Chapter 212

Far away, when looking at the Shatren Territory, it was just an ordinary land based on agriculture.

The fields managed well with farming tools. A river that lets you see through the ground transparently. An environment suitable for crops to grow with sufficient humidity.

No need to say more, this land was very fertile and good.

However, upon entering the territory, Talpon had to immediately discard that thought.

The smell of soil can always be detected from the land.

The unique smell of soil, imbued with the scent of nature, will naturally have its own distinct aroma no matter where or when.

Depending on how it’s managed and what kind of soil it consists of and what grows there, the smell of soil may differ, but the smell of nature cannot be hidden.

But it wasn’t like that here.

In this land, the natural scent of soil, the fragrant earthy smell, was completely gone.

Instead of the natural earthy smell, a strange foul odor replaced it.

As soon as I stepped into this land, I smelled something dirty.

“This smell…! This shouldn’t come from such a place!”

Land can have different smells, but this isn’t something you’d call a smell.

It’s a foul odor.

Not only Talpon, but everyone in the Rilfetten Tribe felt it as a familiar foul odor.

The reason is… simple.

West.

Land eroded by magic.

The foul odor he had been smelling intensely while eliminating monsters there was exactly that.

So, such a smell shouldn’t come from a normal farmland unless it’s eroded like the land in the west.

“Here!”

Talpon searched for the place with the strongest stench in the territory.

When he finally found the field where the smoke was presumed to originate, he practically jumped off his horse rather than dismounting properly.

“Huh. Huh. Calm down!”

“Let’s get this handled!”

“What the hell!”

There were residents of Shatren holding farming tools gathered in this field.

And at the center of them… mysterious smoke was rising.

The smoke was slowly rising, and its foul odor was stimulating Talpon’s nose. It had to be the source.

“You stupid idiots. Are you sane?”

He approached the residents and roared like an animal.

At the sound of Talpon’s voice, the residents jumped in surprise and turned their heads.

“Ah, you startled me. Who’s there?”

“Where did those guys who were watching go?”

“But… that person looks a bit different.”

“My god… they’re barbarians from the west!”

Realizing they were from the west, they were shocked and pushed their farming tools towards Talpon.

“Get out of here!”

“How dare a barbarian…”

“How dare you step foot here! You savages!”

“That mad lord must have planned to ruin our land. Now he’s even bringing in savages!”

To those who had defeated countless monsters, the threat from these weak residents wouldn’t work.

“Oof!”

“Ugh?!”

A middle-aged man holding a farming tool threateningly was lifted up by Talpon in one swift motion. Even though Talpon didn’t use much force, he crumbled like a rag doll.

During this, Talpon saw the scene of smoke billowing up and gritted his teeth.

‘The smell coming from that sack is the same as the one I saw at the entrance of the territory. That’s it…!’

These fools were blaming others while destroying their own land with their own hands.

Unable to bear it anymore, Talpon grabbed the man and shoved him back.

“Ugh?!”

Even though Mafr, the squad leader known for his strength within the territory, was pushed away like a little kid.

“You fools, dig out all the land that has this stuff in it! Stupid fools!”

Caught helplessly, he dangled helplessly under Talpon’s strength and size. Meanwhile, the residents tried to resist with their farming tools, but the Rilfetten Tribe members subdued them all.

“Savages!”

“What do you know?!”

“The only way to restore the land ruined by Carsein is with this fertilizer!”

“Fools, this isn’t a way to restore the land!”

“What?!”

“On the contrary, it ruins your land!”

The foul odor coming from the strawberry and grape fields is identical to the one in the bag.

Something inside the bag is eating away at the land.

This fact was known not only by Talpon but also by the entire Rilfetten Tribe.

“It’s your own hands that are ruining your land. What’s inside isn’t just fertilizer!”

However.

“Hmph. Looks like that lord ordered you to say that.”

“Both of you. You’re desperate to stop us from using fertilizer.”

“This is high-quality fertilizer made from rare materials. How dare you talk nonsense?”

“You should prepare yourself for the consequences! The fact that you savages are trying to ruin Shatren with Carsein’s orders will spread throughout the nation!”

These foolish residents are still stubborn.

“Incompetent lord trying to ruin our land again!”

“Why did we bring in savages? As expected, that lord thinks like that!”

“Report to the Symposium organizers, and let’s finally drive them out this time!”

“As for that liar, I’ll make sure to see his downfall!”

Following this, as the residents started spouting unignorable words, Talpon’s eyes flipped.

“Everyone in this territory knows! Everything changed after Carsein came and touched our land!”

“Don’t you realize? The quality of crops, harvests, our lives! Everything has changed!”

“It’s because of that incompetent lord’s inaction!”

What a ridiculous claim.

How can you blame Carsein for this when you’re the ones who caused this mess?

“Lying is a daily routine, and you blame others for your mistakes, which is why Shatren is in this state! How can someone who deceives people lead a territory?!”

“He’s the worst lord who doesn’t care about our land!”

“We don’t need such a person!”

Though there were misunderstandings and stubbornness, Talpon remembered clearly.

Carsein was desperate.

