Day 2 — Something Already Feels Wrong
Ryo woke up to a crunching sound.
crrk… crk…
"…No."
He didn't move.
"…I refuse."
crrk…
"…If something is eating my crops, it can finish the job."
Silence.
Then—
crrk—!
"…Okay, that's getting annoying."
He slowly opened one eye.
And immediately sat up.
"…Hey."
A small, round creature stood in his field.
Brown. Short. Slightly chubby.
Holding one of his crops.
"…That's mine."
The creature froze.
Ryo froze.
They stared at each other.
"…Put it down."
The creature blinked.
Then—
SCUTTLE—!
"…HEY!"
Ryo jumped up—then instantly tripped.
THUD!
"…I hate mornings."
By the time he stood up, the creature was gone.
So was the crop.
"…I just got robbed."
He looked around.
The rest of the field was still full.
Messy. Uneven. Slightly aggressive-looking plants.
"…Okay… still profitable robbery."
— System Reminder —
A faint chime echoed.
Daily Requirement: Sell crops worth 20 Gold
"…Sell?"
"…To who?"
Right on cue—
clink… jingle… creaaak…
"…You've got to be kidding me."
— The Merchant Returns —
A cart rolled down the dirt path.
Bright. Decorative. Suspicious.
"…That is definitely a scam cart."
A man jumped off with energy.
"GOOD MORNING, VALUED CUSTOMER!"
"…No."
"Ah! Still alive! That's always a good sign!"
"…Barely."
"Name's Kiro! Traveling merchant!"
"…You sold me this farm."
"…Technically."
"…You ruined my life."
"…Temporarily."
"…I don't like you."
"…Understandable."
— First Sale —
Ryo tossed a normal crop.
"…This."
Kiro inspected it.
"5 Gold."
"…That's it?"
"Standard rate."
"I suffered for that."
"You didn't."
"…Emotionally, I did."
"…Still 5."
"…Scam."
"…Business."
"…Same thing."
— The Real Money —
Ryo grabbed a glowing crop.
"…What about this?"
Kiro froze.
"…Where did you get that?"
"…My farm."
"…That's concerning."
He leaned closer.
"…I'll give you 50 Gold."
"…WHAT?!"
"Take it or leave it."
"WHY?!"
"…Because it shouldn't exist."
"…That's not comforting!"
— Wallet Update —
Coins dropped into Ryo's hand.
Wallet: 71 Gold
Debt: 1,179 Gold
"…That barely moved."
"…Welcome to debt."
"…I hate this."
— Testing the System —
"…Alright. Let's test."
Kiro leaned back.
"This should be good."
Ryo planted one seed properly.
Nothing.
"…Okay."
Another one, messy.
Still nothing.
"…So it only works when I don't care."
"…Correct."
"…That's stupid."
"…Very."
"…Fine."
Ryo turned around.
"I don't care."
He walked away.
Peeked back.
Nothing.
"…This is humiliating."
He sighed.
Then dropped.
THUD
"…Wake me up when it works."
zzz…
The wind shifted.
whoooosh
The soil cracked.
Plants burst out.
Fast. Crooked. Wrong.
Kiro stared.
"…That's extremely profitable."
— Later —
Ryo woke up.
Looked.
"…OF COURSE."
Trait Activated: Lazy Growth
+22 EXP
Mutated Crops: +2
"…So sleeping is farming."
"…Yes."
"…I hate that."
pop… pop…
"…Okay, this is fine—"
He grabbed a shaking tomato.
"…Why are you vibrating?"
shk… shk…
"…Nope."
He placed it down.
"…You're someone else's problem."
Kiro stepped forward.
"I'll take it."
"…Of course you will."
— Second Sale —
"60 Gold."
"…It went up?"
"…Market."
"…Stop talking."
Ryo stared at the field.
Messy.
Chaotic.
Working.
"…So I just don't try?"
"…Correct."
"…Worst advice ever."
"…Best results."
Ryo walked back.
Collapsed.
thud
"…Wake me up when I'm rich."
zzz…
In the distance—
shk… shk…
"…I'm ignoring that tomorrow."