Chapter 16

Thousands of crops have been gathered.

The garlic and kale had all grown, so they were harvested, and the cauliflower was also well-grown, leading to a clean harvest.

Half of me is thrilled that I can finally start rolling in some dough.

The other half is seriously contemplating biting my tongue if I can’t alleviate this intermediate-level pain.

With a somewhat uneasy feeling, I continue harvesting the crops.

In the midst of the darkness, I rely on the faint glow of the Light Ring to gather them one by one.

The fields that once blossomed beautifully quickly become barren.

Due to planting haphazardly without much thought, the land now looks messy and overturned—not exactly an appealing sight.

My body, exhausted from battle, gradually cools down with fatigue.

After washing up, the slight ache throughout my body lulls me into drowsiness.

A single painkiller sits by my bedside.

And another one tightly clutched in my hand.

Thus, I prepared for the incoming pain.

Of course, I didn’t forget to take a painkiller beforehand just in case, before going to sleep.

I tip the violet liquid from the glass bottle into my mouth.

“Ugh…”

Though I expected it to taste terrible, the first contact with my tongue was indescribably awful.

It’s like tasting dried tree bark or rubber—my tongue feels like it’s curling up and losing sensation, which is strangely new.

All thoughts of sleep are chased away, but I force myself to toss and turn, trying to fall asleep.

[Intermediate Farming Level 1 Achieved! Please select your Intermediate Achievement Effect!]

[1. 10% Increase in Crop Value]

[2. 10% Faster Crop Growth]

[Intermediate Combat Level 1 Achieved! Please select your Intermediate Achievement Effect!]

[1. Weapon Specialist]

[2. 15% Equipment Efficiency Increase]

Two skills have reached intermediate level.

Though I’m happy about my steady growth, the impending pain keeps crossing my mind.

They say people remember negative sensations and memories longer than positive ones—it seems true in this case.

There’s no room for deliberation when it comes to farming.

The increased value won’t apply to Abel’s shop or other merchants, it seems.

Since I don’t plan to sell here anyway, it’s not very efficient.

Ultimately, I chose the 10% faster growth rate—an easy decision since the other option wasn’t as appealing.

Not that the other choice was bad either.

After making my selections, I head straight to the store to check crop prices rather than buy anything.

I currently have about 3,000 crops—garlic, kale, and cauliflower.

Selling them would net me 1,628 gold.

Selling them all at Abel’s shop yields 2,290 gold.

Slowly, I’m reaching the point where I can earn thousands of gold regularly.

If the quality boost from reaching intermediate farming applies, the price will skyrocket—even if it doesn’t affect Abel’s shop, it doesn’t matter.

I can still sell expensive crops here and the rest to Abel’s shop.

After finalizing my choices, I sell a bit of kale to make some spare gold and end my shopping.

As I sit quietly, my consciousness begins to drift.

A deep sleep, not a dream, calls out to me.

“Kk…kk…”

It feels like needles pricking my head.

Not just my head, but my entire body starts to throb painfully.

Still, it’s better than before when I used to roll around drooling, unable to regain consciousness.

Ironically, using the term “better” here, but at least being able to regain control and act after taking the painkillers shows their effectiveness.

I pop another painkiller tightly held in my hand into my mouth.

Taste?

None of yesterday’s vivid sensations remain.

While suppressing screams, I only feel its passage down my throat.

“Hoo…hoo…”

I take a few deep breaths.

Thanks to the immediate effect of the painkiller, the pain subsides gently.

The subtly lethargic sensation spreading through my whole body numbs the pain.

“This…is crazy…”

Is my tongue slightly numb?

My lips tingle, causing my pronunciation to be a little off.

Whatever. This level of side effect is tolerable and hardly qualifies as one.

As the pain fades, I become aware enough to notice sunlight streaming through the window.

Only then do I grin and leap out of bed.

It was a perfect start to the day.

Intermediate Level 1 Combat.

Intermediate Level 4 Farming.

Intermediate Level 7 Fishing.

Except for logging, everything has reached the intermediate level.

Mining is at Intermediate Level 1, and logging remains at Beginner Level 5 due to cutting down fewer trees.

It’s encouraging that I won’t have to worry about pain when leveling up magic, exploration, cooking, and more in the future.

There’s plenty of skill levels to raise and things to do.

The muskmelons planted on the first day are blooming beautifully.

Their sweet scent fills the air as I harvest them. Though there aren’t many since it’s the first batch, it’s enough to check prices at Abel’s shop.

Morning watering.

I need to expand the farm soon, so upgrading tools like the watering can and hoe seems necessary.

Thanks to treasures found in chests and leftover iron and gold ores, I’ve smelted them into bars, leaving me with a decent amount of materials.

Obsessed with painkillers, I’ve been charging ahead blindly.

Now, while organizing materials, I slowly review what I’ve overlooked.

Checking my bag, I find quite a number of iron ingots—53 in total. That’s enough to enchant two tools.

Without hesitation, I rush to the enchanting table to upgrade my axe and watering can.

Frankly, I’m curious.

What exactly improves when you upgrade something as simple as watering plants?

“Hmm?”

Externally, there’s barely any difference.

It just looks like it reflects light better, giving it a metallic sheen. That’s all I can tell from its appearance.

Will I notice a difference when I use it directly? I give it a try, spraying water generously.

Surprisingly, there isn’t much change. It just feels a little lighter compared to before—nothing major.

I’m a little disappointed. Using 25 iron ingots means mining 250 iron ores.

Spending an entire day mining and getting no noticeable improvement…

“What is this? Is this it?”

When refilling the watering can, something catches my attention.

It holds about five times more water than before.

