Chapter 291 The ”Harvest” Crisis Escalates ①
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
The news spread through the Canaria Kingdom like wildfire: the vile dragon Zil Meina and the ancient Ur Hamit of the Southern Forest had both been slain. Two Great Dragons, gone.
My “Ddo-Buddy Cannon”¹ had apparently performed brilliantly, and I was beaming with pride. But the talk of the town wasn’t my invention; it was the heroic epic of Sister Amelia and the Court Mages like Satsuki.
Amelia’s reputation, in particular, was skyrocketing. Lately, the Church had been seen as little more than a charity group, but now its authority was reaching a fever pitch.
Rumors flew: she had saved the subjugation unit with power granted by the Heavens; her nobility and strength rivaled the saints of old; she had returned from the brink of death through the power of love. People were already hailing her as the second coming of the Saint.
This was likely a calculated move by the Queen to downplay the existence of the “Ddo-Buddy Cannon,” combined with Archbishop Trantestar’s desire to turn the Church’s restoration into a profitable venture. A perfect storm of political spin.
Still, knowing Amelia, Satsuki, and even Kushe and Marsetta were safe was a massive relief. Of course, I wouldn’t be able to breathe easy until I saw them with my own eyes.
”Wait, what do you mean they aren’t coming back!?” I shouted.
”Calm yourself, Lord Harvest,” the Queen replied. Her expression was more radiant than usual as she sat in her office, debriefing me on the aftermath. “It’s not that they can’t return. It’s that the entire unit-the girls included-has declared they won’t return just yet.”
She spoke of Amelia’s saintly deeds and Satsuki’s efficiency with the “Ddo-Buddy Cannon.” None of it was an exaggeration. But this “refusal to return” was news to me.
”Look,” the Queen continued, “the two Great Dragons are dead, and the Lesser Dragons serving them have been dealt with. But the ‘stampede’ they triggered is still ravaging the land. The monsters are still a threat, and the villages and towns that were hit are still in ruins.”
”Well, yes, I suppose that’s true…” I muttered.
”Sister Amelia and her Holy Relief Corps² aren’t the types to turn their backs on that. Their goal wasn’t just to kill a dragon; it was to save the people in pain,” the Queen said.
”Ugh… I mean, you’re not wrong,” I conceded.
She hit me with a logic punch so clean I had to grit my teeth and back down. She wasn’t wrong. If staying behind was a matter of Amelia’s convictions, I couldn’t exactly drag her back just because I was worried.
”Is it the same reason for Satsuki and the others?” I asked.
”That’s part of it,” the Queen said. “The Crown cannot simply ignore the Kudoah Count territory-it took the hardest hit. The unit is transitioning into a reconstruction force to carry out their duties on-site.”
”Is this for the people, or just for your personal convenience, Your Majesty?” I asked.
”Don’t throw a tantrum, Lord Harvest,” the Queen replied. “Of course it’s my convenience. My Court Mages and soldiers exist to serve the needs of the state. Besides, Satsuki and the others were injured. They’re better off with the Holy Relief Corps. Those people are experts in recovery magic. They’ll get better care there than they would back here in the capital.”
”That sounds like you’re deflecting responsibility for their safety,” I said.
”It is my responsibility,” the Queen said. “That’s why I’m having them recuperate on-site. They’ll help with the rebuilding while they’re at it. Besides, this was Satsuki’s choice. The reports say she was quite clear: ‘If Amelia stays, I stay.’”
I tried to find a gap in her argument, but I was completely shut down. If Amelia stays, I stay, huh? They’d always been friendly, but I hadn’t realized their bond had deepened that much. I should be happy for them. I really should. But…
”What is it? You’ve been looking more distressed than usual, Lord Harvest,” the Queen observed.
”Well… it’s personal, but also a matter of business. I really needed them back sooner rather than later,” I explained.
The Queen tilted her head, watching me. I was grateful they were alive, of course. If they were safe, I shouldn’t want for anything else. But once I knew they were okay, I wanted to see them. And for a “certain problem” at my shop, I had no choice but to hope for a swift return.
”Tell me,” the Queen said. “I haven’t rewarded you properly for the dragon slaying yet. If there’s a problem, I’ll lend my strength to the solution. Speak.”
”It’s… well, it’s a mess of my own making, really,” I said.
”Oh? How delicious. I want to hold as much leverage over you as possible. Out with it,” she urged.
The Queen looked delighted, her hands making a predatory squeezing motion. I wondered if she’d be offended if I actually let her “squeeze” a Ddo-Buddy. She’d probably just be fed up and throw it back at me. We’d become quite casual over the months, but I was still hesitant to admit this particular problem. Especially to her.
”I spoke with the Crown Prince Consort of Coalmine, Her Highness Ierse, earlier,” I began. “She mentioned she’s finally heading home?”
”Mhm. Her country is practically screaming for her to return. She wanted to say her goodbyes to you first, so I arranged it,” the Queen said.
Crown Princess Ierse of Coalmine had been here for half a year, moving between peace talks and trade deals for the “Ddo-Buddy Economic Sphere.”³ But as a royal wife, her primary duty was to produce an heir. It was time for her to go.
