The Damn Family Is Back Again

Chapter 202

202 – 202. The Enraged Ones (2)

In the third week, Flora’s birthday episode is forcibly initiated, and from this point on, the citizens’ dissatisfaction grows, leading them to seek me out.

This development was also a phase I had to endure and overcome in the game.

Flora’s birthday is always set, and not attending her birthday party at that time leads directly to a bad ending. Therefore, the rise in dissatisfaction is an inevitable encounter with the Clue and Prove event in Chapter 2, during the symposium.

It’s an unavoidable, fate-like progression.

Anyway, this Clue and Prove event is like a gate that must be cleared.

But, in reality, preparing for it within a mere three days is impractical.

Due to the pattern of events that forcibly consume the player’s time, one must prepare well in advance.

One must create counterarguments in advance. And present data that can prove their point, with the help of the system.

However, I was unable to use the power of the system at that time.

It was the same right after finishing Flora’s birthday episode and returning to Chatren.

Just like when the crop settings window, certain UIs, and choices did not appear at all, only a warning message about the increased dissatisfaction appeared before me, and nothing else.

It meant only one thing.

‘Solve Chatren’s problems with your own strength alone.’

It’s an absurd notion. To suppress the citizens’ dissatisfaction with the Clue and Prove event without the power of the system. It’s suffocating to even think about it.

Not being able to use the power of the system for an event that requires counterarguments and rebuttals prepared well in advance is tantamount to inviting a bad ending.

But even in less than those three days, there was an answer to be found.

Because modern knowledge is such a powerful weapon.

Even in a fantasy world, with a few additional settings, it’s the same.

Soil is still just soil.

The laws of modernity fit perfectly here as well.

“As you commanded, it’s ready, my lord.”

In front of all the residents of Chatren, Camilla finished her preparations and bowed respectfully to me.

-Bubble, bubble.

Boiling water bubbles inside a clear glass bottle.

Inside, something lightly sliced is added.

Since it will take some time anyway, I decided to give a light explanation.

“Hmm. Since it’s going to take a while, shall we start with a question?”

“A question… sir?”

“Yes. Do you happen to know in what kind of soil strawberries or grapes grow well?”

The residents of the Chatren estate clicked their tongues.

“We are the people who have been growing strawberries and grapes in Chatren for decades. Don’t you know that?!”

“Well, maybe this happened because you don’t really know.”

“What, what did you say?!”

“Looking at the state of that field, it seems you don’t know at all what environment strawberries and grapes thrive in, right?”

Provoked by my challenge, the residents bristled with anger.

But the words coming out of their mouths were still the same.

They grow them in good soil, with good fertilizer, and give them plenty of water.

In winter, they protect against frost damage, and in summer, against pests. They make sure that the main tissues, including the stems and roots of the plants, are not harmed.

And so on.

Of course, all of these are utterly useless words.

Occasionally, there were minor points about how to prevent the crops from being damaged, but they completely missed the essence of the question.

-Thump!

I quelled the atmosphere by planting my sword sheath into the ground as they raised their hackles over useless chatter.

“So, you don’t know anything at all. There’s nothing concrete. How are you going to prove the difference when more D-grade or higher Chatren strawberries and Chatren grapes came from my land? Is it because I have better land?”

“That, that’s…!”

Of course, they couldn’t admit that.

The land I took was mostly the eastern fields of Chatren.

Admittedly, this land is good, but it’s a bit inferior compared to the western and central fields. That’s what was known publicly too.

“It’s all about luck. Without luck, you can’t get such a harvest in farming!”

“Yes, that’s right!”

“It’s just that this harvest season, by chance, good crops came from your lordship’s land. That’s an exception!”

Satisfied with their response, I smiled.

“So, you don’t know anything, do you?”

“…?”

“Camilla. Is it all done?”

“Yes, my lord. It just finished.”

“Let’s see if they still talk about luck after seeing it for themselves. You guys?”

-Ding!

▶A challenge to prove arises.◀

[ You must explain the difference between the player’s field and the fields owned by the residents. ]

[ If successful: You may claim one of the rights of Chatren. ]

[ If unsuccessful: The current closure order of Chatren you possess will be lifted. ]

***

pH. Hydrogen ion concentration index.

An index value that indicates how much hydrogen cation, which serves as a measure of acidity or alkalinity, is present in a solution.

Naturally, the soil’s value affects the outcome of the crops, making this figure extremely important in modern agriculture.

There are plants like mugwort that grow in a wide range of pH, and then there are plants like Sokorako that only distribute in a very narrow range of pH.

In other words, there is an optimal pH for each crop, and if it gets too high or too low, the crops can actually die.

In fact, strawberries and grapes tend to grow well in slightly acidic soil, and it was no different here.

The problem is how to prove and show it.

Unless they feel it with all five senses—seeing, hearing, smelling directly—they won’t believe it.

It’s also because the presenter, Karsein, has once ruined a territory, but Chatren is currently very closed off, so simple theory alone cannot persuade them.

