[Spirit Contract LV. 1]
– Grade: E
– Type: Active
– Experience: 0.00%
– Description: Allows you to summon and form a contract with a spirit.
– Spirit Power Consumption: 1,000
– Number of Spirits Contracted: 0/1
The skill received upon clearing the quest was to contract with a spirit. It was a skill that a spirit farmer would naturally possess.
“Not bad.”
There was no need to hesitate. Hiro immediately used the skill.
[You have used the Spirit Contract skill.]
[The skill experience of Spirit Contract has increased significantly.]
[Summoning a spirit.]
Vroooom!
A massive magic circle appeared on the ground, emitting a bright light.
[The summoned spirit’s attribute will be random.]
[A spirit is being summoned.]
Flash!
As the light from the magic circle faded, a fox appeared at its center. It had gray fur overall, with the tip of its tail tinged in blue, making it look quite cute.
[You have summoned a Water Spirit.]
‘A Water Spirit?’
Ding!
[Hidden Piece Discovered!]
[You are the first Envoy to meet and directly summon a spirit.]
[You have obtained the hidden title: “Hey! Become My Comrade!”]
[Hey! Become My Comrade!]
– Grade: Hidden (Unique)
– Condition to Obtain: Be the first Envoy to summon a spirit.
– Option: All Stats +10, Spirit Power +10, Spirit Power Recovery Speed +10%
– Description: Spirit! You’re mine!
Hiro had earned a title.
‘But isn’t this the Spirit Realm? Isn’t this where spirits live…?’
“Then how is a spirit being summoned here?”
Hiro tilted his head in confusion. The spirit’s condition seemed oddly abnormal.
“It hurts… Kyu…”
The Water Spirit collapsed. Only then did Hiro clearly see the spirit’s condition.
“You’re injured?”
Blood stained the Water Spirit’s body. It was breathing heavily, clearly in distress. Seeing the Water Spirit collapse and struggle to breathe, Hiro’s mind filled with many thoughts.
‘Pepper used to be like this, too.’
Pepper was the name of a dog Hiro had once raised. It was a stray they’d found while on a family trip. Tied to a tree, it came with a note.
‘The note said this:’
– “We’re moving, and the dog is too big for us to keep. Please take good care of it.”
Even now, remembering it made Hiro angry. If they were moving, they should’ve found a place where they could live with the dog. Abandoning it, tied to a tree at a tourist site, was beyond comprehension.
What made it worse was…
‘Are you laughing? You think this is funny?’
The note infuriated him further. Pepper had been left tied up for so long that it was starving and whimpering. People passed by, unwilling to take responsibility.
‘But we brought Pepper home and took care of it. We stayed together for a few years until it finally crossed the Rainbow Bridge.’
Is that why? Seeing the Water Spirit lying limp, Hiro was reminded of Pepper from that day.
“First, we need to treat it… but… since it’s an animal, should I call a vet?”
“No… it’s a spirit. I should start by restoring its life force… Oh!”
At that moment, something came to Hiro’s mind: eating Earth Sweet Potatoes had the effect of restoring life force. Hiro quickly went outside and came back with an Earth Sweet Potato.
“Here, eat this.”
Hiro sliced the sweet potato in half, placing it in front of the Water Spirit. Soon, the Water Spirit’s nose twitched as it caught the scent and began to react.
“Mmm… it smells delicious… Kyu!”
The Water Spirit opened its eyes and started nibbling on the sweet potato.
Chomp, chomp!
“It’s… delicious!”
Wag, wag!
Had it been starving for a long time? The Water Spirit devoured the sweet potato with enthusiasm, wagging its tail energetically. It was a curious sight—while the sound of a person eating could be annoying, the sound of an animal eating was strangely comforting.
Chomp, chomp!
“Is it good?”
“It’s delicious! So good, kyu!! Chomp, chomp!!”
‘A talking fox? This really is a fascinating game.’
It was surprising that the fox could talk, but considering it was a game and a spirit, it made sense.
‘The wound is healing.’
A faint glow enveloped the Water Spirit’s body, indicating that the sweet potato’s effect was taking hold, restoring its life force.
“You’re eating well.”
Hiro smiled contentedly, gently patting the Water Spirit. At first, the spirit seemed startled, but it didn’t pull away from Hiro’s touch. Its body trembled slightly.
‘Did something happen to it?’
It looked very exhausted.
“Kyu…”
“Did you finish it?”
“Kyu… Yes!”
The Water Spirit devoured the entire Earth Sweet Potato in no time and patted its now-round belly.
“It was delicious!”
[The Water Spirit’s favorability has greatly increased.]
The sweet potato seemed to please the spirit greatly, as a big smile spread across its face. Hiro felt pleased too. After all, no farmer would be unhappy seeing their harvest enjoyed so much.
It felt good.
“But…”
[The Water Spirit senses a strong, natural scent from you.]
“Did you… summon me, kyu?”
“Yes.”
At that, a spark of light appeared in the Water Spirit’s small, black eyes.
[The Water Spirit’s favorability has greatly increased.]
[You can now form a contract with the Water Spirit.]
“Will you make a contract with me?”
“Kyu!”
[Contract established.]
[The skill experience of Spirit Contract has greatly increased.]
[Please name the spirit.]
‘Name?’
A sudden message prompting Hiro to name it. After a moment of hesitation, Hiro slowly spoke.
“Pepper. From now on, your name is Pepper.”
“Kyu!”
[The Water Spirit has been named ‘Pepper.’]
[Pepper’s favorability has greatly increased.]
Ding!
[You have achieved an accomplishment.]
[You are the first Envoy to become a contracted Spirit Master.]
[You have obtained the title, ‘First Contractor.’]
