Since it was raining, Nigel saw it as the perfect opportunity to take advantage of the solitude and go catfish fishing in the Cindersap Forest. As a stoic beginner, he anticipated the challenge but valued the potential profit.

Nigel's attention was drawn to an unusual sight—a magenta cart being pulled by a purple pig. Curiosity stirred within him as he approached the cart. The green-haired lady, presumably the traveling merchant, acknowledged his presence.

"Welcome to the Traveling Cart. You must be the new farmer everyone's been talking about."

Nigel offered a silent nod, his demeanor aloof and unresponsive.

The merchant's smile remained undeterred by Nigel's lack of engagement. "Take a look at our random selection of items. If anything catches your eye, let me know."

Nigel quietly surveyed the items, his gaze lingering on the peculiar seed labeled as a "Rare Seed," priced at an exorbitant 1000g. The inexplicable price failed to elicit a reaction from him. Alongside the seed, parsnips were priced at 1000g, coleslaw at 1035g, and an albacore at 400g.

"Parsnip... for 1000g?" Nigel finally broke his silence, his voice devoid of warmth.

The merchant chuckled, seemingly amused by the conversation. "Indeed, those parsnips are something special, smuggled all the way from the Gotoro Empire. Hence the price. But imagine the prestige of Gotoro parsnips, wouldn't you say?"

Nigel's expression remained stoic and unchanging, his silence speaking volumes. He regarded the traveling merchant with a piercing gaze, silently considering the potential benefits of accessing items unavailable at Pierre's store. The rare seed intrigued him, promising the growth of a mysterious and unfamiliar plant.

Yet, Nigel's cold demeanor thawed briefly as ethical concerns about smuggling emerged. He offered a curt response, exposing a fragment of his thoughts.

"I have no desire to involve myself in such...matters."

Understanding his aloofness, the merchant nodded in acceptance. "Understood. The choice is yours. Should you change your mind, I'll be here. Best of luck with your endeavors."

With a subtle nod, Nigel turned away from the merchant and proceeded toward the nearby river, positioning himself in front of a modest cabin. It was his preferred fishing spot—a serene refuge where he could immerse himself in the task at hand.

As raindrops pelted his black raincoat, Nigel sensed a pair of eyes fixed upon him. Glancing over his shoulder, he met the gaze of a young woman with orange hair standing on the cabin's porch. Her inquisitive eyes locked with his, prompting silent contemplation about his presence and intentions.

"...Oh..! sorry, didn't meant to startle you. Hi, I'm Leah."

The woman, who introduced herself as Leah, greeted Nigel with a warm smile on her face. Nigel remained silent, acknowledging her presence with a nod before attempting to walk away and find a new fishing spot.

"Um...You don't have to move, you know! I was just staring at you because...Well, it isn't common to see a person fully dressed in black fishing in the rain. Your image gave me inspiration...I'm an artist, just to make it clear."

"...Oh. I thought I was in a private domicile. Well then...My name is Nigel."

"Yeah, the new guy in town! You picked a good time to move here...The spring is lovely."

"...Ok."

Nigel checked his watch, noting that it was 12:00. He still had 14 hours to accomplish his tasks according to his schedule. After a few hours of fishing, he planned to chop some wood.

-thwip!

Nigel fished up another catfish, realizing that his pocket was completely full. He searched for something he could discard and found a piece of driftwood—a peculiar shape but not worthy enough to use as a resource.

"...Ah, driftwood. I don't need this."

"Oh..! That wood looks interesting! Are you going to throw it out?"

Nigel turned his gaze back to Leah, surprised that she was still there. This time, she was actually drawing something on a piece of paper.

"...You were still here?"

"Well, this is my house, you know. Anyways, that piece of wood. Can I have it?"

Nigel shrugged and walked over to her, gently wiping away the water from the wood before handing it to Leah. She smiled happily as she inspected it.

"Thanks! I could use it for..."

"Sculpting?"

"Yeah! And since nature is wonderful itself...This kind of wood can also teach me a lesson."

"..."

Nigel glanced at her one last time. It was interesting to see someone so different from him. Bright, emotional... All those aspects seemed strange to him. She also didn't do anything productive at all, for the last few hours...of course, She might be a very famous artist, so maybe she didn't need much money...but still. it was really weird to see someone that free.

"...huh. It's already time..."

Nigel organized his fishing gear and stored it in his magically enchanted pocket. Leah waved him goodbye, and he nodded in response before setting off toward his farm.

As Nigel made his way back, he couldn't help but notice the farm's waterlogged condition and the nearby pond on the verge of flooding. Determined to prevent any damage, Nigel started digging up the surrounding areas of the pond, expanding it to accommodate the excess water. It was tough work, but he persevered, ensuring that his small potato field remained unaffected.

Once the immediate threat was mitigated, Nigel shifted his focus to chopping down some trees near the farm. Despite the rain making the axe handle slippery, he refused to be deterred. The task was physically demanding, but Nigel's unwavering determination fueled his efforts.

After clearing a portion of the farm, Nigel felt the exhaustion seep into his bones. He meticulously removed rocks, fallen wood, and weeds from the area in front of the broken greenhouse. The broken structure puzzled him, as he couldn't recall why it was in disrepair. Nevertheless, Nigel saw the potential value of having a functioning greenhouse and made a mental note to prioritize its restoration.

With his tasks completed, Nigel collected the catfish and smallmouth bass he had caught, and stored them in the shipping crate. He entered his house, removing his raincoat and leaving it to dry. A quick shower washed away the grime, and he collapsed onto his bed, utterly spent. Glancing at the time—it was 9 pm—he realized he still had time to move but lacked the strength to do so.

Instead of pushing himself further, Nigel checked the weather forecast for the next day, which indicated clear skies. Excitement flickered within him as he contemplated exploring the mines. With a sense of determination, he planned his next steps—watering the crops in the morning before venturing into the mysterious depths.

"...Tomorrow, after watering the crops..."

Aware of the potential dangers lurking within the mines, Nigel decided to arm himself with his scythe, pickaxe, and hoe. He understood that being prepared for any situation was paramount, even if it meant carrying unconventional tools.