If you asked me what else had changed for me in Acrusse aside from earning money easily by selling toiletries, then the answer would be my body.
Yes, and I just realized it recently.
Even though my stats were weak, it seemed like my muscles grew bigger, and I looked a bit bulky ever since I arrived in Acrusse. I also felt healthier than I ever had, probably because of my [Resistance] skill. Back in Japan, my body wasn't that athletic or skinny, just precisely in the middle of it, with an occasional flu shot if I overworked.
But despite all of that, if you faced a situation when you moved to a new place without furniture or utensils inside, and you realized that you had to buy everything and did the heavy lifting on your own, I could guarantee that you might think that it would be troublesome. And that was the situation I was facing right now.
"Ahhh..."
Last night, I slept at the inn after I obtained a new property. Then, I sold toiletries as usual today, and after that, I visited this house again.
Apparently, the first thing that I do here is sit on the toilet and do my "nature's call" calmly and uninterrupted. Then, I wonder if I have something that can help me to make heavy lifting easier, so I decide to do something.
"Status Open."
The familiar transparent screen pops up in front of my eyes, and I begin to look closely and hope that I can find what I need.
Motegi Sekino
Age: 21
Race: Human
Level 1
HP: 10/10
MP: 10/10
Strength: 1
Durability: 1
Speed: 1
Agility: 1
Intelligence: 1
Charisma: 1
Willpower: 1
Perception: 1
Luck: 1
Skills:
[Appraisal]
[Language Comprehension]
[Storage]
[Copier]
[Resistance]
[Hygienics]
[Blacksmithing] NEW
[Carpentry] NEW
"Wait, what? I have new skills? How?"
I'm surprised when I see two new skills appear on the list, and I'm confused by how I suddenly can obtain those. But then, I remember something.
"Ah, that [Hygienics] skill tree, right?"
It seems like I've unlocked two of the five adjacent, locked skills beside the [Hygienics]. I don't know how it's possible because I don't receive any notifications about it, and they're just popping out in my status. Curiously, I click on each of them.
[Blacksmithing] (Unlocked. Condition met: Earning 500,000 yen)
Mold and forge items from metals.
[Carpentry] (Unlocked. Condition met: Earning 1,000,000 yen)
Construct wooden structures.
"I see. So that's the condition, huh?"
Apparently, the condition to unlock an adjacent skill is generating a specific amount of money. In that case, I get [Blacksmithing] after I make 500,000 yen, and then I get [Carpentry] after I make 1,000,000 yen. But because I haven't opened my status for so long, I'm late to realize if I've already obtained two new skills. So, if the condition to unlock the next skill is earning 2,000,000 yen, like what I deduce, I won't want to miss a chance to check my status again when my toiletries sales reach that amount of money someday.
"Well, let's try them now, shall we?"
With that, I quickly finish pooping and let the slimes do the work, then I head towards my next destination.
Oh yeah, I forgot to tell you about slimes in this world. They're mostly found inside labyrinths, and yes, they're known for being the weakest enemies, yet they can be such a pain to kill, just like in games. But, there are some people who domesticate them, and these tamed slimes are used for disposing garbage and absorbing excrement, thanks to their digestive abilities. So yes, slimes are important here, as they're placed in homes, stores, and toilets.
AT A FOREST IN THE WEST SIDE OF REMANTIA
"Finally..."
The sound of rustling leaves and distant chirps of birds welcome me the moment I step foot in this forest. The air feels fresh and cool, and it takes me 30 minutes to arrive here on foot.
Well, if I want to try those two new skills, [Blacksmithing] and [Carpentry], then this place is the best option to gather the raw materials. For starters, I obviously need wood and iron ore. And to assist me, I already bought an axe and a hammer at a tool shop on the way here, each of them cost me 1 silver coin.
"Alright, let's do this."
I activate my [Appraisal] skill, hoping it can help me find what I need more efficiently. Then, a transparent screen appears in front of my eyes, and as I slowly scan the environment, all sorts of information begin to pop up one by one.
After carefully walking and scanning around, I finally find a rock formation nestled at the base of a small hill.
[Iron Ore Vein]
Contains low-purity iron ore. Can be extracted and processed.
"Perfect!"
Then, just a few steps away, I also see a familiar-looking tree.
[Oak Tree]
Dense and extremely durable. Good for crafting tools and furniture.
"As I thought, it's an oak tree."
With that, I decide to start with the ore. I pull out my hammer and kneel down in front of the rock. It looks solid, a little too solid for my taste. But I have already committed.
"Let's do it!"
Clang.
Clang.
Clang...
I swing the hammer down onto the rock over and over again. Every strike sends a dull jolt up my muscle, and ten minutes later, my arms are already sore, and I'm sweating hard like I'm just doing a workout. As for the stone, it only cracks and shatters into such small pieces in the first ten minutes.
"I guess... this is what you can get... with level 1 strength, huh?"
Each word I say is punctuated by the swings of my arm to that rock, the hammer keeps trying to crack the stone more.
And after about half an hour, the ore finally gives in, and bits of dark powder begin to spill out. Then, I scoop the iron ore powder with a cloth and drop it into my dimensional inventory with my [Storage] skill.
