Chapter 17: So-Called Fertilizer

Naiveness might not be a bad thing… If her subjects were not disloyal, or if the person she trusted the most under her had enough ability, the naive Demon King who would trust others wholeheartedly would be the best king in the world.

Ira thought that he would definitely not be disloyal, so after obtaining such trust from her, he was a little different from when he was in the Empire.

Ira, who said that he was only responsible for making the Demon King stronger, was now unknowingly participating in the effort to make the Demon King’s Territory even more advanced… In a sense, he was a proud guy.

He remembered that Yosef had once said, “If you think my daughter did very well, just say it. Don’t be shy and say things like ‘Very good, but you can do better next time’ ~ Hahaha!! As a man, you’re too candid and I can’t rest assured handing the Empire to you!”

It was as if he was Yosef’s son or he wanted to seize the Empire…

What an impressive emperor!

…

The territory of the demonic creatures was in the southeast of the continent. It was originally very large, but now, the land had been snatched back by the Empire… The Demon King’s Territory was on the right, and above it was the sea.

Around the Demon King City was the Demon King’s Territory. There were many demonic creatures with not harsh living conditions living inside… Demonic creatures like harpies naturally lived in the mountains outside the Demon King’s Territory.

However, it could not actually be considered to be living outside the Demon King’s Territory. To be precise… it extended from the Demon King City and swept down the farmland at the edge of the Demon King’s Territory before extending out to the territories of other rebellious or untreated demonic leaders.

The area until the periphery of the other party’s territory was considered the territory of the Demon King’s Territory.

However, usually speaking, it was only calculated in the area of the outermost farmland. The further places were only meaningless wastelands and forests with all kinds of wild beasts or uncivilized demonic creatures.

Wild beasts were fine. After all, the residents of the Demon King’s Territory were demonic creatures and not commoners like the Empire. However, uncivilized demonic beasts were fundamentally different from awakened demonic creatures. The former was delicious, and the latter was the predator.

Those demonic beasts did not care if they were the citizens of the Demon King or not. They did not think that they were the citizens of the Demon King at all. Instead, they were no different from wild beasts who only knew how to attack and kill.

The fairies were the managers of all the residents. There were also blacksmiths, masons, carpenters, tailors, and other professions in the territory that used labor and the Demon King City to exchange for food and necessities… Of course, they were also the property of the Demon King.

Therefore, the food and clothes in the Demon King’s Territory had to be reported to the Demon King City by the fairies. The ghost girl would count the situation reported by the various generals and fairies and trade resources when the traveling merchants arrived.

…

“Demon King ~”

“Welcome…”

“The farm…”

“The recent season…”

“It’s very bad.”

The leaders of the little fairies said the words they wanted to say one after another in such a way. Their cooperation was very good as if they were talking normally.

Outside the Demon King’s Territory were fields. Most of the crops were unique to this world, such as blue mushrooms, but a small number of crops existed in his previous life.

The situation indeed looked very bad. Most of the crops looked to be swaying around, and they did not grow evenly, as if they were about to wither at any time.

“What’s the exact problem?”

Satan Leaf asked. Only at this moment did she slightly look like a lord… Yes, like a lord, because generally speaking, kings would not be reduced to personally asking about the crops.

“It might be because…”

“No more…”

“Fertilizers…”

“Last time the merchants came…”

“Last last time…”

“Many, many times…”

“They’re not for sale…”

“Fertilizer…”

“…”

The words of the little fairies revealed the truth…

“It seems that’s the reason.”

Celina felt that she had found the truth of the matter. She explained to Ira and Satan Leaf, “In fact, before there’s anything like fertilizer, we’ll go to another plot of land to farm after we harvest the crops.”

“Although I don’t know why, if fertilizer is sprinkled during the planting process, it can ensure an increase in crop production without needing to change the area planted regularly. A few years ago, the merchants said that fertilizer is no longer sold.”

“However, it seems that the effect of the fertilizer has continued until now. In the end, it can’t last anymore.”

Under Celina’s explanation and under Ira’s dead gaze, Satan Leaf, who also knew about this, said, “Next time, change the planting area… What’s fertilizer?”

“…”

“Uh, fertilizer is a… specialty of the Empire.”

As Ira spoke, the names [nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium] flashed in his mind, but after careful consideration, he did not explain to them… because they definitely did not understand.

“Yes, I know that.”

Satan Leaf nodded. She blinked and said, “We’ve asked Miss Vera. She said that magic is involved in the manufacture of fertilizer and might be related to alchemy… Mr. Ira, do you know the situation?”

Although they said this, Satan Leaf and Celina were not looking forward to it, because in their impression, Ira was a powerful Consul and should not be involved in alchemy.

“About that…”

Ira pondered and wondered if he should say it. In the end, he made up his mind and said, “Actually, I modified the fertilizer. I was also the one who advised Isabella to ban foreign trade.”

“I naturally know the process and raw materials of the fertilizer. Although mana is indeed involved, the process and materials I designed are actually not as complicated as you think… We should be able to do it.”

Surrounded by the scattered Headless Horseman, Ira, Celina, and Satan Leaf stood around the field. As he spoke… he looked at the goblins and fairies pulling weeds in the field.

“That’s great! Mr. Ira!”

“…”

However, other than the fact that Satan Leaf looked very happy, Celina did not show it. She knew very well that such a thing should not be said.

This was a secret of the Empire and one of the methods to drag down the demons.

If Ira told the Demon King and her, it would really be true treason.

…

“What can we pay in exchange for the method of refining fertilizer? The title of the Demon King?”

Celina asked very soberly, but she did not think that the title was valuable… It could be said that if Ira accepted the title, or even only accepted it without paying anything, it would still be a loss to him.

The meaning of these words was undoubtedly to beat around the bush and ask if Ira wanted to officially join the Demon King City.

“I don’t know.”

When Ira said this… it was both an answer to the topic of fertilizer and a response to Celina’s roundabout question.