Chapter 14

014.

The morning after eating delicious food for the first time in a while.

I woke up in a good mood, and as I looked at the Mythic-rank seed making its presence known on my palm, a smile naturally formed.

‘Just what is going to be born from this?’

A seed of a spirit that once ruled the ancient earth. Its farming-related abilities would surely be incredible.

But before planting the Mythic seed, there was something I had to deal with first.

It just so happened that the potatoes I had planted last time were ready to harvest.

My steps toward the vegetable patch were filled with excitement.

I was looking forward to planting the mysterious seed, but farming potatoes that were directly responsible for our tribe’s survival was also incredibly fun.

I gripped the stone I used in place of a hoe and carefully began digging through the soil.

[You have harvested a D-rank Potato.]

[You have harvested a D-rank Potato.]

Ordinary potatoes appeared one after another.

These were precious provisions that needed to be stored in the warehouse as emergency food in preparation for the Great Famine that would soon arrive.

After finishing the harvest of our precious food, I began today’s highlight.

“Good. Finally, it’s time to plant this.”

I took the Mythic-rank item <​Ancient Spirit Tree Seed> from inside my clothes.

Even looking at it again, its smooth gleam was truly beautiful.

Where would be best?

I chose the finest spot in the center of the vegetable patch, where sunlight was plentiful and drainage was good.

I carefully dug into the soil and gently buried the seed that looked like a smooth pebble.

The moment I covered it with both hands and patted down the soil, I thought I felt something twitch…… was it my imagination?

Ding-!

[You have planted a Mythic-rank seed!]

[First Achievement Accomplished! Title <​Beginning of a Legend> acquired. A large amount of experience has been obtained.]

[Title acquisition effect: Intelligence +1, Stat Point +1, Fame +1.]

[Special title acquisition reward: 1 <​Random Draw Ticket> awarded.]

[Special title acquisition reward: Trait <​Affinity> acquired.]

[Level Up! You have reached Level 6. Lv.5 -> Lv.6]

[Stat Point +1 from leveling up. Class Skill Proficiency has increased.]

“Huh?”

I blanked out for a moment at the flood of message windows filling my vision.

I was used to receiving Stat Points from title effects…… but what was all this?

A Random Draw Ticket? There was even a gacha system? And what was this Affinity trait?

The fact that there was this much stuff…… was proof of just how important this seed was within the system!

For now, let me finish planting it and check afterward.

I patted the soil and activated my skill.

“BARBARIAAAN-!”

Along with the Warrior’s Roar, the Growth Acceleration skill seeped into the seed.

[Mythic-rank Seed – 5 days 23:59:00 until germination]

“That’s long…….”

Compared to ordinary potatoes, which took a little over two days, it was nearly three times as long.

But considering its Mythic rank, it almost felt short instead…… and more importantly, didn’t this mean it could actually germinate!

“Grow big and strong. Drink good water and get plenty of warm sunlight. Potatoes, don’t steal this one’s nutrients.”

With the heart of a farmer, I offered it encouraging words and unnecessarily threatened the surrounding potatoes before opening my Status Window.

Naturally, what stood out most was the new trait I had obtained.

==========

【Trait Information】

• Name : Affinity

• Classification : Passive

【Detailed Description】

• Crops grow better.

• Spirits, nature-type magical beasts, and animals feel less hostility toward you and develop greater affection for you.

• Slightly increases the chance of taming spirits, nature-type magical beasts, and animals.

==========

“Nice.”

A smile naturally appeared on my face.

It might have seemed like an ordinary trait, but for someone like me living right in front of the Black Barrier, it was practically an enormous survival bonus.

‘Just what kind of being will be born?’

Since it was called the seed of a spirit tree, perhaps it would be one of those cute earth spirits commonly seen in novels and games?

A fairy fluttering translucent wings, or a cute little fuzzy creature made of soil.

My heart was already pounding with anticipation.

And so, filled with expectation, the time that seemed as though it would never pass slowly went by.

.

.

.

Time passed, and the long-awaited morning of the scheduled germination arrived.

Before the sun had even fully risen, a scream tore through the quiet village at dawn.

