Chapter 71

At once, I glance at the price of the mode that jumped up, letting out a faint sigh. Even the simple item of adding slots to my bag now demands 2 million gold.

I absentmindedly count the compartments in my bag. With one addition, it’s already at a thousand slots. Hundreds are filled, cluttered with junk I barely use. Though there’s no immediate need to upgrade, like most inventories, more can never hurt.

It’s a shame to spend such a large sum of 2 million gold when someday I might be rich enough for it to feel trivial. Perhaps by then, it’ll be worth considering. Not today though. With the industrialization I unlocked using 2 million gold not even properly utilized, upgrading my bag feels premature.

With furrowed brows and a bitten lower lip, I can’t hide my frustration.

“Peep!”

That familiar tone. Suri, now slightly more dignified but still adorable due to her small size, perches on my shoulder. She closes her eyes and presses her forehead against my cheek.

Really, just this tiny action brings a smile to my face.

I stroke Suri’s brow with my finger as she’s become an invaluable family member. The spirits following me outside are a bonus, their antennae standing straight as they carry seeds, digging into the soil in silvery clusters.

Thus begins another day.

The only difference is starting by reading the items related to industrialization at the crafting table.

[Connection Unit]

[Power Generator]

[Power Transfer Unit]

[Energy Converter]…

A long list of industrialization-related items appears. Not actual steam engines from the industrial age but automation convenience features.

Since I’m not particularly adept with machines, my eyes spin. It’s dizzying.

In games, you just follow the requirements, gather materials, and everything works perfectly. If I didn’t know something, I’d search online.

Here, I have to learn through trial and error, gaining experience myself. Although the UI and encyclopedia provide some information, applying it is entirely up to me.

There’s no material for experimentation. Some achievements or rare materials need to be acquired too.

This is the future I will eventually face. For now, I decide to gradually accumulate knowledge and turn away.

*

Spending an entire day on physical labor is exhausting, especially when it involves nerve-wracking combat.

Even fighting easy foes like skeletons and bats leaves considerable fatigue.

Yet, with a purpose, one finds strength they didn’t know they had, gritting their teeth and striving hard.

Such is the effort required to reach advanced levels.

As days 43 and 44 of summer pass, finally comes the 45th night.

Spending the whole day entering and exiting dungeons, complaining about unlucky encounters with skeletons and bats, lamenting my bad luck dozens of times…

Finally, I achieve the necessary conditions to reach Advanced Combat Level 1, and the system announces it cheerfully.

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

[1. Magic Expert]

[2. Physical Expert]

Previously, I would’ve agonized over this choice, but now I choose without hesitation.

I roughly select option 1. Thanks to a 700,000-gold mode allowing me to pick both skills, the decision is made easier. This seems far more practical than the 2 million gold industrialization I can’t use right now. Future skills will likely unlock similarly.

What effects will these “Magic Expert” and “Physical Expert” bring?

Especially the former—what kind of synergy could it create with magic? I drift off to sleep with a faint sense of anticipation.

Day 46 of summer.

“Ugh…”

Pain. Intense, disorienting pain.

It’s the agony that comes with leveling up combat skills to advanced status.

My head spins. Swallowing saliva burns my throat. There’s no scent detectable through my nose. My senses are dulled.

My ears itch. I unconsciously scratch my head.

An uncontrollable surge of violent pain sweeps through my body.

I quickly consume painkillers and food providing defensive buffs from my bag. Despite having all accessories equipped, my body doesn’t recover easily.

The process of eating painkillers and food was excruciating. My hands tremble and drop items as I retrieve them. The painkiller scorches my throat as it goes down.

“Haah…”

Hot breath. Is this what dragon breath feels like? Silly thoughts mean I’m getting better. My blurry vision clears.

Suri hovers worriedly in front of me. Due to ringing in my ears, I don’t hear her cute “peep.” Do the spirits sense my condition? The ones who usually claim the bed now calmly watch me from below, looking somewhat concerned.

I lift the small Suri into my hand. She looks at me innocently nestled in my palm.

Gradually, the pain subsides, and my mind calms.

“Thank you.”

Though my ears are still numb, I can see Suri flapping her wings happily. Lying in bed, I pass the time.

Somewhat dazed, I try to hold onto my drifting consciousness with a lazy body. Though the pain is gone, a vague emptiness and weakness envelop me.

“Hey, guys.”

Do they understand I’m referring to the spirits? They pop up from under the bed and settle around my legs.

“I’ll give you seeds. You know what to do, right?”

As I take out the seeds, the spirits wiggle joyfully, making me laugh. Some wait impatiently by the door, unable to open it themselves.

It’s quite burdensome to get out of bed, so I use magic. That’s why I learned it.

The flow of mana. A subtle interference force manifests. The shaping of power applied to reality.

Telekinesis opens the door with a click. The characteristic of being a Magic Expert didn’t seem to help. The magic behaves as usual, opening the door according to my will.

Day 46 of summer. Finally, it’s harvest season. Normally, I’d enjoy the freedom from work, but since the spirits handle it, I feel a little nostalgic.

