The night settles in, and the forest grows quiet. The fire is dying down, leaving only embers and a faint warmth. Donny is curled up beside me, his shell a soft, steady presence.
I'm full. Warm. Content.
And then my stomach reminds me:
[Wright] "Oh no."
It starts as a small pressure. Then grows into a forceful, undeniable need.
[Wright] "Donny…"
He opens one eye, then closes it again. He doesn't understand. He doesn't need to. Because I do.
[Wright] "I need to poop."
Donny tilts his head.
[Wright] "Okay. That's a thing that happens now."
I stand up, shakily.
[Wright] "I'm going to go… into the woods."
Donny stares.
[Wright] "Don't worry. I'll be back."
I walk into the trees, the moonlight guiding me. The forest is peaceful. I find a spot. A small clearing. I dig a hole. And then I sit.
The first moment is relief.
The second moment is realization.
This sucks.
It's not the act itself. It's the process. And the smell.
I look around, embarrassed by the silence. Then my mind flashes to manga.
Every time the characters praised modern comfort, it was always—
Heated toilet seats.
Bidets.
Quiet flush.
Clean water.
I stare at the hole.
I need a better toilet.
I finish, cover the hole, and head back to Donny. He's still there, as if he never left.
[Wright] "Donny."
He blinks.
[Wright] "We need to build a home."
Donny chuffs softly, like he understands.
I sit down beside him.
[Wright] "Look, I don't want to live like an animal. No offense. But I want… comfort."
Donny makes a soft sound, almost like approval.
[Wright] "You agree too, right? We need water. Food. And a safe, comfortable shelter to really unwind."
He stands up and starts walking. I follow. Donny is very smart and seems to know what's around here.
We move deeper into the forest, searching for a river. Along the way, I spot plants and vegetables I've never seen before. I note them in my head like a shopping list.
[Appraisal]
Wild Onion
Strong smell, edible. Good for seasoning and soup.
[Appraisal]
Golden Grapples
Small fruit clusters. Sweet with a hint of honey. Good for jams.
[Appraisal]
Spiceleaf Plant
Leaves contain a peppery flavor. Slightly bitter.
[Appraisal]
Root Tubers
Starchy, dense. Can be cooked or mashed.
I collect small samples, hold out my hand, and think Storage. They instantly vanish into my storage skill.
Nice. I'll try them later and see if they're worth cultivating. One small step toward a civilized life.
Donny follows, occasionally sniffing the plants. After some time, the sound of rushing water reaches us.
[Wright] "Yes. Water! The substance of life. I've been creating water with magic this whole time, but to think there's a natural source this close…"
We arrive at a river. The water is clear, cold, and fast. Perfect.
[Appraisal]
River Water
Water flowing from a nearby spring. Flows into the ocean. Contains several organisms. Not drinkable.
[Wright] "Guess I still need to use magic for drinking water. Hmm. Should I make a filter?"
I scan the area. The ground near the bank is low.
[Wright] "This could flood."
So I decide to build slightly higher, a little farther from the river. I mark the area. Then I get to work.
I stand in the center of the chosen spot and call on my crafting skill. I imagine a cabin, and a blueprint appears in my mind—a hologram of what could be. Required materials and building instruction also appear. Cheat skills sure are convenient.
[Wright] "Alright, let's go!"
I raise my hand and use magic. A gust of wind forms into blades, slicing through branches and trunks. Trees fall cleanly.
The forest grows quieter, stripped of a small patch of trees.
Donny watches with wide eyes.
Sorry, trees. You'll grow back.
I use magic again. The earth shifts. Dirt moves, smoothing the ground. Rocks slide aside. The land rises slightly, forming a flat platform.
The area looks like it was made by a professional builder.
This is satisfying.
I break the fallen trees into logs. My crafting skill shapes them precisely, each one uniform. I stack them neatly, like building blocks.
I place the logs one by one. A wall forms. Then another. Then a roof.
The cabin takes shape quickly—but not too quickly.