That’s why it’s shown directly to the eyes.

Because pH can be sufficiently resolved visually.

Then, how is pH communicated?

Modern devices. A very precise and detailed process must be undertaken using the ion electrode present in the pH meter.

Therefore, in the science or laboratory rooms present in every school, such expensive devices cannot be used simply for lessons, so they are replaced by other methods.

Namely, using what’s called an ‘indicator’.

“Can this be…”

“Does the soil really change color?”

They are looking at two samples right in front of them.

One is from the soil of Harunie’s territory.

The other is from the soil of Chatren’s territory.

There was a definite color change in the two soils.

Now, I can explain.

“I gave the same conditions to the two glass bottles. All I did was drop a few drops of water boiled down from cabbage into them. But why did such a change occur?”

The reason is simple.

“Even if it’s the same soil, its properties are different. The soil on the right, where not even Chatren strawberries, let alone regular strawberries, can be grown, has many coal mines and less fertilizer, making it an environment where crops can’t grow well.”

It’s because it’s not the optimal pH. That’s why they can’t grow well.

The villagers swallowed hard as they watched over the two glass bottles.

They must have an inkling of what would come next.

“Now, shall we move on to the next part? You did say, didn’t you? Show the difference between my land and yours.”

“…”

“The soil on the left is from my field. The soil on the right is from your field. Shall we take a look?”

In front of them, filled with the sound of swallowing, I slowly put on gloves and dropped the reagent into each bottle.

And, surprisingly.

“No way…!”

“It’s so red…? The soil of our cultivated field?”

“How can the same soil be so different…?”

“Even if it’s too red, the crops won’t grow well, right…?”

“Really, is it just like the data scroll?”

The soil of the Chatren villagers’ field was not just acidic; it was a much stronger acid, showing a red hue.

‘This. No matter how you look at it, the color is too deep.’

I took out a homemade device from my pocket and alternated looking at it and their glass bottles.

It would be nice if there was a tool called pH paper, but such a thing didn’t exist in this world.

So, for the past three days, I had been comparing the specific colors of the pH scale, breaking down the colors for each pH level to create that tool myself.

From a few experiments, it seems the pH is around 2 to 3. Most crops wouldn’t be able to grow in this, but it seems the crops here have quite different standards and can grow.

‘But even so, this raises some questions.’

Their soil was originally not different from the soil of the eastern fields. Until recently, it was confirmed to be similar, if not identical.

As proof, the soil of the eastern field I was managing also showed a deeper acidity. In other words, all the soil in Chatren was acidic.

Why is all the soil in Chatren so uniformly acidic?

This question did not easily go away.

-Ding!

▶You have successfully cleared the Clue and Prove event.◀

▶You have proven that the villagers’ soil and the player’s soil are different. As a reward, you gain the right to issue one command to the Chatren villagers.◀

‘Right. Now that I have the right, I should try it immediately.’

There are parts that are doubtful.

After all, it had been like that from the beginning. The Chatren villagers seemed oddly fixated on it.

Putting aside the doubts, I exercised my rightful authority.

“Then, I shall make an announcement right here. From this moment on, Chatren will sever all contact with the outside.”

“What, what did you say?!”

“Furthermore, outsiders, regardless of their status as traders, are forbidden from entering Chatren. All paths will be completely sealed off, and we will physically repel all traders except for those from Rusmayer.”

The residents openly rebelled.

“How are we supposed to buy what we need to cultivate these farmlands!”

“This is absurd. Please abolish this rule!”

“How can you block everything we need?!”

A sigh came naturally.

“As you’ve seen firsthand, your soil is highly acidic. On the contrary, mine is much paler in color. Now that it’s clear our soils are different, this isn’t a matter of luck. It means there’s a problem not just with your farming methods, but also with your soil management. So, we must prevent the cause of the problem to avoid the same issue.”

“What on earth are you talking about!”

“That has nothing to do with it!”

“No. Isn’t there a connection?”

“What…?”

“The high-quality fertilizer you’ve been using. That was brought in from outside, wasn’t it?”

“…!”

At that point, the residents’ eyes widened in realization.

“It’s unlikely that Chatren’s soil changed like this from the beginning. What I suspect is that fertilizer. If you want to refute this claim, you’ll have to deny the low pH and these experiments I’ve written on the data scroll. Can you do that?”

They were dumbfounded, yet unable to offer any rebuttal.

***

▶Agent ability activated.◀

[ 2. Dyke ]

▶Performance Ability: Controller

[ Completely controls the entry and exit of outsiders, blocking contact with Chatren. ]

‘Is this a temporary solution?’

For now, with Dyke’s ability invoked, the only place where contact with Chatren is possible is Rusmayer, managed solely by Tasha.

‘But it’s still not enough.’

This pattern of causing incidents to forcibly consume the player’s time will come again.

Before that happens, I must take action.

We need manpower to properly suppress them and take complete measures.