Chapter 32

Posted by Kuze, ? Views, Released on January 31, 2025

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[Advanced Fishing Level 1 Achieved! Choose your Advanced Level Effect!]

[1. Maximum Treasure Chest Grade from Fishing +30]

[2. Rare and Above Fish Appearance Rate +15]

Enjoyable dilemmas always make my heart race, but when the moment of choice arrives, hesitation is inevitable.

It’s happening now.

I had a vague idea that reaching Advanced Level in Fishing would present good options, but now faced with these choices, I’m hesitating on what to pick.

This kind of decision-making wasn’t part of the old games, so it makes me think even harder.

Once chosen, there’s no going back.

The discarded option won’t return.

Is it better to get treasure chests that could yield equipment at level 70?

Or should I increase the spawn rate for rare and legendary fish, leaning toward fun and achievement?

It’s hard to judge which is right or wrong, but I rack my brain to choose something beneficial.

After brief deliberation, I tap my finger…

And ultimately select Option 2.

“Hmph.”

While getting good gear from treasure chests is nice, those can be replaced.

With the Crafting Table, you can make equipment if you have good materials and minerals.

But rare fish or legendary ones depend purely on luck.

That’s why I chose Option 2—to reduce the variance.

Also, it’s partly because I’m annoyed by some fish not showing up despite all my efforts.

In the end, it boiled down to whether the choice was replaceable or not.

No regrets here.

Now, time to enjoy a 200,000 gold shopping spree!

Combined with the gold I’ve saved up, I’m swimming in wealth.

My mindset feels more relaxed already.

Is this how tycoons feel entering a department store?

First up: Mod items.

Now, I can easily afford things worth tens of thousands of gold.

I carefully consider each available item.

First, the Teleport Device for 20,000 gold.

Next, an additional Equipment Slot for 10,000 gold.

Then, the Encyclopedia for 40,000 gold.

Without hesitation, I buy them all. I’ve been eyeing these for a while, waiting for just this moment.

The Teleport Device helps with long-distance travel.

The additional Equipment Slots assist in combat.

The Encyclopedia provides detailed UI information.

Already, I’ve spent 70,000 gold, but I don’t mind.

Adding the Reduced Crafting Time mod for 25,000 gold brings my total expenditure to 95,000 gold.

That’s nearly half the gold I earned today.

It was a bold flex, but I’m very satisfied.

Gold exists to be spent after all.

Hoard it forever, and it loses meaning.

Spending wisely is as important as earning well.

Seeds, cooking tools… browsing through various items, I drift into deep darkness.

Not a dream, but true rest.

I fall into a deep sleep.

Day 43 of Spring.

“Ugh…”

A damp ache presses down on my entire body.

It feels like fishing hooks are pricking every inch of me.

Ah.

The pain of Advanced Level 1 has caught up with me.

I quickly grab painkillers and food, shoving them into my mouth.

The effect of the painkillers is unclear, but the Defense Buff feels quite noticeable.

The numbing sensation in my throbbing body gradually eases.

The effect was immediate.

Intermittent twinges of pain still pop up, but they’re tolerable.

“Tch…”

Tolerance and adaptation are entirely different matters. Pain doesn’t adapt easily.

Though it’s a joy to gain new knowledge and experience along with enhanced physical performance, the accompanying pain is never welcome.

Still, this one was relatively mild.

The Defense Buff helped more than expected.

Who knew Pain Reduction could be so powerful?

There’s no longer any trace of me drooling unconsciously while sprawled across the bed.

At least now, I can handle a glass of water despite the pounding headache.

Cooling the awakened mind with refreshing water, I bring clarity to my thoughts.

Though my condition feels like having a cold, it’s manageable.

The clear sky greets me.

Summer must be approaching; the weather is getting hotter.

Day 56 marks the last day of Spring. Today is Day 43 of Spring, so Spring ends in 13 days.

In the game, the first day of each season requires extra caution.

Due to the farming nature of the game, seeds grow according to seasons, and plants meant for Spring die off without fail once Summer arrives.

Indeed.

The heart-stopping experience of watching precious seeds turn into lifeless yellow death is indescribable.

I suffered greatly as a newbie.

Back then, I vowed to become a wealthy farmer, only to lose all my Spring seeds when transitioning to Summer.

An experience I’d rather not repeat.

To avoid that, I need to stop buying seeds and start saving money.

The time has come.

Preparing for Summer means slowing down in Spring.

For now, things are fine.

Thanks to the Reduced Crafting Time mod, crops grow 10% faster.

That means Musk Melons will fully mature in 10 days.

Following that rhythm, I set Day 46 as the final day for planting seeds, giving myself a one-day buffer.

While following my morning routine of planting seeds, a crow flies down from the sky.

Cawing loudly, it lands on my shoulder and drops a letter it held in its beak.

“Huh?”

Caw!

Without hesitation, it takes off.

The red-sealed envelope looks quite stylish.

Curious about the contents, I eagerly tear it open.

[Greetings. Let’s skip pleasantries. I assume you’re doing fine.

It’s Gilbert. If you’re ready, come to the Tower.

Are you prepared to learn Magic?]

A short but thrilling message.

Finally.

Finally, I’ll get to learn Magic.

