The Strongest Farmer in Another World ~I'm a "Farmer", Not a Demon King! ~ - Chapter 536

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

Chapter 536   Deal with the King of the Holy Kingdom

“…Indeed, this is an outrageous amount. The members of the church would likely not accept this.”

“I’d rather they didn’t accept it.”

If the church were to agree to the amount we stated, our plan would collapse.

Well, it wouldn’t collapse completely, but its effectiveness would certainly diminish.

That’s why we decided to set such an absurd price.

The church doesn’t own any land, so they can’t pay with it. They might be able to use the land freely, but the owner is ultimately the country, and the king. The church simply borrows it as they please. Therefore, it’s not usable as payment for the church.

However, if that’s the case, they would have to pay a substantial amount equivalent to the land in something other than land. The money-loving, self-serving folks of the church wouldn’t go to such lengths to buy food.

Of course, even if we solve the current crisis, the country won’t be able to collect food for years while it’s still barren. So, having ten years’ worth of food secured would be beneficial in the long run.

Well, paying the amount for ten years upfront might be tough, and at first glance, it might seem like an absurd amount.

“That’s true. However… with an amount like this, it’s a bit tough for us as well.”

“That’s why it’s said that we’re making sacrifices for the sake of the people.”

“Indeed. But that’s only if it means we can save the people.”

If this plan goes well, we should be able to undermine the authority of the church. At the very least, there shouldn’t be no damage at all. That’s why the king intends to go along with my proposal and offer national treasures and land as compensation.

But if we can’t save the people with it, then it would just be wasting money.

If that happens, instead of overturning this situation, it might even destroy the future of… no, of all of us who support the king. That’s why this king must not be deceived. Even if he isn’t deceived, saying “we tried but it didn’t work” after paying the money won’t cut it.

But, there’s no problem with that point.

I have no intention to deceive, and there won’t be any failure after receiving the money.

While the aim might miss regarding the church, the current response to the citizens—namely, supplying food—can be fulfilled without any issues.

“That’s not a problem. You’re aware of my abilities, right?”

“I’ve heard that you can manipulate plants and freely produce food.”

“That’s correct.”

I had expected that they would already have some idea about my abilities, and as expected, they responded naturally. Well, with how flashy I’ve been using them, it’s only natural.

But well, it doesn’t matter since it’s something I already knew.

They probably don’t know the specifics of what I can do, and that’s fine.

“And there are two more things. Firstly, the prohibition of persecuting elves.”

When providing food, in addition to money and land, there’s something else I want as compensation. That’s this promise.

This time, I intend to dismantle the barrier and curse originating from the church, likely involving elves they have.

However, even if we deal with it this time, similar individuals might appear in the future. That’s why I want to ensure the safety of elves within the Holy Kingdom.

Nevertheless, even if we make a promise, it won’t be immediately honored. After all, there’s the time that has been accumulated until now. Breaking a flow that has lasted for hundreds of years is incredibly difficult, far more so than just putting it into words.

However, if it’s explicitly codified into law, then anything is possible afterward.

Besides, elves have long lifespans, so by the time of the current elves’ children or grandchildren, they should be able to interact normally.

But…

“…It’s difficult under the current circumstances. Even if I were to say something, the church wouldn’t acknowledge it. No, I don’t even have the position to say anything.”

“Even if you’re the king?”

“That’s right. If I were to say something against the church’s will, it would lead to the king being replaced.”

Normally, such matters are decided by the king. There would be discussions and many officials involved, but ultimately, the king decides, and if the king says so, it can be changed.

But that’s not possible here. In fact, he can’t even speak up. Considering the current positions of the church and the king, it’s not entirely surprising, but hearing it directly from the king makes me realize how dire the situation is.

But well, if the king were to be replaced, who would become the next king?

Logically, it should be the eldest son, but this country is a bit special in that regard. That part isn’t clear to me.

“By the way, can the next king be the cardinal’s eldest son?”

