[Ding! Wheat is now harvestable!]
The notification burned before my vision as I strolled around my territory, basking in the peacefulness of the quieter days. Through these ten days, there hadn't been any monster invasions like I had grown accustomed to.
Still, an ominous feeling lingered at the back of my mind. After all, peace in this strange setting could only mean the calm before the storm.
"I just hope nothing too life-threatening appears out of nowhere," I muttered softly to myself while gently closing the notification window.
Approximately a week ago, the leafy greens had been deemed harvestable as well, while the root vegetables followed just a day ago.
I had checked on them several times already, and their condition couldn't have been better, making me want to pluck them right then and there to use as ingredients.
But I restrained myself from such thoughts, even though it had been painstakingly hard.
My plan was to let them grow a little longer while waiting for the remaining rice and medicinal herbs to become harvestable as well.
[Rice: Day 21 of 25–30.]
[Medicinal Herbs: Day 21 of 30–35]
'Patience is key here. I'll just have to wait another 4–15 days before fully enjoying the delicacy of it.'
My mouth started watering just from imagining it.
Should I just pluck them out and cook them?
No. No, Marfin. Have some restraint, boy!
Four to fifteen days...
I could wait that long.
And who knew? Maybe I'd even get to enjoy such delicacies alongside the domestic animals as well.
Ah… right.
I had yet to summon some domestic animals.
With that thought in mind, I made my way toward the farmhouse.
The farmhouse itself wasn't particularly eye-catching in terms of architectural beauty, but it had been built in a way that could comfortably accommodate many kinds of animals.
Its structure leaned more toward practicality than appearance. Thick wooden beams supported the frame while a slanted roof of tightly packed straw and timber stretched overhead, sturdy enough to endure harsh rain and unforgiving winds. A faint scent of dry hay lingered in the air despite no livestock having occupied the place yet.
The interior was surprisingly spacious. Several fenced sections had already been prepared, separated neatly as if expecting different species to arrive at any moment. Wooden feeding troughs rested near the walls, untouched and oddly pristine, while an open storage corner stood ready for future feed and supplies.
Behind the farmhouse, a modest fenced area stretched outward, leaving enough room for animals to graze or roam without wandering too far from the territory.
"Now it's time to fill you with life, my dear farmhouse," I chuckled softly.
"Zero, open Native Animal Section."
Following my command, an interface surfaced before me, displaying many different kinds of familiar Earth animals.
[Native Animals]
[Cow – 80 SP]
[Goat – 45 SP]
[Sheep – 50 SP]
[Chicken – 10 SP]
[Duck – 12 SP]
[Pig – 55 SP]
[Rabbit – 8 SP]
The transparent screen hovered before my eyes, displaying a variety of domestic animals that looked almost laughably familiar after everything I had gone through in this strange world.
For a brief moment, I simply stood there in silence while scanning through the list.
A strange feeling settled within me.
Somehow, seeing ordinary livestock available for purchase made everything feel… real.
This wasn't just some random survival phase anymore.
A farmhouse stood behind me, crops were steadily reaching harvest, and now I was genuinely considering livestock management like some overworked village chief.
Letting out a soft exhale, I opened my current balance.
[Current SP: 390]
My gaze lingered on the number for a few moments as several tempting ideas surfaced in my mind.
I could easily spend everything here and now.
Buy more animals.
Speed up food production.
Increase future resources.
The idea itself sounded good—until reality decided to slap me across the face.
This world had a funny habit of throwing disasters at me the moment I grew too comfortable.
Monster invasions, near-death situations, and injuries severe enough to make me question my own existence.
And potions...
Those things weren't exactly free.
The last thing I needed was to end up bleeding to death somewhere while regretting the fact that I had blown all my SP on farm animals.
"Nope," I muttered while shaking my head. "Can't go bankrupt on a whim."
At the very least, keeping emergency funds was common sense.
After a bit of mental calculation, I quickly settled on a reasonable decision.
Fifty SP would remain untouched no matter what happened.
That left me with 340 SP to work with.
My eyes returned to the livestock section as I thoughtfully rubbed my chin.
Cows immediately caught my attention. Milk alone made them worth considering, not to mention future breeding possibilities if the system even allowed such a thing.
Goats were another practical option—hardy, adaptable, and likely easier to maintain.
Chickens were practically mandatory. Cheap, useful, and capable of consistently providing eggs.
As for pigs...
Well.
Pigs were essentially living food reserves with legs.
After weighing everything carefully, I eventually nodded to myself.
"Alright… this should work."
"System. Purchase."
[Ding! Purchase Successful!]
[×2 Cows – 160 SP]
[×2 Goats – 90 SP]
[×3 Chickens – 30 SP]
[×1 Pig – 55 SP]
[Total Cost: 335 SP]
[Remaining SP: 55]
The moment the purchase finished, a faint shimmer of light spread across different sections of the farmhouse, almost as though reality itself briefly distorted.
Then came the sounds.
A deep, lazy moo echoed softly through the barn, followed by the restless bleating of goats and frantic clucking from chickens that immediately filled the once-empty space with life.
Standing near one fenced enclosure were two healthy cows, calmly swaying their tails while glancing around with the sort of unbothered expression only cows seemed capable of having.
Not too far away, the pair of goats had already begun exploring their surroundings, sniffing at wooden fences and nudging feeding troughs as if personally inspecting whether the accommodations met their standards.
The chickens, on the other hand, possessed absolutely no dignity.
The three of them scattered almost immediately, pecking randomly at the ground despite there being absolutely nothing remotely edible there.
And the pig?
The pig walked exactly five steps toward a hay pile, turned in a lazy circle, and collapsed onto it with such shameless confidence that I almost felt offended.
"…You really adapted faster than everyone else, huh?"
A small chuckle escaped me before I could stop it.
The farmhouse that had seemed hollow and lifeless only moments ago now carried warmth. Soft animal noises echoed through the interior while movement filled the empty corners, making the place feel far less abandoned than before.
For the first time since arriving in this strange world, my territory no longer resembled a temporary survival camp.
Slowly but surely...
It was beginning to feel like home.
"What the hell are these noises?"
Kaira shouted in confusion as she approached the farmhouse.
"Woahh, Marfin! What are th-these cute little things? Where did you get them from?"
"I summoned them, of course," I replied with a mysterious smile, though it seemed she hadn't even noticed me anymore, already completely engrossed with the animals.
Typical Kaira.
One by one, all of my companions gathered near the farmhouse.
The goblin came running forward and, the moment he got close enough, immediately jumped onto the pig, causing it to twitch violently in protest.
"Hey! Don't you dare wander off alone!" Lys shouted strictly while running after him, whereas Aldric simply stood there watching calmly.
"These are the domestic livestock you were talking about?" Aldric asked while narrowing his eyes slightly. "They look weak and feral. Hardly something capable of producing worthwhile nutrition. Are you sure about this, Marfin?"
"Since when did you become a food connoisseur, Aldric?" I asked teasingly before shrugging softly. "It'll all work out. And if you're such an expert, you can take care of the farm, my friend."
"I am certainly not one suited to care for them," he replied calmly, "but if you insist, I shall do my best."
I simply nodded at Aldric's enthusiasm, even though he was trying rather hard to hide it.
Soon, Timber, Lunaira, and Nepoleon joined as well.
Lunaira approached the goats, eyeing them curiously, while Nepoleon marched ahead with absolute confidence as if intending to dominate the chickens through sheer authority alone.
My dear Pride remained in the sky, circling above as though deliberately feigning ignorance toward the situation unfolding below.
134 days remaining.