I Raised the Northern Grand Duke as a Farmer Behind My Father’s Back Chapter 42

Chapter 42

Well…… I heard he’s been busy searching for the missing Fourth Prince and personally handling four monster-subjugation missions.

No matter how enormous his divine power reserves were, it was only natural that he would be exhausted.

“Anyway.”

At that moment, the immaculate holy knight slowly raised his lowered eyes.

“I’m glad you managed to create a real treatment, Duke Rowain.”

“Yes. You could say the gods helped the East.”

Dantelion quietly studied the duke’s gentle smile.

Duke Rowain had disappeared for several days, then suddenly returned with the treatment formula.

He had kept all the details confidential, so Dantelion hadn’t heard much.

Apparently, he had received help from a reclusive farmer in the countryside and uncovered some long-buried secret art of House Rowain.

After producing the treatment, the duke distributed it throughout his territory and sold the rest to the imperial family.

Since contamination might exist in other regions too, he had arranged for the imperial family to purchase it and distribute it as needed.

“Are you truly not going to disclose the detailed manufacturing method?”

“That is correct.”

“Not even information about the main ingredient?”

“My apologies, Sir Dante, but no.”

Duke Rowain smiled.

“Of course, it will probably become known eventually…… but for the time being, I would especially like to keep the main ingredient secret…… You understand.”

“……”

“I also suffered considerable losses from this year’s poor harvest. I need to find some way to refill my emptied coffers.”

The gentle old gentleman was gone.

The sharp territorial lord had returned.

“In other words, it is a trade secret. I hope you’ll understand.”

The treatment’s main ingredient—

the Pig-Nose Mushroom.

The moment Duke Rowain saw that mushroom, said to possess not only powerful purification effects against soil contamination but countless other healing properties—

he had thought:

This is it.

I can build a new business around this.

A pharmaceutical-development business centered on Pig-Nose Mushrooms.

So, on the day he returned from the North, he had also signed an additional long-term distribution contract for regular mushroom supplies.

Naturally, it was a proper commercial agreement.

The North still lacked the capacity for pharmaceutical research, so the arrangement benefited Basil as well.

And because the supply price had been negotiated at an extremely high level……

it would become a steady and profitable source of income for the North.

If they ever discovered some new treatment effective on the human body—

then that would truly be a jackpot.

Duke Rowain smiled contentedly.

“……”

Dantelion, who had been watching him with a peculiar expression, finally gave a heavy nod.

“I understand what you mean.”

“Thank you for understanding.”

The holy knight in silver armor rose smoothly to his feet.

He gave a brief bow.

“In any case, allow me to apologize once more.”

“……”

“The fact that we failed to capture the culprit from District Z immediately and allowed the incident to reach the East…… was also a failure on my part.”

“Haha. How could that possibly be the fault of the Holy Knight Order?”

“……”

“If we insist on assigning blame, it belongs to certain nobles who excessively sealed off the slums and the soldiers who lost track of them along the way. In the end, everything has been resolved, so it’s fine now.”

“……”

“Besides, thanks to your efforts, Sir Dante, the East will also receive part of the Temple’s preserved seed reserves.”

Having finished his business, Duke Rowain stood.

He gestured toward the box once more.

“Anyway, please accept this gift.”

“……”

“The person who asked me to deliver it is practically a benefactor to me, so I ask that you also offer the prayer properly.”

Dantelion tightened his grip on the box.

“Understood.”

Left alone, Dantelion silently stared into the box.

He had pretended everything was fine—

but in truth, his physical condition was terrible.

He had suffered injuries both large and small during the recent monster subjugations.

Because of the corruption in his divine power, he could barely even remember what state of mind he had been in during the fighting.

But he could not neglect his duty as a holy knight.

If he could offer this life to God—

even that would be an honor.

More importantly……

His long fingertips traced the edge of the box.

I feel like Duke Rowain didn’t tell me everything.

Something beyond the simple treatment formula.

Come to think of it……

“The person who asked me to deliver it is practically a benefactor to me, so I ask that you also offer the prayer properly.”

Who was this benefactor?

Normally, those words would have immediately caught his attention.

But today, they reached his mind a beat too late.

