Shota's Isekai NTR Adventure Chapter 1993: Slight difference

Even though the village chief uttered those words while flashing a confident grin, he truly had no grasp of what he was handling.

He remained clueless about this individual's identity, yet he could sense that the man's status had to be elevated, judging by the nobles' deferential behavior toward him.

Still, someone of this caliber actually desired to explore the humble attractions of their unremarkable village...

As the village chief led them on the tour, a constant tension gripped him, like a rope tightening around his throat. One misstep, and he feared it could spell disaster for him.

The primary source of this unease stemmed from the intense pressure exerted by the nobles.

It was evident that the nobles aimed to please the one who made the request, so they directed this strain onto the village chief.

Should that man display even the slightest dissatisfaction, the village chief was certain he'd face severe repercussions.

"These fields are ours, as you can observe. We've toiled diligently to ensure their bountiful growth." Unsure of how to proceed, the village chief began describing random sights as if they were unique village treasures.

To be precise, fields could indeed qualify as a village's hallmark.

After all, they formed a core aspect of what made a village a village.

However, the nobles quickly perceived the village chief's desperate ploy and shot him furious glares for it. Under their piercing stares, the village chief felt an urge to break down in tears.

But ultimately, I remarked, "They appear truly vibrant. Might I inspect them more closely?"

Not only the village chief, but the nobles too were taken aback that I'd show curiosity toward such ordinary produce.

Upon hearing my words, a flicker of suspicion crossed their minds about my true intentions. They couldn't accept that my interest lay solely in the crops themselves.

In their view, there had to be some ulterior motive behind my fascination with the harvest.

"Hmm." Eventually, a sly smile crept across one noble's features.

This particular noble governed the lands encompassing this village.

With their esteemed guest expressing curiosity about the territory under his control and its yields, he saw an opening to bargain for what he sought from this visitor.

The remaining nobles pieced it together swiftly and cast jealous glances his way, though they were powerless to intervene.

I simply brushed them off, having no desire to set the record straight.

They assumed my attention was fixed on the crops proper, but nothing could be further from the truth.

How could something as mundane as ordinary wheat capture my interest? No matter its healthy growth, it remained just plain wheat.

Back in our Kite Kingdom, such produce was plentiful and readily available to me anytime. Thus, there was zero chance I'd fixate on this.

My actual intrigue lay in the exceptional vigor of this wheat's development.

Beyond the wheat, every crop in this region drew my eye. Each one flourished at a pace surpassing anything seen in other nations.

Something extraordinary about this location clearly fueled such remarkable plant growth, compelling me to uncover its secret.

Yet, no clues surfaced for me.

Employing my mana sense yielded zero results.

Switching to divine energy sense brought back nothing either.

Not even my eyesight revealed any anomalies in this spot.

This environment appeared utterly ordinary, indistinguishable from elsewhere.

A closer examination even revealed that the local conditions were somewhat inferior to those in typical areas.

From my prior collaboration with the prime minister on agricultural improvements, I'd visited various sites to analyze soil quality and similar factors. That experience allowed me to recognize the subpar quality here.

"What exactly enables such thriving growth? Regardless of the angle, this place feels peculiar. It's baffling that it went unnoticed for ages..." This thought raced through my mind as I scrutinized the area.

Watching me stare silently at the foliage, the village chief and nobles grew increasingly anxious. I stood there, observing the plants in complete quiet.

Mere casual glances would have been one matter, but my intense scrutiny suggested deeper intent.

It resembled a meticulous examination.

At last, the village chief ventured, "Sir, is there an issue with the plants?"

The nobles held their tongues, yet their rapt focus on my response betrayed their shared concern.

"No issue at all. I was merely appreciating the rich hue of these plants." With a relaxed smile, I offered this after the village chief's query jogged me from my lapse.

They regarded me with puzzled expressions at my reply, but ultimately, no one pressed further.

Shifting gears, I propelled the village tour onward, steering clear of prolonging the focus on the vegetation.