Chapter 72: Library

"Where is Lady Witch’s library?" Ethan asked.

He had originally planned to visit the library to find information on planting the World Tree.

"At the edge of the Northern Region, meow, but don’t worry, meow, I know a safe route, meow!!" Pearl was brimming with confidence.

That was good! Ethan wasn’t afraid of fighting, and he knew that sometimes combat was inevitable, he just didn’t like it, but if push came to shove, he would draw his sword.

Ethan recalled the Holy Sword Leon had given him, picking up the Mana Grass, he said, "Let’s get back to work."

"Meow, meow~!" Pearl agreed cheerfully.

After laying the Mana Grass out to dry, Ethan went to the farmland.

The crops in the farmland were all growing very well, he pulled weeds, caught a few pests, then headed to the wheat field, the wheat grains were much plumper than before.

"Looks like the wheat harvest this time will be very good."

"That’s wonderful, meow!" Pearl was also pleased.

"I kind of want to plant something else." Looking at the farmland, an idea popped into Ethan’s mind.

"What kind of thing, meow?" Pearl asked.

"Like rice or soybeans, things like that, it would be great if I could grow them."

Growing rice required paddy fields, but that wouldn’t stump Ethan, he could divert water from the river to build a paddy field.

Ethan looked at the land he planned to use for the paddy field and picked up Pearl. "Once the crops in the farmland are harvested, we’ll head to the Northern Region, it should take about three or four days."

In three or four days, aside from the wheat, all the other crops should be ready for harvest, he planned to finish the harvest, store the crops properly, and then head to the Northern Region.

Pearl nuzzled against his chest. "By the time we return from the Northern Region, winter will be here, meow~"

A cool autumn breeze blew past, signaling that autumn was coming to an end.

"After we get back, we’ll also have to prepare for the winter," Ethan sighed.

"So many things to do, meow," Pearl chimed in.

"Farmers are naturally very busy." Ethan patted Pearl’s head and continued working.

...

A few days later.

"A bumper harvest." Ethan looked at the mountain of crops before him, his heart full of joy.

"Meow, meow! A bumper harvest, meow~" Pearl cheered.

The Honey Sweet Potatoes, Rock Potatoes, Sweet Beets, Vitality Cabbage, and Moonlight Tomatoes had all ripened, these crops had all grown very well; it was another year of a bountiful harvest.

’I need to use the Honey Sweet Potatoes and Sweet Beets to make more Candied Honey Sweet Potatoes.’ Ethan calculated in his mind, to build more greenhouses, he needed Sun Stones.

He set the Honey Sweet Potatoes and Sweet Beets aside, then picked up a Vitality Cabbage. "How about we have cabbage pork rolls today?"

"Okay, meow~!"

"Not bad!"

Ethan turned around, Zharok and Walter were standing right there.

’They timed it perfectly for mealtime.’

"Hmm? I thought you weren’t coming today."

"I heard you were harvesting crops, how could I miss it?" Walter said with a smile.

Zharok held up a piece of meat, then pointed at the two exquisite glass bottles in Walter’s hands. "What are those?"

"I heard you were celebrating the harvest, so I brought some wine," Walter explained.

Wine. Ever since arriving in this world, Ethan hadn’t had a drop of alcohol.

He looked at the two bottles radiating an amber glow. "Looks like good wine?"

"Of course it’s good wine, and it’s aged," Walter said.

"Haha, then thank you very much," Ethan said.

"You’re welcome, by the way, are you done harvesting?" Walter asked.

Before they had even arrived, Ethan had already finished.

"I wanted to help out..." Walter said with a hint of regret.

"It’s fine! Right — once we finish packing everything up, we’ll head to the Northern Region, do you have time?" Ethan asked.

"Of course I have time, I’m an undead, haha!" Walter joked.

"Your joke isn’t funny at all, so, we just need to move all this stuff into the refrigerator?" Ethan shook his head.

"No need for the potatoes and sweet potatoes; it’s best to store them separately."

"Got it." Ethan nodded.

The three of them worked together to move the harvested crops into the wooden cabin, looking at the mountains of produce, Ethan felt full even without eating anything, he set aside a portion for the elves, then placed the rest into the refrigerator and the warehouse.

"I’m heading to the Northern Region tomorrow, if the elves come, please handle the trade for me," Ethan said to Zharok.

Zharok wasn’t going north this time, he was staying behind to look after the place.

"A piece of cake, how long will you be gone?" Zharok asked.

"I don’t know, I can’t say for sure." Ethan shook his head.

"Although the Fox Beastmen can be difficult to deal with, as long as you build a good relationship with them, trading becomes very easy, I know a Fox Beastman; we can go find that Fox Beastman first and build some trust," Walter suggested.

"What do they like?" Ethan asked, considering gifts, that might help them blend in faster.

Ethan picked up a Honey Sweet Potato, most beastmen liked Honey Sweet Potatoes, so it should be fine, right?

"Honey Sweet Potatoes are nice, but they prefer meat," Walter said.

"Then I’ll make some meat dishes," Ethan said. Just roasting meat was too monotonous.

It would be better to make something else, Ethan stroked his chin in thought, he knew how to cook many dishes, but his ingredients were limited, especially the lack of sauces, if he had chili paste, he could make spicy pork.

"Where can I get soybeans?"

Making chili paste required soybean paste, making soybean paste required soybeans, so he had to find soybeans first, but he didn’t know where.

"I’ve seen soybeans in the Northern Region," Walter said, having visited a few times.

Ethan sighed. "It seems a trip to the Northern Region is absolutely necessary to solve all these problems."

No other way around it.

"By the time we come back, it should already be winter, likely arriving around the time of the first snow, until then, you can just stay in the wooden cabin," Ethan said to Zharok.

"Alright, you know how to use the underfloor heating, right?" Ethan asked.

"I know, I know, don’t worry." Zharok smiled.

The preparations for departure came together quickly, Ethan brought seeds and tools just in case, along with his cooking utensils.

Finally, he picked up the Holy Sword. "I have to bring this too."

Walter saw the Holy Sword and grimaced. "I really dislike that sword."