The King’s Inspection (I)

After being shown to my quarters, I—the King of Inraku—slipped out through the window. I moved with the stealth of a thief, making sure no one saw me leave.

The plan was for me to take Tia as a concubine.

I knew there wouldn't be an immediate conflict between Yuri and myself, but there was no telling how long that fragile peace would last. If there was even a slight possibility that we would eventually become enemies, it was only pragmatic to investigate my opponent beforehand.

Was this the proper conduct of a King? Hardly. But I was a solitary ruler; I had learned long ago that I couldn't trust those around me. There was nothing in this world I believed in more than what I saw with my own eyes.

Or so I had thought.

"Wh-what is this place...?"

I had intended to start my investigation with their Farming, yet as I reached the fields, I was struck speechless. This land was supposed to be a Barren Land, a withered husk where crops barely clung to life. Instead, I found a lush expanse teeming with produce. I could logically grasp the feat of reviving dead soil, but humans have a tendency to avert their eyes from things they truly do not wish to see.

If this isn't a dream, what in the world am I looking at?

Meat was growing directly from the soil.

"...Has Yuri signed a contract with a Demon?"

No, it was hard to believe even a Demon possessed this kind of power. Honestly, I almost found myself wishing it was the work of a Demon. It was no wonder people were starting to worship Yuri like a god—he was distorting Human Logic itself.

"Hey, mister. What are you doing in a place like this?"

An innocent-looking boy called out to me while I was staring at the field. He appeared to be the one in charge of the labor here. Perhaps I could squeeze some information out of him.

"I was just admiring the field," I said, pointing toward the strange crop. "I found this quite fascinating. Do you know anything about that?"

The boy beamed at me, looking genuinely happy. "Ehehe, amazing, right? I worked really hard to get it to grow that well!"

It seemed this child was the one responsible for the crop. It defied all reason; this was something that could only be described as Farming Alchemy. I couldn't believe such talent had been hiding here.

Had the Kingdom ever even bothered looking for talent among those who weren't Nobles? No. We obsessed over the Sage, the Saint, and the Hero—those chosen by the gods—and showed little interest in anything else. It had become common practice to assume that superior talent was only born from superior parents. No one ever considered that such excellence could emerge from the Commoners.

...No, I had to stay calm. Perhaps "superior" was the wrong word; "deranged" was more fitting.

Certainly, the skill required to cultivate crops so thoroughly in such a Barren Land was wonderful. At the same time, the question of why he was growing Meat in a field remained. It was nothing short of madness. I felt compelled to label it the work of a Demon.

Yet, I couldn't ignore the pragmatic reality: if Meat could be harvested like grain, the issue of Military Provisions would vanish overnight. While it looked like insanity on the surface, the strategy behind it was terrifyingly well-considered.

And then there was the other matter...

"The Meat is delicious today, too. Baaa~"

It seemed livestock was being raised here as well. As I watched a sheep of impossible proportions happily munching on the field-grown Meat, a cold shiver of dread ran down my spine. This was no longer just a curiosity; it was a threat.

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