Chương 133: Chapter 117. Farming 2. Planning

Planning John Ericsson's Point Of View My training went well in some ways. I felt more in control over my sword, in the same way you "can" control a speeding car on ice. I could manipulate it somewhat, but it'll probably cause a crash if anything. I hunted 20 squirrels and 10 crabs yesterday. Sarah and Anna's group hunted 6 gators, 15 crabs and 10 squirrels. Safe to say, they won that day. From what I understand, the hunting was a competition and now, I owe my Wives 1 thing they ask of me.

There're worse conditions for a loss I suppose? I woke up today, to Anna's breakfast and then, like the other day, my Wives trained, and I Meditated. I spent 3 hours and couldn't find that final pair of eyes yet, but they feel closer. At least, I think they do?" Lord Matthew, take a right here."" Thank you, Ruby." Again, it was the late afternoon, and I was heading to the farm again with Ruby. We were alone this time. The guards had been hard at work since the first time we arrived at the farming area.

Today is a day of improvement however. From what I'm told by Lily, the mana she'll need for today is less than the first day. So, I've thought of a good use of the rest of the mana I now have nothing to do with." Lord Matthew, take a left here."" Thank you once more, Ruby." I explained to Ruby that we could just use Paula's Magic to head to the farmland, but Ruby refused and wanted to walk.

She eventually got me to agree by saying "since I'm the Lord of this land, I should familiarize myself with the roads less travelled". I feel there was some other reason, but I couldn't figure it out. I looked at Ruby for a second to ask if there was something she wished from me, but the happy smile she had on her face made me think that she was thinking of something joyous. I didn't want to interrupt her, so I decided not to answer. Until she noticed I looked her way and spoke with an excited voice."

Is there something I can help you with, Lord Matthew?" She wore a bright smile after she spoke. I could almost forget the quite angry woman she was when I arrived with my Wives to Paradise. I guess, she had other problems going on at the time? I mean, Paradise still does, but the town seems happy. Almost too happy if I'm being honest. Earlier today, the Servants for my house moved into the dormitory behind the mansion in order to begin working for us.

While they did this, Janet and Jim, Ellie's parents, requested to speak with me before I left. I sat at the table overlooking the garden as they dropped a surprising bit of knowledge to me." Lord Drake... We just want you to know, that the settlers who have moved into Paradise have chosen us as their Representatives." I was a little shocked at this, I thought I was doing pretty well as a Lord, but they've already decided to unionize! I opened my collar as I began to feel sweaty all of a sudden.

I then asked the difficult question any leader of any group would have at this information." What am I doing wrong?" At my words, Janet and Jim looked confused. Jim spoke very fast." Wait! No! Lord Drake! Nobody has any problems among the settlers. Actually, I think the only problem would be a lack of work for the tradesmen, but they're making do with repairing some of the old equipment of the town so their satiated for now.

The men picked me, and the women picked my Wife because we're the closest adults from the settlers that are near you. The settlers just wanted us to make sure their gratitude was properly understood! Granted, I'm sure if anything were to happen to cause an issue, we'll be sure to approach you. Is that fine with you, Lord Drake?" Thank God! Or Thank the Gods, I guess? In the sweet joy of relief, I spoke to Jim and Janet." I'm grateful everything is working out.

I hope to continue to make this place problem free, but yes, if there are any issues, bring them to me. I want to make this place worthy of its name after all." Jim and Janet both looked at me and nodded." Yes, Sir!" They spoke in unison. Right after that, I heard Ruby's footsteps behind me and then we spoke about teleporting which led us to here." Lord Drake! We've arrived!" Ruby spoke with a bright smile on her face. I can't help but notice she seems like such a far cry from how she looked when we first met.

When I first saw her that day, she had wrinkles and black circles around her eyes that seemed to be due to stress. I guess now that things like the food situation are being handled, she feels less anxious and is getting her proper rest." Yes, I suppose we have. Thank you for guiding me again." Ruby, again, had a big smile on her face. I guess she likes proper manners? There was a bit of silence and I decided that now would be a good time to Summon Lily.

"Hang on, I'll Summon Lily now." Ruby's smile lowered a little as a green burst of light appeared next to me. Then, a small doll-like woman with plants and flowers growing out of her body appeared from the light." Good day, Miss Ruby. I suppose I should get to work then!" This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there. Lily seemed to be in a good mood. I think today Paula managed to visit her.

Since Paula voiced her concerns the other day about Lily's servants, they've been able to work something out somehow. I'm glad they've grown closer together." Hello, Queen Lily! I look forward to working with you again today!" Ruby greeted Lily with a bow as Lily began to float and glow a pale-yellow color." Seems the Spell is different? I guess this Spell is just to maintain and grow life, unlike the previous one, which created it instead."" That would be correct, John."

Lily spoke to me in my mind by using our Link from the Contract." Her Spells are always so pretty."" It fits her epithet as "Queen of the Spirit Forest"." Ruby was amazed by the sight of the yellow aura pouring over the vegetables like rain. The setting sun's light reflected off of the drops of mana and created a vibrant show of different colors depending on the angle of the light. After she was done, Lily came down and began to speak." In a few hours they'll begin to bear their edible flesh.

It'll take 7 more times for them to mature and be truly ready, however. As a plus though, they'll have better amounts of nutrition and edible flesh."" So, quantity and quality. Thanks for the work, Lily." With that, Lily left as she had Paula waiting for her return. I still had about 50% of my mana. More than enough for what I had planned." So now what, Lord Drake?"" This!" A burst of brownish-orange light appeared next to me.

