I wonder if the Asmodeus gonna have full monopoly or just one of many customers.
Even though they're the only supplier, they're still not invulnerable from getting exploited. We know that's what happened before even though they have super hearing.
Even being exploited like a colonial nation seems to be a better fate for them rn, than being at the mercy of their neighbours.
But being a protectorate is sort-of what they wanted in the first place, and there are few better choices than one of the 13👑, it will make the gathering place seem more safe and secure for the scattered Manyears that didn'tjump on the offer initially (I suspect one of the reasons for the gathering was for many ears to educate their children safely, instead of any kind of nation-building)
Feels rather dissatisfying to me. Sure as a whole, the Many Eared Tribe has managed to secure a great and financial future. However, it requires that most of the clan become farmers to help achieve this. But what about the individual goals of some of the many Eared Tribe, for example, what if some don't want to be farmers, but something else. If I remember right, there were some who wanted to be florists, scholars, and/or even a police officer. If the Many Eared Tribe potential and capabilities don't exceed beyond that of what they're used to and/or farm work, nothing really changed as they're still reliant on other demons, although they can now at least afford to be choosy about their security due to their finances.
Honestly, I hope that this goes further and shows that with the newfound profits that the they've achieved, the Many Eared Tribe could then focus on training more than their hearing and actually develop their magical talent and/or physical abilities, and thus as a whole grow greater and thus their many members could actually pursue more opportunities for their future. If that's the case, then that would be amazing.
Well, I suspect up until now, those manyears would have to first secure their future by their clan talents, before even considering to try to achieve their dreams. Now fgarming lets a part of the population secure the safety/prosperity of the whole, and how many of people
need to be farmers (not due to food needs, but to afford to trade for protection) will strongly depend on technology in the Demon world, but the difference is,
Wait, that's literally the same thing as what they did before. Instead of relying on hearing, now they are gonna rely on magic power to produce crops. They are still weak as shit demons who can only survive as servant class. Fundamentally nothing changed
that this is something they can rely on as a group, instead of securing individual safety for individual service.
I mean sure, if that's what was establish for the demon farming culture and/or that was Iruma's and the others plan. But it wasn't. At most, Iruma and the others figure a plan to use the carrots and sell them for a profit. They made no mention of cultivating other crops and since they haven't said anything about having other crops at their disposal, it sounds like the carrots are their main source, so definitely not much of a florist potential. Also considering the Many Eared Tribes reaction to the carrots, it doesn't take much effort to grow them, only magic. So passing on knowledge on the carrots isn't gonna be enough to warrant being a scholar, especially one that wants to write a book. Lastly, since they entered a partnership with Azmodeus' family, they already have ample protection from one of the most powerful demon clans. Any further protection can be earned with money.
Speaking of which, they don't even make a mention about what makes the carrots special (beyond it's taste) and whether the Many Eared Tribes are the only ones who can grow them. If they are, then sure their fine, but if not, then they have to make sure they're careful that no one else gets the seeds, otherwise they lose their advantage. Especially if we're talking about someone who can replicate things like someone like Clara.
Dunno if it's just the TL, but it's strongly implied that
Nova developed the carrot to be way tastier that the usual ones, and that he used magic he was taught to do so (making the "Teach the Manyears basics of magic" conveniently a necessary step for the trade deal, conveniently necessitating the magic school project Nova wanted, convieniently but not unreasonably)
Another way to look at this is that the Many Ears are in possession of a limited resource. Typically, either enslavement or exploitation occurs by the people with means who desire said limited resource.
Does having the Asmodeus clan as a backer ensure that the Many Ears will escape any negative consequences?
As some have mentioned the clan's focus will shift and there are always positives and negatives that will go along with that. I doubt the manga will have Iruma solve all the problems as he's already done enough to pass his leveling exam. It would be nice to see where the clan goes though.
IF the carrot is actually new, then it requires both the old manyears knowledge of how to care for the carrots, and the new Nova knowledge of how to make them tastier. I think it would benefit Asmodeus' more to try to keep them secure, rather than trying for a "seize and exploit" tactic, due to the benefit of being the sole source of a new luxury good (and the fact that her son is involved), but it
may make manyears a target in the future.
