It seems luck truly does exist.
“Huh?”
While fishing, a semi-transparent box twirled around.
Until then, it was just an ordinary treasure box.
As the box opened, what appeared inside was a silver square box adorned with golden thread.
The UI kindly displayed its name: ‘Enchanting Table.’
“Is this thing even real?”
A smile I couldn’t hide formed on my lips.
A thrilling sensation ran up my spine.
This is the thrill of opening random boxes!
Fishing is the best.
I’m divine, unbeatable.
I had been gradually acquiring iron ingots and gold ingots through treasure boxes.
Thanks to that, I had enough to enchant some tools.
This meant I could skip making a Smelting Furnace and proceed directly.
Though advancing further would be difficult, my initial goal of upgrading axes and hoes was achievable, so it didn’t matter.
In my bag, proudly taking its place, was the Enchanting Table.
It wasn’t a recipe or blueprint but a complete finished product.
Even after rubbing my eyes, it was true.
Essentially, I had saved about a week’s worth of time.
With excitement, I headed home.
Mining? That can wait for now.
Tool enchanting came first.
They say a master doesn’t discriminate against tools, but I’m not a master.
There’s no reason to resist when better tools are calling me.
“Keke.”
For no reason,
I started humming a random tune from Earth, moving happily.
The sky was unusually clear.
It wasn’t the dusky, reddish sky of a workday’s end but the bright, clear sky of a day off, which had a different kind of charm.
Because I still had energy, I immediately set up the Enchanting Table upon arriving home.
Right next to the box filled with various knick-knacks.
The elegant golden threads.
The silver shine reflecting the unique luster of metal.
A neatly squared box with slightly rounded corners.
The sight of the enchanting table was dazzling no matter how many times I saw it.
The UI popped up, and I immediately read its details.
The content was simple, and there wasn’t much I could do due to insufficient materials.
Still, it was enough to achieve my goals.
[Iron Tool Enchant]
[Required Materials: 25 Iron Ingots]
[Granted Effect: Tool Level +20]
+20 levels.
It meant I could recreate the equipment I obtained through fishing.
After countless sessions of fishing, I had gathered about 41 iron ingots.
That was enough to enchant one piece of equipment.
I placed the hoe on the Enchanting Table.
Dim light particles seeped into the hoe, demanding 25 iron ingots.
Following the request, I neatly stacked the ingots from my bag beside the hoe.
They disappeared like dust, being sucked into the hoe and forming a faint swirl, shaping something.
It was a slightly larger hoe.
An iron hoe, more efficient and less strenuous on health.
It became a hoe that could mine stones more effectively.
If you make equipment, you should use it right away.
Without hesitation, I plunged the hoe into the giant rock in front of my house.
Clang!
“Oh. Definitely different. All the ease I felt when I first started fishing was thanks to the equipment.”
+20 levels of power.
The rebound force transmitted to my hands decreased, and the impact delivered by the hoe increased.
Most importantly, it was less tiring. The reduction in health consumption was clearly noticeable.
I don’t know exactly how much each stat increased numerically.
However, the hoe’s capabilities were undeniably impressive.
+20 levels. My first enchant and upgrade.
I looked forward to the abilities and enhancements future enchantments would bring.
According to the original plan, visiting the mine today would allow me to create a smelting furnace.
Then, using the melted iron ingots, I would create an Enchanting Table, completing the enchantment process to improve work efficiency.
But thanks to the great luck from fishing, I skipped the smelting furnace and ended up heading to the mine with a good hoe.
Suddenly, I started feeling reluctant to go to the mine.
The hoe was better now, and if I went, I could make a smelting furnace, but my mining level was stuck at beginner 9, which was problematic.
The pain I felt when I reached intermediate mining came to mind.
Thinking that mining would be the same as fishing made me feel uneasy.
Some people enjoy pain, but I don’t think I belong to that category.
Like a pig being led to slaughter,
I moved toward the mine, fully expressing my reluctance despite the overly pleasant weather.
The spring atmosphere hanging from the trees here was familiar, as if cherry blossoms existed in this world too.
Of course, I wasn’t in the mood to fully appreciate such soft sentiments.
