Gathering Crops [Job/Solo]

Job Overview: With the Kou-Reim Conflict, many of the farmers had been recruited to the war efforts. Help the villages rebuild by assisting in planting crops and bringing in last season’s yield before the crows get it.

Enemy Name: Crows x4
Rank: C
Needed damage to take down: C
Description: Crows fly at 7 m/s and deal C-tier damage with beak and claws.
Abilities:
Caw – Crow caws loudly, deafening anyone within 10 meters and disorienting for 1 post.

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Kioshi had helped with resupplying the armory for a couple of weeks and it had reached a stage that was out of Kioshi’s realm of knowledge. At this point, all that was left was actually constructing the building and allowing the blacksmiths to restock the weapons and armor needed. These were all tasks best left to those who knew what they were doing, so Kioshi began searching for other ways to help his homeland and his new Emperor. Even though the conflict with Reim was no longer raging, the effects were felt across Kou, like a ripple that had built into a wave. Walking through the market, Kioshi could not help but notice the large number of farmers begging for assistance.

Normally, gathering crops was done at a steady pace as the plants were ready to bring in. But, in times of war, or impending war, the military would go around and force all able-bodied men to join in the military efforts. This had left many farms without enough people to bring in the harvest in a timely manner. If the crops were not brought in soon, the farmers would lose a great deal of their harvest, which was their means to survive the winter. Unlike construction, gathering crops was something that required very few skills other than a strong body and a willingness to work. Approaching one of the farmers, Kioshi gave the older man a deep bow of respect.

“Great Elder, I would like to offer my assistance to you, if you do not mind my lack of experience.”

The older man gave Kioshi a critical look, the young man certainly looked strong enough to handle himself in the fields. He nodded towards the back of his cart with a grunt.

“You shall do. Climb on up, young man. No need to waste your energy walking there when the cart will carry several of you. The less energy you spend now, the more you will have to gather crops.”

Kioshi gave a sharp nod of acknowledgement before climbing into the cart, joining two other young men in the cramped space. The farmer barely waited for Kioshi to find a seat before snapping the reins. Kioshi made no attempt to make conversation with the other two men, content to listen to their idle gossip in silence. The path to the farming village was filled with bumps and holes and by the time they arrived at their destination, Kioshi was sore in places he would rather not admit. He climbed down from the cart and elongated his body into a satisfying stretch, slipping Hana into the band around his waist. While he did not anticipate needing the weapon, it was always best to be prepared.

The farmer led he and the other two men to an intersection of fields before beginning instructions.

“You, with the shaved head. You begin with the wheat. Your friend can follow behind and bundle it. You, with the sword. You will take that basket and begin gathering corn. If you manage to finish that, make your way to the tomatoes. Be gentle with the crops, as they are already ripe, so they will bruise quite easily.”

Kioshi gave him a silent nod of understanding before turning towards the field containing the corn. It was simple enough to harvest the corn and he plucked the ears from the stalk before tugging the stalk from the ground. Corn would not grow from the same stalk two summers in a row, so pulling the stalks up served two purposes. First, it would make it easier to track his progress. Secondly, it would save the farmer a step in having to remove the stalks himself. The stalks had their own uses but were not nearly as delicate as the ears of corn.

The task was monotonous, and it gave Kioshi’s mind time to wander. A small part of his mind missed Reim, the cultural differences making it an interesting study in comparison. Even the weather was different, most of the country not suffering from the random weather patterns sparked by the mountains. Even the architecture had been a bit of a shock to Kioshi, the sheer amount of marble and stone used making him wonder how they had managed to cut and haul so much of the necessary materials to construct the capital, Remano. It had been garish compared to the simple elegance of Kou architecture, but endearing in its own way. But if he were honest with himself, what he missed about Reim was not the weather or the sightseeing. It was a young blonde woman with sky blue eyes.

He was torn from his thoughts by the raucous cawing of crows. The brazen birds landed on the dummy in the middle of the field as though to prove they defied all manners of man. Carefully setting his basket to the side, Kioshi made a shooing motion to the birds, which did nothing but make them cackled at him in their weird voices. He slowly moved forward, his focus on one of the birds that was lower to the ground before Hana sliced out with a Swift Strike. The sight of their comrade thudding to the ground seemed to anger the other crows and they wasted no time in lifting into the air and diving down to claw at Kioshi. Kioshi used Deflection to knock one crow away from him, following it up with Riposte.

The second crow fell beside its brother on the crow, its head missing, but a third crow was diving towards the swordsman and Kioshi lifted his arm to keep his eyes safe as the crow clawed at the skin. Kioshi ignored the pain and the blood dripping down his arm and slashed at the crow, the third body littering the field. High in the air, the last crow used Caw, making Kioshi reach up to cover his ears from the horrible sound. The action disoriented him, slowing his normally excellent reaction time and allowing the crow to peck sharply at Kioshi’s head. Kioshi shook the bird loose from his hair, using the hilt of Hana to strike the bird’s head, making it give an angry sound that was cut short when Kioshi’s blade sliced the bird’s head off.

Kioshi glanced down at the pecks and scratches on his arms and he gave a sigh. It seemed even gathering crops opened one up to attacks. Carefully, he tossed the bird corpses from the field before continuing his task. He was not able to complete the entire field before the sun began to dip low into the sky and the farmer called them in. Kioshi handed over his basket of corn and gave a brief explanation of what had happened in the field. The farmer chuckled at the tale and waved him over to the well to clean up. Kioshi gladly accepted the offer as well as the offer for a bed for the night.

[1160/1000]

[Stamina 130/200]

Abilities Used: