The Verdant Merchant

Rowen closed the front door and flipped the sign to "Closed." Then he sat down and counted the low-grade mana stones he had earned that day about one hundred and forty-five in total. Before that, he had around fifty-two stored away. Rowen had a total of one hundred and ninety-seven low-grade mana stones.

Just as Rowen finished counting, a faint shimmer lit up beside him. The fern appeared, fluttering his leafy wings.

"I can help you track production and profit of the sales," it said in its light, chiming voice. "But you'll need to add the details, like the price you plan to sell each item for and anything else you want recorded. Once you do, I can keep everything organized for you."

Rowen blinked in surprise. "Wait… I can just do it like that? Just check the numbers at the end of the day?"

The fern nodded his leafy head.

Rowen leaned forward, curiosity sparking. "Then can it also show me the total amount of production I'll have by the end of the day and how much it actually costs to produce in a single day?"

✨ [Production Report – Daily Summary] ✨

Production Sheet

Apple Trees: 85 per cycle → 340 Apples/day

Tomato Plants: — → 48 Tomatoes/day

Potato Plants: — → 48 Potatoes/day

Cost Sheet

Mana recharge: 12 × 4 = 48 stones/day

Labor cost: 0

Maintenance: negligible

Total Daily Cost: 48 stones

Net Value (if sold):

Apples: 340 stones

Tomatoes: 32 stones

Potatoes: 32 stones

Gross Daily Income: 404 stones Net Daily Profit: 356 low-grade mana stones

🌿 [Daily Sales Log] 🌿

Date: [Enter date]

Apples

Produced: 340

Sold: [input]

Remaining Stock: [auto-calc]

Tomatoes

Produced: 48

Sold: [input]

Remaining Stock: [auto-calc]

Potatoes

Produced: 48

Sold: [input]

Remaining Stock: [auto-calc]

Income

Apples: [sold × 1]

Tomatoes: [(sold ÷ 3) × 2]

Potatoes: [(sold ÷ 3) × 2]

Total Sales Income: [auto-calc]

Total Sales Income: [auto-calc]

Net Profit: [Total Sales Income – 48]

Balance

Starting Mana Stones: [previous day's balance]

Today's Net Profit: [auto-calc]

Current Balance: [auto-update]

Note: Recharge cost (48 stones) will be subtracted automatically from profit.

Rowen carefully filled in every field on the blank blue screen; the fern had shown him production numbers, selling prices, daily recharge cost, and the leftover stock. It looked exactly like the sheets they had just discussed.

Once he was finished, the fern hovered closer, its leafy wings fluttering. "If you're done, just press the last button, Save," it said. "After that, all of this will be automatically implemented in the space. You won't need to rewrite it every day."

Rowen let out a small breath of relief. A single button to lock everything in place felt almost too convenient.

Rowen tapped the glowing Save button. The screen shimmered once, then settled and vanished into the empty space.

The fern gave a satisfied nod.

"From now on, you don't need to calculate anything by hand," it said. "Just enter what you sold at the end of the day, and the system will handle the rest automatically."

Rowen leaned back, almost laughing at the thought. No more scratching numbers on scraps of paper or double-checking totals; everything was neatly organized for him now.

Rowen frowned at the screen. "Then… how do I calculate today's sales? Do I need to input everything one by one?"

The fern shook its leafy body, a faint chime in its voice.

"No. For sales, you only need to enter the numbers at the end of the day after the shop is closed. The system will tally them up automatically. As for production, you don't need to worry at all. The portal space now runs on its own time adjustment. When the clock strikes midnight, the first production cycle begins. From there, everything flows on schedule."

Rowen's eyes widened a little. That meant the crops were no longer bound to his memory or effort; the system itself would track every harvest, day after day.

Rowen tapped the screen again. "So this will be implemented from tomorrow?"

"Yes," Fern replied without hesitation.

Rowen nodded, satisfied. A proper record system meant fewer mistakes.

