CH 52

The creation of the new strawberry field went smoothly.

Thanks to the hard work of the Beast-people, I had to prepare strawberry seedlings faster than expected.

The construction engineers, whom Ergin had promised, also joined in the middle.

At the same time, Ergin also sent a letter written by him, along with construction materials and tools.

Starting with all the rhetoric praising and the rush of regret not seeing the strawberry field in person, the content was that he would send raw materials free of charge and provide necessary materials free of charge in the future to repay my kindness.

Lia read the letter on behalf of me who can’t read the Demon Language.

She also noticed the explicit intentions contained in the letter and shook her head.

I was a little reluctant to let him put a spoon on the strawberry field, but  decided to just use the construction materials he sent.

A road was created around the strawberry field to make it easier for carriages to travel, and a storage and warehouse was also created.

And there was also a separate resting place created so that workers could rest for a while.

Although my pocket had gotten a little lighter, looking at the strawberry fields being completed step by step, my heart got filled with pleasure.

“It’s over!”

“Hahaha, great job.”

“Great job.”

Beast-people burst into laughter as they finished planting seedlings in the last furrow.

Finally, the planting of seedlings, the first goal, got completed.

Unlike the clumsy garden in the Demon Farm, the new strawberry field looked neat and tidy.

Experienced Elder Poco contributed a lot.

“Is this the new strawberry field popi?”

Suddenly, Gyuri popped up out of nowhere.

As I got used to it, I replied,

“It is. How is it ? Do you like it?”

“Yes popi! This will satisfy my friends in the village popi.”

Gyuri began to fly around the strawberry field with an excited look.

While Gyuri was pouring the Glittering powder around the field, the other fairies also appeared one by one.

“Hehehehehehehehehe! There are a lot of strawberries, ippi”

“I’m excited, pippi”

Gyuri’s friends also flew around with excitement af if they liked the strawberry field.

“Sihyeon, thank you for accepting my request again popi.”

Gyuri, who flew to me, gently sat down on my shoulder and shyly kissed my right cheek.

-Chuu

A sparkling energy permeated my whole body with Gyuri’s kiss.

[Kissed by a fairy]

[Acquired a new ability, “Fairy’s Blessing”]

[An unknown energy surrounds you]

Other fairies who watched this also began to approach me.

“I want to kiss too ippi”

“Kiss pippi”

“Kiss eppi.”

“Argh… No popi. You can’t kiss my Sihyeon at will, popi.”

Thanks to Gyuri, who was full of jealousy, I was able to avoid the shower of kisses from other fairies.

“Fairy?”

“Are they real fairies?”

“I think it’s fairy.”

Beast-people were in a state of panic at the sudden appearance of fairies.

The most experienced among them Elder Poco, was also shocked.

Fairies were the most mysterious and unrivalled beings in the Demon world.

Even the Demon Lord, who wields the strongest influence in Demon Realm can’t control them.

But their employer was casually talking and controlling the fairies.

Beast-people looked at the man who hired them with confused eyes.

Strawberries grew well in the help of fairies and the care of the Beast-people.

Flowers bloomed and started bearing fruits in an incredibly short time.

Looking at the fruits turning red little by little, I waited for the harvest day.

Meanwhile, there has been many changes in my relationship with the number of people working in the strawberry field.

When I first took care of Beast-people’s lunch, I saw the strange reactions in their eyes, so I paid more attention to the Beast people’s meals.

I prepared various Kimbap and distributed lunch boxes according to their taste.

After a resting place was build, a cooking place was also built and a separate person was hired to cook food.

At first, Beast-people, felt somewhat awkward about having lunch, but gradually got used to it.

And I worked harder and took care of the field as much as I cared about it.

Did such efforts and sincerity shine?

Before I knew it, a lot of fruits began to boast an alluring red light.

And finally, the long-awaited harvest day has come.

From early in the morning, I quickly finished work on Demon farm and headed straight to the strawberry field with Lia.

Since I had told in advance that we would be harvesting the strawberry today, Beast-people also arrived early in the strawberry field.

My heart pounded like a young child with the excitement of harvesting fruits.

On the other hand, Beast-people showed signs of tension on their faces.

Even though most of the workers had abundant basic farming experience, it was inevitably, since it was their first time harvesting strawberries.

I stepped up and taught everyone how to pick strawberries.

“First, find ripe strawberries by looking at the front and back. If you find a ripe strawberry, roll it lightly with your hand and press the stem slightly as if pressing it down. Easy right? You just have to be careful not to press the fruit by grabbing it too hard.”

Harvesting strawberries was not difficult, so everyone was able to learn it quickly.

I gave everyone a pre-prepared plastic basket one by one and asked to start harvesting strawberries at their respective locations.

Even though it was the first harvest, there were so many strong and pretty strawberries.

Whenever the plastic basket became heavy, I felt proud.

When the harvesting work was done.

Baskets full of strawberries were piled up next to the field.

While Demon-people were resting for a while, I counted the number of strawberries harvested with LIa.

We laughed a lot looking at the yield, that was more than what we thought.

