Natsume, the Farm Owner and Divine Warden

One day, while sorting through her grandmother's belongings, Natsume found a letter tucked inside a book.

It turned out to be an invitation from her grandmother's grandfather, asking her to inherit his farm.

Wanting to learn about her grandmother Reiko's past, Natsume decided to visit a place called Pelican Town.

Mayor Lewis: At last! Our new farmer has arrived.

Natsume had only meant to look for clues about her grandmother's family. She never expected to inherit a farm, too!

But he'd already graduated from high school, and running a farm with Nyanko-sensei might not be such a bad job.

Besides, farm work was easygoing, and the farm came with a house and fertile fields. He could grow crops and raise animals, and easily support himself.

Aunt Touko wouldn't have to worry about him anymore.

Natsume had it all figured out. Instead, he plunged into a daily grind, spending all day making trip after trip through the mines and taking on all sorts of requests from the townsfolk. He was so busy he could barely keep up.

Sometimes, late at night, yokai would come looking for him to demand their names. It felt like he couldn't get a single peaceful night's sleep.

Living like a hardcore grinder, Natsume opened his eyes each morning and got straight to making wine, working until day and night blurred together. Then a little fox named Konnosuke came looking for him.

"Lady Reiko, I've finally found you!"

"The fifty-year agreement has come due. Come back to the citadel with me!"

After a year of working overtime without a break, Natsume finally clutched his stomach and snapped: "Grandma! How many more promises have you left unfulfilled?!"

Content warning: He'll spend the first year clearing land in Pelican Town before getting into Touken Ranbu. The grinding only gets worse.

He's eighteen, has graduated from high school, and hasn't gone to college. He inherits the farm just as he's about to head out and find a job.

It's a laid-back farming story, though it does take a toll on Natsume.

Theme: Passion, hard work, and perseverance