Cultivating the land.
　It's easy to put into words, but it's a terribly painstaking task.

　First, the trees are cut down, the grass is cut, and the hard soil with a lot of roots is dug up.
　This is how a field is born.

　But the plants need more than just fields. What they need is water.
　In other words, they have to get water from a river somewhere.
　We don't want to bother with that, so we're going to do something about the land near the river.

　In my humble opinion, it will be possible to make something good in a year, don't you think?
　Or rather, I need you to be able to do it.

　I'm going to do my best for hunting and such, but it will be tough to cover the needs of 30 people with hunting.
　On the other hand, farming alone is also difficult.

　We need to do both.

　The first thing we need to decide is where to cultivate the land.
　We don't know what kind of land is suitable for farming. We need to ask the Gryphon if we can cut down the trees in this forest.
　If he says no, we need to find a new place to live.

　''So what do you think?
　That's all right. My domain is deep in the forest. If you don't want to destroy it, you can do what you like with it, whether you want to set it on fire or cut it down.
　It was surprisingly easy to get permission. It's anticlimactic.
　"You guys really like to scratch the dirt, don't you? I can't do anything that troublesome. Oh, and by the way...
　"Say so?
　'As I recall, thirty years ago, humans built a village in this forest. They abandoned it because of the plague. They said it was my possession. That's utterly outrageous.
　The griffon begins to complain about mumbling.　
　But what's significant to me isn't why the village has been destroyed.

　'If there's such a convenient place, you should have told me first!　Where is it?
　It was a long time ago, so my memory is not so clear. And I'm not interested in that. Well, get in anyway. You can see it from the sky. If not, give it up.
　Saying that, the griffon showed me his back.
　No, get on........
　If you fall, you die.

　Come on!
　Yes, sir.
　However, you never know when you will change your mind. Besides, thirty people's lives are at stake. I have no choice but to ride.

　I climbed up the back of the griffon. When I climbed up this way, I realized once again just how big this guy is.
　If I looked so good, he would have eaten me in one swallow...

　Let's go.
　Oh, my God.
　A funny voice came out of my mouth.
　My lower belly feels fluffy.
　I don't like roller coasters...

　The griffon guy didn't give a d*mn about me and kept gaining more and more altitude.

　I suddenly looked down.
　'Whoa!
　Hey, shut up. Don't choke me!
　I can't help but tighten my griffon up.
　Flying through the air without a lifeline is too scary.
　My teeth click spontaneously.

　''.......What if I pee?''
　"Push it off.

　As they were exchanging such an exchange, the gryphon suddenly stopped.

　'I'm pretty sure it was around here but there it is. Rejoice.
　I look down in horror.
　My guts are still fluffy.

　But it was worth the scary thought.
　Indeed, there were unnaturally few trees there, and the remains of what looked like a house.

　'Let's go down,'
　Hey, you're early. You're early!
　I let out a scream.

________.

　Hmm. After all, it's partially swallowed by the forest... well, isn't that better than making it from scratch?
　Yes.
　The site of the village was a lot better land than I thought it would be.
　There was a river running through the center of the village and fresh water seemed easy to get.
　Most of the pit houses were broken, but some of them could be used if repaired.

　As expected, the fields are covered in weeds, but if you can dig them up, it's not a problem. At least it's easier than building one from scratch.

　The fundamental question is whether children can farm on their own, but I think they can.
　In the Japanese law of giving out rice fields to men and women over the age of six. I remember the textbook said it was about 20 acres in size.
　As I recall, one kuseki (the amount of rice an adult male eats in a year) was one kubunda (about 10 acres).

　If an ancient Japanese six-year-old could plow twenty acres, we should be able to do it too.

　Well, I guess it was the parents who actually did the plowing....
　Even so, he must have plowed about a third of the land by himself. It's not as if two parents had to plow a large amount of children's rice fields by themselves.

　We have iron farming tools that ancient farmers didn't seem to have.
　And later we'll get some cows and horses to work the fields.

　It's probably workable.

　If that doesn't work, we'll get a griffon to help us. I'm sure this guy will be able to dig up a field before breakfast.

　''Oh no, thank you very much. If it hadn't been for this, we would have had to build a field from scratch.
　I don't think I've ever plowed anything.
　'You're the reason these people left, aren't you?

　Master Gryphon. If it wasn't for this guy, nothing would ever get started. Well, since this guy asked me to do it, it's only natural that I would cooperate with him.


