Published: January 4, 2026
On the outskirts of Larak, there is a land called Phu Larak.
In the old language, Phu Larak apparently means "Mother of Larak."
In Enlil Province, centered around the provincial capital Larak, there are quite a few place names that start with "Larak’s something."
There are various episodes where history and legend intertwine, making it a land full of intriguing challenges for historians.
At Phu Larak, where many young people are reclaiming the land, I arrived together with Newf.
Wearing the governor’s attire and accompanied by my young daughter, the young people working the land glanced over curiously at me while continuing their work.
Ignoring their gazes, I watched as Newf carried out her tasks.
Newf was inspecting the partially constructed rice paddies.
Newf Sailing.
A girl I met after coming to this land.
At first, I was merely impressed and interested in how she stirred and led the local people. But as we talked, I realized she was cultivating a new strain of rice.
By innovating with the variety and harvesting methods, she had achieved a groundbreaking feat: producing two harvests per year.
Needless to say, the amount of crops the land produces effectively determines the population it can support—that is, the upper limit of the country’s population.
And population size almost always corresponds directly to national strength.
In other words, Newf’s rice holds the potential to dramatically increase the nation’s power.
But beyond that, I saw in Newf the same traits I had as a child.
For reasons that can no longer be pursued, one day I was reborn as a baby named Noah Alarate.
A baby with the memories of an adult.
Because of this, from an early age, it seemed like I was naturally smart, absorbing education rapidly and effortlessly, like water soaking into cotton.
From the age of six, I began to stand out because I was given an almost fantastical education that commoners never received.
I saw the same potential in Newf.
If given the right education, she would blossom greatly.
So, I took Newf under my wing.
Of course, I wanted Newf’s rice, but more than that, I believed that with noble education, Newf could become someone worthy of entrusting the future.
Someone priceless.
Together with Newf, today I came to Phu Larak, the land secured for large-scale rice cultivation.
Upon arrival, I watched Newf thoroughly inspect the rice paddies. When she seemed to have finished, I seized the moment to speak.
"What do you think?"
Newf squatted down to examine the soil but raised her face to answer.
"It’s good. This soil should drain water at just the right rate. For rice paddies, too good or too bad drainage is bad, but this looks just right."
"I see. And the rice itself? Do you think it’ll grow well?"
"Maybe. We’ll have to try, but if we keep nurturing the soil like this, I don’t foresee issues."
"Then, as planned, let’s build a composting site nearby."
"Nearby?"
Newf stood up, tilted her head slightly, and looked at me.
"Isn’t it better to build compost sites far away since they smell bad? This place—"
She paused and looked around.
Right now, aside from the cultivated land, there were only a few simple buildings scattered about.
"This land is empty now, but we’re going to develop it and build houses. Wouldn’t it be better to build the compost site a little farther away?"
"I understand that reasoning, but if it’s too far, then we’ll need laborers to carry the compost. That means paying wages. And some might try to cut corners even if it means a slight drop in yield."
"I see..."
"That would defeat the purpose. It’s safer to keep it within a distance where family members, like children helping out, can carry it."
"I didn’t think of that... yeah."
Newf made a thoughtful face, resting her chin on her hand and looking slightly down as if pondering the ground.
She finally nodded, as if to say she’d learned something new.
"To nurture the soil," she repeated.
Meanwhile, I carefully considered Newf’s words, turning them over on my tongue.
After organizing my thoughts in my head, I left the still-thinking Newf for a moment and looked around.