“Wait, before that, how much of the powdered crystals have you used?”

“I used some tubs, but almost all are still in my storage room.” Cal wondered what Drex would say if he knew Nibbles ate more powdered crystals than was used for the soil.

Drex winced at the answer. “I forgot I already asked you that. I still don't know how you’re getting so lucky, but at least I won’t need to order more. You’ll need to reapply the powdered crystals after each harvest to maintain the soil.”

Cal raised an eyebrow. He would need to understand how to harvest these things first.

“Right. Anyway. Harvesting,” Drex said with a clear of his throat. “Sunfire Grains are a little annoying to harvest compared to other crops. You’ll need to remove the entire plant, roots and all.”

“You mean I have to just pull it out?” Cal would love that to be the case.

“Pull? I doubt any normal human can pull these crops. The most common way is to loosen the soil around the plant. If you want to directly pull them out, you’ll need to hire other Initiates—” Drex cut himself off. “By ‘you,’ do you mean that you plan to harvest this without help?”

“Well, yes. I’m not sure why you thought otherwise. I did start all this by myself, and I did fine.”

Drex looked amused for some reason.“Are you sure? What if I told you I could waive the cost of the seeds in return for a share of the profit? I’ll throw in the labor needed for free.”

I would have taken this if the Overseer hadn’t made a deal with me for my tools. Now, I’m curious about how Drex can afford to front this much money. Maybe it’s the short harvest time that made it feasible.

“That’s a generous offer, but again, no,” Cal refused with no room for negotiation. Disappointment was visible on Drex’s face, and it looked like he was about to argue his case. Cal didn’t let him. “There might be a time in the future when I’ll accept help, but that’s not necessary for the tiny amount of land I cultivate right now.”

It was obvious that Drex still wanted to try to change his mind. At this point, Cal was losing his patience. He could accept only so much persistence before his temper exploded. After what happened with Tarn, he was wary of that happening and wanted to head it off. Especially since he was ruthlessly sadistic in that blind rage.

“Drex, I don’t want to deny you for the third time. We have a good repertoire. Let’s not ruin it for something I’m firm on.”

That finally convinced the man. “… You’re right. I was a little eager with the potential I saw. Remember, you promised to come to me if you needed help.”

Cal pressed his lips into a thin line out of irritation. It seemed that being overly friendly had its downsides. It gave Drex the gall to try and pressure him into a deal, even if it was informal.

“We’ll see,” Cal replied flatly. “Is that all I need to do to harvest the Sunfire Grains?”

Drex looked like he had forgotten he was supposed to impart the harvesting knowledge. “Uh, almost. The Sunfire Grains are terrible for the health of the soil due to their nature of trying to store all the nutrients possible for emergencies, but they are shockingly easy to harvest. After pulling them out, let them dry in the sun for a few days before shipping them to the port. We’ll process them from there for sale.”

Cal blinked. “That’s it?”

“That’s it,” Drex confirmed with a nod.

“I see. Thank you for taking the time to come here. Especially when the harvest is so simple.” Cal’s sarcastic tone wasn’t lost on Drex.

“I don’t want to repeat myself, but I thought there would be a need for far more planning than this with the workforce I assumed would be required.”

Cal stayed silent. There was no benefit to be had in returning to that topic. Unfortunately, Drex had already overstayed his welcome.

He pulled out his coin pouch and took out two precious guildmarks and five gold. “This is the payment for the seeds. Do you want the money for the extra supplies now, or should I wait for delivery?”

Drex instinctively took the offer coins before staring at them in surprise. He recognized that this was a polite way to tell him to leave. “… I can wait till it’s delivered.”

Cal didn’t want to burn bridges, nor did he want to seem too friendly to Drex. However, this was definitely leaning more toward the former. He had to soften this a bit. “I’ll visit you in a few days when the crops are ready for harvest. And I’ll need frequent deliveries of the fertilizers, but I need some time to figure out how much.”

“I’ll be glad to help!” Drex smiled, his dissatisfaction reduced. He still had the sense to not dawdle. “I’ll be waiting for your visit, Initiate Cal.”

Cal watched Drex leave his field with a blank gaze. When the cart disappeared past the tree line, he let out a frustrated sigh and shook his head.

“That man is very… business minded.”

He didn’t react dramatically to Tavia’s voice beside him. He had heard her approach. “That’s a polite way of putting it.”

The change in attitude I just experienced from Drex makes him fit well with Nismus. However, the latter still seems more sinister in his intentions. I mistakenly treated Drex as a friend because Seris introduced us.

Stolen story; please report.

Cal knew that had to change from now. He couldn’t be too closely associated with someone he suspected to be working with Nismus. Especially since he made the equipment supply deal with the Overseer.

“Why not speak to someone else? He can’t be the only one that can get you the things you need.”

“I’m sure there are others, but I don’t think it reached that point yet. This was only his first misstep. I’m sure it won’t happen again.” Cal left out that he was more concerned about Seris’s reaction.

She seemed to have disregarded what happened in Lumina. Either she was pretending everything was fine, or she had somehow missed what he did. It would be best if it was the latter as he assumed. In case it was the former, doing something like cutting off someone relatively close to her was too soon.

“Look at you, giving someone a second chance,” Tavia chuckled. “I’m sure Tarn wished you were as generous.”

“What?” Cal was stunned. He thought that the whole incident was supposed to be covered up.

“No need to pretend, Cal. In fact, I’m glad there’s some of the old you left in there. You acted like a different person since the Selection.”

That’s what I wanted, but more importantly, how many people know about the incident if someone like Tavia is aware? I didn’t even know she left the house while I was in Lumina.

