Chapter 27: Dietria
“Hmm. That’s quite a haul.”
The backyard of the Baumgarten manor. Before my eyes sat a mountain of potatoes. The tubers are large too, so it’s a decent yield, I’d say. It was worth waiting until the potato stems and leaves withered before digging them up.
Even though I only planted five potatoes, I managed to harvest over a hundred, big and small. The numbers have increased quite a bit. First, let’s start spreading them, along with how to eat them, to the people of the domain, beginning with the main village where the Baumgarten manor is located.
Eventually, if they become a specialty product of the Baumgarten Territory, it’ll be a real boon.
That said, potatoes are still rare in this country, so I don’t know if they’ll be accepted.
But, even on Earth, they managed to integrate into European food culture, so I’m not that worried. Deliciousness is justice.
“Onii-sama! So many Jaga fruits! Amazing, amazing!”
“To think they’d bear this much fruit… I’ve been farming for many years, but this is the first time I’ve seen such a bountiful harvest!”
Cornelia and the farmer who helped with the potato cultivation cried out in admiration.
“These Jaga fruits, they have poison in them, you see.”
“Poison…? Then…”
The old farmer looked visibly disappointed.
“But, with a little cooking, the poison can be removed. And, above all, look at this harvest yield. I’m thinking of cultivating them in our Baumgarten Territory. What do you think?”
“I see. It depends on the taste, of course, but I think everyone will want to grow them.”
“They tasted delicious! They’re best with goat cheese on top!”
“That sounds great!”
“In that case, all that’s left is a name.”
“A name?”
“That’s right. Because the Jaga fruits have poison, people might become wary of them. And if we cultivate them, others might copy us. We need to change the name.”
I heard from a merchant that potatoes are still rare in this country. However, it seems a small number are cultivated for horticultural purposes. If it becomes known that potatoes can be eaten safely, they might spread like wildfire. In that case, there’d be little benefit for Baumgarten.
Even if they’re bound to spread eventually, I want to conceal the information as much as possible and raise even a little profit.
“What kind of name will you choose?”
“Let’s see…”
Danshaku-imo, Baum-imo, Garten-imo, Corne-imo… Various names come to mind, but which one should I choose…
“If Ria doesn’t mind, how about something like ‘Corne Fruit’?”
The potatoes in this world bloom with two flowers, each having white petals and red stamens. For some reason, those flowers reminded me of Cornelia, with her fair skin and red eyes.
“‘Corne’ as in me?”
“Yeah. Because the flowers resemble Cornelia…”
“I also thought the flowers looked like me and Onii-sama.”
“Me?”
It’s true, I also have white skin and red eyes. I can see what Cornelia means.
“Uh-huh! And they bloom with two flowers, right? So, I thought they were like me and Onii-sama. That’s why, I thought it would be nice if they could have Onii-sama’s name too, not just mine.”
My name?
“I see… Then, how about ‘Dietria’, from Dee and Ria’s flower?”
“Uh-huh! I think it’s great!”
Naming the potatoes after myself and Cornelia was somehow unexpected.
“Then, from this day forward, the name of this crop is ‘Dietria Fruit’.”
“It’s kind of like they’re our child, Onii-sama’s and mine.”
Cornelia said, blushing shyly. If you’re embarrassed, you don’t have to say it. But, thanks to Cornelia, I’ve started to feel an attachment to ‘Dietria’.
“Ahem. Old Man, inform the villagers of the name ‘Dietria’, the method for cultivating the fruit, and how to remove the poison. Eventually, we will make this a specialty product of the Baumgarten Territory!”
“Yes, understood!”
Finally, finally.
Good news might finally reach the Baumgarten Territory.
This land is barren, monster attacks are frequent, and it’s a Baumgarten Territory that can hardly be called livable, but I’ve finally found hope.
The Dietria Fruit likely holds the power of a storm, enough to blow away this dark, suffocating atmosphere. I absolutely have to get this on track.
◇
“Cough, cough… Well then, please give my regards to Margrave Huebner-sama… Gahak, cough…”
“Understood. Baron Baumgarten-sama, please take good care of yourself as well.”
“Much obliged…”
As usual, I feigned illness to turn away the messenger from Margrave Huebner. It’s a pain because I have to skip meals for two or three days to pull this off. But perhaps thanks to its effectiveness, no messenger has tried to forcibly drag me to the Margrave’s domain so far.
I have no intention of accepting an invitation from Margrave Huebner, who is destined for ruin anyway, and I want to keep as much distance as possible. But right now is a crucial time; it’s no exaggeration to say that the future of our Baumgarten Territory is being decided. I can’t afford to leave the territory at a time like this.
I’m counting on you, Dietria. We went to the trouble of giving you mine and Cornelia’s names. Even if it’s just a little, please enrich the Baumgarten Territory…!
As I made that wish, I let my heavy body fall onto the bed.