The trees had grown thick with green, signaling that summer was drawing near.
At last, it was the season to harvest the wheat.
I’d heard that the wheat I’d grown was coming along well.
But I wanted to see the Wheat Field with my own eyes, so I asked Father to let me visit the farms around Northernford.
Father gave his permission, but Liam ended up accompanying me.
The territory was perfectly safe, so wasn’t this a bit overprotective?
We set out from home, passed through the streets of Northernford, and came out onto the highway that led to the Capital.
We rode in a carriage, jolting harshly along the bumpy road.
It couldn’t be helped since it wasn’t paved, but I wished the path could be a little smoother.
On both sides of the highway, houses and fields dotted the landscape.
After a while, a gentle hill appeared ahead.
I’d heard that wheat fields stretched out beyond that hill.
Would the wheat have ripened as it should?
My heart thudded as we climbed the hill.
Once we reached the top, we got out of the carriage.
As my view opened up, I looked out to see golden wheat ripening in every direction.
Blown by the early summer breeze, the wheat heads swayed like gentle waves.
“I’m so glad. They ripened just right.”
Relief washed over me and I lost all strength, plopping down onto the ground.
“Master William, your wheat is truly splendid. Last year was a poor harvest, so this year’s bounty brings all the more joy.”
Liam stood beside me as I sat, gazing deeply at the wheat swaying in the wind.
***
A few days later, as my family gathered for breakfast as usual, Smith the steward burst in, visibly excited.
“Master! This year, every farm in the domain has a bumper crop!”
That was wonderful news.
“Oh, forgive me. I didn’t mean to interrupt your family breakfast.”
“It’s all right. Good news is best delivered quickly,” Father smiled, waving off Smith’s apology.
“Still, for every area to have a bumper crop when the drought continues is remarkable. This is all thanks to you, Will. You’ve truly done well.”
“As expected of Will-chan. Well done!”
“Big Brother, that’s amazing.”
Having my family and those around me so happy warmed my heart.
In my old world, I’d never been praised or appreciated like this.
I was really glad the wheat had ripened properly.
On the other hand, it seemed the Kingdom as a whole had another poor harvest this year due to the drought.
Two years in a row of poor yields would have serious consequences.
However, the neighboring Cardiff County suffered little from the drought, since Father had shared surplus seeds of the new wheat variety.
Father looked delighted as he told me that Count Cardiff had sent thanks, saying they’d managed to avoid a second consecutive year of bad harvests.
I wondered if Letty was happy too.
***
News of this year’s bumper crop spread like wildfire, and the entire domain buzzed with excitement.
The faces of people on the streets were bright and cheerful.
“They say we’ve got a bumper crop this year!”
“Thank goodness! I wondered what would happen if we had another poor harvest.”
At the market in Northernford, stall vendors called out in lively voices, “Celebrating the bumper crop—twenty percent off today!”
Even at the Workshop, talk of the harvest dominated the air.
“Lord William is truly amazing.”
“We’re lucky to work under someone so talented,” the artisans chimed in, getting all fired up.
Getting too much praise was a little embarrassing.
Speaking of the Workshop, what made me happiest was seeing Teo’s progress.
After all his practice, he’d finally managed to use his Production Skill to produce wheat just like mine.
When he reported, “I did it!”
I was thrilled too.
He might not be able to create brand-new wheat varieties, but now he could make wheat identical to the new kind I’d grown.
Next time I try to develop a new strain, I’m sure he’ll be a real help.
Teo truly does have a gift for Production Skills.
Being a Dwarf Clan member who wasn’t good at smithing seemed to be a complex for him, but I thought his talent more than made up for it.
Across the domain, the wheat harvest proceeded smoothly, and carts loaded with wheat arrived from every direction.
Part of the wheat brought in was paid to the Fairchild Family as tax, but most was brought to Northernford’s market to be sold.
The money earned would be used to buy things only available in the Capital, or so I heard.
With all these people gathering, Northernford was livelier than ever this year.
Thanks to the bumper crop, everyone wore a smile.
Yes, Production Skill really is a wonderful thing.