Chapter 387

How to Use the Land
Just when I thought a reservoir had been completed, the Kiblinki Saltas immediately began constructing irrigation canals.
They really work fast.

“Hey, what will you grow here?”

(Let’s see. Viscount Juneb, right? What kind of climate does this region have?)

“Well, compared to neighboring territories, it feels a bit colder. It doesn’t rain that much either. I think we do get some rainfall, but not excessively.”

(I see. Based on what we know, legumes would be a good fit. Also, certain types of tubers should be suitable. I’ve heard those can grow well even in poor soil, so they’d be a good first stage.)

Legumes… like soybeans, maybe?
And the tubers—maybe potatoes?
Potatoes are a common ingredient in this world too, so getting seed potatoes should be manageable.
But what about the beans?
When I asked about that, someone else answered instead.

It was Marquis Vardmoi.

“If it’s beans that grow in cool climates, I know of a few. You probably haven’t seen them much since they don’t grow well in Vardmoi, but they’re cultivated in territories further north.”

“Oh, I see. Then what about seedlings?”

“You can probably get them through the Trade Guild. Right, Alizée?”

“It’s not difficult. We’ll arrange for the potatoes too. Is there anything else you’d like?”

(Hmm… could we get some grass seed for pasture?)

Pasture grass?
What would they do with that?
The Kiblinki Saltas give off a veggie-spider image, so what would they want with pasture grass?

(Ah, that. I’ve learned from our elder that if the climate is cool, livestock farming is possible. Since it doesn’t get hot in the summer, I’ve heard that sheep, cows, and horses can be raised. You can also make compost for fertilizer—two birds with one stone, right?)

So this spider even knows about animal husbandry…
However, since they don’t have detailed knowledge about the actual care of animals, they asked if someone experienced could be brought in as a caretaker.
They said as long as they’re taught what to do, they can handle the basic tasks themselves—even someone elderly with less strength would be fine.
I think it wouldn’t be too hard to find a retired elder for that role, so I’ll go along with it.

That said, since they need to grow the pasture grass first, it seems livestock farming will start in a few years.
Honestly, they’re smarter than people.

“Is there anything else you want to grow?”

(Hmm. Even we have limits to our knowledge. The climate here is different from where we used to live. Does our contractor know of any suitable crops?)

“Crops for colder regions… maybe corn or buckwheat?”

(We’ve never heard of those. Are they edible?)

“Corn has lots of yellow kernels… it’s both a vegetable and grains, I think? Buckwheat… I guess that’s a grain.”

(A grain—so it’s like wheat?)

“Hmm, I guess buckwheat is similar. But corn might be different.”

(Let’s try growing them, then. Can we get seeds?)

That part, I wasn’t sure about either.
When I asked Viscount Juneb and Alizée, the local lord and her assistant, they said they were cultivating something that sounded exactly like what I described as buckwheat, so they agreed to share some.
As for corn, it seemed only Plum recognized it, so it’s probably not a crop native to this country.
I’ll try to get it through Plum.

… By the way, the Kiblinki Saltas who are expanding the irrigation canals seem to be cultivating an absurdly large area.
Is that… okay?

What do you think about this chapter?