“What?”

“Look at this.”

In Yuhyun’s hand was a strawberry as big as a melon. And it wasn’t even fully ripe—still mostly white inside. Yuhyun’s hand is quite large, yet it wouldn’t fit in one hand. What on earth is that?

“This seems strange... we probably shouldn’t eat it. Even if you have poison resistance, you never know. Should we burn it?”

Yuhyun said, worried I might try to eat it. No, I don’t love strawberries that much.

“It’d be a waste. The bigger, the better.”

“But none of the other crops got any bigger—they’re just normal sizes under different names.”

That was true. Maybe out of consideration for us, the crops looked exactly like the ones we already knew, just labeled differently.

“Whoa, it really is huge!”

Yerim, who’d been watering the field, teleported over in amazement.

“It’s under-ripe, right? I wonder if it's tasty?”

“I don’t know.”

More importantly, could it be...

‘...because of the skill?’

Because the Caregiver title skill’s growth buff took effect? No matter how you slice it, this isn’t some puffed-up trick—how many times bigger did it grow? The effect is unbelievable.

“It could be dangerous, so we’ll burn it.”

“What? Uncle, you’re not seriously going to burn it, are you?”

Yerim looked at me as though mourning the loss. Aside from my whispered “I love you” and kisses... there were no other variables. And it was inside the greenhouse, so external factors seemed unlikely. Thus...

“Well... I think it’s because I told them to grow well?”

“You said that to them?”

“Uh... I’ve heard that playing music for plants helps them grow, but this is real?”

“Right now I’m the administrator of this place. So my words must have had a big impact. If kind words make them grow well... it makes sense, doesn’t it?”

Anyway, plants are living beings, and receiving good energy makes them healthier... sounds a bit cultish, though.

“Even if it’s true, don’t eat it until it’s confirmed safe.”

Yuhyun said firmly. You won’t die from a single enormous strawberry, kid. I’m curious how it tastes, though.

[Crop 91 is too dry!]

Another message scrolled by. Yerim flew up to water and asked me:

“So should I go around shouting, ‘Grow well now!’? Only your words will work?”

“I... guess so?”

It probably only works from me. I wondered if I could really use the growth buff so blatantly, but the Caregiver title itself was common. I was the only one in our world who’d raised a native S-rank, but system administrators had seen many.

This should be fine. So to the crops...

“First, grow well for me...”

...Do I have to kiss them too? Earlier I’d been shameless inside the greenhouse, but out in broad daylight felt embarrassing. Still, I have to pass this assignment. They said well-grown crops sell high! This is work. I took a deep breath and approached the watermelon patch, where growth seemed poor, and shouted at the top of my lungs:

“Watermelons, grow big and strong! I love youuu!”

“...Yujin?”

“Sweetie, what are you doing?”

Noah and Riet, who’d been fighting monsters near the beach, turned at my voice. Ugh, so embarrassing. Yerim called out, “If Uncle says ‘grow well,’ they really do grow well!” I pressed my straw hat down deeper and cleared my throat. I need to get shameless. Besides, it’s not swearing—just an expression of affection. It’s fine! It’s good!

“Oh dear, our cabbages look so lush and full. Yes, grow well! Good job!”

I even kissed the drooping cabbage leaves that wilted in the strong sun.

“Tomatoes! You’ve set so many fruits! Good job, you’re growing well, you’re sweet!”

I applauded the tomatoes swaying without stakes. I kissed one flimsy stem that looked ready to tip over. I was getting used to this.

“Our corns! Fill each kernel tight~ I love you~”

“Uncle, this is hilarious!”

Yerim laughed, clutching her belly in midair. Yerim, it’s work! Whether human, animal, or plant, it’s all about love and care! While I walked the broad field speaking fervently, I also used the system to try and apply the growth buff skill.

“Beloved... phew. This isn’t easy...”

I’ll lose my voice. I straightened my aching back, and Yerim swooped toward me waving her arms.

“Uncle, look at this watermelon!”

“Huh?”

Yerim teleported up, grabbed me, and flew high. The entire field spread out below, and in the center of the watermelon patch...

“Whoa.”

A single watermelon, puffed up like Cinderella’s pumpkin carriage, jutted out. The other melons were large, but nothing compared. How is a watermelon as tall as a person even possible...

“That one is the watermelon you kissed. And that cabbage and tomato stem too.”

When I turned, I saw an unusually large cabbage and a tomato stem resembling a pine tree. Wow... Meanwhile, Yuhyun, having harvested the ripe strawberries, pushed a cart out of the greenhouse. Among the melon-sized strawberries were occasional watermelon-sized ones. They must all be the ones I kissed...

