The Demon King was mighty and without equal: the sky beyond the sky! Or so it should have been. How would people have reacted had they seen the current him?
Jack sat alongside his two pets in the peaceful pumpkin field as they diligently carved pumpkins.
Pursuing great adventures? Saving/destroying the world? Helping damsels in distress? Who fucking had time for that?! Quest were temporary, but pumpkins were eternal!
At first glimpse, they appeared like a still painting depicting a hero of old.
Every time she glanced at the three, the farm girl felt as if they could disappear any moment. Now that the day had come, she finally realized how peculiar those pets were.
The wolf looked more like a tiger, and it had a proud and majestic aura, one that was stronger than any of the Braves she had ever seen. The stripes even seemed alive!
It was even worse for the chicken. It was only bones! Usually, she should have dreaded such a vile creature, but it seemed so hardworking and….friendly?!
"Be delicate. Destruction is easy, but creation is much harder." Jack would dispense his wisdom as he expertly handled the knife.
The wolf would diligently follow the movements while the chicken would copy its wolf big brother. Somehow, this scene felt so natural and heartwarming!
That's when he turned her way.
"Morning, Pumpkin Girl!" He gave her a radiant smile that almost made her heart explode.
Pumpkin girl was such a simple nickname: it literally only described her job! Yet it felt so right when he was the one uttering it.
She grumbled a reply as she went to tend to her field as she always did.
Sometimes she wondered why she even bothered. After all, the despicable invaders would destroy everything night come. Oh, and this wasn't considering the ones during the day!
— CawCaw! CawCaw! —
The annoying birds would always show up: black, the size of chickens, three-eyed and swift. At least they never attacked humans, for they knew better.
< Half-Blind Fate Crow Lv 12 >
But this time was different. The birds cawed but did not dare approach, for he was there, akin to a silent guardian.
As the farm girl saw this, she sighed in relief and gave a grateful smile. She seemed blissfully unaware that THE Demon King was acting as a scarecrow for her.
She was wearing a modest white shirt, the poor thing struggling to hold her assets. In her hand, she had a simple wooden hoe.
As she began her daily routine, Jack couldn't help but give a nod of appreciation.
Most would have observed her rosy complexion from the exertion, her skin glistering under the sun from the sweat, or even how the white fabric followed her unbelievable curves.
But what stood out the most to him was the technique. She was so damn good at hoeing!!!
She'd chant a small prayer, and green energy would envelop her hoe. It had the warmth of spring and the vitality of nature.
She'd gently huff as she plowed with all her strength, digging so deep into the earth before delicately inserting a seed. Then she'd gently cover it up before doing the same over again!
She sure was hard at work!
While busying herself, she suddenly felt a gaze. How many skulls did she have to crack in the past to stop fellow villagers from peeping at her?
But as she noticed who it belonged to, she didn't feel bad in the slightest. He was the man who had saved her farm, asking nothing in return.
Sure there were the pumpkins, but she would prefer them to be carved than devoured by beasts! Plus, she could still cook the insides…
Anyway, he was looking her way! She took the opportunity to spectacularly arch her back, stretching her sore muscles. Had she entranced him? She discreetly peeked. …Nope.
He was staring at the pumpkin seed she had just planted. Thanks to Farmar's blessing, it was already blooming into vibrant green leaves. She was losing to a damn pumpkin again!
Just when she felt like crying, he praised her:
"I love watching you work. It's quite mesmerizing." He looked so innocent as he said it, yet it still made her heart skip a beat.
"Really?! Feel free to look all you want!"
Was her farming talent a blessing or a curse? At least it made him look her general way. Now she just had to attract his gaze toward her…
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Jack soon found peace on the farm as days succeeded one another.
Any other player would have found him crazy. Why waste his time when now was the best time to become stronger? It didn't make any sense!
2. He would rather do it now than miss the opportunity later.
3. He knew that every life skill would be helpful in combat down the line. It was just a matter of sinking enough effort into it. (See 1)
The more he practiced, the better he got at it. He felt that he wouldn't embarrass himself, even IRL. Still, he was a distance away from unlocking the skill.
He was already looking forward to Halloween: he'd showcase his skills. Lilly would love it for sure!
Soon a routine established itself:
1. Hardworking Days
2. Quiet Evenings
3. Battling Nights
He wasn't the only one hard at work every day.
He and his companions would carve while watching Pumpkin Girl grow squashes. To her, farming was as simple as breathing or hoeing, but it was so magical to him!
From time to time, she'd try to get his attention, making him chuckle inwardly. At first, she was inexperienced in seduction, but she quickly improved.
She tried it all: stretching alluringly, delicately fanning herself, bending over while planting, or even resting her massive breasts on her wooden hoe for a break.
Every time he'd give her the most innocent and bright signature "Herald of Light" smile. Then he'd rarely glance straight at her curves, only to appear to be daydreaming.
She was really fun to tease, and it was entertaining to see the "tricks" she'd come up with.
Whenever she took breaks, they'd speak for a little while, mostly about pumpkins. She'd come alive as she described how she had learned the art with her father, her blue eyes lighting up!
Moon Moon or Chicky would ask for advice by raising a paw/claw from time to time. He'd diligently guide them to the best of his capabilities. After all, he was a beginner too.
She'd watch those interactions with a warm smile, enjoying the moment as she pretty much gave up on seducing him. (Not that she stopped trying)
But whenever she spoke of the outside world, her gaze would turn reluctant as she knew he'd leave at some point.
Jack learned about their surroundings this way:
– Sprigfield Town Nearby
– Timber City Farther Away
– Lumbering Metropolis Even Farther
The last one was the area's capital, and reaching it would be the players' primary goal for now. Of course, accessing it would require more than simply walking there.
All that was a concern for later anyway…
Pumpkin Girl would sometimes head to the town to sell some pumpkins and buy supplies, mainly vegetables. Fun fact, pumpkins were considered fruits.
She'd talk about how X or Y villager had tried scamming her, complain about the naughty kids, or how badly maintained the roads were.
It was a simple topic, but he found her various expressions fun to witness.
She'd use the food for cooking delicious meals once evening came.
Evening was for resting, eating, and generally quiet pondering. Even then, the gang would never stop carving for too long as Jack would keep his hands busy as he trained.
It turned out that she was a pumpkin virtuoso. She did it all: from pumpkin soup to pumpkin pie and even roasted pumpkin!
Every time he'd whisper that he loved her pumpkins or her cooking, she'd beam and blush a little.
Sometimes she'd ask for stories, her eyes gleaming in wonder from his incredible tales. All were true, albeit he never mentioned that they were from a past life.
"That one time that army of dark elves cornered me, and all I had to defend myself was their princess' dildo. Needless to say—"
"Once, demons tried to ambush us to steal a holy artifact. You should have seen their faces as they finally stole it only to realize I had replaced it with dog shit! It was—"
"There was that guy I knew. He could transform into a bird, and he was one hell of a pervert! One day he sneaked right into the king's harem. That day he almost died of exhaustion as—"
She'd listen for ages, or at least until night came…