A Single Mother's Farm of the Gods
Chapter 67: Helping Hand

Chapter 67: Helping Hand

Julia and Princess Margaux are so confused right now while Elaina is trying to understand what the Harvest Goddess is talking about.

"Alright, we are confused here. So we stepped into a forbidden part of the forest which caused the "defense mechanism" present here to repel us, correct?"

"Yup!" the Harvest Goddess nodded.

"Then these so-called "spirits are these fireflies then?"

"They might look like fireflies but they are actually like little fairies but in their spiritual form. Since they don’t plan to show themselves to humans and they punish anyone who enters their domain just like that, the ones being punished wouldn’t know who or what attacked them. If I didn’t interfere, you lot would have a lot of trouble."

Julia then started to ask this time around about the Harvest Goddess. "If I fired back my magic, would that solve the problem?

"Nope. These little guys are capable of nullifying magic unless they are fired by a higher being, like me. Otherwise, they are not going to be doing anything and you will struggle. The only option is to find someone who can talk to these guys normally and you would be fine. With my help, everyone will not experience being punished by these little guys for trespassing here without their permission."

The three shuddered just thinking about what kind of punishment the little guys might have done to them if even Julia’s magic won’t work.

"But...Harvest Goddess, why would you help us?" Elaina asked.

The Harvest Goddess smiled and made a smug look on her face. "Of course, you people are necessary for me to continue receiving offerings. Without you lot, I would be in big trouble, and the boss would be really angry at me if I just let you all be in danger."

Elaina then remembered the scene when the god of farming suddenly punished the Harvest Goddess for slacking and asking for offerings without also doing her work. She didn’t want that to happen again to herself which is why she is more generous.

Julia is confused as to why Elaina seems to be on friendly terms with this woman who just appeared out of nowhere but she knows immediately that she is someone important that she cannot offend. She looks like someone who likes to show off due to how her clothes look like she is going to the beach, but her power is something that Julia has never seen before. She is overflowing with power. And based on Elaina’s interaction with her, it seems she knows who this woman is. She is curious but there are more matters she is concerned about and that is the fireflies that are known as the spirits of the forest.

As for Princess Margaux, she is both afraid and curious. Afraid that something might cause harm to them, and curious about what kind of magical adventure are they going to experience.

The Harvest Goddess continues to communicate with the spirits and Elaina continues to talk to the Harvest Goddess and relay her message to them while the two just watch what is going on. For them, the process is complicated.

"Elaina, it seems they are afraid of the three of you since you three have been hunting since then and they are afraid that you all would also start hunting them as well. They wanted assurance that you guys won’t even have to harm them."

"Assurance, eh? I am fine with that. But what are we even going to do about this assurance before we can move on?" Elaina asked.

The Harvest Goddess began communicating with the spirits and a few seconds later, she turned around again on Elaina.

"It seems they wanted you to show them goodwill or something related to that. They are a bit vague on it, but based on their likes, they like plants and crop supplies. Even seeds might also help. Of course, they have likes and dislikes and because I can’t help further than that since they are vague about it, I will leave it to you instead."

Elaina thought for a while before she pulled out a few fruit crops from the inventory. It was stored there in case Elaina and Julia were stuck in the forest for a while and could not go back home immediately, which is good to have as emergency food. Never would Elaina guess that the emergency food that she keep in her inventory every time they leave would come in handy.

"How about these? Will these work?" Elaina asked as she showed them the crops ranging from potatoes, cucumbers, and radishes.

Before the Harvest Goddess can ask for the opinion of the Spirits, they immediately flock around the crops that Elaina gave them and one by one, they pick them up and disappear into the forest.

"Uh...so what is their reception to it?" Elaina asked. She is a bit curious as the firefly-looking lights just picked up on her vegetables and left without a peep.

"It seems they liked your offering to them. Ah, look, it seems they are now allowing you access to the area. Looks like you are all now ready to move along."

Elaina and the other two sighed in relief after hearing the Harvest Goddess say those. And just like what she said, it seems they have indeed allowed them access to the area as the fog slowly lifted and the fireflies that were present around slowly disappeared one by one.

"Are there other factions out here that we are not aware of, besides these spirits and the various monsters?" Elaina asked.

"There are plenty of them deeper into the forest. But I doubt you will meet them unless they intentionally meet up with you or you intentionally seek out them. Other than that, they are pretty much hard to find. From what I can remember, the factions I have seen so far are the elves, dwarves, dark elves, and even some barbarians who are also living around the area. There are more than those but I don’t think I know most of them since they are now outside of my range of power and detection."

Elaina is surprised by this as she doesn’t know this forest houses more than what meets the eye.

"Well, now that my work here is done and you don’t need my help, I will return to the stream. Don’t forget to drop by and give me offerings, okay? I might be a helping hand but I don’t help for free. Alright, bye-bye! Offerings, you hear?" The Harvest Goddess floats before she disappears like a bubble pops into the air.

That’s when the situation has returned to normal and the two who are stunned have finally returned to their senses.

"W-what was that, Sis! I-I didn’t know you were acquainted with some sort of local deity!" Julia slumped down on the ground as she couldn’t handle much on what she has just experienced.

Elaina smiled as she almost forgot that it is not a natural occurrence for a human to interact with a god, nor even a diety, and seeing them for the first time would be too overwhelming for them. After all, Elaina spends every day after becoming a farmer interacting with not just one, but two gods and one deity who demands offerings every time.

"That...that was so cool! And here I thought that my blessings might be some kind of normal thing that is a chance at birth, but seeing deities existing among humans, that must also mean gods are also real and these blessings are something that they bestow to people, right?" Princess Margaux seemed to have gotten an epiphany after the incident.

"Well, I will tell you guys everything back at home. For now, we should go back home alright. I can tell you are all exhausted after that incident. Let’s head back."

The two didn’t object her notion and the three safely left the place where the spirits held them. While they are leaving, a little figure continues to observe them. Slowly following them while remaining undetected.