novelraw Chapter 83: Grandpa’s Letter
Chapter 83: Grandpa’s Letter
“That’s good.” The Wizard let out a breath of relief before adding, “You should already know Krobus. I hope you continue to treat him kindly. He’s a rather unique Shadow Marauder, but he won’t pose any threat to you or the townsfolk.”
“Of course, we’re already friends,” Leon nodded. “So you came here just for this, Wizard?”
“That was just something I asked in passing. The main reason I came was to handle a request from an old friend.” The Wizard extended his palm downward.
The ground beneath their feet began to ripple and churn. Clumps of soil rolled together into a smooth, square model. More earth gathered onto it, slowly forming a small house and a miniature vegetable garden in the style of a sandbox model.
Leon recognized it at a glance—it was a perfect likeness of his Red Star Farm. While impressed by the Wizard’s craftsmanship, he couldn’t help but wonder why he’d gone through the trouble. Surely it wasn’t just to show off.
“When your grandfather passed away, he sent me a letter. As he instructed, I cremated his remains and buried them near my Wizard’s Tower. Now that you’ve inherited this farm, I intend to return his shrine to the land he loved most.”
Having finished shaping the farm model, the Wizard explained himself.
“I need you to decide where on the farm he should rest.”
Leon’s head began to ache at the explanation. Forget the fact that his grandfather’s affairs had been handled by the Wizard; the idea of casually relocating a grave was jarring.
To someone like Leon, born in the East, the belief that the dead should rest undisturbed was ingrained in his very bones. Moving a grave was a monumental affair—he could hardly believe how casually the Wizard brought it up.The Wizard, oblivious to Leon’s thoughts, assumed he was hesitating for another reason. “You’re not afraid of having a grave on your farm, are you? If you are, I don’t mind keeping the old fellow as my neighbor.”
His brows knitted slightly. If Leon answered yes, he wouldn’t bother with him again.
“I’m not afraid,” Leon replied after a long pause. “I just think moving someone’s resting place on a whim is a little disrespectful. How about we pick an auspicious day and hire a proper burial team for a ceremony?”
“Hahaha, Leon, you still don’t understand how people like us think. To us, the body is just a vessel for living in the material world. The soul is what matters. Still, I’m glad you respect your grandfather.”
The Wizard’s expression softened, his eyes warm. “Even though your grandfather has passed, his soul still shines brightly. He wouldn’t care how I handled his remains—because he and I are the same kind of people.”
The Wizard pulled a letter from his robes and handed it to Leon. “This is from him. Surprised? A man dead for years can still write letters. Just as I said, his soul still shines, and he’s watching over you from the Spirit Realm. Don’t worry—it’s only a senior’s care for his junior, nothing frightening.”
Leon’s expression turned a bit odd. He wasn’t scared—he already knew his grandfather’s spirit sometimes visited him—but this was far beyond a casual visit.
He accepted the letter, but before he could open it, the Wizard urged him, “Choose a spot for the shrine that won’t interfere with your future farm plans. I can’t be away from the Wizard’s Tower for long. You can read the letter later.”
“Here.” Leon put the letter away and pointed to a spot on the model—the same location as in the game, on the northwest edge of the farm near the mountain wall.
“Here? Understood.”
The Wizard tapped the chosen spot on the model. A tiny earthen shrine appeared there.
“All right, my work is done. I’ll leave you to it.”
With that, he vanished, and the farm model crumbled back into the soil. If not for the letter in his hand, Leon could almost believe it had been an illusion.
“In such a rush… Ever heard of property rights?” he muttered, then headed northwest.
There, he found his grandfather’s shrine. The ground around it was paved with bluish-gray stone, and the shrine itself was set into the mountain. The altar, made from the same stone, was shaped in rough waves—somehow reminding Leon of Yoba’s symbol.
Behind the altar stood a gravestone, bearing no name or date, only a simple epitaph: “Standing on nature’s shoulders, seeking the shining sun from the earth.”
On either side of the stone were four unlit stone lanterns.
Leon stood in silence before the shrine for a long time before bowing deeply.
No matter what, he owed the old man thanks. Without that letter, he wouldn’t have inherited this farm. Even as a transmigrator, he recognized the bond—after all, the grandfather in the game had encouraged and accompanied him.
And really, wasn’t a game character just another version of oneself? Every choice they made was yours.
After bowing, Leon sat cross-legged on the stone floor and opened the letter written by his grandfather’s soul.
“My dear Leon,
It’s been a long time. You’ve grown, and you’ve opened this letter. That makes me both sad and glad.
Sad for the burdens modern life has placed on you, glad you chose the same path I once walked.
I was once as lost as you, so I left the city. On my travels, I found the magical Stardew Valley. You’ve already learned about that from my previous letter, so I won’t repeat myself.
This time, I’m writing because I’ve noticed something unusual happening to you. I don’t think it’s bad, but no matter what, you’ll always be my grandson. That will never change. I truly hope you live well on the Red Star Farm.
I built this farm plot by plot, pouring in half my life’s sweat. It would be a shame to see it abandoned. But I don’t want it to become a burden—just live the farm life you want.
Your own happiness is always the most important thing. Remember that.
Also, when your third year here comes, I’ll find a way to visit. I hope you won’t be too scared. I’m not that frightening, am I?
I’ll assess your progress over these two years. If you earn a score I’m satisfied with, I’ll have a special gift for you. Work hard!
—With love, Grandpa.”