Chapter 498: Friends’ Warning (2/2)

Since there was no need to feed the kingdom with it, Jin would inevitably have a constant supply of food. However, when having a surplus of food, selling it was an option worth considering.

“If that’s not enough, then I’ll ask Toka Village as well. I don’t know exactly how much food the demons need, so I can’t say I can plan for a steady supply.”

“I see. Well, I don’t think either of those villages would have a problem with the idea, but selling out a lot of food all of a sudden is a bit risky.”

There wasn’t a lush abundance of food in this world. Fortunately, the Klein Kingdom was an agricultural country, so it had some surplus food. However, there was also a need to stockpile it in case of famine or natural disasters, so selling all of the surplus off was unreasonable.

“We also have some reserves here in Hourai Island. However, I’d like for them to eventually become self-sufficient.”

Regarding crops, topopo (this world’s potato), wheat, rye, buckwheat, cabbage, green beans, etc. could be considered, but crops after buckwheat have not been found yet.

“Then there’s dairy farming.”

Jin believed that a golem-centered workforce would be somehow manageable.

“Jin, Applues should grow well even in relatively cold regions.”

Toa, who had listened silently up until that point, voiced his opinion.

“Ah, that’s right. …Then there’s fishing.”

There could be no whaling in this world, but it could be possible to do something similar with some other kind of marine magical beast.

“We could also consider suggesting the use of greenhouses.”

Laojun shared his thoughts.

“If we manage to put even this much we’ve planned so far into practice, we should be able to improve their food situation for the time being.”

Jin seemed relieved.

“Then all we need to know is how big their population is…”

Without that, there was no way to estimate the amount of food the demons would need.

“Yes. I’ll have to ask them about that…”

“But Brother Jin, don’t tell me you’re planning to go to the land of the demons…?”

A worried Elsa asked Jin while looking straight into his eyes.

“Yeah, eventually, I think.”

“I’m absolutely against that. You can’t go there, Brother Jin.”

Elsa’s face went pale in response to Jin’s answer.

“Yeah, I’m against that as well. You can’t just go there, Jin. It’s too dangerous. No matter how much you can believe what… Shion and Lucas, was it? No matter what they say, can you trust the rest of the demons…?”

“That’s right, Jin. There must be some way to solve this that doesn’t involve you going there.”

Berthie and Reinhardt also expressed their opposition to Jin’s willingness to go to the land of the demons.

“You must have another way to do this, right, Jin? You don’t have to go.”

Saki was also of the opinion that Jin shouldn’t go to the land of the demons.

Seeing the unanymous concern from his friends, Jin nodded reluctantly.

“…Okay. I kinda wanted to go, but I won’t do anything reckless.”

Hearing Jin say that, everyone let out a sigh of relief.

“…Demons, huh… These beings that only appeared in stories, and yet they’ve suddenly become so… familiar?”

“That’s what it means to get involved with Jin, Vi.”

“Yeah, I’m not saying that I’m scared or that I don’t like it, Stearly. I’m just surprised.”

Seeing Stearleana’s confused face, Vivian couldn’t help but laugh.

Hearing that conversation, Jin, Reinhardt, and Elsa also smiled.

At any rate, they had reached a conclusion of sorts, so they decided to break up the meeting for the day.

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“I won’t be going, but I still need to have someone go, so we’ll have to take the ‘Substitute Doll’ up a notch.”

Reinhardt and Berthie returned to Kartze, and Toa and Saki returned to their house, joined by Stearleana and Vivian. Mine also returned to Kaina village.

Elsa was about to start working with Jin on Hourai Island.

“Back when I first made it, I wasn’t able to give it the sense of touch, so the feedback wasn’t very accurate, making it hard to handle it, but I wonder how it will come out this time?”

That doll was the one he used to pose as Deus Ex Makina, so Jin would be making a new one. However, with the help of Elsa and the Smiths, the foundation for it was completed in about 30 minutes.

“Okay, let’s try it out.”

Just like how he would when manipulating Makina, Jin sat on a special seat and used a Magic Screen to see through the doll’s eyes.

Its operation is an application of Linkage. The Substitute Doll would use its own judgement and optimize any movement that Jin would think. Similarly, the Substitute Soll could speak at its own discretion, but Jin could speak through him as well if necessary.

“Its movements have become more natural after all.”

By adding the sense of touch to it, it’s movements had become closer to those of humans.

“Amazing, Brother Jin.”

Elsa was very impressed with the result.

“I wonder what are you going to do, Reiko. You’re always by my side…”

“I don’t want to leave your side, Father.”

“That’s what I thought. Hmm, what should we do, then?”

Jin started thinking once again.