My Farming Domain Is Broken

Carlos woke before the morning work bell even his his ears. Waking up early had become a habit now.

For a few seconds, he did not move. The room was quiet and the bed felt too warm after days of sleeping near ruined channels and old stone roads. Sometimes even basic luxuries felt precious when you didn’t have them for a while.

He got up and looked at the conquest portal on the side of the territory and took a deep breath.

By the time he reached the training ground, the new combat summons were already moving under Kaia’s orders. The two Shield Militia held a line without letting their shields drop. The new Archer hit the target twice from the eastern tower. One of the Slimes finally landed a Water Shot, while the Bearkin carried wall braces like they weighed nothing.

They were not ready for a Hellbound conquest. But Carlos could see they were ready to hold a position if someone gave them clear orders.

He looked toward the Domain Portal.

Ironroot could not be raided while he was sealed inside a Conquest level. The enemy would be forced to face him there. But the cultivation district was outside Ironroot, and it had already been attacked once while Carlos was away.

"Send the new combat troops to the cultivation district," Carlos told Kaia. "They report to Cedric and hold the channels until I return. Rowan, Blue and the others need more protection there."

Kaia looked at the Archer, Bearkin, two Slimes and Shield Militia and nodded in understanding.

The Farmers and the new Hearthkeeper remained in Ironroot with Mira. Garr, the Veteran Guards, the existing Militia and the defensive crops would guard the territory until Carlos came back.

Mira found them near the western wall with a basket of food. She handed Carlos two wrapped meals, then gave one to Brann without waiting for him to ask.

"You are going to the conquest again..." she said.

"Yes."

"I thought we still had time before you would do another one"

"We don’t have time, Mira. We need to complete them fast so that an invasion doesn’t come to us like last time. WE can’t take chances."

Mira’s usual cheerful smile became a forced one at that comment and she nodded. She pressed three more food packets into Carlos’s hands.

"Don’t get injured this time, please" Her plea was geniune and Carlos kept a hand over her head with a slight smile. Mira blushed for a moment before the cheerfulness came back again/

Carlos did not have an answer for the injury part she asked but he obviously also didn’t want to be hurt like he always was. Last time, all his skin was burned and the feeling was ridiculously bad.

Kaia was looking from the side and for a second, there was a pout on her face that nobody noticed.

He spent the next hour checking the things that used to be ignored before every conquest. Mira packed water, cooked food and clean cloth.

Kaia counted arrows twice, then made Nessa replace the three shafts that had bent during the Pocket Dimension expedition. She was still keeping them with her to use later to which Kaia nagged her for.

Brann inspected the handle of his hammer without speaking. Carlos looked at the marks on the Bearkin’s armor and realized how many times it had been repaired since the first raid.

"Do you need a new one?" Carlos asked.

Brann shook his head. "Armor work. Brann work."

It was not a proper answer, but Carlos understood it.

Kaia handed Carlos a plain iron shield from the warehouse.

"Wow, I will be using shields too this time."

"Use this please" she said.

Carlos took the shield in his left hand and felt the defense that would come for half hi body if he held it right.

He also took his spear from the weapon rack. He was not a skilled spearman, but the extra reach could still keep an enemy away from him.

Brann nodded toward the shield. "Hold right."

Carlos adjusted the stiff leather strap and only then did Brann approve of it.

Carlos turned toward the Conquest Portal. The walls were not perfect, but they were watched.

Carlos checked the party one final time. Kaia had her sword, shield and two spare knives. Nessa had a full quiver and a short blade for close fighting. Brann carried his hammer and enough dried food for twice the time Kaia expected them to need. Two had absorbed every drop of clean water Mira allowed it to take.

Carlos had the iron shield, his spear, two meals, clean cloth and the Warden Chain around his arm. The chain felt cold against his skin.

Nothing about the preparation made him feel safe. It only made him feel less stupid for walking into a Hellbound gate without it.

A private message appeared.

--

[Cosmic Merchant]- Rowan says Crop Ledger has names, not answers. Channel Five is under old clay and broken stone. He told me not to let anyone remove anything from it. Says he needs one day to prepare the ground around it.

--

Carlos nodded to himself, the Crop Keeper task still had time. More importantly, from the looks of it, Rowan did not sound frightened or confused with the ancient text Carlos could not understan which was already a small win.

Carlos sent a simple answer.

--

[Carlos Goldwin]- Do what you need till I am back. Cedric keeps people away from it. I will return before anyone touches it. Take care

--

He looked at Kaia.

"The conquest party is you, Brann, Nessa, Two and me."

Carlos stepped to the portal and the panel was lit.

--

[Conquest Level 4]

[Status: Available]

[Difficulty: Hellbound]

[Warning: Enemy forces will react to the challenger’s recognized development]

[Enter conquest?]

--

Like always, there was no choice of difficulty.

Carlos didn’t waste any more time, he needed to be back as soon as possible.

"Yes," Carlos said.

The portal changed its color to black which only meant one thing.

It was time.

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