Chapter 30

Spring Day 39 Morning.

As always, the day flows by like any other.

After doing morning chores and having breakfast, it’s off to fishing again.

With no news of rare fish biting, it’s just another repeat of the same schedule.

No word on exotic catches today either. With a sigh, I wrap up the day.

Spring Day 40 Morning.

Looks like my experience was lacking.

My Fishing Level remains stuck at Intermediate 9.

Once again, it’s the same old routine:

Planting seeds, eating meals, going fishing…

I head toward the mine in hopes of catching something special, but they’re not showing up easily today it seems.

With nothing left to do, I return home with a heavy heart as the 40th evening falls.

[You have earned the qualification to advance to Advanced Level!]

[Your current Fishing is at Pre-Advanced Level 1 (tentative), and you can achieve Advanced Level 1 once all conditions are met!]

[The requirements are as follows:

1. Achievement: “Tasted the Local Water” – Complete!

2. Achievement: “Delicious Fishing!” – Complete!

3. Achievement: “No Class Among Fish!” – Complete!]

Finally…

I’ve qualified for Advanced Fishing!

Overjoyed, I check each achievement one by one.

“Tasted the Local Water”

Accumulate 1200 minutes of swimming.

“Delicious Fishing!”

Eat 100 personally caught fish.

“No Class Among Fish!”

Catch a fish worth over 700 gold individually.

Though I noticed this before with farming, achievements don’t seem directly tied to professions.

Like how it asked me to obtain Sky Dew Fruit last time, or now asking me to swim.

Of course, meeting fairies helped open magical paths and made some cute friends along the way.

I plan to bring them lots of gifts someday to repay their kindness.

But separate from that… Sky Dew Fruit didn’t actually help with farming.

Maybe they’re suggesting I practice swimming beforehand since drowning while fishing would be dangerous?

Not sure why, but I guess I have to follow through.

Swimming.

If they say jump, you jump.

Twenty hours, or 1200 minutes, isn’t too bad.

Back when I’d struggle to breathe and collapse after such sessions, but now? Not so much.

Best part? I can do this right in the village.

Just splash around in the nearby lake and call it a day.

The “No Class Among Fish!” achievement has already been cleared thanks to those salmon.

Truly grateful little guys.

Besides swimming, all that’s left is eating fish I’ve caught myself.

Out of the required 100 fish, I’ve already eaten 90 of them, leaving only 10 remaining.

Probably because I’ve been eating sashimi and grilled fish every hour recently.

With two tasks nearly done, my plan is simple:

Keep fishing, eat more fish, and squeeze in some swimming whenever possible.

Setting short-term goals, I prepare for the 41st day of spring.

Finally reaching the advanced level feels amazing.

Climbing higher always motivates me.

Spring Day 41 Morning.

The sky looks gloomy.

After days without rain, it’s pouring nonstop today.

The irregular rhythm of raindrops tapping against my house greets the morning.

The damp humidity fills the air.

Though unpleasant, I welcome the rain since it waters the crops for me.

Crack!

Let me rephrase that…

I welcome the rain as long as lightning doesn’t strike my crops.

This reminds me of Anne.

In her sleepy voice, she’d say “I hate thunderstorms” while clinging to my back.

She’d stay indoors trembling during such weather.

This stormy weather is new since arriving in Valley of Starwind.

Despite the harsh weather, work must go on.

Professionals don’t pick and choose their working conditions.

Stepping outside, the rain quickly soaks my clothes.

The brown fabric darkens with moisture.

Water droplets form on my hair and trickle down.

Without an umbrella, I dive straight into work under the rain.

I turn over the wet soil, carefully plant seeds, then cover them gently with dirt.

The sensation of moist earth feels completely different from dry ground.

It’s satisfying in its own way.

Finishing up, I head out dripping wet.

Since I need to fish and swim anyway, there’s no point changing clothes.

The muddy forest path sticks to my shoes.

Each step splashes water everywhere.

Whether these droplets come from my steps or falling rain, who knows?

The chaotic rainstorm assaults me with relentless intensity.

Visibility is poor, so I naturally lower my head while walking.

20 hours of swimming.

And eating fish.

Simple tasks really.

Especially the latter since I have plenty of fish stored.

All that’s left is swimming.

Arriving at the lakeside, I stretch briefly before diving in.

Raindrops plop onto the water surface around me.

