Chapter 8

The wheat stalks drooped, and the fields turned a golden hue as autumn approached. I am currently in the middle of gleaning in the family's farmland. Now, during the wheat harvest, my father and mother are swinging their large scythes and collecting the wheat with their 'Extend Space,' while I am picking up the fallen grains they miss. Although there are hardly any grains left behind, this is a traditional event to show what it means to be a farmer. The eldest son, who will inherit the farm, and the eldest and second daughters, who will likely marry into farming families or enter the church, are the ones who take it seriously. My older brother Edwin and I are just following along. We won't become farmers anyway, so it doesn't really matter.

However, the star-talented people are truly amazing. I wonder how they can cut so cleanly with a properly sharpened large scythe. Moreover, I don't think it's just my imagination that they can cut even outside the scythe's range. I remember my eldest sister Ludmila saying she was given a star for farming, so she can probably cut like my father and mother. Talent is really unfair.

Still, I am amazed at how my father and mother use their 'Extend Space.' The way they store the wheat in 'Extend Space' the moment they cut it is truly impressive. They use 'Extend Space' more freely than I do. It almost seems like they are saying, "Don't underestimate farmers" with their backs. Recently, I have been getting smoother at putting things in and out without using my hands, but I was getting a bit too confident. I still haven't reached their level.

By the way, it feels like it's been a while since we last collected. It hasn't rained much recently. It seems like the sky has been clear to make it easier for farmers to harvest, as if the gods are manipulating the weather. Thanks to that, the collection has been progressing smoothly. Thank you.

While admiring the farmers' talent, which can harvest more than a tenth of the farmland, which is probably the size of seven or eight Tokyo Domes, by noon, I look around at the other fields. Everywhere is in the midst of the harvest, but there is one place that is unusually fast. It's probably the difference in talent. They must have been given five or six stars for farming. The efficiency is so high that even a combine harvester would be envious. Machinery is not popular.

In the afternoon, my sister Ludmila takes over from my mother to harvest. Her efficiency is about one-fifth or one-sixth of my mother's. My father speeds up to make up for it, but the speed is unbelievable. I chase after him, slightly jogging, as he cuts the wheat. Ludmila is still not used to swinging the large scythe, so she doesn't make much progress. She also relies on my mother for the collection. She can't use 'Extend Space' in conjunction yet. She can use 'Extend Space' itself, but she can't bring it out into the air like me, nor can she collect things from a slightly distant place by sucking them in. This time, she seems to be focusing on practicing the scythe swing.

However, when Ludmila learned to use 'Extend Space,' there was a bit of a commotion in the family. We all wanted to use it. We each got a lesson, saying that we were all studying properly. I also got a lesson, just in case, as I can't use it either. Is everyone taught the same way? They held both hands and activated 'Extend Space' between them. Someone must have proposed this method.

Before we knew it, the harvest was over by evening. There is still a lot of wheat left in the fields, but the men are busy making ale. They are a group who want to drink as much as possible under the guise of making good use of the leftover wheat from last year. It's probably a privilege of farmers. I don't know about the town, but in the village, you can only drink during the winter. It's not that it's a rare item. If you drink slowly, you can have it all year round, but it's gone in no time during the New Year's festival. Most of the harvested wheat is sold. We only keep enough for taxes, food, and a little extra. We basically convert the rest into money. Then we buy salt. The rest is saved for scythe maintenance and to support children who are starting out on their own. Farmers are specialized in food.

Tonight's dinner is a wheat porridge with more grains than usual. It's also full of mushrooms. There's also a salad of grilled vegetables and grilled mushrooms. We basically eat cooked food. Raw food is scary. It has become normal to have mushrooms on the table. They are delicious and filling, so it's all good. It seems that only hunter families eat mushrooms. If you let children who are below the level of helpers pick mushrooms, everyone's table would be more abundant. ...I might be a rare case, but I think so.

After a full meal and at night, Ludmila, who is proud of her 'Extend Space,' and her siblings who are practicing. I also join in the training to bring things out into the air. This has become routine. We no longer need to do it secretly. ...Well, I'm still not supposed to be able to use it. After practicing and getting tired, we all go to bed soundly.

In the morning, after having the usual breakfast and doing the usual work, we go to the church to pray. I am no longer assigned to gleaning. At that time, I check if there is an alchemist merchant. This is the season when adventurers are also numerous, but the number of merchants increases as well. They are buying wheat. It's up to the farmers to decide which merchant to sell to, so many merchants try to improve their appearance to raise their impression. It might be a futile effort unless they are really bad, but it might make a difference.

