Chapter 44: Golden Sun Wheats
"Bantaro Farm? The same place we’re going to right now?" Lumien asked, slightly in disbelief.
"Yup."
"So... it’s not really a coincidence that we encountered goblins here, considering Bantaro Farm used to be part of a goblin horde’s territory and we’re already close to it. Maybe, it was just as you said, the goblins we met are survivors from the previous Wipe," Lumien said.
Azalea, however, didn’t respond immediately. She fell into silence, deep in thought, before finally speaking. "Something doesn’t add up."
"What?
"The goblins we encountered were young. If they were survivors from the Wipe fifty years ago, they should be looking much older."
"Couldn’t they be the offspring of the goblins that escaped back then?"
"It’s possible, but highly unlikely—almost impossible. There are no caves or ruins around here for them to inhabit. Without a place to live, how could they have survived and reproduced? Not to mention, the goblins that managed to escape the Wipe were only a handful. Their numbers wouldn’t have been enough to establish a stable population, let alone defend themselves against stronger monsters in the area."
"Another thing, why appear now? There were no signs of them twenty years ago."
She suddenly let out a sigh. "But as unbelievable as it sounds, I actually hope that’s the case."
"Why? You mentioned two possibilities earlier. Is the second one worse than the first? What exactly is it?" Lumien asked, his brows furrowing.
Azalea said in a grave tone. "The second possibility is that the cave where the goblin horde was sealed fifty years ago has been breached and the goblins we meet were coming from it."
Lumien’s eyes widened. "Sealed? They weren’t wiped out?"
"Yes. Fifty years ago, during the Wipe, the soldiers successfully drove the goblin horde back to their dwelling—a cave several miles from Bantaro Farm. However, instead of pursuing them inside, Duke Sauron, who was leading the army at that time, ordered the entrance to be sealed."
"In the records, he reasoned his decision based on the fact that the cave was too narrow and tight for the soldiers to maneuver effectively. Storming in would have resulted in extreme casualties, making sealing the entrance the safest and most strategic option available."
"Furthermore, according to him, the goblins wouldn’t be able to survive inside a sealed cave without a source of food and water for so long. He firmly believed that even without further intervention, they would eventually die of starvation and thirst."
"However, recent research added to the Monsterpedia has introduced new knowledge about goblins. It turns out that goblins can survive even in the harshest environments—such as places without sunlight or food. The researcher discovered that a goblin’s stomach is strong enough to consume dirt and filter out harmful components, leaving only the living creatures such as worms, bugs, and others within as a source of sustenance."
"Their digestive system is that strong?" Lumien asked, startled. It had never crossed his mind that goblins—low-ranked creatures—possessed such extreme resilience.
"Apparently, yes," Azalea confirmed.
"But there’s still the issue of water, right? They can survive without proper food, but they definitely can’t last without water."
"True. But who knows if they’ve found a water source inside the cave? Since they can consume dirt, they might have dug through most of it and, by chance, uncovered a water source deep within the soil," Azalea said with a shrug.
"Err, but even with food and water, breaking the seal would still be difficult, right? I don’t know exactly what kind of seal you’re talking about, but if Duke Sauron placed it himself, I doubt it’s just a simple wall blocking the entrance. He must have used magic or something else," Lumien said.
"Your guess is on point. Duke Sauron didn’t just collapse the entrance and let the rubble block the cave. He actually ordered a Master Mage, specializing in defensive magic, to create a magical barrier. On top of that, he reinforced it with his own powers. It was believed even a dragon would struggle to break through, let alone goblins. Plus, according to the records I read, soldiers inspect the seal every month. The latest report from last month confirmed that the seal was still intact," Azalea explained.
"If the seal was still intact and said to be impenetrable even by a dragon, then there’s nothing to worry about."
"I guess you’re right. I’m probably just overthinking things," Azalea said, shaking her head.
"Overthinking isn’t necessarily bad—it means you’re cautious and value your life. But in this case, I don’t think the situation is as dire as you imagined. Let’s try to stay positive," Lumien reassured her.
