6:00 AM, 3rd - Spring
Luis grabbed his watering can and tended to the garden. The turnip seeds lay dormant in the soil, showing no signs of sprouting yet. He wasn't worried. By tomorrow, they'd start to germinate.
Today's main task was to check the natural resources in this world—items that grew daily in the forest without planting and could be sold to Zack for cash. Or, more accurately, he wanted to eat without working.
If he could earn extra income from these resources, he could afford more turnip seeds to boost his revenue. After all, the farm's income would be the most stable and substantial. Other resources could be used as gifts or stored for food. What he didn't know was whether they'd respawn daily like in the game, as this world had some differences.
After watering, he slung his axe over his shoulder and headed into the forest to start foraging. The cherry blossom forest, across the river from his farm, was vast, with dense trees. Sunlight filtered faintly through the tall canopies, dappling the lush green grass below. In the distance, he saw a small house surrounded by stacks of lumber—likely Gotz's, the carpenter.
Scattered around were stumps of long-felled trees. Beneath them was what he sought: blue grass, a herb growing around Mineral Town. Herbs grew seasonally, their vibrant colors standing out against the foliage, easy to spot if you looked closely. They came in various types and colors, affecting stamina and fatigue differently. The most useful was blue grass, which greatly boosted stamina and reduced fatigue, most common in spring and summer. But it was only practical early on. As work increased, he'd need to switch to herb-based medicines or buy from the hospital. Herbs sold well, 100 G each if prices matched the game. However, this income was inconsistent, only helping him survive tough days. Once the farm generated steady income, he'd stop selling herbs and stockpile them for cooking recipes.
Wandering the forest, he harvested two blue grass plants and chopped three pieces of lumber from small logs.
He also found Moondrop and Toy flowers, mainly used as gifts for townsfolk. After building rapport with Won, the Chinese merchant, he could sell these to him. But that was for later. Building a relationship with Won took time, and by then, farm income would likely suffice, so he doubted he'd sell flowers.
With nothing left to gather, Luis headed toward the path to the hot spring. He recalled more blue grass along this route and wanted to check out the Spring Mine, where materials for upgrading tools were found.
Passing the hot spring, he glanced at it wistfully. He had no money left for a bath. His resolve to earn cash surged, and he quickened his pace toward the mine.
The mine was a wide clearing by a crystal-clear lake—the home of the Harvest Goddess, a special NPC in the game. Luis wasn't big on gods or divine benevolence, but in this world, the Harvest Goddess seemed real. He'd seen her on TV his first day here. As an actual deity, she likely held significant influence and power. There was a simple way to meet her: toss an item into the lake. But for now, he wasn't ready for that.
Luis entered the Spring Mine. It was dim, with rocks of various sizes scattered unevenly, unlike the game's uniform layout. Also unlike the game, there was no staircase down. He'd have to dig.
He studied the area, memorizing its layout, then stepped out and back in. He wanted to test if things changed, as in the game, rocks rearranged each time you re-entered. Here, everything stayed the same. So, this world didn't fully align with his game knowledge. That was fine. If he dug down, the path would remain, letting him progress deeper without starting over. In the game, players cheated by saving and loading to reach target floors. But this was a real world—no saving or loading. Or maybe he just hadn't found the cheat yet.
Luis left the mine and explored further toward the mountain's peak. Along the way, he noticed a large boulder blocking a side trail. He gave it a glance and moved on. It wasn't a priority now.
Farther up, he reached a deep blue lake beside a vast forest, hidden from view. Sunlight glinted off the water, sparkling like gems against the clear blue. In the distance, across the lake, was the Winter Mine, accessible only in winter when the lake froze. Or… maybe he could swim across. The odd thought struck him. This was a real world, not a game. Perhaps he could swim there.
He pushed the idea aside. Now wasn't the time to try. He searched the forest, finding no more blue grass but harvesting three Bamboo Shoots, which he stuffed into his backpack.
Though his backpack was full, he wanted to climb higher. Atop the mountain was a vast flower meadow. In this body's memories, this was where he'd met his childhood friend, where they'd played and caused all sorts of mischief. He didn't linger, continuing the steep climb.
When he arrived, the view didn't disappoint, but he'd likely avoid coming here often—it was exhausting. This was the highest point around Mineral Town. From here, he could see the entire town and his farm. The townsfolk looked like tiny black dots moving about. The vitality of this little town was striking.
Luis returned to the farm, stored the lumber, and tossed the foraged goods into the shipping bin. It was past noon. He scarfed down the leftover rice ball from breakfast before resuming his exploration.
While eating, he mentally reviewed the places he'd visited that morning, noting resource spots and planning a more efficient route for future days. Time was money. With farm work piling up, he needed to use his time effectively to maximize earnings.
"This is my chance to build a better life. I've got to give it my all!"
He stood, left the farm, and continued his journey.