"Phew... one down, and one more to go..."
Next, I turn toward the oak tree.
It isn't very tall, but the trunk looks as tough as an oak really is. But still, I need the log. I change the hammer for the axe, tightening my grip and taking a deep breath.
"One... two..."
Then, I swing the axe into one side of the tree.
Thud.
Thud.
Thud...
Just like earlier, it takes a long time for the tree to make a dent, but I don't want to stop and just keep hitting the same spot of that trunk. My hands begin to give out, and sweat is pouring down my face again like a waterfall.
In the end, I manage to chop halfway through the tree. Then, I move to the opposite side of the trunk and give it a few swings. And after what feels like an eternity, it finally creaks and tips over.
Crash!
"Ughhh..."
I drop the axe and wipe the sweat from my forehead. My back ached, and I slumped down against the stump of the fallen tree.
"This is... really tiring..."
But then, just when I think I can take a breather, something rustles from behind a bush.
"Huh?"
I turn my head toward the sound, and a moment later, something small darts toward me.
"The hell?"
It's a rabbit, but if you think that it's a fluffy creature who innocently munches on carrots, then you're 100% wrong. Its fur is deep red, and its face looks like a predator who finds its prey. The most terrifying part is the long, curved fangs and claws protruding from its mouth and fingers.
Honestly, it's the first time I feel afraid and panic, and I can feel my heart beating so fast. With a gulp, I use my [Appraisal] skill to check what kind of animal that is.
Blood Rabbit
Race: Monster
Level 10
HP: 100/100
MP: 0/0
Strength: 100
Durability: 100
Speed: 100
Agility: 100
"You've gotta be kidding me! A level 10 monster?"
The Blood Rabbit launches at me with a hiss, aiming for my leg. I jumped back just in time.
"Oi, oi, oi!!!"
It comes at me again. I stumble and barely dodge to the side. I grab my axe with trembling hands and swing it horizontally.
Whiff!
Missed.
The rabbit snarls and lunges again, this time toward my chest. I bring up the axe to block it and manage to send it backwards. Right after it lands on the ground, I pick up my hammer and chuck it at the rabbit in panic, attempting to create an opening.
Thunk!
"Gotcha!"
The hammer hits the ground, missing the target as the rabbit jumps horizontally to avoid it. But because of that distraction, I find a gap and swing my axe at the creature. However, something unexpected happens.
"Holy shit!"
The rabbit suddenly jumps high and fast, aiming right at my face. At that point, I know if I should make my swing work no matter what, or I will be killed instead. So with that, I roar and scream out loud.
"Aaaaaahhhh!!!"
SCHLUNK!
And finally, the rabbit's head flies clean off, and its body falls limp to the ground.
My hands are trembling, the rabbit's blood is splattered all over my arms and face. I collapse onto the forest floor, breathing heavily. I feel like I'm about to throw up, but I feel relieved.
"I did it... I really killed it..."
Then, suddenly...
CHING-CHING!!!
CHING-CHING!!!
CHING-CHING!!!
Three loud sounds like a jackpot noise you'd hear from a slot machine are ringing in my ears, which are followed by two pop-up notification screens in front of my eyes.
"Level Up!"
"HP and MP limits exceeded! Proceed with auto-upgrade..."
"Bonus Skill Obtained!"
"Whoa!"
Yes, I really can't believe what I'm seeing. I never thought that killing a rabbit and almost losing my life in the process would be such major steps forward. I've leveled up, my HP and MP limits are upgraded, and I can get a bonus skill again. With that, I quickly check my status.
Motegi Sekino
Age: 21
Race: Human
Level 2
HP: 50/50
MP: 50/50
Strength: 20
Durability: 20
Speed: 20
Agility: 20
Intelligence: 20
Charisma: 20
Willpower: 20
Perception: 20
Luck: 5
Skills:
[Appraisal]
[Language Comprehension]
[Storage]
[Copier]
[Resistance]
[Hygienics]
[Blacksmithing]
[Carpentry]
BONUS SKILL AVAILABLE, TAP HERE
"I'm level 2 now, huh?"
Honestly, it's way better than staying at level 1. At least my stats aren't that pathetic, right?
Then, I tap the bonus skill button, and then the window changes into the similar horizontal flowcharts of square skill icons like a sideways tech tree.
After clicking one by one, I find a skill that catches my interest.
[Temporary Boost]
Enhance one or all stats for a limited time. Can be used on other people.
"Well, now we're talking!"
That [Temporary Boost] has one adjacent, locked skill beside it that is still dimmed behind those "???" symbols, and I can't deny how much I want it. So without hesitation, I select the skill, and the screen returns to show my stats, which are updated once again.
Motegi Sekino
Age: 21
Race: Human
Level 2
HP: 50/50
MP: 50/50
Strength: 20
Durability: 20
Speed: 20
Agility: 20
Intelligence: 20
Charisma: 20
Willpower: 20
Perception: 20
Luck: 5
Skills:
[Appraisal]
[Language Comprehension]
[Storage]
[Copier]
[Resistance]
[Hygienics]
[Blacksmithing]
[Carpentry]
[Temporary Boost] NEW
"Nice. And now..."