“Izak, Izak! Big trouble!”

The tent flap flew open hard enough to break as Malko rushed inside with a deathly pale face.

The enormous warrior stood there trembling as though he had seen a ghost, and because he was ugly, it made him look even scarier.

“Wh-what happened?”

“In the vegetable patch! A strange magical beast appeared in the shaman’s sacred vegetable patch! Big trouble! It’s been wrecked! We need to go right now!”

My heart sank at those words.

A magical beast? In my precious vegetable patch?

That place held not only the precious potatoes that would see us through winter, but also the Mythic-rank Ancient Spirit Tree Seed I had carefully planted yesterday.

What if that magical beast dug up and ate the seed? Oh dear God……!

Without even properly dressing myself, I grabbed a single kitchen knife and ran outside after Malko.

One side of the village clearing.

Barbarian warriors had already formed a circle around my vegetable patch.

Chief Zakan was also standing there with his greatsword drawn, wearing a tense expression.

“What happened!”

But strangely, those ferocious and valiant barbarian warriors were all whining like puppies desperate to relieve themselves, unable to recklessly step into the vegetable patch.

“Move! I’ll go!”

As I pushed through the crowd and stepped forward, Zakan raised a hand to stop me.

“It is dangerous, Izak. It is extremely violent and dangerous! We cannot lose our precious shaman.”

“Then you go, Zakan.”

“…….”

His expression stiffened, and he subtly looked away.

“What the hell is it that everyone is acting like this…….”

Frustrated, I looked over Zakan’s broad shoulder.

The moment I spotted the thing sitting in the middle of my small, precious vegetable patch,

my thoughts stopped.

“That is…….”

“Scary! Too scary.”

The barbarians muttered fearfully.

Under the dim light of dawn, something was huffing angrily in the middle of the furrow I had carefully dug.

It was only about the size of my palm……? A very tiny creature.

Its overall silhouette was plump and round…… that thing was.

“A potato……?”

The moment I muttered blankly, it let out a bizarre high-pitched cry and whipped around to look at me.

Whoa, scary!

I flinched without realizing it, and the creature began wildly waving its short, plump arms as though starting up…….

“POTATOOO-!”

“Eeeek! Potato ghost!”

Good God.

When a potato with eyes, a nose, and a mouth shrieked, the barbarians freaked out.

No, it was not only screaming.

Short, chubby arms and legs with the same texture as its body protruded from either side of the potato. Like ginseng roots.

‘Why does its expression look so vicious……?’

Despite its cute appearance, it seemed angry, its brow deeply furrowed and eyes glaring crookedly. It looked like a delinquent potato dissatisfied with the entire world.

And on top of its round head, three fresh green leaves sprouted upward like horns.

No, but…… surely not? The adorable little spirit born from my Mythic-rank seed couldn’t possibly be that potato, right?

As I swallowed and observed it, Malko grabbed my shoulder and shook me.

“Wh-what is that, Shaman! A monster? Or potato ghost?”

“Very small. But scary. Gets very angry!”

The sight of enormous, muscular warriors trembling at the sight of an angry potato the size of a palm…….

Can I really turn these guys into the strongest barbarian tribe?

I was speechless for a moment at the absurdly pathetic sight.

“POTATOOO……!”

Even while everyone was stunned, the creature apparently disliked the giants invading its territory. It flailed its short arms and legs.

Then it began violently swinging the three leaves on top of its head like whips.

- Smack! Smack!

“Ow, that stings! Aaagh-! I’m dying!”

The leaves mercilessly struck Malko’s shins as he stood at the front.

There did not seem to be any actual physical damage…… but idiot Malko turned deathly pale and made a huge fuss, claiming he had been hit by strange sorcery.

“Chief……! What do we do? Cut it down? Potato is attacking!”

“No! Izak’s field will be ruined!”

Sweating nervously, Zakan held his greatsword awkwardly and looked at me.

Good grief…… this is a complete mess.

First, to sort out this chaotic situation, I raised a trembling hand and activated my skill.

“BARBARIAN!”

Along with the Warrior’s Roar, the Peeking system window appeared in the air.

Without realizing it, I read aloud the name displayed in the window.

