Chapter 14 …
As I ran toward the strawberry field to escape the nine-tailed gumiho, a system notification popped up at just the right moment.
‘Strawberries’ crop growth complete!
Harvesting is now possible!
“Wow! Finally!”
I quickly crouched down in front of the small strawberry plants and checked the fruit.
Clusters of strawberries hung heavily from the vines, ripened to a deep, luscious red.
“Damn, they look amazing.”
I plucked one strawberry, brushed off the dirt lightly, and popped it straight into my mouth.
Chew, chew. As I slowly savored the taste…
‘So freaking good…!’
I couldn’t believe strawberries could taste like this. Sweet, tangy, and incredibly fresh. They’d probably be amazing as strawberry jam, too.
‘Strawberry jam, huh… That’s not a bad idea. It’d sell well.’
Strawberry jam goes with just about anything, after all.
“Alright, let’s get harvesting!”
I brought out the baskets and gardening shears I’d prepared in advance from the shed and handed them to Lysian and Ninabel.
Since I’d planted so many out of greed, it was way too much for me to harvest alone.
“Be careful when you pick them. If you’re not, you’ll damage the fruit.”
“Don’t worry, Master. I’m good at everything. The problem is the Water Droplet Seed over there.”
“Hey, no it’s not?! Nini is perfect, okay?! You worry about yourself!”
But the spirit slipped with one of her tendrils and ended up damaging a strawberry.
A strawberry that had a crack down its side from the scissor blade was disqualified as a product.
“Put that one aside, Nini.”
“I’m sorry, Master…”
After giving the dejected little water droplet a rough pat to comfort her, I continued harvesting the strawberries.
Snip. Snip.
The sound of thin stems being cleanly cut by the scissors was oddly pleasant.
A gentle breeze drifted by from somewhere, and the farm filled with the sweet scent of strawberries.
‘This is peaceful…’
Ahhh…
So this is why people give up everything to start farming.
‘A simple, content life really is the best.’
I wondered how much time had passed while we were so absorbed in harvesting.
About 30 minutes later, all the strawberries on the farm had been harvested!
‘Strawberries’ crop harvest complete!
New achievement unlocked!
Stats have increased!
New title acquired!
Open the status window to check the updates!
( ´╹ᗜ╹`)*
“Oh…?”
The system went wild the moment we finished harvesting.
I quickly opened my status window to see what had changed.
Name: Muriel Terni Winterberg
Age: 21
Race: Human
Titles:
Sacrifice of the Terni Family
Scapegoat
Competent Farmer (NEW!)
‘Whoa, I finally escaped being a crappy farmer!’
I could barely grow potatoes before, and now I was a competent farmer—this was genuinely moving.
From the looks of it, titles seemed to upgrade as I grew stronger…
I wonder what comes after Competent Farmer? I was kind of looking forward to it.
‘And my stats are…’
Stamina: 3
Mental Strength: 55
Luck: -183
Charm: 29
Talent: 1
Mana: 0
Holy Power: 387
*All stats MAX: 999
“Hmmm.”
Compared to the beginning, this was definitely an improvement. Not great, but decent.
When would I ever become a max-level character like Lysian? That Slave No. 2 who looked at me so innocently without knowing anything was honestly enviable.
“Lysian, come sit here.”
Holding the strawberry basket in my arms, I sat down on the bench and patted the seat beside me.
But the moment Lysian took a step forward with a smile, Ninabel flew in and plopped herself right next to me.
“……”
“……”
“What are you doing…?”
When I asked in disbelief, Ninabel fidgeted nervously and glanced at me.
“N-Nini wants to sit next to Master! Nini is Master’s companion spirit, after all…!”
Before I could even respond, Lysian’s cold voice cut in.
“Ha… companion?”
He suddenly released a dangerous aura and slowly approached us.
What’s wrong with him?
Did the word “companion” push some kind of button?
“For a mere water droplet to dream of becoming Master’s companion… you certainly have big dreams.”
“You—you’re the one who shouldn’t talk! Don’t you dare go after our Master! Even if Master doesn’t see your black heart, Nini sees everything!”
“Going after her? Please don’t distort my purely sincere admiration with such crude language.”
So he’s not denying that his heart is black, huh?
Lysian peeled Ninabel off the wooden bench and threw her far away.
