When I was Reincarnated into a Game World, I Was a Farmer’s Son - Chapter 45
Chapter 45
It seems that the vegetables we are growing in our field are affected by a disease called ‘Magical Withering Disease’. When I use the Appraisal skill on the vegetables, it explained that the disease is caused by the disturbance of mana flow in the earth’s veins. However, it’s unclear to what extent the disease can affect our life from the Appraisal skill alone.
Judging from the stern expressions and atmosphere of my parents, it seems to be quite serious.
Overwhelmed by an indescribable anxiety, I decided to stop my routine of hunting monsters and wait for my dad to return.
My dad went to talk to the villagers around noon, but he didn’t come back for a while after rushing out of the fields.
Eventually, dad returns home in the evening, but his expression remains grim.
“Welcome back, Dad.”
“I’m home. Mylene, Neil, can we talk?”
Both me and mom nod in silence.
“The vegetables that Neil found during the day seems to be affected by the Murasaki disease.”
Murasaki disease?
“You might not be familiar with it, Neil. It’s a disease where crops turn purple and eventually wither. Moreover, the disease spreads to the soil, and crops won’t grow in this area for a long time.”
“For how long?”
“Roughly around 10 years.”
“10 years!?”
Dad continues his explanation. It seems that the name ‘Magical Withering Disease’ displayed when I use the Appraisal skill on the vegetables is not known as it is in this world, instead it is known as ‘Murasaki disease’.
According to Dad’s explanation, the cause is still unknown, but the crops and the soil around it will turn purple and eventually wither.
Murasaki disease quickly spreads to other areas once its symptoms are found. However, it’s strange that there are many cases where half of the fields are affected by Murasaki disease while the other half remains unaffected. Could it be related to the mana flow in the Earth’s vein the Appraisal skill mentioned?
Interestingly, it seems that the beginning of Machikane Village’s development is somehow connected to Murasaki disease. When my great-grandfather was in his youth, there was an outbreak of Murasaki disease in various parts of the continent.
Due to the inability to grow crops, there was a shortage of food in various places, and efforts were made to explore lands which were not affected by the Murasaki disease. One of those places turned out to be Machikane Village.
It seems that people from my parent’s generation often heard about it from their parents when they were young.
When my dad arrived at the village chief’s place, several villagers had already gathered, each having found signs of the Murasaki disease in their own fields.
They confirmed the situation, told other villagers about it, and checked all the fields in the village together. They found areas affected by the Murasaki disease in various places in the villagers’ fields.
It seems that, they all did what me and my mom did. They all carried out the infected crops along with their soil, set them on fire, and disposed them.
It is said that burning the soil along with the crops reduces the spread of the disease, but its effectiveness is still uncertain.
After disposing them, the villagers agree that they have no choice but to wait and observe the situation. The village chief immediately set off with several villagers to report this matter to the lord at Northern town.
“Well, things will work out somehow! Fortunately, there are only few areas in our fields affected by Murasaki disease, for now at least.”
“What do you mean by ‘somehow’? What will we do if Murasaki disease spreads?”
Dad and Mom argued back and forth, but they didn’t find any solutions or answers. They continued to argue all night long.