"It looks very similar to the fertilizer we bought."
As she spoke, Vera stood outside with Ira, Satan Leaf, and Celina, watching the goblins use soil fertilizer… which was diluted with water and sprinkled in the soil.
If they had fertilized the plants before planting them, they could directly mix fertilizer into the soil to ensure fertility. However, it was different now.
Fertilization in the process of growing was called top dressing fertilization. It was best to use water to mix it first, or it might cause the crop to die.
As for the exact ratio and fertilization method, Ira did not know.
To put it bluntly, he had actually never really gone to the farmland of the Empire to take a look. Apart from the battlefield… he had spent all his energy dealing with those dogsh*t nobles in the court.
However, the demons, be they the fairies or the goblins, had used fertilizer before, so they knew how to use the produced fertilizer now.
This was their wisdom.
"Of course it's similar. The Empire's initial understanding of fertilizer is to splash ordinary feces onto the ground. I modified it to this state many years ago."
As Ira spoke, he looked at the three people who were watching the fairies and goblins work under the warm winter sun. He said, "There's nothing to see during the fertilization process. I…"
Ira was about to say something when he saw a working goblin staggering and falling to the ground. He rushed forward and held the goblin who was about to fall before anyone could react.
After helping this goblin regain his balance, Ira looked at his thin face even among the goblins and analyzed, "Is he malnourished and overworked?"
"Greetings… Lord Ira."
The goblin clearly looked very uncomfortable. He said in fear and took two steps back. "Although I know that you're… no, I'm very sorry now, but…"
This goblin stammered. He was not afraid of Ira because of the difference in status. After all, he only had a respectful attitude towards Satan Leaf and the others.
Without a doubt, the other party had seen Ira on the battlefield.
This phenomenon was very common in the Demon King's Territory. Almost everyone who had been to the battlefield seemed to have a disease called [Iraphobia], so they still shivered when they saw Ira's face.
"Lord Ira…"
"He's stirring…"
"The fertilizer…"
"One of them…"
"We've already…"
"Asked him to rest…"
"…"
What the fairies meant was that this goblin was one of the demonic creatures they had arranged to participate in stirring the fertilizer. Originally, he did not have to participate in this fertilization, but now, he was voluntarily working.
No one urged, forced, or whipped him, but he was working. Was this stupid? Or was their king really worthy?
At least… in their eyes, it was the latter.
Ira looked at Satan Leaf and Celina, who revealed concerned expressions. He could not help but chuckle and look at the calm and bored Vera… That's right! Such an attitude towards civilians was the normal citizen of the Empire!
"Sigh…"
Ira could not help but sigh. Then, in the midst of Vera's question, he shook his head and said, "It's nothing. I'm thinking about something else now."
"Hmm? What?"
Satan Leaf asked. She blinked and the wings on her back fanned, waiting for Ira to speak. She looked too obedient and did not look like a Demon King at all.
"I'm thinking about the fisheries."
As Ira said this, he raised an example and said, "In my impression, in ordinary coastal cities, seafood will become the food source of a city, but the Demon King's Territory doesn't seem to be like this."
Regarding this, Vera nodded. She had been born on the coast of the Empire. In her childhood memory, she had regularly eaten fish, kelp, and so on. However, because of her good economic conditions, she had eaten a lot of meat.
"Fishing? In the past, it had always been done by the naga, the murloc, and the snake-haired demoness. Then, they consecrated the fish to the Demon King's Territory. The port of the Demon King's Territory is the war and trade port. We've never caught fish ourselves."
As Satan Leaf spoke, she thought for a moment and her eyes lit up. At the same time, she said, "Right, we can fish for meat first, right? In any case, trade hasn't restarted yet, and the war is almost over. Can we?"
For some reason, as the Demon King, Satan Leaf even asked for Celina and Ira's opinions. Who was the Demon King and who was the subject?
Regarding this, Vera simply spread out her hands and said, "Actually, this is what Ira means… He just respects your authority as a Demon King and asks you for instructions."
Vera poked Ira's waist helplessly. Under his puzzled gaze, she continued, "Moreover, in order to maintain your authority, Ira definitely won't choose to say it in the morning court. Instead, he'll secretly tell you like this."
What did she mean by saying it secretly… It should be called giving suggestions, right?
Regarding the speechless Ira, Vera sighed with emotion and said, "Sigh, so you and Isabella are really weird. You clearly trust each other, but you can't trust each other deeply."
"…"
Ira was silent for a moment. He knew that he might not be able to completely explain it to Vera, so he only said simply, "Some things in the court can't be done with mutual trust."
"I trust Isabella with all my heart, but I also know that she can't completely trust me because she needs to be responsible for the Empire. Isabella trusts me to trust her, but she knows that she can't make me stronger. In other words, my faction is a faction she can use at any time."
Ira talked about this very complicated subject. He did not expect Vera to understand this at all… However, to put it simply, as a subject, he needed to do what a subject should do.
"What? What a mess. Since Isabella knows that you're loyal to her and the Empire, is there a need to suppress you? Your logic is not right at all…"
As Vera spoke, she completely did not understand what "responsible for the Empire" meant. She waved her hand in annoyance and said, "In any case, there's no need to consider so many things in the Demon King's Territory, right?"
"The Demon King is also stupid and easy to control," Vera said.
Satan Leaf: "Eh?"
To Vera's words, after listening to Satan Leaf's puzzled voice, Ira looked at it, then at the loyal Celina who pretended not to hear it, then back at Vera.
"Indeed, perhaps I should gradually try to be straightforward and honest. After all, Satan Leaf is silly and cute."
Ira seemed to agree with Vera.
Satan Leaf: (Why doesn't anyone speak up for me? Why don't you say something good about me, Celina? Do I really look silly and cute? Forget it, I'll just say something.)
"Meow, meow, meow?!"