The next morning, Ronald awoke to a soft, golden light filtering through the half-built roof. His cabin smelled faintly of wood and earth, and the small field of sprout-tubers was already glowing with life.
"Alright… let's see how fast you've grown overnight," he muttered, kneeling beside the first row.
He gasped. The sprouts had shot up considerably, thick green stems pushing through the soil. Tiny tubers peeked out already, far ahead of what he expected.
Maphala in calf form stepped beside him, amber eyes shining. "The land responds quickly to care and blessing."
Brontus's horns glimmered faintly. "Not only the land, little farmer. You are blessed too."
Ronald raised an eyebrow. "Blessed me?"
Maphala nodded and nudged him gently. "Remember the Cooking God you met through your system favor? That blessing he gave you increases the chance of gaining permanent stat boosts from rare foods. Every bite now carries potential for growth."
"Oh… that's why I've been getting permanent stat bonuses from the sprout-tubers!" Ronald exclaimed, grinning widely. "So it's not just luck—it's divine help!"
---
He harvested carefully, pulling out plump, purple-streaked sprout-tubers. Each bite sent a pleasant warmth through his body as the system chimed.
---
[Item Effect Triggered: Sprout-Tuber Consumed]
Hunger Removed: 25%
Health Restored: 15
Permanent Stat Bonus Activated (Cooking God Blessing):
Strength +1
He harvested another, then another. Each bite was measured and deliberate, and each time, the system confirmed a stat boost:
Agility +1
Vitality +1
Dexterity +1
Ronald laughed, almost falling backward. "This… this is insane! I'm literally growing stronger by eating potatoes!"
Brontus rumbled approvingly. "That is why the gods give blessings wisely. Use them well."
Maphala hummed softly. "Careful not to overindulge, little farmer. Even blessings are best measured with patience."
---
After tending the crops, he returned to the cabin, shifting the bracelet into axe and chisel forms to continue the roof and finish interior shelves. The joinery fit perfectly, and by the end of the day, the cabin was fully functional, spacious, and welcoming for both Maphala and Brontus.
---
[System Evening Summary]
Daily EXP Gain:
Farming (Comprehensive): +40 EXP → Progress: 65/100
Carpentry (Comprehensive): +30 EXP → Progress: 65/80
Main Level: +70 EXP → Progress: 130/300
Blessings Active:
Verdant Bracelet: Tool transformation, infinite stamina
Hearthlight: +5% warmth/comfort for shelter
Cooking God Blessing: Increased stat acquisition from rare foods
Farming Magic: Sprout, Water Vein, Sunray, Weedbane
Achievements Today:
Harvested sprout-tubers; multiple permanent stat boosts gained
Applied farming magic to accelerate growth
Fully completed cabin with large stall for Maphala and Brontus
Improved joinery and wood shaping; mastered roof and interior shelves
---
Ronald leaned back against the cabin wall, emerald eyes shining as he stretched his fingers. Maphala rested her head on his lap, humming softly, while Brontus stood watch at the edge of the field, horns glowing faintly in the evening sun.
"I can't believe it… I actually built a home, harvested my crops, and got stronger all in one day," he whispered.
Maphala's leafy ears twitched in amusement. "Little farmer… tomorrow will be even more rewarding if you keep this pace."
Brontus rumbled, "Strength, skill, and wisdom all come from diligence. Do not forget that."
Ronald laughed softly, watching the stars emerge over Verdantia. "Then let's keep growing… together."
---
[Ronald's Stats at the End of Chapter 1]
Main Level: 3 (EXP 130/300)
HP: 110/110
Stamina: ∞
Mana: 65/65
Stats:
Strength: 14
Vitality: 15
Dexterity: 12
Agility: 11
Intelligence: 10
Wisdom: 10
Charisma: 12
Luck: 9
Skills (Comprehensive):
Farming (Comprehensive) Lv.2 → 65/100
Includes Soil Proficiency, Crop Care, Tool Mastery, Beast Handling, and Farming Magic (Sprout, Water Vein, Sunray, Weedbane)
Carpentry (Comprehensive) Lv.3 → 65/80
Includes House-Building, Joinery, Wood Shaping, and Tool Mastery
Blessings Active:
Verdant Bracelet (Tool Transformation, Infinite Stamina)
Hearthlight (+5% Comfort and Warmth)
Cooking God Blessing (Increased Stat Acquisition from Rare Foods)Ronald flopped onto the grass after a long day of harvesting and cabin building. His emerald eyes were fixed on the translucent system interface floating before him.
