Chapter 47

Day 17 of summer.

Every time I wake up at home, I feel in top condition. Must be the aircon maintaining the perfect humidity and temperature. Not having to worry about electricity bills is also a huge stress reliever.

When I step outside, there’s a brief warmth that quickly turns into full-blown summer heat. Eventually, I’m basking in the sunlight.

I keep planting seeds. Tilling the field, sowing seeds, then covering them up. An automated machine would be nice, but little Suri helps out by carrying seeds with her beak, sticking her chest out proudly after each delivery. She’s adorable when I pet her and she flaps her wings happily before rushing back for more seeds.

After finishing greenhouse work with my helper screech owl, it’s late lunch time. Cooking indoors for Suri has become routine – it’s cooler and more pleasant than eating outside in the heat.

“Hmm, maybe it’s time to expand the house.”

I have plenty of gold. Since taking Suri to the mine is awkward, I’ve decided to splurge on bulk purchases of ore and stone.

5000 gold, 2200 wood, 1500 stone.

That’s what I need for the expansion. No special materials required, so I grab my tools from my bag and head to the crafting table. If I can’t finish in one day, where will I sleep?

With that thought, I activate the hologram blueprint in blue light.

“Phew.”

5000 gold deducted. The house starts glowing blue as it expands – three new rooms plus a living room. Very satisfying.

Using my saw and hoe, I shape the wood and stones according to the glowing pattern. Someone might think this strange, but claiming magic as an excuse makes me chuckle. Though I really should learn some magic soon.

With such a busy schedule, I haven’t had time lately. Prioritizing tasks always pushes hobbies like magic to the backburner. Time is limited after all.

Right now, expanding the house takes priority. It’s something I’ve been putting off, but once started, I should see it through. Besides, having a better kitchen is inevitable for more comfortable cooking.

As I work, I occasionally glance at the clouds drifting lazily across the sky.

The sound of hammering fills the air. Wood dust and stone powder cover the floor. Concerned about Suri’s breathing, I clean up the dust sooner than I normally would.

Occasionally, Suri tries pecking at the wood or stone with her beak, but gives up quickly. Smart bird – knows when not to waste effort. While I build, she perches quietly on my shoulder, watching intently without disturbing me.

What a good girl. Even as she grows, she’s still my cute baby screech owl. Parents always see their children as young, I’m starting to understand that now. It’s hard to imagine her as an adult.

“Phew.”

Wiping sweat from my brow, I realize I’ve completed over half the work. With the sun setting, Suri and I enjoy a late dinner. She eats anything I give her – fish, fruit, though she prefers meat. Feeding her is simple and enjoyable.

After dinner, I continue working mechanically – cutting wood, carving stone. It feels almost like sculpting now.

Placing components, checking the next piece, building, placing… Today’s work will be finished if I keep going.

Finally, the house expansion completes, glowing blue before stabilizing. Checking everything carefully, I find no issues.

After cleaning up, I lie down with Suri on our bed inside the glowing blue house interior. Something feels incomplete as I drift off to sleep.

Day 18 of summer.

Waking up, I’m greeted by the newly expanded house. Somehow it finished while I slept.

The first thing I notice is the spacious new kitchen with a sleek island table and neatly arranged chairs. Finally, I can use those cooking tools I bought.

Getting out of bed feels different – softer, larger. Moving into the living room, the new space feels empty without furniture but has a clean, fresh appeal.

The separate dressing room will likely remain unused since I store clothes in my bag. Same with equipment – it’s too convenient to store and access directly from my bag.

Downstairs has opened up. At the far end of what will become a guest room or storage, there’s a staircase. Descending, I’m greeted by the distinctive basement smell.

About 50 fermentation barrels wait patiently. Immediately, I add musk melons and kingsberries. Thankfully, the system allows fruit to be added directly without extra processing.

The UI shows 14 days remaining. Since today is day 17, they’ll be ready on day 30. Imagining the sweet, tangy results brings a private smile.

With plenty of space, I consider filling more barrels before heading back upstairs. The expanded house creates an open, successful feeling.

With pride, Suri and I walk around the new space. I run my hand along the beautiful marble-patterned island table, tap the pristine white chairs.

Time to decorate. From storage, I bring out a warm beige sofa for the living room, place a brown-and-cream rug underneath, add a small side table.

Sunlight streaming through the windows feels harsh without curtains, so I install bright beige ones matching the interior decor. Fortunately, the air conditioning system is already installed.

Since I don’t plan to stay inside long-term, I pursue minimalistic decoration. Beside the bed, I add a small toy and an extra pillow for variety.

Despite the fuss, the finished result satisfies me greatly. Seeing the fruits of my labor feels rewarding.

Straightening up, I nod to myself when Suri’s curious gaze from my shoulder meets mine.

“Suri, do you like it?”

“Chirp.”

That’s a yes, I assume. Heading outside, the blazing sun hits me immediately. Back to daily seed planting.

Bent over in the dirt, I plant seeds as usual. Farming at level 2 doesn’t grant any special advantages, but experience and skill make the process faster.

After finishing greenhouse work, my clothes are soaked with sweat. Time for a quick shower in the newly expanded bathroom.

Back in the kitchen, I prepare lunch to test out the new space. Kimchi pork claypot rice sounds good.

Luckily, I had the foresight to buy kimchi. Growing cabbage for homemade kimchi might be interesting, but farming more crops requires significant extra labor right now.

System-store kimchi isn’t as tasty as homemade, but it’s edible. Grabbing meat from my bag, I decide pork works best here.

Ham could substitute, but fresh meat is preferable. Frying the pork first, the sizzling sound brings joy.

Adding chopped kimchi with sugar balances the sourness while enhancing umami flavors. Seasoning with salt and pepper, I cut the meat into bite-sized pieces using my level 15 scissors.

Combining the ingredients, I reduce the heat and start cooking the rice. After washing and soaking the rice, everything goes into the pot to simmer for 15 minutes.

Cooking skill improvements show in the smooth process. Using spare time to clean up keeps the kitchen tidy.

Finally, opening the pot reveals perfectly cooked kimchi pork claypot rice. Giving Suri a small portion alongside her usual raw meat, I serve myself and enjoy the meal.

A satisfying first meal in the new house.