Into the healing farming game - CH 32

46th Day of Spring

Pop.

Pop.

I pick up an axe and cut down a tree. Logging, which has now become such an effortless task, feels new. It’s proof that my body has become healthy.

Beads of sweat form on my forehead. Following my heightened senses, I wipe it away with my hand before it flows down my cheeks and onto my chin.

The sunlight is stinging. The warmth marking the end of spring is giving way to heat. Summer is coming.

I continue drinking the pollen that scatters around and do not stop cutting with the axe. Only the twisted wood lying on the ground recognizes my patient efforts.

When I feel a little short of breath, I take a short break. Once I catch my breath, I’ll have the strength to work again.

There was a time when I envied the body of a game protagonist who was almost superhuman. Now, I have become that kind of person.

I glance at the bag and count the number of pieces of wood I have collected.

1,100 pieces. It’s the sum of what I had accumulated in the past and what I have worked hard to collect now.

The number to be collected in the future is 1,900. A total of 3,500 trees are needed.

This isn’t the end. Musk Melon. To consistently grow melons for my great gold supplier and very grateful business partner, I need to restore the greenhouse. Due to the nature of spring crops, which can only be grown in spring, more melons cannot be grown in the summer. Surviving on previously harvested crops is only a temporary solution.

Ultimately, to continue trading, melons must be produced consistently. An environment where crops can be harvested continuously. A greenhouse plays that role. A place where crops can be grown regardless of the season.

It’s not urgent right now, but at some point, the greenhouse will definitely need to be restored. To do this, more trees are needed, and as many as 5,000 trees are required to restore the greenhouse. I don’t know how much wood they are consuming because of the scale of restoration, but it is so necessary that all I can do is pick up an axe and cut down the tree.

“Huh.”

I settle into the chair Anne gave me as a gift and look out over the endless horizon of the forest.

If I cut down all these trees, how many will I get? One look at my hand. A tree at a time. I glance at the hatchet and sigh heavily.

Mining was a side income, but logging was a task comparable to planting real seeds. Except for the level of logging going up, there was really nothing to be gained. Considering that seeds yield gold in the future. Considering that logging gives us trees.

Okay. It was clear that the two were almost equally boring tasks.

Is there any magic that automatically cuts down trees? I think about that for a moment and then go back to work. In the end, all I need is consistent stamina and sincerity.

The sound of an axe fills the quiet forest. I immerse myself in my work, surrendering to the noise that crackles and rings regularly. Little by little, I ignore the signs of my body slowly getting tired and focus on cutting down trees. As my equipment and body improve, logging becomes a task worth doing.

The sun hides, and the heated earth slowly cools down. The sky has already turned gray, losing its bright blue color. In the dark sky, only the twinkling stars and golden moon witness my work.

“I was wondering who had overturned the forest.”

Someone appears in the darkness. It happens when I’m taking a short break in my chair.

“So, it was you?”

“Uh… Hi.”

“Hi! Were you working late?”

It’s Anne who approached with a lively appearance. She comes towards me with flowing blonde hair that shines brightly even in the dark. Strangely, her steps seem fast.

“I need a lot of wood.”

“It reminds me of the first time I met you.”

She casually flops down next to me, covered in sweat. Then, she indifferently invades the distance where her skin is almost touching mine and looks up at my face.

“That’s right. It was like this back then, right?”

“You were lying down that time. I thought you were going to die as soon as you moved in.”

“It was hard.”

“Now?”

“It’s hard, but not so hard that I’d die.”

“It’s thanks to me, right?”

“Huh?”

Anne laughs bitterly. Her face, half hidden in the darkness and half illuminated by the moonlight, casts a faint shadow.

“You did…?”

“No.”

Anne’s finger touches my lips.

“You have to say clearly, ‘It’s all thanks to me.’ What if I just mumble that it was like that?”

Her fox-like appearance makes me burst into laughter. Anne’s eyes widen as she hears the sound of wind escaping from my mouth.

“Yes. It’s thanks to you.”

“Heh, right?”

“Don’t be too clingy. I’m sweating a lot and it’ll stink.”

As she says that, Anne moves a little closer to me. Before, it was a distance that could be measured, but now it’s close enough to feel each other’s breath. Although they are not face-to-face, the distance is such that their shoulders are touching.

“We sleep together. Isn’t this okay?”

Anne’s expression shows a hint of playfulness. Her crooked eyes and the way the corners of her mouth twitch as she smiles. Moreover, even the comment she made seems full of playful intentions.

“Yeah, but. Hmm.”

“Hehe.”

“I don’t mind if you don’t mind.”

“Really? I don’t care.”

Her clothes, lightly touching mine. The flowing fabric brushes against my sagging garments. I guess she really doesn’t care. Or maybe, even though she is aware, she is intentionally not paying attention.

There is a bit of silence. I take slow breaths to help her relax, but Anne doesn’t know what to think. Before I know it, she’s tilting her head slightly towards me, quietly closing her mouth. It must be uncomfortable.

“Thank you.”

“Huh?”

“For when the lightning struck. I feel like I didn’t say this.”

“It’s okay. You too for me…”

“It was a trauma.”

Anne interrupts, cutting me off. It seems she’s about to say something, but she quietly closes her mouth.

“It was when I was young.”

“Huh.”

“It was raining and lightning was hitting. The sound of thunder was unusually loud.”

Anne’s breathing is irregular. She seems to have a hard time just saying those words.

“It’s just that I was a little unlucky. Yeah, my parents disappeared like that. They left me like that.”

“…”

“I just waited. On that rainy and stormy day. I thought they would come back with the sound of thunder. And I continued like that, day after day.”

Anne looks at my face. There is moisture around her eyes. Before the droplets of sadness begin to form and fall, my hand naturally moves to the corner of her eyes.

