You want to cultivate fields, you say?
Here, in the grasslands?
Right.
I tried discussing it with Alna...
You can't tend the soil here.
That's what the people of my village have always said.
Then how do you acquire those medicinal herbs?
They're grown as potted plants.
But I'm not sure how to do that.
Moll would probably know.
She told you true.
For some reason, crops won't grow in these plains.
I just need you to tell me how to grow potted plants.
Even if farming proves difficult, I'd still like to give it a go.
Sure, that's simple enough.
Crush these verdant leaf stones with animal bone, and mix that into soil.
Add a combination of crushed stones and bones to the soil?
SOIL
It works well for potted medicinal herbs,
but not for vegetables.
We've tried planting fields the same way, but it never seems to work.
What's so different between medicinal herbs and vegetables?
They all look like different kinds of grass to me.
I don't know myself.
But I suppose the forestkin would.
The forestkin?
The people of the forest, as it were.
They know all about the woods, plants, and farm fields.
The tales say if a forestkin waved a hand,
any wasteland can become lush with greenery.
That said, I've never even seen one.
It's all hearsay. I'm not even sure they exist.
By the way...
We'll help as much as possible with field cultivation,
so if all goes well, could you teach us how it's done?
We also wish to stabilize our food supply.
Of course. I'd be glad to.
That was my intent in the first place,
and if I can, I'll bring you mounds of potatoes.
That's Blue Dias for you.
I do believe I'll get my hopes up.
Of course, I also have high hopes for you having children with Alna.
I'll give you some herbs to help her conceive, too.
No need.
That's really not necessary. Don't give any to Alna either.
We're back, Klaus, Senai, Ayhan.
Lord Dias!
You're not home late today!
Welcome home!
Thanks.
Did you bring something?!
Let me see! Let me see!
Sure, I'll show you.
Pretty stones, don't you think?
Oh, it's just a bag of rocks.
Boring.
Okay, let's play over there!
Let's play! Let's play!
Welcome home, Dias.
What are those rocks?
They look like rather pretty gems to me.
Oh, that's right. You can't sense magical energy.
If you were involved with magic,
you could tell at a glance those stones have no magical energy
and you can't put any into them.
Pretty or not, without any magical energy,
it's hard to call that anything but a rock.
I know you can tell, but can Senai and Ayhan, too?
They're both quite capable for their age.
Sometimes, they seem to sense faint magical energy that even I can't pick up.
If they get serious about learning,
their magical abilities might even surpass the chieftain's one day.
Really?
That's an amazing gift.
No matter what path they take in life, I bet they'll have a promising future.
Yeah.
There.
That's all the verdant leaf stones crushed.
Now I can start prepping the fields.
Dias.
I'm picking up something from the east.
Multiple people and horses, and a bunch of other things, too.
But I can't tell what they are.
I'll go take a look.
I'm going, too!
I'm not about to let you go alone when we don't know who they are.
Thanks, that's reassuring.
They should come into view soon!
Th-That's...
Kamalotz!
It's Eldan's attendant Kamalotz!
Don't be so dramatic when it's someone we know!
Oh? What are those creatures in the rear?
Let me have that!
I mean those white things pulling the third wagon.
Ah, he's brought some white ghees.
Those are the peculiar things I was sensing.
Their coloring's different, but they look like black ghees.
Nice name. Easy to remember, too.
Something moved inside a wagon.
Let's ask Kamalotz later what he's got loaded in there.
I wasn't sure what would happen when we got caught in that slave hunt,
but we managed to sneak into a wagon bound for the desert.
It seems we'll make it home after all.
Hey, you!
This wagon isn't headed for the desert.
Can't you tell by the angle of the sun?
Huh?
You're smart enough to read, but you're still a dummy.
Th-Then we need to get off right now!
We're staying put.
But what for?
What we're really after...
*MENTAL IMAGE
is the Dragon Slayer!
What?!
We'll kill the human who killed a dragon and prove how mighty we are!
We're gonna restore glory and pride to the desert folk!
