The autumn harvest began.
While we worked diligently, the most striking sight in the fields was the Artie Horses—our multi-purpose humanoid mobile heavy equipment. Crim led the way, climbing into the small Unit No. 1, Siegfried, to begin her work. She could dig up vast swaths of land faster than any human hands, making her a tremendous help. As expected of heavy machinery, the efficiency was undeniable, and better yet, she was careful not to damage the crops.
Meanwhile, four standard-sized Artie Horses operated by the Mountain Elves were stationed around the perimeter, hauling massive loads of harvested crops all at once. Since there was a natural limit to how fast we could actually pull things from the ground, the four machines didn't need to run at full capacity; instead, the elves worked in alternating shifts of two. Regardless, they had become a formidable force in our agricultural operations. I was truly grateful, and more than that, I was relieved that there was finally a practical use for them. Some people had been treating them as nothing more than toys for the Mountain Elves and me.
Because it was autumn, the other villages were also in the middle of their own harvests. Crops intended for external sale arrived at the Village of the Great Tree in a steady stream. This was where the Ice Monster truly shone. He generated several massive ice pillars inside a large shed, effectively turning it into a giant refrigerator. It was incredible! Furthermore, when he really focused his power, the shed became a freezer. Simply wonderful!
However, I did worry if he was getting bored. "Are you okay in there?" I asked. Apparently, he was passing the time by working out number puzzles. I saw him deep in thought, carving equations directly into the ice. I promised to bring him some paper and boards so he could record his work properly. I also reminded him not to hesitate if he wanted to come outside; I had no intention of keeping him cooped up. Besides, the shed was only a temporary storage site; the crops would only be there for two weeks at most.
Yuri also came by to lend a hand. She took over for one of the Mountain Elves in an Artie Horse, and as expected, her control was masterful. I could tell which machine she was piloting just by the way it moved. In terms of sheer skill, she was likely on par with Crim. Watching Crim’s efficiency, the other children worked extra hard, refusing to be outdone.
As had become our custom, I prioritized harvest help over classroom studies during this season. This was based on the parents' belief that children should learn to help with the family business alongside their academic education. While it wasn't exactly "off-campus learning," I figured the experience was valuable in its own right. It was better for them to be involved than to sit it out, and they seemed to be having fun.
Once the main harvest was over, I left the final logistics to the Civil Official Girls. I took the opportunity to plant a small amount of winter crops for myself. Crim had expressed a desire to try her hand at farming with her small Artie Horse, so I gave her a plot of her own. Of course, I made sure to till the soil with my Universal Farming Tool first. Without that, nothing would grow properly in this region. I decided to work hard so I wouldn't lose to Crim, and I made a note to prepare some seedlings and seeds for her field as well.
With the harvest concluded, the village shifted its focus toward the upcoming Martial Arts Tournament. Everyone was on the move. I wanted to join in the preparations, but I was tied down in the Village of the Great Tree with administrative work for Village Five. Most of it consisted of reading through documents for approval or confirmation.
"I'm terribly sorry for the trouble, Village Head," Nana said.
"Don't worry about it," I replied.
Normally, I would have gone to Village Five myself, but Nana had traveled all the way to the Great Tree to bring the reports to me. It was a huge help.
"Ahaha. Honestly, if you showed your face in Village Five right now, everything would descend into chaos," she explained.
"Is it really that bad?"
"Village Five is in the middle of its own harvest, and crops from the Village of the Great Tree are piling up everywhere. We're sitting on a massive amount of trade goods. While the Goroun and Dalfon Companies have direct routes and understand the hierarchy, we've been bombarded with appointment requests from every other merchant guild imaginable."
Ah. I remembered Yoko telling me recently that things were fine as they were when I suggested visiting more often. This was why.
"Right now, we're holding them off by saying the Village Head is absent," Nana continued. "If you actually appeared..."
"I get it, I get it. I have no intention of causing a riot." Even if I did go, I’d probably just end up saying "Talk to Yoko" anyway.
"Thank you. There's also the issue of your escort," Nana added.
"Security? Are Galf, Daga, and Reginleiv not enough?"
"It's not that. It's just that if Village Five didn't provide its own security detail for you, it would be a diplomatic problem. And everyone is too busy with the harvest to spare the manpower right now."
