The Life of a Returned Genius Farmer - Chapter 11

Chapter 11: The Mediator – Part 1

[Translation By Divinity]

“I can’t just accept something this valuable for free,” Lee Han insisted.

“Haha. It’s really okay,” Shredder reassured him.

Shredder adamantly refused any compensation, but Lee Han couldn’t let him leave empty-handed. After a moment of thought, he nodded.

“Let’s head back.”

“Alright.”

They had collected some cement on their journey, but the return trip was swift. As soon as they arrived at the base, Lee Han gestured towards his supplies.

“Do you need anything? Feel free to take whatever you want.”

“Hmm…” Shredder pondered. “Can you make me something like that bowl, but bigger?”

“Bowl? You mean this?”

“Yes. I’d like one a bit larger than that. Most of the ones I have are cracked or broken.”

“I’ll make one for you to take the next time you visit.”

“Don’t feel pressured. Take your time.”

Shredder grinned and turned, then pointed towards the field with a sly tone.

“Perhaps you should focus more on your farming.”

“I’m already focused on it, so don’t worry.”

“That’s good to hear. Well, I’ll be going then.”

Shredder raised a hand in farewell and, with his characteristic speed, sprinted off into the distance.

Once he was out of sight, Lee Han examined the Holy Nail.

“Are you planning to make something with that, nya?” Seolmyeong asked.

“Not right now… First, I need to make some proper pottery.”

Lee Han grabbed the saw and stone axe and headed into the forest. He couldn’t just make crude pottery after receiving such a valuable gift.

“What are you planning to make, nya?” Seolmyeong inquired, curious as always.

“I’m thinking of making a potter’s wheel. And Seolmyeong, I need your help with this.”

“What kind of help, nya?”

“I need you to run on the wheel to turn it.”

Lee Han drew a diagram on the ground, illustrating a circular platform with a support structure underneath and a cat running on top. He grinned at Seolmyeong.

“You’ll have to run hard. Can you handle it?”

“That’s no problem for me, nya!” Seolmyeong declared confidently.

“Great. I’ll make you lots of delicious food when we’re done.”

The deal was sealed.

Lee Han petted Seolmyeong affectionately, then selected a suitable tree and felled it with his axe. He used the saw and glass knife to shape the wood, and soon, a potter’s wheel took form.

“Phew. That should do it.”

“Let’s try it out, nya!” Seolmyeong exclaimed, eager to get started.

Lee Han secured the potter’s wheel in place and brought over some clay suitable for throwing. He moistened the clay and centered it on the wheel.

“Woo nya nya nya nya!!”

Seolmyeong jumped onto the wheel and started running, spinning it rapidly.

Using the centrifugal force, Lee Han quickly shaped the clay into a pot.

“Done.”

Thanks to the potter’s wheel, it didn’t take long to make one.

As Lee Han finished shaping a decent-looking pot, Seolmyeong stopped running and wagged its tail proudly.

“Nya? You’re done already?!”

“Aren’t you tired?”

“This is nothing, nya!” Seolmyeong declared, brimming with energy.

Seolmyeong didn’t seem tired at all. Perhaps he could make one more pot.

He set the finished pot aside and started working on another one, this time a large one suitable for the beastfolk.

“Nyaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaang!” Seolmyeong let out a spirited cry as it resumed its run, spinning the wheel even faster.

Thanks to its speed, Lee Han quickly shaped the pot. When it was the right size and shape, Seolmyeong hopped off the wheel, looking slightly winded. Lee Han set the pot aside and spoke to his feline companion.

“If I make a few more like this, we can trade with them, right?”

“It feels like something is getting caught while I’m running, nya” Seolmyeong observed, tilting his head.

“Should I apply more oil to the axle?” Lee Han wondered aloud. “Anyway, let’s improve it later. Or should I try making it with the Crafting skill?”

Lee Han disassembled the potter’s wheel and focused on his Crafting skill.

[Well-made Potter’s Wheel]

[A manual potter’s wheel made of wood. Used for making pottery.]

[Durability increased due to the well-made effect.]

[Well-made effect increases the grade of the crafted item.]

[Crafting Difficulty: ☆☆]

[Dexterity has increased.]

“Oh, it’s done.”

A well-made item with a bonus effect!

Lee Han smiled with satisfaction as he examined the potter’s wheel. Meanwhile, Seolmyeong pointed to the pots that were starting to dry.

“Are you going to bisque-fire them right away, nya?”

“Yes, and let’s eat while we’re at it.”

“Nya! I agree!!” Seolmyeong cheered at the mention of food, and they had a simple dinner together.

By the time they finished eating and washing the dishes, the fire in the kiln had started to die down. Lee Han checked the pots inside. The bisque-fired pots were baked perfectly.

Relieved that there were no cracks or fissures and that they were neatly made, Lee Han applied the glaze and put them back in the kiln.

“I’m excited, nya! If it fails, won’t they just break?”

“Then we’ll just have to make them again. Let’s go to bed early today. We need to go to the field early tomorrow morning.”

“Nyaaan~. Good night, nya~!”

The next day.

When the fire in the kiln had died out, Lee Han woke up and immediately checked the kiln.

“Oh…”

[Porcelain]

[Porcelain made using a potter’s wheel. It is glazed, increasing its water resistance and durability. Its neat shape greatly increases its value as a bowl.]

[Increases all stats for one day upon use.]

[Increases the lowest skill level for one day upon use.]

