Logan had barely made it halfway back to his farm when something unexpected happened. A translucent window materialized in front of him, different from the system notifications he had seen before. This one had a picture of Clara at the top, rendered in surprising detail, followed by lines of text that made his heart skip a beat.
[Character Profile Unlocked]
[Name: Clara Cloverfield]
[Age: 22]
[Occupation: Farmer]
[Affinity Level: 1/10 - Acquaintance]
[Relationship Status: Single]
[Likes: Fresh flowers, homemade bread, sunny weather, thoughtful gestures]
[Dislikes: Laziness, dishonesty, stormy nights]
[Special Notes: Clara is kind-hearted and hardworking. She values honesty and dedication. She dreams of one day expanding her family's farm into the most successful operation in the region.]
Logan stopped walking so abruptly that he nearly dropped the crate of farming supplies. "Terra," he said quietly, making sure Clara was far enough away not to hear. "Are you seeing this?"
The pixie flew up to examine the window. "Ah, so the relationship system has activated. I was wondering when that would appear."
"Relationship system?" Logan repeated, feeling a strange mix of excitement and discomfort. "This really is like the game I used to play. Complete with affinity levels and character profiles."
"The world of Florencia operates on certain principles," Terra explained, her tone matter of fact. "Building relationships with people is important for any farmer."
"The system simply quantifies what would otherwise be intuitive. It helps you understand how your actions affect those around you."
Logan looked at Clara's profile again. Affinity level one meant they were just acquaintances, which made sense since they had only met an hour ago. But seeing it displayed like game mechanics made everything feel surreal.
"This is going to take some time getting used to," he admitted.
"Most people don't see these interfaces," Terra said. "It's part of your unique abilities as an SSS ranked farmer."
"Consider it a helpful tool, but remember that Clara and everyone else you meet are real people with real feelings. The system is a guide, not a script."
Logan nodded slowly, appreciating the reminder. He dismissed the profile window with a thought and continued walking. By the time he reached his farm, the sun was starting to dip lower in the sky, painting everything in shades of gold and amber.
Terra flew off his shoulder and hovered in front of him with an expectant expression. "Alright, farmer. You've got your tools and your seeds. Time for your first real lesson. Let's see if you can actually grow something."
"I literally restored this entire property a few hours ago," Logan pointed out.
"That was different," Terra said. "That was using your SSS abilities for restoration."
"Actually planting and nurturing crops is the foundation of real farming. Even with your rank, you need to understand the basics."
Logan set the crate down near one of the fields he had restored earlier. As he reached for the bag of wheat seeds, another system window appeared.
[Tutorial Mode Activated]
[Objective: Plant Your First Crop]
[Instructions: Use the hoe to till the soil, plant seeds in the prepared ground, and water them properly.]
"Of course there's a tutorial," Logan muttered, though he couldn't help smiling. It felt oddly comforting to have step by step guidance, even if he was supposed to be some legendary SSS ranked farmer.
He picked up the hoe and approached the field. The tool felt solid and well-balanced in his hands, worn smooth from years of use but still perfectly functional. Following the tutorial's instructions, he began to till the soil, creating neat rows of overturned earth.
To his surprise, the work came naturally to him. His new body seemed to remember motions that his old self had never performed. The hoe moved in smooth, efficient strokes, and within minutes he had prepared several rows of planting beds.
"Not bad," Terra commented, flying alongside him as he worked. "Your body has been optimized for farming. The muscle memory is built in, so you don't have to learn everything from scratch."
Logan paused to wipe his forehead, expecting to feel tired, but instead he just felt energized. "That's convenient. Though I have to admit, part of me wanted the satisfaction of actually learning these skills."
"You'll have plenty of opportunities for that," Terra assured him. "Once you start experimenting with more advanced techniques and rare crops, all the built-in knowledge in the world won't be enough. You'll need to innovate and adapt."
Logan opened the pouch of wheat seeds and looked at the small golden grains in his palm. The tutorial window helpfully highlighted where he should plant them, showing optimal spacing and depth. He knelt down and began placing seeds in the prepared soil, covering each one carefully.
As he worked, he noticed something strange. Each time he planted a seed, he could feel a faint connection to it, like a tiny thread linking him to the potential life buried in the earth. It was subtle but unmistakable.
"You're feeling the resonance," Terra explained, noticing his expression. "That's your SSS rank at work."
"You're not just planting seeds. You're forming a bond with them. It's what will allow you to grow things that other farmers can't."
Logan finished planting the wheat and moved on to the carrots and turnips, repeating the process for each crop. By the time he was done, the sun was setting in earnest, and three fields of his farm were now planted with starter crops.
"Now for the last step," Terra said. "Watering."
Logan picked up the watering can and was surprised to find it already full. He didn't remember filling it, and there was no water source nearby except for the well.
"Did you do this?" he asked Terra.
"Check your inventory," she suggested with a knowing smile.
"My inventory?" Logan focused on the word, and suddenly another window appeared, this one showing a grid of empty slots with a few items already placed in them.
The watering can icon was there, along with the hoe, the rake, and the remaining seed pouches. Below them were icons for various materials and items he didn't recognize.
[Inventory System Activated]
[Current Capacity: 50 Slots]
[Special Feature: Auto-storage and instant access to tools and materials]
"This is incredible," Logan breathed. He reached toward the inventory window and selected the watering can.
The physical can in his hand vanished, and the one in his inventory lit up. When he pulled his hand back, the can reappeared, ready to use.
"Any tool or item you designate can be stored in your inventory space," Terra explained. "It keeps things organized and prevents you from having to carry everything manually."
"The watering can will automatically refill whenever you store it, using ambient moisture from the environment."
Logan began watering the crops, moving down each row systematically. The tutorial window tracked his progress, offering tips on proper watering technique and how much each type of seed needed. As he worked, he felt that connection to the planted seeds growing stronger, as if they were already responding to his care.
[Tutorial Complete]
[Achievement Unlocked: First Planting]
[Reward: 100 Experience Points]
[Level Up! You are now Level 2]
[New Skill Unlocked: Growth Acceleration]
Logan watched as his experience bar filled and his level increased. It really was just like a game, except everything felt real and tangible. He could smell the freshly tilled earth, feel the evening breeze on his skin, and sense the potential life waiting to emerge from the seeds he had planted.
"So what does Growth Acceleration do?" he asked Terra.
"Try using it on one of the fields," she suggested.
Logan focused on the wheat field and activated the skill. Golden light spread across the planted area, sinking into the soil. Almost immediately, he could feel the seeds responding. They weren't sprouting yet, but he knew they would grow faster than normal. Much faster.
"Under normal circumstances, wheat takes about a month to mature," Terra said. "With your Growth Acceleration and SSS rank, these should be ready to harvest in about three days."
Logan stared at the field, a sense of accomplishment washing over him. He had planted his first crops, learned to use his inventory system, and even gained his first level. His second life was truly beginning, and for the first time since arriving in Florencia, he felt like he was exactly where he was meant to be.
As darkness settled over the farm, Logan headed toward his restored cottage, ready to see what his new home looked like inside. Tomorrow would bring new challenges and opportunities, but tonight, he was content to simply be a farmer starting fresh in a world full of possibilities.