“When I was young, I was scared. Something bad always happened on those days. I lost things, got hurt, or they disappeared.”

Wiping away transparent tears, her voice, tinged with sadness, continues, trembling.

“Rainy days were the worst. Always. Always. Even more so when lightning struck. But I tried to live strong. When I meet my parents one day, I want to tell them that I, whom you abandoned, grew up so well.”

“You grew up wonderfully.”

Anne bursts into tears and laughs.

“You’re still afraid of lightning, but you grew up well, right?”

“That’s how you became my lifesaver. You grew up so well that no one can say anything.”

“Right?”

“Yes.”

“Yes. Yes.”

Anne purses her lips. She wants to say something more, but she doesn’t seem to be able to say anything.

“You should shed tears, too”

“What?”

“You sweat. I cry.”

“Were you paying attention?”

“I think it’s my thoughtfulness.”

I end up laughing at that absurd logic.

It’s quirky but bold. Honest and attractive.

Isn’t this an expression that reveals Anne’s personality very well?

“It’s a little embarrassing.”

“What?”

“Just something like this. I mustered up some courage. How did it look?”

I feel a strange pulsation from the skin that touches Anne. Is this also derived from a darker and sharper sense? That pounding wave. The sign of it gradually growing faster is clearly conveyed to me.

“That’s cool. It’s not common for people to overcome their past.”

“I haven’t gotten over it yet.”

“Facing it means being ready to overcome it. Just like you said to me.”

I look straight into Anne’s eyes. Her eyes shake slightly.

I think that’s what sharing stories means. It’s small, but it means I’m ready to take out what’s on my mind and face it. It doesn’t matter whether it’s embarrassing, scary, or whatever. Bringing it out is meaningful in itself.

“Then you know.”

“Huh?”

“I’m still scared. I think I’ll continue to be scared.”

Anne hesitates and hesitates to speak.

“Huh.”

“Therefore…”

Is it because it’s dark? Anne’s cheeks turn bright red. I can’t tell if it’s red from crying or not.

“When lightning strikes.”

“Huh.”

“Can we continue to do that in the future?”

“Do you want me to come home?”

“Aiyah! Not that. Just…Yeah.”

Anne flails her limbs feebly. Maybe she doesn’t really like my answer?

“Uh… Yes. Okay, let’s start with that.”

“You’re saying we’ll see each other every night when lightning strikes?”

“Hmph. When you say that, you seem a little stiff.”

“They said it was scary.”

“It’s scary, but… Yes, thank you. It’s thanks to you. Thanks to you, I was able to sleep comfortably on a day when there was lightning. My gratitude is truly, truly sincere.”

“Thank goodness.”

Anne quietly got up from her seat. The warmth that had been touching her slowly moved away.

I looked up at Anne, raising my head from where I had been sitting. Her bright smile was radiant.

“Then I’ll go. I’m not interfering with your work, am I?”

“Well, I was resting. Resting is just as important as working.”

“Okay, I’ll go. Bye!”

“Okay. See you later.”

“Huh!”

Anne left like that. It was really amazing to see her walking in the dark. When you become a villager here, does everyone have bright night vision as a passive skill? Or is it just because I’m used to it and know where all the places are?

I lifted my ax again, finding it fascinating. There was no option to go in early today or anything like that. Only crazy all-night logging awaited me.

I roughly picked up a piece of fish from my bag, ate it, and went back to work.

Drop- Drop-

Only the rhythmic sound of an ax cutting awakened the once silent forest.

44th Day of Spring

Logging had reached beginner level 9. I went up a whopping 3 levels in just one day.

Without any time to be happy about the gap, I grabbed the ax and went to work again. I planted the seeds, watered them. After performing my morning routine like a machine, I picked up my ax and set off for the forest.

This made me feel like a Norse Viking warrior holding an ax. It was a bit ironic that the target of hunting was not wild animals or anything like that, but trees.

I went to learn magic in my spare time. Unfortunately, I did not reach beginner level 1 magic. I was looking forward to it, but I was a little disappointed.

45th Day of Spring

Logging had reached intermediate level 1. A choice popped up, but I didn’t even think about it and chose it because it increased the quantity of trees supplied during logging. It was useless to add anything else to logging.

Pain came, but I overcame it with defense buffs and painkillers. Now, I feel reassured that I can overcome this kind of pain even if it comes at the advanced level.

The work I did today was similar. Digging up trees and digging them up again. The logging finally ended when it reached a point where it became impossible to tell whether the ax was me or I was the ax. As I worked all night long, chopping with the ax, my body never lost its unique scent from the forest. The smell of trees and flowers permeated the air.

There was more wood than expected. With just one more day of work, it was okay to switch to mining and start digging up stones. Of course, tomorrow was day 46. Since it was the last day to plant seeds, the work couldn’t continue any further. Tomorrow was a slightly special day—the last farming day of spring.

46th Day of Spring

Experience and knowledge gently warmed my morning. I felt it yesterday too, but this kind of warmth was always welcome.

Logging, which had risen to intermediate level 2, brought me a refreshing morning. I woke up my mind with a glass of cool water and got out of bed energetically.

Today was going to be a very, very busy day. I might have to plant seeds, plow the fields, and water them all day long. Although such a future awaited me, I secretly felt excited.

When I see things like this, I feel like I quickly adapted to this world in a short period of time. In this world where repetitive labor is the main thing, seeing how I could somehow complete the work without getting tired, I guess this was my calling.

Of course, I don’t forget that I was surrounded by attractive people and received a lot of help. As always, humans are living beings who do not live alone but together.

20,000 seeds. The amount that needed to be completed today.

I didn’t know why, but my hands were soaked with sweat from nervousness. Feeling that slight tremor taking over my hand, I took a deep breath.

The work has just begun.