As Nigel worked diligently on his farm, carefully tending to the soil and planting various seeds, the physical exertion began to take a toll on his energy. Feeling the weariness seep in, Nigel decided to call it a day, mindful not to push himself too far.

After a quick shower and a change of clothes, Nigel felt an inner restlessness compelling him to explore the town. It was still early, around 4 p.m., and he saw it as a perfect opportunity to acquaint himself with his new surroundings and gather important information along the way.

"...Already tired, and the day is far from over," Nigel murmured to himself in his usual serious and thoughtful manner. He strolled leisurely through Pelican Town, taking in the sights and observing the various buildings that comprised the town.

Passing by the local hospital and Pierre's General Store, Nigel caught the attention of Lewis, the town mayor. With a nod of acknowledgment, Nigel greeted him, expecting a brief exchange before continuing his walk. However, Lewis seemed determined to engage him in conversation.

"Well, Nigel, how was your first night in that old cottage? Your grandfather always complained about the bed, but he still had a certain fondness for the house," Lewis inquired, genuinely curious.

Nigel, ever reserved, responded succinctly, uninterested in dwelling on minor details. "No major issues. The bed suits me just fine... Lewis, do you happen to have a map of the town? I need additional information about this place and..."

Interjecting, Lewis realized his oversight. "Ah, right, right... I completely forgot about the map. Here, take this."

Nigel unfolded the map, studying it meticulously. He noticed an old mine in the mountains and a nearby quarry, which could provide valuable resources. There was also a ranch near the forest, a library, a blacksmith, and, to Nigel's displeasure, a Joja Mart.

"...Joja?"

"Ah, yes... They've been here for some time now. Pierre isn't exactly thrilled about their presence," Lewis explained.

Nigel's expression remained impassive, but beneath the surface, anger simmered. Why did have to follow him here? Suppressing his frustration, Nigel decided to shift his focus elsewhere.

"Nigel, if you find yourself with spare time, it would be beneficial for you to keep an eye on this. It's the town schedule, and over there is the bulletin board where we post requests for help."

"...Oh, thanks."

The schedule seemed useful. Nigel noticed various dates marked as birthdays on the calendar, including Lewis's upcoming birthday on Sunday. However, what caught his attention were the upcoming festivals.

"Egg festival...?"

"A favorite among children, and some adults too, of course. Gus, our finest cook, prepares a buffet, and there's an egg hunt where the youngsters compete. You should consider participating, Nigel. There's even a small prize for it."

"...I'll think about it. And what's this 'flower dance'?"

"The flower dance? Ah, it's a gathering in the forest where we dance together. Bachelors and bachelorettes dance as partners... If you find someone, you can join in too."

"...Okay."

Considering the options, the egg festival appeared more appealing to Nigel, while the flower dance didn't capture his interest. Nigel bid farewell to the mayor and made his way to the library.

During the walk, he noticed a few lingering gazes from passersby. A curious blond-haired girl cast a glance his way, and an elderly woman waved hello. Nigel politely nodded in return to the elderly lady but paid no mind to the girl, continuing on his path.

Without further unnecessary interactions, he arrived at the library. His stomach grumbled for food, but he settled for the cheap chocolate bars and crackers he had brought along.

"...Oh? Hello there, and welcome to the Stardew Valley Archaeological Office... You're the new farmer, right?"

"...Archaeology office? I thought I came to a library."

"Ah, no, no. You're in the right place. This place functions as both a library and a museum. The books are inside... I'm Gunther, by the way."

"Nigel... And did you say, a museum?"

Nigel glanced around, but there were no artifacts or displays to be seen. Some books were even missing from the shelves.

"...Haha... Well, uh... This is embarrassing, but the former curator made off with the entire collection. We... don't really have any artifacts left to display. But... I'm hoping to restore it soon! By the way, since you're a farmer, you spend a lot of time in nature... If you come across any minerals or artifacts, could you let me know? We can offer rewards for donations as well."

