Chapter 27

Chapter 27

A brilliant holographic window appeared before me.

Fireworks exploded across it.

[Congratulations! You have reached Level 10 and advanced to <Intermediate Farmer>.]

[Achievement unlocked! You are the first barbarian to become an Intermediate Farmer.]

[Title acquired! ‘Farming Is Fun!’]

[Reward: Stat Point +1, Fame +2, Cultivation Speed +5%.]

Finally...!

I clenched both fists.

Then let out a deep breath.

The hardships I had suffered since arriving in this world flashed through my mind.

Like the time I nearly had my wrist cut off after being falsely accused of stealing potatoes while trying to farm.

Or the Red Moon...

When I watched waves of Demon Beasts rush toward us.

Now...

I had finally removed the Beginner title.

I had become a proper Intermediate Farmer.

It felt strangely emotional.

[You have acquired the new skill ‘Finding Prime Land’.]

Before I could fully enjoy the moment...

The system continued pouring out information.

...Why are all my skill names like this?

Peeking.

Finding Prime Land.

They made me sound like either a thief or a scammer.

I clicked my tongue at the terrible naming sense.

Then quickly checked the details.

==========

【Finding Prime Land】

Description:

When activated, you can locate glowing ‘Prime Land’ farming slots.

Special Crops can only be cultivated in Prime Land.

==========

“Seriously?!”

I knew it!

Special Crops like Muscle Potatoes really existed!

Something I had only imagined had become real.

I almost cried from happiness.

But the system still wasn’t finished.

[Farming Slots expanded: 30 → 100.]

“...Wait.”

I stopped.

I stared into empty air.

I can plant one hundred potato plants at once now?!

Each plant produced around twenty potatoes.

That meant one harvest cycle could produce more than two thousand potatoes.

And the achievement reduced cultivation time by another five percent.

“Khh...”

I was so happy that my vision nearly went dark.

Unfortunately...

That joy lasted about three seconds.

Then reality attacked.

Wait.

Farming alone is going to become brutal.

I would have to personally plant one hundred potato plants.

Water them.

Then harvest all of them by myself.

Damn it!

I had become a magical farmer in a game world...

But I still didn’t have some ridiculous Auto-Seeding or Auto-Harvest skill!

This system was strangely realistic when it came to forcing me into hard physical labor.

While I complained internally...

Another message appeared.

[Farmland Management System unlocked.]

[You may now designate farmland as <Directly Managed Land> or <Tenant Land>.]

...Directly Managed Land?

Tenant Land?

Wait.

Could this be...?

==========

【Tenant Land Assignment】

Description:

· 

A member of the farm owner’s tribe who possesses sufficient ‘Trust’ toward the farm owner may be appointed as a Tenant Farmer and assigned to manage designated farming slots.

· 

· 

Crop grade is determined by the assigned Tenant Farmer’s labor ability and loyalty.

· 

==========

“...This is it!”

My lips stretched into a grin I couldn’t control.

Even to my own ears...

My laugh sounded evil.

So basically...

The system was officially recognizing legal slaves who could work the fields in my place!

And our village was full of giant muscular barbarians with so much strength that they constantly broke things.

Then what was Directly Managed Land?

==========

【Directly Managed Land】

Description:

· 

Farmland personally managed by the farm owner.

· 

· 

Special Crops may only be cultivated on Directly Managed Land in combination with the Finding Prime Land skill.

· 

==========

“Oh-ho.”

I slowly nodded after reading.

So, in simple terms...

Tenant Land was basically a mass-production subcontracting factory.

I could leave ordinary potato farming to the giant barbarians.

Meanwhile...

Directly Managed Land would be my VIP research facility.

A place where I personally raised valuable Special Crops.

Perfect.

Complete division of labor.

Good.

Then Special Crops...

Let’s grow tons of them!

Wait...

I don’t have any Special Crop seeds.

That was the problem.

What good was Prime Land if the only seeds I possessed were ordinary D-Rank Potatoes?

“Can’t another Muscle Potato appear...?”

Did I still have to rely on random chance?

But no matter how hard I had farmed so far...

The only true Special Crop I had ever seen was that shining Muscle Potato the goddess had given me.

I clicked my tongue regretfully.

Then...

[Crop Understanding <Potato> has surpassed 60%. A portion of a hidden system menu has been unlocked.]

[Crop Evolution Tree: Potato]

“...Evolution Tree?”

A complicated holographic diagram appeared.

It looked like a branching tree.

At the bottom...

There was an ordinary potato.

Branches extended upward.

Several locked icons appeared with interesting names.

==========

【Potato Evolution Tree】

· 

Muscle Potato (Requirements Not Met)

· 

· 

??? Potato

· 

· 

??? Potato

· 

※ Unlock requirement: Crop Understanding <Potato 100%>, <Intermediate Farmer or higher>.

※ Once the conditions are fulfilled, the Evolution Tree locks will be released and Special Crops with desired characteristics may be cultivated.

==========

“Aha...!”

I slapped my forehead.

So the incredible Muscle Potato had not been some random mutation.

It was one branch of the Potato Evolution Tree!

Maybe the goddess had given it to me as a hint...

To show me that such Special Crops existed.

Once I understood potatoes one hundred percent...

I would truly become the ruler of potatoes.

Then I could plant whatever type of Special Potato I wanted in Prime Land.

“So I need to reach one hundred percent Potato Understanding.”

Looks like I’ll be farming potatoes like a madman for a while.

No problem.

Now I could harvest more than two thousand potatoes in one cycle.

I happily stared at the Potato Evolution Tree.

It was stimulating the collector inside me.

Then...

Ding!

[A special reward commemorating your advancement to Intermediate Farmer has arrived.]

