Chapter 92

Advanced Farming Level 5.

Advanced Mining Level 4.

Advanced Fishing Level 3.

Advanced Combat Level 3.

Intermediate Logging Level 8.

Intermediate Cooking Level 5.

Intermediate Magic Level 3.

The skills that reached advanced levels skyrocketed to Advanced Level 3 all at once thanks to the experience gained from Shadow’s Harm.

I vaguely suspect it might also be due to the triple experience event we received.

Even the skills stuck at intermediate levels made a significant leap upward.

Magic has steadily improved over time, reaching Intermediate Level 3.

I think it won’t be long before it surpasses both cooking and logging to reach the advanced tier first.

After all, Evangelin mostly handles the cooking for me, and there isn’t much logging work to do lately.

In the end, the only thing consistently improving is magic.

Compared to the early days, it feels like my growth has slowed down a bit.

It’s just that leveling up skills at the advanced tier takes an awfully long time.

On the flip side, this means I’ve managed to rapidly level up my skills through sheer persistence and dedication until now.

And thanks to those efforts, I’ve been able to successfully settle into this world.

Not complaining or anything…

Just a tiny hint of regret, maybe.

A new morning arrives.

As autumn sets in, I slowly sort through the tasks ahead.

Rather than focusing on what’s absolutely necessary, I shift my gaze toward opportunities that could give me a slight edge.

First up: industrialization.

It’s the prerequisite for large-scale resource acquisition.

Mysterious construction, large-scale building projects.

Equipment crafting, materials needed to boost magic proficiency.

Alchemy, potions, and more.

Relying solely on gold to cover everything when demands arise would bankrupt me instantly.

Next: automating farming harvests.

Automating the collection of resources like stone and wood.

Automating the supply of crafting materials like iron ingots.

Though further exploration is required, these reasons alone were enough to justify starting this project immediately.

Sure, it’ll cost a hefty amount upfront, but we have the funds to spare now.

Once the materials are secured, I plan to delve into mysterious constructions.

At the top of my list is the Spirit Valley Pagoda.

**[Spirit Valley Pagoda (靈谷塔)]**

Required Achievements:

– Achievement: “Do Shadows Exist at Night?” (Spend a full day without seeing your shadow.)

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

Required Materials:

– Stone: 200,000

– Wood: 175,000

– Shadow Essence: 50

– Mithril Ore: 3,000

– Orichalcum Ore: 1,500

– Sun’s Favor: 10

– Holy Water: 3

– Dark Flame: 5

– Sky Cloud: 1

Permanent Effects:

– All skill levels +1

– All buffs gain +1 effect during periods without sunlight

Skill Level +1, conditionally +2.

The fact that this bonus persists permanently is its biggest selling point.

Plus, since it doesn’t specify that it applies only to me, I’m curious to experiment with it.

There’s even a faint hope that it might apply as a town-wide buff.

The material requirements are staggering—clearly warning me not to attempt this without proper industrialization.

But if I gradually industrialize while working on this construction, it seems feasible.

Next, selecting skills.

Whether or not defeating the dragon was accurate terminology, I did obtain a jewel allowing me to create a custom skill as a reward for conquering dungeon floor 50.

Now I need to carefully evaluate which skills would be most efficient and worthwhile.

Though there’s no rush, creating one sooner rather than later will help with leveling it up.

Lastly, defense.

Calling it “defense” feels odd, but I’m referring to protecting my territory, the Valley of Starwind.

Should I hire mercenaries with gold?

Or maintain a regular army?

Perhaps explore other options entirely?

It’s something I’ve never dealt with before, so it gives me pause.

After all, I can’t rely indefinitely on the small royal guard detachment stationed here.

“Shall we begin?”

Organizing my thoughts brings a sense of calm.

I wasn’t always this diligent or methodical, but compared to before, I’ve become slightly more structured in my approach.

Still, some spontaneous tendencies remain.

Maybe it’s because I now have responsibilities and things to care about—it feels natural that I’ve evolved this way.

Day 13 of autumn.

Standing before the crafting table, I clap my hands dryly against the crisp weather.

Rubbing them together, I bring up the item menu.

Industrialization.

A 2 million gold mod, but one I hesitated to touch until now.

The principle behind industrialization is simple: generate power, then use machines powered by that energy to perform tasks.

To build these machines, you need parts, appropriate power sources, occasional maintenance, and upgrades when necessary.

If the distance between components is too great, connectors must link everything together.

You’ll need a power generator, a power transmitter, and possibly an energy converter for specialized uses.

There’s plenty to consider, but the concept itself is straightforward.

“For starters… let’s go with a logging machine.”

First, trees.

Mining already yields plenty of stone, ores, and gems after sweeping through a mine, thanks to the expertise granted by my high-level mining skill.

Compared to logging, mining is far more efficient given the gap between Advanced Level 3 and Intermediate Level 8.

So, I decided to start with a logging machine to automate tree harvesting.

“Phew.”

I exhale deeply.

Building machines follows a process similar to construction.

Insert the required materials and construct it in the desired location.

Power Generator.

Power Transmitter.

Logging Machine.

Energy Converter.

