บท 53: The Guardian of the Farm

Thanks to the new Blueprint, Elaina managed to produce a good sprinkler that rivals the sprinklers used by many farmers. Julia and Elaina are the ones who assembled the sprinkler and because Julia is quite skilled in this aspect, they have little to no problem at all. Thanks to the materials that Elaina and Julia gathered at the quarry last time they went there, they have enough to quickly make the sprinkler. With Julia's magic to form and shape the metals and ingredients, the sprinklers were done and ready for use.

"Wow, to think there was a blueprint like this that has details regarding this kind of sprinkler! Where did you buy this, Sis? I don't think Sir Troy would have this blueprint in hand otherwise, this should be one of the commercially used sprinklers nowadays," Julia looked at Elaina, seeking answers to her question.

"It's one of the things that are included in the package with the big trophy. I don't know who sent it for us but I would accept it without hesitation since it was sent for us."

"Are you sure that we should accept these gifts? They are pretty suspicious to me. Especially that trophy."

"Eh, I am sure it will be fine. It's not like it will be harmful for us. And besides, without this blueprint, then we will not have a chance to start our automation process to water the plants. This is the beginning for us to ease up our work on the farm and to also lower our workload once I can't work anymore."

Hearing that, Julia perked up. "Well, if that is how it is, then whoever sent this gift to us, I am happy about it. Even if it is a bit suspicious since it is your judgment, I will follow through with it.

While Julia calls the sender suspicious, the god who is observing is now throwing fits after being called suspicious.

"[Who is she calling suspicious? I may not appear much to humans personally, but I am not someone that should be called suspicious. And besides, shouldn't it be fine to tell her about us and your connection to us? With her practice to arcane, she would understand.]" Although Elaina couldn't see his reactions, he might be fuming right now being called suspicious.

"Maybe in the future, especially if I run out of reasons to say. But for now, I will have to keep this matter to myself. Maybe if she saw the Harvest Goddess personally then maybe I can tell her about you."

After the production of the sprinklers, Elaina got four sprinklers that are now ready for action. She didn't want to make too many as the field that has plants as of now is not that big. She will consider making more once she expands the number of plants she will be planting in the future.

She placed them on the ground, enough for it to stay still on the ground. It will take effect the next morning watering all of the plants that are on its range. According to the blueprint, there are other higher variants of the sprinklers that have a wider range but it needs an upgrade and she will have to purchase the upgrade blueprint if she wants to make the more advanced ones. But for now, Elaina doesn't need them. And even if she does need it, she won't be able to buy it with little Farm Points. It would be expensive enough for sure since the initial blueprint is expensive as well.

Because she watered the plants already, the sprinkler didn't do anything, but she will see it tomorrow and see how it works. She will still water a few of the plants manually but this will save a lot of time for her to water fewer plants than before. She does not need to keep watering them one by one and she will have an easier time if it is raining.

The day of farming ended peacefully and nothing too remarkable happened. Elaina continued to observe the experimental plants and gave various observations to the observation log as a way to keep up with what she had seen so far. And so, night came.

The sky is clear, the moon is shining bright and the sky is full of stars, perfect for outdoor dinner.

Elaina set up the Portable Cooking Station while Julia carried the frozen meat that Elaina stored up. It is a good way to relax after a hard day's work as well and splurging on food once in a while is a good way to reduce stress and increase their satisfaction in their life.

Seemingly on cue, the cat(?) appeared and sat near the entrance of the house, waiting to get some meat as well. Since Elaina has been giving this cat(?) some food every day, Elaina thinks it is already staying on her farm on its own accord due to how it has an easy time here. Its wound has long been healed and it is no longer as hostile as before either. It still won't let them pet them, but this creature is no longer afraid of them. It is also getting a little fatter as well, perhaps due to how it has been eating well while staying on the farm.

Elaina has no plan to send the creature away from her farm as it never did anything bad she kinda of got a liking to it after a few weeks of feeding it.

Right now, the three gathered on the portable cooking station with a campfire to keep themselves warm while also enjoying grilling the meat.

"Whew, eating good food after a hard day's work is something else. If only we got some drinks to accompany this one then everything would be perfect," Elaina chews the meat that she grabbed from the grill as she grumbles on the lack of drinks.

"I didn't know that you would be quite a drinker, Sis. I rarely saw you drunk and if you get drunk, it's because you drank so much wine."

"If not for the rules done by my parents back when I was still single and for the reputation I needed to uphold when I was still the empress, I have little to no freedom in terms of drinking any alcohol. I occasionally drink wine but compared to beer and mead, wine is not even close."

The two continue to muse on what has been happening lately or even revisit past events, just whatever they are doing to keep the night lively for both of them.

It hadn't been long since it got dark and for the first time, Elaina felt nervous all of a sudden. For the first time, it seems Elaina is getting a feeling that something wrong currently happening but Elaina couldn't pinpoint what it was.

She can't sense what is happening but one did take notice of it. The cat(?) who occasionally grabs a few meat during their grilling process was currently grooming itself when its ears perked up and its eyes squinted. It also stopped whatever it was doing and suddenly jumped forward as it stared into the completely dark entrance to the forest.

"Julia? Did something breach the perimeter?" Elaina asked.

"No. Nothing yet so far. But I do feel some movements outside the barrier," Julia said, as she ready herself as well.

Elaina grabbed the sword on her side and ready it as well as she felt something was coming. She cannot see what is beyond the darkness but what she is feeling right now doesn't betray her.

It didn't take long before multiple figures appeared in the darkness. Before them are countless kobold monsters that are currently looking hostile. Their eyes are glowing red and are now ready to attack.

Elaina is ready to fight when all of a sudden, the cat(?) before them suddenly grows in size, and its fur suddenly ignites in flames. It figure is something that would blow their hats off. Its tails have grown from one to three and its wings are also blazing in flames as it flaps lightly. The current form of the cat(?) no longer resembles its normal form.

It gazes at the surprised kobolds for a few seconds before it takes action. It opens its mouth once before snapping it close causing all of the kobolds in the area to suddenly scamper and run away to the forest.

"C-confirmed, none of the kobolds have remained. They have escaped far from the farm now," Julia said as she scanned the surroundings.

Elaina was speechless gazing at the cat(?) before her. After all, she didn't expect the small and harmless cat(?) that was staying on the broken doghouse would become like this and drive away the monsters that tried to invade the farm.

Before Elaina can observe the cat(?) in further detail, a flaming blaze blows around its body before it returns to its former form. Now, Elaina couldn't view this little creature anymore as a wee little cat after seeing its true form. However, why did it guard them? Does this cat(?) just become the guardian of the farm?

And the attack earlier, is that one of the main reasons why the farm was vacated before?