Chapter 35

When it rains, it makes a quiet tapping sound.

The late morning chirping of birds.

The whisper of the wind moving the fallen leaves.

If there isn’t even that—silent situations allow the body to react in its own time.

Yeah.

Mostly, we wake up to those kinds of sounds.

“Nice to see you!”

“Eh… hello?”

It’s strange.

A cheerful girl greets me outside my house.

A low voice crawls out from my throat like it’s burrowing into the basement, dark and ominous. I clear my throat, trying to recover my voice.

I never expected to meet *this* person in this village.

There stands a cute little girl with red hair tied in two braids.

It’s Stacy.

Of course, standing beside her are a few soldiers and someone who looks like a butler—Fred. Did they arrive at dawn? The soldiers’ weary expressions suggest as much. Even Fred’s eyes look dim, heavy with dark circles. It’s pitiful how exhausted he looks.

“It’s been a while, hasn’t it? Have you been well?”

“Yeah, sure. You too?”

“Of course! I spent my time enjoying sweet fruits!”

My ears start to hurt.

This kid’s high energy is unmatched. Every sentence feels like it ends with three exclamation marks.

“What brings you here so early?”

“Ah! Just thought I’d visit after such a long time! And also… Father sent me because the fruit has become incredibly popular!”

“Oh. Is that so?”

“You can discuss the details with Fred!”

Stacy confidently pushes Fred forward. If this was all about Fred, why didn’t he come alone? But I can’t say that in front of this cheerful little girl, so I just give an awkward smile.

“Would you like some fruit?”

“Oh! Do you have any left? Let me buy them!”

“Nah, it’s free today. The owner’s feeling generous.”

“In that case, I’ll gladly take them!”

Stacy happily munches on the fruit I hand over. She bites into it adorably. Her tone is authoritative like an old man, but her actions are pure childlike joy. How does this odd combination even exist? It’s baffling.

“I apologize for disturbing you so early.”

Ah, so the servant isn’t weird if the master acts this way. With Fred’s polite bow, I nod slightly in return.

Then Fred glances at Stacy. Yeah, there are some things you don’t need to see to know. This seems to be one of them. Could this group being here at this hour be due to the bratty antics of a certain stubborn girl?

“It’s fine.”

“Hmph…”

Fred takes a deep breath before continuing. No matter where you go, salarymen suffer. Should I call him a secretary in this case? His sigh carries the weight of life’s struggles.

“To cut to the chase, your crops have gained popularity among the nobility.”

“That’s good news.”

“Yes, indeed.”

That is good news. But the silence afterward grows tense. They didn’t come all this way at dawn just to compliment me, right?

“I assume you understand what nobles are like.”

“Yes, somewhat.”

“They’re not all like our lord—some are arrogant, violent, and rude. People come in all shapes and sizes.”

“Understood.”

“We don’t want to slit the belly of the goose that lays golden eggs. However, stupid nobles might act differently. We’ll try our best to keep your identity hidden, but the world doesn’t always cooperate with effort alone.”

“So, people might come looking?”

“Not occasionally—it could happen often. They might threaten or cause trouble. Though some may come with good intentions, knowing you’re not a noble might attract those who wish to exploit their status.”

“Hmm…”

“So, do you have any plans to formally supply the royal family? If you deal directly with the king, smaller fry won’t easily reach you.”

“That would be great if possible.”

“The first princess has taken notice of your crops. She appreciates their quality.”

“Wow.”

“You’ll need to visit the capital, but it shouldn’t be too arduous.”

Fred smiles and hands me a letter.

“This is an official invitation from the princess herself.”

“What an honor.”

“Someone of noble blood inviting a farmer—it’s rare. Please keep this letter discreet.”

“Is it embarrassing if it gets around?”

“Not exactly, but political issues could arise. There are always groups ready to seize on minor details to attack.”

“Ugh…”

“I hope you make a wise decision.”

“Alright, let’s move on then.”

“Pardon?”

“Didn’t you come here to expand trade? Was this just about delivering the princess’s letter?”

“Ah, haha… Once we heard about potential business with the royal family, we assumed additional deals with us wouldn’t matter. You seemed busy.”

“Well, I can always make time. Besides, you were the first to recognize the value of my crops.”

“Thank you.”

“How were the kingsberries?”

“They were excellent—one reason the princess fell in love with them.”

“They were super tasty!”

Stacy interrupts our conversation with her loud voice. She must’ve finished eating; now juice glistens on her lips.

“You’re talented, Minho! A true genius!”

“Thanks, I guess.”

“You can trust me! You’re the best farmer I’ve ever seen!”

She pounds her chest proudly, showing off her confidence. It’s so funny that I can’t help but chuckle softly.

“Can we maintain our current trading agreement for now? Your offer is appreciated, but I should adjust based on the volume of transactions with the royal family. There are always cases where people flaunt authority over trivial matters.”

“Are you worried about exceeding the royal family’s orders?”

“Not confirmed yet, but it’s a possibility.”

