The path to town was a ways away from the farm. Since we weren't in a rush, I opted to walk. Perhaps that was a little too optimistic.
In the game, it took only a few seconds to get from the farmhouse to town. Here, it took around twenty minutes. Was it because this wasn't vanilla Stardew Valley, or was it simply because this was real life? Either way, I should've known better. Still, we had time to spare, as the festival usually opened at nine.
"Wait," I paused.
As we entered the paved roads, the town center came into view, along with its surrounding buildings and trees. Neat fences bordered the area, with flowers scattered here and there. The square was already lively, decorated with all sorts of egg-themed ornaments. Bright colors filled the place, and the townspeople had dressed for the occasion.
"It's not even nine yet, and they look busy."
"Hey, Mel, what's with those triangles hanging up there?"
Several triangular pieces of fabric hung from strings, scattered around the area in various colors.
"Pennant banners, Master."
"I see. They look nice."
From where we stood, no one was nearby. Everyone seemed to be busy around the square, and even from here, I could see the crowd.
"There are a lot more people, huh?"
There were characters I recognized from the game, and others I didn't. Were they from the Expanded mod, or was this just what happened when a game became real life?
Nonetheless, their presence made the place feel far more lively.
I observed the scene for a while. A few people even passed us by, and once I'd seen enough, we resumed our walk.
The nearest place was a stall of sorts. I couldn't tell whether it was the only one selling goods, but the familiar person manning it was a face I'd seen countless times in the game.
With his neatly combed hair and rimmed glasses, paired with a bluish shirt and brownish jacket, it was none other than Pierre, the owner of the town's general store.
If you wanted farming supplies, chances were he'd have what you needed. Or you could shop at Joja.
But I would judge you.
Pierre looked the same as he did in the game. Perhaps it was a personal choice. The other characters I remembered weren't wearing their usual outfits, though some retained familiar elements, whether in color or style.
Our clothes, meanwhile, were chosen to blend in with the festival. We wanted to participate, but given that we hadn't been invited, it was only right to avoid drawing too much attention.
Then again...
Looking at Mel's stoic, beautiful face, I wondered whether that was even possible. Her appearance alone was enough to attract attention. Paired with her white blouse with puffed sleeves, light blue jeans, and straw basket, she was quite the sight.
Anthony was unaware that, while he was admiring Mel's attire, Pierre had already noticed them.
The shopkeeper's expression had shifted from its usual friendliness. He wasn't looking at the customers he was serving, nor was he looking at Mel, whom Anthony had just been quietly praising.
His attention was on Anthony himself.
With his dark undershirt, cream-colored jacket, and dark blue jeans, Anthony's outfit complemented Mel's rather well. Together, the two made quite the pair.
Why Anthony had ever believed they wouldn't stand out was anyone's guess.
"Can I help you with something?"
Pierre's voice interrupted my thoughts as I approached the stall.
"Just browsing for now."
I glanced over the goods on display, and my eyes immediately settled on the familiar packets. The source of this chapter is g.com.
Strawberry Seeds.
There they were. The special item I'd come all this way for.
In the game, they were only available at the Egg Festival, and I wasn't about to miss my chance to get them. Even if this world followed its own rules, I'd rather not risk anything.
"Ten packs of Strawberry Seeds, please."
I turned to Pierre, only to be met with an unpleasant expression.
"Actually, I don't think we can sell to you."
I blinked.
"Excuse me?"
"We don't want your money here."
His words were quiet, but there was no mistaking the hostility behind them.
Ah. So that was how it was.
I wasn't offended in the least. After all, his eyes betrayed his voice. There was no real hostility there, only a forced rejection.
Perhaps Mel hadn't noticed, or perhaps she simply didn't care. Her gaze was a proper glare, fully showcasing her hostility. Yet, as usual, she remained unmoved. No matter the situation, she wouldn't act without my word, unless, of course, it was an emergency.
I smiled, genuinely amused. If Pierre wasn't really hostile, then this was too easy.
"I see. Mind telling me where Joja is? I'm sure they'd be more than happy to sell to me."
Joja was Pierre's strongest competitor. They sold things cheaper, and that alone was enough to threaten his store's livelihood. It might take time, but sooner or later, Pierre could lose his business.
At least, that was how it worked in the game. Eventually, the Farmer could support the Community Center and help the town move away from Joja's influence. But that was all part of the game, and some things might not play out the same way here.
Still, the competition between the two was very real. We'd already done our research, with Mel doing most of it, of course.
My words made Pierre pause. His eyes wandered, and I couldn't tell whether he was hesitating or calculating.
After a moment, he sighed and relented.
There was nothing quite like a paying customer, especially one who could take his business elsewhere. Whatever hostility my name had stirred up, money seemed to speak a language everyone understood.
After the exchange was settled and Pierre had finally agreed to serve us, I returned my attention to the goods.
"Ten packs of Strawberry Seeds, please."
Pierre no longer hesitated. He put on his usual friendly smile before gathering the packets.
While he was at it, I noticed a plush bunny among the festival goods.
It was cute. Soft-looking, too.
I glanced at Mel.
She stood beside me, holding her straw basket, her expression composed as ever.
"Mel, isn't this cute?"
"If you say so, Master."
"I was asking for your opinion, dummy."
I smiled. She had her moments like this.
She paused.
"...It's cute."
"Then I'll take it, too."
I paid for the seeds and the plush bunny, then handed the latter to her.
"For you."
Mel stared at the toy for a moment.
"...Thank you, Master."
"You're welcome."
I turned back to Pierre before she could say anything else.
Once the transaction was complete, I finally noticed that the items were pricier than I remembered.
The plush bunny cost 2,500 Gold. I supposed it made sense if they were as big as the one I'd just bought. It was almost half Mel's height, after all. Still, that was a pretty steep price for a stuffed toy.
The seeds stood out even more.
These were familiar to me. They were one of the best investments for making money early in the game, with each packet costing only 100 Gold. Seeing them priced at twice that amount was hard to miss.
"Do you have basic fertilizers?" I asked, unsure whether I was being scammed.
"We do, but they're all in the shop. I didn't bring any out."
"Oh. How much is each bag?"
"About 200 Gold a bag. The price changes sometimes, but it's always around that range."
That confirmed it. Perhaps items here were simply pricier than I remembered.
Was this Lord Yoba's way of nerfing my status?
That couldn't be it. Surely, they wouldn't be so petty, right?
Either way, I still needed those growth supplies, along with more seeds.
'Ugh, my money's gonna drain faster.'
With our business done, we headed toward the square. I wouldn't insist on buying the rest of what I needed, even if I could afford it. We couldn't possibly carry everything back ourselves.
'Where's my backpack when you need it?'
A thought suddenly crossed my mind.
Did the previous Farmer have access to the same game mechanics I did?
If she did, then being born rich might not be as advantageous as I'd thought...