Chapter 8

Spring Day 7.

It’s already been a week since arriving in this world.

Time sure does fly when you’re busy. Working your butt off for over twelve hours a day leaves you feeling like time is slipping through your fingers. It’s as if the routine of waking up, working hard, and sleeping has become second nature—this marks the seventh day of that cycle.

On the seventh day, I made around 270 gold and bought roughly 600 seeds. Knowing it might be overwhelming to plant so many, I prioritized crops with higher value.

Fishing reached Intermediate Level 3, but farming levels remained unchanged. The crops (water dropwort and sugar carrots) gathered on Day 4 only counted toward leveling up farming on the next day, bringing me to Beginner Level 1.

From morning till evening, I planted seeds tirelessly:

– Musk melons: 200

– Cauliflower: 75

– Kale: 240

– Garlic: 150

As I covered the seeds, inhaling the earthy scent, I prayed they’d grow well.

When there was spare time, I naturally turned to fishing again. A treasure chest revealed something exciting—an equipment piece! Among the four slots available for weapons, accessories, shoes, and armor, this was a level 21 short sword ready to equip without any crafting or refining required. Definitely a thrilling surprise!

Later, I also acquired level 12 leather boots. With that, Day 7 came to an end. Luck really does come in waves; today proved the saying true.

Spring Day 8.

Fishing brought in 300 gold, while treasure chests added another 13 gold. Fishing reached Intermediate Level 4.

I spent all 300 gold on seeds, reserving some for essential tools and daily necessities, like cooking utensils. Around 700 seeds were planted before leisurely heading back to fishing.

Luck continued to shine brightly. I obtained a level 20 leather armor and a level 17 ring. This ring emitted faint light and provided minimal protection against damage.

Day 4 of Intermediate Fishing.

After approximately 50 hours of fishing, I managed to fully equip all four gear slots—a great accomplishment indeed!

Spring Day 9.

That familiar warm sensation returning to my brain… Today, though, it felt unusually tense and rigid.

Usually quick to jump out of bed eager to start the day, today I lingered longer than usual. Imagining the upcoming battle froze me in place. The thought of wielding a sword and cutting down living creatures unsettled me.

But even questioning whether avoiding it would matter…

Would the ultimate ending truly be peaceful? Fulfilling every condition inevitably involves battles and exploration. Running away will only make my goals drift further away. Especially considering how crucial mining is compared to fishing—it wouldn’t make sense to avoid one while excelling at the other.

With trembling lips, I resolved myself: “I must do it.”

Just slimes or cave bats likely await me. If unlucky, skeletons or zombies are possible—but these foes should still be manageable. My current equipment can handle such trials smoothly enough. Now it’s about my own capabilities.

*Slap!* *Slap!*

Striking my cheeks twice, I took a cold shower to clear my mind. Dressing in clothes soaked with spring sunlight, I equipped my sturdy gear.

The sharp gleam of the short sword in my right hand and the sparkling ring on my left. Boots hugging my feet snugly and the weighty feel of the thick leather armor.

During the night, I used the earned gold to stock up on potions and food. Though pricey, I gritted my teeth thinking of it as a special occasion and purchased them anyway. Despite feeling guilty about spending money meant for seeds, this was necessary—I’m sure the seeds understand.

When you focus intensely on one thing, everything else fades from view. That statement, once heard somewhere, now makes perfect sense.

Though the forest scenery remains unchanged, today it feels unnaturally narrow—a sign of tension.

The path leading to the abandoned mine.

Part of me hopes there’s no mine there. Another part secretly wishes there is, so I won’t have to search elsewhere.

“Phew… There it is. The mine really exists.”

Exactly where it was in the game. After an hour of walking, unsure if it felt slow or fast due to tension, I arrived at the dilapidated entrance of the abandoned mine, exuding ominous vibes.

*Crrreak!*

The crunching sound of footsteps resonates sharply in my ears. Entering the dimming interior of the mine, the ring softly glows, illuminating the surroundings and providing comfort.

Gripping the short sword handle more firmly, I remind myself that although mines generally have fewer monsters than dungeons, they’re not entirely safe. Anticipation builds as nothing appears yet, gnawing at my nerves.

Although I brought a lantern just in case, it seems unnecessary—the ring’s glow covers the area adequately.

Continuing deeper into the mine, I pass by various discarded items, quickly scanning them and moving forward. Occasionally turning back, I steadily progress.

Finally.

A downward slope comes into view, marking the official start of Mine Floor 1.

My throat tightens, and swallowing becomes noticeably more conscious.

Sweat beads form on my palms gripping the sword tightly. The sharp reflection of the blade under the ring’s light reassures me.

Floor 1 was surprisingly uneventful aside from the slightly suffocating corridors and uncomfortable breathing conditions.

“Ah. Is this iron ore?”

Lumps of iron ore mixed with impurities faintly reflect light according to the UI information. Taking a deep breath, I pull out my pickaxe.

*Bam!* *Bam!*

Each strike lands precisely on the iron ore. Though tempted to hit randomly, my Beginner Level 2 experience guides me otherwise. Dust clouds rise, forcing me to wave it away repeatedly. Mining work must wreak havoc on miners’ lungs.