[First Contractor]
– Grade: A (Unique)
– Condition to Obtain: Be the first to form a contract with a spirit.
– Option: Spirit Power +10, Spirit Power Recovery Speed +10%, Spirit Magic Attack Power +5%
– Description: Are you… the master who summoned me?
“Master!!”
Pepper leaped into Hiro’s arms, snuggling close.
“Nuzzle, nuzzle.”
“Master, kyu…”
“Hahaha, that tickles!”
“Hehe… Kyu…”
“But, hey. Why were you injured when you were summoned?”
“That’s because I was fighting, kyu!”
“Fighting?”
“Kyu!”
Here’s what happened: before being summoned, Pepper had been attacked by a monster and was fleeing. Cornered in a dead-end, it was on the brink of death.
“So, I summoned you at that moment?”
“Kyu! Yes! Master, you’re my lifesaver, kyu!”
Pepper expressed affection by licking Hiro’s face, making him feel a bit ticklish.
“Ugh, not the lips!”
“Kyu!”
“Get down for now.”
“Kyu!”
Wiping the saliva off his face, Hiro asked, “Where were you, anyway?”
“I’m not sure, kyu! But it’s far from here!”
If Pepper had been nearby before being summoned, there might have been a need to be on guard, as the monster that attacked Pepper could follow. Thankfully, that didn’t seem to be the case.
“Then…”
Ding!
[Quest ‘Offer Sweet Potatoes to the Altar! Again!’ has been generated.]
[Offer Sweet Potatoes to the Altar! Again!]
– Grade: E
– Description: Offer sweet potatoes to the altar. You may gain something you need right now.
– Success Condition: Offer 100 Earth Sweet Potatoes to the altar.
– Success Reward: Skill, ???
– Failure Penalty: An unknown entity becomes disappointed.
“…Again?”
After offering sweet potatoes earlier, 198 were left. Reluctantly, Hiro gathered 100 sweet potatoes and placed them on the altar, which instantly made them disappear.
[Quest ‘Offer Sweet Potatoes to the Altar! Again!’ has been cleared.]
[Skill ‘Watering LV. 1’ has been acquired.]
[The unknown entity is very pleased with your sweet potatoes.]
[The unknown entity’s favorability has greatly increased.]
[You can receive a special gift from the unknown entity.]
[You have obtained the Ancient Magic Lighter.]
“Huh?”
The quest rewards were a skill and an item.
But…
“…A lighter?”
Hiro examined the lighter.
[Ancient Magic Lighter]
– Grade: A
– Description: A lighter created long ago in the ancient Magic Tower, used for igniting fires. It is resistant to wind and, due to its ancient magic, produces a special flame that doesn’t extinguish easily, even in rain. It has adjustable firepower.
– Usage Requirement: Spirit Farmer
– Option: Duration +100%
“This is… just like the kind of lighter you’d find in a bar.”
He never imagined he’d acquire a lighter in the game instead of matches.
“The fire… works well. That’s convenient.”
He had been craving roasted sweet potatoes but had no way to make a fire until now. This made it possible.
“Check!”
[Watering LV. 1]
– Grade: E
– Type: Active
– Experience: 0.00%
– Description: Sprinkles water infused with the spirit’s power, accelerating the growth of crops.
– Spirit Power Consumption: 300
– Cooldown: 1 second
– Effect: Crop Growth Acceleration +20%, Germination Rate +5%
“Oh! Just what I needed!!!”
He had been worried about the dried-up well and the upcoming harvest. The new skill came just in time.
“Pepper.”
“Kyu?”
“Watering!”
[You have used the Watering skill.]
Vroooom.
“Kyu!”
As the skill activated, droplets formed around Pepper’s mouth and soon splashed out. Though it wasn’t an offensive skill and was somewhat weak, it would work just fine for farming.
“Kyu!”
“Alright. Let’s head outside.”
Hiro and Pepper stepped outside.
‘Now that I have a lighter, I’d like to roast some sweet potatoes, but…’
“But before that…”
Hiro picked up a sweet potato and used the skill.
“Seed Extraction!”
[You have used the Seed Extraction skill.]
[Extracting seeds from the Earth Sweet Potato.]
Ding!
[Seed Extraction successful.]
[You have obtained 1 Earth Sweet Potato Seed.]
[The skill experience of Seed Extraction has slightly increased.]
[You have gained job experience.]
“That’s lucky.”
The success rate wasn’t very high, but he managed it on the first try.
“Check!”
[Earth Sweet Potato Seed]
– Grade: E
– Description: Seeds capable of cultivating Earth Sweet Potatoes infused with spirit power. They can grow well in barren soil.
– Usage Requirement: Permission from a Spirit Farmer.
– Option: Growth Speed +10%, Germination Rate +5%
“It’s different from the ones I planted.”
The new seed differed slightly from the ones bought from the Farmer’s Guild, but it didn’t seem to matter much.
Hiro gazed at the 97 remaining sweet potatoes.
“Guess I’ll keep going.”
“Kyu!”
“Seed Extraction!!”
[Seed Extraction skill…]
[The skill experience of Seed Extraction has slightly increased.]
[Skill Level Up!]
[Seed Extraction LV. 1 -> Seed Extraction LV. 2]
“Oh! It leveled up!”
The cooldown decreased from 10 to 9 seconds, and the success rate increased from 10% to 15%. Not bad.
“Seed Extraction!!”
That day, Hiro used the skill on 98 sweet potatoes, obtaining 53 seeds.
“Let’s start farming.”
“I’ll help, kyu!!”
Pepper responded enthusiastically. Hiro grinned and picked up his hoe.
“Let’s begin!”
It was Day 28 since starting the Overlord. Hiro had formed a contract with a spirit and started his second sweet potato farm.
Cliche Novel 