Volume 6 Chapter 5 The Path Of Wheat 5️⃣
While Cain and his companions waited for the Satsuma seed potatoes to sprout, a message arrived from the Head of the Maintenance Bureau. The preparations for gathering workers and straw to produce ash had been completed. With everything ready, they decided to begin the operation the following day.
The next morning, outside the town walls, Cain and the others arrived at the designated meeting point. Awaiting them were Barvish, the Head of the Maintenance Bureau, and the gathered staff. As soon as Cain stepped down from the carriage, everyone bowed their heads in unison. The Head of the Maintenance Bureau stepped forward with a respectful nod.
"Good morning, Sir Cain. We are grateful for your continued support."
After offering his greeting, the Head of the Maintenance Bureau introduced the workers who had assembled. The group ranged in age from fifteen to thirty, a fairly broad spectrum, with a gender ratio of approximately seven men to three women. Among them were also three individuals assigned to handle cooking—one man and two women.
All three cooks had prior experience. The man had once operated a meat skewer stand in town before the migration. One of the women had worked at an inn, while the other had experience as a restaurant chef. Each introduced themselves briefly, noting their backgrounds with calm confidence.
Cain then stepped forward.
"It's a pleasure to meet you all. I am Cain Shamrock Sanroze, the fourth son of House Sanroze. I've been granted a knight by Margrave Shield. I look forward to working alongside everyone until the harvest is complete."
Upon hearing his full name and noble title, a wave of tension passed through the gathered workers.
"Please don't worry too much about formalities, even though I hold a noble rank," Cain added with a calm smile. "However, I'd appreciate it if we avoided harsh or violent language. If anything gets too rough, Barvish and the others will step in. I believe this was mentioned during recruitment, but lunch will be provided on workdays. There's no need to bring packed meals. Let's eat well and work hard together."
His words seemed to ease the tension, and when he finished speaking, a spontaneous round of applause erupted. It was rare for commoners to be offered meals during work, and the promise of food seemed to lift everyone's spirits.
"Today, we'll begin by loading the straw onto the carts and transporting it to the fields. We'll burn the straw in several places to turn it into ash by noon. As you can see, the area we'll be cultivating is quite large, so we'll divide it into about ten spots for burning. Sir Cain will help by packing the straw into box-shaped frames made with magic."
One of the Maintenance Bureau staff gave a concise explanation of the day's work. After discussing it in advance, the team had agreed that creating ash directly in the field would be the most efficient approach.
Cain rode out on horseback alongside Barvish and the others toward the designated site. There, he began constructing box-shaped frames using Earth magic, filling each one with straw. After the burning process, the plan was to dissolve the magic structure, remove the frame, and scatter the resulting ash across the field.
"Maybe I made the area too wide..." Cain muttered as he finished forming the final box, gazing toward the distant town walls. The new wall stood ten meters high and was visible from the field's edge, but it was far enough that he had to squint to make out the Head of the Maintenance Bureau moving about.
"You're still saying that?" Barvish replied with a sharp glance. "The Head of the Maintenance Bureau is securing enough seeds. Besides, Sasha's blessing will help ensure a good sprout this time."
Cain and Gardy both averted their eyes under Barvish's quiet scolding.
"Well, no use moping around now. We'll see this through to the end. Next up is building the rest area and kitchen," Barvish said briskly.
With that, Cain and Gardy turned their horses and headed back to where Sasha and the others were waiting. They had requested Sasha to assign three guards to oversee the meal preparation area.
"Welcome back, Sir Cain. Thank you for your hard work," Sasha greeted him warmly. "But if you don't start soon, we won't have enough time to finish the cooking. That said... are you really sure something like this drawing can be made so easily?"
Though her tone was gentle, her message was clear: he needed to hurry.
Still stung from Barvish's earlier jab, Cain answered with a quiet "Alright," and made his way across the road to the opposite side of the planned wheat field. There, he began his next task in silence.
He was used to this kind of work. During the initial relocation to Margrave Shield Territory, he had constructed many buildings with Earth magic. Activating Mana Circulation, Cain pressed his hands against the uneven ground, gradually leveling it out. Then, using magic, he began shaping multiple structures at once.
Before long, a large gazebo without walls rose within a fenced area. The fence was made of thick pillars, each fifty centimeters wide and five meters tall. The gazebo itself covered an area roughly the size of a volleyball court. At its edges, two large stoves appeared simultaneously, crafted with smooth precision.
"...Sir Cain really is something else," Sasha whispered as she gazed at the completed structure. "He might actually be the leader of the monsters after all."
Her words were soft, almost carried away by the wind. But the awe in her voice lingered.
Notes:
• Barvish - A slave dwarf with a muscular, compact physique, intended as Cain's retainer/bodyguard, brought via magical contract.
• Margrave Shield - Cain's grandfather. An elderly man, robust, with white hair.
• Sasha - Female. A young and energetic warrior. She has a confident demeanor and wears a short sword at her waist. Her appearance is typical of an elf, with pointed ears and a slender build. She is determined to prove her strength and has a playful rivalry with her seniors. She admires Sir Cain and is responsible for waking him gently in the morning.
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