#1262 Playing with Dirt  

In the end, Ardheg makes a declaration to the other dragons. 

“We, as a race, need unity if we’re going to get along peacefully with other species from here on out. The reckless actions of a few will be seen as the failure of us all. And as Emperor Dragon, I cannot allow that!” 
“Kyaa! Ardheg, you’re so cool!” 

Bloody Mary gushes excitedly beside him. 

The dragons agree to create some rules to keep themselves in line. 

“What about the Dragon Empire?” 
“For now, I think it’s best if we just keep in touch with one another, nothing more.” 

After all, dragons have always lived as they pleased.  
Just the idea of rules is already foreign to them, so forcing them into a national framework would only be oppressive. 

For now, they decide only on one rule: don’t pick unnecessary fights with other species. 
And with that, the meeting ends. 

“I’ll ask the specialists to help flesh out the details of the rules.” 
“URK!” 

The Demon King, Arowana, and Ritheseus all wince at once.  
Busy as they are, they’ve now got one more headache to deal with. 

And just like that, the dragon commotion comes to a close... 

*** 

Meanwhile, things are moving forward in the Farm Kingdom. 

Up until now, we’ve been cutting, chopping, and clearing trees nonstop to secure space where people can live.  
Thanks to that, flat land has spread, and we’ve got more ground where houses can be built. 

But the work doesn’t end there. 
It’s not enough for people just to exist. 
To live and keep living, a variety of things are needed. 

The chief among them is food. 

So far, food supplies have been covered by aid shipments from other countries, plus some deliveries from my own farm. 

But this can’t go on forever.  
A nation only stands on its own two feet when it can feed itself. 

So, our Farm Kingdom must start producing its own food as soon as possible. 
That’s what today is about. 

I gather the pioneers and speak to them on-site. 

“Okay everyone, starting today, you’ll be doing land cultivation.” 

Technically, cutting down trees to make flatlands was already one form of cultivation... 

“From now on, you’ll be tilling the soil, fluffing it up, adding fertilizer, and turning it into land full of nutrients. Once that’s done, plant seeds and watch them sprout strong and healthy.” 

And what kind of seeds, you ask?  
Flowers? 
 

Of course not. 
Vegetables and fruits. The kind of things that fill your belly. 

We’ll raise crops like those to establish food self-sufficiency for our nation!!! 

But that doesn’t mean flowers aren’t important. They do enrich the heart! 

“Now then, with the land cleared, we’ve got space for fields. But this isn’t the final step! It’s just the beginning!!!” 
 

The real destination is creating farmland, planting crops, harvesting them, and feeding our people. 
That’s the goal!  

“So let’s get out there and make some fields, everyone!!!” 
“YEAHHHH...” 

They respond, albeit half-heartedly.  
Honestly, if Ikar*ya heard this, he’d probably shout “Too weak! Once more with spirit!!!” 

Hm? What’s with you guys? 
We finally get to make farmland on our own territory.  

Isn’t it exciting that we’re reaching new heights? 

But then, one of the pioneers hesitantly raises his hand. 

“Uh... we know it’s necessary, but...!” 

But? 

“Well, it just feels... kind of plain...!” 

What was that? 
Plain? Did he just say plain? 

“It’s just, everything Lord Saint has done so far has been so flashy...!”  
“Compared to all that, this looks a little... underwhelming... It’s not that we’re making fun of it or anything, sir...!” 

They’ve been through enough hardship to at least soften their criticism. 

Hmmmm...! 
It’s true that since they got here, I’ve dazzled them with things like building luxurious homes, laying down railroads, and even creating a dungeon. 

I guess all that stimulation has dulled their senses.  
Necessary or not, farmland just doesn’t excite them anymore. 

But! 
I’m not one to give up. Naturally, I’ve prepared something flashy to keep morale high!  
That too is the job of a ruler, after all! 

“Hmhmhm... Just as I expected, I’ve prepared a special system to make this exciting.” 
“A system?” 

Yes, today’s flashy element is this. 

I hereby enact...  

“The Law of Perpetual Farmland Ownership!” 
“THE LAW OF PERPETUAL FARMLAND EXECUTION?!” 

...That’s an entirely different word, guys. 

Allow me to explain. 
It’s one of those Japanese phrases that just begs to be spoken out loud, with such a wonderfully grand ring to it! 

...But more seriously. 
It was a real law issued back in Japan’s Nara period. To put it simply, it meant that the farmland you cultivate is yours forever. 

If I apply this law here in the Farm Kingdom... 

“So... if we cultivate land here, it becomes ours?” 

Exactly. 

“Oh, wowwww! In that case, that’s amazing! I’ll cultivate like crazyyyyyy!!!” 
“This whole area’s gonna be mineeeeeee!!!” 

The moment they get it, their eyes light up. So greedy, yet so motivated. 
Yep, nothing boosts enthusiasm like the promise of personal gain. 

This is the kind of flashiness that rivals railroads and dungeons! 

...Of course, the law itself has its problems.  
But its name has such a nice ring that you just want to shout it out loud. 

Anyway, I’ll keep this law as a temporary measure, only during the founding period. 

Thus, the pioneers, thrilled as they are, start swinging their hoes with vigor. 

But farmland isn’t just about loosening soil.  
You need nutrient-rich ground to grow crops. 

For that, they plow while mixing in things like eggshells and crushed animal bones.  
As those rot and decompose, they enrich the soil. 

This land used to be full of trees, so it’s got strength, but nature alone doesn’t ensure the ideal balance of nutrients. That’s where human effort comes in. 

Once farmland is touched by human hands, it becomes an artificial creation. 

“Lord Saint! Once the fields are ready, what will we plant first?” 
“Hmm...” 

I’ve got that figured out. 
If we plant the same vegetables I grow on my farm, they’ll taste great and even work as exports. 

But I can’t forget one thing. 
The vegetables I raise are sprouted using my Hand of Supremacy gift.  

And those don’t produce seeds. 

Why are they like that?  
Divine safeguard against messing with the ecosystem? 

In any case, it’s thanks to that limit that my farm’s varieties haven’t leaked outside. 

But spreading my crops here would only make the whole nation dependent on me. 

And I won’t be around forever. 
Probably. 

If dependence on me becomes the norm, then the day I vanish will be the day this country falls.  
That kind of unhealthy setup must be avoided at all costs. 

“That’s why... I’ve prepared this.” 
“Ohhh!” 

Beans. 
Don’t scoff. They’re the masterpiece born from endless selective breeding by none other than Letasreit. 

She created a variety so delicious it rivals even my own gifted produce out of sheer love for beans. 
Truly terrifying bean passion. 

And since these weren’t made with my gift, they do produce seeds, passing their legacy down through generations. 
Her devotion and bean-love will form the backbone of this nation. 

Beans are nutritious, filling, and can even serve as a staple food. 

I can’t wait to see the fields brimming with beans. 

...Wait. Doesn’t that mean this whole country is going to be ruled by Letasreit in the end? 

========== 

ownership (私財) and execution (死罪) are both pronounced the same in jp (shizai) 

ikariya chosuke was a famous comedian known for yelling “Not enough energy! Again!” on the comedy show “hachiji dayo! Zenin shugo!”