Stardew Valley’s Farming Master

Chapter 101: Task Master Marlon

“An expert, huh.”

Leon couldn’t help but sigh in admiration. After all, Marlon recognizing at first glance that this uniquely shaped watermelon knife was a Galaxy Weapon really made Leon look good.

If it had been someone who didn’t know better, they’d probably have fixated on the weapon’s odd appearance first and then said something factual but unpleasant to hear. Now that would’ve been truly uncomfortable.

“Well, it’s a top-tier weapon every adventurer dreams of. I just didn’t expect you to already own a Galaxy Weapon. Tell me, is it a family heirloom, or did you forge it yourself?” Marlon kept his eyes on the Galaxy Watermelon Knife in Leon’s hands, without forgetting to probe for information about its origin.

“I forged it myself in the Calico Desert,” Leon replied.

“Looks like you know quite a bit about hidden secrets. That’s surprising.”

After testing him, Marlon confirmed the weapon was indeed forged by Leon himself. Marlon hadn’t said where one could make a Galaxy Weapon, yet Leon had immediately given the correct location—the Calico Desert.

At the same time, Marlon quietly put away the old shortsword he had originally intended to gift Leon.

If Leon had been unarmed, that sword would’ve been a great early companion for exploring the mines. But the moment Leon pulled out a Galaxy Weapon, Marlon knew his own offering would’ve been downright embarrassing.

To cover his awkwardness, Marlon continued, “You’re the fourth person I’ve ever seen forge a Galaxy Weapon by yourself. If it weren’t for the rules of the Adventurer’s Guild, I could let you join straight away based on that potential alone.”“There’s a threshold for forging Galaxy Weapons?” Leon asked curiously.

“Of course. Such a powerful weapon isn’t something you can get just by handing over a Prismatic Shard. It’s a manifestation of one’s will to fight and a gift bestowed by Yoba to the most gifted children of the heavens. Anyone who obtains a Galaxy Weapon will, without exception, become a top-tier warrior,” Marlon explained proudly.

Seeing Marlon’s expression, Leon instantly guessed he was also a Galaxy Weapon holder and asked, “So, Guild Master Marlon, what’s your Galaxy Weapon like?”

“Mine’s a plain longsword, but I don’t carry it on me. For the monsters in these mines, this old shortsword is more than enough,” Marlon said, hefting the worn blade.

“A longsword, huh… nice.”

Leon couldn’t help but feel envious. While the Galaxy Watermelon Knife’s telescoping feature was handy, he still longed for a proper Galaxy Sword.

“Your short weapon is actually quite good,” Marlon explained. “The mine’s structure is complicated. Sometimes a long weapon is more of a burden. This one’s suitable in both narrow corridors and open spaces. It’s not much worse than a longsword.”

It wasn’t comfort—it was the seasoned understanding of an old warrior.

“I get that. It’s just that the result wasn’t quite what I’d pictured when I forged it,” Leon said with a hint of complaint.

“That’s something you’ll have to reflect on yourself. A Galaxy Weapon is like a Starfruit—it will take shape according to your deepest desires, presenting the form your subconscious truly wants. You may think you don’t like it, but deep down, you longed for this form,” Marlon said matter-of-factly.

“In that case, I get it,” Leon said aloud, though inside he was filled with regret.

It must be all those silly “Huaqiang Selling Watermelons” memes on Bilibili. Otherwise, how could he have subconsciously decided a watermelon knife was the perfect weapon for him?

“With a Galaxy Weapon in hand, the monsters in the mine pose far less of a threat—especially in the earlier levels. You can basically steamroll your way through the first dozens of floors. I’ll just give you one piece of advice: be careful of shadows, and don’t get too close to walls or loose soil—monsters often lurk there.”

After saying that, Marlon led Leon to an elevator. “Aside from monster precautions, there’s something else you need to know—these elevators. They were installed back when the mine was still active. They still work, but you’ll need to reactivate them. There’s one every five floors. When you see one, just find the power switch and flip it up—you can then use it to quickly travel between the surface and the depths.”

“Where does the elevator get its power?” Leon asked curiously.

“Provided by the Adventurer’s Guild,” Marlon replied. “When I first came here, I led a team to repair them.”

“Then why not just leave them running instead of making me activate them?” Leon pressed.

“Because it’s a trial,” Marlon said. “It’s rare to find a place full of monsters that doesn’t pose too much danger to human settlements, making it ideal for trials. After we repaired the elevators, I shut off all the breakers.”

“So no one’s been down here before me?” Leon asked, exasperated.

“No. I thought there would be, but it seems the main guild forgot about me and Gil. They never sent anyone for trials. Aside from us, no third adventurer has come to the Stardew Valley branch. You might be the first to explore the mines and use the elevator since they were fixed.” Marlon’s expression was helpless.

“Then why bother fixing them?” Leon asked.

“It was an assigned task. I had to do it,” Marlon replied. “The pay was good, the risk was low, and we had professional repairmen. All I had to do was escort them to the bottom. I’d take a job like that any day.”

“I’ve got another question. Aren’t you worried about monsters using the elevator or sabotaging it?” Leon asked.

“Why do you think I’m here? Even if they did dare to use it, they couldn’t get close—the area around the elevator is protected by a barrier. If you find one during an emergency or want to rest, you’ll be safe.”

“So it’s basically a safe zone?” Leon was floored. In the game, there was no such convenience—he’d died more than once at the elevator entrance just to dig up radioactive ore. The buffed mine monsters had been too much.

“That’s one way to see it,” Marlon nodded. “This is a trial ground, not a slaughterhouse. We need to give the challengers a fighting chance. Shame it never got used, but lucky for you. Once you pass my entry test, you’ll be one of us, and using these elevators will be your right.”

“Got it. Then I’ll head down and take a look?” Leon said, feeling much calmer.

With the elevator as a safe zone, his mining trip might be far easier than he’d imagined.

“Go on, stay safe. The mines aren’t as harsh as you might think—except floors 31 to 39, where the monsters’ habits mean we haven’t added much lighting. You’ll need your own light source to find the stairs down. The other areas are fairly well-lit.”

“If it’s still not bright enough for you, and you’ve got spare coin, once you join the Adventurer’s Guild you can buy special enchanted rings from me—like a Glow Ring for dark places. Wear it, and you’re a walking lantern. The glow won’t affect your vision.”

After one last bit of advice—and a quick pitch for Guild-exclusive gear—Marlon strode away from the mine entrance, leaving Leon standing there stunned.