"Hmm..." Azalea nodded absentmindedly before speaking. "Let’s keep moving."
"What about the horse? Is it okay to just leave it here?" Lumien asked, gesturing toward the carcass lying in the middle of the road.
More flies had gathered, buzzing around its exposed intestines.
"Burying it would take too much time. How about this—we head straight to Bantaro Farm and pay some men there to handle it?"
"Good idea," Lumien agreed without hesitation.
Without further discussion, they returned to Kuro’s side and climbed onto her back. The creature took off swiftly, sprinting down the path.
As they rode, Lumien’s curiosity got the better of him. "You said the horse was tamed and that it must have had a rider. Could those two goblins we killed have been responsible for the rider’s death?"
"That’s possible. But I didn’t see any human remains near them. The rider probably fled immediately. When I killed the second goblin, I noticed blood that hadn’t dried up on the nearby bushes. It might have belonged to the rider."
"You didn’t follow the trail of the blood?"
"I did. That’s why it took me a while to return. But I lost the trail after tracking it for a bit. The rider likely bandaged their wound while escaping to keep the goblins from following them."
They continued chatting as they made their way toward their destination. A few minutes later, the dense forest lining both sides of the path finally gave way to an open clearing.
What replaced the towering trees was an endless stretch of golden farmland, the crops swaying gently under the sunlight. The fields stretched as far as Lumien’s eyes could see, and judging by the height of the stalks—nearly as tall as he was—it was almost harvest season.
"Have we arrived?" Lumien asked, taking in the breathtaking view.
It was the first time since his reincarnation in this world that he had seen a farm. His reaction wasn’t much different from that of a country bumpkin stepping into a bustling city for the first time—wide-eyed and full of wonder, as if marveling at towering skyscrapers and the shimmering lights of a modern metropolis.
But in his case, it wasn’t the spectacle of a city that captivated him—it was the natural beauty of the farmland.
Even in his past life, he had spent most of his time in the city, and his knowledge of farms came solely from images on the internet. Seeing one in person, with his own eyes, was a rare and surreal experience.
"It should be..." Azalea muttered, her gaze drifting over the endless fields. She found herself in a similar state as Lumien. Even though she had been an adventurer for over a year and had traveled to many places, the sheer massiveness and brilliance of the farmland still took her by surprise.
"The smell here is different," Lumien commented, taking a deep breath. The air was thick with an earthy, slightly sweet aroma, completely unlike the damp scent of the forest or the dusty air of the city.
"It’s because of the crops," Azalea explained. "These are called Golden Sun Wheats."
"Golden Sun Wheat? What’s the difference between it and ordinary wheat?" Lumien asked.
"You could say it’s a superior version of regular wheat," Azalea replied. "The seed was developed by the Radiant Church. As it grows, it absorbs sunlight and stores the energy within itself, turning completely golden and said to shine when fully ripe—just like the sun."
"And what does that stored energy do?"
"The sun’s energy remains within the grain even after it’s harvested. When ground into flour and made into food, it carries the essence of the sun, including its warmth. That’s why it’s a must-have for anyone traveling north—it helps stave off the cold, providing a comforting heat from the inside out.
"For an Awakened, it’s also an essential item to carry when venturing into places tainted by Dark Force. The residual sun energy within the wheat acts as a natural deterrent, making wraiths and other dark creatures slightly repelled by your presence. And if consumed while your body is in the early stages of Dark Force corruption, it can help expel the taint before it turns worse. It’s practically a perfect survival item."
"What? It can do that?" Lumien’s mouth twitched. "Wouldn’t it be easier to just get a charm from a priest? Or carry a blessed amulet instead?"
"And how much do you think it costs to get a charm from a priest or buy a blessed amulet?" Azalea asked with an amused smile. "Besides, you can’t just walk up to a priest and ask for one. You’d either need to be a clergyman yourself or have the right connections for a priest to even consider giving you a charm."