[Increases the highest skill level for one day upon use.]

[Crafting Difficulty: ☆☆☆]

[Handcraft level has increased.]

[Acquired Porcelain Crafting skill.]

“Huh?”

Lee Han couldn’t hide his surprise at the pure white bowls and the message window floating above them. He hadn’t expected them to be made so neatly.

“This is good stuff, nya!” Seolmyeong exclaimed.

“Indeed.”

“Are you going to give these away, nya?”

“Of course. I made them to give away.”

Lee Han put the newly made porcelain inside his base and stroked Seolmyeong.

“We made something good because we worked together. I’ll be counting on you next time too.”

“You can count on me, nya!!”

“What’s got you so excited in the morning?!”

It was Jilpung’s sudden voice.

Jilpung, who had come all the way here with a sack, looked at Lee Han and Seolmyeong holding hands and seemed curious.

“Welcome. What brings you here so early in the morning?”

“Ah, I came to give you this.”

Jilpung opened the sack. Inside was a fresh-looking head of cabbage.

“It’s Vitality Cabbage, nya!”

“What’s Vitality Cabbage again?”

“It’s cabbage that gives you energy when you eat it! Its leaves contain the power of spirits, so you can’t pull it out with ordinary strength!”

“Oh, really?”

“It’s not easy to find, and because it gives you vitality when you eat it, it’s very good food for those who are recovering from illness! However, because it boosts your vitality too much, you need the right amount and recipe to use it!”

“That’s right! Vitality Cabbage is also given to sick beastfolk!”

Such good cabbage.

While Lee Han was amazed, Jilpung, who had brought the cabbage, took out small seeds from inside the cabbage leaves.

“These are Vitality Cabbage seeds. I heard humans are good at farming! I’ll give you these, so why don’t you try farming them?”

“Oh… that’s very kind of you.”

“I also heard that you’re growing Honey Sweet Potatoes and Sweet Radishes! Can you share some with us later?”

“Did you hear that from Shredder?”

“Yes!”

Shredder sure gets around.

He didn’t expect him to have connections with the dog beastfolk too.

Lee Han put the Vitality Cabbage seeds aside, and Jilpung, who was looking around the base, admired the newly made porcelain.

“What’s this?!”

“We were just admiring this earlier. Isn’t it cool?”

Lee Han said proudly, and Jilpung widened his eyes and examined the porcelain.

As if he was afraid to even touch it, he only wiggled his fingers and looked around it from nearby, then let out a big sigh and exclaimed in admiration.

“Wow… That’s amazing! No other beastfolk will have a bowl like this!” Jilpung exclaimed, his eyes wide with admiration as he examined the porcelain.

“That’s good to hear,” Lee Han replied. “I made it as a thank-you gift for Shredder, who gave me the Holy Nail.”

Lee Han took out the Holy Nail, and Jilpung examined it, nodding in recognition.

“I can sense a powerful aura from this nail!”

“If you can find something similar, I’ll make one for you too,” Lee Han offered.

“Hehe. I’ll bring you something even better!” Jilpung declared with a confident grin.

“Nya. By the way, did you come to bring the Vitality Cabbage seeds?” Seolmyeong asked, curious.

“Ah, no!” Jilpung exclaimed. “I came to ask for a favor!”

“Do you need something repaired? Or something made?” Lee Han inquired, recalling his previous trip to the minotaur village.

Jilpung shook his head. “There’s a problem between our tribe and another beastfolk tribe!”

“What kind of problem?”

“It’s about land. They keep intruding on our territory, and we’re on the brink of war. If you’re willing, could you go and talk to them?”

“Why don’t you talk to them yourselves?”

“They’re monkey beastfolk, and their language is different from ours.”

“Beastfolk have different languages?” Lee Han asked, surprised.

“It happens sometimes, nya!” Seolmyeong explained. “You have the Conversation skill, so you can talk to other races, but beastfolk don’t have that skill!”

“Really?”

“Yes, nya! The Conversation skill almost exclusively manifests in humans! Of course, I, being an exceptional and extraordinary cat, also have it!” Seolmyeong boasted, puffing out his chest.

“I see…”

If that was the case, it was understandable why they were asking for his help. After all, resolving conflicts through dialogue was always preferable to resorting to violence.

“If it’s that kind of problem, I’ll help,” Lee Han agreed.

“Thank you!” Jilpung exclaimed. “Then let’s go to our village first!”

“Ah, I need to prepare for today’s farming,” Lee Han said. “Can you wait a bit?”

“Sure! Is there anything I can help with?!”

The beastfolk’s strength would certainly be useful, but the only task at hand was weeding. Lee Han shook his head.

Jilpung, seemingly understanding, headed towards the river. “Then I’ll catch some fish for you!”

“Thanks. See you later then.”

After parting with Jilpung, Lee Han and Seolmyeong went straight to the field. The recent good weather had encouraged weed growth.

They spent some time diligently pulling out weeds and tidying up the area. After a while, Lee Han turned to Seolmyeong, who was carrying weeds in its mouth.

“What are the monkey beastfolk like?”

“Nyaang? What do you mean?”

“Are they aggressive or anything like that?”

“Nya… not particularly. If we can communicate, we should be able to reason with them!”

“That’s a relief.”

Dealing with an unreasonable tribe would be problematic, even with the ability to communicate. Seolmyeong’s words reassured Lee Han.

“Well, I think we’re almost done here. Shall we go?”