Yes! He had isekai'd into the world of Harvest Moon, specifically the Friends of Mineral Town version he'd been playing on his Game Boy. This was insane! Wasn't isekai just something that happened in anime? How had he gotten caught up in it? But then again, isekai wasn't so bad, right? Main characters usually got some overpowered perks. Could he even die in this world?
A hundred questions exploded in his mind. He had no idea how to face all of this. Luis sat dazed on the wooden floor, his eyes staring blankly at the vibrant green lawn outside. The spring breeze danced playfully across the grass, heedless of the young man lost in his thoughts. The cheerful chirping of birds rang out from the branches of the ancient tree.
He didn't know how long he'd been sitting there. Suddenly, a loud bark snapped him out of his trance. He glanced to the side—it was the same dog from before. Without a word, he scooped the pup into his arms, confiding in it as if it were an old, trusted friend.
"How long have you been alone?" "You're pretty lonely too, huh?" "I'm the same. No one understands the burdens I carry!" "And now I'm stuck in this place!"
The little dog didn't respond or struggle. As if it understood his words, it lay quietly in Luis's arms, letting him pour out his heart. Tears streamed down his cheeks. It had been so long since he'd cried—since he'd been able to cry, or even allowed himself to. But perhaps because this wasn't his body, the one crying wasn't really him, and no one knew he was crying, he let himself go. He sobbed freely, his cries growing louder. Today, he gave himself permission to weep.
The tears and sobs unearthed his burdens, washed away his anxieties, and carried off the sorrows he'd buried deep inside for so long—because he was a man, the family's pillar, a respected colleague, himself…
When his emotions had somewhat subsided, he carried the pup outside and sat under the great tree, breathing in the fresh air. This world wasn't so bad. After all, he'd only wanted to turn off his old life. If he couldn't return, he'd stay here, start anew, leave the past behind, and begin again. Taking a deep breath and reflecting on his heart, he made his decision:
"If I've been isekai'd, then I'll restart the game. From today, I'll become the heir to this farm!"
He patted the little dog's head, gazing at the farm with eyes brimming with hope—hope for a better, brighter new life. The dog, sensing the shift, barked joyfully.
"Right! You should have a name, shouldn't you?" he said to the pup. "Let's call you Glimmer!"
"Woof! Woof! Woof!" Glimmer wagged its tail excitedly, circling Luis as if approving the new name.
So, where to start? As he pondered his next steps, he noticed a figure in a red coat approaching the farm from the direction of the town. He didn't pay much attention until the person stepped through the farm's gate. Glimmer's barking pulled him from his thoughts.
Luis walked toward the figure to get a better look. When he realized who it was, a faint smile curved his lips. It was Thomas, the elderly mayor of Mineral Town.
This was a key character in the early stages of the game, guiding players through the basics: planting crops, raising animals, watering, and harvesting. He also announced in-game events and organized them.
Thomas stormed toward him with a furious expression.
"Hey, kid, what are you doing here? Are you the one causing trouble all over town on the first day of the new year? And now you're messing around at poor Jack's farm after he's passed? Don't you have any respect for the dead?" Thomas scolded harshly.
"I'm sorry, sir! Please calm down! I'm new here. I didn't know the way to this farm, so I just wanted to ask the townsfolk for directions. I'm sorry for causing any trouble!" Luis tried to play the role of a game character.
"New here? Hmm… I don't know you!" Thomas eyed Luis suspiciously. "I'm Thomas, the mayor of Mineral Town. And you, who are you? Why were you looking for this farm? Did you know Jack?"
"Greetings, Mayor. I'm Luis. The owner of this farm was an acquaintance of mine. We exchanged letters for years. But six months ago, I stopped receiving replies from Mr. Jack, so I decided to visit. I had no idea he'd passed away!"
As he spoke, even though he knew he was just acting within the game's context, a pang of sorrow welled up inside him. This sadness didn't come from him but from this body.
"You said your name is Luis?" Thomas asked, his tone skeptical.
"Yes, that's right!"
Thomas seemed to recall something, his voice softening as he reminisced: "I was Jack's best friend. He was an odd fellow, but a fantastic farmer. Six months ago, when I came to visit, I found he'd passed away alone in that house." Thomas nodded toward the small house on the farm. "Jack left a will, stating: 'I leave my farm to Luis. Please look after it until he arrives. He'll come, I know it.'"
Pausing for a moment, Thomas grew emotional as he thought of his old friend, then continued: "And so, you've come." He looked deeply into Luis's eyes, as if assessing his character.
Luis didn't respond, only meeting Thomas's gaze. He knew that if he couldn't earn this man's trust, he'd have no chance of taking over the farm. This was a real world, not a game designed for the player to win easily.
After a moment, Thomas sighed. "Haizz!"
"After Jack passed, I looked after this place for him. But as you can see, I'm no farmer, and I'm old. All I could do was keep vandals away and care for this little pup. But after a few storms, the place has fallen apart like this!" The mayor glanced around, his face filled with regret. "So, how did you know Jack?"
Luis's eyes grew distant. He recalled the contents of the letters he'd found in his pocket and the house. Memories that weren't his flooded his mind, as if he'd lived them himself. He slowly recounted that summer—when his parents brought him to a rural town, the day he wandered onto Jack's farm, the moments of play in the lonely man's fields, bringing laughter to him. He vaguely recalled a girl who'd played with him during those brief months, but he didn't mention her. These were the emotions of this body, and he wanted to respect them.
"I see," the mayor said, removing his glasses and rubbing his eyes. He seemed to age a few years in that moment. Luis's story must have stirred memories of his old friend. "So, do you want to stay in this town and inherit Jack's farm? I'll respect your decision."
Luis bowed his head and declared firmly: "I'll stay here and inherit this farm! Please, Mayor, guide me!"
"I hope you'll bring a fresh breeze to Mineral Town!" Thomas nodded.