Ninabel crashed into the potato field, then burst into tears and came running back to me, spinning around frantically.
“Master! You saw that, right?! Look how that awful jerk treated Nini! He’s such a bad guy~!!”
“…….”
This is exhausting. Why are these two always at each other’s throats?
I let out a deep sigh and tried calming Ninabel down first.
“You took Lysian’s seat first. And you don’t even need to sit on a bench….”
Was that really calming her down?
“Waaah~! Master is taking that bad guy’s side! Nini is so hurt!”
Ninabel flew off into the forest with the spring, leaving behind droplet-like traces in the air.
I’ll comfort her properly later…
I acted too much like a blunt human—no, like an emotionally clueless T-type.
With someone as INFP as Ninabel, I needed to be more delicate…
Meanwhile, Lysian sat beside me and stared intently.
When our eyes met, he narrowed them gently and smiled with relaxed confidence—like a queen who’d just given birth to a son.
“…You know.”
Figuring I had nothing to lose, I spoke to him.
“Could you be a little nicer to Nini? She can be annoying sometimes, but she’s good at heart. She’s just… a bit affection-starved.”
As I said that, I picked up a strawberry and popped it into Lysian’s mouth.
His eyes widened, then he began chewing slowly.
“Strawberries really are delicious.”
“Yes. They taste even better when Master feeds me.”
There he goes again, acting all coquettish. I pinched his cheek hard before letting go. Lysian teared up and pretended it hurt.
It didn’t hurt at all. What an exaggeration.
“Get along with Nini, okay?”
“If that’s what you wish, Master… I’ll try.”
“Yeah. Try.”
I lightly smacked his shoulder, fed him another strawberry, and ate one myself.
The fresh, fruity tang spread through my mouth. I closed my eyes and savored it, smiling contentedly.
Ah… I’m happy.
I want to live like this forever—
Sudden Quest Occurred!
〈Let’s Go to the Village!〉
Go to the village and directly purchase the necessary resources!
Buy new clothes (0/2)
Buy new shoes (0/2)
Buy salt (0/1)
Buy sugar (0/1)
Buy pepper (0/1)
Buy olive oil (0/1)
Buy flour (0/1)
Taste market snacks (0/2)
Success Reward: 500 Coins, 50 Fame, Inventory (D)
Failure Penalty: -500 Coins
“…….”
You bastard system. You really don’t let me rest for a second.
But well… I was planning to visit the village anyway.
‘Still, why is the reward Fame…?’
Is this system scheming to make me a lord by forcing me to build fame?
( ᵔ ᵕ ᵔ˶)♡
‘Don’t try to dodge it with a cute emoticon.’
Another reward was something called Inventory (D). Since it had a rank, it was probably a skill…
‘Something that lets me store items freely… maybe?’
Correct! ( ˆ ᗜ ˆ )/☆
“Hmmm.”
An inventory would be incredibly useful. That was actually a pretty good reward.
The system’s obsession with giving me fame bothered me, but regardless, I needed to plan a trip to the village.
Departure date… tomorrow.
‘Items to sell at the market: various vegetables and strawberries.’
The sooner, the better. Living without salt was miserable. I also needed clothes and shoes.
I stood up with the basket and turned to Lysian, making a cheerful suggestion.
“Wanna go buy new clothes tomorrow?”
“…?”
And so, the next day.
We woke up early and finished all preparations to head to the village.
…But there was one problem I’d completely overlooked.
That problem was my garbage-tier stamina.
“Ugh… I’m tired…”
I admit it. I seriously overestimated myself.
“I-I’m gonna die…”
It hadn’t even been an hour since we left, and I was already exhausted!
How did Muriel even survive all this time with such a weak body?!
“Master! Would you like some water?”
“Mmm…”
I can’t go on. I collapsed onto the roadside, and Ninabel hurried over to create drinking water for me.
I gulped it down like it was the elixir of life, feeling Lysian’s sympathetic gaze on me.
He approached carefully, knelt in front of me, and suggested,
“Master… perhaps it would be better if I carried you on my back—”
“…….”
I’d already refused that offer once 30 minutes ago.
For a stupid reason: I overestimated this body’s stamina.
No, I didn’t know it’d be this hopeless!
‘Should I have eaten meat before coming…?!’
