was in danger, but it wasn’t even close to being dangerous. It was just a slight decrease in production.”

“That’s true. The real danger started after Carsein took over.”

Brem sighed deeply.

Shatren was now divided into two camps. Some were open to hearing Carsein out, while the majority remained skeptical. Despite trying to persuade some residents, it was futile.

The discontent mostly came from the older generation who refused to accept the changes.

“We’ve been growing strawberries and grapes without fail every day, even though we’re younger than the village chief. We have experience. We can’t be wrong!”

Even though Carsein showed direct evidence proving the difference in soil properties, most Shatren residents still didn’t believe him.

During this brief dispute:

-Puuuuh.

The sound of a hornpipe brightens the residents’ faces.

***

“Oh…!”

“It’s from Rusmaier!”

This hornpipe signal meant supplies were arriving from Rusmaier.

Residents, even during crop cultivation, gathered to welcome the Rusmaier residents.

Recently, Shatren had been in deep contemplation.

Necessities kept increasing, yet the territory was becoming more closed off.

They needed to grow more Shatren strawberries and grapes to cover the deficit, but they hadn’t even managed to clear their debts.

But then came a great piece of news in the form of help.

However, the Rusmaier side sensed something amiss.

“Those farming tools were already broken?”

“Didn’t you know? We spend more on farming tools compared to other territories with larger farmlands.”

“It happens often when growing Shatren strawberries and grapes.”

But…

“This doesn’t feel like damage from farming at all.”

Agriculture was the main industry in Shatren. Given their reliance on farming, it was strange for tools to need such frequent replacement.

Rusmaier also had small-scale agriculture experience to survive. This made them think…

“Isn’t it more likely that they fought with monsters?”

The youth representatives from Rusmaier, including Kian, raised their hands and asked:

“Excuse me, sir. Can I ask a question?”

“Hmm? What is it?”

“Have there been any reports of monsters appearing in Shatren?”

Laughing, Shatren replied:

“There hasn’t been any such report.”

“How could monsters appear in Shatren?”

“They might appear from neighboring territories, but not here.”

“There are bandits sometimes, though.”

“Really?”

While grateful for the concern, Shatren residents denied that monsters had appeared.

“…Strange.”

Kian, still puzzled, stepped forward.

As supplies continued, the atmosphere was warm.

The strong ties between Shatren and Rusmaier grew deeper each time they helped each other.

With problems resolved, they began criticizing Carsein again.

“Pfft. Instead of opening up, he issued a closure order.”

“He even ordered the guards similarly.”

“When will we ever balance the budget!”

“If not for Rusmaier…”

Their complaints seemed like criticism of the lord.

When Rusmaier heard these complaints, they felt uneasy.

But they had to endure.

-“Do not provoke conflict against Lord Carsein simply because of personal grudges.”

Tasha, following Carsein’s orders, was managing Rusmaier.

Her instruction was to endure these criticisms.

Not only that, she once shared their distrust and misunderstanding of nobles.

She thought once the misunderstandings were cleared, hearts would open.

“But isn’t it odd? How could the lord issue a closure order when the territory needs to be open?”

“He even ordered the guards similarly!”

“He’s taking land, blocking exchanges, and changing farming methods arbitrarily. This is outrageous!”

The more they heard, the less they could tolerate.

It was too much.

Someone might explode in anger.

“That’s too harsh!”

Grinding his teeth, Kian raised his voice.

“How can you say such absurd things about taking land or breaking things?!”

“Young one, you don’t understand.”

“That villain ruined our territory!”

“Nothing stops him from doing it again.”

Despite holding back…

“Earlier, you said you couldn’t get ingredients due to losing 1/3 of your land.”

“Uh, yeah.”

“Then you don’t understand, do you?”

“Why give us the crops if you could take the land completely?!”

The hardliners, including Marf, started wavering.

“They might have given us the crops. You were so focused on strawberries and grapes that you threw away food!”

“That’s ridiculous!”

“Then why did he take only 1/3 of the land?”

“Because of the engraving stones.”

“If he truly wanted to ruin everything, he’d take it all. Why miss this obvious point?!”

“What’s with that statement?!”

Just before the fight escalated…

Who could have guessed? Rusmaier and Shatren, once friendly, seemed ready to clash.

A few elders tried to intervene, but to no avail.

“Say something! What’s wrong with the theory about acidic soil?”

“The theory itself could be wrong!”

“Even if soil properties were proven different? Are you stupid?”

“Wait a moment…”

Powerful residents started grabbing each other.

-Ding!

-Conditions met. Trigger activated.

-Rusmaier residents realized the reality of Shatren!

-Barak, Kian, and others’ affinity with Rusmaier has changed!

[Rusmaier’s Anger]

[Current level: 60%]

After holding back, they couldn’t ignore the insults towards their savior, Carsein.

“This could turn into a real fight!”

“No! It could hurt the young master!”

Fortunately, a few residents from both sides quickly called for guards.

“Stop right there!”

With the help of guards like Daike, the situation calmed down.

***

On the way back after supplies were distributed, Kian was lost in thought.

‘That was definitely strange.’

Before Shatren residents denied monster appearances, Kian saw a moment of confusion in their eyes.

It wasn’t just one person.

Such a reaction suggested ulterior motives.

This speculation spread.

“I have to ask.”

When he was about to share his thoughts with adults:

“Hey, little one. Wait a moment.”

“Eek!”

“Sorry, I startled you.”

Dike offered his hand to the fallen Kian.

Feeling awkward, Kian grabbed Dike’s hand and stood up.

“I’m Dike, Shatren’s guard.”

“Ah, I saw you earlier.”

“Thanks for helping. We almost got into a big fight without you.”

The villagers extended their hands.

Dike smiled and greeted them simply.

“Even though we were a bit aggressive, they admitted their mistake…”

Territory residents followed the lord.

Since they were residents of Carsein’s territory, they were good people.

Thus, Dike could speak freely.

“As you said, Shatren’s situation is strange.”

Despite being a Shatren guard, he supported Rusmaier’s claims.

Carsein had reasons for his actions, and he governed excellently, as evidenced by sharing Shatren strawberries and grapes.

“So, do you know anything about Shatren’s internal situation?”

“Hmm?”

“What do you mean?”

“As a guard, I don’t know much about internal affairs. Strangely, while external patrols were allowed, internal ones were strongly avoided.”

“Avoiding patrols?”

“That’s definitely strange.”

“Since Rusmaier maintains good relations with Shatren, we wondered if you knew something. Is that right?”

Nodding, Dike agreed.

“We enter the territory during supply runs. Did you notice anything unusual?”

“Hmm… Not really.”

“We don’t know much either.”

“…”

At that moment,

Kian raised his hand.

“There’s something suspicious.”

“Hmm?”

The damaged and corroded farming tools were highly questionable.

Moreover, the delayed response to the monster appearance theory.

Considering this,

“Could the garbage bins be collected by guards?”

Assuming Shatren hid something,

Evidence might remain inside.

-Ding!

-Evidence obtained!