I Thought It Was a Healing Farming Game Chapter 15

I should help out in the herb garden to repay him for his kindness!

If I told Siad I wanted to help, he would undoubtedly smile like an angel and say something like this.

“It’s my work, so I’ll gladly accept your thoughtfulness instead.”

After being rejected outright, I wouldn’t even get to see the herb garden.

I stood up, cleared away the dishes, and headed for my room.

“I’ll rest in my room for a while. Please call me anytime if you get bored!”

“Yes. Please make yourself comfortable.”

After what happened with Priam, I decided to give up on rushing to become friends with everyone.

I’ll build relationships little by little, just like in real life.

Click.

I closed the bedroom door.

Stamina: 48/100

Even though I’d eaten so much meat pie, my recovery was painfully slow, like a turtle crawling along, because I’d only just recovered from fainting.

“I can’t do anything too strenuous… But that’s okay!”

As it happened, there was something I could do right here in my room.

I pulled a large gift box out of my inventory.

Node Welcome Package

Opening a gift box was always exciting.

With my heart pounding, I opened the box and began examining the items packed tightly inside, one by one.

First Aid Potion Bundle: Stamina Recovery Potion, Fatigue Prevention Potion, Healing Potion

I loved the very first item. There were plenty of them, too—five of each type.

I immediately took a bottle of Fatigue Prevention Potion out of the bundle.

Fatigue Prevention Potion: Prevents muscle pain and body aches the day after collapsing from depleted stamina or exhaustion.

“Isn’t this potion practically made for me?”

How had I gotten my hands on a potion bundle at just the right time?

Smiling happily, I popped the stopper open. Then I tipped the potion into my mouth and gulped it down.

“Ahhh!”

I wiped my mouth and set down the empty potion bottle.

Compared to the medicine I’d been taking at the hospital, it wasn’t even that bitter, so I had no trouble drinking it.

After neatly arranging the potion bundle in the dresser, I took out the next item.

Free Postal Pass: Allows you to send letters and packages for free at the Town Hall for one month.

Sending mail was one way to become closer to the villagers in the early stages.

Exchanging letters or sending gifts, for example.

It cost one gold per use.

The money I earned from delivering milk was five gold… So if I sent a letter to each of five villagers just once, I’d be completely broke.

In that regard, the Free Postal Pass was definitely a useful gift for beginners.

“But how do I use it? Am I supposed to submit it at the Town Hall or something?”

As I turned the pass this way and that, I noticed some writing on the back.

Instructions: Write the owner’s name and tear the pass in half.

The owner’s name, huh?

My profile name is Miel, so…

I found a pen, wrote [Miel] on the pass, and carefully began tearing it in half.

“Ugh. I hope this doesn’t invalidate it…”

I squeezed my eyes shut and tore the pass all the way through.

The two halves glowed in my hand before scattering into golden dust with a soft pffft.

Use Complete

A brief notification appeared, then vanished.

“Whoa. That’s amazing! I want to try it again. Do I have anything else?”

Thrilled by the magical effect, I eagerly pulled out the remaining gifts and checked their names.

Mini Vegetable Garden Ownership Pass

Seed Collection

Node Calendar

Automatic Record-Keeping Ledger

General Store 30% Discount Coupon (One Use)

Clothing Store 50% Discount Coupon (One Outfit)

Handy Information Notebook

Secret Diary

Mascot Cat Doll

Village Rules Guide

“They’re so generous.”

Back in my day, they’d only give you one or two things, and that was it.

With a pleased smile, I began neatly organizing all the items.

“I’ll use the vegetable garden pass as soon as I have time, along with the seeds. I should save the discount coupons for now…”

It would be best to keep them until I needed to buy a large quantity of items.

The calendar also listed village events and anniversaries. I hung it on the wall beside my bed, where I could see it easily.

“And next… the Handy Information Notebook?”

Handy Information Notebook — Allows you to conveniently view all kinds of information.

The notebook can be converted into an accessory and used as jewelry, such as a necklace or bracelet.

It would look pretty as an accessory if I have the chance to make one.

Thinking that, I flipped open the notebook, which was slightly larger than my palm.

My Information

Knowledge and Skill Levels

I looked at the levels, every single one of them a one, and briefly fought back tears.

Achievements

Villager Information

The Villager Information section contained records of everyone I’d met and spoken to so far.

Siad, Kais, Priam, Grandma Mael, Mr. Tom from the general store…

As I skimmed through the pages, I let out a hollow laugh.

“Why are there more question marks than things I actually know?”

Of course, the question marks would fill themselves in once I learned new information or increased my affection levels.

“But for now, this isn’t particularly useful…”

Muttering to myself, I turned the page.

Affection

My eyes, which had been casually skimming the list, stopped at the affection records beside the names.

I blinked blankly for a moment, then narrowed my eyes and tilted my head.

“Hmm?”

Siad (Level 1): Affection 12/100

Kais (Level 1): Affection 0/100

“…That’s strange.”

I was sure I’d seen an affection increase notification from Kais before.

I was still puzzled, wondering if it hadn’t registered yet, when I read the numbers listed below and became even more confused.

Priam (Level 1): Affection 15/100

?? (Level 1): -30/100

?? (Level 1): -30/100

The people listed with question marks were villagers I hadn’t met yet.

“But why are the numbers negative? I haven’t even met them.”

Looking more closely, I noticed that most of the other villagers had affection levels of either zero or a negative number.

I fell into thought for a moment, my expression growing serious.

Did I do something wrong?

But even after carefully reviewing everything I’d done over the past two days, all I could remember was going around greeting people here and there.

“Hmmmm…”

I closed my eyes and thought it over carefully before finally reaching a conclusion.

“I don’t know!”

I’d figure out the reason eventually, as long as I stayed here long enough.

As I’d already realized, not everything in this world worked exactly the same way as it had in the game I used to play.

This feels more like reality than a game.

I decided to look on the bright side.

If this place is very different from the game world, then all kinds of things I’ve never experienced before might happen from now on!

Nodding excitedly at the thought, I took out the small, adorable cat doll from the box.

“What is this?”

It was a cute little doll with soft, fluffy fur.

I stared at it because I didn’t remember ever seeing this item before. Just then, a description window popped up beside it.

Mascot Cat Doll: A special mascot doll from the village of Node. Always take it with you so you won’t feel lonely!

Feature: Its markings and fur color change randomly.

“You’re giving me this so I won’t feel lonely?”

Wondering if there might be some hidden meaning behind it, I held the doll in both hands and examined it.

It was a cat with entirely white fur. I couldn’t see any markings.

“So its color changes randomly…”

I inspected it closely, but for now, it was still just a small white cat.

“Hello. Let’s get along.”

I gently stroked the doll a couple of times before slipping it into my pocket.

At the bottom of the box, after I’d taken out all the items, only a single sheet of paper remained.

I took out the neatly laminated sheet and held it vertically so I could read it more easily.

Village Rules Guide

This guide has been created for outside visitors who lack information about Node. We ask for your cooperation while you stay in the village.