Having finished my work at the quarry and clearing a path, I was supposed to set out fishing now according to the original plan, but I actually wanted to double back on my garden now that I had new seeds to plant. I rushed around like a madman, switching out my scythe and mining pick for a hoe and watering can from the chest and then hustling inside to check the guidebook for info on the seeds. The guidebook said the summer seeds would take 5 days to mature but would only fruit once, what they would be was a mystery but usually an assortment of berries and flowers resulted from planting them

Good enough for me, let's do this!

After tilling six new patches of land with the hoe I carefully laid out each summer seed around the scarecrow and other tomato plants. They now formed a nice little circle. With that done I withdrew the watering can. It was, thankfully, still half full from the last time I’d used it so I watered each of the plants then deposited it back in my inventory. Once finished, I extended my index finger towards the inanimate security guard.

“You take good care of these guys! No crows and no funny business, do you hear me?” I demanded. There was, of course, no response.

I then went back to the chest, deposited the can and hoe, and withdrew the fishing rod. Now I had six slots free for anything I picked up in town or caught fishing. I realized I’d need to upgrade my inventory soon if possible, maybe purchase a backpack. There were so many things I needed to buy and do and so little time in a day. I couldn’t be constantly worrying about inventory space.

Now I had to consider the task at hand. Fishing! Where should I go? The pond seemed no good, dirty as it was. The ocean seemed a little bit beyond my comfort zone as a beginner. I knew the perfect place. The river! I’d already seen Gorlock fishing there so it had to have at least something to catch, plus it was right in the middle of town. Perfect. I looked around the farm to see if Frannie or Max were around or needed anything. There was no sign of either of them so I headed out.

***

I began to notice a few familiar faces as I moved about the town and the streets felt more and more familiar. The place was becoming my home. I waved to Barbold, nodded at Elrick who scowled back, and even saw the barman Manuel who yawning and sweeping his porch. He smiled his creepy smile as I passed and I waved. Then I reached the spot where I’d found the goblin. He was nowhere in sight. I looked at the river and took a step closer, leaning on the railing and looking down at the fast-moving water.

Okay, you’ve never done this before, but let's give it a try!

I selected the fishing rod and it appeared in my hands. It was my first time getting a good look at it, it was pretty beaten up and a little rust eaten on the pole itself, but other than that seemed operational.

[ Do you want to cast Rusty Rod? ]

I rolled my eyes. Persistent as always. “Yes,” I said, and immediately my body sprung into action. It was a strange sensation, like I was being guided. I raised the rod up then snapped it outwards, the line unspooling and then the lure plopping into the river.

“Well, that wasn’t so hard!” I said to myself. Although having a magical system help me out didn't hurt. I held my arms steady and waited. And waited. And waited.

Man, fishing is boring!

Suddenly, the line got a pull on it. A small circle appeared at the apex of the pole. It was green but as it moved farther from the direction of my pole it became yellow, then red, and the pull on the line was increasingly more difficult. I quickly understood that to keep the line’s tension down I needed to keep the pole in the green. The line wasn’t moving too fast so I managed to pull the poll left, right, up, and down, following the reticle in each direction until suddenly a DING sounded and I pulled the line-up and out of the water. I got it!

A window appeared, showing me my catch.

[ You have caught a Small Trout. Would you like to loot it, or let it go free? ]

“Loot it, of course!” I selected the trout from the window and it appeared in my inventory. I grinned.

All that patience had been worth it. I opened the book and scrolled to the section on fish. It said that trout was the most common of the summer fish, and it could be stored for recipes, made into fertilizer, eaten raw, or sold in the assembulator.

“Right, the assembulator! I had forgotten what Barbold told me!” I exclaimed. He had said it was behind the cabin, although I had been too busy bathing and dealing with catgirls in the morning to notice it.

I resolved to pack my inventory full of fish for the rest of the afternoon and then sell all that I could directly into the assembulator. Maybe I would keep one or two for Frannie to enjoy. The process was relatively easy, especially with more and more practice. It helped that fishing took considerably fewer energy points than the other activities, only seeming to take one per cast. I could fish all day and it was likely that I wouldn't even run out of points.

Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

Fishing is super easy! Why does anyone ever complain about it?

I quickly ate my words, however, as the next fish I hooked was a big one. The target was jumping all over the place and I struggled to keep it in the yellow let alone in the green, finally I heard a snapping sound and the line went slack.