[You have received 1 Mysterious Random Seed Draw Ticket!]

“A draw?”

They gave me something like this too?

I rubbed my eyes.

A fantasy-world shaman...

No.

A farmer...

Getting a gacha system.

The smell of modern capitalism was a little too strong.

Still...

Only an idiot rejects free rewards.

“The timing is perfect for me. Use it right now!”

A brilliant golden roulette wheel appeared.

It was filled with all kinds of mysterious entries.

Then it began spinning at insane speed.

Why am I nervous over this?

My palms became sweaty as I stared.

Rrrrrrrrr... Click!

The roulette gradually slowed.

Then stopped.

Golden light exploded along with celebratory fireworks.

[Congratulations!]

[You have obtained 1 Rare Grade (B) Special Seed: ‘Unidentified Ancient Seed’.]

Something dropped from the air.

Tap.

A black seed about the size of a walnut landed in my hand.

Strange ancient patterns covered its surface.

Unidentified...

What exactly is this?

“Potato?”

Gamjadori sat on my shoulder.

It curiously poked the seed.

“Right.”

I looked at it.

“Gamjadori, do you know what this thing is?”

“Potato! PotatOOO!”

The little spirit waved its short arms wildly.

It seemed to be passionately explaining something.

Unfortunately...

The only word I understood was potato.

Looks like I’ll only learn what this seed is after planting it.

I continued watching Gamjadori babble at me.

Then suddenly...

Its body began glowing.

“Gamjadori!”

I panicked.

“What’s happening?!”

“Potato?”

I lifted Gamjadori with both hands.

The light surrounding its body slowly turned brilliant gold.

Ding!

[The Earth Spirit deeply resonates with its master’s growth.]

[The spirit’s faith and bond toward you have become a catalyst for evolution.]

[Earth Spirit Gamjadori has surpassed its limits and has begun growing!]

“W-What?!”

My heart slammed against my chest.

“Growing? Are you leveling up? Evolving?!”

A spirit evolution in a fantasy game!

Usually...

A tiny cute spirit would transform into an overwhelming Spirit King.

Or awaken into some beautiful humanoid fairy that supported the protagonist.

At last!

Is our little Gamjadori about to awaken as the true ruler of the earth?!

The light grew brighter.

Mana swirled around its body like a storm.

Even through the blinding flash...

I forced my eyes open.

I had faith in you, Gamjadori!

Show me your true power!

FWOOSH!

Finally...

The light faded.

I swallowed nervously.

Then looked at the new Gamjadori standing on my palm.

“...”

“Potato?”

Our eyes met.

Gamjadori blinked its black eyes.

I turned it around.

Checked from every angle.

Top to bottom.

“...What changed?”

It looked exactly the same.

Still fist-sized.

Still round.

Still had short, blunt arms and legs.

Then what was all that ridiculous light for?

“POTATOOOOOO!”

Gamjadori, however, looked incredibly proud of its transformation.

It planted both short hands on its hips.

Then puffed out its chest.

Only when it lifted its chin did I finally notice the single difference on top of its head.

“One... two... three...”

I counted.

“Four.”

That was it.

Gamjadori originally had exactly three fresh green sprout leaves growing from its head.

Now...

A fourth leaf had appeared.

It swayed shyly in the breeze.

“Don’t tell me...”

I stared.

“That’s all?”

I laughed weakly in disappointment.

Gamjadori puffed out both cheeks angrily.

Then it raised both short arms.

“POTATOOOO!”

Pop!

With a cheerful sound...

A thin vine strap suddenly appeared around Gamjadori’s round body.

A tiny crossbody bag.

At the end of the strap hung an adorable pink heart-shaped piggy bank about half Gamjadori’s size.

[Earth Spirit Gamjadori has summoned its new Unique Skill and Exclusive Equipment: ‘Gulp Piggy Bank’!]

Ohhhh!

A new skill!

...But what kind of ridiculous name is Gulp Piggy Bank?

==========

【Target Information】

• Name: Gamjadori’s Gulp Piggy Bank

• Classification: Bound Item

【Details】

• A subspace piggy bank formed by the spirit using earth mana.

• Safely stores nonliving objects within a designated space.

• Time flows extremely slowly inside the piggy bank, greatly reducing spoilage and deterioration of fresh ingredients.

• Stored items may be removed by turning the piggy bank upside down and shaking it.

==========

“Ha...!”

I jumped to my feet before I had even finished reading.

Inventory!

A mandatory fantasy-world item!

I had just obtained a subspace inventory!

I jumped around in excitement.

Gamjadori proudly slapped the piggy bank hanging from its side.

I handed it one potato with trembling hands.

“Gamjadori. Try putting this inside.”

Gamjadori nodded.

It carefully held the little piggy bank with both hands.

Then pushed the potato toward the pink heart.

Chomp.

Gulp!

The potato disappeared instantly.

“It really went in.”

I looked around.

“Then can it do this too?”

I poured dozens of potatoes toward it.

Gamjadori spread its short legs to stabilize itself.

Then moved the tiny piggy bank around.

Every potato vanished perfectly into it.

It looked a little ridiculous...

But who cares?

“Amazing.”

I laughed.

“This is seriously amazing! Gamjadori, you’re a genius!”

“POTATO!”

This was revolutionary.

Gathering.

Farming.

Transporting materials.

Now...

Whenever we entered the forest, I could bring back huge amounts of wood or anything else we discovered.

I couldn’t stop smiling.

The next morning.

I lined the barbarians up in the village square.

Then stood before them with a solemn expression.

...It was finally time to check what all of you were really thinking.

Who was a good barbarian?

And who was a bad one?