Chapter Four – The Minor Disaster
Is this supposed to be a reward?!
What just happened? Did I complete the quest the wrong way? If so, why did the System consider it a success?! It even granted me a title… one I don't even know what it is.
What should I do! I have no ideas.. and time... is running extremely short.
{ 8:30 }
Huff… huff…
I feel like my brain is about to explode. I know for certain that I must calm down. But talk is cheap.. and my thoughts refuse to be anything but negative.. I don't know the nature of this disaster. Will it be a monster? If so, I don't think it would be something weak like a helpless bird, but what if it's something different… Regardless, it will be bad either way if I'm not prepared.
Will the disaster be a drought? A plague? A famine?… I have no clue. But anxiety has begun to creep into me in a way I haven't felt since I arrived here. Worse yet… it's nighttime. It's truly terrifying...
Fine, there's no escaping what's to come. Come at me... should I lose before I've even lost... welcome to whatever is coming.
{ 9:00 }
{ Ding… Ding… Ding }
{ Minor Disaster – Activating }
{ Disaster Type: Absolute Stasis for a specified duration }
{ Required Survival Duration: 5 Days }
Whataaaaat?!
Five days of "Absolute Stasis"?!
But.. what does this even mean??
No sooner had the shock hit me than strange whispers began to rise from the depths of the far forest.
Bit by bit, the whispers intensified. After a period of terrifying anticipation.. sweat had already settled over every feature of my face.. waiting for a disaster.. is more painful than the disaster itself..
After a while, a distant yellow light appeared. It seemed to pierce through the forest from afar toward me. As it approached, it began to fragment.. then, before me emerged.. hundreds of tiny glowing dots… swarms of bioluminescent insects, far beyond counting.
The insects advanced toward my area, then scattered and distributed themselves among the trees. Specifically, only within my permitted boundaries. My designated space was glowing in the darkness. For the first time since my arrival, I could see my territory at night..
The insects left no tree untouched; some settled atop every single one.. a red beam.. emerged over all the trees.. a clear sign that the trees were now uncuttable.
Some of those insects that hadn't settled on a tree yet.. headed directly toward me.
I picked up my pace.. I started running toward the empty spots..
But... against dozens of fast, glowing dots.. it was impossible.. and in a flash of time—
A single insect landed lightly on my wrist.. and stuck there like a magnet that couldn't be shaken off, no matter how hard I waved my hand.
Immediately, a rapid notification appeared from the System.
{ The System is completely suspended for 5 days }
{ Buying and Selling are disabled for the same duration }
{ Tree cutting is disabled for the same duration }
Whataaaaat?! What kind of stupidity is this...
Disabling buying and selling?! And tree cutting too..
What kind of disaster is this?! Five days without food or water?!
… Hahaha… Hahahaha… Hahahaha…
Are you kidding me...
If this had happened a while ago, it would have been a literal death sentence.
But now? My profits are massive, and my storage units are filled to the brim.
You stupid System… did you think I wouldn't prepare for something like this?!
I was expecting a disaster that would stop me from cutting trees, but it seems it was worse. Fortunately, I had stored food and water in advance.
In short… this disaster.. is nothing compared to my Exponential Growth capabilities!
With that said.. it's truly scary.. what would have happened if I hadn't accidentally won that property.. It's a "Minor" disaster.. yet its requirements are this difficult for a beginner like me.. It's terrifying..
{ Day 20 }
{ 9:30 PM }
{ Ding… Ding… Ding }
{ The First Minor Disaster — Concluded }
{ Quest: Survive the Disaster — Successfully Completed }
Thank God I was prepared. The quest passed smoothly, but… if there is a minor disaster like this, perhaps a medium one will come later… or a major one… or even something greater. Imagine possessing a massive fortune but being unable to use it for years, until I die of hunger… the mere thought makes my skin crawl.
Anyway, I'll set all these fears aside for now; it's time for sleep.
{ 7:00 AM }
{ Ding… Ding… Ding }
{ Character Unlocked }
{ Launch Base — House Unlocked }
{ Farm Unlocked }
{ Employees Unlocked }
{ Properties Unlocked }
{ Shadow Guide Unlocked }
Yesssssss... this is it.
What a beautiful start to the morning… Hey, Jaʿmoos, come let's eat breakfast, then we start building the kingdom of dreams!
{ 8:00 }
So, where do I start?… Yes, the House. It's time for the venerable Emperor to sleep on a real bed near the fire, to be the center of the village.
{ Integrated House — Price: 100,000 }
{ Purchase }
{ 9:50 }
It seems that choosing to buy an integrated house for a hundred thousand instead of a vacant one for half the price was a good choice. The items inside it would cost over 70,000 in the shop. I saved more than 20,000. A successful choice, Mr. Ali, hahahaha.
Now… it's time for the most important step: Employees.
{ Lumberjack — Level 1 — 100,000 }
{ Farmer — Level 1 — 100,000 }
{ Servant — Level 1 — 100,000 }
I have less than 200,000; I can only afford one..
The Lumberjack? I am currently capable of cutting 10 trees in less than two hours with my new axe. So his matter can be postponed a bit..
The Farmer? His services are linked to the farm, and the farm costs 300,000; I can't afford it now.
The Servant? Their work is primarily linked to the house… and that's what I need now. Someone to prepare food and a bath for me after the exhaustion of cutting trees.
{ Servant — Purchase }
....
....
Where is he…?
{ Ding… Ding… Ding }
{ Property: The Man Whose Past is Known by the Shadows — Activated }
{ Upon owning this property, all summoned servants will be of the race: "Shadows of the Forgotten Moon" }
Haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!
{ Ding… Ding… Ding }
{ Knight of the Full Moon — Summoning in progress }