I woke up excited for the babies to arrive.
"C'mon, Koda, we have to get ready for your new siblings!"
I looked at Koda, but he didn't budge. He stayed curled up, snoring softly. Sighing, I got out of bed and started getting ready for the day.
Checking my phone, I saw that the babies would arrive around 4 p.m., and the chicken coop and barn would be delivered around noon.
I had about three hours before then.
After heading downstairs, I went straight to the backyard. Taking in the progress I had made so far, I felt satisfied. We lived in a single-family home, with our neighbors about 30 meters away on both sides.
I walked to the garden and began watering the crops, keeping an eye out for pests. If I saw any slugs or harmful bugs, I crushed them without hesitation.
"Hey, Albert! Wow! Look at all of this!"
I turned to see Rose walking toward me, her eyes wide with amazement.
Matching her smile, I waved. "Yeah, it's pretty cool, right?"
As she got closer, she kept looking around in awe. "What made you want to get into farming?"
I hesitated, glancing around. My excitement dimmed slightly, and my face settled into something more neutral.
"I just felt like I needed to," I said after a moment. "And I think it'll be important in the future."
Rose must have sensed my shift in mood because she gently took my hand and squeezed it.
"Everything will be okay, Albert," she said softly. "If you need help, I'm always here."
I looked at her and smirked.
Maybe I should help her get a plant-related class. If we start now, she might gain useful skills early.
My smirk widened. "Yeah, Rose, you could help me." I handed her the hose. "Could you take care of the plants for me? It would mean a lot."
Rose's face lit up. "Of course, Albert! I can do it every day if you want!"
I opened my mouth to reply—
—but suddenly, the world shifted.
A horrific image overtook my vision.
Rose, lying on the ground.
Her body cold.
Her blank, lifeless eyes staring at me.
Mutant hounds ripping into her flesh.
Blood soaking the dirt in front of our house.
"Albert... Albert... ALBERT!"
The vision shattered, and I gasped, my body snapping back to reality.
Rose was standing in front of me, her expression full of concern.
Sighing, I rubbed my eyes. "Don't worry. I zoned out for a sec."
Her frown deepened. "Then… why are you crying?"
I blinked. Lifting a hand to my face, I felt the wet streaks on my cheeks.
When did I start crying?
I quickly wiped my tears and forced a smile. "It's nothing. But if you want to make me happy, help me with this garden... It would really set my mind at ease."
Rose stared at me for a second before nodding. Then, without warning, she lunged at me and wrapped me in a tight hug.
Just as quickly, she let go and grinned. "Okay! Don't worry, I got this covered!"
Her energy was infectious, and I found myself smiling too. "Thanks, Rose. Really."
After that, I walked to the barn and chicken coop foundation. I double-checked that everything was where it was supposed to be and made sure all the food for the cows and chickens was properly stored.
Even with all that, something inside me still felt unsettled.
The vision still clung to the edges of my mind, like a nightmare refusing to fade.
I clenched my fists.
I won't let that happen again.
Taking a deep breath, I turned toward the house.
There was still plenty to do. Preparing for the baby animals was just the first step—long-term survival was what really mattered.
I grabbed my keys and headed out.
Leaving my house, I went to buy more materials—nails, hammers, wood planks, everything I'd need.
As I drove, I thought about something else.
I should probably get carpentry as a subclass… or maybe Rose can. Hmm, I need to think about it more.
Arriving at the store, I went straight for what I needed. These tools would only be useful for a short time once the fall arrived. Even food and extra water would eventually become poison to us.
Later in the fall, around level 5, mundane food would turn toxic due to the lack of mana. But if I could get one of the plants to mutate into Rootlings, then into a mana sprout, we could avoid that problem altogether.
Mana sprouts infused their surroundings with small amounts of mana. The key was figuring out how to evolve one in time.
For that, I needed root-like plants. I would have to infuse them with mana for four days and water them with mana-infused water. If done correctly, the roots would merge and become a Rootling.
It was a gamble, but I didn't have a choice.
Grabbing some fertilizer, I headed to the checkout.
With all of these preparations, we should be ready for the fall.
When I arrived home, I was immediately greeted by the baby animals.
A grin broke across my face.
"Nice," I said, watching them move around. "Now we're talking!"