At the foot of the castle, Maitian Village.
The wind stirred the wheat, creating waves of gold.
Leech stood before the field ridges, watching the bustling crowd at harvest. Behind him followed his little secretary and his squire, Radish.
"Your great guidance has brought everyone a bountiful harvest," Radish said.
He had seen with his own eyes that Porcupine Territory's development was due to Lord Leech's leadership, not some miracle from the heavens or grain bestowed by a Divine Spirit. If one had to speak of a miracle, then Lord Leech himself was that miracle.
"It's also thanks to everyone's hard work," Leech said.
At the same time, he thought to himself, 'And less kowtowing to the gods.'
Using the time spent worshiping gods for development, creating for themselves rather than begging for handouts from Divine Spirits—this, he believed, was the real reason Porcupine Territory was able to prosper.
This year's harvest was a good one.
