Ren sat against the cold stone wall of the cave, breathing slowly.
The bear lay near the entrance, its massive body stretched across the opening like a living barricade. Its breathing was deep and heavy, steady enough to calm Ren's nerves.
Only after confirming that he was truly safe did Ren open the system interface again.
He focused on the Traveler's Craft Full Guide Pack.
"Open."
A soft chime echoed in his mind.
The space before him shimmered, and items appeared one after another, neatly arranged as if laid out by an invisible hand.
Ren's eyes widened.
A basic clay jug, rough and slightly chipped.
A worn leather boot, its sole nearly gone.
A short shovel, rusted but usable.
A cutlass, dull but solid.
Several chunks of raw ores, their surfaces unrefined.
Lumps of sticky clay, still damp.
A basic fire lamp, simple and old-fashioned, clearly designed to burn fuel rather than electricity.
And finally—
A book.
Ren picked it up immediately.
It was plain. No title. No markings.
He opened it.
Blank pages.
"…Empty?"
Confused, Ren set the book aside and reached for the Craft Level 2 Manual he had purchased earlier.
The moment his fingers touched it—
Pain exploded behind his eyes.
Knowledge surged into his mind.
Blueprints. Measurements. Tool usage. Structural balance. Survival construction. Defensive layouts.
Rope traps. Net traps. Rolling stone mechanisms. Warning triggers.
Ren gasped and braced himself against the cave wall.
The system chimed.
Skill Acquired: Craftsmanship (Level 2)
The pain faded as suddenly as it had come.
Ren stared at his hands.
"…So the knowledge comes first."
He looked around the cave with new eyes.
The uneven walls. The ceiling's weight distribution. The natural choke point at the entrance.
This wasn't just a cave.
It was a fortress waiting to be shaped.
Using the basic fire lamp, Ren lit it carefully, the warm orange glow spreading across the chamber for the first time. Shadows danced along the stone walls, revealing details he hadn't noticed before.
He moved deeper into the cave.
That was when he discovered it.
Behind a bend in the rock was a hidden inner chamber, larger than the main space and far more secure. Two paths branched from it.
The first path sloped upward, leading out toward a dense forest jungle.
The second path descended into darkness.
Cold air drifted from it, carrying a pressure that made Ren's instincts scream.
Ren backed away.
"Not now."
Returning to the main chamber, Ren checked on the bear again.
It stirred faintly.
Opening the shop, he purchased two Basic Healing Elixirs.
He drank one himself, feeling warmth stabilize his battered body, then carefully fed the second to the bear. The creature growled softly as its wounds closed faster, though exhaustion still weighed heavily on it.
"Sleep," Ren said quietly.
The pact responded.
The bear lay still near the entrance.
Satisfied, Ren stepped outside.
The river sparkled under the daylight.
He drank deeply, then stepped into the water, washing away dried blood and grime. He swam slowly, carefully, letting the current soothe his aching body.
Afterward, he lay on the riverbank, staring up at the sky.
A day had passed.
He returned to the cave as evening approached.
Using his new knowledge, Ren began lightly cleaning the main chamber—clearing debris, pushing filth aside, creating space. He didn't build much yet.
Just basic shelves, rough markings, and designated storage areas.
Enough for now.
Night fell.
Ren fed the bear another glance, then moved into the inner chamber, choosing to sleep there while the beast guarded the entrance.
Hunger gnawed at him.
"I'll hunt in three days," he muttered. "If I can't… I'll fish."
His eyes closed.
For the first time since arriving in this world, Ren slept with a roof, a guardian, and a plan.