Chapter 8

Right on cue, the system popped up a notification.

‘Huh…?’

So there was an extra effect like this?

That must be why Lycian had snapped to attention the moment I spoke.

9.8%… It was a pretty low probability, but still—in an emergency, it could be incredibly useful.

I decided to test it out and gave Lycian another order.

“Lycian. Relax. Go sit on the bed.”

Lycian stood there blankly for a moment, then loosened his posture and nodded.

He obediently walked over and sat down on the bed—but this time, no system notification appeared.

‘If there’s no alert, then the effect probably didn’t trigger.’

Having settled down, Lycian looked up at me with a puzzled expression and spoke hesitantly.

“Just now… something felt strange. When you said ‘Attention,’ Master, it was like invisible chains wrapped around me… or something like that….”

His cheeks flushed red, and he lowered his gaze shyly.

“But… I liked it.”

Ding!

…I’m speechless.

Isn’t this guy seriously a pervert?

Ninabel really does seem to have a good eye for people. Assuming he even counts as a person.

‘Pervert, for sure.’

I can’t believe I picked one up.

I gave the pervert another command.

“Stand up and say to Nini, ‘I’m sorry for teasing you.’”

“…!”

Lycian flinched slightly, then stood up with a flustered look. Turning toward Ninabel, he awkwardly forced the words out.

“I’m sorry for teasing you?”

It was phrased like a question, but still—an apology was an apology.

Just as I thought.

‘That one definitely triggered.’

When Lycian wasn’t acting of his own free will, even his words and behavior came out awkward and unnatural.

“That’s your apology? You call that an apology?! Do it properly, you bastard—!!”

“I’m truly sorry for teasing you?”

“That’s still a question!”

After that, I tried issuing commands about ten more times, but only those first two succeeded. The probability really was just too low.

---

Even if it was only temporary protection, once I’d decided to bring Lycian in as a member of our farm, there were a few things I needed to prepare.

First and foremost: establishing rules of conduct.

Between a madman with a loose leash and a madman with a collar, the latter was obviously much easier to control.

I sat Lycian down in front of me, planted my hands on my hips, and spoke firmly.

“If you’re going to keep living on our farm, there are some rules you need to follow.”

“Yes. Please tell me, Master.”

“…Could you maybe not call me ‘Master’?”

“That would be difficult…. How could I possibly address you by name?”

“Haa….”

Talking to this lunatic made my head feel fuzzy.

Still, this was exactly when I needed to stay sharp. The guy in front of me was as sly as a fox.

I cleared my throat and continued.

“First. You will obey my orders unconditionally.”

“Oh, that’s—”

Lycian smiled softly and tilted his head to the side.

“Obviously~ It’s your order we’re talking about.”

His cotton-candy platinum hair swayed gently.

“…Second. Don’t cause trouble when I’m not around.”

“Does that mean it’s okay when you are watching, Master?”

“No. Just don’t cause trouble. Don’t make incidents!”

“Understood, Master. Don’t worry. I’m very obedient.”

“…….”

I don’t trust him even a little. A rabbit I couldn’t communicate with would probably be more reliable.

I let out a long sigh and went on.

“Third. You must never cause me physical harm, or try to kill me.”

“…?”

Lycian blinked blankly, as if he didn’t understand what I meant.

A few seconds passed before he finally spoke.

“I’d never harm you, Master. Don’t you trust me?”

“…….”

Would you trust someone like that?

A suspicious man who suddenly appeared in the middle of a contaminated zone, claimed he’d lost his memory, and immediately started calling you ‘Master.’

On top of that, Lycian’s irrational closeness to me, his eagerness to obey—those were all the results of the husbandry skill being applied.

Which meant that once the skill was gone, there was no telling what might happen.

Right now he looked at me with the eyes of a zealot, but once he came to his senses, he might do a complete 180 and glare at me with icy hostility.

So… I wasn’t going to get attached to this guy. Not ever.

I didn’t want to get hurt by giving my heart away for no reason.

“Lycian. You’re suffering from amnesia right now. You said you don’t remember who you are, or why you came all the way into the contaminated zone before collapsing. Anything at all.”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“So don’t… rely on me too much. Think for yourself. Try to recover your memories as quickly as you can.”

At that, Lycian’s expression immediately fell.

“That’s… kind of hurtful.”

“You see, it’s just—ha….”

How was I supposed to explain that he wasn’t capable of normal reasoning because he was under the influence of a husbandry skill?

That even the hurt he felt right now was fake?

“I don’t want to make you uncomfortable, Master.”

“…….”

“So if you’d prefer, I’m fine sleeping in the storage shed. This house is pretty small for two people, anyway.”

“No, that’s not—”

I was about to protest that you couldn’t make a person sleep in a storage shed, but stopped short.

…Thinking about it, he wasn’t wrong. There was only one single bed, and living together would make things awkward when changing clothes or washing up.

‘But still, making someone live in a shed is a huge human rights violation!’

Ding!

‘…Huh?’

The timing was oddly specific. I was kind of busy right now….

But I was too curious about the new perk, so I turned away, pretended to deliberate, and tapped the screen.

Fireworks exploded across the display, and a pop-up appeared.

“…Wow.”

The awe slipped out on its own.

At this point, if nothing else, one thing was certain.

The system was absolutely showering me with rewards…!

‘You really do want me to change fate, don’t you?’

‘Is that a yes?’

It was a smiling emoticon, so I decided to take it as one.

‘Okay, so—how exactly do I upgrade the house? What do I do?’

The moment I asked internally, the system responded as if it had been waiting.

‘Three thousand coins?’

My heart started pounding at the number—I’d never seen that much before. With that kind of money, I could finally splurge on all those overpriced shop items I’d only ever eyed longingly…!

“…….”

Ah. Furniture.

My excitement deflated instantly. …Right. Furniture. I’d need another bed, a table, chairs….

‘So I can live comfortably with this unidentified walking headache…!’

…Wait. Is he really a walking headache?

I spun around and stared at Lycian. No—correction. I scanned him thoroughly, from head to toe.

“Um, Master…?”

He stood there with his hands neatly folded, striking a demure, almost bashful pose, but—

‘That build looks strong as hell. An overwhelming physique that would make even male leads cry.’

Exactly.

He was the perfect talent to put in charge of farming…!

I strode straight up to Lycian, stopped in front of him, and placed a firm hand on his broad, solid shoulder as I spoke seriously.

“You said you’d pay me back with your body, right?”

“Yes, but… it’s broad daylight right now…. Of course, if that’s what you want, Master, I’m always—”

“What are you even talking about? Cut the nonsense. We’re going to the forest.”

“…Pardon?”

“You. Put some muscle into it.”

Go chop wood for me.