“Who did you hear this from?” Cal wondered why this hadn’t been mentioned before.

“Some Initiate in Mariner’s Rest.” The look Tavia received made her defend herself. “What? I was bored, and that’s the only place which is sort of close.”

Cal now wondered how it was possible for some random Initiate in a town so far from the city to know what happened. “So… your nonchalance tells me you don’t think I went too far.”

“Tarn has had worse,” Tavia waved her hand to show how little she cared. “At least this time, he deserved the embarrassment. I have to admit you went a little too far when we were Trainees.”

Embarrassment?

“How’s he doing now?” Cal was starting to suspect the story she heard wasn’t correct. He had never tried to demolish someone’s mana core as a Trainee. He literally wasn’t capable of it.

“It’s not like I talk to him. I’m sure he’s trying his best to grovel extra hard to make the little clique he’s with forget how easily you slapped him around.”

Cal returned the smile Tavia directed at him wanly. The Overseer did as he promised.

The rumors of the incident are on the edges of the territory before I even left Lumina. It makes the truth less believable if anyone tries to correct the rumors… for a time. It will eventually get twisted, like all rumors.

“Oh! I almost forgot! We should go to the town in a few days. The Initiate I spoke to said there’s a bazaar that’ll last for a week or so.”

So soon? I thought the bazaar wasn’t a common event.

“The last one I went to was fun,” Cal said with a nod. “There should be something interesting to browse through.”

“Sounds like a plan!” Tavia smiled widely, her eyes narrowing in happiness. “I think I bothered you enough. I’ll let you go back to your… uh, planting.”

It clicked in his mind as Tavia practically skipped back to her practicing spot.

Did she just ask me on a date?

Cal’s eyes sharpened as he replayed the conversation. It was an offhanded comment right at the end, and she looked strangely happy with his reply.

It could be nothing, but I would be a fool to deny there is a real possibility that this is meant to be a date.

He had decided this morning to let things happen as they may. Still, he didn’t think it would be this fast, not that he was complaining.

Like Tavia, Cal did the rest of his day’s work with a smile. Unfortunately, the day’s work involved moving a lot of dirt.

Even with Cal’s speed, finishing this job quickly was impossible. The combination of uneven terrain, shoveling, pushing the wheelbarrow to the designated pile-up area, and returning meant that this would be an all-day affair.

He decided to start on the right side of the field to avoid Tavia’s random flame walls. He made good progress and was nearly done with the side when the interface alerted him to some unfortunate news.

[Advanced Shovel] has degraded to Average Quality.

Cal frowned as he pulled up the status of his shovel.

[Advanced Shovel: Average Quality] Upgrade: 3762/4250 Tasks

- Geode Seeker

He could easily keep pushing it into the Rare rank, but he felt that was unnecessary. As far as he knew, the rank upgrade of equipment only improves on the trait it already possesses. Of course, this was along with the regular durability increase, but that was a given.

Cal didn’t need ‘Geode Seeker’ to be improved right now. And taking it to the 'Rare' rank would make it even more challenging to repair than it already was. He still had a slim hope that Orrin would increase his skills rapidly to make it possible.

It was the longest of shots, but that still meant there was a chance.

He stored the shovel and returned with a brand-new one. It was one of the spares made for him since his other upgraded shovel was with Orrin so he could study it.

You have gained [Uncommon Shovel] as equipment. It will be designated as your second alternate.

Cal continued to clear the field of all the dug-up ground, this time the back side of his field. It took significantly longer since the distance between the pile and the cleanup area was much further. Still, he didn’t stop until he was required to choose the shovel’s trait after it advanced.

Your second alternate equipment [Uncommon Shovel] has been upgraded to [Advanced Shovel].

Equipment upgrade has activated an ability of [Farmer (Special)].

You will have two options for the [Advanced Shovel]’s trait.

Equipment trait choices available. Choose one

Self-Repair - After 24 continuous hours without use, the shovel will start to recover to its peak quality state. No matter what its state was at the start, it will take 7 days to regain its status as ‘Excellent Quality. '

Efficient Excavation - The shovel's digging and resource collection speed are 50% faster. It also has a 0.01% chance of unearthing rare minerals or items.

He swore that the trait choices seemed familiar but picked as usual. He tapped ‘Self-Repair’ before continuing his work.

Tavia had stopped her practice long ago and had returned to her room. The absence of constant spells being cast and the heat that accompanied it allowed him to fall into a blissful trance.

It was approaching darkness when Cal was snapped out of it. The first thing he saw was more messages.

Second alternate [Advanced Shovel] has degraded to Good Quality.

Your skill [Perfect Match] has increased by 1 level.

The first message was expected, but the second was a pleasant surprise. Only the wheelbarrow could contribute since it wasn’t an alternate.

He checked the task requirement of one of the Advanced equipment to make sure it had decreased.

[Advanced Wheelbarrow: Excellent Quality] Upgrade: 2331/4000 Tasks

- Enlarged Bucket

It was reduced by two hundred and fifty tasks, just like with the past level increases.

Excellent.

Cal finished up and returned the equipment to the storage room. He cast [Rainfall] over the planted crops so it could last the night before glancing at the tree line.

Seris didn’t visit today… she’s fine. Nibbles is with her.

Cal glanced at Tavia’s closed door before heading to bed. He would love it if every day was as satisfying as today.

Unfortunately, his dream didn’t get the message.

Cal didn’t want to kill Tarn. Yet.

He wanted to humiliate him, just like he had been before dying at the hands of that girl.

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Complete stat sheet in author note (under spoiler tag)