“Wow, these strawberries are perfectly ripe.”

“Right...”

The glossy red berries looked mouthwatering, but they were way too big! Yuhyun dumped them into one of the standard-sized boxes lined up in the clearing. Though the box looked ordinary, its interior expanded to hold a full cartload of strawberries. From afar, the ripe strawberry scent seemed to pierce my nose.

“Uncle, shouldn’t you become a farmer?”

“It’s thanks to the system, the system.”

Even if I’d used my skill, I couldn’t normally apply keywords to plants from outside. But as system administrator, I could directly affect them. Still, how did they grow so much? Maybe plants are simpler than animals—without other abilities, they focus entirely on physical growth?

...What does kissing matter? Does physical contact make my skill apply better?

Anyway, while we busily harvested the remarkably grown fruits and stored them,

[Eight hours have passed! You have one hour of rest. Crops do not progress during rest!]

“Let’s rest, then work!”

I set down the cabbage I’d been holding. No snack provided?

[Crops are harmless to humans! Eat to your heart’s content!]

Got it!

I snapped off an ear of corn as thick as an arm, washed potatoes and sweet potatoes, cut them into chunks, and skewered them. Flare—Yuhyun’s flame curled around the skewers stuck in the ground. Soon a savory aroma drifted out.

Next to us on a mat sat a watermelon the size of a human torso. Riet drew her hand into a blade and cleaved it in one clean slice. Crack—the crimson flesh gleamed. Noah and I washed strawberries with water Yerim brought and arranged them on a plate.

“Camping is all about meat, after all!”

Yerim lamented it was missing; Riet nodded in agreement. Indeed. Using a scooped wooden spoon carved from wood, Yerim scooped a big chunk of watermelon and popped it in her mouth. Her eyes widened.

“This is pure sugar!”

She gushed about how delicious it was, so I picked up a strawberry. Who knew we’d eat strawberries with both hands? The seeds were big, but I wondered if I could just eat them. I hesitated, then bit into one.

“...Wow.”

Sweet! Juice spilled out in a torrent—slightly tart yet very sweet. The soft flesh filled my mouth, exuding a fresh, grassy-sweet fragrance. The seeds crunched softly, enhancing the texture.

“...Delicious.”

Unbelievable. Strawberries that were already tasty became utterly perfect.

“Hyung, you need carbs too.”

Yuhyun offered me a plate piled with well-roasted potatoes, sweet potatoes, and corn. Steam curled up, making my mouth water.

“Well roasted! Yuhyun, eat plenty too. Yerim and Noah as well. Riet, you too.”

“Be careful, it’s hot.”

My sister peeled a sweet potato for me. I could have done it myself. I blew on the bright yellow flesh then popped it in. The sticky sweet potato was literally honey.

“No kimchi!”

“We really need kimchi!”

Yerim missed it too. Riet delightedly shoveled hot potatoes in unpeeled.

“These are the best potatoes I’ve ever eaten! Uncle, you have a talent for farming?”

“The corn’s delicious too.”

Noah smiled as she bit into corn kernels as neat as her teeth. No seasoning needed, yet everything tasted amazing.

“Here, Yuhyun, have a strawberry.”

I cut one into bite-size pieces and fed my brother. It brought back memories.

“Delicious.”

Yuhyun said with a smile. With such large crops, just a few pieces filled us quickly. I wondered how Seong Hyunjae’s side fared and checked the window.

‘Wow, they farmed well.’

Their field teemed with crops, and their greenhouse looked far more polished than mine. Crop sizes were normal, but everything was fresh. Without the growth buff, Seong Hyunjae surely would have won. During rest, his team gathered by their gazebo around a campfire, eating.

‘...What’s that table?’

A proper dining table with chairs and even a tea set. And moreover—

‘A pizza oven?’

What? They baked bread? Seong Hyunjae was pulling freshly baked loaves from the oven. They looked rustic without milk or fermentation, but appetizing. They must have planted wheat! Rustic cookies were piled on the table too. Director Song, wearing plastic gloves, was pressing reeds to extract juice. Pale yellow liquid dripped into a cup.

“Um, Seong Hyunjae. I’d like to offer these to Director Song and Hyunah-ssi.”

[Want some bread? Sugarcane juice is fine too. Hunter Park Yerim can make ice—drink it chilled.]

Sugarcane? They planted that too?

“If you offer, we’ll take it. You’ve grown so many things. Any rice?”

[We lacked a good cold dish. Only salted cabbage or radish.]

“I see. Anyway, our harvest went well. We’ll send some, Director Song! Enjoy your meal!”

