Silvara stared at Lucian Voss as he worked the soil with a hoe. The sight was strange to her eyes.
She felt a little uncomfortable—she had just woken up, hadn't taken a sip of water, and hadn't even washed her face.
Lucas, on the other hand, already felt drained. After only a short while, his body was weak. He stopped, stabbed the hoe into the ground, and wiped the sweat from his forehead. I've barely started and I already feel like dying. Oi, System, where's my exp and progression points?
The System's reply was annoyingly calm.
[Host's work is not done yet.]
Lucas let out a long sigh, then noticed Silvara's sharp gaze—her discomfort plain to see. Pulling the hoe from the ground, he walked over and muttered in a mock-harsh tone, "Hey, Silver, go home first. Wash that sleepy face of yours."
Silvara snorted. Is he planning to run? Another stupid scheme?
"You're trying to escape, aren't you?" she asked bluntly.
Lucas's tone turned genuinely irritated this time. "Escape from who? I'm the one working here by myself. Do you even have a brain, or is that silver head of yours filled with metal instead of thoughts, huh?" He grinned coldly as he mocked her.
Silvara flinched slightly at the insult, though she had to admit he wasn't entirely wrong. After all, it was her young master who had grabbed the hoe and started digging of his own accord.
"Tch… I'll be back. Don't you dare cause trouble." She turned away, still feeling uneasy with her own condition.
Without a single bow, her back retreated into the distance, leaving Lucas behind.
Lucas was just about to swing the hoe again when a familiar voice echoed in his head.
[DING]
[Hey!! Host still has unused Progression Points. Don't pretend you forgot.]
Lucas wiped the sweat off his temple and muttered, "Hh… how many do I even have in total?"
[Calculation complete. Progression Points accumulated: 34. One already spent on seeds. Remaining: 33.]
He sighed. "Fine… might as well see if there's something useful. Open the panel."
A transparent panel unfolded before him, this time with far more options.
[Exchange Menu Opened]
Mini Hoe (1 PP) – Basic tool. Stamina -10% for light work.
Soil Test Strips (1 PP) – Tests soil pH & moisture.
Fast-Growing Seed Pack (5 PP) – Quick harvest seeds. Requires daily care.
Field Gloves (10 PP) – Reduces blisters, +1 EXP per hour of labor.
Portable Water Jug (15 PP) – Lightweight water container, refillable.
The Great Hoe (33 PP) – Weight adjustable at will. No maintenance required. Usable for both farm work and physical training.
Lucas's eyes locked on the last option. "The Great Hoe…" He frowned. "Why are there suddenly so many choices now?"
[Because the Exchange adapts to Host's current Progression Points.]
Lucas nodded, tapping the icon briefly to open the full description.
[Weight adjustable from as light as a twig to as heavy as a millstone. No maintenance required. Functions as both a work tool and training equipment.]
He rubbed his chin. "If it doubles as muscle training, then it's worth it."
[Cost: All Progression Points currently in Host's possession.]
Lucas gritted his teeth, then slammed the confirmation. "Take it."
[DING]
[Exchange successful. The Great Hoe acquired.]
[Remaining Progression Points: 0]
Purple light swirled, and a new hoe materialized in his hands. Lucas gave it a test swing, then noticed a panel explaining the weight adjustment—by twisting the end of the handle. Curious, he gave it a slight turn.
CLANG!
The weight shifted instantly, his shoulder dipping under the sudden heaviness. A thin smile curved across his lips.
"Perfect. I can farm and rebuild my body at the same time."
He was about to continue working when his eyes landed on the other hoe lying unused on the ground. He recalled the money his mother had given him yesterday.
"Not enough manpower, but I've got cash… Might as well hire laborers."
Just then, two old men happened to be passing by the road. Lucas raised his hand and waved.
"Hey! Want some work? I'll pay!"
The two old men exchanged uneasy glances, their faces stiff with tension. They quickly lowered their heads, pretending not to hear.
But Lucas stepped forward and blocked their path.
"A… we'll think about it first, Young Master," one of them stammered after gathering the courage to reply.
The pair hurried off immediately after, their steps quick and uneven.
Lucas's eyes narrowed, his expression darkening. "They don't trust me?"
-----
One of the old men returned home, his face twisted with worry. In the corner, his little daughter lay curled up, her body burning with fever.
He sat down heavily, heart breaking. There was no money left for medicine.
But the rumors echoed in his ears: Young Master Lucian no longer desires women…
That was what made him afraid. If I accept his offer, will… will he use me instead?
He looked at his daughter again. Her tiny body trembled violently. His resolve hardened. It doesn't matter if I'm humiliated. As long as she survives.
He whispered a faint farewell to his wife, then hurried out the door.
His wife watched, bewildered, not knowing where he had gone. Soon, the old man's companion arrived, carrying fruit for the sick girl.
"Where's your husband?" the man asked.
She shook her head. "He left in a rush. I thought he went to meet you."
The companion turned pale. "Don't tell me… he went to Young Master!"
"What? Why?" The wife froze, her face draining of color.
The man explained, trembling, that on their way back from the fields, the Young Master had offered them work—his clothes drenched in sweat, breath heavy and ragged.
"Work? What kind of work?" she asked in shock.
"I don't know… but you've heard the rumors, haven't you? That Young Master isn't interested in women anymore…"
Her fear spiked. No… no, he can't lower himself like that… She glanced at her sick child and bit her lip.
Just then, Silvara was returning to the fields, her face now refreshed. Passing by the old man's home, she was suddenly stopped—the wife rushed out, carrying her feverish daughter in her arms. She grabbed Silvara's hand desperately.
"Please! My husband… he went to the Young Master! Don't let him be destroyed!"
Silvara's eyes widened. "What?!"
Without hesitation, the woman poured out everything. Clutching Silvara's arm in tears, she begged.
"I'll go there at once!" Silvara declared. The wife insisted on following, so she left her child in the neighbor's care. But her pace was too slow. Clicking her tongue, Silvara scooped the woman into her arms like a princess, leaping forward with inhuman speed.
At the empty field…
The old man finally arrived. Lucas stood there, The Great Hoe resting on his shoulder, sweat dripping down his chin.
"Perfect timing! Now let's get to work," Lucas said firmly.
The old man swallowed hard. "Wh… when do we start?"
"Now."
The man lowered his head, trembling. Slowly, he turned around—hands shaking as he loosened his trousers. His pale, unsightly backside faced Lucas.
"Hah!?" Lucas froze, stunned.
At that exact moment, Silvara landed hard with the wife in her arms. Her eyes went wide at the scene before her.
"DISGUSTING!!!" she roared. She lowered the wife carefully.