“……Potatodragora?”

“POTATOOO-!”

Was it because I had guessed its name?

The Potatodragora planted its short, chubby hands on its hips, looked up at me, and shrieked.

- Hug!

Then it suddenly clung tightly to my leg and rubbed itself against me.

“Gasp-! Izak tamed the magical beast!”

“He subdued it with the Warrior’s Roar!”

[Trait Affinity has activated.]

That’s not what happened, you idiots.

“Our shaman is amazing.”

For some reason, Zakan looked proud.

_____________

A little while later.

Inside the shaman’s tent.

==========

【Target Information】

• Name : Potatodragora (Earth Spirit/Mutant)

• Personal Name : None

【Detailed Description】

• An earth spirit born using the flesh of a potato.

• Absorbs the earth’s magic through the leaves on its head.

• Has an extremely nasty and irritable personality, but unlocks various abilities as it grows.

==========

“You little…… what exactly are you?”

The round creature wandered around in front of me.

The same creature that had been swinging its leaf whips like a thug against those huge barbarian warriors outside…….

Was now plastered against my knee, its eyes curved like crescents as it beamed brightly.

“Potato!”

The sight of it trying to climb my thigh with its short, chubby arms and legs was rather adorable.

And its cute little steps were so precious that whenever it walked across the dirt floor, I could practically hear imaginary little squeaks with every step.

I stroked the top of the creature’s head as it clung tightly to me, refusing to let go, and fell into deep thought.

‘Don’t tell me…… a potato spirit was born because I planted it right beside the potatoes?’

Even so, it was supposed to be a Mythic-rank spirit…… did it end up taking the form of such a humble emergency crop because of me!?

Feeling strangely guilty, I swallowed and poked its plump cheek with a finger.

Then a sudden chill of anxiety ran down my spine.

‘Could this thing…… get eaten?’

It had short arms and legs, but if it curled up quietly, it looked exactly like an ordinary potato.

The image of the potato spirit being thoroughly boiled inside a huge cauldron flashed through my mind, sending chills across my skin.

What if the barbarians mistake it for a potato and eat it!

Wasn’t there some way to clearly distinguish it from ordinary potatoes?

As I pressed a hand to my forehead and thought deeply, I noticed the small box lying in one corner of the tent.

The box it had come in.

‘Right! Let’s do this.’

When I saw the elegant red ribbon that had decorated the box, a good idea occurred to me.

I set the creature on my lap down and carefully picked up the red ribbon.

“Come here.”

At my call, the Potatodragora scampered over and clung to my leg.

I carefully tied the ribbon around one of the three leaf stems sprouting cutely from its round head.

A small, pretty bow.

Red-ribbon potato spirit complete!

“Potato?”

The creature noticed something unfamiliar hanging from its head and stretched out its short, chubby hand to fiddle with the red ribbon.

Perhaps it liked the soft texture of the silk, or perhaps it was happy to have a special decoration of its own, because its black eyes sparkled brightly.

[The Earth Spirit has acquired the bound item ‘Red Ribbon.’]

[The Earth Spirit is deeply moved by the first gift it has ever received.]

[The Earth Spirit feels a strong attachment toward you.]

“POTATO!”

Is that good?

Unable to contain its joy, the creature began hopping up and down in place on its short legs.

Then it spread its tiny arms and charged at me, rubbing its plump cheeks against me while acting affectionate.

Looks like it really likes it.

As I quietly looked down at the smiling potato spirit wearing the red ribbon, I felt strangely conflicted.

It was far too pathetic for a Mythic-rank spirit, yet fatally cute for a potato.

“You are cute…… but anyway, you. What can you do?”

At my question, its eyes sparkled, and it jumped down from my knee after having climbed halfway up.

Then it puffed out its plump chest as far as it could, planted its hands on its hips, and struck a triumphant pose.

The three sprouting leaves atop its head fluttered confidently. Cute.

“POTATO!”

The creature shouted proudly.

“Yeah, you’re going to show me something?”

I rested my chin on my hand and looked down at it with interest.

The creature looked at me, snorted, “Hmph!” and spread its tiny hands wide.