Book 1: Chapter 22: Human Affairs III

Book 1: Chapter 22: Human Affairs III

Fertile Soil, Green Thumb, Apiary, and Hallow Earth awaited me once I awoke. With a sigh, I swung my legs out of bed and immediately began to examine them.Might as well get it over with.

Despite having similar names, Fertile Soil and Hallow Earth functioned differently. The first gave me the vague sense that all land I owned would become more fertile in a slight regard, while the second was far more specific. Land that I worked would receive an infusion of mana. I was not a magic wielder, so I had little idea what that would do. Was mana helpful? Was it harmful? I had absolutely no idea how magic functioned in this world, and neither did Garek.

Apiary was yet another oddly specific skill. It would give me a blanket buff for working with bees. The issue that I currently had none presented itself at that moment. Sure, fresh honey would be nice, and could likely turn a nice profit, but I simply didnt have the bees.

Green Thumb offered me a tangible boost for my plant-handling skills. Outcomes would more often be swayed in my favor, even if I did things incorrectly.

These were actually hard choices. Discounting Apiary, the rest could all be immediately relevant. And yet..

The soil I already farmed was prime topsoil, some of the best quality dirt around. I didnt need better soil. I had no idea what mana-infusion into a crop did, and it was already too late to go work the soil again with the crops sprouting. Green Thumb looked to be the most appealing, especially given that I was often fumbling for results with the monster plants. An invisible force turning outcomes in my favor while handling wildly dangerous plants? Yes and yes.

Reassuring myself with a nod, I selected that and blinked as they words disappeared from my vision. With a yawn, I got up, woke the felinid and began my day.

Artyom stood unblinking next to me, an image of willpower and deadly focus. The felinids eyes never left my hands, not even for a heartbeat. So enraptured was he that Ishila was able to sneak up on him unnoticed. Even then he gave no head to her friendly bop on his head and continued to stare.

Ill admit, it was a little disturbing to have him watch me milk a cow this intensely.

Someones enthused about all this, Ishila grinned as she walked up with her own pail and stool. Maybe we should let him try it, eh?

I just shook my head and returned to my labour. The cat-thing had kept me up half the night with his screeching snores. For something so small and slim, his capability to produce noise went unmatched.

It took a few seconds for the felinid to register what Ishila had said, but he enthusiastically nodded his approval of the idea.

Yes-yes, I should learn soon. Help with chores, very good idea. He all but bounced in excitement at the thought.

No. I grunted. I dont trust you to not slip some for yourself.

I didnt even need to look to see his expression had fallen. I was generous, not blindly stupid. Letting the felinid have unrestricted access to milk would end badly, if what Ishila had said was true. She had worded her suggestion just now as a jest to get a response from Artyom, I imagined.

His wide eyes never left the pails of milk once we left the pasture, and followed us all the way to the shed where the rest was stored. I could imagine the physical effort it took to tear himself away once we headed off, but he followed close behind.

More work, yes-yes? He asked, voice cheerful.

Given that youre going to be working for me for a while, its only right that you have a place to sleep. I grunted. I could have been a prick and made him sort that out by himself, but I wanted my help to be enthusiastic and willing. Making the felinid sleep outside or forcing him to build something on his own time didnt gain me much of anything. Instead, with seeding done, all that remained now was weeding and construction. The first was freshly finished for now, and the second required proper materials.

Artyom enthusiastically applied mud from the stream and leaves between the gaps for filler, and slowly, the building progressed. It was smaller than my other buildings by far, but it was exclusively for Artyom. And so, it went exceptionally quickly. With two people who knew what they were doing and one over-eager felinid, it was mostly done by mid-afternoon.

Once we had reached the part where I was confident they could finish construction themselves, I excused myself.

Im going to head up the mountain and see what the riders have decided to construct for a camp. I told Ishila. Perhaps I could find a willing buyer for some milk, given that streamwater is not the most palatable option.

Hmmmm. She nodded. These men and women will have spent the last few weeks sating their thirst with ale, wine, and the like. I myself would not be over-eager to return to water after that.

Though, Id like to find a buyer first, not haul a cart full of it up the mountain and achieve little result. Speaking of which. We headed over to the cart, and she grimaced at the acid-burns in the wood.

Feh. She clicked her tongue. Oversight on my part.

I shook my head. Dont blame yourself for my decisions. I chose to store it in metal flasks without first testing it.

She shrugged, and set about finding something to cut away the burnt parts. Trusting the two to keep themselves occupied for the day, I grabbed my claymore and headed up the mountain. Felt a bit strange, making sure I had a weapon at my side every time I left the house, but that was the reality of things here.

Clouds had set in after a painfully clear morning, and a cool wind blew down off the mountain. I could lament that hot weather was better for the crops, but instead chose to see the good fortune in things. I wasnt hot and sweating from the weather alone, at least. Speaking of which. I sniffed at myself and figured I should perhaps invest in a good bath soon.

Something made me stop, and I looked around. My eyes saw trees, undergrowth, flowers, rocks, grass. Nothing out of the ordinary. My nostrils still drew too many smells, all jumbled together into an incomprehensible mess I could not sort out. Everything appeared ordinary, and yet I could not shake a feeling that tingled beneath my skin.

A sense of anticipation that kept me on edge all the way to the riders camp. I emerged from the trail to find a clearing had been forcibly made in the forest. People milled about, hard at work. They were chopping down trees, making an enlarged area to set up tents and beginning to work on walls.

So they were setting in for the long run, here. Dug in to wait for reinforcements before heading further up the mountain.

I did award myself being so damn big for the reason Raffnyk spotted me almost immediately. The human waved and walked over, wiping sweat off his brow.

Garek. My friend. He greeted me with a smile. What brings you here?

Curiosity. I admitted. And perhaps the possibility of profit.

The two seem to go hand in hand, He nodded. Come, explain to me what designs you have to drain our purses.

I did just that, and found myself seated amidst the bustling camp, a water flash offered to me by the human. This was the first time, I had seen Raffnyk without his armor, I realized. His arms were dotted by scars, which surprised me. The image of an untouched, stiff knight I had was tempered by the mans humility.

Coin interests everyone, He sighed. How would you like to make some? Right now, I mean.