They’ve worked hard and will continue to, no doubt.

[Thank you.]

Director Song bowed slightly upon hearing this. Hyunah waved, “Big brother, take care.”

Seong Hyunjae teleported bread, cookies, and sugarcane juice over. I then sent strawberries, watermelon, corn, and so on.

[Squeal! Strawberries are so pretty!]

[Wow... hyung, what did you do? This isn’t genetically modified, right?]

“These are 100% natural, pesticide-free—” Director Song gently touched a watermelon, astonished. “They taste great without salt or sugar.”

“These are fruit-filled cookies! Is there sugar in them?”

“They’re like store-bought cookies,” Yerim said, tilting her head. The bread was rough but tasty—maybe made with salt from evaporated seawater. Being flour-based, it felt like a real meal.

“These have garlic too. Seong Hyunjae could live well anywhere.”

“I like what you grew, hyung.”

Yuhyun said without glancing at Seong Hyunjae’s offerings. Our crops taste great too! Pure flavor unmatched by any. Hyunah, Mari, and Samir kept exclaiming in delight. Director Song’s expression softened as he tried the potatoes—he must like them.

“I’m taking orders for fresh fruit juice~”

After eating, Yerim created ice and floated it in drinks.

“I’ll have melon!”

“Watermelon, please.”

“I want strawberry—”

“Hyung will have tomato.”

Yuhyun cut me off. Tomatoes aren’t bad, but still!

“I’ve eaten too many strawberries, hyung. I want tomato too.”

“Sure, sure—Uncle needs to stay healthy! Uncle, ask Hyunah-ssi too~”

Right, tomato is fine. As long as it’s not cabbage. Seong Hyunjae and Mari wanted strawberries; Director Song requested tomato; Hyunah and Samir chose watermelon.

After a hearty meal, we sat in the pavilion sipping ice-topped juice and looked out over the field, feeling proud. My precious babies.

‘I still feel uneasy.’

The Mermaid Queen, the Pariahs—what are they planning? I once thought they helped save the world. But now...

‘...It’s obvious I’m the goal.’

Even this contest seemed more than saving the world. They were educating me as provisional system administrator.

That one lesson happened to be farming—teaching crop cultivation.

A perfect Caregiver.

The Pariahs—especially the new administrator candidates and the Mermaid Queen—knew about my title and skills. How will they use that? Or do I have other abilities? None besides Caregiver, as far as I know.

‘What if the ending is me dragged off by the Pariahs and Seong Hyunjae by the Crescent?’

Still, refusing to participate wasn’t an option. Improving my stats and extracting system info was best.

“Uncle.”

Lost in thought while staring at the field, Yerim approached with determined expression.

“Please kiss my cheek too.”

“...Huh?”

“Sharing lips with Han Yujin and Uncle makes me uncomfortable, but I disinfected with watermelon and tomato—I might grow big too, you never know.”

“Me too, me too!”

Riet raised her hand and interrupted.

“Darling, if you kiss me, can I hit three meters? I want to be a dragon one kilometer long!”

“Riet, you’re already plenty big.”

I’d already given Yerim a growth buff, so she wouldn’t grow more, but oh well.

“My beloved Yerim, grow up big and strong.”

I gently kissed Yerim’s forehead. Then Riet—

“Hey! Don’t hold out your lips!”

“Doesn’t matter where.”

“On the forehead, on the forehead!”

“Okay~”

Riet swept her hair back, revealing her forehead.

“Grow well.”

“Do it properly, honey.”

“My beloved Riet, grow up big and mighty—become a great dragon.”

Grow into a colossal kaiju and conquer the Earth. Fighting.

“Um, Yujin-ssi, if it’s okay, may I too...?”

Noah, who’d been watching, spoke timidly. There’s no refusing—come here, Noah!

“My beloved Noah, grow taller and more splendid than Riet!”

“Sparkle too.”

“Yes, sparkle brightly.”

Riet demanded extra sparkle. True to a dragon, especially a malevolent one. Finally, Yuhyun looked at me quietly. Of course I had to include my brother too.

“My beloved brother, Yuhyun! Grow healthy and strong!”

“Thanks, hyung. I love you too.”

Since he’s my brother, I kissed his cheek as well. I’ll get used [N O V E L I G H T] to kissing soon. How many times have we kissed today? My lips will wear out.

Rest ended and we farmed hard for the remaining eight hours. After countless kisses and shouting “Grow well” until my throat went hoarse:

“Team Han Yujin’s final score: 156,999 points.”

“I told you I’d win, Seong Hyunjae!”

I easily passed the lesson by over 100,000 points.