There doesn't seem to be an alchemist merchant. There are no covered wagons, and there are no golem symbols. Moreover, there are still few other merchants. They are probably planning to go around other villages after the harvest. On the other hand, the ones trying to buy here are probably planning to move on to the next village after this one is done. The competition for buying wheat is intense during this season. Wheat is a sure-selling commodity. It's a popular trade item along with salt. They are probably licking their lips, thinking about which villages to visit next.

Well, if there is no alchemist merchant, it's not my concern. I'll go to the church to pray and then head to the forest for collection. I plan to work hard on collection today. So please give me a star for the talent of an alchemist. ...Okay, let's go to the forest.

I am collecting in the depths of the forest to avoid other adventurers. It's troublesome to be bothered, and it's a waste of time to deal with incompetent adventurers. The information from adventurers who don't even use preservation bottles is limited. I really want information from adventurers. I want information about other magical realms and sacred grounds, where to sell materials, and the alchemical items they use. But it's hard to imagine that such information is held by incompetent adventurers. That's why I stay deep in the forest to avoid being bothered, and if I am bothered, I threaten and retreat deeper.

However, the adventurer who approached me this time was a bit, no, quite different from the usual incompetent ones.

"Hey, kid, you're playing pretty deep, but are you okay with the way back? It's getting dark soon."

A young man, probably in his late twenties, was worried about the time. I was thinking it was about time to head back, but it was the first time someone had called out to me at such a moment. I held up a preservation bottle filled with water to threaten him, and he looked surprised but nodded in admiration.

"Oh! A preservation bottle filled with water. So you're a 'serious' colleague. Don't be on guard. I'm the same."

He then showed me a preservation bottle filled with water, and it even contained a mica mushroom. ...He seems to be a decent adventurer. I relaxed my guard and prepared to talk. I wanted to connect with a competent adventurer.

"What do you need?"

"Hey, I was just worried if you'd be okay getting back since you came this far. I know the direction, so I have no problem getting back, but I can't ignore a lost person. I thought you might be having trouble being here so close to sunset, but... it seems I was wrong."

"Yes, that's right. I'm not lost. I was just about to wrap up the collection when you called out, so I was on guard. Sorry."

"Oh, that's fine. If you're not lost, that's good. ...So, how are you getting back?"

"...I use this to get back."

"Is it a magic item? Or an alchemical item?"

"It's an alchemical item. It's called a directional magic stone necklace. When I channel magic power, the magic stone in the paired necklace moves. My mother, who is at home, has the other one."

"I see. So there are items like that. ...Can it be made with materials from this forest?"

"Yes, for me, it was made with three mica mushrooms or yellow chime mushrooms and two earth dragon claw herbs."

"...All of these can be collected in this forest. You seem to be a good adventurer, kid. You know a lot about materials. And there is an alchemist in this village."

"Thank you. But I want to become an alchemist... The alchemist is at the edge of the village, on the west side."

"I see. I want one of those necklaces, so I'll go and have it made soon. ...It's getting dark. Let's talk while we walk."

He said that and channeled magic power into the necklace, heading slightly west of the necklace's direction, while I looked at the item he was holding. What is that?

"Sorry, what is that in your hand?"

"This? This is a magic mechanical clock, an alchemical item. It's a device that measures time from the magic essence that fills the world. It's accurate, so it's convenient in places like sacred grounds or magical realms where it's hard to tell the time. The materials are earth attribute and non-earth attribute items, and magic mushrooms. I've forgotten the exact numbers, but you can definitely make it with materials from this forest."

I see. I can ask Judy for the exact materials. If I can make it, I'll have her do it. I've been relying on my sense of time, so it's just a matter of the sun disappearing between the trees to know it's time to go home. If there's an alchemical item that can accurately measure time, I definitely want to have it made.

"Got it. I'll ask the alchemist."

"Yeah, you should. Accurate time is appreciated by adventurers and alchemists alike. I thought the same, and I was taught by senior adventurers."

"...Um, I'm prepared for criticism, but why do so many adventurers not even know about the existence of preservation bottles?"

"...Well, the adventurer guild is also limiting information, but the reason is that many adventurers don't listen to the guild or senior adventurers. The first hurdle is learning to read and write. ...It's the guild's policy that giving information to those who can't even do that is a waste. I worked hard to learn to read and write and to do calculations. Then the guild explained the situation to me. They told me to tell other adventurers to learn to read and write first. It might be harsh, but those who don't understand the value of words and information won't succeed. ...Unless they plan to live by combat alone in the magical realms."

