Liam sighed, staring at the small, run-down farm in front of him.
It was worse than he expected.
The fence was falling apart, the fields were overgrown with weeds, and the shack that passed for a house looked like it might collapse if the wind blew too hard.
"So this is my new life, huh?" he muttered.
After dropping out of Arcadia Magic Academy, he had no real prospects.
He wasn't a great wizard, he wasn't a warrior, and he definitely wasn't suited for any normal job.
But then, he'd inherited this tiny farm from an uncle he'd never met.
It seemed like an easy way to escape responsibility and all he needed to do was to just grow some herbs, sell them in town, and enjoy the quiet life.
There was no pressure of exams and overbearing professors.
But standing here now, looking at the disaster before him, Liam realized something important:
Farming looked like a lot of work!
He picked up a rusted hoe leaning against the fence and gave the soil a halfhearted jab. The ground was as solid as stone. His arms already ached from the effort.
"Yeah. I need a better way."
He tossed the hoe aside and decided to explore the property instead.
Maybe there was some old farming tool or forgotten magic artifact that could help him out. As he walked toward the barn, his foot caught on something hard.
He stumbled, cursing, and looked down.
A strange metal plate stuck out of the ground, covered in dirt and moss.
It didn't match the rest of the farm.
Curious, Liam brushed off the debris, revealing faint engravings.
[SYSTEM ACTIVATION PENDING]
He blinked. "Uh... what?"
Before he could react, the plate hummed. The ground trembled as gears and mechanisms whirred beneath him.
Then, with a loud clank, a hidden hatch opened, revealing a dark chamber below.
Liam peered inside, heart pounding. In the center of the chamber sat a large, humanoid figure made of bronze and silver metal. Its body was sleek but covered in vines, like it had been buried for ages. Its eyes, two dull blue crystals, flickered faintly.
A voice, smooth and mechanical, echoed from the chamber:
"Personal Assistance Unit T-049 Online. Awaiting User Authorization."
Liam took a step back.
The metal figure's eyes glowed brighter. "User detected. Identification required."
Liam hesitated, then shrugged.
"Uh... I'm Liam? New owner of this farm?"
The machine was silent for a moment, then its body shifted.
Dust and vines crumbled away as it stood, rising to its full height. It wasn't massive—maybe a little taller than Liam—but its presence was overwhelming.
Then, its voice softened.
"Acknowledged. Personal Assistance Unit Tobias is now bound to User Liam."
Liam exhaled. "Wait, so you're… my assistant?"
"Correct. Designation: Tobias. Primary function: Agricultural Enhancement and Farm Optimization. Initiating self-repair."
Tobias's body shimmered as small runes flickered to life along its arms and chest.
The old, rusted metal smoothed over, gears realigned, and the dull blue glow in its eyes became sharp and vibrant. The vines disintegrated, revealing a polished, well-crafted automaton.
Liam's brain raced. "So you're saying… you can farm?"
"Affirmative."
A slow grin spread across Liam's face. "Oh, this is perfect."
Within minutes, Tobias scanned the entire farm.
He moved with precision, analyzing soil conditions, crop viability, and structural weaknesses in the property.
Liam followed, amazed as the bot's glowing hands traced over the land, leaving faint lines of magic in their wake.
"Soil composition: 42% depleted. Nutrient levels: suboptimal. Water retention: insufficient. Conclusion: Immediate intervention required."
Liam scratched his head. "Uh… meaning?"
"Activating Soil Enrichment Protocol."
Tobias pressed a hand to the ground. A faint hum filled the air, and then—whoosh—the dry, cracked earth darkened and softened.
A fresh, rich scent filled Liam's nose as the soil visibly rejuvenated.
Liam gawked.
"You just… fixed the dirt?"
"Affirmative. Nutrient balance restored. Next step: Crop Growth Acceleration."
Tobias moved to a section of the field and extended his hands. Small orbs of green light floated from his palms, sinking into the ground.
Within seconds, tiny sprouts emerged where there had been nothing but barren soil.
Liam nearly fell over. "You're telling me you can make crops grow faster?!"
"Correct. Growth cycle efficiency increased by 300%. Expected harvest within three days."
Liam clutched his head. "This is insane. I was expecting to spend weeks just getting the farm ready!"
Tobias turned to him. "Correction. With optimal strategy, farm operation will be fully functional within 48 hours."
Liam grinned.
"I could get used to this."
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