Rowen then glanced at the pouch of one hundred ninety-seven low-grade mana stones. It was the first time he had seen such a solid income, and the sight made him smile. The apple sales had clearly boosted his profits, and the difference was undeniable.

Rowen considered what to do with the extra stones. For the first time, he could think about more than just daily survival. He wanted to buy materials for practicing magic casting and studying formulas, and maybe even treat himself to a meal at one of the restaurants in the upper town.

Rowen tucked the stones safely away, unable to hold back a grin. Today was different. He didn't want to wait until tomorrow. With his pockets heavier than ever before, he decided to head straight to the upper district before the shops closed. It would be his first time going there with enough money to actually buy what he wanted, not just window-shop.

Rowen also thought about the Cornerstone. He had gone there yesterday for the second talent check, but the building's size and the strange devices inside still lingered in his memory. A part of him wanted to see it again, this time with a calmer mind.

Rowen closed the shop door behind him and slid the lock into place. He packed the pouch of low-grade mana stones into his bag, making sure it sat secure at the bottom. Shade stretched out from his usual spot on the counter, tail flicking lazily, before trotting over. The cat meowed once, then rubbed against Rowen's leg, clearly unwilling to be left alone in the empty shop.

Rowen sighed but couldn't help a small smile. "Fine, you can come," he said, giving Shade a light scratch on the head. The cat purred, as if he had been waiting for that answer all along, and leapt up to perch on Rowen's shoulder.

With everything ready, Rowen stepped out toward the upper district.

When he was halfway through the street leading toward the upper district, Rowen's eyes drifted toward the border town school. The training grounds were still lively even at this hour. A few students were practicing swings with wooden swords, while others attempted to cast small sparks of light or shape faint streams of water. Their voices carried across the open space—grunts, shouts, and the crack of wood striking against wooden dummies.

Rowen slowed his pace for a moment. It hadn't been long since the Potential Awakening test, yet the atmosphere there already felt different. The students who had awakened seemed sharper, more determined.

Rowen paused at the edge of the street, watching the students drill over and over with their practice weapons and shaky spells. A faint ache stirred in his chest.

If he had stayed in school, he too would be out there—swinging a wooden sword until his arms went numb or struggling to push mana into a simple spell.

But that wasn't the life he had chosen.

Now, he was something else entirely. A farmer whose fields grew crops faster than nature allowed. A magician awakening to the power of five elements. And a shopkeeper whose little store was becoming one of the most talked-about places in the border town.

Shade brushed against his leg with a low purr, and Rowen allowed himself a small smile. His path was different, but it was his.

He adjusted the strap of his bag and kept walking toward the upper district.

As Rowen stepped through the stone archway that marked the entrance to the upper district, he slowed. A bright poster was pinned to the notice board just off the main street. Its edges fluttered in the breeze, drawing his eyes to the bold letters across the top.

Shade sat down beside him, tail curling as if curious too.

[Federal Notice] Final Annual Examination Schedule.

The details listed the dates, the examiners, and the rules. It was a reminder for the students preparing for the final tests of the year—tests that could affect their placement or future opportunities.

Rowen stared for a moment, then let out a quiet breath. Another piece of the world he had stepped away from. Shade meowed, impatient to move, and Rowen shook his head before continuing into the bustling streets of the upper district.

After passing through the archway into the upper district, Rowen slowed in surprise. The streets were livelier than usual, with far more people coming and going. Students in uniform hurried past in small groups, their arms full of books or practice weapons. Merchants called out to them, offering charms, scrolls, and even potions.

Here and there, more posters of the Final Annual Examination were plastered along the walls and posts. The federal seal gleamed on each one, impossible to miss. It seemed the whole district was buzzing with preparation.

Rowen glanced around, taking in the restless energy, before tightening his grip on the bag of mana stones and moving deeper into the upper town. Shade padded along at his side, tail flicking with curiosity.