I once read a manga essay about how potatoes sprouted from the peeled potatoes that were thrown away in the garden, so maybe it was similar to that…perhaps?
The entire thing, a Project Anything type of story, was my personal favorite.
It was some sort of fantasy or otherworldly project.
But Forli-san’s story was very informative and interesting. Before I knew it, we had entered a small town and the carriage stopped at the inn where we were going to have lunch, but I was completely absorbed in the story until then.
“Young Lady is a very unusual and studious young lady,”
Forli-san laughed, but I guess he saw that I was feeling lonely after being away from my big brother, so he told me a particularly funny story.
Thank you for caring about me as the granddaughter of your best friend.
***
As I looked out the carriage window after lunch and before leaving the small town, I thought about the information from Forli about the crops grown in the area.
This area was still close to the northern capital and had been cultivated a long time ago. Beyond the endless green ridges of what looked like potatoes, I saw tall bushes of something like sweet corn.
In my previous life, both potatoes and sweet corn were brought to Europe from South America during the Age of Exploration and Discovery. They arrived in the Imperial Kingdom about 200 years ago, when trade with the other side of the Mountain Ridge of the Gods was established.
And….
The field was still far away, but the buzzing sound could be heard from afar. Leaves were being planted.
“Young lady, those are sugar beets. …But something is making a lot of noise.”
Making a lot of noise? A vegetable.
I somehow felt bad for the sugar beet in my previous life. But there was nothing else that fit the bill.
I wondered how it works. I wouldn’t expect a leaf to have muscles or tendons or anything like that. Magic beasts were a mystery.
However, I heard that plant-type magical beasts, when they reach a proper adult form, slither out of the ground and walk slowly. The sugar beet apparently didn’t grow up to be able to walk, but just wiggled around as it was planted, so let’s just say that it was less mysterious…yet.
Ahhhh, I didn’t know how to describe that thing!
“Um… Forli-san. It would seem to be an unusual crop, so how did it spread so quickly?”
Even in my previous life, when potatoes and tomatoes were first introduced to Europe, people were wary of them and did not spread them that easily.
No, potatoes and tomatoes originated in other countries had already taken root in the imperial lands, and sugar beets originated in Yurinova, so the conditions were different… but…it was all so confusing!
Forli chuckled at Ekaterina’s words.
“It was introduced somewhat forcibly about 30 years ago in the land directly under the duke’s control, and the peasants have grown accustomed to it, but even after that long, it has not spread to the landowners, such as the small lords and other landowners.”
Forli continued.
“We can buy it at a good price because it is an expensive commodity when processed into sugar, but only those who need to earn money due to their own circumstances are willing to grow it.”
Ah, I knew it.
But maybe that explains why Yurinova managed to get a near monopoly on the production of sugar beets.
“That’s not surprising, since sugar beets are the favorite food of many omnivorous magical beasts. Therefore, it is not possible to grow it in areas close to the habitat of the magical beasts.”
Ah, yes. Even in my previous life, the problem of beast damage was a major issue, but I imagine it’s even worse in this world.
Just then, the carriage stopped.
“Young Lady, Sir Forli. I apologize for the sudden interruption.”
The person who called out from outside the carriage was Oleg Gardia, who was leading the escort knights. He was the eldest of the twin sons of Laiza, the housekeeper of Yurinova Castle. The twins shared their mother’s dark purple hair and fine features, as well as their father’s strong physique as vice-captain of the Yurinova knights, giving them the best of both worlds.
