Scholar of Seeds: Reborn with a Farming Scroll

The next morning, Ikenna woke up to find a squirrel sitting on his chest.

Not just any squirrel—a golden-furred one with tufted ears, oversized eyes, and a glowing acorn between its tiny paws.

[Spirit Squirrel – Grade E]

Status: Curious

Bond Level: 0.3

This creature offers a gift in exchange for safety.

"...You too?" Ikenna groaned.

The squirrel placed the glowing acorn gently beside his shoulder and scampered off, tail flicking proudly.

He sat up slowly, careful not to crush the offering. The system chimed:

Item Obtained: Verdant Acorn (Enhancer Seed)

Can be planted to summon a single-use buff tree with temporary defense bonuses. Rare.

Spirit Creatures Fed or Befriended: 3/3

Quest Complete: "The One Who Cultivates Kindness"

Reward Gained: Beast Bonding Rope, Basic Animal Stable Blueprint

Ikenna stared at the shimmering rope and new scroll tab. "Great. I'm officially running an inn for magical freeloaders."

Professor snorted in agreement and nudged his shoulder with a slobbery yawn.

By mid-morning, Ikenna had laid out the plans for a small stable using the new blueprint. His shelter was still half-finished, but apparently the system had priorities.

The Beast Bonding Rope, warm and pulsing faintly with energy, allowed him to "bind" spirit beasts for mutual benefit. He hadn't yet decided which to tie it to, but the Spirit Hare matron had been lurking closer each day.

He knelt at the edge of the rice field and inspected the stalks. They had now reached thigh-high, swaying with an almost musical rhythm. Their glow was softer, but deeper—more rooted.

Crop Status:

Spirit Rice – 92% Mature

Aura Strength: High

Taste Profile: Unranked

Recommendation: Infuse signature essence for identity imprint.

"Signature essence?" Ikenna frowned. "What, I sign the field?"

Affirmative.

In this realm, cultivator-grown crops carry the spiritual signature of their farmer. This allows others to sense your intent, alignment, and energy flow.

Please meditate near your field to imprint your essence before harvest.

He blinked. "You want me to spiritually season the rice."

No response.

He sighed and sat cross-legged near the middle row. The breeze brushed against his skin as he closed his eyes, letting the sounds of the valley flood in—chirping insects, rustling leaves, the soft gurgle of water in his irrigation channels.

He thought of his old life. Lecture halls. Protest signs. Police whistles. Chaos.

And now? Soil. Growth. Silence.

Peace.

His breath slowed. Heartbeat quieted. He sank into a strange, weightless state—not sleep, not wakefulness.

In his mind, he reached into the soil with invisible hands.

And the soil reached back.

Signature Essence Applied Successfully.

Crop Now Bears Your Imprint: "Scholar's Calm"

+5 EXP

Passive Aura Effect: Slight Focus Boost for Consumers

+Trait: "Soothing Nourishment"

(Your crops may heal 1 point of minor mental fatigue when consumed.)

Ikenna exhaled slowly, eyes fluttering open. The rice looked the same—but somehow felt different.

"Alright," he muttered. "Let's hope Elder Yomi likes zen grains."

That evening, Ikenna harvested the mature section of his field.

The system guided him through the proper cuts, sorting, and drying techniques—complete with warnings about bruising spirit husks or over-packing storage scrolls. He filled two woven sacks and packed them beside the scroll's temporary storage bag.

Spirit Rice Yield: x1.5

Quality: Stable-High

Imprint: Registered

Ready for submission: ✔

He felt something stir in his chest—not pride, exactly, but the kind of nervous anticipation that came before a thesis defense or exam results.

The next day would decide whether the village accepted him… or kept him at arm's length.

That night, he couldn't sleep.

Not because of worry—but because something whined outside the hut.

He stepped into the moonlight with a torch in hand. There, in the clearing near the Spirit Hare burrow, a new creature stood: a small, fox-like spirit with two tails, white fur, and amber eyes.

[Spirit Kitsune Pup – Grade E+]

Status: Injured.

Affinity: Unknown.

Do you wish to attempt healing?

"Of course I do," he muttered, crouching. "Let me guess—more freeloaders."

But his hands moved gently as he unpacked the dried mint leaves Amara had given him and some crushed lumina stalks. The system offered suggestions as he worked, and soon, the little pup's breathing steadied.

It licked his fingers once before curling beside his boot.

Professor stared from the doorway like a jealous grandpa.

Ikenna glanced up at the moon. "If I'm going to be a farmer," he whispered, "might as well be one with weird friends."