"Why… why is this so complicated?!" he groaned. Every day, there were new menus, new EXP categories, nested tabs for farming magic, tool mastery, crafting, house-building, joinery… even tiny notifications for every single thing he touched.
Brontus raised an eyebrow. "You're complaining about learning, boy?"
Ronald threw up his hands. "I don't want learning, I want doing! All I care about is growing stronger and getting better at farming and building! Why do I need six different menus for one action?!"
Maphala giggled softly. "You are human, little farmer. You like order. But the system… it is designed for versatility."
"I don't want versatility! I just want to live my life!" Ronald shouted, glaring at the floating holographic menus. He clicked around frantically, trying to find a way to simplify it.
---
[System Update: User Simplification Activated]
Main EXP now tracks everything.
Only Stats, Farming (Comprehensive), and Carpentry (Comprehensive) are displayed.
All other menus are hidden by default.
---
"Finally," Ronald muttered, breathing a sigh of relief. The interface now showed only the essentials: his stats, his main level, and the two comprehensive skills. Clean. Simple. Manageable.
He leaned back on the grass, closing his eyes for a moment, and the world around him shimmered.
---
Suddenly, he was standing on a vast plain of light and soil, surrounded by floating beams of translucent code. The air hummed with divine authority, and a booming voice echoed through the landscape:
"WHO DARES ALTER MY SYSTEM?!"
Ronald blinked. The figure towering above him glimmered with golden light, horns curling like stylized circuits, and eyes glowing like emerald fire. "Wait… uh… hello?" he stammered.
"I AM TERRAQUILL, GOD OF SYSTEMS AND STRUCTURE!" the figure roared, shaking the ground beneath him. "You, mortal… have defied my design. Menus, EXP chains, nested skill trees… all simplified?!"
Ronald swallowed nervously. "I… I just… I can't keep track of all the complicated menus! I just wanted to see my stats, my farming skill, and my carpentry skill! That's all I need!"
Terraquill's eyes blazed. "Do you think my system was designed for simplicity? It was meant for growth, strategy, and choice! You dare limit what a mortal can see?!"
"I… I just want to live my life!" Ronald shouted, frustration boiling over. "I'm supposed to build, farm, and grow! Not stare at ten different menus just to figure out if my crops grew!"
A silence fell. Terraquill's massive form paused, the hum of the system pulsing like a heartbeat. Then… slowly, the god's massive arms lowered.
"Perhaps… the mortal is correct," Terraquill said, voice calmer but still resonant. "Simplicity can be strength. But mark this: every shortcut you take, every menu you hide, comes with a cost you may not understand."
Ronald blinked. "Cost?"
Terraquill's gaze softened just slightly. "You will not see the hidden stats, the minor blessings, or the intricate magic bonuses. You will gain only what you focus on: your main level, your stats, and the skills you choose to track. This is your choice… but do not waste the power you hide from yourself."
"I… I understand," Ronald said, swallowing nervously. "I just… want to do, not stare at screens all day."
"Very well," Terraquill said, his massive form shimmering like sunlight over soil. "I allow it… but remember, mortal: a simplified path is safe… but it may hide treasures you cannot see."
With that, the dream faded, and Ronald woke up in his cabin, morning light spilling through the half-finished roof. His system interface now displayed only what he requested:
Stats
Farming (Comprehensive)
Carpentry (Comprehensive)
Main Level & EXP
Ronald sat up, rubbing his eyes. "Well… that was intense. But at least I can finally see what matters and focus on growing every day."
Maphala nuzzled him gently. "Even gods can be strict, little farmer. But they respect your choice."
Brontus added, "Remember, boy: simplify your vision, but never ignore opportunity."
Ronald nodded, smiling. "All right… today, we grow. And I'm keeping it simple."
---
[Ronald's Stats After Simplification]
Main Level: 3 (EXP 130/300)
HP: 110/110
Stamina: ∞
Mana: 65/65
Stats:
Strength: 14
Vitality: 15
Dexterity: 12
Agility: 11
Intelligence: 10
Wisdom: 10
Charisma: 12
Luck: 9
Skills (Comprehensive):
Farming (Comprehensive) Lv.2 → 65/100
Carpentry (Comprehensive) Lv.3 → 65/80
Blessings:
Verdant Bracelet (Tool Transformation, Infinite Stamina)
Hearthlight (+5% Comfort/Warmth)
Cooking God Blessing (Increased Stat Acquisition from Rare Foods)
Farming Magic: Sprout, Water Vein, Sunray, Weedbane