I surveyed the fields. While it was largely thanks to the Universal Farming Tool, the crops had ripened beautifully. I was satisfied, though I wasn't without my regrets.
Right in the middle of the wheat field sat three plump, well-grown watermelons. I knew exactly why they were there. I must have been thinking about watermelons while I was tilling the wheat with the Universal Farming Tool. It was a clear lapse in concentration—the sort of thing that happens once or twice a year... well, maybe closer to ten. I really needed to reflect on my focus.
Furthermore, these weren't just watermelons that had bloomed out of season; they had fully matured. If this were a summer field, it wouldn't be an issue, but since it was autumn, I hadn't planned to ship any. That meant they had to be consumed within the village, but with so few of them, I wondered how to divide them up fairly.
Then I noticed a stake driven into the ground next to the fruit with the Fairy Queen’s name written on it. I asked one of Zabuton's children guarding the field about it, and they told me the Fairy Queen had discovered the watermelons before they even bore fruit and had been diligently watering and caring for them ever since.
I see. I wish she had said something, but since she was the one who did the work, I suppose it was fine. I decided to give the watermelons to her. I did, however, need to warn her not to brag to the other children. Unlike in the summer, I couldn't just produce more if they ran out.
Just as the thought crossed my mind, the Fairy Queen appeared, leading a large group of children. The moment they spotted me, the children ducked behind the Queen, using her as a human shield. Their coordination was impressive, even if it left the Queen looking quite flustered. I recognized a few of my own children among the group—there was no need for them to hide. I wasn't angry with them. It didn't even look like they had stepped into the field yet.
Or had they done something else they expected to be scolded for? If they were hiding because they’d seen the Fairy Queen sneaking into the field and hadn't reported it... well, that wasn't ideal, but since she was currently doing her best to protect them, betraying her wouldn't be right either. Regardless, I had no intention of attacking anyone, so a shield was unnecessary.
I handed the watermelons over to the Queen and the children. However, the number of children far outweighed the amount of fruit. I wondered how they would manage; even if they sliced them thin, the portions would be tiny.
I needn't have worried. They had already come up with a plan. Rather than eating the three watermelons as they were, they processed them into syrup to pour over shaved ice. That solved the quantity issue. The real problem was the season. The autumn harvest was nearly upon us, which meant winter was just around the corner. While the days were still warm, one couldn't be too careful. I warned them not to eat too much and chill their bodies.
I ended up operating the machine the Mountain Elves had built to make the shaved ice for everyone. I told them again to watch their intake; if they got sick, I was the one who would get scolded.
Once the shaved ice was distributed, I returned to the mansion. The main harvest was still a few days away. I put the machine back in its place and handed the leftover watermelon syrup to the High Ogre Maids in the kitchen. I told them they could use it for cooking or just as a sugar substitute.
They looked so incredibly serious that I had to clarify. "Wait, this isn't a challenge or a formal task from me. Don't take it so hard. Just relax and see if you can find a use for it. If I were actually testing you, I would have provided a lot more than this. It’s just a waste to throw it out."
After pushing the syrup onto the maids, I made my escape from the kitchen.
In the mansion's drawing room, I found Giral and Guronde already huddled under the kotatsu. They’d brought it out early, but I didn't mind. Guronde was meticulously peeling sweet chestnuts. Once finished, she would toss them into one of the mouths of the Orthros, Ol, who was waiting expectantly. Ol wagged his tails happily, already looking for the next nut.
Sweet chestnuts—the small, sugary kind often sold as "Tianjin Amaguri." They were delicious. Initially, the chestnuts I grew in the village were the large variety, which were wonderful for chestnut rice and enriched our meals. But one day, I’d realized something was missing.
To be honest, I used to think sweet chestnuts were just large chestnuts that hadn't finished growing. When I discovered they were actually a different variety, I used the Universal Farming Tool while wishing specifically for them. I was quite proud of myself for noticing.
Cooking them had been a struggle at first. I knew enough not to let them explode, but their small size made roasting or steaming them difficult. Eventually, I remembered the traditional method and figured out how to roast them using heated stones. I’d debated whether to add sugar, since it's usually just for the aroma and glaze rather than flavor, but since we produced plenty of sugar in the village, I decided not to be stingy.
The results were delicious, but because they didn't stay fresh long and were a bit of a pain to peel, they hadn't quite become a hit in the village yet.
Among the residents, Guronde was particularly skilled at peeling them. Her sense of force was perfect, and her meticulous personality meant she carefully removed every last bit of the bitter inner skin. Hakuren and Rusty tended to just crush the nuts between their fingers out of impatience, while Lu and Tia grew visibly irritated with the sticky skins. Frau was also quite good at it, but she was constantly pestered by those who couldn't do it themselves.
Currently, the High Elves were working on a tool to crack the shells, modifying the hidden weapons they wore on their thumbs. If that worked, the nuts might finally gain popularity. The Mountain Elves had already perfected an automatic sweet chestnut cooker and were even considering selling them outside the village.
"By the way, Guronde," I said, "Giral is sitting right next to Ol with his mouth open too. Are you going to give him any?"
Apparently, they were in the middle of a fight. The cause was a disagreement over their views on the relationship between Gural and Hiichiro. I told them they should make up soon. As for Ol, I had to tell him to stop smugly flaunting every chestnut he received to Giral. It was only going to cause more trouble.
After finishing my rounds, it was time for dinner, so I headed to the mansion's dining hall. Tonight's meal was pan-fried gyoza. They were arranged beautifully on large platters. I had been the one to introduce the dish, but the High Ogre Maids' research had reached the point where their gyoza were far superior to mine. It was a bit humbling, but I wasn't about to complain about better food.
Wait.
"High Ogre Maids, front and center!" I called out to the kitchen. "Why is there watermelon syrup inside some of these gyoza?"
A sense of playfulness? I told them that while playfulness was important, I didn't need a gambling element in my dinner. I told them to reflect on that. When I asked how many they’d "rigged," the answer was ten.
That was quite a lot. Needless to say, dinner was a bit rowdy that night.
Snippet from the Late Chestnut Cooking Era: High Ogre Maid: "If you nick the shell of the nut, it won't explode." Children: "Ehh? But I don't see a nick anywhere!" High Ogre Maid: "Look closely at the top of the nut. See? Right here." Children: "Ohh! You're right!"
Snippet from the Early Chestnut Cooking Era: High Ogre Maid: "Chestnut dishes? Very well. I shall go fetch the shields." Village Head: "……"