Chapter 5

Moving to the field, I checked what was currently planted. Various vegetables were growing, but it was evident that they were mainly cultivated for eating. When I used to play games, fields were places to gather materials, so it felt strange to see only vegetables planted here.

Now, potatoes and some leafy greens were planted, with a small corner on the right side still empty. For now, it would be best to spread fertilizer here.

"Item book!"

Item box!

As I spoke, many item names appeared before my eyes. I selected [Fertilizer (God)] with my gaze.

"Decide!"

The moment I decided, the item box display disappeared, and I felt a heavy weight in my hand. Proof that the fertilizer had come out. I tried to catch it—

"Heavy..."

Splat!

It was too heavy to hold, and the bag fell to the ground, spilling its contents.

"..."

Is this despair?

The amount of fertilizer that would have been enough to spread over the entire small field was used up in just this small corner. And, as expected of [Fertilizer (God)], it was absorbed quickly, melting away into the soil in no time. There was no trace left. All that remained was a 30cm x 30cm patch of soil that was unusually well-colored and had a good moisture level.

"I won't give up."

That's right. I won't give up. This kind of thing is a daily occurrence in games. You can't progress in the main story if you get discouraged by one failure. If there's a boss you can't beat, you just level up and try again.

Moreover, I can come up with a new strategy from this result.

"I'll spread the soil."

I'll spread the soil.

This soil is undoubtedly in the best condition. If so, spreading this soil over the entire field should have the same effect as spreading fertilizer. Thinking about it, I don't have much time to work in the field alone, and if I spread fertilizer, my mother might notice. But if I dig up the soil from one corner of the field and spread it over the entire area, it would look like I'm just playing in the sandbox.

"I can use this."

This can be used.

Although I made a mistake in estimating the weight of the fertilizer and the endurance of this body, if I can ultimately create a nutrient-rich field, it will be a success. Failure is not failure but a step toward success.

"I want a shovel."

A shovel. Or a spade. Depending on the region, they have different names, but there are large ones you use with both hands and smaller ones for one hand. I want the one-handed one. I call it a shovel. I want to dig up the soil with a shovel and spread it over the entire field.

However, such items didn't exist in the game. Sometimes, things exist in this world but not in the game world. In the game, I could only use items like pickaxes and hoes, but there were no shovels.

So, even though I had almost maxed out my items from the game, I didn't have a shovel. As I was thinking about what to do, my mother, who had finished her housework, came over—

"Reni, what's wrong?"

"Mom, Reni wants something to dig the soil."

"Something to dig the soil?"

"Yes."

I looked up at my mother and said, "Please."

For a toddler, playing in the sandbox is normal. It wouldn't be strange for a two-year-old to want a shovel. If I was doing field work, there should be a shovel around...

"Sorry, Reni."

My mother, whose beautiful face had recently become haggard, twisted it in sadness.

"We don't have the money to buy one."

"No money?"

I opened my mouth in surprise. My mother then squatted in front of me and looked straight at my face.

"Both Dad and I are trying our best, but I'm sorry."

"It's okay. I understand."

I nodded seriously in response.

No, I already knew we didn't have money. I just didn't think we couldn't even afford a shovel—let alone that we didn't have one at all. Our family is barely getting by with only the most essential items.

"Reni, look around the house. Maybe something has fallen."

I told my mother this and used the dash I had finally mastered at two years old.

Yeah, it's a bit faster than walking, but still quite slow. I heard my mother calling me back, "Reni!" but I pretended not to hear and circled around the house.

I told my mother I was looking around the house to see if anything had fallen, but it was really just a way to buy time and gather evidence. What I actually wanted to do—

"Item book!"

Item box!

I should have looked through my items to find something that could be used as a shovel instead of hoping it might be in the house.

Leave it to me!