*Huff!* The heavy breathing fills the mine. Sweat drips from my forehead onto the floor. The oppressive environment, combined with tension, amplifies fatigue despite not laboring long.

The rhythmic sounds of hammering echo within the narrow tunnel, irritating my ears. Originally aiming to level up mining and gain combat experience, starting off proves unexpectedly exhausting.

No iron ore breaks easily after just a few hits. Using my whole body, dozens to hundreds of strikes eventually yield fragmented pieces—hardly comparable to fishing profits. Finding treasures like iron ingots inside treasure chests provides much greater value.

Still…

Fishing doesn’t grant experience points. Considering I aim to master all skills someday, I force a wry smile, silently move to another spot without voicing complaints.

The darkened mine continues. Completing Floor 1 leads to Floor 2, then Floor 3.

Physical stamina drains rapidly. Even resting properly and eating regularly fails to alleviate the lingering weariness. Collapsing against a rock, I wipe away sweat streaming down my forehead and take refreshing gulps of chilled water from my bag.

The fact that stored ingredients retain their freshness is sheer luck. The cool liquid sliding down my parched throat ranks among life’s greatest pleasures in this stifling heat.

While taking a breather, a shadowy figure near the edge of the light catches my attention. A green blob wriggling on the ground—an irregular shape.

It’s a slime.

“Huh?”

My hand instinctively grips the sword tightly, radiating unavoidable tension. What others might dismiss as “just a slime” represents my first real encounter with combat tension.

In games, chopping wood requires skill akin to cleaving air. Mining mirrors that experience.

What about combat?

Will slashing carelessly suffice? Or does reality impose unexpected differences?

Now I’ll find out.

Slow.

That’s everyone’s impression upon seeing a slime. Doubts about physically striking something resembling liquid briefly cross my mind, but there’s no time to dwell.

Approaching cautiously, I stop at an appropriate distance and swing the sword forcefully.

*Klang!*

The initial slash ends disappointingly with tingling vibrations in my hand. Pain shoots through my entire right arm.

Of course, even the sharpest blade can’t cut through the ground. Losing control during the powerful swing caused the sword to graze the slime before hitting the floor.

Wincing slightly from the pain, I lower my stance and swing horizontally, aiming for precision. Seeing the slime split in half confirms its vulnerability to sufficient physical force—a vague memory surfaces from somewhere in the Valley of Starwind Encyclopedia.

[Slime Core]

The UI indicates the item dropped on the ground. Tension eases as shoulders relax, replaced by a strange sense of relief.

Combat.

Turns out, it wasn’t too bad.

The opponent’s weakness played a big role, but excessive tension proved unnecessary. Mental simulations beforehand held little practical use, yet successfully completing my first fight feels satisfying. The throbbing pain in my hand persists, but having a slime core in my bag is undeniable proof.

The journey repeats similarly.

Mining. Enduring dust irritation.

Taking breaks to recover stamina and drink refreshing water.

Combat. Defeating slimes.

Occasionally, bats appeared, more aggressive than slimes, but still perishing with a single sword strike—aside from being harder to hit. Blood splatters necessitate dodging, but otherwise, fights proceed smoothly without injury.

Reaching Floor 5, spotting the first gold ore brings a smile.

Entering for experience, finding extra rewards always brightens one’s mood.

Joyfully mining gold, knowing it serves as both enchantment material and essential components for alchemy and magic.

Speaking of enchantments…

One pressing realization while mining: tools require constant upgrades.

Unlike fishing rods, whose high levels diminish noticeable improvements, basic tool enhancements significantly boost efficiency.

Upgrading tools relies on materials obtained from mining:

Iron, gold, mithril, and finally rare metals fitting the ultimate tier. Capping it off with ether infusion completes the final technology.

This explains my excitement over gold findings. Mining consumes far more stamina than expected.

Despite it being merely 4 PM, exhaustion weighs heavily, making movement undesirable—not lack of energy, but sheer bodily fatigue preventing further action.

Enhancing tools improves efficiency, allowing longer mining sessions. This applies universally across logging, farming, construction, etc.

To maintain steady access to upgrade essentials, visiting mines regularly becomes mandatory.

Thus, laden with numerous iron ores and some gold, I exited the damp tunnels.

Total combat encounters: six.

Four slimes, two bats. Roughly one per hour, not overly frequent.

Compared to prior anxieties, today’s results stand quite successful. Acquiring plenty of iron ores along with some gold fulfilled the purpose of visiting the mine sweetly.

A fruitful expedition overall.

Reflecting on this success fills me with pride. Although regrettable to buy unused potions, perhaps keeping them as insurance isn’t bad either—who enjoys getting hurt?

Returning home at merely 6 PM, skies still bright, yet extreme fatigue sets in. Environmental factors coupled with workload differ greatly between backyard tasks and mine operations.

Shedding dusty, dirty clothes and gear, I hastily cleaned up. Refreshed, collapsing onto the bed swiftly dragged me into deep slumber.