"Hui… Megumin? Did you say your name is Megumin?"
"What's wrong? Does big sister know me?"
"Well… should I say I know you, or that I don't?"
That was indeed a famous name.
Zunzun's knowledge of Megumin came from his previous life, though the details differed now. In this life, he'd heard about her since birth but had never actually met her.
Megumin was the child of Hyoizaburoo.
No wonder she was so thin and malnourished.
"What's with that vague answer?" Zunzun asked.
Maybe his tone made Megumin think he was reluctant to farm with her, because she hurriedly said, "Don't look at me like that! Actually, I'm really strong. Heavy labor like digging is no problem! If you don't believe me, I can prove it!"
With that, she grabbed a nearby corn stalk and yanked hard.
"Wait, wait! I believe you! Isn't that enough? Idiot, let go!" Zunzun dashed forward and grabbed her hands.
Using crop-pulling as a strength demonstration—that was an interesting logic.
"So? Do you believe me now?"
"I believe you."
"Really?"
"Really."
"No, you can't just believe me without seeing me pull it out again!"
"Enough! If you pull again, the corn will die! No full cobs, no food for us!!!"
Mention "no food for us," and Megumin immediately stopped pulling, gently pushing the stalk back into place, even pressing it down carefully as if worried it might die.
Zunzun's face twitched.
Somehow, he felt he'd made a mistake.
"Well, the first rule of farming is that crops are delicate. If you're careless, they might die. So you must take good care of them. Understand?"
"Yes, I understand."
Megumin answered straightforwardly.
Her attitude was good—but her actions were a headache.
Still, a good attitude was already a start.
He'd teach her farming little by little, gradually turning her into a useful helper—or at least a tool who followed orders.
"Alright then, no time to waste! Today, we'll reclaim the land adjacent to the cornfield."
The land Zunzun had reclaimed last fall had mostly lain fallow through winter, spring, and half of summer. To use it again, they had to repeat the process.
The good news: since Zunzun had laid the groundwork, turning the soil again would be easier than the first time.
Even Megumin could handle it.
But—
gurgle gurgle gurgle~
Suddenly, a loud wail came from Megumin's flat belly.
The little girl covered her stomach without shame or embarrassment and said casually, "Hungry again? I've felt this a lot. I can hold on for about seven hours before falling semi-comatose… no, considering physical labor, probably only three hours."
"No way. You're not working on an empty stomach."
How did she know all this? Was she experimenting on herself? Probably not. Given her poverty, she likely learned the hard way.
Zunzun pulled out the rice balls Sister Mo Lao had prepared and handed them to Megumin.
"Eat."
"Can I?"
"Of course. I told you, no starving here."
"…Thank you."
Megumin took the rice ball and bit in with no hesitation. She wolfed down the first one in a few bites, then grabbed the next, repeating the process. Before long, she finished three rice balls. Her appetite scared Zunzun.
How many days had she gone hungry?
No—wait!
Hadn't she brought back a bunch of corn yesterday?
Curious, Zunzun asked, and learned Megumin hadn't eaten it all—she saved some as a reserve.
At least she knew how to store food.
Zunzun was half amused, half annoyed.
When only one rice ball remained, Megumin's hand froze mid-air, and she looked a little embarrassed.
"Eat it."
With permission, Megumin eagerly finished the last rice ball.
Zunzun's big appetite meant his sister made rice balls large enough for two adults, but the little loli ate almost all of them.
She seemed reluctant to finish, though, and when only half the last rice ball was left, Megumin handed it to Zunzun.
"I don't need it…"
"No way," Zunzun said firmly.
But Megumin insisted and pressed the rice ball to his lips.
Seeing her stubbornness, he didn't resist and finished it in one bite.
A faint smile curled Megumin's lips.
After a rest, the midday sun began to dip, and the temperature cooled.
It was time to work.
"Megumin, I read something in a book when I was younger…"
"When you were younger?"
The little girl looked surprised that her 'sister' was barely older than her.
"Ahem, younger, not little. Don't interrupt," Zunzun coughed dryly. "Anyway, it said in "Those Who Don't Work, Don't Eat," that people who don't work don't get to eat. So, if we want full bellies and no more hunger, we have to work hard!"
"To no longer go hungry!"
"For a better tomorrow!"
"For a better tomorrow!"
Maybe it was Zunzun's slogan, or the fact that she no longer needed to starve—either way, Megumin worked hard and focused.
Zunzun hoe'd the half-abandoned land, and Megumin followed, clearing debris.
The two worked well together, reclaiming the plot in under half a day.
The decision to add one more person was definitely right.
1 + 1 > 2.
From this, Zunzun was confident they could reclaim even more land.
But maybe not today.
Megumin was panting, kneeling on the ground, her worn skirt and pants muddy, her pale face full of exhaustion.
Oh, right.
The little loli's body wasn't very strong.
Besides, Zunzun had a plugin that helped him keep up, but Megumin just barely managed to keep pace.
He'd need to care for her more in the future.
"Okay, that's enough for today."
Full of energy, Zunzun slung his hoe over his shoulder and told Megumin, who was resting, "Make sure you come tomorrow. I'll prepare delicious rice balls."
Whether it was the promise of rice balls or hunger itself, Zunzun took only two steps before he heard her stomach rumble again.
That reminded him Megumin might not have much to eat.
Would she be hungry tonight?
Wait—that meant she could only eat rice balls at noon tomorrow, then do manual labor on an empty stomach again?
He'd forgotten Megumin's family actually had some corn stashed away.
After thinking for a moment, Zunzun asked quietly,
"Would you like to come to my house for dinner?"
He invited the little loli.
-End Chapter-
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