Iron Harvest: When Farming Becomes Conquest
Chapter 161 - 33: Yellow Berries

Chapter 161: Chapter 33: Yellow Berries

"Sanna, come quickly! Look at this..."

Gwivelle had found a patch of vegetation in the meadow and hurried forward, not forgetting to shout back at Sanna.

Roman’s army was slaughtering wild beasts in the distance; it was bloody and cruel.

The two girls seemed to be on a picnic, relaxed and lively.

"What is this?" The fisherwoman from the coast had never seen such a plant.

The narrow, stubborn wild grass thrived on the snow-covered land; it resembled some type of strawberry, but the fruit it bore was brightly colored, a shimmering yellow.

"It’s Yellow Berries!" Gwivelle said with high spirits.

She had eaten such berries in the mountains and they were quite tasty.

Uncle Dick did not recognize this wild berry, but Grandpa Galin, who was knowledgeable, referred to it as Yellow Berries.

In the distant Northern Land and Igo Land, those harsh cold places also had the same kind of berries.

It was said that their plants were widespread, yet the fruit was quite rare, colored amber and gold, clumped together like the evening sky, called "Cloud Berry" or "Gold Berry."

They could withstand low temperatures and cold, growing even in climates of widespread ice and frost, with some varieties only bearing fruit in summer and autumn.

But some odd varieties could grow in winter too, their dense roots struggling to draw nutrients from the frozen soil under thick layers of snow, eventually producing fruit smaller than a strawberry.

"Grandpa Galin told me that it could be used to cure diseases; if someone is weak, eating some Yellow Berries can really help. I searched the mountains for a long time before and only found a small patch, but there are so many here!"

Gwivelle was dancing with excitement; of all the berries she had tasted, Yellow Berries were the most delicious.

The conditions in the mountains were limited, not ideal for the growth of Yellow Berries, but now it was as though she had come upon a mountain of gold.

She was overjoyed, now understanding what it felt like to find a treasure.

"Sanna, come and try this!" Gwivelle collapsed on the ground, plucking a Yellow Berry from the tip of the plant and popping it into her mouth.

She expressed a blissfully intoxicated expression.

Curious, Sanna also picked a Yellow Berry, experiencing the rich fruit flavor and the cool sensation that immediately exploded in her mouth, the intense taste made her eyes widen, suddenly understanding why Gwivelle felt that way.

She joyfully rolled back and forth in the snow and the meadow, scattering wildly until her hair was disheveled; finally sitting on this narrow strip of meadow, she clenched her small fists and declared, "I’m going to pick a whole bucket for Roman!"

She did as she said, running to the winter hunting team to ask for a wooden bucket used for bleeding wild animals.

Relishing the aftertaste of the Yellow Berries, Sanna thought it tasted a bit like chilled roasted apples, but it was too sweet, the skin tender, soft, and thin, the juice was rich like thick cream.

She was reminded of Kao, who was sick in bed, then hearing Gwivelle talk about the value of Yellow Berries, she also rushed to get a bucket to take back, hoping that eating more could help Kao get better faster, so the master would not make her stay by Kao’s bedside anymore.

The Yellow Berries’ plants were dense, but the fruits were sparsely distributed, often only one berry per square meter, and the fruit itself was very small, about the size of a thumbnail.

Even on this rich meadow, carrying a wooden bucket, it would take a whole day to fill it completely.

The two girls were completely immersed in the joy of picking, a jubilation and exuberance in their genes.

Thirsty and hungry, they ate some Yellow Berries, tirelessly enjoying themselves without feeling exhausted.

At some point, Sanna looked around.

She couldn’t see any trace or figure from the winter hunting team.

She felt a little afraid for no reason and seeing that the wooden bucket was half full of Yellow Berries, she said to Gwivelle, "Let’s go back. This should be enough."

"There’s a lot more Yellow Berries ahead. If you’re scared, go back, but I’m going to pick a big bucket for Roman!" Gwivelle tirelessly picked the Yellow Berries, as if there was endless energy hidden in her young body.

She carried the bucket forward, and Sanna had no choice but to follow her.

She glanced at Gwivelle from time to time, feeling somewhat reassured.

The wilderness was long and narrow.

To the left was a dense forest, deep and impenetrable, while to the right lay a range of hills, also covered with trees of varying heights. Behind them lay desolation, secluded from the world.

The surrounding terrain was bizarre and unpredictable, but ahead, the Yellow Berries seemed to become more abundant, forming a winding, golden path that tempted and called her forward, ever forward...

...

The enigmatic sky suddenly darkened, and the wind grew stronger.

Gwivelle looked at the full bucket, weighing probably seven or eight kilograms.

She finally led Sanna back.

"Sanna, don’t be afraid. Following me, you won’t get lost.

"I’ve been in the mountains for a long time and I’ve never gotten lost.

"Grandpa Galin says I’m a lucky Gwivelle, not a child who only brings calamity. I have a luck that others can’t reach.

"Grandpa Galin was comforting me, but I actually don’t like the nickname ’Lucky Gwivelle’. All the luck has been taken by me, leaving only calamity for others.

"I always end up hurting others unintentionally.

"People are afraid of me, I understand that. I wish I were the one to face calamity and bring others luck. That way, they would gather around me and find good fortune by my side.

"But I am also very lucky because, even so, there are people who accept me, Roman, Grandpa Galin, Uncle Dick... and you...

"It’s only you who are willing to stay by my side, unafraid of me, and I truly appreciate you.

"If you encounter trouble, I will help you. I won’t let you be wronged..."

Gwivelle led the way, gasping as she carried the bucket.

She didn’t know how long they had walked or how long she had spoken.

Sometimes, she did this, sharing her inner turmoil and worries with someone.

Roman was busy, Galin was far in the mountains, and Dick and Jet didn’t have time to listen to her heartfelt words. They didn’t understand the delicate sensitivity of a girl’s heart.

She could only confide these thoughts to Sanna, not seeking solace, but because keeping things bottled up felt uncomfortable. Speaking them out loud made it much better.

Without Sanna, she would have been left talking to the flowers and trees about her inner troubles.

She was well-behaved in front of Roman but not so with Sanna.

Gwivelle was talkative, rambling on about her deepest feelings.

Sometimes, she also listened to Sanna’s grievances about Kao.

She saw the scars on Sanna’s body, although they would vanish over time.

But pain was pain. Sometimes, seeing Sanna in tears from pain, she didn’t want to see Sanna hurt.

Maybe it was time to talk to Kao!

It was her who should step forward and talk to that harsh boy, to make him stop his cruel behavior.

She muttered to herself for a long time, pondering in her heart. The lonely sound of the wind passed by, and there was no response for a long time.

Gwivelle turned around only to find that there was no one behind her.

Thump!

The bucket hit the ground, and the Yellow Berries rolled around...