"What do you mean?"
"Kinemon, how's the gold mining?"
Old man Kinemon immediately spun around like a grandpa ninja and beamed at Froilan. "Yes, Froi! We're almost done mining as per your brilliant instructions. Three carts are full! We only need to process them into glorious gold bars that hopefully don't explode."
"Very well. If we've got more than enough, let's turn those babies into bars and sell them to the City—especially now that the whole 'Dragon Might Eat Us' thing is officially not on the agenda."
"Just like I heard," Kinemon said, smiling like a grandpa who just figured out how to send emojis. Then he zipped away like a senior citizen on a mission, joining the other workers pushing a cart of glittery rocks.
Froilan and I stood in silence for a moment, just watching him.
"Is there something I don't know?" I asked suspiciously, squinting like a detective in a low-budget mystery film.
Froilan smiled at me. That weird, knowing kind of smile that says yes, you're the idiot in this story, but I won't say it out loud.
"Well, Kinemon used to tell me stories when I was a kid. He said a hero would appear out of nowhere to save us from misery. You remember the rumors I told you, Boss?"
"Uh… yeah?" I answered, already bracing for something insane.
"Well, I stopped believing in that hero ages ago. But then you showed up, looking like a lost cosplayer with no GPS. And I thought, 'Yeah, this guy's probably the one.'"
"…Your brutal honesty amazes me, Froilan. I mean, most people would lie a little. Like, just a tiny bit."
"Heh. Not all humans are heroes, Boss." He winked at me.
Wow, this guy. Can we put that on a T-shirt?
After a brief tour of the cave, Froilan led me to the so-called "farmland." Emphasis on the so-called. It looked more like someone had planted seeds in the Amazon rainforest. Grasses taller than most humans, fruit trees doing whatever they wanted, and a whole squad of beastskins and demi-humans casually working like this was a typical Tuesday.
"Uh, when did this happen? I've been asleep for three days. Was there a farming montage I missed?"
Froilan casually walked ahead, turning to talk while not tripping over giant roots like I was.
"Father had strict rules about the mines, so we couldn't touch anything before. But the farmland? Different rules. Still working on clearing it, though."
"Wait… this place grows fruit even after being neglected for years?"
"Yup," Froilan said proudly. "The fairies blessed it before they went extinct. Want to try an Apis?"
"Sure. What could go wrong?" I said, accepting a glowing red apple like I was in a fairy tale, minus the talking animals. Hopefully.
"This is Apis?" I asked.
Froilan nodded solemnly.
I took a bite. My taste buds practically threw a party. "Wow. This is sweet."
"Told ya. The fairy who blessed the farm wanted it to grow the best stuff. Even after the invasion and the dragon threat, it never stopped."
Wait, what?
"How long ago was the invasion?"
"About twenty years ago."
"And no one touched this land in twenty years?"
"Nope. Because…"
"Don't say it—"
"It defends itself."
Of course it does.
My eyes widened. "Like… alive-alive?"
"Yup. The trees are alive. They thrive off the blessed soil."
Great. I've eaten a sentient apple. Do I owe it rent now?
"Since when did you start farming again?"
"Since the dragon disappeared."
"What workers?"
"I'll call their leader."
Froilan stepped aside and yelled, "Earrina!"
And then—POOF—a woman appeared. Like, legit appeared. Sparkles optional.
She looked just like Raiden, only with more chill and fewer weapons.
"Boss wanted to meet our workers," Froilan said.
She gave me a sweet smile that somehow reached into my soul and rearranged the furniture. "Welcome to the farmland, Mister Troy. Thank you for slaying the dragon and letting us work again."
Okay, wow. Those eyes? Illegal. Absolutely unfair.
"Are… you a fairy?"
"I'm a Farming Fae, Mister Troy."
Fae? Fairy? Cousins? I don't know anymore.
"Would you like to pick some fruits? We're about to harvest."
My inner city boy screamed, YES PLEASE.
So I joined them. The farmers all greeted me like I was a celebrity who didn't deserve the attention, which was accurate. The fae leader, Earrina, sat in front of a tomato plant, picking fruit with all the grace of a queen playing Animal Crossing.
I squatted a meter away, reached out, and just yoinked the whole tomato plant into my basket.
She blinked, impressed and horrified. "Careful, Mister Troy, you might hurt your hand."
"I'll risk it," I said with a stupid grin.
And honestly? I loved it. Picking vegetables. Getting sweaty under the sun. Laughing with the farmers like we were filming a farming-themed sitcom.
Even Fenrir, my snarky murder-dog companion, didn't mind. He smiled. Smiled. The apocalypse must be near.
Time passed. My muscles ached. I was covered in dirt and leaves. And somehow, I was happy.
When the farmers finally called lunch, I realized I had lost all track of time. Earrina still sat at the same tomato bush, like she was on a tomato date or something.
I walked over.
"You know," I said, "when you bragged earlier about harvesting, this isn't what I imagined. Are you done sweet-talking the tomatoes?"
She smiled like I was mildly amusing. "I could harvest everything with one flick of my finger. But isn't this way more fun?"
I offered her my hand. "The most amusing thing here… is you."
She took my hand. Holy crap, it's soft. How is it soft? She's a farmer!
"I hope that's a compliment, Mister Troy."
I chuckled. "It is."
She narrowed her eyes. "You're smiling like a big pervert."
I dropped her hand like it was lava. "Ah—sorry!"
We joined the others for lunch under a big ol' tree. Pots of food were laid out like it was a family reunion.
"Try this, Boss Troy," Kinemon said. "My wife cooked it. Best food in town—after the famous chef, of course."
"Only food that tastes good to you is your wife's, Kinemon," Earrina shot back. "But I agree—it's good."
The farmers laughed. It was warm, wholesome, and slightly chaotic.
We ate. We laughed. I didn't accidentally poison myself with fairy food. 10/10.
After lunch, we stood up to leave. Froilan looked at me.
"What do you think, Boss?"
"It's… impressive."
He nodded.
"They love their job, don't they?"
"Of course. It's been a long time."
"And all of this happened… after the dragon died?"
"Yep."
Suddenly, I froze.
I felt something.
Being watched.
I slowly turned.
Faes. Everywhere. Staring at me.
All with the same face as Raiden.
Or maybe I was just paranoid.
Or maybe I'd accidentally entered a fairy dating sim.
I didn't know what was more terrifying—the possibility that they knew what I really was… or that they didn't.
Either way… I needed a nap.
And maybe a helmet. Just in case the trees were still watching, too.