Axel picked up the pace, hastening down the dirt road that led towards his destination. As the town came into view he let out a sigh of relief. knowing that soon he would get some much-needed food, and hopefully have a restful sleep without dreams. Walking around the moonlit streets, he eventually found Blue Roses’ inn, the guild's emblem painted onto the sign hanging above the entrance.

It was a pain to find, because Axel was aching all over and because it was hidden along a row of other similar-looking inns. Some were owned by other guilds, and most were owned by the kingdom. Axel even had to seek directions from a stranger and thought his leg was being pulled when all he had passed by were just the kingdom-run inns, but finally, he had located it.

As Axel pushed open the door, he took a moment to survey the interior of the establishment. It was a decent-looking lobby, not too different from the Neophyte Nest Clearing Inn, though it was lacking in the furniture department. Only a counter with the obligatory receptionist, and a small coffee table with a couple of chairs set around it.

"Welcome to Blue Rose Inn. How can I help you today?" the woman behind the counter said with a smile plastered across her face.

"Do you have a room for one? Also, do you know if Fen is here?" Axel asked.

"Yes, Fen is here. He should be in the dining area. Are you a member of Blue Rose?"

"Sorry, not a member. Fen just suggested this inn. Seemed better than an Order of the Horn one."

"It sure is, we're still a bit expensive but it's cheaper than the Order of the Horn prices’."

"Single room's 75 [Gold Coins], including a complimentary meal."

"Ok, I'd like to book a room for the night, please." Axel fished out the coin from his [Inventory] and placed the sum on the counter.

"Very well. Rooms are upstairs, stairs and dining area are right behind me."

Axel grabbed the key and dumped his bag in his room, making sure to pick up the coveted food voucher before heading down to the dining area. Rounding the corner, he was met with the bustling atmosphere of what could more accurately be described as a tavern, rather than a traditional dining area. The scent of ale hung thick in the air, blending with the sounds of lively chatter and merriment.

The laughter and conversations flowed as freely as the alcohol that filled the mugs held by patrons. Amidst the cheerful ambiance, the clattering of dishes and occasional shouts from the kitchen added to the bustling atmosphere of the tavern.

Axel's gaze swept across the room, scanning the faces of the occupants, before finally settling upon Fen, who sat at the bar, mug in hand. With a sense of familiarity, Axel claimed the empty stool beside him and placed an order for a [Hearty Stew], trading in his food voucher.

"Oh, Axel, nice to see you again. Looks like you took my suggestion,” said Fen.

"Yeah, I did. I still find it a bit expensive, but it's definitely cheaper than the Order of the Horn Inns."

"Told ya, have I ever been wrong?" asked Fen.

"I don't know. I've only known you for like three days," said Axel.

"Fair, fair. But have I ever been wrong since we met?" asked Fen, with a cheeky grin.

"No? Maybe?" said Axel.

"What do you mean? Everything I've said so far has been right!" declared Fen.

"True, true. But, I think you might have given me a defective potion yesterday," said Axel.

"I did? Impossible! I mean you saw the effects for yourself. Your wounds healed up pretty quickly."

"Yes, but I think it made me hallucinate. After I woke up and walked about this morning I'm pretty sure I had some hallucinations. A guy dropped out of a portal and started crazy talking about being transported. Then I tried talking to him and people looked at me weird, cause I'm pretty sure it looked like I was talking to myself."

Fen placed his drink down, his smile dropping with it. "Did this 'crazy person' happen to mention something about an 'isekai'?"

"Yea! Wait? So it actually happened and I didn't hallucinate?" asked Axel.

"Axel, forget everything about this 'isekai' person. Nothing good ever comes from them. They're ruthless, selfish, greedy, power-hungry, and overall despicable people," said Fen, with a scowl on his face.

"I mean he did seem a bit... off. But, I'm pretty sure he just hit his head too hard."

"Trust me a hard hit to the head is what I really wanna give him and his kind."

"Kind? There's more people dropping out of nowhere?" asked Axel.

