Chapter 24

The warm morning sunlight tickled my eyes as it peeked through the cracks, gently nudging me awake. The softness of the bed was a delightful treat—a far cry from the stiffness I’d sometimes wake up with after camping out in the wild. It wasn’t that my body ached today; it was more of an emotional thing. After all, this well-trained physique—honed by countless skills and forced training sessions—wasn’t about to let a week or so outdoors degrade its condition.

—

Traveling had brought small joys, like cooking here and there, which bumped my **Cooking Level** up to Beginner 2. My **Logging**? At Beginner 6. **Mining**, now Intermediate 5. **Combat**, Intermediate 2. And farming? Advanced 1! Lastly, **Fishing**, clocking in at Intermediate 8.

There’s something undeniably satisfying about seeing numbers rise. Looking back on over a month’s worth of effort, I could feel how much I’d accomplished. Pouring hours upon hours into labor every day had finally paid off in these levels.

—

Day 33, morning.

7,000 Musk melon seeds.

3,000 strawberry seeds.

1,500 Kingsberry seeds.

A total of 11,500 seeds bought to be planted over two days. Morning seed-sowing continued without fail. With sprinklers moistening the soil, each tiny kernel found its home under the earth. Though repetitive and monotonous, planting felt meaningful compared to aimless wandering. By lunchtime, roughly half the seeds were tucked neatly into the ground. A quick glance at the clock revealed it was around 3 PM.

From dawn at 6 AM, eight straight hours of nonstop work had been dedicated entirely to sowing. Drenched in sweat, my clothes clung uncomfortably to my skin, making any social visits impossible until I showered and changed. Yet another household chore piled onto my plate.

—

“Hmm… strawberries, melons, passionfruit—should do.”

I prepared a small gift box filled with fruit slices, both directly and indirectly acknowledging the help I’d received. Gratitude must be repaid, after all. Armed with gifts, I set off toward the village, ready to spread goodwill. Now that life had slowed down somewhat, sharing such small tokens wouldn’t strain my resources.

Spring painted the town in vivid yellows, blossoms bursting everywhere. The Valley of Starwind truly lived up to its name—a place where nature embraced you, offering peace and healing. Distributing fruits while exchanging pleasantries led me to a familiar spot.

Anne’s house.

Standing before her golden-hued abode, I knocked lightly on the door. If she weren’t home, I’d return later—but luckily, faint sounds came from within.

“Who is it?”

“It’s me, Minho.”

“Huh? Just a sec!”

Her footsteps echoed noisily inside. Sharpened senses easily picked them up, reinforcing just how much stronger my body had become since those early days when detecting subtle noises was beyond me.

“What brings you here?”

The door creaked open, revealing Anne. Her platinum hair cascaded softly, adorned with a yellow narcissus flower perched delicately atop her head. Seeing her made me smile.

“I brought this for you.”

“Why are you smiling?”

“There’s a flower in your hair.”

“Doesn’t suit me?”

Anne tilted her head curiously, giving me a playful look.

“It suits you perfectly. That’s why I smiled.”

“Oh, really? I thought you were teasing me.”

Anne grinned widely, radiating warmth.

“Well, I should get going…”

“Wait! If someone gives you a gift, isn’t it only polite to watch them open it?”

“Uh… yeah?”

“Of course! Come in. Hand me the box.”

Reluctantly, I stepped inside as the door swung wide open. Her tidy, cheerful home contrasted sharply with my own modest dwelling. From the décor alone, one could tell she was diligent and meticulous.

“So, what’s inside? Can I open it now?”

“It’s fruit. Sweet and delicious stuff.”

“Fruit? Is that muskmelon from last time?”

“Naturally.”

“That kind of gift is always welcome!”

Anne’s voice rose excitedly, anticipation glowing in her eyes as she eagerly tore into the package.

“Musk melon!”

“You got it.”

“But why the gift? Is this returning the favor for the chair you gave me?”

“Yes—and other things too. A little bit of everything rolled into one.”

“Other things?”

Anne frowned momentarily, then shook her head with a blush. The flower swayed gently as she moved.

“This part’s for everyone in the village, but this one’s specially for you.”

“For me only?”

“For you only,” I confirmed.

“You should’ve given it first then.”

“Isn’t the protagonist supposed to arrive last?”

“Is that how it works?”

“It is.”

Anne chuckled softly as she opened the main present. First out were the muskmelons, strawberries, and passionfruit—a standard set meant for all villagers.

“Wow, are you giving this to everyone in the village?”

“I barely greeted anyone when I moved in, so this feels like a proper introduction. Back in my old hometown, it was tradition to give gifts when moving.”

Not exactly untrue. Korea, my previous “village,” did have the custom of sharing rice cakes during moves. Why not adapt it here?

“That’s a great idea! We should make this a tradition in our village.”