“Should I have them plant cheap seeds?”

By investing in the cheapest seeds, maybe it’ll provide some welfare satisfaction for the spirits, even if it’s meaningless work.

I ponder the appropriate balance.

“Peep!”

As my ears clear, I hear Suri’s chirps.

“Yeah, I’m fine.”

“Peep.”

“Alright then, no problem.”

Though Suri’s words are repetitive, I’m beginning to understand her feelings.

Worried chirps. Joyful, surprised sounds, hunger, sleepiness—they’re all becoming clear to me.

Not a chick anymore, yet her chirping remains endearing, making me chuckle.

Today feels a bit sluggish. Could it be a side effect from the Physical Expert trait and reaching advanced combat levels? I don’t know exactly what’s wrong. The painkillers eliminated the pain, but moving my body feels incredibly difficult.

I could force myself, but instinct resists. The sensation of danger.

The thrilling feeling sensed by my senses. My mind follows it naturally.

Thinking I can rest for a day.

It feels like being sick. On Earth, sometimes during summer colds, I’d feel this way, lazy and powerless. Alone, it occasionally brought a bitter sadness.

But thanks to Suri beside me now, I don’t feel lonely. Her cute antics worrying around me bring calmness instead.

“Hmm…”

My hands feel weak. Slumped over, half-sitting on the bed, I let go of all tension.

My shallow breaths are warm. My throat feels scorched.

Though there’s no pain, I can feel sensations. Dull, but my body clearly understands—I am sick.

Too dizzy to even think of checking encyclopedias or the UI for causes. Reading text in this state wouldn’t register easily. I just want to lie here and rest for the day.

“Ah, I’m here… Oh?”

“Evanjalin…”

“Why? Why do you look so pale? Are you sick somewhere?”

Does my complexion look that bad? As soon as she sees me, Evanjalin rushes over.

Her initially panicked voice quickly regains composure. Her calmness gently seeps in.

“I don’t know…”

“Medicine… Let me go to the village and fetch some.”

“I’m fine. I’ve already taken medicine.”

Painkillers and food—medicine if you consider them as such. Since I believe I’ll recover with time, I don’t want Evanjalin running around unnecessarily on such a hot day. She taps her lips thoughtfully, her gaze downward in deep contemplation.

“Can you eat breakfast?”

“If you prepare it, I’ll eat.”

“You don’t have to force yourself.”

“I can manage that much.”

“I’ll make you some congee.”

Jack suddenly approaches, gripping my hand tightly. Somehow, warmth spreads. His expression wavers anxiously.

I squeeze his hand back lightly, though it hardly registers.

It feels special somehow. People worrying about me and Suri.

“Hi! I’m here!”

Anne’s cheerful voice warms my ears.

“Shh. Quietly.”

“Why? Where’s Minho? Hmm?”

“Hello.”

My quiet response. Saying more feels impossible as my throat tightens.

“Minho… Are you hurt?”

A devastated expression. Does a fox look like this when sad? Her blue eyes flicker, her gaze drooping. Her mouth clenches shut, pouting.

“I’ll get better soon.”

“That means you’re hurt.”

Was her earlier cheerfulness forced? A slightly lower tone. Anne’s serious voice feels unfamiliar.

“You shouldn’t be sick…”

The warmth of Anne’s hand caressing my face is comforting. So much so that I could fall asleep.

Slowly, my eyes close—not intentionally, just a natural bodily instinct.

“Incredible… Your body is burning. What should we do?”

“Anne, can you step outside for a moment?”

“Uh? Okay.”

Evanjalin places a cool damp towel on my forehead. The chill slowly descends.

It reminds me of old memories. When I was young, my parents would care for me like this when I was sick.

“Thank you.”

“Shh. If you’re sick, it’s okay not to speak.”

I hear her voice with closed eyes. Calm like a tranquil lake.

I’m not sleepy, yet my body feels lethargic. Exhaustion and recovery continue despite doing nothing. The glow of my accessories proves they’re working hard.

What’s happening inside my body? Curious, I fully enjoy the refreshing coolness on my forehead.

“Come on. Ah~”

“Huh?”

“Ah~ Let’s do it. Ah~”

Anne’s voice—a mix of playfulness and worry.

Trying to open my eyes, Anne’s hand gently covers them. The soft warmth creates darkness.

“Huh?”

“I’m feeding you congee. Eat to regain strength.”

“Okay…”

“Quickly. Ah~”

Is there a hint of joy in her voice? Like a baby bird, I open my mouth to receive what she gives.

Plain and subtle flavors swirl briefly before sliding down my throat. An appropriate temperature—neither too hot nor lukewarm, but just warm enough.

The texture feels strange as it goes down. My senses are unusually sensitive, reacting wildly without measure.

I obediently gulp down what Anne feeds me, more for energy replenishment than taste. After eating a bit, my throat feels blocked again. Shaking my head, I signal I’ve had enough.

Stretching my semi-raised body flat against the pillow, covering myself with the blanket brings coziness.

Closing my eyes slightly…

Unknowingly, I drift off to sleep.

*

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