The Strongest Farmer in Another World ~I'm a "Farmer", Not a Demon King! ~ - Chapter 482

The Strongest Farmer in Another World ~I’m a “Farmer”, Not a Demon King! ~

Chapter 482   Hungry child

“Sofia… No, that’s not my intention. Helping a stranger here won’t solve hunger, and saving an entire village is no different from helping one person. Besides, unless we address the fundamental cause, I don’t think making food with skills, even for the whole village, would have any lasting effect. It just doesn’t seem meaningful.”

“I see. If that’s what Vesnar-sama wishes, feel free to do as you please.”

Her words sound somewhat loaded.

It’s as if the words are acknowledging my thoughts, yet at the same time, they sound like a contradiction.

Is she reproaching my thoughts?

Thinking so, I was about to ask, but when I looked up, Sofia’s eyes were directly fixed on me, causing me to involuntarily stop my words.

What was Sofia thinking when she said that?

…No, I should talk. There’s no way to know what she truly thinks just by pondering like this. I’ve learned that it’s important to discuss and convey our thoughts to each other.

From the perspective of someone from Karakas, openly sharing one’s thoughts might be seen as revealing weakness or exposing vulnerabilities. It could be interpreted as being feeble or spineless.

But Sofia is a comrade, and Kyle and Bell here are also comrades. It doesn’t matter if they perceive it as weakness; I can share my thoughts with them, and even if it truly is a sign of weakness, I’m fine doing that with them.

So, I’ll articulate it properly. I’ll let them know how I think, what I feel.

“…Honestly, I think it’s okay to help. But the reasons I just mentioned aren’t entirely untrue. Helping one person or one village won’t change anything. It’s hypocritical to save someone or a village here while ignoring others. It’s just momentary self-satisfaction.”

Even if I help, it will only provide temporary relief. Moreover, after experiencing the relief of being saved once and satisfying hunger, facing a difficult situation again would make it even more challenging. The extent of that despair is hard to imagine.

So, I sometimes think that it might be more compassionate not to help from the beginning.

“It’s okay to be hypocritical. You should do as you please without worrying about others’ opinions.”

Do as I please, huh? In that case…

“Vesnar-sama. We will be staying in this village today, but I apologize. Could you please avoid getting too close to the village?”

As we were discussing like this, the door of the carriage was suddenly knocked, signaling the end of the discussion with the village chief. Canon spoke those words to me.

Peeking out from the window, I saw not only Canon but also the Hero, Darado, and Lina… well, the Hero’s party was assembled.

However, the Hero seemed unwilling to speak, wearing a slightly troubled expression while gazing at us. He took a step back, silently waiting.

Canon calls me Vesnar-sama, not the Demon King, but that’s because we are in the Holy Kingdom. Changing the way she addresses me is due to the potential panic that might ensue if they hear that the Demon King has arrived in such a dangerous and hungry situation. However, there is no trace of friendship in that change.

It’s obvious, but being called by my name with so much hostility and malice is a new experience for me. It’s quite a unique and valuable experience.

“…Is it because of the village’s situation?”

“Yes, well. It might be unsightly, and the villagers are likely on edge right now, so there’s a possibility of causing unnecessary confusion due to that. I don’t want to inconvenience you, so I’d appreciate it if you could avoid getting too close to the village.”

“Well, I don’t mind that, but… is the situation really so bad that problems would arise just because an outsider has come?”

From what I saw earlier, it’s obvious that things are terrible, but even so, the villagers were the ones we interacted with. Perhaps, if dealing with an outsider, they could be more normal?

Even if they could respond normally to an outsider, the fundamental nature of the villagers is no different from those in Karakas. However, if they can handle a situation normally, there should still be some food available.

Thinking this way, I asked Canon to gather information about the current situation.

“The abnormalities started about six months ago, so nearly half of the pre-harvest crops were affected. Overall, there’s still some reserve, but seeing this situation, everyone is trying to limit unnecessary consumption and hoarding. Those who are well-off are also buying in excess. In such a case, it may not reach the end-users evenly, and there are places relying on their own produced goods with limited circulation…”

“Although not openly acknowledged, there are already cases of starvation, aren’t there?”

“Yes.”

Even though this village doesn’t seem to exude a sense of desperation to the extent of having starvation cases, it might just be that this place is relatively better. However, it is still close to its limits, and the future is uncertain. There is a real possibility that we might inadvertently stimulate the situation, leading to an emotional outburst.