Despite carrying five times the weight, it feels surprisingly light.

So, capacity and weight reduction improvements.

Ah, good. Large-scale farming means less frequent trips for water, reducing hassle.

I nod approvingly to myself.

Of course, despite accepting it, the fact that upgrading the watering can was the last thing I did naturally follows.

Before heading to Abel’s shop, I chop down a few trees. There’s still time before the shop opens.

Clearing the yard never ends, but it’s also a chance to gather materials and use my spare time wisely.

Now that my body is stronger and the axe performs better, chopping trees is significantly faster.

I can visibly see the wood splintering with each strike.

I recall my initial struggles, huffing and puffing.

In just about two weeks, I’ve improved this much.

I’m proud of how far I’ve come, adapting well to this world.

After chopping around 100 logs, I head toward Abel’s place.

I’ll need to do laundry and cook when I return, so I quicken my pace.

“Oh, Minho! Come on in.”

“You’re always busy.”

“To make a living, what can you do? Same goes for you.”

Abel’s round face breaks into a smile.

He moves around energetically despite his slim figure—does he love eating?

“I brought some crops today.”

“Ah, great! I was waiting for them actually. Word got around that your crops are good. Many customers are already asking for garlic. They say it has a special aroma or something.”

“Well, I can supply as much as needed.”

“Haha, good. How much do you have ready?”

“About 1,200 garlic, around 1,000 kale. Can I sell the other crops too?”

“Hmm. While I can take all the garlic, kale might be tough. There’s not much demand for kale, and I don’t have many places to sell it. Can I see the other crops?”

Unfortunately.

I suspected this might happen, but kale ends up needing to be sold to the system.

Although Abel has been buying garlic consistently, reverting to selling at a lower price feels like a loss.

I pull out 1,200 garlic, 5 muskmelons, and 5 cauliflowers from my bag.

“Oh! Melons and cauliflower! Hmm…melons go for 2 gold each. Cauliflower around 30 silver.”

The price is disappointing.

Melons are slightly pricey, but cauliflower is shockingly cheap.

Proof that Abel’s shop isn’t all-powerful.

“These are muskmelons.”

“Muskmelons? Oh really? Then I could offer up to 5 gold per melon. Sweet fruits are always in demand year-round.”

“Five gold each?”

“Sure, why not? How many muskmelons do you have?”

“Around ten.”

“How many more can you produce?”

“A few hundred should be possible.”

“Each week?”

“For now, every two weeks.”

Muskmelon growth period is 13 days.

With a 10% reduction, it’s 12 days—roughly two weeks.

“Alright, sell them to me. I’ll pay a fair price. If I promote them well and your crops gain a reputation, we might reach up to 8 gold per melon.”

“That works for me. Looking forward to working with you.”

“It’s my pleasure. Let’s keep in touch.”

Effectively, I’ve secured an exclusive contract with Abel for garlic and muskmelons.

I get a good price, and Abel benefits by developing sales routes.

It’s a win-win situation.

“Here’s a 1,000 gold check. Checks work for you, right?”

“Of course.”

“And here’s the remaining 10 gold. Looking forward to our partnership.”

“I’ll visit regularly.”

1,010 gold.

The four-digit number feels real.

This is farming.

The big money-making rush.

This is the essence of farming.

This is farming.

With more money, I feel more relaxed.

After struggling with battles and painkillers, this ease feels great.

Humming a tune, I head home.

Farming truly is the core of healing agricultural games.

1,000 gold worth of garlic and muskmelons.

Just thinking about it makes me happy.

Arriving home, I see the half-ruined field—a sign of harvesting.

Planning to restore it neatly tomorrow, I start cooking over a bonfire.

I have enough money for house expansion, but impulsive decisions aren’t wise.

Cooking this way is sufficient for now.

Some inconvenience is inevitable when funds are tight.

Still munching on plain meat that offers no buffs, I examine the enchanting table again.

Tool upgrades progress from iron ingots to gold ingots.

Making tools from gold is usually weak and ineffective, but here we have the mysterious enchantment system.

[Gold Tool Enchantment]

[Required Materials: 25 Gold Ingots]

[Granted Effect: Tool Level +15]

[Add Function to Tool]

[Required Materials: 25 Silver Ingots]

[Granted Effect: Random Additional Effect +1]

I have 28 gold ingots.

33 silver ingots.

All thanks to diligent fishing and treasure boxes.

Ores collected from the mine contribute too, but the quantity from treasure boxes shouldn’t be underestimated.

I boldly invest everything into the pickaxe.

Treasure box items are complete products and cannot be upgraded further.

A stronger pickaxe will make mining smoother, enabling easier tool upgrades later.

Placing the pickaxe twice on the enchanting table, I complete the gold enchantment and function addition.

[Pickaxe (Gold Enchantment)]

[Equipment Level: 35]

[Equipment Effect: Happiness +1]

The dazzling golden pickaxe in my hand exudes grandeur.

Testing it on a rock in the yard, the sensation is completely different.

Now I understand why people talk about gear power and equipment strength.

Plans to leisurely fish and level up fishing to advanced are temporarily put on hold.

Carrying such equipment into the mine would be a huge loss otherwise.

Before departure, I finish the laundry and hang clothes and towels outside.

The sturdy drying rack made of wood supports the weight well.

The bright sunlight ensures the laundry dries quickly.

I look forward to the warm touch of freshly dried clothes.

After finishing household chores, I head to the mine.

Random monsters along the way don’t scare me anymore.

If I can explore dungeons, mines are nothing to fear.

Confidence brimming, I enter the musty interior of the mine.

Today’s goal is breaking through floor 20.

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