　I'm not sure I've ever seen such a thing.
　What?
　'There was a famine, wasn't there?　Do you know what caused it?

　I've always wondered about it.
　All I knew was that there was a famine from Tetra-chan's words, but there are many different types of famines.

　Crop diseases, food damage caused by locusts and the like, direct damage caused by storms and the like, and poor harvests caused by climate.

　If you start farming without knowing why, you will be second guessing yourself.

　It's a bit insensitive to ask the children, so I ask Gryphon.

　'From the kids' conversations, it's probably crop disease.
　What crop disease is it?
　Everything.
　What?

　A disease that kills all crops?　What's that, too invincible?

　Is that all you can say?　Everything from wheat to fruit?
　Looks like it.

　What is that?
　I would understand if two relatives of wheat or barley got the same disease, but do two strangers, wheat and grapes, get the same disease?

　It's like a man catching a fish disease.

　'I too have wondered and thought about it. Do you want to hear it?
　Please.
　I think it's a curse.

　I'm sorry to hear this, but....

　What?　That face. The curse is real.
　What's your evidence?
　"That's what I'm having a conversation with you about.
　When you say that, I have no choice but to shut up too.
　Well, it's true that if otherworldly reincarnation and blessings are real, it might not be funny to have a curse or two.
　But who's going to put a curse on it?

　'Aren't you a species that loves to kill each other among your own kind? Is it not funny that one pack conspires to weaken another?
　'Hmmm, if you put it that way, yes.

　Nothing would make me happier than to curse from afar and reduce the national power of a hostile country. If it's real, it's a useful tool.

　''It's such a widespread curse. There must be quite a few magicians out there.
　'Is this a time for admiration?　If they do that again, there's no point in us doing the farm work.
　Hmm?　It will be all right. Humans are such cowards. It is unlikely that they would put a curse on my territory and the forests close to my territory. And a curse is not something that can be fired in rapid succession.

　That's the way it should be.
　He knows more about the state of this world than I do.
　If he says it's okay, then it's okay. Maybe.

　"So, do you want the kids to come over here?　
　Mm. But we'd better move it tomorrow. If we do it now, it will be nightfall.

　Gryphon said as he looked at the sun.
　The sun is currently tilting a bit from directly above.
　It's about two o'clock in the afternoon.

　This is quite a bit south of the cave.
　The feet of a young child, if not an adult, then the feet of a young child. The sun is going to set.
　If you ride the gryphon, it will not take long, but this guy will not like that kind of hard work.
　And the kids won't hesitate to do it either.

　"Then get on my back.
　"Ugh....I guess I'll have to get in...

　I screamed and headed home.

________.


　So this is our new home.
　Oh!
　The children cheered.

　'So, Leader. What's the first thing you're going to do?
　Ron," he said.
　'Leader?'
　'Hey, no, I don't think I fully approve of you. Just a little. I'm just admitting to you a little bit, that's all!
　Ron you need to be more honest with me.
　Ron-kun and So-young-chan start fighting in front of me.

　That's funny. I haven't even gotten any results yet, have I? All I did was trade in my iron sword for iron farming tools!
　As I was thinking this, Tetra gave me an earful.

　'This group was goofing around until you came along. Whenever you have an opinion on something, it's crushed by a dissenting opinion, and that doesn't mean there's no alternative for the side that said the opposite. Little kids start crying and crying about how much they want to see their mother, and Ron and Roseward are fighting. That's what's brought us to this state now.
　'It's not so much that I was good, it's that I was bad before.

　I chuckled. I honestly think anyone can do it.
　But that anyone can do it is an adult standard. A child can't do it.
　To me, the idea of exchanging the iron sword for something seems normal, but to Ron and the others, it must have seemed like a bizarre idea.

　''You're buying too much. And this abandoned village was also thanks to Gryphon.
　I muttered.

　'So, what are you raising?'
　Roseward-kun stared at me and asked. Why is this boy so high-handed...
　This is what kids are like.

　I'm thinking of doing crop rotation farming.
　'Linsa?　Is it good?
　No, it's probably not good.

　'The rough explanation is that they grow barley (spring sowing), clover, wheat (fall sowing), turnips, and then turnips, in that order, on a four-year cycle.
　According to the children, this is the season for harvesting wheat, so unfortunately the wheat will be next year.

　Considering the current season, we will grow from turnips.

