Brand New Life Online: Rise Of The Goddess Of Harvest

—–

The receptionist at the counter was a tall White Ghost man with long hair tied into a neat ponytail. He had a pale, handsome face and cold blue eyes, and he wore a pristine white suit.

“Hello, good sir. We’re selling a variety of products…” Yaga said with her usual cheerful tone.

“Show me,” the man replied coldly.

With Elayne’s help, Yaga brought forward several baskets filled with goods: edible fruits, herbs, mushrooms, mined stones, crystals, magical ores, and even Nether beast meat, bones, and ghostly remains that the Domain had accidentally run over.

“What is this?” the man asked, raising an eyebrow. “Aren’t these products poisonous?”

“Oh no, I’ve modified them with magic over many generations to make them completely edible!” the old lady replied proudly. “Here, let me show you.” She casually ate several of the items, proving their safety.

“This is a first. We’ve never been offered edible plants of this quality before… Are they truly safe?” the man asked, his tone softening slightly.

“They can be cooked in many different ways,” Yaga nodded. “In fact, we prepared something ahead of time for you to taste.”

“…Huh? What is this product?” he asked, eyeing what appeared to be a sandwich.

“It’s a recipe I learned from the souls of the Undead I’ve… questioned,” the old lady explained, trying to sound perfectly normal among them. “The bread is made from crushed seeds of edible flowers. The filling has fried edible mushrooms with oil and a sauce made from edible fruits, along with a few other things…”

She described each ingredient and its origin in detail, pointing to the corresponding products. The White Ghost man listened silently, then took a cautious bite. His eyes flashed briefly, and within seconds he had finished the entire sandwich.

“Hm… Ahem. It was acceptable, I suppose,” he muttered, brushing crumbs from the desk. “But you didn’t make all this alone, did you?”

“I have my Undead help me,” Yaga replied. “This lady here—I’ve named her Elayne—was a farmer in her previous life.”

“It is… nice to meet you… great lord…” Elayne muttered, deliberately speaking slowly and stiffly like a typical zombie.

“I see. I sense something unusual about her aura,” the man said, his sharp eyes narrowing. “Interesting… very interesting. Wait here. I need to speak with my father, the owner of this establishment. Don’t move.”

He swiftly disappeared up to the second floor and returned five minutes later with a faint smile.

“I believe we can profit from this. My father was quite impressed after tasting the products himself,” the White Ghost man said. “Before we continue, allow me to introduce myself. I am Blank Von Velberth, eldest son of the Velberth Household.”

“Ohoho, and I am Yaga. I belong to no household, unfortunately. I’m simply a wandering merchant, farmer, librarian, and historian,” Granny Yaga replied with a chuckle. “Elayne, introduce yourself.”

“I am Elayne. It’s nice to meet you. When I was alive, I was a farmer… and a mother,” Elayne said, her voice suddenly clear and warm, surprising Blank with its depth and emotion.

“I-I see… so you can speak perfectly well?” he asked, caught off guard. “Haha, I suppose I was fooled. My loss.”

“I wasn’t trying to deceive you, great lord. I simply didn’t want to seem strange,” Elayne apologized softly.

“It’s fine. Unlike most of my kind, I have a sense of humor,” Blank said with a small smile. “How much do you have to sell? Are your farms large?”

“Quite large. We have several tons ready right now,” Yaga answered.

“That’s correct. I can explain every product we’ve made,” Elayne added.

“I would love that. Come with me. I want you to meet my father. He has an excellent eye for business opportunities,” Blank said.

His entire demeanor had shifted the moment he recognized their value. It was almost astonishing how polite and friendly he suddenly became.

Elayne was glad to meet someone pleasant, yet she remained cautious. This could all be an act; she couldn’t be certain.

The reason was simple: Blank was so strong that she couldn’t read his Soul or hear his inner thoughts at all. She had no way to see through his true nature.

“Granny Yaga, I can’t read his heart. Let’s stay careful,” Elayne whispered.

“Heh, leave it to me. I’ve done this countless times,” Yaga replied confidently. “May the rest of my bodyguards come with us?”

“Of course, but please have them wait outside the office,” Blank agreed.

The rest of the group finally entered with them, and Elayne quickly explained the situation.

“Excuse me, could Mark come too? He’s helped us produce the goods.”

“Fine.”

Elayne, Yaga, and Mark followed Blank into the office and met his father: a tall, imposing old White Ghost with a long ghostly beard and sharp blue eyes. His hair was long, and his eyebrows were particularly thick and pointed. He wore a white suit adorned with silver trim.

“Nice to meet you. You must be the ones selling these remarkable edible products,” the man said in a deep, resonant voice, setting aside the papers he had been reviewing. “I am Silvester Von Velberth, Head of the Velberth Household. My son just brought me many of your goods. Before we discuss anything, may I know your names?”

Yaga, Mark, and Elayne introduced themselves again. The Undead briefly mentioned what they had been in life to give him a clearer picture.

“Interesting. Now please, sit down. Let’s talk business,” Silvester said. “Lately, the territory has been suffering from famine. The ghost stone trees we harvest in the northeast have grown smaller and weaker. The Nether that flows through the underground veins has shifted and dried up. Some believe the Demon King of Death is using a formation to drain the land’s power for himself, causing all sorts of problems.”

“Oh no…” Elayne gasped, showing genuine concern, which seemed to please the old White Ghost.

“Indeed. I am quite furious myself, but as the head of a merchant family, there is little I can do about military or wartime matters,” Silvester sighed, shaking his head.

Despite his words, Elayne could sense the immense power within him. He was no ordinary man, yet he spoke as though he were weak.

This only made her more wary of the true strength that existed in the Netherworld, where even someone this powerful considered himself limited.

“I’ve been searching for solutions to the food shortage. Eating Nether and ghostly beast meat is a staple for our race. We maintain several ranches where we raise cattle from a young age and have bred them to grow larger and yield more meat. Yet even these creatures, which feed on Nether, have become weaker,” Silvester continued with another sigh. “Wild game meat is always welcome and sells well, but it cannot sustain a village this size.”

—–