After checking the yield, I approached the nervous Beast-people.

“Great job, everyone. we’ll stop here for today.”

Beast people’s expression brightened up when I said that.

“Oh! And take some strawberries when you go “

“….what?”

“The strawberry we harvested today. Take a basket per person.”

“….?!?”

Everyone looked confused at my calm words.

Elder Poco stepped forward.

He asked me with an expression that he couldn’t understand what I was saying.

“Sir, Are you really giving us the strawberries?”

“Yes. Is anything wrong?”

“I heard that the strawberries is sold to merchants at a very high price. Why are giving such a precious thing to us? If you give it to the merchants, you’ll make a lot of money.”

“Hmm…”

I scratched my head at Elder’s serious question.

“It’s true that I grew strawberries to sell, but you were the ones who worked harder and supported to harvest them, right? It’s a harvest grown by everyone here, so you all have to taste it.”

“……”

“Aren’t everyone curious about the fruit they grew by giving all they got.?”

“Hmm… Haha. Cough ”

Elder Poco coughed i and avoided my gaze as if he was embarrassed.

“I think it would be good to take it when it’s fresh and share it with your family. Don’t feel too pressured since I’m not giving you a lot.”

“I see……….”

Elder Poco nodded, while lost in thought for a long time.

“I’m sorry, Sir.”

“What? Suddenly… Why…?”

“Sir, You always treated us sincerely, but we were actually doubting that sincerity. I’m so sorry.”

Elder Poco bowed his head.

Others also bowed their heads following him after a while.

At first, their sudden apology was confusing.

However, when I thought about it a little more, I came to realize the meaning vaguely.

Their strange eyes when I made lunch and created a resting place was perhaps because Beast-people were doubting my consideration.

Even after knowing that, I didn’t feel very bad or strange.

When I went to the city, I experienced firsthand how Beast-people were treated.

For those who had been discriminated for a long time, having such doubts and thought are to be natural.

“I understand it, so please raise your head first. Since as the misunderstanding has been resolved now. Will everyone help with the strawberry field in the future too?”

“Sir…”

Elder Poco’s long eyebrows trembled.

Soon, the eyes of the all Beast-people became wet.

And sniffles began to be heard from here and there.

“Uh… I didn’t mean to do this…”

After that, I had to comfort each and everyone who were many times bigger than me.

The first harvest of the new strawberry field was a great success.

Not only the generous yield, but also the freshness and taste were excellent.

I’m a little sorry for Brother Junho, who helped me a lot with the strawberry field, but I really thought the strawberries I grew were better than the strawberries I received as gifts.

Thanks to the fairy’s blessing, the freshness was maintained several times longer than ordinary strawberries.

Considering that strawberries have a shorter storage period than other fruits, it was a great advantage.

Strawberries harvested that I for the first time were handed out as gifts to everyone I owe.

Andras and Ryan, as well as farm members, Leville and Lagos in Elden Village.

I also didn’t forget the share of my mother and Yerin.

And I also sent strawberries to Demon Lord castle, which is the actual headquarters of Demon Farm.

It felt like I was sending a gift to the CEO of the company I was working, so I paid a little more attention and sent only pretty strawberries.

This was not the only effect of the strawberry field success.

“Strawberry prince is here.”

“Wow! Prince Strawberry!”

Reville started calling me ‘Prince Strawberry’ and at some point people in the Elden village also started calling  me ‘Prince Strawberry’.

I complained when I saw Reville giggling next to me.

“Why did I suddenly become a strawberry prince ?”

“Hahaha, why? I think it suits you well.”

“I don’t think it’s me at all.”

I’m 30 years old now. What do they mean by prince.?

Whenever I heard the name, I felt very embarrassed with a ticklish feeling.

At least Lagos tried to soothe my heart.

“Reville, stop laughing.”

“Sihyeon, I don’t think the villagers call you that in a bad sense.”

“I know that…”

“It’s not wrong either, since you have the status of an Ester, aren’t you?”

“Well, people don’t know that yet.”

“If the villagers get to know Sihyeon’s status, you might become the village chief, not me.”

It was really not an empty word to say that I might be the chief.

It wasn’t just the title that changed.

My position in Elden Village rose sharply as it became known that I treated all the workers well and distributed precious strawberries while entrusting them to work in the strawberry field.

In the past, the way I was treated was like a savior who helped the village, but now I seem to be considered indispensable to the village.

In addition, as the number of people who wanted to work in the strawberry field increased tremendously, there was a job war.

Lagos also seemed to quietly want to expand the strawberry field so that many jobs could be created.

They were not the only ones who wanted to expand the strawberry field.

Many merchants began to flock to Elden Village after hearing the news of the success of the strawberry field.

As rumors circulated that there would be a strawberry harvest again soon, Elden village began to be crowded with outsiders’ visits.

Ergin of the Golden Clock Chamber sent an employee of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry to give me a sweet offer, as if he was struggling with the ever-increasing competition.

The great success of the strawberry field I made unexpectedly led to the remarkable growth of the Elden Village.