Chapter 64

My head faintly ached, an unfamiliar sensation after so long. The intermediate skills heating up with each level-up were tolerably warm, but this felt more akin to the sharp twinges of the early days—only sharper. A tingling crackle accompanied the start of a new day.

At last, my farming skill had reached Advanced Level 3. My body’s growth, along with various skill effects enveloping me, meant I only felt subtle pain when higher-level skills leveled up. Last time combat leveled up, it just… happened. Barely noticed. But farming leveling up? Definitely different.

Truthfully, as my levels increased, farming became harder to physically notice. Sure, I sensed improvements in stamina and resilience, but while bending over planting seeds, those changes didn’t register much. It was only through the better taste and quality of crops that I could confirm my farming skill was improving.

The more I farmed, the tastier and fresher the produce became—a clear sign of my advancing skill. No matter how hard it was to feel the progress directly, the results spoke for themselves: higher skill levels equaled better outcomes.

“Hmm.”

Farming had hit its limit at Advanced Level 3. Time to explore the Ruins of the Dragon. Breaking limits required venturing there.

Stepping outside my house into mild heat, I looked up at a cloudless sky glowing bright blue under the dazzling sun.

Pong!

Naturally trailing behind me, the spirits bounced energetically, urging me on. Handing them seeds gently and patting them sent them off to their assigned spots. Watching them happily dig into the soil brought a quiet nod.

I entrusted the fields entirely to them—they were diligent and smart enough now.

Checking the livestock—cows, goats, sheep, chickens, rabbits, ducks—I ensured water and feed were sufficient, then enjoyed some free time before Evangelin arrived. With nothing else to do, I approached the crafting table and enchanting table to inspect things.

“Hm?”

My eyes drifted toward impossible-seeming items. They were related to miraculous construction projects.

1. Spirit Valley Pagoda

2. Catacombs of Kom el Shoqafa

3. Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque

4. Cluny Abbey

Only these four were available; the rest were locked. On impulse, I selected the first one. Surely, I could attempt building it by now.

[Spirit Valley Pagoda]

Required Achievements:

– Achievement: “Shadows at Night?” (Avoid seeing shadows all day)

– Achievement: “Night Never Sleeps” (Experience polar night)

Required Materials:

– 200,000 stones

– 175,000 wood

– 50 Shadow Essences

– 3,000 Mithril Ores

– 1,500 Orichalcum Ores

– 10 Sun’s Grace

– 3 Holy Water Bottles

– 5 Dark Flames

– 1 Sky Cloud

Permanent Effects:

– All skill levels +1

– All buffs during nighttime gain +1 effect

“Ah…”

Chuckling wryly, I read through the details. The achievements weren’t too daunting, but the material list was monstrous. Many rare resources unavailable from shops added another layer of difficulty.

Though the permanent effects were straightforward and powerful, investing so much for them wasn’t worth it financially. Still, being able to estimate costs meant I’d reached a new stage. Stone and wood could be bought with gold, while dungeon grinding might yield other materials. Holy Water from churches, Sky Clouds from fairies’ Sky Gardens…

Even though I wouldn’t build it now, calculating mentally highlighted its allure. Clicking through the others left me sighing—they demanded even crazier achievements and resources. It felt like teasing myself with unattainable dreams.

Back to basics, then. I moved away from the crafting table as Evangelin approached, hand-in-hand with Jack as usual.

We exchanged greetings, and I followed her inside to prepare breakfast—simple sandwiches. Her consistent, delicious meals earned heartfelt thanks. Mentioning I’d skip lunch today, I headed toward the mine.

Exploring the mysterious desert floor discovered yesterday awaited. Reaching the 100th level of the mine revealed strange landscapes.

Heat, humidity, dusty air, and gray sand filled the oppressive atmosphere of Mine Floor 100.

Standing before the eerie Skeleton Door, I took a deep breath. Opening it revealed the arid desert sands whipping around sharply under harsh winds.

Smiling at the unchanged scenery visible through cracked walls, I stepped forward. Despite worrying they might vanish, the desert remained intact.

Taking a step, yellow sand welcomed my feet softly. The scorching heat greeted me.

A lake, dry grasses, and a lone tree formed a small oasis amidst the endless sandy expanse.

Walking silently across soundless desert sands, I soon reached the lakeshore. Looking back, a portal hovered eerily in the distance, marked clearly on my minimap.

“Hmm.”

Nothing unusual about the lake—it seemed ordinary. Scanning every corner yielded no discoveries. Testing the water tasted normal too.