[ Your line has broken. You have lost the catch. Would you like to cast again? ]

I didn’t answer out loud, just thought yes and continued. The line cast and we were at it again. Thankfully I didn’t need to purchase new lines each time one broke or I’d be in trouble. I kept going until sunset, catching some fish I hooked but losing others. When I was done I checked the haul inside my inventory

[ Inventory 7/8

Beginner’s Guide to Farming

Rusty Fishing Rod

Small Trout (7/99)

Medium Trout (3/99)

Large River Trout (1/99)

Small Catfish (2/99)

River Trash (5/99) ]

I heard the galloping of hooves down cobblestones and saw a familiar redhead astride her horse, leading another by the reigns. Leyanna tipped back the hood of her riding cloak and fixed me with a grin, stopping and turning her horses to face me on a dime

“Watcha doing there George?” she asked playfully.

I put away the fish I had been appraising and wiped my hands on my trousers. “Fishing, believe it or not! I was lucky enough to get a rod yesterday, it's pretty fun! I’m going to sell them later tonight and hopefully get more money for crops.”

Leyana beamed at me. “Well well, look at you. Ella told me you already started planting some tomatoes as well, you are becoming quite the farmer. And the socialite. Careful now, news moves fast in Halfmoon Hills. You keep flirting with all the girls and Madame Pomme will have a conniption fit. Unless she can cut herself into your marriage as a broker.”

Leyanna laughed and as I stammered to defend myself she held up a hand. “I’m only teasing you George, but oh, I can’t stay and talk. I have to deliver this horse to a wealthy client before sundown,” she put a finger to her lips, “You didn’t hear it from me but it's a certain meanie with pointed ears. You know the one. He hates when I’m late but sure he pays well! Bye-bye Georgie, don’t be a stranger. You can find me at the tavern most nights when I'm not working, past 9:00 pm!”

Leyanna left without saying anything more, clopping off into the distance.

“Bye!” I called out and saw her wave, backhanded, without turning. If it were anyone else I might be offended but I was quickly learning this was just who she was, her personality. I grinned. She hadn’t let me get a word in edgewise, but she managed to insult me, compliment me and kind of ask me out all in the span of a few minutes.

She was one heck of a woman. She was also totally the opposite of Ella for sure. What did she mean when she said that most nights she was at the bar? Why? That seemed odd for a young woman like her. I wasn’t much of a drinker myself and didn’t see the appeal of bars… but I did see the appeal of her. Maybe I’d stop by this evening after I unloaded my fish. But she would likely not go tonight because of her delivery.

Tomorrow then, tonight I can relax at home, it's been a long day anyhow.

So I headed home. Once there I went around back and searched for the assembulator. I found it just behind the bushes that Frannie had been hiding in the morning. It was a large black bin. I lifted the lid.

[ Please select the items you wish to enter into the assembulator. You will be given their market value tomorrow when you awake in gold deposited into your inventory. ]

I guessed this meant I couldn’t see the value of my items until after I’d already received payment. This meant that I’d have to pay attention and do some guesswork. For now, I felt safe in depositing most of the items since it hadn’t been that hard to acquire them in the first place. I kept 3 small trout and deposited the rest.

[ Are you sure you would like to deposit the following?

Small Trout (4x)

Medium Trout (3x)

Large River Trout (1x)

Small Catfish (2x)

River Trash (5x) ]

I confirmed that I did and deposited the items in the assembulator. Each one disappeared with a satisfying shwoop sound. I closed the lend and went back around to the front of the cabin. I opened the storage chest and stowed the remaining fish as well as my rod. The guidebook I decided to keep on my person. I checked what I had in the chest before I left for good measure.

[ CHEST 16/20

* Hoe (Rank 1)

* Scythe (Rank 1)

* Axe (Rank 1)

* Mining Pick (Rank 1)

* Watering Can

* Rusty Fishing Rod

* Fibrous Plant Material (37)

* Driftwood (5)

* Seaweed (5)

* Pebbles (5)

* Chopped wood (45)

* Small Trout (4)

* Coal (4/99)

* Clotted Dirt (4/99)

* Stone (10/99 ]

I was surprised that I had already filled up 13 slots. I realized that I would need to build a new chest soon. I felt tired, and not just in terms of my energy level. I was mentally drained from learning so many things and just wanted a break. As always, Max was on the porch snoozing. I patted his head but did not wake him. The door I had left unlocked, so I entered, expecting, for all the world, to see Frannie curled up in some corner, surrounded by a mess.

I was wrong on both counts. The place was immaculate. She had cleaned up after the morning meal, but she was nowhere to be found. I looked for a note but found none. That made sense, if she couldn’t speak, it stood to reason that she also couldn’t write. I ate a quick snack from the pantry then I lay down on my bed and checked the time, it was nearly 9:00 PM. I chuckled, the night would just be starting for me back home, but here this felt like as good of a bedtime as any.

I closed my eyes and nestled into my blankets. Soon I was fast asleep.