Nigel walked away from the group, feeling annoyed by the constant interference of the purple-haired girl. If he hadn't hurried away, she would have probably dragged him to the hospital and made him pay a ridiculous amount of money.

Looking around, Nigel made his way towards the busy saloon. He wasn't sure where Emily was. Even though she allowed him to use her sewing machine, he didn't want to show up unannounced.

The place was loud and crowded, and Nigel didn't enjoy such an atmosphere. It just didn't suit him. He understood that others found entertainment important, but it didn't appeal to him. He preferred peace and calmness.

Finding a quiet corner, Nigel settled down, distancing himself from the noise and commotion. He sought comfort in his own thoughts, observing the festival unfolding from a distance.

"Hey, Nigel!"

As Nigel tried to leave, he heard a familiar voice calling out to him. Leah and Elliot stood near the buffet, sipping on some punch. Their faces were flushed, indicating they had been drinking alcohol.

Remembering the time he had to carry Leah all the way home, Nigel let out a groan and tried to keep walking. But Leah and Elliot grabbed his shoulder, pulling him towards the buffet.

"Hey, you should try this fruit punch! It's really good!"

"Nigel, my friend... Taking a break from work can actually make you more productive in the long run. Why don't you take some rest?"

"..."

Nigel glanced at the fruit punch Leah was holding. It smelled like alcohol. Rest? Nigel thought sleeping was enough rest for him. He already wasted around four hours every day just lying down. That was already a significant waste of time.

These people couldn't understand his determination. They didn't get his hunger for achievement. He needed to keep that hunger burning, never letting it fade. Only then could he find his true path.

"I'm in a hurry right now."

"What? Seriously? Nigel, today is the festival! Can't you take a break sometimes?"

Leah objected, but Nigel simply shook his head. While he didn't plan on going to the mines that day, he still had to take care of his farm, fix his tools, bring artifacts and minerals to Gunther, and sew his clothes. Even if he couldn't do everything, there was no time for leisure.

The only reason he had come to the festival was for the free buffet and the prize after the egg hunt. Nobody dislikes free things.

After reluctantly apologizing to Leah, Nigel scanned the town square and soon spotted Emily, the blue-haired lady, talking to someone he had never spoken to before.

"Emily."

"Oh, Hi Nigel! Are you enjoying the festival?"

Nigel just nodded. He didn't want to engage in pointless conversation.

"I've been up since dawn painting these eggs... It's always my favorite part of the season."

"Can I use your sewing machine today?"

Without any extra words, Nigel went straight to the point. Emily seemed to be a bit caught off guard of the sudden change of direction, but she answered Nigel's question without hesitation. Even though, that answer wasn't what Nigel wanted to hear.

"Sorry, Nigel. I think it's difficult to...You can use it tomorrow, though!"

"Okay."

Even with that answer, Nigel's expression remained unchanged. He nodded at Emily and quickly walked away to another place. Emily was confused by their quick, sudden conversation, but she couldn't help but find Nigel interesting in his own peculiar ways. The only issue she had with him was the incident involving her sister.

"Ugh... He... He can't just say that to me! He can't! That stupid farmer..."

Emily remembered the harsh words her younger sister had said. She wasn't sure what had happened, but she assumed her sister had done something rude again. Considering Nigel's way of talking, he probably just ignored her, which seemed to be what her sister hated the most.

But Emily believed that problems between people are meant to be solved by themselves. She went back to her conversation with Jodi, who was carefully observing Nigel.

"Emily... he's the new farmer, right? Well, I heard some rumors..."

"Rumors are just rumors for a reason, Jodi. He's a nice guy, just kind of... quiet, that's it. Though I wish one day he would slow down a bit."

Emily looked at Nigel, who was hastily heading towards the library, his face devoid of emotion.

"...Oh, my... is this... Is this...! Mr. Nigel, I assure you... This is a seed... very rare and ancient, for sure... and undoubtedly priceless!"

Gunther, who was on his way to the buffet for lunch, was stopped by Nigel, who handed him some prehistoric tools and bones. They were valuable, but what caught Gunther's attention the most was... the ancient seed.

"Where... Where did you get this?"

"In the mines. From a bug's body."

"In the mines, you say..? Oh, okay. I need to calm down... First, Mr. Nigel... Let me tell you the value of this seed."

Nigel nodded, giving Gunther permission to continue.

"This seed is called... the ancient seed. That's it. The reason it's named like this is... simple. Its samples are extremely rare worldwide. All we know is that these seeds have... magical properties and were cultivated by ancient people for important cultural rituals."

Gunther caught his breath and went on.

"...The seeds we have found until now were mostly distorted or dead. But this seed... This seed is completely alive. Though old, if you plant it and provide enough care, this seed will bear fruit... worth more than most of the crops you'll ever farm. And the plants they grow into survive all seasons, including winter."

Nigel was shocked. According to Gunther, this was the dream crop that perfectly matched all his ideals.

"... How long does it take to grow again?"

"I'm not sure about that. While there are some places that still produce these plants in very small quantities, they are mostly sold to wizards, so archaeologists haven't had a chance to study them in detail... Mr. Nigel, I... I beg you. Would you please plant this crop on your farm and grow it? Please."

Nigel glanced at Gunther, who appeared desperate for his help. Although he had already decided to plant the seed, Nigel saw an opportunity to seize what he wanted.

"I have one condition," Nigel stated, his voice serious. "Given the uncertainties surrounding this plant, it's a gamble for me to care for it."

"I understand," Gunther replied. "What is your condition? I'm afraid we can't offer much in terms of payment, as we're short on funds..."

"Give me the library key," Nigel requested, surprising Gunther with an unexpected demand.

"The library key? I'm sorry, but why do you need it?" Gunther questioned, bewildered.

"Because I can't come here during daylight hours. I don't have the time. However, you needn't worry about security issues since I'm the one donating minerals and artifacts. It seems like a fair exchange to me."

Gunther took a moment to consider Nigel's proposition. Considering Nigel's dedication and contributions to the museum, Gunther found it difficult to refuse. And, Nigel was even offering him a chance to make a scientific breakthrough. No sane man would ever decline this deal.

"...Okay, Mr. Nigel. Take this."

Gunther handed over his spare set of library keys to Nigel. Nigel inspected it once, and shoved it to his pocket.

"Good. The deal is sealed. I assure you, you will get your chance to see the growth of this plant."

"Thank you. This..would be a great chance to me, for sure..."

Nigel waved his head. It was nothing to thank of. He got his price, and Gunther deserved to get it too. Though, he didn't seemed to know how significant this action meant to him. This would increase his efficiency over mining, fishing, and many other activities he had to do in town.

"Ah, It's time for lunch. Mr. Nigel, why don't we go enjoy the buffet?"

"...Sure. Sure, why not."

With a faint smile, Nigel followed Gunther from behind, toward the town square. It felt like...Luck, was finally holding his hand. And he wasn't going to let go of this grasp...untill the limit. The automation plan...his ultimate plan, to turn his farm into a automized factory...was starting to begin its path.