Elf Tensei Kara no Cheat Kenkoku-ki
Book 5: Chapter 5-1: Cannabis and Tears

After parting ways with Jii, I headed to the consulate and woke up Roleau and the others, who were still asleep, to inquire about the shop's situation. I felt bad for disturbing them, but I didn’t have much time.

The shop seemed to be running smoothly. Kuu's master, Rera, and the girl provided by Azul were managing it, and everything was going well. Maple syrup and crêpes continued to be popular, and this attracted sales for fur products and preserved foods as well.

After hearing this, I gave some instructions to Roleau and the others and then parted ways with them. I ordered them to stay until the merchandise ran out, inform everyone about the next schedule, and then return to Erucy.

「Now, all that's left is for Azul to get the chemical fertilizer approved, and we should be secure for the next few years.」

This, I had to entrust to Azul's expertise. I handed over the fertilizer and gave precise instructions on how to use it. If it was determined that it increased the yield, she would be able to sell it to influential merchants herself. There shouldn't be any failures in this regard, so I could expect good results.

I was running towards Bell Erucy. I did want to return to Erucy at least once to see Lucy and Kuu's faces, but I couldn't afford the detour. I had to put aside my lingering feelings and just keep running.

Thanks to that, I managed to reach Bell Erucy in two days. I knocked on the gate, which was built even sturdier than Erin’s gate, as expected of a former Imperial base, it was a very reliable gate.

「It’s you Cyril-sama! Welcome!」

The gatekeeper who greeted me was a familiar face. It was Johann, one of the five leaders governing Bell Erucy and the leader of the kobold tribe. He always had a friendly smile and gave a reliable impression.

「I'm sorry for not sending a message in advance.」

「No, Cyril-sama is always welcome.」

「I'm glad to hear that. Johann, how is the administration of Bell Erucy going?」

「It's going well, though I can't say it's perfect. But at least there are no residents starving to death, and the soldiers are improving their training.」

I appreciate his honesty. It's best not to hide problems. When they're hidden, they become even more troublesome, as there's no way for others to help.

「As expected, there’s a ton of problems, huh?」

「It can’t be helped. Originally, people from different places with different backgrounds came here to live together. Naturally, there were disputes. We've grown used to it now, but it was challenging at first.」 sᴇaʀᴄh thᴇ NøvᴇlFirᴇ(.)nᴇt website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of nøvels early and in the highest quality.

Johann said this with a cheerful laugh. As he explained, Bell Erucy was home to various races, each with its own set of rules. The five leaders had formed a council, and through discussions, Bell Erucy's rules had been established and were widely known. However, it still took time for them to become ingrained.

「Johann, do your best. The real challenges are just beginning. When people are on the brink of starving, they endure, but when they have the means to live comfortably, they become less patient. That's when problems start piling up.」

Nevertheless, the fact that Bell Erucy was able to function was due to the common understanding that they could only survive there, and they would collapse together if they didn't cooperate.

As life became more comfortable, people started looking beyond survival. Bell Erucy was approaching that stage.

「As expected of Cyril-sama! You’re correct. Small quarrels over trivial matters continue to appear without end. Some races had to be driven out of Bell Erucy because of it.」

「You have it hard.」

「No, thanks to Bell Erucy, we've managed to survive. At least, my kobold tribe will never forget that debt. We've made the decision to serve you for the rest of our lives as Bell Erucy citizens, Cyril-sama.」

「Thank you. Your loyalty is reassuring.」

As expected of the kobold tribe, which had characteristics similar to dogs, they were very loyal. Among the five leaders, I trusted Johann the most. On the other hand, there were tribes planning to unify Bell Erucy under their own race and seek independence from Erucy. Having ambition wasn't necessarily a bad thing; those individuals possessed a strong passion for governance and were quite intelligent. As long as the loyal tribes maintained enough power to control them, they could be used effectively.

「Johann, I'm here today to check on the growth of cannabis and to confirm the current situation. Has anything changed recently?」

Johann thought for a moment before answering.

「As for changes… the number of refugees who had been decreasing has started to increase rapidly.」

「Are they from the Empire?」

「That's correct. Many refugees are coming from villages close to the Empire that were supposed to be relatively well-off.」

「I'm sorry, Johann, but could you arrange for me to speak with someone among the refugees who came from a village near the Empire? If they have some level of literacy, that would be even better.」

「Of course. We have someone responsible for cannabis cultivation who can help with that. We'll call him after the inspection of the fields.」

「Thank you. That would be much appreciated.」

「Then, let me guide you… Vianna, you can take over the gate here.」

「Yes, have a safe journey, Cyril-sama, Johann-sama.」

Johann led me into the heart of Bell Erucy.

「I'm surprised by how lively it is here.」

「There are so many people after all.」

Inside Bell Erucy, various races were bustling around, carrying farming tools. Some had bows in their right hand and game in their left.

When I looked around, I saw people who appeared to be setting up stalls with various products spread out on a large piece of cloth on the road.

「It seems that some shops have been opened here.」

「Yes, we've been distributing the food we received from you in exchange for the cultivation of cannabis to those who grow it. However, hunters and fishermen began exchanging that food for their catches, and the clothes the women made started to be traded in the same manner. With the increase in population, relying solely on agriculture became insufficient, so we adopted this approach.」

「Indeed, the fact that it's happening on its own is a good sign. I see some unfamiliar crops too.」

「Among the refugees, there were some who brought seeds and livestock with them when they fled their villages. While it's still gradual, the variety of crops we can grow is increasing. People from different villages have come together, so they can share their knowledge with each other.」

「I see. I'd like to get some seeds for crops that aren't available in Erucy. Especially those red ones.」

I pointed to tomatoes. Those were difficult to grow from seeds, so I preferred to get them as seedlings.

「For Cyril-sama, I'd be happy to do that.」

Bell Erucy can't rely on supplies from Erucy forever. It's clear that such dependence will lead to a dead end. Moreover, even though they are refugees, all the tribes present have survived on their own strength until now. … It's because they fully understand the meaning and the dangers of entrusting their fate to others that they are so desperate.

「Well, even though we're still reliant on the seeds and food you've provided for now, once the autumn harvest is over, we should be able to secure seeds for the next year. With that, we should be able to sustain ourselves.」

「That's great to hear.」

Johann's eyes were filled with enthusiasm and hope. His enthusiasm made the effort to create Bell Erucy and help the refugees worthwhile, … even if it was initially meant as a shield to protect Erucy from the Empire.

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