So, I just crushed the few cherry petals that fell on the ground while heading to the mine.
Contrary to my negative mindset, mining went extremely smoothly.
A little tap, and the iron ore broke easily.
A large amount of gold ore, fitting for a lucky day.
Monsters appearing one by one until I reached the 15th floor, yet I still had plenty of stamina.
Just by changing one tool, the results improved dramatically.
Item luck.
Good equipment.
I carried over 130 iron ores and more than 70 gold ores.
It was more than twice the previous output.
Even considering the experience gained from leveling up, the power provided by the equipment seemed impossible to ignore.
Materials were sufficient.
I built a smelting furnace a little away from the enchanting table.
The surroundings darkened due to the setting sun, but the flames from the smelting furnace brightly illuminated the area.
It was nice that it operated automatically without needing coal-like fuel.
I dumped all the gold ores I had and returned home.
Unsurprisingly, every muscle ache followed by unconsciousness after returning from the mine has become a routine part of life.
[Mineral Mining Intermediate Level 1 Achieved! Choose your Intermediate Level Effect!]
[1. Increase Gemstone Appearance Probability by 10%]
[2. Add 2 Extra Minerals per Vein]
Shit.
Instead of happiness for reaching intermediate level, I first thought about what kind of painful experience awaited me.
I wanted to smash my head with a hammer to pass out when the pain hit.
Really.
In my dream, I sighed deeply and selected the increase in gemstone appearance probability with my finger.
Gemstones appear when you reach intermediate mining and have a wide variety of uses.
Magic, enchanting, crafting, alchemy, achievements.
You can never have too many stored away.
Although it’s regrettable to pass on additional minerals, considering the long-term benefits, the value of gemstones outweighs them.
“Where’s the painkiller? Painkiller.”
I rummaged through the shop looking for ways to alleviate the pain.
Unfortunately,
there was none.
When I woke up in the morning, the first thing I faced was a dry throat and accompanying dizziness.
On normal days, such mornings would be easily overcome with a refreshing glass of water.
“Ugh…”
Pain akin to having my brain split open struck first.
Despite experiencing it once before, it was still unbearable.
My thoughts expanded, and knowledge of mining poured in without resistance.
It felt like someone was tapping my brain with a hoe.
The squishy brain getting hammered by hardness was truly unimaginable pain.
Bang from the left.
Bang from the right.
Unable to maintain balance, collapsing onto the floor with a thud was, in a way, inevitable.
When in pain, parts of your body inevitably go numb.
Saliva drips from your mouth as you can’t swallow properly.
Feelings of disgust or cleanliness don’t even cross your mind; the pain in your head completely overshadows the discomfort from lying on the floor.
How long had I lain there?
When only intermittent throbbing remained, I barely managed to get up.
Hungry and thirsty, I shoved whatever I could find into my mouth.
Energy was desperately needed. A significant amount of stamina and vitality had been drained by the pain.
“Hah…”
This wasn’t an easy problem to overlook.
Holding my still tingling head, I tried to steady my wobbly mind.
Is there another hell?
Reaching intermediate level is hell.
As my mind began functioning properly again, my gaze shifted to farming levels.
Fishing Intermediate Level 5
Mining Intermediate Level 1
Farming Beginner Level 8
Logging Beginner Level 5
Combat Beginner Level 3
Farming had already reached Beginner Level 8.
Harvesting 400 crops had unexpectedly boosted my level.
If I harvested garlic and kale thoughtlessly today,
I’d face hell again tomorrow. It was an obvious fact.
Today, I decided to only sow seeds.
I couldn’t avoid it forever, but I wanted to meet the intermediate level with at least some preparation.
Having experienced two kinds of pain beforehand,
I realized I had to endure at least three more.
Thinking about the various skills that would unlock later, knowing I had to repeat this painful process multiple times was incredibly frustrating.
Immediate countermeasures were necessary.
My head throbbed, but my body worked honestly.
I sowed seeds and watered them.
The beautiful fruits of agriculture glistened.
What originally seemed beautiful garlic and kale now felt like the devil’s hand leading me to hell.