After that, I activate my [Storage] skill to put the oak trunk and Blood Rabbit meat inside. Then, I return to my house.
BACK AT MOTEGI'S RENTED PROPERTY
Arriving there, I quickly go upstairs to my living space on the second floor and take out the oak trunk and iron ore from my dimensional inventory. As for the next part, I decide to test out my new skill.
"Okay, let's see what you can do. "Temporary Boost!""
Because that skill can also be used to enhance only one of my stats, I decide to do it for my strength. After I activate that skill, I feel something powerful inside my body. Then, I check my status to confirm if my stats have changed.
Motegi Sekino
Age: 21
Race: Human
Level 2
HP: 50/50
MP: 50/50
Strength: ∞
Durability: 20
Speed: 20
Agility: 20
Intelligence: 20
Charisma: 20
Willpower: 20
Perception: 20
Luck: 5
Skills:
[Appraisal]
[Language Comprehension]
[Storage]
[Copier]
[Resistance]
[Hygienics]
[Blacksmithing]
[Carpentry]
[Temporary Boost] ACTIVE
"You've gotta be kidding me? Infinite strength?"
Honestly, I'm speechless when I see that "∞" symbol beside my strength stat. So the only thing I can do is testing that out, as well as giving my [Blacksmithing] and [Carpentry] skills a try.
"Okay, let's do this!"
I start with collecting timber from that oak. Gripping my axe tightly, I swing it down to the thick trunk laid on the floor.
CRACK!
BOOM!!!
"Whoa, whoa!"
The trunk splits easily like butter, but at the same moment, the floor trembles slightly beneath my feet and the wall rumbles like an earthquake.
"Is this... how infinite strength feels?"
I'm shocked by the force of my swing, it's so strong and makes me freeze in disbelief.
"Okay, okay, calm down. Gotta be careful next time..."
With that, I don't swing my axe and gently cut the remaining trunk sections instead. This time, I manage to slice each piece without causing another horror. But then, I notice something glistening from a crevice of the trunk.
"Hmm? What is this?"
Curiously, I decide to check it with my [Appraisal] skill to find out if that's what I think it is.
[Oak Resin]
Can be used as finishing materials.
"As I thought."
Yup, it can be used for varnish, so I just quickly grab a cloth and hold it under the drip until it's fully collected. Then, I put it aside and continue to collect the timber.
After that, I toss all the collected oak bark into the kitchen's stove. Then, I take a timber, chop it into smaller pieces, and burn them over the flame to make charcoal.
Next up, I activate my [Storage] skill to put all the collected timber and resin inside my dimensional inventory, leaving only one piece of timber and a small drip of resin, which I duplicate using my [Copier] into many. I also take out some wool I bought on the way back home and do the same.
"Alright, now the real deal."
With the duplicated timber, resin, and wool in front of me, I bring my hands above them, and with my assumption that this will work the same as [Hygienics], I imagine what I want to make.
"Here we go, [Carpentry]."
In a blink of an eye, the timber reshapes and transforms, replaced by a massive Alaskan king bed big enough for five people, a comfy and plush sofa, polished chairs and tables, water buckets for bathing, and polished cutlery like plates, bowls, mugs, spoons, forks, and ladles.
"Haha! It works!"
I'm amazed because once again, I only need imagination to make something, just like the [Hygienics]. Then with my enhanced strength still active, I lift the bed like it weighs nothing and carry it up to the bedroom, along with a small table. I also place the sofa in the living room, then put the chairs and dining table right in front of the kitchen.
"Next up, the iron ore."
With that, I take the charcoal and duplicate it together with the ore, and save the extras in my dimensional storage. I also place a tiny piece of timber beside them and place my hands above them.
"Let's do this. [Blacksmithing]."
Within a second, the materials transform into everything I imagined — a cast-iron skillet and pot, and steel kitchen knives.
"Well, well, this is just amazing, isn't it?"
With those new utensils, I prepare dinner using the Blood Rabbit meat earlier. I toss the meat into the pot with some spices and vegetables for a simple stew. I also make some quick flatbread, leaving the thin dough on the skillet until cooked.
Finally, I set the dishes onto my new dining table and take a seat. I tear a piece of flatbread, scoop up the stew, and take a bite.
"Mmm... delicious!!"
The meat is tender, the seasonings are just on point, and the crispy flatbread complements the stew. This is the first time I've made a dinner in this world, and it just feels amazing.
Back in Japan, I frequently cooked bento to save money. But when I felt lazy, I just went with store-bought meals instead.
"Still haven't lost my touch, huh?"
After dinner and washing the dishes, I fill my new bucket with water, and then I clean up my body with a towel and my handmade soap. I also brush my teeth with twigs and my handmade toothpaste.
Once my body is dried up, I throw my body on my new bed. The plush mattress immediately softens my tired muscles and puts my mind at ease. Today is a tiring day indeed, and resting on my own handiwork feels like a complete payoff.
"Haahh... this feels so good..."
Then, I turn off the lantern and close my eyes for the most satisfying sleep ever.