Just as I turned to leave, something crossed my mind. If there’s water, why not try fishing?

Pulling out my silver fishing rod from my bag after ages, its cool touch sparked a sudden intuition. Lightning-fast realization struck: this place was connected to fishing somehow.

Why such a spot existed here baffled me, but holding the rod confirmed its purpose.

“Hm.”

Whistling idly, I unfolded a chair and settled down. Was this part of reaching advanced fishing skills? Anticipation grew—it wouldn’t be easy.

After eating food boosting fishing prowess and adjusting equipment, I focused deeply, casting the float with measured breathing.

Pong! The float splashed into the water.

Now began the waiting game. Somewhere out there, something would bite eventually.

Unknown anticipation lingered. This journey aimed to uncover what lay beneath.

Recalling catching salmon near the mine entrance, I realized this challenge would match or surpass that thrill.

“Here it comes!”

An unknown creature tugged fiercely. The strong pull electrified my arms. The high-quality rod bent alarmingly, vibrating intensely. Tremors rippled through my forearms, reawakened after ages.

It pulled back hard. Standing up, I countered with equal force.

For a moment, I nearly slipped into the lake despite having Advanced Fishing Level 3 with recovery and stabilization effects.

Prominent veins bulged in my strained arms. Sweat poured profusely, soaking me. Tension-induced fatigue overwhelmed me, worsened by the desert heat.

“Grr…”

Resistance persisted. Maintaining this deadlock taxed me fully.

This unexpected excitement and stimulation reminded me how thrilling fishing could be. Reaching extreme limits unforeseen in fishing amazed me.

Instinct whispered failure, but I ignored it, gritting my teeth stubbornly. Time remained on my side. Defying intuition, I held on tenaciously.

White hair framed my determined face. Focused solely on gripping tightly, my resolve strengthened gradually.

Exertion pushed me past recovery limits. Equipment couldn’t compensate anymore.

Slowly, inexorably, I was dragged toward the lake. Not the fish pulling me, but myself succumbing.

Water soaked my feet, then knees. Sensations faded—all awareness centered on the fishing rod in my hands. My body screamed warnings, but I shook my head, biting down resolutely.

“Ziiik!”

No longer resisting, I was being pulled outright. Strength drained rapidly from my legs.

Restoring balance once lost proved difficult. What kind of monster resisted so fiercely? Curiosity ignited competitive spirit, dopamine surged, revitalizing me momentarily.

One final struggle before collapse.

“Aaaargh!”

Releasing a roar, I unleashed everything remaining, determined to let go if unsuccessful this time.

Crack!

The rod groaned painfully. Victory belonged to me in that tug-of-war. For a fleeting instant, I managed to pull instead of being pulled.

Dark shadows breached the surface. Part of the mysterious creature emerged.

Silver scales gleamed elegantly. Cold eyes stared at me, still holding the bait.

That image froze in my memory as exhaustion claimed me. Nothing remained within me.

A familiar sense of weakness washed over me. Gradually recovering, I collapsed onto the chair anyway, utterly spent. Watching the shadow steal the bait and disappear underwater, I needed extended rest.

Attempting again might succeed, maybe not. This marked my first encounter with such limitations in fishing.

Rather than defeat, intense stimulation burned brightly. Leisurely fishing brought joy, but challenges like this enriched the experience immensely.

“Phew…”

Regulating my breathing, I waited for trembling arms to stabilize. Perhaps the fish also tired. Hoping so, I cast the line again.

Nothing extraordinary happened afterward. Only small fry tapped my line, filling my bag.

Reasons to improve my fishing skill arose. Growth at advanced levels proved challenging. Visiting the Ruins of the Dragon became even more necessary.

Leaving the oasis with slight regret, I resumed exploring the desert. Though brief, the encounter made this expedition worthwhile.

Dry heat assaulted me relentlessly. Shadeless surroundings battered me. Whenever wind blew, I had to hold my breath to avoid inhaling sand.

My body roasted under relentless exposure. Hours passed without any change in terrain. Eventually, I had no choice but to turn back.

Thus ended my first desert exploration, leaving only memories of failed fishing.

Through portals back to the mine, then home…

Returning home felt warm—partially because the desert contrasted sharply, partially due to Evangelin’s welcoming presence.

Chatting briefly over dinner, we parted ways.

Finishing tasks left incomplete by the spirits, I tucked Suri into bed, who nodded off mid-yawn from exhaustion.

Today was fulfilling. Though lacking tangible achievements, failure often paved the way for greater success. Drifting off to sleep surrounded by comforting fatigue marked a rare night indeed.