He opened the regional directory, switched the filter from "Local" to "National," and started browsing through listings of the major cities across the country.

The Federal Government, based in the Central Region, now managed almost everything: dungeon control, awakened registries, mana research, the development of new technologies, and the standardized annual examinations for entering federal academies or civil service. It also directed the ongoing efforts to push deeper into the wild zones and reclaim what was lost.

Rowen scrolled through listings from the Central Region transport routes, city profiles, current expansion projects, and public calls for support.

Compared to all that, his small town—Border Town, a quiet district on the outskirts of Everset City, tucked along the edge of the Eastern Region barely registered on the map.

He leaned back in his chair, phone still resting in his hand.

After browsing for a while, Rowen started to feel sleepy. His eyes drifted shut before he even realized it.

Some time later, Fern's voice pulled him out of the haze.

"Hey. Harvest's ready, including the tomatoes."

Rowen opened his eyes slowly, still half-asleep. He reached for his phone and checked the time.

6:07 PM.

He blinked. Most of the shops on his street closed by 5:00 PM. He stood up, walked to the door, and looked outside through the front window.

As expected, all the neighboring stores had their shutters down. Quiet. Lights off.

He flipped his shop's sign to "Closed" and locked the door.

Then he turned to Fern. "Harvest them. Keep the tomatoes and potatoes in separate baskets—we'll sell them tomorrow."

Fern gave a nod and floated off toward the portal.

Rowen's stomach growled.

He pulled out his phone again, opened the food delivery app, and picked something simple. Mana-infused spiced meat with rice and root vegetables he'd had it once before and liked it.

About fifteen minutes later, the delivery boy showed up. Rowen paid, took the bag, and went back into his room.

He sat down and ate in silence, finishing every bite.

Once he was done, he changed into fresh clothes, cleaned up the utensils, and wiped the table down.

As he turned back toward the corner, he noticed the baskets had already been placed neatly near the shelf one for tomatoes, one for potatoes.

When he looked at the tomato basket, a faint shimmer crossed his vision.

A small, glowing interface appeared above the top row of tomatoes.

It looked like a basic appraisal screen.

There was a label:Item: Tomatoes Grade: common+ Effects: – Restores minor mana over time (passive) – Slightly improves focus for 10–15 minutes after consumption – Accelerates physical recovery by a small margin

Rowen narrowed his eyes, reading the effects again.

That was new.

And useful.

Sure enough, there it was. Slightly improves focus for 10–15 minutes after consumption

Rowen stared at the screen a little longer.

He hadn't seen that effect listed on anything they'd grown before. And he knew for a fact—ordinary tomatoes didn't have this.

Mana restoration that was already present in the potatoes. Rare, but something he'd seen.

But this?

A temporary focus boost?

That was something different. And something people might actually pay attention to—especially awakened types who needed clarity for learning new techniques, mages studying new spells, or craftsmen working on weapons, tools, or magical artifacts.

He made a mental note to offer the tomatoes to customers first—see how they responded. Then he'd decide how many mana stones to price them at.

Maybe he'd test the effect himself later.

Rowen closed the screen with a small swipe.

Rowen stood up and walked over to the shop drawer.

He pulled it open and took out the small pouch.

Inside were the 13 mana crystals he had left.

Without hesitating, he tossed them to Fern.

"Here. Take these."

Fern caught the pouch mid-air, nodding silently.

Rowen leaned against the counter. "We'll need to upgrade the farm soon. You said it takes fifty, right?"

Fern gave a slow nod. "Yeah. Fifty low-grade mana crystals for the next expansion."

Rowen sighed, already calculating. He was still short by a lot.

But if the new batch sold well, especially with the tomato effects, he could probably earn the rest from tomorrow's customers.

By the time everything was done, Rowen checked the clock.

It was already past 10:00 PM.

He hadn't realized how quickly time had passed.

The room was dim now, lit only by the faint glow of the wall light near the counter. Outside, the street was quiet with no foot traffic, no voices, just the occasional hum of a manna lamp flickering in the distance.