Out walked a giant gorilla-like being with 2 teeth poking out of his beard and goggles covering his eyes." Hello there, Lad! is this the spot you were telling me about?"" Hey, Gil, yeah this is the spot."" Hmm. And judging by your mana... Yes, there should be enough. I guess next time we can make the towers for the Guards? Otherwise, you'd pass out from Mana Exhaustion."" That'll work for me, Gil!"

"Very well, off I go." / Crack... Rumble! Rumble! Rumble! / Gil burrowed underground and began to make some noise as thick tall walls began to pop up on the perimeter of the vegetation growing from the ground." Lord Matthew... What is going on?" Ruby asked me a question in a puzzled tone. I turn to her with a smile and begin to explain." I'm creating a strong wall to keep any of the Animals or Monsters out of our fields. Gil assures me that the gators won't even be able to pop through his Earth Magic."" That's....

Amazing!" Ruby again wore a bright smile. It fits her well." Even better, once we have the food situation under control, I plan on renovating the walls and the inner grounds of Paradise with his Magic. After that, I'll begin creating roads to the nearest villages and towns as I travel around with my Wives. Or so the plan goes."" You're leaving us!?" Ruby whimpered out very sadly. I hurried to correct her assumption." No. I'm not abandoning my post!

I'm the Lord of Paradise until either I die or King Warrick decides that I'm better suited elsewhere. I plan on taking something of a working vacation after my preliminary work here is done."" What do you mean, Lord Matthew?"" Well, I can't create a Flowing Economy by just fixing the town up and solving the food crisis. I need products. A way to produce said products, then I need good roads to allow Merchants to come buy our products and sell their products. And vice versa as well if they have something good.

So far, the only " products" we've gotten here are related to our hunting. The teeth, bones and claws of the gators could sell for a high price as they're Rare Items and have varying uses. Like the bones being good for fertilizer or the teeth and claws being good for weapons. Same with the leather for armor, but I want to outfit our Warriors first with armor and weapons. So until that goal is reached, the gator hunting is to be kept secret from outsiders." Crack! Rumble!

A stone wall popped up right next to Ruby and me. After that, we moved inside the field, so we don't get launched into the sky. Ruby had a difficult look on her face as we moved. Once we found a decent place to stand, I continued on with my thoughts." Continuing on, I want to travel and see what the other villages and towns are currently up to in terms of Production. For the villages more so to see if they're creating anything worthwhile."" What do you mean?

If the villages were creating something worthwhile, wouldn't we know as the Capital of the Rose Swamps."" Not exactly. You see, Ruby, There are things that people take for granted if they have it every day in their day-to-day lives. For instance, our Magic Tools that create fresh water to drink. In other places, people would kill for something like that, but here? Every house has one."" So, you're saying they wouldn't even know what they have?"" Yes, though it's not their faults honestly.

Why gamble on something you're unsure would turn a profit, when you could just sell furs or meats that are guaranteed to sell?" Ruby had a flash of understanding. She's quick on the uptake when you take the time to explain a few things." Now, as for the roads. Point blank. Paradise's roads are terrible and bumpy. They're in total disrepair. Also, they're small for some reason. Gil can make long smooth roads for us that resist things like weathering and fire.

So, for My Family's Vacation, we'll travel around and create roads everywhere we go for about 3 or 4 months. Then we'll come back and see about going to the bigger towns and creating roads to them. The only catch is, I want to be paid for my work. So, I have to work a few things out with King Warrick as well as the neighboring Lords."" Why wouldn't they want a road to lead here? Wouldn't that make traveling easier?"" Yes, for us who live here.

When's the last time a Lord from Zana, the big town West of here, traveled to Paradise for any reason?" Again, Ruby's eyes flashed in understanding." I understand that now, Lord Matthew."" Yes. Quite sad, isn't it? But that's only for now."" What do you mean?"" Cause all those neighboring Lords? Who're too good to stop in and check and see how the inhabitants of Paradise are doing? They're going to feel really dumb when they have to start making trade deals with us for our goods. Mark my words on that one, Ruby.

I may not know what it is or how to get it done yet, but I'm going to." Ruby began to smile again. This time it was a bit of a sinister one. Seems she still has a trace of the woman I first met." Yes! Let's get back at them, Lord Matthew!" Ruby spoke with great vigor." Why are you both smiling like you're both plotting a murder?" Gil arrived as we were focused on petty revenge. Seems he finished the walls." Oh, sorry, Gil, we were talking about the changes I'd be making in the future.""

Oh, the roads and making the neighbors pay? It is weird, last I checked, Lords were supposed to visit and greet a new Lord."" Yup! That's still the case, Gil!" Gil nodded his head and announced he was done for the day. He yawned as I returned him home. Ruby looked at me as the sun was setting." Lord Matthew. I'm glad that you became our Lord. To be honest, at first, I wasn't so sure. Heck, I even thought that it was an insult that King Warrick named a Human as our Lord.

But I think I'm beginning to understand why he did it." Ruby smiled a cheerful smile towards me." I quite like Paradise too, Ruby. Now, let's head home." I opened a Portal and returned to the mansion in a good mood. Which I then had to explain why I was in a good mood to Sarah and Anna. Rest didn't come till much later in the night because of that. During a round of..." Explaining".... Sarah announced she had gained a new Skill. Weird that it would appear at such a... Intimate moment...