"That makes sense. Well, let's get through this here, then." I wanted to get Nana back to Village Five as soon as possible, so I hurried through the paperwork.
I picked up a wooden board detailing various reports. After scanning a few, one point caught my eye, and I decided to confirm it with Nana. "About the companions of the Third Princess of the Gozran Kingdom... It says they handled internal affairs back in their home country. Why haven't we hired them as civil officials yet? Even if we’re cautious because they’re foreigners, we could put them in a department that doesn't handle secrets."
"About that... when we offered, they actually turned us down, claiming they weren't capable enough."
"Really?"
"Yes. The Gozran Kingdom was famous among its neighbors for its excellent administration, but apparently, that was only by their standards. Compared to Village Five’s current operations, they felt they couldn't keep up."
"Well, surely they're better than a complete amateur?"
"If they're only 'slightly better than an amateur,' hiring them during our peak season is a risk for everyone involved. Yoko-sama plans to have those who are interested undergo on-site training once things quiet down."
"I see. That’s reasonable. Next..." I moved on to the next report. "This is about the single-seater airships. Weren't those just prototypes for larger construction? Why is there a plan for mass production?"
"Because they were incredibly popular," Nana said with a smile.
"They were?"
"Yes. To those who cannot fly on their own, it's a life-changing experience. Even the village council members were lining up for a turn to enjoy the view. I flew in one myself. It really is wonderful."
"I-I see. But I see here that the lack of an escort is being raised as a safety concern."
"Exactly. That's why establishing safe flight routes has become a priority."
"I see. So it's an 'urgent matter,' is it?"
"It is. We’ve already received several proposals." Nana pointed to a board I hadn't read yet. "These describe a light transport route restricted to the skies above Village Five and a sightseeing route connecting Village Five with Shashato City. The transport route would be a trial run for the mail delivery business you suggested. We'll start by moving letters within the village to see how it performs."
"Hmph."
"The sightseeing route is purely for entertainment. Since flying alone is risky, the plan is to have them move in small squadrons."
"I see. But wouldn't a large airship be more efficient for that?"
"The appeal is being able to pilot it yourself," Nana explained.
I could understand the sentiment. Still, if we were going to increase production, we’d need to expand the docking areas.
"That’s covered in this proposal here," Nana said, pointing to a revised plan for land acquisition in Village Five. It called for significantly more space than the original draft. "It’s also a safety measure. The Mountain Elves advised us that takeoffs and landings are the most dangerous moments, so we need extra clearance."
"That’s a good point. Oh, while I'm thinking of it—whenever they have a spare moment, could you ask the Kissinlee couple for advice on airship operations?"
Nana’s expression flickered. "The Kissinlee couple...?"
"Ah, sorry. I forgot you had a bit of history there. That was insensitive of me."
"No, please. We are all currently working for the sake of the Village Head. To be honest, I can't say all my resentment has vanished, but you shouldn't have to worry about that."
"Don't force yourself. I'll ask Miyo to handle it instead. It’s not like we're guaranteed to get any vital secrets from them anyway."
"My apologies."
"Don't worry about it. Now, about this... 'Artie Horse Duels at the Stadium'?"
This had Yuri’s fingerprints all over it.
"I'm afraid this is impossible for now," I said.
"Impossible?"
"Replacement parts. There are certain components we just can't manufacture yet. If they break, the whole thing stops working. Siegfried—Unit No. 1—was like that before it merged with Crim's soul. No matter how much we emphasize safety, a duel between ten-meter-tall machines is going to involve collisions. Something will break. Maybe if we had more spare parts or a larger fleet of functioning units, I'd consider it, but it’s too risky right now."
Besides, we lacked skilled pilots. It was unclear if Crim could operate anything other than her specific unit, which meant Yuri was our only real pilot. The Mountain Elves were still quite stiff and clumsy at the controls.
"We could train more pilots or produce pilot suits, but without the machines to actually fly, it’s all a bit premature. I think they’re great for parades and festivals, though."
"I understand. That is a shame, though," Nana sighed.
"What, did you want to see them fight?"
"Of course! Machines of that scale clashing... the sheer impact would be breathtaking."
"I agree. I’d love to see it too, if I could... but I can't risk losing the four we have. I wish we had an expert in Artie Horse technology."
Given how ancient they were, maybe I should check with Progenitor-san or Versa to see if they knew any old specialists. I’d have to remember to ask them next time.