Rowen let out a slow breath, the kind that came after a long but satisfying day. It wasn't perfect, but things were moving and growing. He had a goal now, something clear to work toward.

He turned off the lights, headed to his soft bed, and lay down without another word.

Fern came over to Rowen and found the spot near the corner, gave a soft yawn, and slowly powered down into sleep mode, arms folded, eyes shut.

Neither of them said anything.

They didn't need to.

Tomorrow would come soon enough.

And it would be busy.

The barren land welcomed him once more. Fern floated silently nearby as Rowen walked toward a corner of the field.

"This should do."

He jabbed the hoe into the ground and started loosening the soil. It was harder than he expected—the earth was dry and resistant—but he didn't stop. Bit by bit, he carved out small rows. Sweat began to bead on his forehead, but he pressed on.

Once the rows were ready, he placed the potato seeds one by one, then gently covered them with the soil. Finally, he fetched water from the nearby well using a small wooden bucket and poured it over the planted area.

Fern watched quietly. "You know, even if the soil is poor, effort like that helps. You might not see growth yet, but the space will remember it."

Rowen sat back, wiping his brow. "I just want to see something grow. Even if it's slow… it'll be mine."

Fern smiled faintly. "Then let's make it happen."

Just as Rowen finished watering the last row, a sharp knock echoed from beyond the space—faint, but distinct.

He frowned.

"Someone's at the shop?" He looked up, puzzled. "It's already past eight. Who would come now?"

Fern hovered beside him. "The portal doesn't allow others in, but sound can pass through if your focus wavers."

Rowen stood up and brushed the dirt from his hands. "Can I close this door?"

Fern nodded. "Yes. You can open or seal it at will, as long as you're not interrupted. Just will it closed."

Rowen turned toward the glowing wooden door. He focused briefly, and the doorway shimmered before fading into a faint outline against the air.

Without another word, he stepped through and found himself back in his small room above the shop. The knock came again, this time louder.

He moved toward the stairs, eyes narrowing. "Let's see who's visiting at this hour…"

Rowen opened the door.

Calen stood there with a smirk, holding a covered basket. "Brought you food. Figured you wouldn't show up anyway," he said, stepping inside without waiting for an invitation. "Are you busy or just avoiding people?"

Rowen closed the door behind him, scratching the back of his neck. "Something like that," he muttered. "I had a lot on my mind."

Calen placed the basket on the table and sat down. "You always do. So, what's your plan now? Going to try the knight path? Mage?"

Rowen shook his head. "Neither. I didn't awaken… the usual way."

Calen raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"

Rowen hesitated for a second, then replied, "It's complicated. Let's just say… I've got another path to walk."

Calen stared at him for a moment, then shrugged. "Huh. Well, whatever it is, just don't end up dead. I'll be too busy taming beasts to save your ass."

Rowen gave a small smile. "Noted."

After some time, Calen left, and Rowen quietly cleaned up the small table. The shop downstairs was quiet now, the streets outside empty and still.

He sat down and ate the food Calen had brought—simple but warm, the kind of comfort meal he hadn't realized he needed.

Once done, he cleaned up, then climbed the creaking wooden stairs back to his room above the shop.

"Fern," he called softly.

A swirl of green light shimmered in front of him, and the tiny spirit appeared, hovering in the air with his leafy hair and ever-calm expression.

"You're ready to go back in?" Fern asked.

Rowen nodded. "Yeah. Open the portal again."

Fern raised a hand, and the air in front of them shimmered.

A glowing doorway slowly formed, pulsing softly with green light.

Rowen stood, stepped forward, and placed his hand on the handle.

With a soft click, the portal opened once more.

Rowen stepped through the glowing doorway and entered the small farmland.

To his surprise, the patch where he had planted potatoes earlier was already showing signs of growth. Tiny green shoots poked out from the soil.

He looked around, puzzled. "It's only been a few hours…"

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