You can't do that!
I only helped you because you said you had a plan
to get into a wagon and get back to the desert!
Besides, that guy's stronger than a dragon!
The desert folk are better than feeble humans!
Humans are liars!
Defeating them is the right call!
We'll beat him up and make him get us food and a way back to the desert.
It's the best way to go about this! That guy said so!
Halt the caravan.
Lord Dias, Lady Alna, thank you for coming to meet me personally.
I am here to deliver the items Lord Eldan promised you.
It's good to see you, Kamalotz.
It's Dias!
The Dragon Slayer!
D-Don't do this! There's no way we can ever defeat him!
Sorry to be so direct, but I need to ask you...
You're going to get us all killed!
Is something in here?
Kill the Dragon Slayer!
Now's our chance! He's vulnerable!
T-Talking mice?!
Alna!
You're being too careless, Dias!
Crap!
You're going easy on them?
Yeah. They might belong to Kamalotz, so I don't think we can just kill them.
We belong to no one, insolent wench!
Don't slight the desert folk, you bitch!
Alna is a wonderful woman.
I won't let you insult her!
G-Guards!
Protect the two of them!
And catch every last one of those fools!
Curse you, Dragon Slayer!
No fair, getting reinforcements!
I knew humans were cowards!
I am so sorry!
I'm not sure how to make this up to you.
There's no need for that, Kamalotz.
Please, these are our subjects.
As Lord Eldan's emissary, I would be remiss not to do something.
They're your subjects?
Despite how they look, they're beastkin?
They might look like animals, but folk with culture and language are beastkin.
BEASTKIN
DEMIHUMANS
That is, they're considered to be a type of demihuman.
I see now.
According to a myth my parents told me as a child,
"Words are wisdom God gave to people, and only people can speak them."
Their lot belongs to a people known as big-eared hopping mousekin.
Although they insist on being called "desert folk."
There's a desert in Kasdeks Domain?
No.
They live in a desert region beyond the kingdom's southernmost border.
But slave hunts were carried out there.
Lord Eldan has long protected them.
Once I achieve my rightful authority, I'll return you to the desert.
You have my word!
However...
Screw that! Do it now!
As if we'd believe what a half-human says!
Even though it wasn't long before he became lord
and was ready to return them...
Kamalotz.
I'll leave their punishment to you.
You needn't do anything to make up for this, but if you insist, I'll accept.
Thank you, Lord Dias.
This is for you, Lord Dias.
A cargo manifest?
When we talked the other day, I asked Eldan for farm tools,
but there's a lot more here than that.
As for that, please see the letter from Lord Eldan himself.
"My dear Lord Dias..."
My dear Lord Dias...
In addition to the farm tools I promised,
I present you with spices and other such specialties from my domain.
I thought you might enjoy them.
The wagons and horses transporting them are also yours to keep,
in the hope that we may continue uninterrupted trade and correspondence.
I look forward to my next chance to see you.
Eldan Kasdeks.
Thanks, Eldan.
PS...
I send all this as a token of friendship, and I expect nothing in return.
I don't have to pay for it?!
Lord Eldan further said
that you might be at a loss with the gifted horses and cattle,
so he also sent materials to build a stable.
What?!
Fear not, for we shall undertake the construction of it.
I really feel indebted now...
Would earth dragon materials make an appropriate thank-you gift?
Dias, is everything he just said true?!
We can really have the horses?!
Yeah, looks that way.
He's giving us those four—
Four horses!
Horses, Dias!
I can't think of anything that'd make me happier than getting horses!
Is that right? Good for—
Thank you, Dias!
Thank you!
That's my husband!
C-Calm down, Alna.
Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!
Alna?
My family wasn't well off.
It was my dream to have a family that owned a horse.
You're manly, so I was hoping we could get one someday.
But I didn't think it would happen so soon.
So...
Was there some reason your family wasn't well off?
My older brother is a worthless punk.
By the way, I'm sorry about earlier.
I was so overjoyed, I forgot myself.
I did all that in front of everyone...