It feels real.
Not like magic. Like work.
I settle on a layout:
Living room (front)
Kitchen (left)
Bedroom (back)
Bathroom (right)
I stack logs to form interior walls, shaping doorways with crafting. I carve out a small window. The cabin now looks like a proper house.
Not just a shelter. A home.
Lunch break.
I pull leftover rabbit meat from storage and grill it for a quick meal with Donny.
[Wright] "Alright. Quick lunch. Then we get back to work."
Donny eats happily, chomping away, clearly satisfied.
After lunch, Donny stands and chuffs. He looks at me like he's saying be back in a bit.
[Wright] "Where are you going?"
He's already gone.
Turtles sure are fast.
I shrug and get back to work.
The cabin is finished!
I use crafting to refine the remaining wood into a table, chairs, a kitchen counter, and shelves. Then I switch to Creation Magic.
A bed.
A stove.
A sink.
A refrigerator.
A toilet.
A bathtub.
And then I pause.
Power. Plumbing.
Channeling even more manga knowledge, I step outside and look at the roof. The sun is still warm.
Perfect for solar panels.
I use Creation Magic to create solar panels, a generator, battery storage units, wires, sockets, pipes, drain components, and a septic tank. Everything appears clean and pristine, as if it always belonged here.
Now comes the real work.
I mount the solar panels on the roof, using crafting to secure them with wooden frames and reinforced brackets shaped from leftover timber. I connect them to the battery unit with properly insulated wiring, following the crafting blueprints.
I create a junction box and connect it to both the panels and the generator, then route power into the cabin. I install sockets in every room, threading wires cleanly through the walls.
I even add a breaker switch near the entrance. Safety first.
For water, I place an intake pipe near the river, digging a shallow trench to protect it. I install a purifier and heating unit before routing water into the kitchen and bathroom.
Then comes sewage.
I dig out space to the right of the cabin for a septic tank. I connect the toilet, bath, and sink drains with pipes, adding vents to prevent smells and pressure buildup.
When I'm done, I step back.
It's not just a cabin anymore.
It's a home.
Just as the sun begins to set, Donny returns.
He chuffs softly and walks inside, dropping a bundle of fruits and vegetables onto the table. He sits beside me, eyes bright.
[Wright] "Perfect timing."
I sit and examine the haul.
[Appraisal]
Carrotroot
Crunchy root vegetable with a sweet, earthy flavor. Rich in nutrients. Good for stews or roasting.
[Appraisal]
Sunfall Fruit
Red, crisp fruit with a mild tartness. Juicy and fragrant. Good raw or cooked.
[Appraisal]
Wild Strawberry Plant
Edible berries with high natural sugar content.
[Appraisal]
Citruspear
Thick-rinded fruit with bright, tangy flesh. High in vitamin C. Great for juice or zest.
[Wright] "Nice. These are all worth trying."
Donny chuffs proudly.
[Wright] "Alright. Let's see what we should grow."
We taste everything together.
Wild Onion hits hard—strong and sharp.
[Wright] "Wow. That's intense."
Donny sniffs and chuffs in disgust.
Berry Vine is sweet and tangy.
[Wright] "Oh yeah. That's a winner."
Donny eats one and chuffs happily.
Spiceleaf is peppery and bitter.
[Wright] "Not bad."
Root Tubers are bland raw, but promising.
[Wright] "Perfect staple food."
Carrotroot is sweet and crunchy.
[Wright] "This is good raw."
Sunfall Fruit is crisp and refreshing.
[Wright] "This should be forbidden."
Citruspear is bright and tangy.
[Wright] "Great for juice."
I smile.
[Wright] "Let's grow all of them."
Donny chuffs in agreement.
[Wright] "Tomorrow, we start a garden."
After dinner, I crawl into bed. Donny settles beside it, letting out a soft, contented churr.
I stare at the ceiling.
[Wright] "This is… actually nice."
I close my eyes and fall into a deep sleep.