“….”

The only problem was that Iska hardly ever spoke. He never initiated conversation. Even on days like today—the first day of a season or after a harvest was completed—when he needed new work assignments, he would simply come stand nearby and wait for instructions.

But what did it matter? He was so handsome.

“Since it’s the first day, start by tilling the soil. I’ll go select which crops to plant.”

“….”

Iska silently picked up his hoe and began leveling the ground. The way he lifted the heavy tool high and brought it down was like watching a work of art. Rudis watched him with a satisfied smile while checking her mailbox.

Come to think of it, it’s my birthday today.

The mailbox was filled with letters and gifts from villagers. They were from people whose affinity levels were above a certain threshold. During her first few years, she had read each letter with genuine emotion, but this was already her eighth birthday in this game world. Rudis opened the letters with a familiar feeling.

[From: Martin

Content: Rudis! Happy 23rd birthday! I was saving these cookies for myself…

Gift: 2 Cookies]

[From: Kuku

Content: Rudis! Congratulations! I recently acquired some excellent lumber…

Gift: Lumber Package]

[From: Thomas

Content: Rudis! Congratulations! You’re working hard on your farm this year too, right? A diligent customer like you…

Gift: Beginner’s Watering Can]

Same as every year.

After skimming through the first few, Rudis routinely accepted all the gifts and messages at once and headed to the storage room in her house.

What should I plant this spring?

Rudis selected several seed varieties. A few ordinary crops typical for spring, some practical crops frequently used in quests, and even her own hybrid varieties that took longer to grow but commanded high prices. Her bag quickly filled with the assortment of seeds she had chosen.

“Already finished?”

By the time she returned with her bag full of seeds, the soil was completely tilled.

When I did it myself, I couldn’t work this fast even with a premium hoe…

Rudis looked back and forth between Iska and the ground in amazement. Moreover, the tool Iska was using was just an ordinary hoe that could be found anywhere. It was a familiar yet surprising sight every time she witnessed it.

Right. Those muscles aren’t just for show.

Nodding in understanding, Rudis took out the seeds from her bag.

“Let’s start with planting. I brought exactly the right amount. Just plant them in order starting from the right. After planting, water them too. I’ll apply the fertilizer.”

“….”

Iska took the seed packages and focused on his work again. Though frustratingly taciturn, he was always an accurate and diligent worker. However, Iska strangely avoided using fertilizers made by Noah.

Is there some hidden story there?

Curiosity had driven her to ask several times, but discovering any hidden story was impossible. She couldn’t even have a single conversation with him. During work hours, conversation was difficult, and after work, he would vanish like the wind. Since she didn’t even know where he lived, she couldn’t plan any “accidental” encounters to become closer.

“Where do you live, Iska?”

“….”

Even when she asked directly like this, no answer came back, so she had no choice but to give up. She had even wondered if he couldn’t speak, but that wasn’t the case either. Occasionally he would respond with a simple “Yes.” Rudis shrugged and began spreading fertilizer.

He really must be an NPC with no interaction options.

Why couldn’t she ever truly give up despite reaching the same conclusion every time? Rudis sighed as she spread the fertilizer. Though her hands were busy working, her eyes remained fixed on Iska’s muscles, which seemed excessive just for planting seeds.

Why give him such a misleading appearance?

It was the creator’s fault. A character with such an incredible design should have some hidden narrative, shouldn’t they? Rudis continued grumbling to herself as she shook out the last of the fertilizer.

“Now we just need to water everything. Please take care of it.”

Iska silently nodded and picked up the watering can. Rudis hummed a tune as she headed toward the barn.

“Hello, everyone.”

The barn was peaceful as always. The livestock weren’t just a source of secondary income for Rudis. They were friends that held memories and affection from when she first started the farm and collected them one by one.

From chickens she had hatched from eggs to sheep she had brought home with trembling hands due to their high price—all these creatures were like companions who had been with her through her toughest times.

Now, thanks to the automated system, the workload had greatly decreased, but the memories of caring for livestock in the early days remained special to Rudis. Every time she saw the automatically harvested byproducts and the abundance of premium milk and eggs, Rudis felt overwhelmingly proud.

“Have you been well? Did you eat plenty of feed? Is the premium milk coming out nicely?”

Rudis was immersed in contentment as she looked at her peacefully thriving livestock. Just then, a sudden voice struck her ears.

“Are you there?”

Rudis turned her head with a start. Someone was standing outside the barn. A most unwelcome visitor.

“Yes, I’ll be right out.”

It was the Lord’s representative who unfailingly visited on the first day of each new year. Rudis’s face crumpled. And for good reason.

“I’ve come to collect this year’s taxes.”

Who would welcome someone who comes to extract taxes? Rudis swallowed a sigh.

I wonder how much they’ll take this year.

When she first entered this game, Rudis had been defenseless, unaware of this vicious system.

You can’t farm in winter, and hunting only yields beginner items—where was she supposed to find money to survive winter AND pay taxes? When she didn’t even know taxes existed, that ruthless Lord’s representative took all her money, leaving her without enough to buy seeds. Thanks to that, Rudis had experienced extreme difficulty.

Just when she thought she had adapted and life was becoming manageable, taxes reset everything back to square one.

“Let’s see. You expanded your farm last year. You also modified your house structure. And paved roads in the village. Hmm, calculating your total income…”

Are you kidding me? Paving the village roads was for community welfare—you’re including that in the tax calculation? Isn’t that originally the Lord’s job? You should be giving me a tax reduction! A reduction! How much more is this person going to extort?

Of course, she couldn’t say these things out loud. Instead, Rudis glared at the Lord’s representative while trembling with anger. But the representative didn’t even blink at Rudis’s piercing gaze and began reciting numbers. As the calculations continued and the numbers grew, Rudis’s eyes widened to the size of fists.

That much…?

“This year’s tax is…”

Upon hearing the amount proposed by the representative, Rudis screamed internally.

That’s my entire fortune!

“Is this… correct?”

“Yes. It’s accurate. Please pay.”

At the representative’s sharp voice, Rudis reluctantly handed over all her money. Even trying to console herself that at least she wasn’t short on funds didn’t improve her mood much.

“Ah, right. The Lord asked me to deliver this to you.”

After confirming the money, the representative added expressionlessly.

“A letter?”

“Yes. Now I’ll be on my way.”

The representative turned around cleanly and left. Rudis glared at the representative’s back while looking at the envelope in her hand.

What is this? Am I being recognized as an outstanding taxpayer? Or a letter commending my contributions to village development? Or maybe birthday wishes?

With a mix of suspicion and excitement, she opened the envelope. But the moment the contents of the letter entered her sight, her teeth clenched.

“This insufferable bastard.”

[Please refrain from doing anything.]

That was the message.

You oppose every attempt to develop the village with all sorts of excuses and extract huge taxes, and then you send this kind of letter?

Rudis’s hands trembled violently. The anger that surged in an instant made her neck tense.

Is there a coup quest in this game? Any way to overthrow the Lord?

Unable to contain her rising anger, Rudis tried to tear up the letter. It was the only way she could vent her frustration.

What the? Why is this so sturdy?

But the paper wouldn’t tear—it didn’t even budge. She pulled with all her might again, but it only twisted. The only one in pain was Rudis; the paper remained intact.

Even the letter is messing with me.

Rudis threw the letter away carelessly and grabbed her hair.

Refrain from doing anything? How ridiculous. I’ll work even harder.

Suppressing her anger, Rudis gritted her teeth and left the barn. She had work to do right now.