Morning came too quickly.
Ikenna stirred from under the tree as a warm shaft of sunlight struck his eyelids. Professor the mule was already awake, chewing noisily on a nearby patch of grass with the same energy Ikenna had once seen in his hungriest undergrads.
He sat up, stretching his arms until his back popped. "Ow... okay, that's new." Sleeping on roots was a poor man's chiropractor.
His eyes fell on the now-vibrant spirit rice sprouts. The once-dull plot shimmered with green energy, like life itself pulsed beneath the surface. The small seedlings, though barely six inches tall, gave off a warm, calming aura.
Daily Progress Report:
Spirit Rice Growth: 18%
Fertility Level: Low
Water Supply: Insufficient
Recommendation: Build a basic irrigation system
Ikenna groaned. "Oh, right. Farming isn't magic. You need water."
The scroll pulsed in his hands again, and a new tab opened:
Crafting Unlock: Basic Infrastructure
New Blueprint: [Hand-Dug Irrigation Ditch]
Materials Needed:
– Shovel (Wooden or Higher)
– Stamina (80%)
– Target Source: Nearby Stream
He looked around. "And where exactly do I find a stream?"
Professor, in a rare moment of usefulness, snorted and began walking west. Ikenna blinked. "You actually understood me?"
The mule paused, looked back, and snorted again, louder this time.
"...I'll take that as a yes."
They followed a narrow trail down a gentle slope. Birds flew overhead, and the sun climbed steadily in the sky. After twenty minutes of walking, they reached a shallow brook. The water was clear, fresh, and cold to the touch.
A small grove of wild herbs grew nearby—mint, bitterleaf, and what looked suspiciously like glowing ginger root. His system pinged:
Wild Spirit Herbs Identified
Collecting will grant alchemy ingredients
Warning: Nearby creature presence detected
He froze.
From the tall grass, a rustling sound emerged. Then another.
Two creatures bounded into view—rabbit-like, but the size of goats. Their ears were long and moss-covered, their eyes golden and alert.
[Spirit Hare – Grade F+]
Neutral unless provoked. Known to chew crops.
"They're kinda cute," Ikenna whispered.
Then one of the hares let out a long, echoing chirrup, and a third, much larger rabbit appeared behind them. This one had a leafy crown and horns.
[Spirit Hare Matron – Grade D]
Passive unless protecting young or territory.
"Oh come on."
The matron took a step forward, nose twitching. Professor tensed.
"Easy," Ikenna muttered. He reached slowly for his scroll.
Scroll Activated: Soil Pacification Protocol
Select Area?
▢ Calm Creatures Within 3-Meter Radius
▢ Fertilize Nearby Plants
▢ Reveal Underground Resources
He mentally selected Calm Creatures.
The scroll shimmered, then released a gentle wave of green energy that rolled over the hilly clearing. The hares immediately relaxed, ears drooping as they nibbled at roots again. Even the matron retreated peacefully.
"System," he whispered, "you're my favorite weird AI."
You're welcome, Host.
He laughed quietly. It felt good—laughing. Too good, maybe.
Back at the plot, he used the shovel gifted through a new system quest and began digging trenches from the base of the hill where the stream curved.
It was brutal work.
His hands blistered. Sweat soaked through his tunic. But with each shove of soil, the earth began to remember something it had long forgotten—care.
Hours passed before he finally connected the last channel.
Water trickled into the dry land, flowing smoothly through the furrows. The rice sprouts reacted instantly, their green hue deepening. The field pulsed once with soft light.
Irrigation Constructed Successfully
Soil Hydration: Moderate
Growth Rate Increased +10%
Stamina Depleted: 7% remaining
Ikenna collapsed beside Professor, staring up at the sky. "I used to give lectures about sustainable agriculture. Now I am sustainable agriculture."
Professor, without missing a beat, let out a satisfied snort and lay beside him.
They watched as a few of the villagers passed by the path nearby, whispering and pointing.
Ikenna hadn't met any locals yet—not properly. His plot of land lay at the very edge of their hamlet, more like a forgotten wasteland than farmland.
But now... it was changing.
So was he.
That evening, as the last rays of sun dipped beyond the hills, Ikenna sat on a flat rock, hands muddy, feet sore, and heart oddly full.
The scroll hovered in front of him again.
Daily Summary:
– Field Hydrated
– Spirit Rice Progress: 27%
– 2 Spirit Hares befriended (temporary)
– Spirit Hare Matron: Neutral toward you
New Quest Unlocked:
Title Quest – "The One Who Cultivates Kindness"
Objective: Feed or shelter 3 spirit creatures in your land.
Reward: Beast Bonding Rope, Animal Stable Blueprint
Ikenna chuckled. "Feed them? I'm not running a wildlife sanctuary…"
But even as he said it, he noticed one of the spirit hares from earlier watching him from the ridge. It tilted its head and bounded away into the woods.
Tomorrow, he'd forage extra roots. Maybe even share.
He had time now. A second life.
And the land—like him—was finally waking up.