The next morning, the sun warmed the cabin and fields. Ronald stretched, emerald eyes bright as he gazed over the rows of sprout-tubers. Overnight, the crops had grown surprisingly fast, their leaves thick and stems strong.
"Looks like today's harvest is going to be productive," he muttered, smiling.
Maphala, in her calf-sized form, nuzzled him playfully. Brontus grazed nearby, his wooden-like horns gleaming in the morning light.
---
Ronald moved through the fields, harvesting the larger tubers carefully. Some had an unusual shimmer—a sign that these rare sprouts might grant permanent stat boosts thanks to the Cooking God blessing.
He sampled one, savoring the earthy, nutty flavor. The system pulsed faintly:
Strength +1
Meanwhile, Maphala and Brontus had been nibbling on smaller tubers themselves. The system showed stat improvements for both of them.
Maphala: Agility +1
Brontus: Vitality +1
Ronald laughed softly. "Looks like you two are leveling up from the crops too!"
Brontus rumbled approvingly. "Every effort counts, little farmer. Growth comes from diligence."
Maphala flicked her leaf-shaped ears, chewing thoughtfully. "We're keeping pace with you, Ronald. The land rewards care."
---
After the harvest, he turned to the cabin, shaping beams, adjusting shelves, and reinforcing walls. Each precise cut and careful placement earned him experience in Carpentry (Comprehensive).
By late afternoon, the cabin was spacious and fully ready, with room for both Maphala and Brontus to move freely, no matter their size.
---
With evening settling in, Ronald leaned back against the cabin wall, emerald eyes reflecting the warm glow of sunset. Maphala curled beside him, humming softly, while Brontus grazed quietly at the edge of the field.
"I can actually see myself getting stronger," he whispered. "Farming, building, learning magic… all of it is helping me grow every day."
---
Ronald's Stats After the Day:
Main Level: 3 → 4 (EXP 300/300 → leveled up)
HP: 115/115
Stamina: ∞
Mana: 65/65
Stats:
Strength: 15
Vitality: 15
Dexterity: 13
Agility: 12
Intelligence: 10
Wisdom: 10
Charisma: 12
Luck: 9
Skills (Comprehensive / Proficiency):
Farming (Comprehensive) Lv.2 → 115/100 (Level Up Ready)
Carpentry (Comprehensive) Lv.3 → 125/80 (Level Up Ready)
Farming Magic Lv.1 → 45/50
Blessings:
Verdant Bracelet (Tool Transformation, Infinite Stamina)
Hearthlight (+5% Comfort/Warmth)
Cooking God Blessing (Increased Stat Acquisition from Rare Foods)
---
Maphala's Stats (Cow):
Strength: 12
Vitality: 13
Dexterity: 11
Agility: 13
Intelligence: 10
Wisdom: 11
Charisma: 12
Brontus's Stats (Bull):
Strength: 14
Vitality: 14
Dexterity: 12
Agility: 11
Intelligence: 10
Wisdom: 12
Charisma: 12
---
Ronald smiled, watching his companions grow stronger alongside him. "Tomorrow," he said, "we'll see if the sprout-tubers can grow even bigger… and I can start training you two in Farming Magic."
Brontus rumbled in agreement, and Maphala nudged him gently. Together, they settled into the warm evening, ready for another day of growth, learning, and farming.---
The next morning, sunlight bathed the cabin and fields in a warm glow. Ronald stretched, emerald eyes sweeping across the growing rows of sprout-tubers, newly planted carrots, and corn.
"Two weeks… that's how long it'll take for the carrots and corn to be ready," he murmured, kneeling in the soil to inspect the tiny seedlings. The sprouts of his previous harvest were already thriving, thick and strong.
Maphala padded alongside him in calf form, nudging at a particularly stubborn sprout, while Brontus grazed a short distance away, watching the fields with quiet attention.
---
Ronald reached into his magic seed bag, a gift from one of the gods, and pulled out seeds for more ordinary crops—potatoes, beans, and wheat—intended for people who couldn't handle the magical properties of the carrots and corn. These crops were safe for anyone to eat, but didn't have the potential to increase stats or grant magical effects.
