Throughout the two weeks that I have been here, I have learned a few things.

  First off, the calendar was the same as back on Earth, and that meant the dates of the town residents were different from those in the game, though still similar. For example, Lewis’ birthday in the game was on the seventh day of Spring; meanwhile, here it’s the tenth of April – three weeks after Spring officially begins.

  Second, the townsfolk talk in the same way as in the game; they speak of different things, and act more like real humans than characters. I’m glad, because otherwise I might have gone crazy if I only had NPCs to talk to, though I still can’t be sure if these are all real people of their own. They never once questioned my ability to store countless things in my pocket for once.

  Third, labor was much easier than in real life, but it was still challenging and took plenty of time.

  I swung at the tree in front of me with a heavy breath, leaving a gaping hole to the side of it. Then, I heard the trunk crack.

  There it is! Panting, I took some distance from it. Soon after, the tree started to crack, and its trunk fell to the side with a loud thump. Satisfied, I took a good look around me.

  The farm was starting to look presentable after cleaning it up so much. Even though at best it was like one-tenth of the whole farm, I was still happy with what I’ve achieved. Turns out, simple hard physical work felt very rewarding. It rained just a day ago, making today slightly chilly, but warm and comfortable. The fresh smell of the forest filled my nose as I wiped the sweat off my forehead.

  I chopped the tree into pieces, then went over to the stump and pulled it out with the roots. My strength here was also extraordinary, but strangely only when it came to things related to farming.

  After finishing the work, I looked over to my growing crops. I had parsnips, cauliflowers, potatoes, tulips, beans, kale, jazz, garlic, and also rice planted by the pond – pretty much everything I could get my hands on, and there was a good reason for that…

  I washed myself off – turns out I had to wash myself at least once in a while, once a week or so, otherwise I would start to smell. Then, I went to the town, ready to check it once again.

  There was an important event that happened in the first days of spring.

  I greeted Haley on the way, who gave me a simple “Hey” before moving on. Then, I moved to the north of town, to the large area filled with trees and grass, where there lay a playground, a small fountain, and most of all…

  It was a large, wooden building with a clock hanging over the door. Vines were spreading around it; it was dirty and had holes that nobody even tried covering up. Nobody took care of it for years.

  A lone man, in his sixties with a gray mustache, stood nearby looking at it. Lewis.

  It seemed the time had come.

  Lewis noticed me. “Oh, hi there.” He gave the building a sad look. “This used to be Pelican Town’s Community Center. Back then, it was vibrant with joy and laughter, but now…” He sighed. “Nowadays, kids only want to watch TV and sit in their homes – they don’t engage with the community as much.”

  A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

  You know, maybe if you put some money into fixing the Community Center instead of spending it all on gold statues of yourself, it would be in a much better state? Asshole. I thought.

  He continued. “Let’s take a look inside.”

  Lewis opened the door, and I walked in. It was just as rundown as it looked outside – empty, with holes in the ceiling and in the floor, where dirt and vines spread out. There was a furnace, a broken aquarium, and a fireplace in the middle of the large room, above which hung a sign with six dull stars.

  “Looks like Vincent and Jas have been playing inside. You know, Joja has been pestering me for years, wanting to buy the Community Center to turn it into a warehouse. I declined every single time – I do have a soft spot for the mementos of the past, but nowadays… if one more person joins Joja, I will probably just sell it.”

  I glanced at Lewis and noticed something walking around in the distance.

  It was a small creature, looking like an overgrown, green apple with very cutesy dark eyes, flailing its tiny arms around as if trying to grab my attention. My eyes widened at the sight, and Lewis noticed it and looked as well.

  The creature disappeared.

  “Hmm? Have you seen a rat? I don’t doubt that some would be walking around here.”

  But it wasn’t a rat. I knew very well what that small creature was. A Junimo.

  “I will keep the door open, and if you have some free time, maybe you will go and catch the rat? I need to get some lunch.”

  All that eating, and no fixing the Community Center. I thought.

  Lewis promptly left, and I looked around the broken building.

  There was a room to the left, with a purple carpet and a strange, square yellow disc lying on the ground, glowing slightly with a yellow light. I took a good look at it and saw a strange, ancient text etched onto it. It was impossible to decipher.

  The method to read it would come soon enough, though. I just needed to wait.

  There was nothing to do here anymore, and I left. Next, I headed east of the town, beyond the river. A museum was there, with a smith shop at the top.

  I headed inside and was greeted by a man who looked like he was in his twenties, with a bushy brown beard and hair, wearing working clothes that didn’t hide his belly in the slightest. It was Pelican Town’s smith, Clint.

  “Oh, hello there. You came here at a good time. I’m already done with your pickaxe.” He brought a copper pickaxe from the back of the shop.

  It looked much sturdier and better than before, that was for sure. Though it cost me quite a bit, and it was also really hard to get the necessary copper. I didn’t buy any from Clint; his prices were genuinely horrendous.

  I was about to leave after saying goodbye, but Clint stopped me. “Do you have any geodes with you?”

  “Right, I forgot.” I pulled out a few geodes from my bottomless pocket and let Clint crack them for a price. Most important were the amethyst and the topaz, which I simply sold him at a profit.

  After leaving, I hung around the town, just talking to the townsfolk.

  My days were simple, but pretty fun, I had to admit. Way better than in my previous life, for sure… whatever! I didn’t have to talk about it.

  I once noticed Clint walking to Emily’s house and gifting her the same amethyst that I had just sold him. She accepted the gift reluctantly, and when Clint was gone, she dropped it in the trash.

  Oof. That’s rough, buddy. If I remember correctly, she even liked amethysts.

  I spent the rest of the day working on cleaning up the farm, then headed off to bed.

  The next day, I looked inside the mail and saw a very strange envelope. It was dark and had a motive of stars.

  There it is.

  It was a message from the local wizard – Rasmodius, telling me how he knows about me poking around in the Community Center, and him having a way to fix my ‘rat problem.’

  And so, after watering my plants, I headed straight towards his house. I couldn’t wait to take very strange drugs from an extremely shady wizard.

  Rasmodius had been intrigued by this new farmer ever since he came to the town, to say the least. Even he, being who he is, couldn’t quite figure out why.

  The farmer had a strange energy around him, and now, it would finally take shape.

  He chuckled darkly, despite not having possessed any ill intentions, as he sensed the farmer walking towards his evil, but not actually evil, tower.