My Farming Domain Is Broken

The Burstpod twisted hard enough to drag its roots through the prepared earth.

Blue rushed forward.

"Bloo!"

Water wrapped around the pod and held it in place.

One and Two moved toward the southern wall. Both aimed at the plant, their bodies swelling as Water Shot formed.

"No shooting," Carlos ordered.

The slimes stopped, but remained ready.

Kaia moved between Brann and the Burstpod, raising her shield.

"Injury?"

Brann looked at the dent in his bracer.

"No."

He stared at the restrained plant.

"Strong crop. I like it."

Carlos could not tell whether Brann was angry or impressed. It seemed to be both.

--

Burstpod Sentry

Condition: Restrained

Stored Ammunition: 16/20

Recognized Allies: None

Current Target: Brann

--

Nine more pellets had formed while the plant completed its final stage of growth. After firing twice, sixteen remained.

The seed description had warned Carlos that the mature plant needed training before it could recognize allies. It had never explained how that training worked.

"We have to teach it ourselves," Carlos said.

Kaia looked at the ammunition count.

"Then we unload it first."

They placed one of the wooden targets on the empty plain beyond the southern entrance. Nessa tied a rope around it and pulled from behind the wall, making the target move.

Blue slowly loosened its hold while keeping the Burstpod pointed away from everyone.

The pod snapped toward the wooden board.

Crack!

The pellet punched through it.

The second shot broke the supporting stake. The Burstpod immediately turned toward the moving rope, forcing Blue to restrain it again. Kaia replaced the target with an old shield hanging from the wall by two ropes.

Fourteen more shots hammered the shield until its center split.

When the shield stopped moving, the Burstpod relaxed.

[Stored Ammunition: 0/20]

Blue kept the barrel forced toward the empty plain while Kaia placed another shield over its opening. Only then did Carlos begin experimenting.

He went first.

Carlos approached from behind the plant, placed one palm against a broad leaf and repeatedly said his name in a calm voice.

The leaf remained tense at first. Then it curled around his wrist, and the barrel stopped fighting Blue whenever Carlos moved.

[Carlos recognized as ally]

[Recognized Allies: Carlos]

It had learned him.

Kaia followed the same process.

Then Brann.

The plant’s barrel turned toward the dented bracer when he approached.

"Blue is holding it, don’t worry," Carlos reminded him.

Brann placed his paw on the pod with a ’hmph’ as is saying he isn’t worrying.

The plant trembled at his contact and Brann growled as if seeing that as aggresion.

"Stop growling. You are supposed to teach it that you are safe," Carlos said.

Brann stopped growling but kept the frown on his face.

[Brann recognized as ally]

Garr and the third Bearkin came next. The Archers, Militia, Farmers and Hearthkeepers formed a line along the road.

Kaia rotated the Veteran Guards through the training one at a time. One always remained at the northern platform, ensuring the Warden’s Eye was never left unwatched.

Mira approached cheerfully when her turn arrived.

"Hello. I am Mira. You are not allowed to shoot me because I bring the food."

The Burstpod wrapped one leaf around her fingers.

"See? It understands."

"It recognizes contact," Kaia said.

Rowan touched the soil beside its stem instead of the plant.

Nothing happened, and Carlos pointed at the leaf.

"The plant, Rowan."

"Hm" The farmed seemed in a bad mood that the plant’s grower was not recognized by the plant. Maybe it was because they grew it very fast.

He touched the leaf and the plant recognized him soon too.

Blue floated forward next. Its watery body pressed against the leaves without harming them.

One and Two required several attempts because neither could remain still. Carlos finally held One in place while Kaia stopped Two from bouncing long enough for the plant to relax around them.

[One recognized as ally]

[Two recognized as ally]

The process took nearly half an hour because every resident and troop had to approach separately. Blue remained wrapped around the pod throughout it, and Kaia kept the covered barrel pointed toward the empty plain whenever a new pellet formed.

Once every current resident and troop had been recognized, Carlos established a standing order for future summons.

Kaia approved.

"Every new summon stays where they appear, until a guard escorts them here. No one receives unrestricted access until this plant recognizes them."

Training the plant was not enough. They needed to know whether it worked as good too.

Blue released the Burstpod after everyone moved behind the wall. Three new pellets had grown during the introductions.

Kaia selected Pell for the first test. The Militia left his shield and helmet inside the wall, wrapped himself in a dark spare cloak and walked beyond the Burstpod’s range.

The plant ignored him at first. But when Pell turned and approached Ironroot, the pod rotated.

[Movement detected]

[Recognized Ally: Pell]

[Attack withheld]

Pell entered safely.

For the second test, Kaia tied the cloak around a stuffed training frame. Nessa dragged it from behind the wall using a long rope.

The moment the frame crossed the marked distance, the Burstpod stiffened.

[Unknown moving target detected]

[Stored Ammunition: 3/20]

Crack!

The first pellet struck the frame’s chest. The second tore through its covered head. And the third remained stored when the target stopped moving.

Kaia inspected both holes.

"Enough force to kill an unarmored attacker, that is definite. Also, it has enough noise to alert the towers too."

"And it grows its own ammunition," Carlos said and could not believe it.

Rowan examined the lower buds.

"As long as it gets sunlight, water and healthy soil."

That was exactly what Carlos needed.

A defender that did not consume meals, Slime Cores, arrows or wages.

One Burstpod could not guard all of Ironroot. Ten placed around the walls could provide constant watch over the flat approaches. More advanced defensive crops might slow enemies, expose hidden attackers or protect the fields themselves.

Carlos opened the Trade section. He searched for sentient seeds, defensive plants and uncommon crop rewards. Most results were ordinary crops with exaggerated descriptions.

One Lord wanted eighty Copper Coins for thorny berry seeds.

Another advertised poisonous mushrooms without knowing whether touching them was safe.

Carlos created his own request.

--

[Trade Request created]

Seeking defensive crop seeds or sentient agricultural plants.

Offers in return : cooked meals, Copper Coins, construction resources or equipment.

Higher offers available for verified Uncommon-grade blueprints or seeds.

--

He was willing to trade anything but the things he got from the Warden. Those still interested him, especially the three chains waiting inside his inventory.

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