Yesterday, the ringing in my ears sounded beautiful, but now…
Shaking my head slowly, I sprinkled water over the nearly 3,000 seeds planted in the field.
The scale had grown significantly, making the morning hours fly by.
Carrying heavy watering cans that used to feel cumbersome now felt effortless.
This meant the skill not only improved work efficiency but also enhanced physical strength and overall bodily capabilities.
After finishing the morning chores, I moved towards the beach.
I wanted to check the market prices of fish while enjoying a bit of fishing at the beach, which I hadn’t visited in a while.
The sunlight might be harsh, but compared to the greater pains I’ve endured,
does the sun really matter?
During the 30-minute walk to the beach, my mind was blank.
I snapped out of my daze only when the soft texture of sand touched my feet instead of the hard ground.
I thought Maxim might not be there since it was too early,
but there he was, sitting leisurely on the wooden pier, chewing grass like a true fishing enthusiast.
He looked every bit the lifelong fisherman.
“Hey, Minho. Still enjoying your fishing?”
“Thanks to you.”
“Good. You must have caught loads of fish by now, right?”
“Countless. Now, it’s my turn to fish.”
“Hahaha. Only two weeks in and you’re already full of confidence? Let’s see what you’ve got.”
I smirked and cast my fishing rod with familiarity.
Maxim watched me carefully, but I wasn’t nervous at all.
Experience never betrays you. The intermediate-level 5 skills won’t disappear just because someone looks.
“Hmm? Did you learn fishing somewhere? No, you were definitely a complete beginner when we first met.”
Maxim’s muttering was quite amusing.
Without responding, I waited a bit for the fish to bite.
“Ho ho.”
On the first try,
the very flatfish I caught on my first day of fishing hooked itself.
With a familiar splash, the fish was reeled in and neatly tucked into my bag.
“You…”
Maxim suddenly approached and lightly grabbed my hand.
The roughness of his scarred hand was unfamiliar.
“You’re a fishing prodigy! I should have noticed when you said you loved fishing from the start!”
Holding hands felt a little awkward.
I pulled away while he was praising my skills.
Maxim didn’t seem bothered and enthusiastically launched into fishing stories.
“No matter how much time improves fishing, some skill is still necessary. Ah, unless you’re a prodigy like you. I guess you understand that. Anyway, lending you my fishing rod was the best decision of my life. Somehow, I had a good feeling about you from the moment we met.”
Truthfully, I still don’t fully understand.
Apparently, there is such a thing as fishing skill.
Maybe if I develop a sharper eye, I’ll come to understand these things.
Finding good spots.
Catching fish with minimal effort.
Making fish bite the bait.
Even though those things aren’t visible to the naked eye, Maxim caught them effortlessly.
In response to his relentless chatter, I became a repetitive “Yes-yes” machine.
Even if it’s exaggerated praise, who wouldn’t feel good being called a prodigy?
Before his stories continued endlessly, I subtly brought up the topic of fish prices.
I did come here to fish, but I was genuinely curious about the selling price.
“How much is this worth?”
“Hmm? The flatfish you just caught? About 70 silver. Fish near the coast are usually pretty cheap.”
“What about inland?”
“They’d be more expensive. I’ve heard anywhere from a few gold to several tens of gold. But I just love fishing; I have no interest in business.”
Disappointing.
His explanation made sense, but the disappointment lingered.
“Haha. Who knows? If you keep working hard, maybe you can supply fish inland.”
“That would be great.”
Assuming one flatfish is worth 10 gold,
with serious dedication, I could catch 600-700 fish a day.
That’s 6,000-7,000 gold per day.
Wow.
I could become rich through fishing.
I need to break some fixed gaming concepts.
This is a place where people live, and not everything from games applies.
Whether by magic freezing or spatial transfer, somehow delivering fish inland means earning thousands of gold daily with ease.
It might be far-off, but knowing the information and having the possibility open is always enough material to spark imagination.
With pleasant daydreams, I continued fishing.
Maxim’s occasional “Fishing Prodigy!” cheers were a bonus.
Even if it’s system-generated, being called a genius feels good.
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