　'Why bother with that?'
　'You know that a field is not going to grow well if you use it for a long time, right?　Clover has a powerful effect on the field. That way we can grow crops all year round.

　I don't know the details either.
　I only learned about it in history and geography, so it's possible that I'm not as good as the kids in the details.
　Farming is just a home garden in an orphanage, too.

　Rosward is still twisting his neck. He's still twisting his head, but he looks like he doesn't understand it at all. But I don't have the confidence to explain it in detail either, so I'll have to let him experience it for himself.

　"Well, what else do you grow?
　Grapes and olives. This one, though, if you can.
　I answer Mr. Gram's question.

　To put the kids' story in perspective, the climate around here seems to belong to a Mediterranean climate, so to be frank, it's not very compatible with rotational farming.

　So, to be frank, it's not really compatible with rotational farming. Fortunately, our village is located near a river, so it's possible.

　What really works well with grapes and olives are grapes and olives. But grapes and olives take a long time to grow, and it's doubtful that they can fill the bellies of thirty people.
　By the way, the best place to grow grapes and olives is on a well-drained slope, and this village is flat. This village is on flat land.
　I'm sure there is nothing that can be done on flat land, so I'd like to grow them eventually.

　Well, we'll get on with it and see what we can do...
　All the children's eyes turn to me at once.


　'Let's fix up the house first, shall we?'
　I said, pointing to the battered pit dwelling.

______________________.

The Real Sixth Story Livestock


　The important thing in rotational farming is the livestock.
　The advantage of the crop rotation system is that livestock can be raised in the winter.

　Furthermore, clover is not enough to restore the land's strength. By releasing livestock onto the land where the clover grows, the livestock's dung becomes fertilizer. That is important.

　That's why I'm going to bring in livestock.
　I said that in front of the kids.
　The kids looked at me with a huff. Maybe they hardly understand.

　'But, after the famine, it must be tough to trade livestock, right?
　"We'll negotiate with King Losey's country in the east. They don't have ironclads there, do they?　If you take ten of them, you'll get a cow or two.
　It would be much easier to plow if we had cows.
　If we're going to get out of the situation where the only labor force is currently children, we need at least one cow.

　Would you be willing to trade your precious food for it?
　If I were the village chief, I'd trade my cattle for ironware, and I'd get a tax exemption by offering the ironware to the state.
　There are only a limited number of people who can be fed by crushing a cow or two.
　It would be more belly-aching to fight a war to take food away from them using iron weapons. I'm sure many of us will decide that.

　There's just one problem.
　What is it?
　I don't know how to handle a cow.　
　The children were zipped up.

________.


　'Well I can handle some. My parents raised livestock.
　Okay, well, good luck with that.
　It's a bit of a mystery as to why he had such expensive livestock and was being sent to reduce the amount of money he had to spend on them, but maybe he had a lot going on. I'm not going to ask.
　I'm going to need one more person.
　Okay, I'll go.
　Ron, you just ran for office.
　Just as I imagined. Ron and So Yeon are always a set.

　Let's go, then. Tetra-chan!
　So why would I...
　Tetra-chan knows things, doesn't she?　Follow me because you might be fooled.

　By the way, Ron and Seo-yeon are from the village where they exchanged ironware and farming tools before. I didn't go there because it was awkward.
　Rosward, on the other hand, is from the village we're heading to.

　I don't know where Tetra-chan is from.
　I don't know where Tetra-chan is from because he doesn't tell me. One thing I do know is that he is quite knowledgeable.

　'Yes ... and it's only cows?
　'Honestly, I only need one cow. I'll buy a goat to make up for the cow.
　Goats are bad at meat and milk, but they will survive on meager food. I'd like to buy a set of males and females if possible.

　What iron sword do you want to take with you?
　Fifteen in plenty of time. We can get by with that, right?
　Ten of them would be enough to replace it, but just in case. It's a pain in the ass to go back and forth.

　Let's go then.
　When I said that, Tetra-chan laughed emphatically. You don't like it that much.


________.


　So what do you say we trade?
　Hmm, we're a bit short on food over here, but...
　The village chief starts to balk. That's right.
　I keep a smile on my face.

　"How about we donate the iron sword to the state for a tax exemption?　I'm sure the high and mighty in the country can't stand to have a weapon made of iron, can they?
　King Rosais' country does not have wrought iron technology.
　So they import iron by trading with the northern countries. Iron is an essential resource for war and agriculture. Of course they would be blown away and restrictions would be placed on King Rosais' country to prevent it from becoming a powerful nation.
　There are other ways of exchanging food with a country at war.