"I'm not sure how many, but they do exist. They'll randomly appear out of nowhere and suddenly amass a great deal of power. Just try your best to stay out of their way. Seriously."

"They sound dangerous, but so far everything has been dangerous. I never really expected to be fighting monsters here, I thought it would be mostly camping and foraging for food while I explore the place looking for my big sis," said Fen.

"There'll be plenty of camping in later areas, trust me. But, let me make it very clear to stay away from the 'isekai' kind, or the 'isekind'," warned Fen,

"Got it, Fen. But, the guy I met this morning said that he would get his revenge on me. He said that I was manipulating him, but I was just making sure he was ok and didn't hit his head too hard when he fell," said Axel.

"Then I wish you the best of luck, Axel. If you're strong, and I think you are. You won't die by his hand. Just fight more monsters, improve your skills, and get better gear. That's the way of this world that we now live in. Only the strong survive, and that has never been truer."

"So just keep slaying monsters and doing quests?" asked Axel.

The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

"Yup. If you don't want to join a guild, it's even more imperative that you become stronger. Strong enough to survive on your own."

"Speaking of guild, I'm surprised you haven't tried to recruit me again," joked Axel.

"It's my night off. I don't think of the guild when I'm having a few drinks. It's my time to relax, unwind, and just enjoy life." said Fen.

"Am I disturbing you then? I can always just leave you alone." Axel got up from the stool ready to vacate the area.

.

"Just sit." Fen patted the chair. "As much as I enjoy drinking alone, it's always nice to have a chat with someone. Although the topic did leave a sour taste in my mouth."

"Sorry,” said Axel.

"It's ok," said Fen.

"Can I just ask one more question?" asked Axel.

"Shoot," Fen said while taking another sip of his ale.

"Do you have an easy way to make money? Buying gear is expensive."

"You could always try the farmers market."

"You want me to buy crops?" Axel raised his eyebrow.

"No, no. On the east side of town are the farms, you could always go there, gather some crops then sell them at the farmers' market. Food is always in high demand."

"Won't farming take a long time? I kind of need the money like tomorrow."

"Trust me, this farming is a lot quicker than what you're used to. I won't spoil the surprise." Fen winked.

Axel rolled his eyes in response and let out a chuckle. The pair of men enjoyed each other's company for the rest of the evening, enjoying the ambiance of the bustling tavern. Laughing, joking, and having a merry old time. While Fen kept replenishing his own glass with more ale, Axel contented himself with a glass of water provided by the bar. Eventually, as the night wore on, they bid each other goodnight and retreated to their respective rooms, eagerly seeking the rest they both desperately needed.

***

The next morning, Axel awoke with his body still sore from the day before. Annoyingly, he realized he had forgotten to ask Fen for a potion. Disregarding the thought while silently cursing his forgetfulness. However, Fen's advice lingered in his mind, urging him towards the farms in the east of Tillage Town. He had his doubts about how farming would help with getting a quick buck, but Fen was not wrong so far.

As he made his way, he passed by the bustling farmer's market that Fen had mentioned, where the lively chatter of haggling filled the air, confirming that he was on the right path.

As Axel neared the farms, he was greeted by rows of portals lining either side of the path. Above each portal hung signs with names and depictions of the respective crops that could be found. Potatoes, Carrots, Corn, and other various kinds of plants. He decided to start with the closest one, which happened to be potatoes.

Stepping through the portal along with other individuals, Axel was greeted by a small wooden shack surrounded by a massive farmland. The wooden shack was adorned with signs plastered all around it, each sign contained the same set of instructions for those venturing off into the field.

Kill a Potathrow to receive one potato.

Cut off its head to receive another potato.

Absolutely no stealing or kill stealing. Violators will be banned from the farms indefinitely.

What's a Potathrow? Axel wondered. I thought I was just going to help out on a farm.

Beyond the shack, Axel observed other people cutting down brown potato-like creatures. They looked like normal potatoes except that they were at waist height, had two arms that they used to drag themselves around, and on the top of their head a long thick vine culminating into a scoop-like appendage resembling a catapult.

