Chapter 12

Today’s mining is skipped. The afternoon schedule is completely open. With the short-term goal of making a smelting furnace and mining lots of iron ore now gone, and no solution yet for the pain that comes with reaching mid-level, farming tasks are piling up endlessly.

Thus, my goal became searching the village for painkillers or ways to reduce pain.

” Painkillers? Hmm… You should probably check with an alchemist or the temple.”

” Pain reduction… You might want to visit the mage in town.”

No pharmacies, drugstores, or hospitals. Only alchemy, magic, and temples existed here.

From those words, I clearly felt how this world was a version of ‘medieval times’ partially transplanted with elements of modern civilization. Those occasional gaps in common sense likely stemmed from this clash between medieval and modern knowledge.

All information led to the same places: the temple, the mage, or the alchemist. Luckily, this village had a resident mage.

West of the village, in the forest – the Tower of the Mage. I was told to visit Gilbert the mage there, and I’m currently heading that way.

Unlike the simple stone towers from games, this place looked like it could be from some anime, covered with all sorts of strange mechanical devices. This was the Mage’s Tower – the residence for those who practiced magic. It certainly had an eccentric vibe.

The thin base gradually expanded as it went upward, forming an almost grotesque structure that seemed to defy the laws of physics. At the wooden door, I knocked lightly.

Creeeak!

The sound of hinges not oiled in ages greeted me painfully. No one was behind the door.

“Come in.”

A faint voice echoed from somewhere far away. It was deep but youthful, inviting me inside.

Contrary to its exterior, the interior was surprisingly clean. The spaciousness didn’t match the small entrance – it seemed magical space expansion was at work. A bright study welcomed me instead of the expected cluttered workspace.

At the end of the study, which resembled an office, a staircase ascended to the side. There sat a man on a chair, quietly observing me.

Grayish beard. Silver hair neatly combed back. Not the grandfatherly figure I expected but a young-looking mage named Gilbert. His appearance matched only by the presence of a beard.

“Hello.”

“Are you the new farmer who moved here?”

“Yes, my name’s Minho.”

“Pleased to meet you. I’m Gilbert, the mage who built this tower and protects the village. Nice to meet you.”

The unique scent of old books filled the air as Gilbert stood up and approached me, extending his hand for a shake. Surprisingly, his wrinkled hand contrasted sharply with his youthful looks.

“So, what brings you here?”

“I’m looking for painkillers. Is there any way to obtain them?”

“Do you have a chronic illness?”

“No, but I need them for when I enter mines or dungeons occasionally.”

Rather than explaining the system-related pain from leveling up, which would be hard to understand, I simplified it to dungeon exploration – more intuitive and easier to persuade with.

“Hmm…”

Gilbert stroked his beard dramatically before speaking.

“There are a few methods.”

“Methods exist?”

“Mages don’t usually have solutions? That’d be like having no answer at all. Say, do you use drugs often?”

“Excuse me? What do you mean by that…?”

The sudden mention of drugs made me instinctively lean back in rejection.

“That’s the easiest option. Narcotic painkillers. Sometimes used for emergency patients. The temple likes this method. Don’t be scared.”

The strange disparity between medieval knowledge and modern concepts made my head spin. This gap between different types of knowledge was causing confusion. I didn’t want to become an addict; frequently using painkillers could easily escalate into daily dependency, leading to an uncomfortable future.

“Uh… Are there other options?”

“Really? But this is the easiest one.”

“I’d prefer something without side effects if possible.”

“You know, taking the long way around easy solutions requires quite a bit of effort and cost.”

“I’d like to keep all options open.”

“That’s quite the wizardly way of thinking. Excellent.”

Gilbert smiled faintly, pulling out an empty glass bottle from a drawer and sliding it toward me.

“Do you have good poison resistance?”

“Poison?”

This mage’s suggestions were becoming suspicious. Drugs and poison – can I really trust this guy? Or are mages just weirdos who enjoy testing reactions?

“Bring me the poison from Red Spiders in the dungeon. Just bring it, and I’ll make you a nice painkiller. Fill up the bottle; one bottle makes about three doses.”

“Can I hunt them directly in the dungeon?”

“That’s your job. Whether you buy it or gather it yourself, I need materials. Since I can do it, I’ll help without charging extra.”

If I provide the materials, he’ll make the painkillers. Just knowing a method exists was reassuring. I appreciated the mage’s generosity, even if it was unpaid assistance.

“Is that the only option?”

“Glad you’re so cautious. Being careful is a good trait.”

Gilbert pulled out something else from the drawer – a black, sticky substance resembling slime that flowed like solidified liquid.

“Pain relief doesn’t have to come from numbing or forgetting. This is a paralyzing type of painkiller. Rarely used on regular people, but since you’re considering all options… This will be the last choice I offer. I only know three types. There’s a magic-based method too, but I can’t follow you around casting spells forever, right?”

Gilbert’s lips curved into an interested smile, clearly enjoying waiting for my decision.

“What are the side effects of this one?”

“Why wouldn’t there be? The duration of paralysis varies depending on tolerance – anywhere from one day to a week. Originally meant for large monsters.”