　All of these iron swords were brought by a brave man who thought of defeating the Gryphon, even if it was a hypothetical one. They are made of high quality iron. That's exactly what it is, in normal times, it's enough to clap both hands and replace it.

　''Hmm.......that might be good.......''
　The village chief begins to worry, shaking his head up and down and sideways many times. It's long. Come on.
　''If you can't, I don't mind. We'll just find you another village.
　When I said that and made a sign of getting up, the mayor suddenly started to panic.

　I've decided!　Exchange. What do you want?
　I need a cow. And five goats. How about it?
　I'm going to ask a little bit more forcefully. Honestly, three or four goats would be fine. I'm not sure if we can raise five goats.
　"Five goats I'd say that's a little harsh but two will do.
　'Then I'll add two more iron swords and you'll have four goats instead.
　The village chief nodded deeply. He seems to be convinced.

　Now we'll have labor and nutritious milk.
　I was relieved.

________.

　Okay, that's it.
　I look at the goats and cows in the fence.
　The fence isn't very strong because I built it just right. I'll have to reinforce it later.

　It's not a good idea if they escape, so I ask Gryphon to threaten them. He said he would eat them to death if they escaped.
　The griffon guy was pretty flippant about it, even though he said he couldn't threaten an innocent animal.

　Well, it's not like they're edible.
　Cows and goats can get food for free too. You won't have any complaints.
　Huh?　So all plants in the wild are free?　No, that's the thing. There's less risk of being eaten by wolves and predators, right?　Maybe.

　'Did you have to get a goat in such a hurry?　It's just a hassle.
　Tetra-chan said.
　Well, I know how you feel. I don't care if it's a cow for labor, but there's not that much need for a goat. I'd have to plant barley now, and I'd have to do the tedious task of taking care of the goats.

　But I had my reasons for being in a hurry.

　Goat's milk, it tastes bad, but it's nutritious.
　....
　Tetra-chan gives me a dubious look.
　'All that griffon guy brings is nuts and meat, right?　They don't have calcium. Without calcium, the bones become brittle. I think that's deadly in this world. So I had to push myself a little bit and get a goat.
　Hmm.
　Do you understand?
　'Only that you're thinking of us,'
　Then Tetra-chan laughed.
　Come to think of it, this is the first time I've seen Tetra-chan smile.

　''Hey, what's your name going to be?''
　Ron said as he stroked the goat. He liked it a lot.
　From right to left: No. 1, No. 2, No. 3, and No. 4 for the goats. The cow is number one.
　'Well that's too simple!　Poor thing.
　Seo-yeon protested with her mouth agape.

　'Pity them they're livestock. They're not friends, family, or pets. Maybe there will come a time when we'll have to eat these guys. If you name them, they're not livestock, they're pets. It'll just make it harder.

　In Japan, beating a dog or other pet is animal cruelty.
　But it is not a crime to slaughter a pig or a cow.

　Of course, there is a difference between pets and livestock.

　Livestock are tools of humans. We must not transfer our feelings to them.
　If we give them a name, they become pets, not livestock.

　You may not be able to tell them to take care of their children so that they don't transfer their feelings to you, but at least avoid giving them a name.

　'Well you might eat them...'
　The kids look at the goats and cows with sad faces.
　It's kind of like a funeral.
　It's not like we're confirmed to eat them...

　Well, goat meat is so bad that I don't eat it unless there's something wrong with it. Cows are an important part of the labor force. Let's work hard at farming to prevent that from happening.
　I said that out loud to change the mood of the kids.
　'At any rate, I want to do something about the weeds growing in what I believe was a field - it's faster to get the goats and cows to eat them than to cut them down. Let's move these guys into the field.
　We lead the goats and cows into the fields.
　Maybe Griffon's threats are working, or maybe So-young's guidance is good, or maybe they just want to eat grass. Either way, the cows and goats entered the field quietly.

　The field is not very large.
　Originally, this village was a small village of about a hundred people, judging from the number of pit houses.
　We are planning to start plowing the field as soon as they finish eating a certain amount of grass.

　It's a former field, so I'm sure it's relatively soft, but it's a child's power.
　I also got a pickaxe, but I'm not sure if I can do it right...

　Well, I don't expect to harvest these six months.　
　The Gryphon-sama will certainly provide for us for a year.
　We shouldn't be in a hurry.