Even though I felt under the weather, my mood improves.

Unconsciously, my seed-planting pace quickens.

It reflects my eagerness to rush through the day and head to the tower.

Originally, my schedule included finishing seed planting, harvesting crops, and gathering materials for construction.

But does that really matter?

Materials can be gathered slowly.

House expansion? Barn?

There’s no rush.

What’s important when romance awaits?

Magic calls to me.

Planting seeds and watering them.

After finishing breakfast and lunch, I head straight to the Tower where Gilbert resides.

Despite being filled with strange machinery, the tower somehow feels cozy now.

Perhaps it’s the change in attitude that adds charm.

“Come in.”

Gilbert’s usual ambiguous voice greets me.

Arriving at the paper-scented study, he welcomes me as always.

“Are you doing well?”

“The same old daily grind.”

Gilbert rises from his seat and approaches me.

“Did you receive the letter?”

“Yes.”

“Hmm. Sent the crow not too long ago, yet you arrived so quickly. Quite impressive enthusiasm.”

“Hm. It’s exciting, isn’t it?”

“Hmm. No fear of magic, I see. That’s fortunate.”

“Fear?”

“Vague fears people often associate with mages.”

I stare blankly at Gilbert.

What kind of misunderstandings could there be about magic?

His amused smile explains further.

“Turning people into frogs or boiling parts of their bodies in a pot.”

“Does that actually happen?”

“Well, if you’re talking about Black Mages. But not me. Never happened.”

“Then that’s settled. I have no intention of learning such things anyway.”

“Good. Lack of prejudice is a great quality in a mage. Indeed.”

Gilbert hands me a book.

“Let’s start with learning the letters needed for magic.”

“Do I need to learn a language?”

“I didn’t think you’d know it already. Once you finish reading this… ”

“Basics and Understanding of Magic Circuits?”

“Hmm?”

Gilbert’s eyes widen in surprise.

Could this be a special ability granted to me?

Understanding languages, translation, interpretation—everything reads and makes sense.

Whatever it is, conversations with fairies have been smoother thanks to this.

Hopefully, it’ll make learning magic easier too.

“Wait. Can you read this? Did you study ancient Sanskrit?”

“Eh… Yes, I can read it.”

“Try this one.”

Gilbert hands over another book titled “Basics and Understanding of Runes.”

“Basics and Understanding of Runes.”

“Understand Elamite too? Next.”

“Principles of Sorcery.”

“Can you read Ionian as well? Next.”

“History of Alchemy.”

“Hmm. Magical comprehension, perhaps. Though extinct languages shouldn’t be understood this way. Talent? No, unlikely. Some magical influence? Something else interpreting for you?”

He mutters to himself.

His bustling actions continue until around ten books pile up on the table.

“Incredible.”

“Is something wrong?”

“Not at all. This is actually excellent. While you learn magic, I can study you. Won’t get bored.”

“Study… me?”

“No worries. No dissection or strange potions involved. Stop looking at me suspiciously.”

“I wasn’t thinking that.”

“Your gaze resembles how villagers look at me.”

Gilbert smirks.

What lies behind that smile?

“Things will get easier. Take these books home and read them. Ask questions when you’re curious.”

“Will that be enough?”

“Not entirely. Keep coming back, and I’ll help you sense mana. When you can feel and manipulate mana, the knowledge you’ve gained will flourish.”

“I’ll do my best.”

“Great. Let’s start by sensing mana.”

Gilbert’s lesson begins.

Mana this and that.

What is mana exactly?

A lengthy explanation unfolds.

Starting from the basic principles of the world, it stretches on for over ten minutes before concluding how humans learned to harness mana.

Predictably fantastical settings that defy Earth’s physics.

Indeed, magic is the epitome of convenience.

Various rules.

Connections to science.

Layer upon layer of painstaking scientific knowledge.

Applying it all to everyday life.

The beautifully designed laws of the world.

The marvels of science.

On the other hand, what about magic?

Click. Air conditioning.

Click. Refrigerator.

Click. Iron turns to gold.

Click. Fireball conjured in midair.

Magic is something scientists might collapse from sheer shock trying to understand.

Though magic likely has intricate systems and accumulated knowledge, it’s undeniable that the settings are often haphazardly stitched together.

Still,

For learners, simplicity is a blessing.

Less complexity means easier learning for beginners.

“…That’s magic. Do you understand?”

“Sort of.”

“Good. Didn’t expect full comprehension right away. Now, let me show you the flow of mana.”

Gilbert extends his hand.

Something resembling wind flows from his palms, brushing against my body.

A peculiar sensation tickles my skin, making me unconsciously scratch it.

“Hmph.”

Gilbert chuckles.

“It itches.”

“Thank the fairies.”

“Huh?”

“Didn’t you feel mana? That ticklish sensation you experienced, the wind-like feeling? That’s mana.”

“How do I control it?”

“We’ll work on that gradually. Start by reading the books. Persistent homework. Sensing mana went quicker than expected. Surprising.”

“Thank you.”

“Mana exists everywhere in the world. Tell me next time where you sensed it. The more familiar, the better.”

“Is this homework?”

“Exactly. You’re dismissed. This is sufficient for today.”