CHAPTER 89: CHAPTER 89

Dingo and Gemma, noticing Clayton’s oddly excited behavior, couldn’t help but grow curious. Quietly, they followed behind him.

When they reached the tea tree, Clayton paused to observe it closely before gently pinching a few fresh buds. Thanks to his Farmer’s Observation and Farmer’s Intuition skills, he could easily tell which leaves were ready to harvest, which to leave, and how best to handle them. Before long, he had gathered around four kilograms of fresh tea leaves.

Clayton couldn’t hide his delight. He suspected the bountiful harvest was due to recent skill upgrades—like Harvest Boost—combined with his growing farming experience.

He was thoroughly pleased.

Seeing how happy Clayton was, Dingo wagged his tail in shared joy. He knew exactly what tea was—Clayton often gave him some, and he’d grown fond of it.

Gemma, on the other hand, had no idea what was going on. Curious, she brought her head close to one of the tender leaves and gently nibbled on it.

Moments later, her eyes lit up. She eagerly began munching on the rest.

Seeing this, Clayton quickly stopped her. Though reluctant at first, Gemma eventually obeyed and stepped back.

Clayton then grabbed some dried tea leaves and brewed a fresh pot, offering some to her. At first, Gemma was hesitant—suspicious and wary, as if she thought he was trying to poison her. But under Clayton’s gentle encouragement, she finally gave in. The moment the warm green liquid touched her tongue, her eyes sparkled.

She slurped down the rest eagerly. Unsatisfied, she nudged Clayton, clearly asking for more. Clayton smiled wryly and explained that they were out of tea. Gemma wouldn’t give up, pestering him persistently.

He patiently explained the lengthy process of harvesting, drying, and brewing tea. Gemma was skeptical at first, but after a bit of back-and-forth—and some help from Dingo—she finally accepted the explanation.

Unwilling to waste anything, Gemma began chewing on the spent tea leaves. Clayton didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. Then she turned to the tea tree with a soft gaze and stood beside it protectively, as if guarding a precious treasure. Clayton could only offer a helpless smile.

To his surprise, Gemma then began circling the tree. He thought she was just being playful—until she stopped and stared intently at the plant.

Perplexed, Clayton watched closely.

Then, a gentle glow radiated from Gemma’s body and enveloped the tree.

Clayton’s eyes widened. He recognized the glow—it was Gemma’s blessing spell. A few seconds later, the light faded, and the tree appeared unchanged.

But not to Clayton.

Thanks to his enhanced farming senses, he immediately noticed the difference. He was amazed—no wonder this species of deer was so highly prized. With just one blessing, the tea tree’s purity had increased by 0.001%.

It didn’t sound like much, but repeated over time, it could lead to the emergence of a superior strain. At the very least, it would improve the quality—and value—of future harvests.

Clayton felt deeply satisfied with his decision to adopt Gemma. Even if he had paid more, he wouldn’t have regretted it. Functionality and rarity truly defined worth.

He began processing the tea with utmost care, following each step in his guidebook. Throughout the process, Gemma stuck close by, anxiously watching to make sure he didn’t mess up her precious leaves.

...

Days passed.

Finally, the tea was ready. Eager with anticipation, Clayton brewed the first cup and took a sip.

Dingo and Gemma hovered nearby, pestering him with curiosity. But Clayton ignored them, lost in the moment.

"Ahh..." he sighed in contentment.

The moment the tea touched his tongue, his eyes lit up. The quality was leagues above anything he’d ever tasted. It wasn’t just that the leaves had gone from zero-star to one-star—the flavor and effects had skyrocketed.

A smooth blend of sweetness and bitterness revitalized his body. A gentle grassy aroma teased his senses. Most magical of all, a wave of mental clarity swept over him the moment he swallowed.

Seeing how much he enjoyed it, his two companions grew anxious.

Chuckling, Clayton brewed a cup for each of them.

The moment they were served, Dingo and Gemma eagerly slurped down their tea, ignoring the heat. Their faces turned blissful and serene. Naturally, they asked for more.

Clayton didn’t give in right away. He explained that the supply was limited, and if they weren’t careful, they’d run out quickly. Neither Dingo nor Gemma looked pleased, and both began begging again.

Eventually, Clayton relented. "Just one more cup," he said.

Though reluctant, they agreed.

Clayton brewed more and poured himself another cup too. This time, all three drank slowly, savoring each sip.

A long time passed before the tea was finally gone. Yet even then, their satisfaction felt incomplete. Gemma went so far as to steal the spent tea leaves from everyone’s cups.

Clayton was left speechless by how shameless his pets were being. But seeing Gemma chew the leaves so contentedly, he found himself tempted.

Just as he reached for the leaves in his own cup, Gemma let out a sharp snort. Her displeased glare made him freeze, caught red-handed.

With a look of wounded betrayal, she snatched the leaves from his cup and trotted away, glowing with triumph.

Clayton could only laugh awkwardly and shake his head at her ridiculous antics.

...

Several days later

Clayton had been staying home, doing odd chores and occasionally checking in on Liora.

But as the peaceful days dragged on, boredom crept in.

At first, he thought he’d be content with a quiet life—but clearly, he was wrong. He was growing restless.

Trying to find something to do, he recalled the winter fishing trip he’d taken months ago.

It had only happened once, but it left a lasting impression: fishing beside a campfire, warm tea in hand, with his beloved pets by his side.

The more he thought about it, the more excited he became.

...

The next day, Clayton set off for the frozen lake, accompanied by Dingo, Gemma, and his mini skeletons. Dingo bounded ahead, full of enthusiasm. The skeletons, as usual, moved silently. Gemma, never having been outside before, looked around in wide-eyed wonder.

It was like she was seeing the world for the first time. After being sick for so long, everything felt new and fascinating. Thanks to Clayton’s care, she was now healthy. Still a bit thin, but no signs of illness remained.

Clayton felt a deep sense of pride. If her previous owner saw her now, they’d never believe she was the same frail creature they had sold.

After a short walk, the group arrived at the frozen lake.

Clayton instructed the skeletons to set the traps, then let Dingo and Gemma roam freely.

He didn’t sit idle either—he pitched a tent and lit a fire.

Once preparations were complete, he had the skeletons drill a hole through the thick ice.

But as the hole formed, a strange disturbance rippled from beneath the surface. The water churned violently, quickly spiraling into chaos.

Clayton’s expression sharpened. "Everyone, back!"

The turbulence intensified until visibility through the ice hole vanished completely.

Then—suddenly—something shot out from the hole at blinding speed.

Clayton’s eyes widened in a mix of awe and concern.

"...Let’s hope this doesn’t turn into a real headache," he muttered.