novelraw Chapter 20: The Scarecrow
Chapter 20: The Scarecrow
After saying his piece, the Wizard turned and went back inside the Wizard’s Tower, firmly closing the door behind him.
Leon slowly got up from the ground. One glance at the tower told him there was no way he’d be knocking that door open again. So, letting the rain wash over him, he left the area.
Retracing his steps along the forest path, Leon felt something new this time. Surrounded by lush greenery, he experienced an unprecedented sense of peace and comfort.
It was as if all the plants here were welcoming him. He also keenly noticed the little creatures hidden among the pine branches, peeking at him with curiosity.
These timid fellows showed no intention of coming out, and Leon didn’t disturb them. Following the way back, just before leaving the forest’s edge, he suddenly squatted down.
He pulled out his hoe, eyeing a small green plant. With one firm dig, he unearthed a root vegetable with a thick stem, much like lettuce.
“Wild Horseradish (Forage Item): A spring root spice.”
“So that’s where you’ve been hiding,” Leon murmured, slipping the Wild Horseradish into his backpack. “If I didn’t have this new power, I’d never have found you.”
Indeed, ever since choking down that foul-tasting potion and awakening his bond with nature, Leon discovered some curious changes. For instance, this Wild Horseradish buried underground appeared to him as a vivid, faintly glowing presence among the other plants.
No wonder he hadn’t been able to find spring’s wild forage before. Hidden under the soil with only leaves that looked just like any other greenery, it was impossible to spot them without the power of nature—especially for someone like Leon, who knew nothing about plant habits or appearances.The potion might have been nasty, but the benefits it revealed were enough to delight him.
This new ability was basically a radar for wild plants—practical above all else.
Leon was sure it could be used for more than just this. There must be other special effects waiting to be discovered, but for now, he hadn’t encountered the right conditions. That thought left him full of anticipation.
As for the System, it gave no hint about this power. However, when he opened the system panel, he noticed that the previously empty treasure slot now had a new entry: Forest Magic.
Forest Magic: You possess the magic of the forest.
That was it. Just a barebones, meaningless description that left Leon bewildered. Maybe the System couldn’t figure out what it did, or maybe it just didn’t bother.
Leon guessed it was the latter. The System seemed to want him to explore things himself—just like with the crafting menu. If he hadn’t tried making something on his own, it probably could’ve hidden that feature from him forever.
That made him reconsider his view of the System. It didn’t seem to have any clear agenda. It didn’t demand anything from him. It was just here to guide and assist.
Just like Stardew Valley the game—its secrets and easter eggs were all yours to discover.
And Leon liked it that way. It suited his current role perfectly: an honest, down-to-earth farmer.
Strolling home in the spring rain, Leon returned to the farm. The first thing he did after stepping into the cabin was shed his raincoat and boots. He ran some cold, clean water from the tap for a quick rinse, dried off with a towel, and changed into fresh clothes.
It felt great to be refreshed. With his new clothes on, Leon decided he wasn’t going out again. Rainy days seemed perfect for watching TV.
Unlike in the game, where there were only the fortune teller, weather report, and the occasional Queen of the Sauce cooking show, the real TV here had far more variety.
There was a movie channel, an entertainment channel full of soap operas and celebrity gossip, a local news station, and more. It was enough to keep Leon occupied through the dreary weather.
By the time the sky cleared outside, Leon switched off the TV and stepped out of the cabin.
The farm after rain was serene. The air was rich with the scent of soil and grass. The whole place looked refreshed, green everywhere he looked.
Wildflowers peeked from the grass, swaying in the breeze, their joy almost tangible to Leon. He knew that was the Forest Magic at work.
His gaze shifted to the scarecrow he had made. After the rain, its clothes were soaked through, and even the straw stuffing was sodden, making it look bloated and rather pathetic.
After a moment’s hesitation, Leon pulled it out and dismantled it.
He couldn’t help it. The ugly, misshapen thing ruined the farm’s atmosphere. Whether or not it kept crows away, its presence made him uneasy. As someone with a fondness for aesthetics, he decided it was time for this scarecrow to retire.
For its successor, Leon planned to use the scarecrow design unlocked in the System’s crafting menu.
He opened the menu, selected the scarecrow, and checked the required materials. A quick glance at his backpack told him he was short on coal, so he went back to the chest in the cabin to grab some.
Fifty wood, one coal, and twenty fibers later, the materials vanished from his inventory, replaced by a new scarecrow.
This one was nothing like the clumsy one he had made before. The System’s version stood over two meters tall. Its lower half was just a bare wooden pole, but the upper half looked almost human. From a distance, it could easily be mistaken for a real person.
It wore overalls and a straw hat. If not for the straw poking out from its sleeves and the wooden post below its waist, Leon might have thought he’d built a lifelike doll.
It was hard to believe such a realistic scarecrow had been made from wood, fiber, and coal. As always, anything from the System defied logic.
Carrying it to the center of the field, Leon planted the scarecrow firmly in the soil. He then took a moment to check on the seeds he’d planted that morning, making sure they hadn’t been washed away by the rain, before leaving the farm.
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