Fred gives a bitter laugh. Nobles and upper-class problems must be exhausting. Do they really scrutinize every little thing?

“In that case, we’ll take our leave.”

“That was quick.”

“Delivering the princess’s letter is important.”

Fred bows deeply. Stacy grins widely, clearly happy about something—probably the fruit. Despite her grandiose speech, she’s truly a bright young girl.

“Miss! It’s time to go!”

“Understood!”

Her noble tone contrasts oddly with her childish voice. Their mismatched nature starts to feel strangely familiar as I watch them leave.

Expectations rise with this unexpected news. A letter from the princess…

What could it say?

I carefully open the envelope and read:

[To the farmer growing marvelous produce,

Your musk melons and kingsberries were splendid.

Naturally, such excellence belongs in the capital, at the royal palace.

Come to the capital. Let us create opportunities worthy of your talent.]

I fold the elegant letter back into its casing. The content wasn’t particularly surprising. Simply put: “Come to the capital.”

Events unfolding differently from the game’s usual script makes this interesting.

For me, it’s not a bad opportunity. Aside from the long journey to the capital, there’s no downside. Royalty will surely offer better prices. While I’m financially comfortable, more gold is never a bad thing. Holding plenty of gold without obsession always pays off.

After bidding farewell to the lively visitor, I pick up the sprinkler. My mornings always start the same way, minus planting seeds. Hoping these growing crops receive positive evaluations, I moisten the soil with water.

To prepare for the trip to the capital, I’ll need more mithril sprinklers. With the expanded field size, I’ll require around five or six additional sprinklers to ensure the plants thrive during prolonged absences. I’ve gathered quite a few stones through mining, but most of the minerals are already used up, leaving me needing more mithril.

Still, rushing to the mine today isn’t ideal. I still need to build the chicken coop.

Using wood and stone, I craft a miniature model at the crafting table. Placing it in roughly the same spot as yesterday, a translucent holographic blueprint appears.

Tools remain unchanged, but fewer materials are required compared to yesterday, making the process smoother. Cutting wood and shaping stones, I match pieces to the hologram’s specifications.

Though silent clicks don’t accompany each piece fitting together, the satisfaction of precision fills my ears with phantom sounds. Thankfully, construction remains simple and efficient.

Continuing the straightforward work, a sense of accomplishment grows as the structure takes shape under my hands.

“Huff…”

Wiping sweat from my brow, I gaze upon the nearly completed chicken coop. Soon, chickens will fill it with their clucking.

Lost in work, time passes quickly. Skipping breakfast, hunger begins to gnaw at my stomach. Recalling the gem-encrusted fish in my bag, I decide to inspect it.

Its scales shimmer in iridescent colors. A striking red gem sits embedded in its head—a name-worthy appearance indeed.

Despite looking unappetizing, curiosity drives me to carve it with a knife. Perhaps improving my cooking level will result. If it tastes good, I’d consider sharing with villagers after proper preparation.

Carefully removing the scales and extracting the ruby, skilled knife work reveals tender white flesh beneath.

“Mm…”

Testing a bite elicits a deep sigh. Rare doesn’t always mean delicious.

Returning the remainder to my bag, I avoid hosting another calamitous party like last time.

With the rainbow scales and extracted ruby safely stored, I retrieve bread and onions. Tonight’s menu shifts to burgers. Four patties sizzle in a large frying pan.

Increased activity demands higher food intake naturally. Adjusting heat proves impossible with a campfire, but having a frying pan counts for something.

Slicing bread and frying onions in leftover grease completes the preparation when the onions turn brown and soften.

Lacking sauce, fresh ingredients suffice. Juicy meat, onion sweetness, and balanced bread create perfection.

Simple yet perfect for me, the burger satisfies. After finishing the meal, cleaning up follows. Another fulfilling day comes to an end.

Though losing the rare fish stings slightly, gaining an invitation to the kingdom’s capital compensates. Thoughts drift toward new adventures and exploration.

Naturally, they lead to the warp device. Its requirements seem daunting, untouched until now. Preparing for this trip, I aim to gather materials during my next mining expedition.

The warp device demands vast resources:

20 gems of any kind.

1500 stones.

150 iron ingots.

150 gold ingots.

70 mithril ingots.

10 orichalcum ingots.

5 ether iron ingots.

While obtainable given enough time buried in mines, acquiring them immediately presents significant challenges, especially ether ingots and orichalcum.

Orichalcum only appears near the mine’s deepest levels. Ether ingots require unlocking the ether enchantment category—magic and alchemy necessities.

For now, focusing on gathering materials, postponing house expansion, and targeting deeper mining while collecting mithril becomes my goal.

“Here begins the true miner’s journey.”

Camping. Common in games, later stages often involve sleeping outdoors more than indoors. Reality mirrors this trend. Dungeons, mines, adventures—all become familiar grounds for setting up tents. Without conveniences like elevators or stairs, extended stays become necessary for optimal resource collection.

Day 48 ends with the night falling quietly.

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