Webnovel Author In The Apocalypse World

Chapter 128 Farm Fiasco

"You've put on some weight." Kim Haru hefted Sir Peckington and, with a sudden idea, teased it, "Since we don't have any meat for lunch, maybe I should stew you instead. After all, you were just stealing my food—what do you think, Sir Peckington?"

Sir Peckington: "…"

"Cluck-cluck-cluck-cluck-cluck!"

Finally, Sir Peckington began struggling frantically, kicking its little chicken feet in every direction, its beady eyes filled with sheer panic.

Little Nugget who was standing nearby, chirped anxiously, circling around Kim Haru.

Amused by their reactions, Kim Haru held back his laughter and untied the rope from Sir Peckington's wings. "Alright, alright, I won't eat you."

Once set down, Sir Peckington quickly scurried away to a safe distance about a meter from Kim Haru.

But then it couldn't bring itself to go any farther.

After all, its favorite rice husks were still piled up beside Kim Haru.

Kim Haru glanced at the heap of freshly milled rice, reckoning that this amount would last him and Go Okrim a month or two, and decided to shut down the machine. There was no need to keep grinding; he could hull more rice the next time they needed it.

He stowed away the de-husker and tidied up the processed rice and the remaining rice husks, carefully setting aside a small portion of each.

"Alright, Little Nugget's rice, Sir Peckington's husks—these are yours."

He clapped his hands, signaling Little Nugget and Sir Peckington to come over.

Little Nugget with its bright and fluffy feather, immediately flapped its wings and ran over, brushing up against Kim Haru's hand before scurrying off to the pile of rice, where it buried its head and started eating.

This time, Sir Peckington, with its colorful feathers, didn't rush straight to the rice husks. Instead, it looked at the husks, then at Little Nugget, then back at Kim Haru.

Then, taking a few steps forward, it mimicked Little Nugget, stretching its head to brush against Kim Haru's hand before quickly darting off.

As it approached the pile of husks, Sir Peckington glanced back at Kim Haru.

Somehow, Kim Haru understood its look. "Go on, eat. I'm not going to cook you."

With that reassurance, Sir Peckington finally began to peck at the husks with confidence, its beak striking the floor with such vigor that Kim Haru felt a phantom ache.

Seeing the two happily enjoying their meals, Kim Haru left them to it and carried the freshly hulled rice into the kitchen.

This rice had been in storage for so long, it was practically an old rice. He wondered if it would taste alright. Kim Haru planned to mix it with the rice the system provided for lunch.

That way, he and Go Okrim would each have half; it wouldn't feel right to keep the good rice for himself and leave the older rice to Go Okrim.

After all, he was part of his farm now.

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The lunch was delicious as always.

The system-provided meal included some meat, and Kim Haru added some stir-fried cabbage and potatoes, along with tofu he had previously ground from soybeans at the research center. Both he and Go Okrim were fully satisfied with the meal.

The old rice wasn't as unappetizing as Kim Haru had expected; mixed with the system's rice, it created a unique flavor.

After the meal, as usual, Go Okrim volunteered to wash the dishes.

"How's your progress with the zombie-bots?" Kim Haru asked after lunch.

Go Okrim's voice dropped immediately. "I'm sorry, Kim Haru-hyung. They're still not very agile and don't meet the requirements yet. They can't even pull weeds properly."

Kim Haru didn't mind. "It's fine; just take your time with it."

Go Okrim nodded, feeling even more guilty that Kim Haru was being so understanding. After only a short break, he headed back across the pond with determination. He was set on creating the zombie-bots that would make Kim Haru-hyung proud!

Meanwhile, Kim Haru stuck to his routine of taking a short nap after lunch. When he woke up, he planned to check the traps he had set on the mountain before his last trip, hoping they had caught something.

...

After a few days away, it seemed as though the mountain's vegetation had grown even more lush.

Following his usual path, Kim Haru walked through the bamboo forest, taking a moment to glance at the base of the bamboo stalks.

He was still thinking about the bamboo shoots he hadn't managed to dig up before.

Seeing no telltale tips of bamboo shoots, Kim Haru wasn't disappointed and continued onward. As he passed the mushroom patch, he spotted a few mushrooms that hadn't spoiled—an unexpected delight.

It must have rained a bit while he was gone.

Without hesitation, Kim Haru picked up the mushrooms and put them in his system backpack.

As he approached the trap area, he caught faint sounds in the distance, coming from the direction of the trap.

Something was there!

Kim Haru quickened his pace.

The noise didn't sound like a wild chicken—no clucking, no flapping wings, just soft, grumbling squeals. The longer he listened, the more it sounded like a pig.

Could it be that he'd actually caught a wild pig?

As he drew nearer, he saw that something dark and pig-like creature was indeed struggling in the collapsed trap, and he was thrilled.

It turned out to be a little piglet!

The piglet in the trap was as black as coal, stuck on its back in the hole, with short, stubby legs kicking the air but unable to flip itself over.

Kim Haru looked at the piglet's plump, jiggly belly, lost in thought. "…"

This piglet must have been too fat, or else it wouldn't have been caught in such a makeshift trap, unable to climb out.

Carefully grabbing its four legs, Kim Haru lifted the piglet out of the trap to inspect it.

Now he could see more clearly—it was definitely a chubby little pig.

Kim Haru swallowed his saliva.

This piglet was absurdly plumpy. Its fat jiggled visibly as he held it, its large, round head taking up a significant part of its body.