Though risky swimming in the rain, my instincts tell me I’ll be fine.

A strange confidence keeps me moving forward.

So far, these instincts haven’t failed me.

Following this gut feeling, I surrender to the water’s flow.

Experience from combat and fishing seems to translate somewhat to swimming.

The sensation of cutting through water feels natural.

The gentle resistance is oddly comforting.

Checking the achievement tracker, five minutes have already passed.

Physically, it’s not too demanding yet.

Trusting my strengthened body, I continue across the rainy lake.

“Haaah…”

Breathing deeply…

“Fuuu…”

Exhaling slowly…

While swimming, sweat mixes with rainwater, making it hard to tell which is which.

The cool spring rain balances my rising body heat.

I watch raindrops hit my head and splash across the lake surface as I move forward.

1200 minutes total needed.

Dividing it over two days seems reasonable.

Today’s goal: 600 minutes or about ten hours.

With my improved endurance, this feels achievable.

“Ugh…”

Right.

Why did I forget swimming is such hard work?

Mustn’t overestimate my capabilities.

It’s tough.

Ten continuous hours of swimming is no small feat.

Including breaks and meals, I’ve spent nearly twelve hours on this task.

My arms and legs feel numb, my whole body exhausted.

Collapsing onto the slick stones, I lie there letting the rain soak me further.

My wrinkled skin shows how long I’ve been submerged.

Touching my hands and feet reveals their waterlogged texture.

Still, I managed ten hours.

Even if night has fallen, accomplishing this feels rewarding.

Struggling upright despite my fatigue…

Glad I started early this morning.

Had I waited, I might have pulled an all-nighter.

Crack!

The storm intensifies.

Lightning illuminates the dark sky.

This rain has been relentless.

Is it making up for lost time?

“Thunder scares me, so I stay inside on days like this.”

Anne’s words come to mind again.

The girl who hides indoors during storms.

Though tired, my legs carry me toward her house.

To check up on her.

And maybe share some sweets.

Approaching her house, looking like a half-melted slime from being so soaked.

Crack!

White light momentarily brightens the dark night.

I picture Anne trembling somewhere inside, finding it amusing despite myself.

The image of our fearless fox-like friend fearing lightning seems contradictory, yet everyone has their quirks.

“Anyone home?”

Knock knock!

Waiting for a response.

Nothing.

Knocking again.

Still no answer.

“Anne! You there?”

Perhaps she’s elsewhere.

Just as I’m about to leave, the door creaks open slightly.

Golden hair peeks through the narrow gap.

“Minho…?”

“Hey, you’re alive.”

“What brings you here?”

Her voice lacks energy.

Huddled under a blanket, shoulders curled inward, she shakes like a frightened fox.

Though funny, I suppress my amusement.

“I heard you don’t like storms, so I brought something to help.”

“Huh?”

“Sorry I’m so wet, but here you go.”

Handing over the gift box.

Just some sweet fruits.

Knowing Anne loves musk melons, I included plenty in the package.

Eating something delicious usually improves one’s mood.

She hesitates before carefully extending her hand to take the box.

Crack!

“Ahhhhh!!”

Startled by the thunder, she drops the box and collapses to the floor, trembling uncontrollably.

Quick reflexes save the falling present.

Wrapped tightly in her blanket, only small movements betray her presence beneath.

Guess this fear runs deeper than I thought.

Mostly hidden under blankets, only slight motions indicate she’s still there.

“Anne.”

No reply.

“Anne, are you okay?”

“Yeah… Just scared of thunder. I’ll be fine tomorrow.”

The playful, mischievous girl who normally teases and flirts is nowhere to be seen.

Instead, a trembling rabbit cowers in her place.

“Are you really okay?”

“Yeah.”

“Doesn’t seem like it. Let me come in. Is that alright?”

“Yeah.”

Supporting her mechanically nodding head, we enter.

Though late, feeding her a slice of melon elicits immediate positive response.

Too wet to venture further inside, we remain near the entrance.

Feeding her a few bites seems to revive her spirit.

“Get some rest.”

“Thank you.”

“I’ll go now. Save the rest for tomorrow.”

“Wait…”

Her fingers weakly grab my soaked sleeve.

Droplets roll down my arm, soaking her fingers and sleeve.

After some time, she finally speaks in a tiny voice.

“Uh… Would you stay over tonight?”