I Grow Crops with a System

After returning from the Canine Beastman village, Ethan decided today was harvest day.

Perhaps infected by the joy of a coming harvest, Pearl seemed exceptionally excited too. Ethan set the cat on his shoulder, grabbed an empty leather bag, and headed for the field.

”We’re harvesting earlier than expected. We’ll need to hurry and plant the next batch.”

”What are we planting this time, meow?”

”Wheat.”

Getting the wheat in the ground came first. Stored somewhere cool, dry, and free of pests, wheat could keep for up to thirty years — and if he managed to make giant pottery jars, storing it would be easier still. This was the moment to plant a proper crop of it.

”What about the Honey Sweet Potatoes and Sweet Beets...?”

”We’ll plant those too.”

He couldn’t pin all his hopes on the wheat. This was wheat from another world — it might behave nothing like Earth’s. If the planting failed, he’d be in trouble, so the crops he’d already proven would go in as insurance.

”That’s good, meow!”

Thoroughly satisfied with that answer, Pearl wagged its tail and hummed from his shoulder. Chatting as they walked, they soon reached the field.

Ethan stretched his limbs.

”Time to get to work!”

Just as when Vargan had pulled one free, the vines were remarkably sturdy. Ethan hauled with all his strength, dragging up string after string of massive Honey Sweet Potatoes — every one plump, round, and gorgeously colored.

”They’re all top-grade, meow!”

”We should be able to sell these, right? Keep digging.”

”Meow, meow, meow~!”

They worked without pause — Ethan pulling the vines, Pearl digging alongside to excavate the stragglers that didn’t come up. They’d never planned it, yet their movements fell into perfect sync. Pearl hummed away, tireless, and Ethan pulled to its rhythm.

”A bumper harvest, meow!”

The haul was dozens of times what they had planted. Pearl took one look at the mountain of Honey Sweet Potatoes and dove straight in.

”Swimming in a pile of Honey Sweet Potatoes feels amazing, meow!”

After a good romp, it hopped carefully down and turned toward the next plot. The Sweet Beets were ready too.

”Are we harvesting the Sweet Beets now, meow?”

”Of course.”

The beet field had grown thick with emerald-green leaves. Ethan grabbed one and pulled hard.

Swish!

Out came a giant Sweet Beet, fully as long as his forearm — bigger than any they’d found in the wild, richer in fragrance, visibly top quality. And just as with the potato, information bloomed before his eyes.

[Blessed Sweet Beet]

[A Sweet Beet blessed by the Goddess Gaia. Larger and sweeter than average Sweet Beets.]

[Recovers injuries upon consumption.]

[Eliminates fatigue upon consumption.]

These were different from before, too. Healing injuries, erasing fatigue — for life in the wilderness, that mattered enormously.

”Meow! This is my first time seeing such a good Sweet Beet, meow!”

”Our hard work didn’t go to waste.”

Every single beet came up top-grade, and each one fed their motivation.

”So many, meow!!”

”Probably because we left quite a few extra when thinning the seedlings... but it’s still way more than I expected.”

”Did you save the seeds, meow?”

”Yeah. Don’t worry.”

The next planting was already accounted for. Pleased with the answer, Pearl gave its whole body a happy shake — spraying dirt in every direction.

”Stop messing around. We’ll wash up in the river later.”

”Understood, meow. But how are we going to carry all this back, meow?”

The potatoes were manageable, but the beets were simply too big to haul. Just as the two of them stood there stumped, a familiar voice rang out.

”Wow! So much stuff?!”

Ethan turned. Zharok was walking toward them with several large bags and a wooden crate, his long silver-white hair streaming in the wind. At the sight of the twin mountains of produce, he broke into applause.

”Amazing! You really pulled it off! Congratulations!”

”Haha. It’s nothing much.”

”I never expected this many Honey Sweet Potatoes. And these Sweet Beets — they’re massive! I’ve lived a long time, and this is the first time I’ve seen beets this huge!”

If even the well-traveled Zharok was this surprised, it truly was a bumper harvest.

Ethan picked out the largest Honey Sweet Potato and the finest Sweet Beet and set them before the statue of the Goddess Gaia.

”Thanks to the Goddess Gaia’s blessing, we achieved this harvest.”

His own abilities had been indispensable, of course — but the Earth Goddess’s power had played its part too. So he offered her the best of the crop without a second thought.

”Should we make something to offer the goddess, meow? The Candied Sweet Potatoes you made were so delicious — did you forget, meow? Are you making them again today, meow?”

”Yes, of course I can.”

Pearl was practically drooling. Zharok chimed in hopefully, ”Can I get a portion too?”

”We can all eat together — but you have to help me carry all this back first.”

”No problem! Give me a second!”

At last, a chance to show off. Zharok grabbed a bag and set to loading. What would have taken Ethan and Pearl dozens of trips took the wolf less than ten minutes — every last Honey Sweet Potato relocated to the front of the tent.

He plopped down in the clearing, clapping.

”Hurry! Hurry! Make the Candied Sweet Potatoes!”

”Hurry, meow! Hurry, meow!”

”Don’t rush. Give me a moment.”

To keep the peace, Ethan deliberately made extra — and once again, the Candied Sweet Potatoes came out with the Delicious effect attached. He scooped them into his handmade clay bowls, then gathered up a few more Honey Sweet Potatoes.

”What are those for, meow?”

”An offering to the Goddess Gaia. You two eat first.”

”Oh...”

Leaving the noisy pair behind, Ethan carried the potatoes and a bowl of Candied Sweet Potatoes to the statue. He arranged the fragrant dish, the plump potatoes, and the beets neatly before her.

And in that instant, something happened.

Hum—!!

A low thrum sounded, and dazzling light burst from the offerings. Ethan stumbled back a few steps in alarm.

When the light faded, a uniquely shaped scythe lay where the offerings had been.

[Legendary Grade — Scythe of Gaia]

[A scythe imbued with the will of Gaia, the Goddess of the Earth. Gaia bestowed this scythe, carrying her will, upon a producer and granted her blessing.]

[Increases the grade of harvested agricultural products.]

[Extends the shelf life of harvested agricultural products.]

[Increases the freshness of harvested agricultural products.]

[Can change forms during combat.]

[Can use ”Wrath of the Earth” during combat.]

”It’s actually a Legendary-grade weapon!”