Retired Hero's Slow life

Chapter 3: The Hero Starts a Farm!

"So, what's your name?" Elvin asked, politely.

"Oh, yes, we haven't introduced ourselves properly, have we? My name is Ariel." Ariel replied.

"Ariel? Seriously?" Elvin couldn't help but find the name somewhat funny.

"What!? What is wrong with my name!?" She shouted, flustered.

"No, it's not like that. You see, where I'm from, there is a story about a mermaid named Ariel and it's quite a popular classic especially for little girls." He explained the best he could.

"Oh, I see, then what is your name?" The woman asked, her face returning to normal.

"Elvin, my name is Elvin. Nice to meet you." The former hero replied, with a gentle smile.

"Now, then, with that out of the way, can you please explain to me what you're doing here?" He asked.

"W-Well, before I ran into you, I was in an arranged marriage, but, that person..." She explained as her voice grew softer.

"In other words, you don't like the guy, and decided to run away and stumbled upon me while you were running from that monster?" Coming to his own conclusion, Ariel nodded in confirmation.

"I see, well, I guess it's fine as long as you help out in some way." He said.

"Wait, really!? But, won't I bring needless trouble if I stay? I didn't say it before, but Merfolk who come ashore are considered criminals and if I ever go back home, I will be executed once they find out." 

"Oh, uh, I mean, that's sudden and all, but it's fine~ If trouble arises I'm sure we can deal with it somehow. Anyway, I hate to ask this, but can you cook?" Elvin replied as he scratched his head in embarrassment.

"Cook? Sorry, but I don't know how." Ariel answered honestly.

They both drooped their heads with a big sigh.

"Then, what are we going to eat?" Elvin asked, worried.

"Um, we can start a farm! That's what I've heard humans do, right?"

"Oh, yeah...wait, no, it would take too long for any crops to grow, unless..."

As Elvin said that, he began to walk around the forest while in a daze, mumbling things to himself.

"Ah, Elvin? Hey, Elvin? ELVIN!" Ariel shouted as she followed behind her new roommate.

"Wah! What's going on!?" Elvin shouted back as he readied his stance, only to be met with no sword and an impatient Ariel.

"What are you doing? I've been trying to talk to you for some time now." She spoke angrily.

"Ah, right, sorry. I guess one of my old habits from when I was younger started acting up again. You see, I'm currently looking for a unique flower. The flower of fertility. It's basically a cheat flower for farming used around human farms." Elvin explained quickly, and nervously.

"Oh, is that so?" Ariel replied, now quite intrigued.

"Yes, and if my hunch is correct, then there's...a hah! found it!" He shouted as looked past some bushes and found a bed of beautiful orange colored flowers.

"These flowers are exactly what I'm looking for. Now, time to carefully take some of them back home where we want to set up a garden." Elvin muttered as he carefully scooped up a patch of grass with a flower on it and stored it away.

"Phew. Let's go back and see if we can find some seeds."

After an entire day of work, a garden had been erected not far from the log cabin.

Ariel was surprised when The former hero ploughed hundreds of logs in only a single movement of the hand.

After this, they had no worries about going hungry for awhile.