I lacked far too many things. I’d known that already, of course, but the reality was starting to sink in once again.
At the moment, what I wanted more than anything was seasoning—specifically, salt. Freshly harvested crops tasted wonderful on their own, but I found myself craving a savory, salty flavor. Besides, salt would be essential for both cooking and food preservation.
However, there was no ocean nearby. Having plowed the area around my home, I could see quite a distance now, but I was surrounded on all sides by mountains. It seemed I was living in some sort of basin, which meant the chances of finding the sea were non-existent. My only remaining hope was rock salt. But would I really be able to find it that easily?
There was no point in worrying until I actually looked. Before that, though, I decided to re-plow the fields I’d finished harvesting and plant my next batch of crops. Trusting that the Universal Farming Tool would produce whatever I wished for as long as I made the furrows, I gave careful thought to what I should grow this time. Since I already had enough food stockpiled, I wasn't looking for a massive yield. Instead, I wanted to run some experiments to see what the tool could and couldn't do.
First, I dedicated part of the field to fruit. Fruit would be easy to preserve, and I wouldn't have to rush to harvest it the moment it ripened. I decided on apples, pears, mandarins, oranges, persimmons, and peaches. Rather than standard furrows, I visualized planting saplings as I worked. I’d originally intended to plant just one of each, but I worried about whether a single tree could bear fruit on its own, so I went with four of each instead. This used up two full fields. If they grew well, I’d want to plant even more in the future.
Next, I planted two fields of tomatoes, which had been a big hit with Kuro and the pack. Then, I tried my hand at rice. I knew rice was usually grown in a water paddy after raising seedlings, but I didn't know the specifics. I’d have to experiment. I was also worried about whether the Universal Farming Tool could even create a water paddy. If I had to manually carry water from the well to flood the field, the physical labor would probably kill me. But I really wanted to eat rice, so I started with just one field of seedlings. I’d figure out the water paddy part as I went.
I also wanted oil, so I planted some canola. If that worked out, I’d have to figure out a way to press it. Maybe I could transform the Universal Farming Tool into some kind of press? I couldn't recall if such a tool existed, but I’d worry about that later. Thinking about pressing things led me to plant one field of sugar cane. Salt was my priority, but if this succeeded, I’d have sugar. Finally, I planted some soybeans and wheat. I still had some empty fields left, which I planned to use for my water paddy experiments.
All in all, the planting took about two days. With a fresh outlook, I headed into the forest in search of new resources. As always, one of Kuro’s pack accompanied me—sometimes even several of them. I appreciated the sentiment, but I really wished they’d keep a more consistent watch over the fields.
I spent about ten days exploring in various directions, but I didn't find anything noteworthy. No matter which way I went, it was nothing but endless forest. I encountered the usual Fanged Rabbits, giant rats, and massive boars. The ratio was about thirty rabbits to eight rats to one boar. It seemed Fanged Rabbits were the dominant species in this neck of the woods. I also spotted a tall weasel-like animal, but it fled the moment it saw me, so I didn't get a good look. Considering everything else in the forest besides Kuro’s pack had been aggressive, seeing an animal that chose to run away was quite refreshing.
It was disappointing not to find anything new. Perhaps I wasn't getting far enough because I only traveled as far as I could go while still making it back by sunset. Because I was plowing paths as a way of mapping my progress, the ground stayed flat, which prevented me from searching the same spot twice. However, if I kept this up, the forest around my home would disappear, making it difficult to gather timber. I’d probably need to set aside specific days just for woodcutting.
I pondered these things while eating a simple meal of boiled spinach, daikon, and carrots. I really wanted salt, or at least some kind of substitute. I’d spend another ten days searching, and if I still found nothing, I’d focus on gathering lumber. Incidentally, during my ten days of exploration, the rice and wheat had already sprouted, and the fruit trees had grown into small saplings. I hoped they would produce a good harvest.
While exploring and plowing one day, an idea struck me. If I stopped plowing, maybe I wouldn't have to worry about the timber supply. I wondered if I could change the Universal Farming Tool into something other than a hoe—specifically, something that would make traveling easier. A wheelbarrow, perhaps?
I gave it a try, and it worked.
Oh, this was great. As long as there was enough room for a wheelbarrow to pass, I could manage. Since I was just pushing it instead of plowing the earth, I could move much faster. Then, I realized the flaw in my plan. The only reason I didn't get lost in the forest was because I moved while plowing a path. Without that trail, I’d lose my way immediately.
I was about to give up on the wheelbarrow when today’s companion, Kuroyon, suddenly hopped inside. He wasn't heavy at all—that was the Universal Farming Tool for you. Kuroyon wagged his tail happily, but I had to tell him this wasn't a new toy.
Then it hit me. As long as the wolves were with me, I wouldn't get lost. They went into the forest alone to hunt rabbits all the time and always found their way back. It was a brilliant idea. I’d rely on them.
Just for fun, I tried to see if I could transform the tool into a bicycle or a mountain bike since it could manage a wheelbarrow, but no luck there.