Kujonin 72

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Kujonin
Author: Hanabokuro
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Story 72

All I paid attention to was that the Hero was running a plantation, but the important part was what he was growing there, it seems.
[“Is it really that bad?”]
Velsa’s voice came from the communication bag.
“Aa, in my previous world, it was said to have been the greatest environmental destruction in the previous century.”
[“Then, Naoki, are you going to kill the Hero?”]
Ayl asked.
“No, the situation needs more investigation. But if it’s how I think it is, the Earth Spirit will definitely be fired. For now, it would be good to look up the soil content here. And then we’ll be looking to see of the people around the plantation have any sort of abnormalities, that kind of thing. And it would also be better to avoid having the canal made no matter what.”
In my previous world, there was an inland lake called the “Aral Sea.”
It was formerly the 4^th largest lake in the world, but it shrank to an unbelievably small size.
The cause was due to the canals made in order to irrigate cotton fields.
I don’t know much about it, but an old gramps I’d worked with had said it was environmental destruction, so I remembered it. Gramps was a former bureaucrat who couldn’t retire into a lucrative position¹ (it seems he’d gotten detained at some point), so he’d claim that all Japan’s environmental issues are all problems made up by the retirees who went into lucrative positions, saying, “Real environmental issues are…” and talk about the Aral Sea. When I first heard it, I thought, “Stop talking and do your work! Old man!” but who would have thought it would be useful in another world.
Anyway, if no one stops it, the lake at Seth’s hometown will disappear.
“This is an enterprise that can’t be allowed to go one. Someone has to stop it. Ayl, return back to Floura and ask Riddle-san about this country’s situation. Its exports and which countries it’s in conflict with, and the like.”
[“OK! I’ll go right away.”]
It would be troublesome if this starts up a war. That’s how big this cotton field is.
There’s probably a lot of profit in it.
If he’s got the money, then he probably has a say in the military. And if he has a say in the military, he’ll use it. I’m praying that this country’s top and military have no interest, but I can’t expect it.
“Velsa, please come here and investigate the soil content and the people around the plantation.”
[“OK, I’ll make preparations immediately. Granny, introduce me to someone with a boat~”]
Velsa, who as the Microscope Skill, will be able to tell if there’s chemicals being used on the earth.
As of now, I haven’t gotten the chance to observe the ear ticks, so I didn’t take the skill.
“I want Merumo to go around the lake and feel out how the plans are going for the canal. Can you do it?”
[“OK-ssu! I’m also a D Rank adventurer, after all!”]
In the worst case scenario, we’ll have to destroy the canal at least.
“Seth!”
[“Yes! I just need to find a river that’s decreased in water content, right?”]
“That’s right! When you find it, follow that river upstream and investigate if there are any forks.”
[“OK! A! Um … President!”]
“What is it?”
[“If the boat gets damaged or stolen, can I request a new one from you?”]
When he goes to investigate the river, there’s a chance he’ll have to abandon it in the Newt Tribe’s territory. The spirits are involved. I’ll ask God for a reimbursement later.
“Aa, I get it. But hide it as best you can!”
[“Understood!”]
“Alright, then we’ll meet at Seth’s house in 2 days.”
[[[[“OK!”]]]]
Anyway, right now I have to gather information.
I cut off the magic to the communication bag and run around the plantation’s circumference.

There’s already a possibility that victims have come from these cotton fields.
The slave Cynthia’s sickness might have also been influenced by these cotton fields.
I’m also interested in what she said about “ghouls.”
I remembered the letter in my item bag.

While using Search Skill, when I had gotten to the forests northeast of the cotton fields, I found a person walking within the forest.
When I got closer to look, there’s a splendid path within the forest, and a middle-aged man is walking while carrying a large pack.
A traveling merchant, probably.
“Hello!”
I tried calling out to him.
“Aa, hello! Hero-sama is living in the village up ahead, so even if you rob me, you’ll be captured right away.”
It can’t be helped if he mistook me for a bandit, since I emerged from the forest.
“No, I’m not going to do something like that. I had something to deliver to the village where Hero-sama is so I ran over, but…”
“Without using the road? That must have been tough. Are you an adventurer?”
“Yes, although my rank is low.”
“Well of course. You’re dressed so lightly, and with a transportation request. Well, it would be better for you to buy defensive equipment with the reward.”
I’d like to get all the information I can, so let’s ask this middle-aged man.
“Um, is it okay if I travel with you?”
“Aa, that’s fine. It’s pretty much just this road, though. If you’re escorting me, how about I treat you to a drink?”
I’ve stopped drinking, but let’s just go along with it.
“That would be great!”
I walked alongside the middle-aged man.

The middle-aged man is a traveling merchant, and he came to this country from the Kingdom by tagging along on a wagon.
“The Kingdom, huh? It’s very far, isn’t it?”
“Oh nono, lad, you came from the other side of the lake, so you’ve come further.”
Is this country that small?
“I don’t know much about this area, but around when did Hero-sama make this village.”
“Let’s see, I heard that he made the village right after he made the plantation. Hero-sama has the Earth Spirit’s blessing, so it seems he was able to make this road right away. Look, this road is easy to travel on, right?”
Certainly there’s no unevenness, and there also aren’t any treeroots sticking out.
It’s overwhelmingly better than the road that goes through the forest at Floura.
“Thanks to Hero-sama’s efforts, the plantation expanded and people also gathered. He’s also proactively bought slave children.”
“Slave children?”
“Aa, you’d think it would be better to have normal adults for labor, but Hero-sama bought children and taught them how to work. That actually went pretty well, so I think it’s a great method.”
This world probably regards slavery as normal, in general.
But if I destroy the plantation, I wonder what we’ll do about the slaves?
“What’s wrong? You’re making quite the face.”
“No, I was thinking whether or not I should buy a slave.”
“Stop, stop! It doesn’t usually go that well. I’ve also bought a slave in the past, and he ran off with my money. Hero-sama properly provides them with everything they need to live, so they’re obedient.”
Ossan, that means you didn’t provide them with the necessities!?
“When you do business, there’s the good times, and then there’s the bad times.”
I’ve understood a little bit about how this country treats slaves.
“Look, you can see it now. That’s Hero-sama’s village, Gnomefield.”

1. I don’t really understand “amakudari”. It’s government officials retiring from their positions and getting jobs in corporations and stuff, hence the idea of “falling from heaven,” but I don’t understand the cultural connotations. Is it a good thing? Is it a bad thing? A disgraceful thing? Something you should feel triumphant about?
   I dunno.

 

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<t/n: (2/2)
It seems that it’s actually slave children, not the children of slaves. I will go back and fix it.>