Connectors.

One of each, plus three additional logging machines stored in my bag.

More specifically, I created blueprints for the logging machines.

The actual assembly involved inserting wood, stone, iron ingots, and various intricate parts directly into the crafting interface.

With seven shimmering blueprints tucked into my bag, I head toward the dense forest, anticipation tingling within me.

The rustling leaves crunch satisfyingly underfoot, complemented by the cool autumn breeze.

The vibrant colors of falling leaves dance around as I set out on my journey.

Work begins.

A holographic interface glows softly, listing the precise materials required for assembly.

Despite its complexity, I proceed step-by-step, carefully inserting each component.

Wood and stone.

Iron ingots, ether-infused iron ingots.

Specialized core components.

Solar essences and such.

Like solving a puzzle, I fit each piece into place until completion.

This process felt less like construction and more like assembly or fabrication.

Each click of insertion brought a subtle satisfaction, watching everything align perfectly with minimal visible seams.

Finally, the completed power generator emits a soft crimson glow.

Its rhythmic hum mimics a beating heart, pulsating steadily—a mechanical marvel that almost seems alive.

**[Power Generator]**

**[Capable of powering up to five low-tier dynamic machines.]**

A gentle flow of magical energy radiates from it.

Of course, since it generates power in the middle of nowhere, it must involve some form of magic.

Seeing this makes me wonder if it could serve other magical purposes too.

For instance, installing it at home to make spellcasting easier, or using it for magic training.

Shaking my head lightly, I push those thoughts aside for now.

Next comes the power transmitter.

With power generated, I need a mechanism to transfer it.

Following the instructions, I insert the required materials, assembling them piece by piece.

When parts don’t fit, I adjust them meticulously or remove and reinsert them.

This novel activity brings a smile to my face.

Though I don’t feel any immediate improvement in my skills, it’s undeniably fun.

While future upgrades and maintenance will drain gold, they provide proportional returns.

Efficiency matches the investment, and since I’ve stockpiled enough materials, the initial costs aren’t an issue.

From here on out, things will get harder—but industrialization is notoriously expensive, so I expected this.

I’m prepared to spend upwards of ten million gold, knowing it’s worth it for long-term benefits.

With the power transmitter, energy converter, and connectors finished, I can finally activate the logging machines.

Last step: completing the three logging machines.

Taking a deep breath, I watch as the small mechanical ensemble comes to life in the forest.

Power flows from the generator through the converter via the transmitter.

Receiving energy, the converter transforms it into usable power for the logging machines, bringing them to life.

Attached to trees, they gnaw away methodically, displaying rudimentary intelligence as they seek out and cut down trees independently.

Though their speed isn’t impressive, the fact that everything runs automatically earns them a passing grade.

Speed can always be improved later through upgrades and efficiency boosts.

For now, this basic performance serves as a rough gauge of functionality.

*Kreeeeeee*

*Bam!*

The whirring noise of the machines and the thunderous crash of felled trees echo through the woods.

Destroying ecosystems fills me with a strange sense of guilt, but I resolve to plant seeds afterward as penance.

Observing the machines in action brings a warm satisfaction.

I stand there silently for about an hour, calculating hourly efficiency since the machines will run indefinitely.

Approximately 100 logs per hour, averaging around 33 logs per machine.

That translates to roughly 800 logs per day per machine, meaning I currently gain 2,400 logs daily.

Over ten days, that amounts to 24,000 logs.

If I invest more resources to produce ten machines instead of three…

That’s 8,000 logs daily, or 80,000 logs in ten days.

Even at this basic level, the immense labor savings leave me astounded.

As this system scales across all resource types, my life will undoubtedly grow easier and more comfortable.

Dreaming of such a future, I return home from the forest.

Back at home, I head straight to the crafting table.

Another power generator.

Seven more logging machines.

Converters, transmitters, and connectors—all rebuilt again.

No longer worrying about wood supplies, I gleefully dump every last material from my bag into the crafting process.

Having exact quantities simplifies things greatly, so blueprint in hand, I dash back to the forest.

The faster I finish building, the sooner the machines can start working.

Excitement bubbling within me, I continue crafting.

Ten logging machines.

8,000 logs produced daily.

Why didn’t I do this sooner?

Reflecting on today’s expenses, converting all consumed materials into gold reveals costs exceeding 800,000 gold.

Calculating purely based on log production, breaking even seems daunting—but thankfully, most materials were collected manually, sparing me the financial burden.

By evening, I return home to find Anne and Evangelin chatting cozily on the couch.

Their presence bathed in the golden hues of sunset streaming through the window feels serene and heartwarming.

Our conversation flows naturally until Evangelin turns her gaze toward me.

“You seem unusually cheerful today.”

“Something good happened.”

“Is it because I came?”

Anne’s brazen remark elicits bright laughter.

“Yeah.”

“Eh…?”

Her momentarily stunned expression proves unexpectedly adorable.

“Let’s eat dinner.”

“Yes.”

Evangelin moves smoothly while Anne remains frozen on the couch.

Regardless of logging machines or industrial experiments,

the happiness I feel closing out the day stems from being with these people.