Axel understood why they were called Potathrows as he observed a battle unfold between the creature and another woman. She wielded a bow, clad in a sort of red fur armor, and was engaged in a back-and-forth duel with the monster. Each one took shots at the other, as they moved in a circular fashion.

The Potathrow anchored itself with its two stubby hands, utilizing the scoop atop its head to excavate chunks of dirt. The ball of dirt would harden before being launched with tremendous force at the archer. She, in turn, was dodging each one — ducking, diving, and rolling out of the way. Once in the clear, the woman would then draw her arrow and release it, some would hit most would not.

The Potathrow was surprisingly nimble, using its arms to propel itself into cartwheels as it dodged the many arrows that were sent flying its way. As the battle ensued, the creature began to slow, the damage of the many hits adding up and dulling its movement. It was now visibly staggering, the arrows that stuck out of it creating a porcupine-like appearance certainly not helping.

A few more well-placed shots struck the monster, eventually ending its life as it dropped dead, leaving behind the arrows that had peppered its body, as well as some [Gold Coins] and a [Potato].

Axel was grateful for the show, he now knew what he was up against, and started wondering if maybe he should observe more fights before heading in blind like usual. That was a thought for another time as he approached the crystal. The main world was too crowded, with too many people, but not enough monsters to go around.

Entering a less crowded sub-world along with a few others, he was once again greeted by the same field of tilled earth. Axel immediately ran towards the nearest Potathrow he could find, eager to get his task over and done with. In hindsight, he realized he probably should have asked how much a potato goes for, or any other crop for that matter, but he would find out eventually. A few hour's difference would not make that much of a difference.

The Potathrow spotted him, with the beady little eyes that it possessed, scooping up a mound of dirt, hardening it, and then launching it like a catapult. Axel [Blocked] the incoming projectile which felt more like a boulder striking his sword rather than a clump of dirt, having to activate [Strength Boost] at the last minute just to successfully [Block] the shot. Closing the distance between them, the Potathrow launched another dirt shot. Axel, learning from the last attack, used both [Block] and [Strength Boost] together to defend himself against the attack, the dirt ball falling back into the ground.

Before the Potathrow could harden the next batch of dirt it held in its grasp, Axel was already upon it. Axel [Slashed] at the Potathrow, severing the vine atop its head, which flopped onto the floor before disappearing into a [Potato].

More questions started flooding Axel's mind, he thought that the catapult-like apparatus on its head was something akin to its root or maybe even stem, but not its head. Did that mean that it had eyes on his body? Axel chose to bury the questions he had, not like having them answered would make a difference. He was fighting a potato with arms that launched dirt at him. An extra oddity or two was irrelevant.

The Potathrow was finished off with another horizontal [Slash] across its body. Dropping two [Gold Coins] and a [Potato].

[Potathrow was slain. Gained 8 points]

Only 8 points? That's kind of disappointing.

Then again the battle was relatively straightforward. Two [Blocks], two [Strength Boosts], and two [Slashes], were all it took to slice and dice the monster. The easiest fight so far in his time in the barrier. If all future fights were this easy, he could definitely amass a large amount of [Potatoes] to sell. But, if they were this easy to obtain, maybe they would not go for a high price. Maybe something more challenging would be more appropriate.

Axel continued harvesting the [Potathrows] with ease, chopping off their heads and leaving them attack-less, before killing the headless Potato monster which just looked like a potato with arms. After about an hour he had gained 52 [Potatoes] and 52 [Gold Coins]. The Potatothrows being so easy to kill, and in close proximity to each other, really made things a lot easier. But, Axel felt that his efforts were better off farming stronger monsters. They would surely pay more than [Potatoes], at least that's what he thought.

Stepping out of the [Potatothrow] zone, and back to the farming hub where the portals leading to all the different zones resided. Axel looked around and noticed that the sign above the portal contained a picture of a [Tomato]. Axel felt his stomach gurgle. A nice juicy [Tomato] sounded great right about now. After a great workout earlier, and having skipped breakfast, he was truly hungry.