I Transmigrated Into a Farming Sim, Turns Out It Was a 18+ Game-Chapter 24: Wild Accusations

It had been three days since Eren's triumphant win at the Grand Plant Competition, and things had settled into an oddly peaceful rhythm. The farm was quiet again—well, as quiet as it could be when Mira was loudly trying to charm a goose out of his turnips, Lira was silently judging everyone, and Eren was pretending the sudden flood of attention wasn't bothering him.

"You know," Mira said, bent over a weed patch with her sleeves rolled up and a streak of dirt across her nose, "you should wear your medal more often. You looked really cool."

Eren, who was trying to unstick a jammed hoe from a clump of overly fertile soil, grunted. "Yeah, nothing says humble countryside farmer like a giant golden cabbage medallion."

Mira giggled. "I still can't believe you beat Cael the Rootmaster. I mean, he looked like he wanted to cry."

"His potato tried to emotionally manipulate the judge," Eren muttered, yanking hard enough that the hoe flew backward, nearly clocking Lira as she appeared midair in holographic form.

"Warning: Poor spatial awareness detected," Lira droned, dodging gracefully. "Also, his potato had deeply repressed trauma. The judge's therapy bills have already exceeded the contest's prize money."

"It deserved second place at least," Mira added solemnly, placing her hand over her heart in mock respect.

Eren sighed, wiping sweat from his brow. "I just want one day without anyone bringing up Cael, cabbage medals, or haunted potatoes."

"Impossible," Lira replied. "Your fame rating has increased by 42%. Local gossip networks have upgraded your designation from 'that weird guy with nice hands' to 'local crop hero slash suspiciously handsome bachelor.'"

He groaned. "Of course."

That afternoon, while Mira tried (and failed) to teach a goose not to peck her bootlaces, Eren found himself staring down a group of very serious-looking villagers who had shown up at his gate.

Leading them was Old Man Harbin, Tarenfall's self-proclaimed gardening expert and retired conspiracy theorist.

"Young Eren," Harbin said, his eyes narrowing, "we need to talk."

Eren blinked. "About?"

"About your crops."

Behind Harbin, a few of the other villagers crossed their arms, nodding grimly.

"You mean the ones that won me first place in a completely public, professionally judged agricultural contest?" Eren asked.

Harbin leaned forward. "They're too good."

"Excuse me?"

"You heard me. There's magic involved, I can smell it."

"That's Mira's cooking," Eren said. "She tried baking turnip bread again."

Harbin jabbed a crooked finger at him. "Don't play dumb, boy. No commoner grows grapes the size of fists in Tier 2 soil. I've seen things. Mystical things."

Lira flickered into view beside Eren, arms crossed.

"Your accusations lack evidence and your nose lacks accuracy," she said flatly. "His grapes are statistically impressive, but not impossible."

Harbin narrowed his eyes at her. "What are you, anyway? Some kind of glowing witch spirit?"

Lira raised an eyebrow. "Incorrect. I am a digital lifeform designed to assist and occasionally insult Eren."

Mira, who had just arrived carrying a basket of confused ducks, chirped in, "She's really helpful! Also, not a witch. I checked."

Eren pinched the bridge of his nose. "Guys, seriously, are we doing this?"

Harbin crossed his arms. "Word is, you've got foreign devices. Maybe a relic."

Mira leaned over and whispered, way too loudly, "Do you think they mean Lira's butt hologram thing?"

Lira blinked. "It's called projection."

Eren sighed. "Look, Harbin, unless growing things with proper planning and a little skill counts as witchcraft now, I think we're done here."

Harbin grunted. "Don't say I didn't warn you. Strange things happen to men who rise too fast."

"Stranger things happen when you eat too many fermented beets," Eren muttered.

Back inside, Eren collapsed into his chair with a groan.

"That was exhausting."

Lira hovered beside him. "On the upside, your intimidation stat has increased slightly."

"That's not comforting."

"You should embrace your role as a local legend," she added.

Mira peeked in. "Can I be your sidekick?"

Eren stared. "You already live here, eat my food, and name the animals weird things."

"Exactly! Sidekick duties!"

He sighed, leaning back. "Fine. You're my emotional support farmhand."

Mira beamed. "Best title ever."

Later that evening, Eren stepped outside to check the greenhouse. He felt it before he saw it—a quiet hum in the soil beneath his boots. Familiar. Alive.

[System Notification: Your crop bond has deepened. Greenthumb Skill Level Increased. Tier 2 Achieved. Passive Growth Rate +5%. Minor Weather Resistance Gained.]

He smiled to himself. Whatever Harbin or the town thought, this world might be weird, chaotic, and full of sentient potatoes, but it was his now. And slowly, seed by seed, it was becoming something more than just a game.

From behind, Mira called, "Hey, Eren? The goose laid an egg in your boot again."

He sighed, but couldn't help grinning.

"Coming."