Chapter 23

[Page 1/3]
【Homies can, to a certain extent, follow your commands and act as your eyes and ears.】
【Thanks to the existence of the Homies, your control over the island has increased! The range you can view on the map has expanded, and [Observation Haki] level +1.】
【Your [Observation Haki] has reached level 3!】
Seeing the system notification, Liyue tried asking them if they could find something like "iron ore."
The result was unexpectedly simple. The Homies led Liyue to the front of a cave, where a Homie enthusiastically said, "I think there’s that kind of hard rock inside this cave!"
Lingling followed Liyue as they plunged into the dark cave.
"Are there desserts in here too, little carp?"
"Well, I wouldn't say no, but who knows? We might find some rare materials."
Liyue took a torch out of her backpack. Even with the mini-map to assist her, she really couldn't see what was ahead.
【Wild [Bats] have appeared!】
【You are under attack by a [swarm of bats]!】
The moment she brought out the torch, the light disturbed the creatures in the cave. The bats emitted shrill shrieks and flew aimlessly around the cave. Some, in their panic, flew straight at Liyue.
【HP -3, Current HP: 97.】
【HP -1, Current HP...】
【HP -1】
【HP -2】
...
The bats' attack power wasn't high, but there were so many of them. Caught off guard, Liyue’s HP dropped by over ten points. Liyue instinctively wanted to check on the piggy, but Lingling’s reaction was very decisive—
【Charlotte Linlin used [Conqueror's Haki], and the swarm of bats fell! You gained 120 team experience points.】
Lingling let out a disdainful snort.
...Conqueror's Haki.
Liyue was now truly envious of this AOE skill called [Conqueror's Haki]; AOE was just so convenient!
But it didn't matter! With Lingling as her backer, she practically possessed [Conqueror's Haki] by proxy!
Liyue kept a positive mindset and walked deeper into the cave with Lingling. Before long, Liyue spotted the so-called "hard rocks."
She didn't know what raw materials used for metal smelting looked like in reality, but in this game, they had the appearance of ordinary rocks.
The difference was that silver-white metallic stones were growing on the yellowish-brown rocks; this must be the [Iron Ore] Liyue needed.
Liyue walked up, full of motivation. Although she didn't have any tools, she understood that in this game, [Armament Haki] was the universal gathering skill.
【You attacked the [Iron Ore Rock] using [Armament Haki]!】
First punch.
【The [Iron Ore Rock] shows no change.】
Third punch.
【The [Iron Ore Rock] shows no change.】
That’s not right, is it? [Armament Haki] should be usable for rock mining, right?
Liyue stood firm in her judgment and continued to mash the button.
...
Tenth punch.

[Page 2/3]
【The [Iron Ore Rock] shows a tiny crack.】
???
You’ve got to be kidding me?
With the experience of needing 35 punches to chop down a tree using Armament Haki, Liyue only had a more ominous premonition at this moment...
Then, the piggy walked over.
The piggy raised a hoof.
【Charlotte Linlin used [Armament Haki], and the [Iron Ore Rock] shattered!】
【Congratulations, you obtained R-grade material: [Iron Ore] ×3!】
【Congratulations, you obtained SR-grade material: [Sulfur]!】
【Congratulations, you obtained SR-grade material: [Saltpeter]!】
Liyue felt truly refreshed.
Although I'm weak and my level is low right now, I have the almighty Charlotte Linlin with me!
Walking beside Lingling, Liyue gained the capital to "borrow a tiger’s prestige," and she held her head high as she began searching for the next material target.
...
But the piggy didn't actually help her work for very long.
Even though Liyue kept feeding the piggy along the way, once they had stockpiled just over a hundred pieces of [Iron Ore], the piggy let out a long yawn: "I'm sleepy, little carp."
"Oh, then should you go to sleep first?"
Small animals needed sleep, but players didn't. Although she lost an assistant, Liyue figured she could still stockpile some materials on her own. She planned to spend the whole day in this cave.
"Then I'm heading back, little carp."
The piggy yawned again, rubbing its eyes: "I'll come find you again tomorrow..."
Lingling left, leaving Liyue all by herself.
She began to count how many punches she needed to break one [Iron Ore Rock].
...The result was in.
It was 110 punches.
Liyue’s eyes were vacant; by now, she had no other thoughts, just mindlessly and mechanically pressing the button.
A night passed.
There had been a notification in the meantime:
【Quest completed! Congratulations on obtaining quest rewards: Island Owner Reputation +25, permanent 2% increase in the chance of rare desserts appearing when crafting dessert-related dishes.】
Liyue didn't pay much attention and continued hammering the rocks.
(Armament Haki proficiency +3.)
(Armament Haki proficiency +3.)
...
The cave remained pitch black, illuminated only by the torch. Liyue couldn't tell the passage of time in the game until a dialogue box appeared, triggering an automatic cutscene.
(Purupurupuru.)
A snail (?) carried by Lingling let out a strange sound.
...What is this new thing?

[Page 3/3]
Liyue felt a bit curious.
She saw Lingling pick up the little snail, which magically transformed into another fuzzy form, and she heard the snail speak in a deep male voice:
"Where are you right now, Lingling?"
"Huh?"
Lingling’s attitude was completely different from how she treated Liyue; her voice was filled with impatience: "Why do you care where I am? I have no obligation to report my whereabouts to you one by one. You don't actually think you're my captain, do you?"
...Hmm?
Listening to this dialogue, why does it feel like I’m sensing a bit of plot?
Does this farming game actually have a story after all?
"Now, immediately, return to Hachinosu."
The other party’s tone remained firm, speaking in a commanding tone: "We are going to have a voyage mission."
After a pause, the male voice added: "All the crew members are going. Including you, Lingling."
Lingling let out an even nastier "Tch," but did not refuse. When the communication ended, the snail drooped its eyes and returned to its silent, obedient appearance.
But Lingling seemed agitated, pacing back and forth several times before frowning and walking toward the cave entrance.
—
"Lit-tle—carp—!"
Outside the cave, Lingling was already calling out. Liyue, wanting to see how the plot would develop, had already walked toward the exit and met Lingling as soon as she stepped out.
Lingling looked very unhappy, frowning and pouting: "I have to leave, Liyue."
Liyue didn't say anything to hold her back, only clicking to prompt their next meeting: "When you come back next time, will you bring me some white sugar?"
"Of course!" For some reason, Lingling became happy again, beaming: "After I finish my business, I'll definitely bring lots of materials to find you next time!"
"And that sugar-roasted chestnut you mentioned, you must make it for me next time!"
Lingling waved a hoof at Liyue: "Then see you next time!"
"Huh?" Liyue was a bit surprised again; she hadn't expected Lingling to be ready to leave just like that: "Don't you need me to make you a sailboat? But it's all ocean around here; how are you going to leave?"
"No need." Lingling answered readily, shouting into the air: "Zeus!"
A cloud-shaped Homie flew to Lingling’s side: "I'm here, Mama!"
I never imagined there would be a Flying Nimbus in this worldview?
Oh wait, this is a Homie.
Are Homies this omnipotent??
Lingling is just too amazing!
The piggy nimbly jumped onto the cloud, and Lingling waved at Liyue once more: "Goodbye, little carp!"
"This is a parting gift! You can eat it on the way."
Liyue stuffed her entire inventory of desserts from her backpack into the piggy’s hooves. She waved goodbye, watching as the piggy rode the cloud into the sky.
The piggy seemed exceptionally happy, laughing "mamamama" while riding the cloud, the laughter fading as it drifted away.
Until Lingling’s silhouette completely disappeared, Liyue returned to the cave once more to continue her great rock-smashing undertaking.