“Well, fine. I understand the reasons. While I’m here, I’ll try to stay away from the village as much as possible.”

I don’t want to cause any problems, and since I don’t have any specific business that requires going to the village, I agreed with Canon’s words.

Upon hearing my response, Canon seemed to breathe a sigh of relief and nodded, expressing her gratitude.

“Thank you very much.”

“We’ll depart tomorro—”

“Ah!”

Upon hearing Canon’s gratitude, I intended to discuss our future plans, but my words came to a halt when I heard the surprised voice of the hero.

“What’s up, Hero?—”

“Please give me food.”

Is there something going on? I was about to ask that while following the direction of the hero’s gaze, but once again, my words were stopped by what was said.

“Please give me food. My stomach is empty. I haven’t eaten for several days… even a piece of bread would be fine.”

These words were not directed towards me or Canon. They weren’t even meant for the hero. In the first place, with our guards around, it’s impossible for someone to approach us so closely.

However, even though we are being guarded, those on the outermost periphery of the guards can approach us and speak to us.

Normally, such a thin voice wouldn’t be audible, but we are high-rank, and I, being in the tenth rank, can hear it if I consciously direct my attention. Despite the surrounding noise, we were able to make out the voice.

While Canon and I were talking, she turned her face to understand the reason for the hero raising his voice. Upon recognizing the child’s presence, her face twitched slightly, and she let out a small, barely audible click of her tongue.

This click of the tongue was so subtle that it only occurred inside her mouth, a truly faint sound. Yet, at this distance, it was still audible.

“…I apologize. I’ll be excusing myself for a moment.”

However, she must have thought that the click of her tongue was not audible to me, or perhaps it was an unconscious act even she wasn’t aware of. Anyway, without saying anything about the tongue click, Canon turned back to us, bowed with a somewhat apologetic expression, and quickly headed towards the child and the knights.

“Leave. I understand you’re hungry, but this person is a guest of the Supreme Pontiff.”

Although it was a stern remark to the child, it might still be considered a relatively gentle approach. In reality, considering the actions towards a king of a nation, it wouldn’t be strange to be cut down the moment they approached. Even if it didn’t go that far, they would likely be punched, driven away, or captured.

Under normal circumstances, Canon would probably have simply killed the child. Based on the impressions I’ve gathered so far, she possesses the cruelty to carry out such an act.

Nevertheless, the reason Canon attempted to handle the situation more leniently might be because I was present. Alternatively, it could be because the hero was there, but well, that part doesn’t matter much.

Regardless of who the other person is, no one takes pleasure in witnessing the death of a living being, especially if it’s a fellow human. If someone were to find joy in that, they would no longer be ‘human’ but a monster in human form.

“Canon, there’s no need to speak so harshly to a child…”

However, the hero seemed dissatisfied with Canon’s attempt to resolve the situation peacefully and placed a hand on her shoulder, offering words of reprimand. But…

“No, Yuuki. Regardless of whether it’s a child or not, certain things need to be said clearly. Moreover, if it involves not just our country but also entangles a foreign dignitary, I cannot refrain from speaking up.”

Canon shook her head in response to the hero’s words and spoke to the disobedient child as if admonishing a misbehaving child.

However, the reality is in line with what Canon says.

“Originally, coming this far and addressing us should have resulted in losing one’s head. It’s not a situation where leniency is warranted.”

Having been told so, the hero could only fall silent with a frustrated expression, unable to retort.

I thought that responding forcefully and trying to help here is what a “Hero” should do, but this Hero says nothing. Perhaps it’s because they have a reasonable understanding of the world and grasp at least a fragment of politics. That’s why he can comprehend Canon’s words and may even believe he is in the wrong.

Alternatively, maybe he received some scolding, especially considering the proposal to forcibly bring me over and his behavior in that situation. However, it wouldn’t have been Canon who scolded him but someone higher up, perhaps from the “higher echelons.” They likely conveyed information about us to the higher-ups of the Holy Kingdom, and it wouldn’t be surprising if he was reprimanded during that communication.

“I’ll say it again. Leave.”

Satisfied with the situation, Canon once again turned her face towards the child and uttered coldly. The child, perhaps realizing the futility of staying any longer, silently departed.