“Maybe. But new people rarely come here…”

“True. You were the first visitor in five years…our village is pretty secluded.”

Pouting slightly, Anne reached for the second, sealed black box. This was the special gift intended just for her.

Neat rows of green muskmelons greeted her eyes, alongside a massive Kingsberry.

Especially prepared for Anne, who’d been my benefactor on Day 1 and remained a close friend ever since, the basket overflowed with sweet treats.

Though similar to the first gift, quantity added a distinct satisfaction factor.

“What are these strawberries? Are they this big?”

“They’re called Kingsberries.”

“Kingsberries? Fits perfectly. They look regal enough for royalty.”

Without hesitation, Anne plucked one ripe red berry from the pile.

“If I eat this, does that make me a Queensberry?”

“Could be.”

“Let me taste this queenly strawberry.”

*Crunch.*

Her lips curled into a delighted grin as she chewed slowly. Eyes widening, she couldn’t resist reaching for another—and another—until three Kingsberries disappeared in quick succession. Finally, her eyes sparkled with delight.

“What *is* this? It’s incredible!”

“Glad you liked it.”

“You’re amazing!”

Her effusive praise carried a certain charm. Smiling brightly, she handed me a piece.

“The giver should try some too.”

“I’ve eaten plenty already.”

“Tsk! When the host offers, you don’t refuse, right?”

“In that case…”

I bit into the Kingsberry. Its tangy sweetness burst across my tongue, leaving a refreshing aftertaste. No wonder they cost so much—they deserved every coin.

“I’ll have to save some. Can’t eat them all at once.”

With that, Anne carefully wrapped the remainder and stashed it in the fridge. A strange contraption for medieval times, sure, but magic probably explained it away.

—

“I should go now.”

“Already?”

“Yeah.”

“Really? Just to drop off a gift?”

She darted toward me, standing close enough for our gazes to lock. For a brief moment, neither of us spoke. Then, almost shyly, Anne tugged at my shirt hem.

“Wha—?”

“Oh, nothing. Your clothes looked wrinkled, so I smoothed them out. Hehe.”

“Thanks.”

“No problem.”

Her light touch lingered pleasantly.

“Sit and rest a bit before leaving. Did you work yourself crazy again this morning?”

“Not crazy, just routine.”

“We call that ‘crazy’ in society.”

“Fine, I worked myself crazy.”

“You’ll burn out if you keep this up. Stay a while.”

“I still have gifts to deliver.”

“The protagonist comes last, remember? Am I not the final recipient?”

“Sometimes the protagonist gets two gifts.”

“You twist words well.”

Anne gestured for me to sit at the table. Facing her, her mischievous smile lit up the room. Leaning forward, she studied me intently.

“How was your trip?”

“It was fine.”

“What happened?”

“It was fun. Walking got boring though.”

“See? That’s why you shouldn’t travel alone.”

“What’s that supposed to mean? I had no choice.”

“You didn’t even ask me.”

Pointing both index fingers at herself dramatically.

“If I’d asked, would you have come along?”

“Hmm… hard to say until you actually ask. Hehe.”

“Would’ve dragged you anyway. Too tired, you’d end up piggybacking on me.”

“Now I’m twice as strong.”

We chatted comfortably, covering various topics: meeting the lord in the capital, encountering fairies, receiving enchanted fruits, camping under the stars…

Each story unfolded smoothly, enhanced by Anne’s timely reactions.

By evening, time had slipped away unnoticed. Knowing I needed to visit others before sunset, I politely excused myself despite Anne’s subtle attempts to keep me longer. Waving goodbye, she lingered near the door, her narcissus catching my eye once more.

When will she stop wearing that flower?

—

Wandering through the village as twilight descended, the streets took on a different charm. The sky blushed orange and crimson, painting a breathtaking scene.

At Evangelin’s house, expecting another warm reception, I instead met her younger sibling. Explaining briefly, I left behind two boxes of fruit and an extra gift before departing.

After all, protagonists aren’t limited to just one person.

—

Today’s tasks were complete. With spare time remaining, I cast my fishing rod by the lake—not out of desperation for money, but rather to hone my Fishing Level and gather cooking ingredients. Skill progression required preparation, especially since my stockpile of painkillers made from red spiders had dwindled during travels. Who knew when intermediate or advanced skills might unlock? Better safe than sorry.

Equipment upgrades loomed ahead too. Mithril ores hinted at superior gear surpassing treasure chest finds. While higher-level items awaited mastery, crafting offered greater flexibility. Gold and materials aside, equipping oneself properly against combat uncertainties remained crucial. Confidence gained at intermediate levels shouldn’t lapse into arrogance lest disaster strike unexpectedly.

—

Even a leisurely day leaves chores waiting. Returning home under starlight, domestic duties awaited. Despite feeling refreshed, collapsing onto the bed summoned drowsiness instantly.

Another peaceful night began.

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