"Looks like we'll have something for everyone," he said, smiling. "Normal crops for normal people, and magical crops for those awakened enough to handle them."
He planted the ordinary crops in neat rows, letting the seedlings settle into the fertile soil. The farm was slowly taking shape as a patchwork of different fields—some glowing faintly with magical energy for specialized growth, others calm and mundane for ordinary consumption.
---
With his fields set, Ronald returned to cabin work. He shaped beams and adjusted shelves, the familiar rhythm of carpentry relaxing him after the morning's labor. The cabin was now fully prepared, spacious enough for both Maphala and Brontus to stretch, shift size, or rest comfortably without crowding one another.
---
The day drifted by quietly. Sunlight warmed the fields, the gentle rustling of leaves filled the air, and the smell of tilled soil lingered pleasantly. Ronald occasionally checked his inventory, amazed at the amount of food already stored and the endless supply of seeds the magic bag provided.
"This place… it's really becoming a home," he said softly. "And it feels like it can sustain more than just me."
Maphala hummed softly, resting her head on his knee, while Brontus grazed slowly nearby. They didn't need to speak—their presence was enough. Together, they worked and grew alongside the land in a quiet rhythm.
---
For the next several days, the routine continued. Ronald tended the crops, watered and weeded the fields, and practiced carpentry when the sun was high. Slowly, the ordinary crops grew steady and strong, while the magical carrots and corn began to sprout more visibly, shimmering faintly with energy meant only for those capable of awakening their potential.
The farm was alive, but the pace was gentle a calm, relaxing life, emphasizing care, growth, and steady improvement over rush or spectacle. The magical crops required patience, and Ronald learned to enjoy the waiting as much as the work itself.
The sun had begun to dip lower in the sky when Ronald paused his work in the fields. His clothes were streaked with soil, his hair tangled from the day's labor, and he could feel the sticky sweat on his skin.
He wrinkled his nose, grimacing. "Ugh… I really need to clean up," he muttered, noticing faint whiffs of his own earthy scent. Between bending over sprouts, kneeling in the soil, and hauling tools, he hadn't washed in days. The farm life was rewarding, but it came with a certain… aroma.
Maphala glanced at him curiously, her leafy ears twitching. Brontus rumbled softly, approving the idea of a break.
"I'm heading to the river," Ronald said. "Time to get clean… and maybe catch some fish for dinner while I'm at it."
---
By the riverbank, he stripped off his soiled clothes and waded into the cool, flowing water. The chill washed over him, loosening tension in his muscles. He scrubbed carefully, feeling the grime of the day dissolve into the current. His hair floated and tangled briefly before he ran his fingers through it, smoothing it back.
"Ah… that's better," he murmured, stepping onto the smooth stones.
He reached for the Verdant Bracelet. With a simple thought, it transformed into a sturdy fishing rod, sleek and perfectly balanced in his hands.
"Nice," he said, grinning. "Now, I just need bait."
Ronald knelt by the riverbank and began digging in the soft, damp soil. Small worms wriggled free as he carefully unearthed them. He held them gently between his fingers, using them as bait for the line.
---
With the rod ready and bait secured, he cast into a quiet bend of the river. The gentle splash of water, the hum of insects, and the occasional birdcall filled the air. He waited patiently, enjoying the calm.
After a short while, he felt a tug and carefully reeled in a modest fish, its scales glinting silver in the sunlight. A few more casts yielded another, giving him enough for a simple meal.
---
Maphala and Brontus watched from the riverbank, shaded under the trees. When Ronald returned to the cabin, he carried the fish carefully. He set about cleaning and preparing them, the earthy smell of river and soil mixing pleasantly with the fire smoke.
The evening was peaceful. Ronald savored the first bite of freshly cooked fish, the rich flavor a satisfying change from vegetables and tubers.
"This… this is the life," he said softly, leaning back against the cabin wall. Maphala nuzzled his side, and Brontus rested his wooden-like horns on the ground nearby.
Tomorrow the fields needed to be tended, crops to grow, magic to practice—but tonight, there was only peace, clean skin, and the simple satisfaction of a day well spent.