Are you angry?
It'd be one thing if another woman did it, but I don't mind with you.
I'm not angry, and there's no need to apologize.
Although, well, it was embarrassing.
Maybe tone it down when other people are around?
THE FRONTIER LORD AND THE ASSAILANTS FROM THE DESERT
That's the way, white ghee! You can do it!
This is amazing!
You can turn the soil without even cutting the grass.
Whoa there!
Young Klaus, keep a firm grip on the handles when using a plow!
Yes, ma'am!
Let's let the soil rest about three days, then plant seeds.
In our village, we used wood ash to keep the earth in good condition.
Here's hoping that's all it takes. Or that verdant leaf stone stuff.
Let's dig a cistern, too.
The nearby stream isn't very big, and we might need water during dry summers.
I dug holes all the time during the war, so I'm super good at it!
Want to dig together, for old time's sake?
Yes, sir!
Dias!
Are you done farming already?
Are you done?
No, looks like it'll still take several more days.
Is there something I can do for you?
Food's ready, so come back home.
Alna said so.
You came out here just to tell me? Thanks.
They're acting odd. I wonder why.
Hey, Dias.
Hm?
Is farming hard? Are you tired?
Nah, it's no big deal.
Will you be sad if the farm doesn't go well?
Maybe not sad, exactly.
I'll do the best I can, and if it fails, it fails.
Dias...
If we were keeping a secret, w-would you be sad?
If you're keeping a bad thing secret, I might be sad.
But if not, hey, everyone's got at least a couple of secrets.
I won't be sad.
Those were some awfully cryptic questions.
Senai! Ayhan!
I tried prodding Senai and Ayhan a few times why they asked me all that.
But they wouldn't answer me,
and it appears they haven't said anything to Alna either.
Here.
That's neat!
After a few days, they were their usual cheerful selves again,
It is!
and I gradually forgot all about the exchange.
It's been three days, so it's finally time to sow.
Give these a try.
They're seeds of fast-growing medicinal yamoshi herbs.
They usually sprout the following day.
In just a single day? That's incredible.
These are perfect for testing out the fields.
It only took you three days to build this?
That's astoundingly fast.
We were using prefabricated materials that simply needed to be assembled.
Thank you, Kamalotz.
We simply followed Lord Eldan's instructions.
This isn't meant as payment,
but I've prepared you some materials in gratitude.
I'd like you to take them home.
What sort of materials are they?
Earth dragon parts.
Huh?
I-I-I-I-I could never accept such a large quantity of dragon materials!
What are you trying to do, giving us all that?
You must be up to something!
Listen, I'm sorry...
I told you it was too much.
THE FOLLOWING MORNING
I got them to accept by presenting the materials not as a gift,
but rather items left in their care to be used for our benefit.
You can't go on crying forever because you miss him.
Once we're done seeing him off, you need to tend to the horses.
If you don't hurry, they'll start crying too because they're hungry.
I'm going to check on the fields.
I'll come with you.
Dias...
Hey, how often do these things work right on the first try?
Maybe we didn't let the soil rest long enough.
I'll replant and see what happens.
THE NEXT DAY
Did I not use enough verdant leaf stone?
I'll try adding a little more.
THE DAY AFTER THAT
D-Dias...
One more time, one more time.
If I add more verdant left stone...
Enough! Give it a rest!
Besides, it's not good for the soil to keep mixing in that much leaf stone!
It's just not possible to grow crops in the grassland!
You're right.
Life is full of stuff like this.
I hate to have wasted all those seeds I planted,
but I'll just put my all into some other task.
What do we do, Ayhan?
I know.
I want to help Dias, too.
But...
Mother, Father...
What should we do?
Help me!
Help me, please!
Did you hear that?
Yeah, a stranger's voice.
It said, "Help me."
Let's go and see.
Let's!
Please help!
Please let me out of here!
I think it's been about a week.
Was it from here?
Somewhere around here.
Is somebody there?! Please help me!
Let me out!
I beg you!
Please help me!