I see, so the adventurer guild has such a policy. They are probably trying to avoid passing on information orally. Even the illustrated guide to York's forest that Judy showed me is meaningless if you can't read. But if you can read, it becomes a treasure. The meaning and value of words are significant. In a world where stars determine talent, there are many things you can do by honing your reading skills, regardless of stars.

"Well, it's about time to reach the forest exit. See you, kid. Leave the incompetent adventurers alone. It's meaningless unless they realize it themselves. That's the guild's policy. ...Sorry for the complicated talk. If it's too difficult, just forget it. You'll understand when the time comes."

He ran out of the forest, pretending not to have been with me. He probably wants to maintain the image of a successful adventurer. ...Adventurers who don't think about why they are successful won't succeed, of course. I want to become an alchemist, so I listened to Judy and worked hard. I have no reason to share profitable information with those who don't work hard. I might share a little with Edwin, starting with reading and writing. What I said seems to have been somewhat correct.

I left the forest, prayed a little later than usual, went home, did my usual work, had dinner, practiced 'Extend Space' with everyone, and went to bed. There were no special results today.

In the morning, I woke up from the usual messy bed, scooped water from the water jug into a bucket to wash my face. I don't know what my face looks like in detail, but the face reflected in the water is at least not ugly. If asked if I'm handsome, I can't say for sure, but I think my face is somewhat well-featured. Well, in this world, it's not about looks but about talent.

If you are a farmer, you are very popular if you have stars for farming talent. The most popular man in this village is a small, plump, lovable, herbivorous man, but he was given six stars for farming talent. Having six stars is almost impossible for anyone other than a farmer, but it's the best talent for a farmer's successor. He was apparently asked by at least five families if their daughters could marry him. And the popularity of women is also about talent. It's hard for a farmer to ask for a daughter's hand in marriage unless she has stars for farming talent. It's also hard to propose. Ludmila, apparently, has been given the right talent for farming. According to what I heard, she has two stars. My father has three stars, and my mother has two stars.

I also learned that talent can be inherited to some extent. It seems that the eldest son and daughter have a very high chance of having the same level of talent as their parents. I don't know if it's true, but in this village, it has never happened that the eldest son or daughter of a farmer was not born with farming talent. Well, it's just village lore, so it might not be true, but considering that the number of farmers hasn't decreased, it's probably somewhat true.

Moreover, I learned that the second son and daughter and below have almost no chance of inheriting talent. I don't know why. Both my father and mother are the eldest children of farmers. Occasionally, the second daughter can inherit farming talent, but it's almost impossible for the second son to be born with farming talent. It's good news for me, as it opens up the path to becoming an alchemist. Talent is mysterious.

It's understandable that looks can be inherited, but it's confusing whether talent can be inherited or not. After all, talent is given for the first time during the star-giving ceremony, so how can it be the same as the parents? If it's the gods' will, that's the end of it, but it's hard to accept. But I want to become an alchemist, so please, gods, give me talent. I beg you.

While pondering the unfairness of talent, I straightened out my bedhead. It's easy to fix since I don't have curly hair, but it's a hassle when it's a mess in the morning. It's getting a bit chilly this time of year, so I can't just pour water on myself. I try to make my hair look decent. In a world without hair treatments, it's frustrating when your hair gets frizzy.

After washing my face, I just sit at the table. The eldest and second daughters help with cooking, and the men are told to stay out of the way. In this world, the rules are set by the mother. If she says you're in the way, you have to get out of there.

Today, as usual, I fill up on a simple menu of wheat porridge, grilled vegetables, and grilled mushrooms. After finishing my work of handling manure, we all go to the church together for morning prayers. After the prayers, my siblings go to study with their friends. Ah, Ludmila and Charles are back to gleaning. I, on the other hand, move directly to Judy Noa. At first, I was allowed to study with them, but I was called unfair and kicked out early, so I returned to my collection life. Today, I need to order more preservation bottles and request the making of a magic mechanical clock. Then I'll sell the mica mushrooms as usual. After that, it's back to collection, so let's get going. I open the shop door and say the usual greeting.

"Excuse me."

"Wait a moment!"

I get the usual response and head to my usual seat. This chair is a bit low, but it's just the right height for me to climb up. It's a kind chair for a small kid. After a while, Judy comes out from the back.

"What is it? More bottles? Isn't it a bit early