He suddenly went to the west, covered in injuries, yet he only saw a way to save the territory.

But.

You fools, against such a lord,

against someone who was sincere from beginning to end,

you’ve been spreading false accusations.

*Ding*

▶Agent Trigger, <Rilfetten’s Rage> activated.◀

▶Affinity with Talpon and the Rilfetten Tribe increased.◀

[Talpon: 51%]

“You fools don’t deserve such an outstanding lord.”

These things are nothing but obstacles.

Should I beat them up so badly that they can’t even show their face here?

Or maybe break their hand or arm so they can’t do anything?

Or maybe…

“I clearly told you not to bring in any external objects to Shatren except for Rusmaier.”

As Carsein walked over, Talpon sensed his intentions and took a step back.

“Wha—sword?”

“What are you going to do…”

“Since you’ve trampled my least concern, you have no right to any rights now.”

*Swoosh*

“Aaaaah—!!”

Mafr’s thigh was pierced deeply, causing screams to echo across the field.

“From now on, a complete closure order will be enforced in Shatren.”

***

After the screams echoed through the field.

The residents retreated trembling.

Naturally, their land is important, but losing their lives is even more terrifying.

That side is almost settled.

Now.

▶Harm inflicted on Shatren residents!◀

▶Penalty: Decrease in residents’ affinity and reputation in the field!◀

It’s time to receive the penalty for breaking the taboo.

The unchanging law when governing a territory.

If a player harms the residents, they will inevitably lose affinity, recognition, or reputation.

In short, this is a taboo.

That’s how obvious it is.

“…There must be a reason behind your violent actions, Carsein.”

While checking my status window, Talpon casually asked.

Unlike him, I pulled out my sword and directly threatened the residents, not just as a warning. It’s obvious that there will be a massive backlash from the Shatren side soon.

However.

“Of course.”

I also prepared a plan.

Anyway, during the process, showing an example would be necessary.

“Will you tell me?”

“Hmm. Even if you point out the issue with the fertilizer, they’ll probably deny it. No matter how much you argue with the smell you detected, they’ll insist it’s a lie.”

“But it’s true! The smell in that bag is exactly the same as the one from eroded land!”

“I know. I never doubted the Rilfetten Tribe.”

Adding that I also imposed a closure order due to suspicion of the fertilizer, Talpon calmed down.

“However, even with a complete closure order, it’s hard to enforce it.”

“Why?”

“There are troublemakers stirring things up inside Shatren. Probably, if we root out those troublemakers, we can address the issue with the fertilizer.”

“Then we need to take action, right?”

“Unfortunately, those troublemakers have already closed their ears. This might feel like their last hope.”

“What idiots.”

Talpon shook his fist.

Seems I got the gist, so I can proceed with the explanation.

“So first, we need solid evidence.”

“Solid evidence?”

Even if the choices weren’t available, I would have chosen this method.

“Talpon, your sense of smell can distinguish people who have been outside for a few days. Right?”

“Of course. I remember the scent of mana emitted by each person for months, not days. Even if it’s not me, I can easily differentiate that.”

Only then did Talpon smile.

“Indeed, that’s the evidence we need.”

There’s no better way to catch the internal enemies.

“I’ve already informed the guards. They’ll understand better than those residents, so don’t worry and go check.”

With this, I can utilize all three of Talpon’s abilities.

The next Clue and Prove Event will be soon.

***

After sending Talpon off, I sat back down at the table.

“Checked with Rusmaier’s side, and there were many suspicious points in the trash cans.”

Soon, Daike, Frict, and other guards arrived.

They pointed out the suspicious parts in Shatren’s trash cans.

“I get the issues with old farming tools and fertilizer, but is this related too?”

◆Wood Block

[A piece of wood cut out.]

Seeing this piece of wood, which looked similar to one found in the field weeks ago, I thought it might be a clue and brought it along.

It still felt out of place compared to this field.

A few days later.

I called together the residents of Shatren.

▶Proceeding with Clue and Prove Event!◀

This time, it’s not in the village hall.

In front of the village hall, I gathered all the residents.

“What is this meeting about?”

Squad Leader Mafr asked with a face full of complaints.

Without hesitation, I signaled Talpon.

*Splat*

“You.”

“What? What is it?”

“You. And you.”

“Why are you doing this?!”

One by one,

the Rilfetten Tribe members pointed at and separated the Shatren residents.

And the last one was.

“You.”

“What is it?”

“Go over there.”

It was Squad Leader Mafr.

Mafr, looking bewildered, tried to protest but swallowed his saliva and walked out under the shadow of Talpon’s large figure.

“Carsein, this is enough.”

The selected individuals were all lined up outside the designated area.

“What is this?!”

“Do you plan to punish decent people?!”

“Ha! Decent my ass.”

“What did you say?!”

*Swoosh*

▶Using Agent Ability.◀

[Guards, including Daike, aim their weapons at the designated residents.]

[Squad of Rilfetten Tribe members, including Talpon, aim their weapons at the designated residents.]

*Click*

As the signal was given, they all surrounded the area in a square formation.

“We need to separate and punish the real culprits who are ruining Shatren. So decent people won’t feel wronged.”