I Grow Crops with a System

”You guys eat monster cores?” Ethan asked in surprise.

”Beastmen can increase their strength by eating monster cores, meow, So beastmen are all formidable monster hunters, meow~” Pearl explained.

”Oh, so that’s how it is.”

”We also distribute the hunted monsters and gathered rare plants and fruits to everyone, if you need anything, you can come and take it too!” Draugor said.

Rare plants and fruits, that sounded promising.

Ethan nodded and put down the work in his hands.

”It wouldn’t be right to go empty-handed... I’ll bring some pottery over.”

He brought out the beastman-specific pottery he had made earlier, and Draugor beamed, in the Minotaur village, many people wanted Ethan’s pottery.

A gift like this was precious to the whole community.

”Everyone will definitely be very happy!” Draugor said.

”Then let’s go.”

Ethan loaded the pottery onto the handcart, then sat on it, Draugor grabbed the handles and took off at a run.

They arrived at the Minotaur village in short order, it was even more bustling than last time.

”Human! You’re here?!”

”What are those bowls?!”

”They’re gifts.”

”Just you coming is enough, why did you bring gifts.”

”It’s a festival, after all, I couldn’t possibly come empty-handed.”

Ethan smiled and distributed the pottery to everyone, just as the Minotaurs were cheerfully picking out their pieces, Lombiat walked over with a smile.

”Oh my, you are too polite — bringing such precious gifts, I was just thinking of giving you some good things.”

”Haha, thank you.”

”Follow me.”

Lombiat led Ethan to the kiln where they had fired pottery previously, piled here were many giant stones that Ethan had never seen before.

”What is this?” Ethan asked.

”These are stones the hunting party brought back, I heard they can withstand a Hydra’s flames.”

”A Hydra’s flames can melt even steel, meow, to think there are stones that can withstand them, meow~” Pearl said in surprise.

Even Pearl didn’t know about this kind of stone, Ethan picked one up and examined it closely, it looked ordinary enough, but the Minotaurs wouldn’t lie to him, he nodded with a smile.

’My kiln is about to collapse anyway, so I can use these stones to build a new one, maybe I can even use it to forge ironware.’

”We know a place where iron ore can be mined, once you’ve built the kiln, help us forge some iron tools,” Lombiat said.

”Haha... I can’t guarantee I’ll be able to make them.”

Back in the Ascendant Tower, he had spent some time as a blacksmith to support his companions, it wasn’t his strongest skill, but he’d managed well enough back then.

He paused and reconsidered.

”It should be fine,” Ethan said confidently.

At that moment, cheerful singing drifted in from across the village, the festival had begun.

”Oh, the festival has started, let’s head over quickly,” Lombiat urged.

”Alright.”

Ethan followed Lombiat to the center of the village, the clearing was piled high with various plants and fruits, the Minotaurs were singing and dancing, celebrating the harvest.

Everyone was happy, Ethan watched them for a moment.

”The children are still so skinny.”

”Sigh... I’m worried too. I wanted them to eat more during the festival, but they don’t seem to have much of an appetite,” Lombiat said.

”How about trying to feed them some concentrated feed?” Ethan suggested.

Lombiat blinked. He seemed to have absolutely no idea what concentrated feed was. ”What is that?”

’Back on Earth, the old man next door used concentrated feed for his cows, even the picky ones ate it with relish. Nutritious stuff — easy to digest, easy to absorb.’

Ethan thought for a moment and explained, ”It’s a type of dish that’s easy to digest and absorb, it can be made using straw, cabbage, radish, rice, or wheat...”

”There’s such a thing, meow?” Pearl asked.

”I’ve made it a few times back on Earth, maybe they’ll like it, want to give it a try?”

”Ohoho~ Then I’ll leave it to you!”

Lombiat looked worried about the children and watched Ethan with full expectation.

Ethan nodded and turned to Draugor. ”I need your help.”

”What is it?!” Draugor thumped his chest.

”Take me back to my shelter for a trip, I need to get some things.”

”No problem! Let’s go!”

Draugor scooped Ethan up and ran back to the shelter, Ethan grabbed the Cauldron of Blessing, the Scythe of Gaia, the Sweet Beets, and the Purifying Wooden Bucket.

”I saw some Vitality Cabbages in the village. Can I use them?”

”Of course!”

”Then for the rest...” Ethan pointed at the wheat he had brought.

”What is that?!”

”This is wheat.”

”My village has some too!” Draugor said excitedly.

”The hunting party brought it back, if you need it, just use ours!”

”That’s great, then let’s go.”

Ethan put down his own wheat — he would save it for planting later — and climbed onto the handcart, Draugor pulled the cart back to the village at a sprint, then shouted, ”Bring that grass over here.”

”Moo~ Are you talking about this? Moo~”

Someone was already eating it, a few Minotaurs walked over carrying bundles of straw with wheat ears still attached.

Ethan grabbed a wooden stick, made a flail, and laid a large animal hide on the ground.

”Come on, let’s start threshing the wheat.”

He collected the threshed wheat grains and sighed softly, the real challenge was just beginning.

”I’m going to start cooking.”

He chopped up the wheat stalks and straw, put them in a pot filled with Purified water, and brought it to a boil, then he added the chopped Vitality Cabbages and Sweet Beets, poured in the ground wheat grains, and continued to simmer.

Bubble, bubble...

”It smells so good!”

”What is this?!”

The Minotaurs at the festival were all drawn over by the aroma, Ethan ignored them and focused entirely on the porridge.

[Delicious Concentrated Feed]

[Porridge simmered with straw, cabbage, radish, and wheat, suitable for herbivore consumption.]

[Delicious Effect: Upon consumption, stamina increases.]

[Delicious Effect: Upon consumption, gains the Vitality status.]

[Crafting Difficulty: ★★★]

Perhaps because of the Cauldron of Blessing, or perhaps because of Ethan’s skill, the pot produced a batch of Delicious Concentrated Feed.

The Minotaurs all widened their eyes at the porridge in the pot.

Ethan scooped a bowl and handed it to the skinniest Minotaur child.

”Can you eat this?”

”It looks very delicious!”

The child took a bite, he usually didn’t have much appetite, but this time he ate with relish.

Seeing this, the other children crowded around, scrambling for a taste, Ethan sighed, and a young Minotaur nearby asked, ”Can we eat some too?”

”Of course.”

He had cooked a lot, it should be enough for everyone.

Ethan set aside a portion for the children, then distributed the remaining porridge to the other Minotaurs, when the pot ran out, he cooked a few more.

”I’ve never eaten something so delicious.”

”All my fatigue has vanished.”

”I feel my whole body is filled with strength.”