Meanwhile, her guards-Lily’s brother-in-law, Popol Martin, and the head mage Kushe-were staying behind to help with the reconstruction, just like Satsuki. Martin was staying for his niece, my daughter Momo. Kushe was staying because Satsuki was.
The Coalmine government wanted them back, but Her Highness Ierse had been gracious about it, even if she did mention that the Canaria Kingdom now owed her a massive debt. But her departure triggered a crisis I hadn’t anticipated.
”Right. And since she’s leaving… she told me it’s time to give Flearis back,” I said.
”Ah, the girl from the Pink Clan who was helping at your shop?” the Queen asked.
”Exactly. She was my lead for clinical trials on the new aphrodisiacs…”
”I see…” The Queen’s eyes sharpened as she connected the dots. “Wait. Your staff… Tania and the adventurer Laika are both pregnant, aren’t they? And your associates, Tina and Aerith of the Merchant Guild Garou?⁴ Even your slave, Lily, is busy with the new baby…”
The Queen pouted her lips as she recited the census of my inner circle. She was quick. Just as she said, the women around me were currently in the full bloom of pregnancy. It was a joyous thing, and I spent every day caring for them. But…
”I see, I see,” the Queen said, a vein beginning to pulse in her temple. “In short, ‘Harvest’ is facing a crisis because you’ve spent so much time knocking up every woman in sight that you have no one left to test your damn products! Is that it!?”
”Yes… it is exactly as you say,” I whispered, shrinking under her gaze.
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Summary:
Following the defeat of the Great Dragons, Harvest learns that his female companions are staying at the disaster site for reconstruction. This creates a logistical nightmare for his shop. The Queen discovers that Harvest has accidentally caused a staff shortage by impregnating nearly his entire testing team.
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Trivia:
- The Church is using Amelia’s fame to regain political/financial power.
- The Queen is intentionally hiding the involvement of the Ddo-Buddy Cannon.
- Satsuki and Amelia’s bond has deepened significantly off-screen.
- Flearis was only on loan from the Pink Clan.
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Character Insight:
Harvest shows a mix of paternal pride and business-owner panic; his ‘over-performance’ in his personal life has crippled his professional production capacity. The Queen displays her sharp intellect and slightly sadistic streak by enjoying Harvest’s predicament.
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Behind the Scenes:
The chapter highlights a classic Isekai subversion where the aftermath of a hero’s victory leads to mundane HR and labor problems.
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TL Notes:
Notes:
• Satsuki – A talented Court Mage who was forced to analyze the shop’s adult magic tools. Miranda’s granddaughter. Now she’s the new worker at Harvest, a development she finds both humiliating and surprisingly fulfilling due to the rapid progress in her research under Kento’s guidance. Has long black hair, palace mage robe, and staff.
• Amelia – The Sister of the Church of Demon-Subjugating, who usually buys from Kento, has light blue hair.
• Trantestar – The middle-aged man Archbishop of Canarias and the initiator of the current trial. He is an alleged ally of Kento but remains suspiciously neutral.
• Marsetta – A senior court mage and specialist in magical weaponry. She has disheveled hair tied back, wears glasses, and has deep dark circles under her eyes from lack of sleep. She hasn’t eaten in two days and is under heavy pressure to find a countermeasure for the enemy’s weapons.
• Kushe – The Chief Mage of the Coalmine Kingdom. She has dark green hair grown out haphazardly and wears a mage robe loosely over her shoulders. She has a blunt, informal, and somewhat insensitive personality, focused on her ‘thinking experiments.’
• Ierse – The Crown Princess and wife of Gilliam, originally from a foreign land. She is described as lively and healthy with a unique charm. She wants to cheer up her husband. Has long haired hair.
• Martin – Lily’s non-blood-related younger brother. Considered the strongest candidate to succeed the Popol family due to his lineage and manifested ‘power. He has pink hair.
• Lily – the sl*ve and primary experiment subject for the magic shop, ‘Harvest.’ She has striking pink hair, Blue eyes, medium breasts, which the Protagonist associates with being ‘wanton’. She has a working knowledge of magic, which she kept hidden from the slave trader.
• Momo – The newborn daughter of Kento and Lily. She has pink hair and her father’s ear and eyebrow shapes.
• Flearis – A member of the diplomatic envoy and guard. Has pink hair.
• Aerith – A wolf beast-person and Ouka’s daughter. She is intensely attracted to Kento’s creative genius and is not shy about showing her interest. Have gray fur hair and tail, wearing elegant dress.
• Laika – The beastwoman dog.
• Tania – An Elf adventurer who, despite her race’s reputation for low sex drive, is secretly quite passionate. She initially seemed ‘wasted’ (emotionally dry) to her friend Raika, but was easily introduced to the pleasure-items sold at ‘Harvest.’ She is easily embarrassed and attempts to maintain a dignified facade, despite her recent, frequent purchases. She wears practical but light armor over a simple cloth tunic and short pants, highlighting her grace and agility. Her primary relationship is one of friendly senior-junior with Raika.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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