Stardew Valley’s Farming Master

Chapter 135: The Wizard’s Commission

After watching Maru and Demetrius leave the farm, Leon went straight to the meteorite. He tapped on its unchanged surface. Aside from making his fingers ache, there was no sign that it had hollowed out after the purple Slime’s fluids had seeped out.

“If I were you, I’d use a high-strength pickaxe to break it open, not my hand.”

Just as Leon was about to crouch down and peer through the crack to examine the meteorite’s internal structure, Wizard Rasmodius’s voice rang in his ear.

“Wizard Rasmodius? When did you get here?” Leon asked curiously, seeing the wizard already standing beside the meteorite.

“Your farm’s barrier was triggered, so I came to see what happened,” Rasmodius explained. “When the purple Slime’s slime started flowing out, I should have warned you—but seeing you had a decent sense of danger, I chose to observe instead.”

“So, before the meteorite cracked open, you didn’t know there was a Slime inside?” Leon asked, intrigued.

“That’s right. The shell of an Iridium-star meteorite blocks magic extremely well. I didn’t notice there was a living purple Slime inside.”

As he spoke, Rasmodius extended his hand and conjured nine Slime figures in the air. They looked identical in shape but varied greatly in color.

“Look, Slimes are special creatures. They can form in many ways, and their color reflects their elemental type. Each type has its own traits. For example, the green Slimes you’ve met in the mines represent life. Aside from the basic Slime characteristics, they breed quickly, which is an ability given by their elemental nature. Most Slimes are born following the natural elements of this world.”

Then Rasmodius pointed at the meteorite.“Iridium-star meteorites are different. They don’t come from our planet, yet they love to crash here. Iridium’s power is unique and potent, so any purple Slime born from the meteorite’s core is considered a dangerous monster. You’re lucky. Inside your farm’s barrier, the Slime was weakened. Without the barrier, you’d be in big trouble.”

“So that purple Slime I just killed was the weakened version?” Leon was shocked. Its speed and healing ability had been impressive enough—what would a full-strength one be like?

“Yes. A true purple Slime born from iridium would be far bigger and stronger. But you won’t be seeing one anytime soon,” Rasmodius assured him.

“Thanks for the lesson,” Leon said sincerely.

This man was always checking in whenever trouble stirred on the farm and even threw in some unique knowledge. A dependable elder indeed—Leon figured he was benefiting from his grandfather’s connections.

“I checked the meteorite while you were fighting. That Slime was the only living thing inside, so you don’t have to worry about any more threats from it,” Rasmodius continued. “And killing it early works in your favor.”

“Because it removes the danger in advance?” Leon guessed.

“Sort of. Slimes need to eat. If it had been trapped in the meteorite, it would have consumed the Iridium Ore inside to stay alive, growing stronger while turning all the ore into ordinary stone. By the time you had tools strong enough to break it open, you’d end up with nothing but a powerful Slime and some worthless rocks.”

“I see.” Leon nodded. More useful knowledge to keep in mind.

“That’s enough about that. I overheard you saying you planned to explore the mines today?” Rasmodius waved a hand and suddenly changed the subject.

“Yeah.” Leon checked the time—it was still before nine. Plenty of time for a trip to the mines.

“Then I have a commission for you.” The nine Slime figures vanished, replaced by a single Slime whose color kept shifting.

“A prismatic Slime,” Rasmodius said. “A rare variant. It can drop prismatic jelly, a fascinating material. I need it for research. If you encounter one, bring me the jelly and I’ll reward you handsomely.”

“How handsomely?” Leon asked with interest.

“That depends on your choice,” Rasmodius replied with a small smile. “I can offer either money or a little something that will be very helpful to you.”

“Can’t give me a hint?” Leon probed.

“You’ll find out only if you get the jelly. There’s no time limit. Just bring it to me when you have it.” And with that, Rasmodius vanished into thin air.

“I hate riddlers.”

This wasn’t the first time Leon had said that—it was practically his catchphrase now. Most of the big names in Stardew Valley seemed to enjoy speaking in riddles, whether to maintain their mysterious aura or just out of mischief.

Still, Rasmodius had dangled the bait. Whether for profit or curiosity, Leon wasn’t about to pass up this commission. Anything a bigshot like him gave away casually could be a huge boon at Leon’s current stage. And the “helpful little something” Rasmodius mentioned—Leon was very curious about that.

Exploring the mines was already on his to-do list. Now, with the wizard’s commission, he was doubly motivated. He went back to the cabin, slung on his backpack, and rode off toward the mines.

This time, he didn’t depart from Pelican Town but cut through the northern edge of the farm into the remote forest. Yesterday, walking to the northern foothills had taken just over twenty minutes; with a bike, he’d be much faster.

Most of the terrain wasn’t bike-friendly, but thanks to the System Backpack, Leon didn’t have to lug the bicycle over rough patches. This area was mostly deserted, so he didn’t worry about exposing the backpack’s existence.

It had already been revealed once today, but Leon wasn’t concerned. If only one person is special, they draw attention and risk. But if such people appear in groups, their uniqueness becomes less noticeable.

After all, when the sky falls, the tall ones take the hit first. With so many bigshots around, all Leon needed to do was keep his head down and grow quietly.