Earth Dungeon 50.1

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Chapter 50.1. Harvest

The scorching midsummer sun had also faded, and it was late August, known as the lingering heat period. 

Clearing the ruins, demolishing buildings, cutting through the forest, tilling the land, transforming it into fields, and finally planting seeds—after all this effort.

It was time for the corn harvest. Since then, Sakimori had destroyed three Goblin dungeons in between his controlled land and defended base. Around those areas, Shizuku, who was full of enthusiasm, had been working as a human grass cutter, expanding the fields. They increased the fields and tirelessly exchanged corn seeds at the store, resulting in this successful planting.

[Detective, I wonder where my wife has disappeared to. It would be nice to find out someday. Hehehe.]

[I wonder if Shizuku-san is a married girl?]

[It's a classic tale, you know. Under the corn, there might be a missing wife lying there.]

Chuckling mysteriously with her arms folded, as always, Shizuku elicited a wry smile. Yet, my attention was focused on the scene before me.

Standing in front of the fields, I gazed upon the plump cornstalks. These were the crops of the dungeon core. A bountiful harvest indeed. 

A crowd of people waited, eager to start the harvest, as per my orders. These were the inhabitants of Sakimori's bases. They were people gathered by Shingen, Katsuyori, and Ooki-kun, who had conquered various bases. Their expressions held no sense of desperation but were filled with anticipation.

"Mmm, rubbing my chin.

"Corn, you can harvest this much, huh?"

"Yeah, that's right. If it grew like this, maybe the abandoned town would've improved if we planted corn earlier."

I'm nodding in agreement with Shingen. Yeah, corn really grows well.

Before me were cornstalks about 4 meters tall, each bearing about ten ears of corn. And these ears were round and plump, almost too big to carry. Upon closer inspection, they were filled with tightly packed yellow kernels, looking sweet and delicious. They even seemed edible raw.

"Um... this is quite strange. Corn usually doesn't yield this many ears, like, as many as tomatoes or something. To call this a bumper crop from Core Store's produce is rather presumptuous."

Hana said, wiping cold sweat from her brow. Maybe she was right. I'd seen cornfields during my childhood, and I've seen them in movies too, but I remember them being far less dense. I think I had the wrong impression.

Well, whatever. The more bountiful, the better.

I shifted my gaze to the people waiting around the field. These were people collected from the lands we'd conquered and the original inhabitants. With excitement and hope sparkling in their eyes, they were ready. The people initially collected thought they'd be treated as slaves, but upon realizing they'd become residents with jobs and food, they now wore joyful smiles.

"Alright, everyone. Here's the boss's order. Harvest all the corn here! The pot's already boiling, you know. Let's get to work, and after that, we can have a corn party."

I grinned and issued instructions. The people who'd been waiting erupted in cheers.

"Yay!"

"Let's pick them one after another!"

"I'm gonna pick the big ones!"

With shouts like that, the crowd rushed into the cornfield. They plucked corn and returned, dipping them into the boiling water above the campfire. Impatient individuals who couldn't wait for them to boil started munching on the vibrant yellow kernels directly.

"Delicious!"

"It's so juicy!"

"I can't believe something like this exists."

Freshly picked, with soft skin, the juice overflowing like refreshing nectar in the mouth, faces lit up as people enthusiastically devoured the corn, completely engrossed in their enjoyment. It was delicious even when eaten raw.

People also pull the hot, freshly boiled corn and bite it.

"It's piping hot!"

"Boiled corn is sweeter."

"We used to eat this normally, huh?"

"So good!"

Each person formed a circle within their group, sitting down and savoring the corn while chatting merrily.

"The potatoes are done too!"

"Pass the salt!"

"If only we had butter..."

"It's delicious, Mom."

"We've truly tasted something delicious."

The women placed the cooked potatoes on a sieve and carried them, and people crowded around to eat them.

"Is this really okay? Half of this harvest is going to be eaten?"

Shingen looked at me and asked. This was our first proper harvest. I wanted them to savor it. It would be sad to sell the first corn we grew to others.

"It's fine. This is Amatsugahara Corporation's Harvest Festival. A modest outdoor party with corn and boiled potatoes."

Indeed, it was modest. In my fading memories, festivals and harvest celebrations were characterized by rows of food stalls, children gripping their pocket money, adults getting tipsy on alcohol, munching on skewers and snacks, and making a ruckus. 

That's what I considered a festival.

But now, it was just corn and potatoes. I felt hesitant to even call it a festival.

"I suppose so. These folks look happier than the festivals of old. I'm sure they find this tastier than any feast."

Shingen's gaze had a profound expression as he spoke. In the abandoned town, so many people gathered, eating in safety with relieved expressions. I never anticipated such a sight here, but now it had become a reality.

"Shingen... You smell a little."

"You should show a bit more respect for your elders!"

"I'll be joining the ranks of the elders soon enough. It's hard to show respect anymore."

Shingen narrowed his eyes and feigned anger, and I chuckled, raising my shoulders in a shrug.

With a snicker, I couldn't help but laugh. But, as Shingen said, wouldn't it be nice if someday they recalled this moment and turned this festival into a nostalgic story, reminiscing about how much fun it was?