Overgeared

“It is interesting that this plant can’t be grown when all plants can be grown if provided soil, water, and a place exposed to sunlight.”

Their leaders were having a conversation. Then the Overgeared Queen’s bodyguard suddenly intervened and the expressions of the nobles became terrible. Some people mistakenly thought this was how the Overgeared Kingdom would treat the Xing Kingdom in the future and sighed.

Grid read their expressions and, in order to eliminate the misunderstandings, introduced Piaro, “This is Duke Piaro of the Overgeared Kingdom. He serves as the great general and a farmer. He is the most trusted and dependable friend of the Overgeared King.”

“......!”

Piaro’s heart grew in his chest. The most trusted and dependable friend...

He was happy and thrilled to know that Grid thought this way about him.

Buzz buzz.

Piaro gritted his teeth and opened his eyes to hold back his tears, while the nobles stared at him. They saw Piaro’s somewhat scary expression and thought he was confident because he was the great general.

The Xing King had already been introduced to Piaro and, in order to calm down the turbulent atmosphere, spoke, “After one toast, I was going to introduce Queen Irene. Then after two toasts, I was going to formally introduce Sir Piaro. However, my ministers lacked patience so it was advanced.”

“I’m sorry, Your Majesty!”

“Please understand!”

The nobles bowed and apologized to the Xing King, who had rebuked their attitude. No pretenses were felt. Everyone looked pained like they were shameful sinners. They seemed sincerely loyal to the Xing King. It was a testament to the Xing King’s power.

“It is my fault. I deserve punishment since it is reprehensible for a servant to intervene in Your Majesties’ conversation without permission.”

Piaro was also courteous to the Xing King. The other side was the ruler of a kingdom Grid personally made a blood alliance with. It was natural to be respectful. The Xing King smiled and introduced Piaro to the nobles of Xing, “As the queen said, Sir Piaro is the noble who holds the greatest military power in the Overgeared Kingdom. Ministers, you can’t ignore Sir Piaro.”

“I will keep that in mind, Your Majesty.”

The Xing King introduced Piaro warmly and the nobles answered vigorously. All of them were turning away from reality. They obviously heard the words of the Overgeared Queen, who introduced Piaro as the great general and a farmer, but they tried to regard it as a mistake.

Grid confirmed Piaro’s somewhat sad expression and clicked his tongue. ‘Should I have introduced him as the Minister of Agriculture instead of a farmer? Then people wouldn't have doubted their ears.’

Piaro’s identity was a farmer and he was more pleased to be called a farmer than a duke or a general. Grid seriously thought that he would need to create the position of Minister of Agriculture for Piaro’s foreign activities. Suddenly, Administrator Rabbit’s face popped up in his mind. ‘I think he will object to Piaro being given a salary increase...’

Well, it was something that needs to be agreed upon later. Grid shook off thoughts and requested of the Xing King, “I would like to visit the walnut forest as soon as the banquet is over.”

“It will be sunset soon. Don’t you want to rest for the day?”

Of course he wanted to rest. His physical condition wasn’t good because he was overworked by Piaro during the trip and then fought the moment they arrived here. However, he didn’t want to waste time when considering the grandmaster’s future visit.

“It is a tenet of the Overgeared royal family to not put off today’s work to tomorrow.”

“Indeed... how wonderful. I understand. I will guide you.”

***

the walnut forest was different than imagined. He was looking forward to a forest dyed with gold where golden walnuts were hanging from the trees. However, the green forest

would only be golden walnuts, but this

were surrounded by green flesh, not gold. Like a damned probability game, the golden walnuts

the branches and it dropped several fruits to the floor. The Xing King picked up one of them and removed

hard to

green. Once the flesh is peeled off, the color of the seed coating will be brown or gold, and this determines the value. A golden walnut

‘It is the worst.’

couldn’t distinguish between a golden walnut and ordinary walnut just

would take a lot of manpower to collect the golden walnuts. This meant he would have to spend more money than expected. There was nothing

Grid’s unpleasant expression, Piaro laughed happily. “The farmers

“Ah...”

by providing jobs for people,

this, so there are

gained new knowledge while Piaro observed the forest closely. “The gap between trees is very

had a distance of at least 10 meters between them. It was strangely wide spacing considering the trees were around four or five meters in height. Piaro nodded in a convinced

in temperature caused by the shade blocking the tree. They

it withers because of the shade, then what

warm kingdom that had perennial spring-like weather all year round.

temperature at dawn as a benchmark,” Piaro replied to the astonished Grid and continued to

“Hmm...”

causing exclamations to burst from everywhere. It was because his speed at digging the ground

as skilled and familiar as the people who shoveled yesterday. Sir Piaro must be a great commander who builds trenches on the battlefield and serves

out

“......?”

could understand Piaro’s words. Piaro made a puzzled cry and everyone

Grid cocked his head.

are tangled together? Is there one of the reasons why the distance between trees is so

“No.”

“That’s not it.”

Xing King and Piaro shook their heads. They looked around at the 10 nearby trees and spoke at the

“These roots aren’t tangled.”

connected as

“......?”

think of these 10 trees as one tree. In order to replant the golden walnut tree, we need 10

“Hmm...”

Xing King saw that Grid didn’t seem to understand the seriousness of the

“Why is it impossible?”

forest is already full. All the trees fill the forest at a distance of 10 meters. In order to grow seedlings, the empty gap must be used. However, before the seedlings can grow and connect their roots together, they wither in the shade and become nutrients for the land. The seedlings take a month to

“……”

source of revenue so Xing had made a great effort to grow the golden

the other hand, Grid and Piaro