In a sea of dead trees.
A boy of about fifteen years old, dressed in medieval European-style villager attire, was looking around speechlessly. He seemed unfamiliar with everything.
"Unexpectedly, as a silver-medal instructor from a well-known time-traveler training institution with seven years of experience, I would one day time travel myself."
The young man sighed quietly.
Well, the above is just a self-compliment.
The young man's name is Takumi.
In his previous life, he was an internet writer from China who barely earned an average salary. He had written so many time-travel novels that he often joked about being an instructor for time travelers.
The reason he calls it a past life is that Takumi has just awakened his memories of Earth.
Upon sorting these memories, Takumi discovered he had already traveled through time once.
He had become the protagonist of the series "Farming Life in Another World", Hiraku Machio.
However, while living as Hiraku Machio, Takumi's memories had not yet awakened.
Now marks the beginning of the plot.
Hiraku Machio died in a hospital bed, and a God appeared to offer compensation, letting him be reborn in another world at the earliest possible time.
Something went wrong during that compensation, or perhaps the process triggered something that finally awakened Takumi's consciousness.
To be honest, being the protagonist of "Farming Life in Another World" is something Takumi is quite satisfied with. It is a relaxing story where the protagonist is essentially invincible and has a large harem. It is more comfortable than being an emperor since there are no government affairs to manage, and his subordinates are loyal and proactive.
Takumi can live a happy life just by following the original plot, though he will certainly avoid some of the questionable choices made in the original work.
Although he has the body of Hiraku Machio, the original Takumi is now the one in control.
As for the previous consciousness of Hiraku Machio, it has faded. To Takumi, those memories are like a movie he watched, having little impact on his current self.
Takumi is familiar with the settings of this world, specifically his two compensatory abilities: "Healthy Body" and the "Universal Agricultural Tool".
He understands the "Healthy Body" ability well. It is almost like a perpetual motion machine. It grants immunity to injuries and viruses, provides super recovery, allows him to grow stronger automatically, and offers an unlimited lifespan.
Unlike the original story, Takumi would never worry about an insufficient food supply or feel the need to bring in more men for labor.
If things get difficult, he will simply work harder. His harem consists of immortal species with long lifespans anyway, so there is no rush. Why be anxious about descendants when you are immortal?
The only thing that dissatisfies Takumi is the second gift. The "Universal Agricultural Tool" is somewhat limited in function. It would be more convenient if it could turn into any tool, not just agricultural ones.
Looking at the hoe in his hand, Takumi shrugged as he failed to turn it into gloves. He didn't complain much, as the power was already finalized. He couldn't exactly return it to God. Even if he tried, the gods usually maintain a policy of non-interference.
He also recalled how he was mistakenly treated as a girl by that God in the initial process. Unlike the indifferent Hiraku Machio from the original work, Takumi, coming from a Chinese background, found that mistake quite off-putting. If he had woken up earlier, he would have demanded compensation for mental damages.
Fortunately, he is now reborn with a reshaped body. He now belongs to a race of this world, which makes him feel more comfortable.
Transforming the tool into a wood-pulling hook, Takumi used the increased strength it provided to climb a nearby tree and survey the sea of trees.
"Let me see... where is the great tree in the center?"
Knowing the plot, Takumi acted with purpose. He did not want to waste time and sought a place to settle immediately.
He wanted to find the same settlement as the original work because that is where he would meet his first partners: the inferno wolves, Kuro and Yuki.
Additionally, the giant demon spider Zabuton should be living nearby. Because of Zabuton's presence as a high-level monster, other dangerous creatures do not dare approach the central tree.
In the Forest of Death, only that central point is safe enough for Takumi to establish a village. Anywhere else would result in territorial conflicts with high-level monsters.
More importantly, there is a river five kilometers west of that tree. Having a large water source is essential for wilderness development.
Based on everything Takumi knows, the central tree is the best location in the Forest of Death.
Soon, Takumi spotted the conspicuous tree standing taller than the rest of the woods.
He returned to the ground and conjured a plow.
Here, the difference between Takumi and Hiraku Machio becomes clear.
The original Hiraku was a bit clueless about agriculture, as his knowledge mostly came from variety shows.
In contrast, Takumi comes from a Chinese family where farming skills are almost genetic. He was raised by his grandparents in the countryside and has a solid background in farming.
Furthermore, as a former online writer, Takumi had to research various topics to avoid making mistakes in his stories. He has a strong ability to learn and apply practical skills.
He is confident he can do better than the original protagonist.
The universal agricultural tool consumes a massive amount of stamina, which would drain an ordinary person in minutes.
However, with his "Healthy Body", the consumption actually stimulates his recovery. Takumi remained at full strength without feeling tired.
He pulled the plow and ran until he reached the base of the great tree.
"My new life begins here."
Takumi looked around and sighed before rolling up his sleeves to begin his exploration of this new world!