“……”

Perhaps because of the pain caused by his corrupted divine power, his thoughts simply refused to work properly.

His exhausted eyes wandered through empty space.

Even while suffering, he never let go of the prayer pendant resting against his chest.

Last season—

he had definitely been chasing someone……

Who was it?

“The fact that we failed to capture the culprit from District Z immediately and allowed the incident to reach the East…… was also a failure on my part.”

Ah.

The fugitives from District Z.

He shouldn’t have let them escape.

If they were connected to forbidden magic, he should have judged them with this sword—

No.

That wasn’t why.

It wasn’t that.

There had been someone he absolutely needed to meet that day.

But he hadn’t.

And because of that……

Riiiiing—

His mind refused to think any further.

A stabbing headache drove him to clutch his head.

“……”

After panting for a while, he looked toward the box almost as if entranced.

The red scarf caught his eye.

There was something strangely mystical about it.

Without realizing it, he reached out and carefully picked it up.

And then—

……What?

His violet eyes widened slightly.

The divine power infused within the scarf seeped into his body as though it had been waiting for him.

“……!”

Saaaaah—

[Scarf Infused with Haniel’s Purification Power (x1,000)]

• A strangely sacred red scarf

• Grants the blessing of purification to the wearer

• Happiness and good fortune for beloved Dad

[Tip] Depending on the sender’s intention, the recipient cannot detect the source of this divine power.

A gentle light soon enveloped him.

Ba-ba-ba-bam!

“It’s a festival!”

Pop! Pop!

“It’s our first harvest festivaaaaal!”

A few days later—

the harvest festival began!

The North’s very first harvest festival.

Everyone shared the food they had prepared, lit the harvest straw decoration, and prayed beneath the full moon.

“How are we going to use the oxen next year?”

“Hmm, we decided to expand cultivation beyond the flags first, so……”

“Hey, we can’t leave the outer section unused! Let’s try planting legumes there!”

“Sounds good! Hic! Ah, I’m drunk!”

The adults drank beer, got pleasantly tipsy, and enthusiastically discussed next year’s farming plans.

Meanwhile, Haniel?

She was running circles around the square with Slan!

With a huuuuge pouch tied around her waist.

“Whoa!! It actually works!”

Haniel bounced excitedly.

“It really…… is butter.”

They had put cream separated from milk into the pouch and run around while shaking it vigorously—

and somehow produced something that actually looked like butter!

“Hahahaha! Our baby can make butter now too~”

“But, gasp, it’s sooo tiring and still kinda runny……”

“Hey, knights! I think this is your moment to shine.”

“Me, me, me!! I’ll do it! I happen to be a master of butter!”

Felix rolled up his sleeves and stepped forward.

Haniel immediately raised her tiny thumb.

“Uncle Fel, you’re the best!”

Felix bit down on his fist.

“……F***. I can die happy now.”

Of course, Aisha refused to lose.

“Hani, I’m a hundred times faster at running than that guy, you know? More importantly…… butter comes from milk?”

“Someone please buy Sir Aisha an encyclopedia of common knowledge. Sir Luden, please!”

“There’s no budget for supplies.”

<Anyone want to make a wager with a magician?>

“Hehe, Big Sis Shasha is the best too! Kyahoo!”

In the end, every knight ran around the village with all their strength.

Thanks to them, Haniel ate bread slathered with rich, nutty butter until her stomach was completely full.

Haniel was in an amazing mood.

Dad got my divine power safely, right?

She felt certain he had.

Not long after Duke Rowain returned, a message had appeared telling her that the divine power in the scarf had activated.

[Scarf Infused with Haniel’s Purification Power (x1,000)]

• A strangely sacred red scarf

• Grants the blessing of purification to the wearer

• Happiness and good fortune for beloved Dad

[Tip] Depending on the sender’s intention, the recipient cannot detect the source of this divine power.

Hehe. Now I have to work hard and earn divine power all over again!

Dad, just wait!

Hani’s going to become rich in divine power and take good care of you!

Her next goal—

the Veil River beyond the village!

Haniel clenched her little fists.

It’s time to purify the second pillar!

To Be Continued…