Despite being the king’s eldest son, being affiliated with the church as a cardinal essentially makes them a hostage. It’s to ensure that the king can’t do as he pleases. Moreover, it’s not just about being a hostage; it’s about preparing a convenient pawn through indoctrination from a young age, so they can be replaced whenever the current king becomes inconvenient.

They really do whatever they want, don’t they?

“That’s right. Because he is the crown prince of this country. There’s also the aspect of putting a collar on him so that the king doesn’t rebel against them.”

“But it seems like the collar is off, though.”

Even though they say it’s to prevent rebellion, there’s a king right in front of them openly talking about rebellion plans. Is that really okay?

“They’ve been sitting in their chairs for too long.”

They’re getting complacent.

Well, that makes sense, doesn’t it? They’ve been enforcing their rule for hundreds of years.

Their response to us hasn’t been particularly diplomatic, to say the least. Absolute authority, the assumption that they’re superior — that kind of attitude is evident in their responses.

Maybe things were different in the past, but the church now appears to be in a shameful state, lounging on their thrones.

“But if the church’s influence wanes and I can intervene, I’ll promise to end the persecution of elves and the prohibition of slavery.”

“I see. Then, that’s fine.”

It’s already decided that this king will truly become the ‘king of this country.’ After all, we’re cooperating for that purpose. So, for now, this promise is sufficient.

But there’s one more thing I want… no, I want permission for.

“There’s one more thing, though — the destruction of the barrier covering the Holy City.”

Of course, I’ll do it even if I don’t get permission. In that case, it might be troublesome to secretly break it down. So, it would be better if he just agreed openly.

“What…?”

However, the moment I said that, the king’s expression hardened, and he sharply stared at me as if questioning our true intentions.

“I want to make it clear that I don’t intend to invade this country or see it destroyed.”

Well, it wouldn’t bother me if it did get destroyed.

But regardless, I don’t want to break the barrier because I want it to be destroyed. I have a different purpose.

“…To rescue the elves?”

The king seemed to ponder my words for a moment but soon arrived at that conclusion.

However, the fact that he could give such an answer implies that he knows about the relationship between the barrier and the elves.

“You knew?”

“I wouldn’t say I know precisely. But even as a puppet, the king has access to certain information.”

Well, that makes sense. Whether it’s through oral tradition or documents, there must be something left behind. After all, they’re royalty. There must be one or two secrets. And indeed, the king in front of us harbors dissent towards the church. If it can’t be fulfilled in his reign, he’ll pass it on to the next. And one day, he’ll crush the church and reclaim the king’s power.

Some past kings probably had similar thoughts, so it wouldn’t be strange if they left behind what they learned.

“Furthermore, the church’s actions since this situation arose. They’ve been collecting elves forcefully, disregarding the nobles’ resentment. Why? It’s because there’s a use for elves in this current situation. However, the number of elves coming forward is too few. So, no matter how they plan to use the collected elves, they’ll need food. But the church’s consumption hasn’t changed much.”

“If there are people… if there are living beings, then there must be food needed.”

Under normal circumstances, it might have been possible to conceal and transport food, but that’s not feasible in this situation. After all, the entire country is facing a shortage of food.

In such a situation, if you try to obtain more food than usual, you’re bound to attract attention. Even though the king’s power could facilitate the monitoring of food flow, given the church’s watchful eye downwards.

“Furthermore, the effect of this barrier is peculiar. If it’s a barrier, it should only need to ward off external threats. Yet, it also has the effect of protecting plants. It would be more effective to redirect that power to defense. At least, that’s what I would instruct. Considering that it’s inconceivable for all plants to wither like this. So, there are two possibilities: either the barrier was originally designed to foresee this situation, or it was originally a barrier for plants, and the protective effect is an extra.”

Well, certainly, now that it’s mentioned, this barrier is said to be for protection, and I’ve read somewhere that in the past, the Holy Capital was able to withstand attacks thanks to the barrier. It should have been described as a ‘protective barrier’ there.

As someone who knows the reality of this barrier, I naturally assumed that it had protection for plants, but for those who don’t know, it must be confusing.