“A week?”

“Experimental results show that. Though effects vary person to person, naturally.”

“What about the poison method?”

“Side effects?”

“Yes.”

“If you have strong poison resistance, the medicine might not work well. That’s all. It’s a clean and efficient painkiller. Aside from the high cost due to rare materials, there aren’t really any side effects. That’s why I asked you to gather the materials yourself. If that counts as a side effect, then yes.”

“I’ll go with that one.”

“You’ll gather the materials?”

“Yes.”

“I’ll wait however long it takes. Just don’t come too late at night. The tower is always open to villagers.”

“Thank you. I’ll fill this bottle.”

“Good luck, cautious young man.”

I left the paper-scented study, marveling at how such a wide space could fit through such a narrow door. Magic truly held mysteries beyond scientific development.

Finding some kind of solution was satisfying. First priority is either entering the dungeon or finding Red Dungeon Spider poison somehow.

Back in the village, asking around yielded no information about where to find or how much the poison costs.

Leaving me with one option – going to the dungeon for combat.

The day passed quickly from running around. Too late for mining, unprepared for dungeon diving – only fishing remained.

It’s been a while since I enjoyed night fishing, so I trudged to the lake in the northeast. Quite a distance from the western forest’s edge where the mage’s tower stood. By the time I reached, the water shimmered deep blue under the night sky.

I turned on the crimson lantern, unsure how much fuel remained. Actually, with my light ring, the lantern wasn’t strictly necessary anymore, but I planned to use it while the fuel lasted for its romantic glow.

Splash!

About five fish in, I heard rustling from the dark woods.

The approaching sounds painted a clear picture even without sight. The calm voice greeting me as “just out for a night walk” belonged to a woman whose short crimson hair suited the lantern’s glow perfectly.

“Doing some night fishing, I see.”

Evangelin.

“Out for another night stroll?”

“Yes. Spring nights have a refreshing quality that’s very soothing.”

“Is that so?”

“You’re still carrying that lantern.”

“Someone gave it to me. An evening benefactor’s gift – must use it well.”

“Hmm… Hmm…”

Was it the red light? Evangelin’s cheeks flushed slightly as she bowed her head. She walked over and sat down beside me with a soft thud. Her forest-scented fragrance wafted over – perhaps from spending much time among the trees.

“How’s the fishing going?”

“No problem. Maxim approved me.”

“Wow!”

Her wide-eyed reaction was surprisingly delightful. I had assumed her consistently level tone would make her reactions subdued, so seeing her genuinely surprised was refreshing. As our gazes met, hers shifted slightly to the right.

“T-Too much staring makes me a little…”

“Yes?”

“Never mind.”

Apparently, prolonged eye contact made her uncomfortable. After that comment, a brief silence fell.

Perfect timing – a fish caught broke the quiet with its splashing struggles. Skillfully placing it in the bag, I cast the rod again.

“Do you like seafood dishes?”

“Seafood dishes? Yes, I do.”

Grilling is good. Spicy soup is fine too. Best of all is sashimi.

Cutting fresh fish into pieces and dipping them in soy sauce with wasabi – nothing compares to that joy. Talking about it made me hungry, having missed dinner from rushing around.

“I cook a bit…”

As she said this, Evangelin fidgeted her hands cutely. In the lantern’s flickering light, her movements half-hidden in the darkness created an interesting atmosphere.

“I can provide as many fish as you want. If you like cooking, how about a few?”

“Yes…”

Despite her even tone, her non-verbal cues spoke volumes. Did she not particularly feel like accepting?

“If I visit, would you treat me?”

“That seems fair. Since you provided the ingredients, it’s only right I return the favor.”

Her emotionless voice suggested mere equivalent exchange, but her smiling face contradicted it beautifully.

“When would be convenient for you?”

“Hmm… Tomorrow? Day after tomorrow works too.”

“I’ll be a bit busy tomorrow. Let’s say day after tomorrow.”

“You can look forward to it.”

“You seem confident.”

“I’m a good cook.”

“I’ll look forward to it.”

In my busy life, a small break presented itself. Visiting a villager for a delicious meal was unimaginable when I was living like a machine, managing fishing, mining, and farming.

Living like a machine for just two weeks was already exhausting. Normal people would naturally get tired from such a lifestyle.

This was a good mood change just as I was feeling somewhat restless.

When the moon rose past halfway and started descending, Evangelin began nodding off.

Understandable. Even if you’re just sitting and talking for two or three hours at a fishing spot, it consumes energy. Especially nearing bedtime, fatigue accumulates.

“Shall we head back?”

Seeing her struggling to hold up her head, swaying left and right, I finally spoke. Startled awake, Evangelin’s drowsy eyes quietly met mine.

“Yes.”

Even then, her voice remained steady. Showing no signs of sleepiness despite being obviously tired – her consistent tone was striking.

“Can you make it back alright?”

“Yes. See you in two days with the fish?”

“Of course.”

Our small nighttime meeting concluded as dawn approached. With a pleasant promise, I headed home in good spirits.

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