...Rewards for artifacts and minerals? Not a bad incentive to consider. It was true that many artifacts and minerals could be valuable, but selling them might require complicated procedures.

"...I'll think about it."

"Great! So... What kind of books are you interested in? I..."

-rumble...

Nigel's expressionless face twitched. The loud noise came from his growling stomach. He hadn't eaten properly to save money, and...

"You must be starving for sure. You've been farming all day, right? Well... here, take this. You're not supposed to eat in the library, but... just promise me you'll donate something, okay?"

Gunther handed him a sandwich. Although it was simple, containing basic vegetables and a slice of ham, it was far more nutritious than the cheap snacks Nigel had been consuming.

"...Thanks."

"No problem... So, what kind of books are you looking to read? The library closes at 6 p.m., and it's already 5:30... It would be best for you to borrow them if you want to read."

"Do you have any books about farming?"

"Yes, they're over there, where I'm pointing right now..."

"...Thanks, Gunther."

Nigel thanked him once more and walked over to the bookshelf Gunther had indicated. He scanned through the titles and chose a few.

"'How to Improve Crop Quality'...'Maximizing Farming Efficiency'... and finally, 'Caring for Your Crops'. Okay, good... You can borrow these until the week after next."

"...Okay. And... Thanks for the sandwich again."

"No problem. Have a good evening."

Nigel packed his newly borrowed books into his pocket and began walking home. Along the way, he foraged some interesting items that he could potentially sell—leeks, horseradish, and daffodils. Things were going well until...

-crash!

"...What the..."

Nigel stumbled to the ground after colliding with someone in front of the saloon. The man, wearing a blue Joja employee uniform with a green shirt underneath, looked unkempt and shot Nigel a disdainful glance. He, too, fell to the ground and let out a pained groan.

"...Argh... What are you doing? Damn it, that hurt!"

"..."

Nigel didn't respond to the man's complaints but continued observing him. After all, it was the man who had bumped into him. Nigel hadn't done anything wrong.

The man glared at Nigel, only to be met with his cold and expressionless face. He gritted his teeth but refrained from further complaints, aware that he was at fault for the collision.

"...What are you looking at? I said I'm sorry, okay? Just go now."

"...I recommend you watch where you're going at night... so we don't end up in this situation again."

"Okay, okay, just go. stop looking at me with those...eyes."

Nigel observed Shane once more, taking note of the small name tag that read 'Shane'. Although they had just met, Nigel recognized the type of person Shane represented. He had encountered numerous individuals like him during his time at —losers, failures in life. People lacking the willpower or courage to move forward, constantly struggling and eventually succumbing to despair, relying on others and drowning their sorrows in alcohol. Shane, with his eyes reflecting that sense of defeat, disgusted Nigel.

By 7 p.m., Nigel arrived home and began rearranging the furniture, moving the bed closer for convenience. He turned on the TV to check the weather forecast, but as soon as he heard it would be clear and sunny, he switched it off without paying much attention. Instead, he immersed himself in his books, eager to learn and apply his knowledge to farming.

"...So with this information, I can assess my crops and categorize them into four qualities: no star, silver star, gold star, and iridium star..."

Nigel didn't rest his eyes until everyone in town had gone to sleep, and the lantern in his old cottage remained lit until 2 a.m.

Anything for guaranteed success.


"That damn newcomer..."

Shane grumbled quietly to himself as he sipped his beer. He knew he was at fault for the collision, his mind preoccupied with thoughts about Jas and his job. He simply hadn't noticed the dark figure in the night. But the newcomer...

The way he looked at Shane with those emotionless, cold eyes sent shivers down his spine. And those large, serious-looking books he carried only added to his irritation. People like him always got under Shane's skin.

...But this time, there was nothing he could do. He acknowledged his mistake and, despite his emotional tendencies, Shane could still think rationally.

"...Whatever. Gus, another glass, please."

"Here you go."

Another day, another attempt to forget. Shane decided to let his simple mind take control and poured another beer down his throat, seeking temporary solace in familiar routines.