I Grow Crops with a System

"...Ever since the Ascendant Tower was conquered, it has become a massive treasure trove of resources."

"Even now, countless explorers pour into the Realm every day, chasing their fortunes..."

Ethan opened his eyes to the drone of an old radio.

Five years had passed since he returned from the Ascendant Tower. Five years since he traded monsters and dungeons for food and sunburns.

After coming back to Earth, he had chosen to become a farmer — up at sunrise, asleep at sunset, living a quiet pastoral life.

"Haah... why am I having that kind of dream again?"

He rubbed his eyes and shook his head. Ever since returning, his past experiences in the Ascendant Tower would occasionally sneak into his sleep.

Ethan climbed out of bed and picked up the radio.

Bzzzt...

Static crackled through the speaker. With the ease of long practice, he adjusted the antenna, gave the casing two firm smacks, and landed on a clear channel. He left the dial alone and got to work.

Today’s task was cultivating rice seedlings. For a farmer, good seedlings were everything.

"Growth Acceleration."

At his soft whisper, a strange energy surged out of his body and blanketed the room — the ability he had brought home from the Ascendant Tower.

The seeds in the trays went wild. Tender green shoots burst through the soil as if someone had pressed fast-forward, growing into sturdy young saplings within a breath.

"Alright. Time to transplant."

Ethan carried the trays out to a freshly plowed plot and settled into the rhythm he knew by heart. Seedlings into the soil, one by one. Fertilizer. Water. A long soak in the warm afternoon sun.

"Growth Acceleration."

The field answered him. Young plants shot up at a visible speed, and in moments the bare plot had become a stretch of lush green crops.

’At this rate, I’ll be harvesting in a few days.’

Ethan nodded in satisfaction. Somewhere along the way the sun had begun slanting west, so he stretched lazily and headed back inside.

Tomorrow would be another peaceful day.

Or so he thought.

When Ethan opened his eyes again, his ceiling was gone. In its place stretched a vast, unfamiliar sky.

"...I thought I’d wake up to a new sunrise. Not a whole new world."

’Did I get dragged into a Ascendant Tower again?’

He looked up. If this were a Ascendant Tower, special symbols would be hanging in the sky. But the blue above him was pristine and unbroken.

’Well. This isn’t my first time waking up somewhere I shouldn’t be.’

Back then, he had been teleported to the first floor of the Ascendant Tower in his sleep, exactly like this. That night had been the start of a long journey.

’First things first. Let’s see if anyone else got dropped here with me.’

When he first arrived in the Ascendant Tower, there had been plenty of others in the same boat. They had leaned on each other to survive those brutal early days.

Here, there was nothing but dense forest in every direction.

’So I’m alone this time. Fine. Then let’s figure out where "here" is.’

Ethan picked the tallest tree in sight and climbed. From the highest branch, he swept his gaze across the land.

Ancient forest, as far as the eye could see. No landmarks, no way to tell north from south. But a wide plain opened up in the distance, and a river wound through it like a silver ribbon.

’Water first, then.’

A person could last a week without food, but only three days without water. Out here, that made the river his one and only destination.

Ethan hopped down from the tree and landed lightly on the grass — bare feet sinking into soft soil.

He looked down.

Pajamas. No shoes.

’...Great. Marching into the unknown in my sleepwear.’

Walking barefoot through a strange forest was asking for trouble.

Snap!

He gathered a bundle of thick, sturdy grass and wrapped the long blades around his feet, layer by layer.

A minute later, he had a serviceable pair of straw sandals. Not stylish, but his toes would survive.

As he walked, his expression grew serious.

’This is definitely not Earth.’

Ethan had studied plants, yet nearly every species around him was one he had never seen before. Unknown land, unknown flora — and him with no weapon and shoes made of grass.

Moving carefully through the trees, Ethan finally reached the riverbank.

The river was crystal clear, flowing gently, a mirror laid flat beneath the azure sky. He scooped up a handful of water and took one tiny, careful sip.

Then he waited.

A few minutes passed with no dizziness, no cramps, no dramatic collapse. Only then did he drink his fill.

’Safe.’

Throat finally at peace, Ethan scanned the area. No footprints, no fire pits, no traces of people at all.

’Then I’ll make camp here.’

Water source secured, the next step was shelter. Ethan found a thick, sturdy branch, then combed the riverbank for the right kind of stones.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

He smashed the stones against each other, patiently chipping one down until it held a sharp, jagged edge. He wedged the sharpened stone into the branch and bound them tightly with rope stripped from tree bark.

A crude stone axe was born.

Chop! Chop!

Primitive or not, the axe bit deep. Ethan felled a small tree with ease, then stripped and trimmed the trunk into straight poles.

"Phew..."

The frame took shape quickly under practiced hands. A few more trees, a few more poles, all lashed together with bark rope until a simple triangular skeleton stood by the river.

Next came armfuls of broad leaves. He layered them over the frame, tying each bundle down until not a gap remained.

At last, a humble little shelter stood complete.

And at that exact moment—

[Congratulations! You have successfully crafted a Simple Small Tent.]

[A small tent built from wood and grass. It provides shade and shelter from the rain, serving as a temporary resting place.]

[Well-crafted: Durability increased.]

[Well-crafted: Resting efficiency increased.]

[Crafting Difficulty: ★]

"...Huh?"

Ethan stared blankly at the glowing text floating in midair.

He froze for a few seconds. Then he glanced around — and another panel popped up in his vision, as if it had been waiting for its turn.

[Life Skills]

[Level: —]

[Gathering: Lv. 1]

Bewildered, he looked down at the stone axe in his hand.

[Well-crafted Stone Axe]

[An axe made from stone and wood. Though the materials are crude, its fine craftsmanship makes it far more durable than the average stone axe.]

[Well-crafted: Sharpness increased.]

[Well-crafted: Durability increased.]

[Crafting Difficulty: ★]

’...What in the world is going on?’

Just as he stood there, utterly confused, a voice rang out behind him.

"Mrow —Anyone who enters the Great Forest receives the blessing to see through the essence of things, meow. It’s called the Opening of the Eyes, meow!"

Ethan whipped around, stone axe raised.

"Who’s there?!"

"Mrrr-hahaha! I can’t believe I actually ran into a human! I’ve only ever seen your kind in books, meow!"

A shadow darted out of the tall grass. Ethan tracked it with narrowed eyes, every muscle coiled and ready.

"Meow~"

A snow-white cat trotted into the open. Bathed in the warm glow of the setting sun, its pristine fur seemed to sparkle.

Ethan stared at the cat.

The cat stared back at Ethan.

"A... a cat just talked?!"

The cat tilted its head, genuinely puzzled.

"Mrow? Why shouldn’t a cat be able to talk?"

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