novelraw Chapter 182
Chapter 182
Leon gave a light cough before speaking.
"Actually, I’ve already figured out my new ability. It’s related to crop growth—it’ll help me manage the farm even better."
Facing Linus, Leon chose not to hide his new ability, “Shade Beneath the Rice,” after all, Linus had always answered his questions without reservation and even told him about his own powers. It was clear the old man trusted him completely.
Linus had also assumed Leon hadn’t unlocked the power of the Starfruit yet and had gone out of his way to comfort him. Leon wasn’t foolish—he knew the old man truly cared for him, treating him like a junior he cherished.
Naturally, Leon wasn’t about to repay kindness with ingratitude. Besides, this new ability wasn’t some closely guarded secret like the existence of the system.
"I see. Hahaha! Your grandfather didn’t pass the farm to you for nothing. You really are a competent farmer—awakening an agriculture-support ability right on your first try. If that old coot knew, he’d probably die of shame!"
Linus was stunned for a moment, then burst into hearty laughter, slapping Leon’s shoulder repeatedly as though he were more excited than Leon himself.
"Grandpa also ate a Starfruit before?" Leon asked without thinking.
"Of course. That old guy ate five of them. But only one was related to farming—shortening crop growth time. The other four were combat-oriented, things like Evil Sense and Extreme Burst."
Linus shared the abilities with a mischievous grin."Sounds pretty powerful," Leon admitted. Though he was fond of the romantic nature of “Shade Beneath the Rice,” he couldn’t help but long for such combat abilities. Hopefully, the next Starfruits would be kind to him.
"Yeah, he was a top-notch fighter. Too bad he had to go to the Starfall Lands…"
Linus stopped mid-sentence and looked sideways at Leon.
"Do you know how your grandfather passed away?"
"Old age, I guess." Leon pretended not to catch the hidden meaning in Linus’s unfinished words.
"That’s not wrong—his life did end when his years ran out. But he brought it upon himself. At his peak, he triggered Nature’s Shelter twenty times in a single month. No matter how strong your body, you can’t withstand that kind of abuse." Linus then gave Leon a serious reminder.
"Don’t think having Forest Magic means you can ignore death. Nature’s Shelter can pull you back from the brink, but it comes with a price. If you can avoid it, don’t trigger it needlessly."
"Got it." Leon nodded, then pressed on.
"Why did he go to the Starfall Lands? And what kind of place is that?"
"The Starfall Lands… it’s a cursed region, a monster stronghold filled with chaos and endless fighting. The creatures there are the most dangerous of their kind."
"As for why your grandfather went there? I never did get a straight answer. But I think it’s tied to a certain legend."
"What legend?" Leon asked.
"In the time before time began, the world was nothing but endless golden light. That light called itself Yoba. Eventually, Yoba grew tired of being alone, so it stirred the light together."
"In the swirling light, at the center of the vortex, a single seed appeared. Yoba took the seed, stopped stirring, and let the light settle into soil. Eleven days later, the seed grew into a colossal vine. At the very top, Yoba plucked its only fruit, broke open its hard shell, and within… was our world."
Linus’s voice slowed as he recited from The Chronicle of Yoba’s Creation. When Leon didn’t react, Linus sighed and continued.
"Afterward, the vine that bore the fruit withered, marking the first death. Thus emerged the opposite of Yoba—Darkness. Its name has long been forgotten, but people know Yoba’s light shattered it. Yet where there is light, there is shadow. Darkness never truly vanished. Its corpse was buried in the Starfall Lands, and its lingering power warped the creatures there into monsters."
"That god ruled over death, didn’t it?" Leon recalled a similar tale from a conversation with Gunther about ancient mysteries.
"Yes. Wait—you know about this?" Linus looked surprised. No wonder Leon had shown no reaction earlier;
he’d already heard parts of the story.
"Yeah, I talked about it with Mr. Gunther," Leon explained.
"Gunther? The new librarian in Pelican Town?" Linus frowned. He’d only observed the man once when he arrived in town and hadn’t found anything remarkable. Now Leon was saying the man knew such hidden lore… interesting.
"Yes, he’s very knowledgeable."
"Plenty of people have read about Yoba’s legend, but few know the second half. This librarian… he really is learned," Linus said meaningfully.
"I doubt he has bad intentions. If he did, the wizard Rasmodius wouldn’t have let him be. You know how closely Rasmodius watches over the town. I once caught a merman while fishing, and he showed up in no time. There’s no way the librarian hasn’t been observed."
"Careful where you say things like that. Otherwise, the next time you meet him, you might land on your head instead of your backside," Linus warned.
"Fine, fine. Power does let people do as they please," Leon muttered, his tone bitter.
"He’s already gone easy on you. He sent you here to me. If you’d really angered him, he could’ve dumped you in the City of Elements or the western desert," Linus said in the wizard’s defense.
"I don’t think it would’ve come to that. I didn’t provoke him—I just asked a question," Leon said.
"What question?" Linus asked curiously.
"Whether eating a Starfruit to strengthen my body meant I could take multiple wives," Leon replied, completely straight-faced.
"…"