Chapter 27
[Ding!]
[Construction Complete: Farmhouse]
[EXP gained: 15]
[Reward: 60 SP.]
[Construction Complete: Two-Storied Housing]
[EXP gained: 20]
[Reward: 70 SP.]
The notifications swiftly appeared before my vision as I stood in front of the two painstakingly constructed buildings.
[Ding! Congratulations Host, You have ascended: Adept ★★★ → Adept ★★★★]
Stretching my arms slightly in search of comfort, I closed the notification interface.
It seems I have ascended again, though it is definitely taking longer than when I was in the Initiate rank.
The construction of these two buildings took exactly ten days. It was only possible because the materials we used were wood and vines. If we had relied on modern materials such as iron, cement, or even glass, construction would have taken far longer.
Even so, in a world where magic and abilities existed, such structures could surely be built faster and sturdier than on Earth, where such things were nonexistent.
Though if we were to compare these buildings with the storehouse—which had also taken ten days to complete—the simplest explanation would be that we had taken these two projects far more seriously, working with little rest.
In any case, we spent the first two days cutting trees, shaping the wood, separating vines, and carving curves with precise measurements. By the third day, we had successfully completed the storehouse.
Of course, our skills and individual strength played a massive role in making it possible.
Meanwhile, the two-storied housing took seven additional days to finish, being far more complex in structure. As amateurs, it naturally took us longer, though we still managed to complete it.
Both structures had been built in a medieval style with slight touches of modern elements.
"MARFIN! MARFIN! Come inside! Oh my God, the wind is so strong up here!"
Kaira's enthusiastic voice successfully pulled me out of my peaceful thoughts yet again. Without lingering any longer, I made my way inside the two-storied housing.
The room itself was nothing particularly special, merely a little spacious. Two windows stood at an appropriate distance from one another, while the bed had been made using leaves, lash logs, and wood. Surprisingly sturdy on its own.
It surely wouldn't break even if some wild play occurs on the bed deep into the night, haha.
Reminds me of my wife.
In any case, Kaira must have been on the second floor. That girl had immediately claimed the place the moment construction even began.
Using a ladder made of vines, I climbed upward and was greeted by a strong gust of wind. From my position, all I could see at first was Kaira's back.
She looked cute in a way.
Definitely a 10/10 in the future.
"Damn! You were actually right, Kaira. It's strong yet strangely comfortable."
"Right? The more time I spend here, the more I like it. I know it's only been a short time since I met you, but it truly has been a wild ride... building, defending, playing around. If only life could continue like this."
The wind blew a little harder, brushing against our bodies and bringing with it a strangely comforting feeling. Kaira's words caught me slightly off guard.
If only life could continue like this.
I softly repeated those words under my breath, testing them upon my lips while staring at Kaira, my gaze softening.
"You know... you could stay here as long as you want, Kaira. No one will force you to leave."
"That's the part that hurts, Marfin! I know I could stay here, but I can't... I have to reach Valdris Academy if I want to attend it. Do you know how much Valdris Academy can change lives? I'm a born commoner... attending it could change everything. So I truly can't stay, even if I want to."
Valdris Academy...
Right.
They had lives ahead of them.
Little moments like this made me forget that these guys had a life outside my territory.
"You know... you've been mentioning this since the moment you stumbled upon my humble abode. But when exactly does this academy of yours start? Or has it already started while you're stuck here?"
Kaira paused and thought for a few seconds.
"The academy starts at the very beginning of the first month of the year, silly. So we still have a few months, I think. I was heading to the city early to adjust and cope with the environment where I'll be spending the next few years."
"I see... that explains why you're not too worried about it yet."
"Yeah, but I'll have to leave at least a month early if I want to reach the city in time."
"Hmph... Well, I'll help you get out of this forest when the time comes," I reassured gently.
"I know you will! Thanks, Marfin."
It was the first time Kaira and I had shared such a heartfelt conversation without much worry hanging over us.
Though she still remained a suspicious puzzle piece in my eyes, I couldn't deny that her and Aldric's presence somehow brought me comfort.
"Marfin, look!"
I followed the direction of her finger and surprisingly saw Nepoleon trailing closely behind Lunaira while Timber submerged his roots into the ground.
He had been helping me greatly these past few days, so I guessed he hadn't gotten much time to cultivate and might have even used his stored energy to help with construction.
After all, he had yet to evolve into Juvenile rank.
"You know, Marfin? Nepoleon has been strangely affectionate toward Lunaira lately, don't you think?"
"Do I really need to think? It's obvious as the sky. Though considering it's Nepoleon, he hasn't done anything too crazy, so I just let it be."
As I explained my reasoning to Kaira, my gaze drifted toward Lys, who was playing with the goblin.
Speaking of the goblin, he was already running around, sneaking about, and playing tricks on whoever he could for his own amusement.
By the first day, he had already started trying to crawl.
On the second day, he could crawl properly.
By the third and fourth days, he began standing.
By the fifth day, he could stand steadily.
The sixth day was when he started walking, all while making strange noises that none of us understood.
With each passing day, he somehow also started becoming cuter than the goblins of this world.
Then something shocking happened on the seventh and eighth days.
The goblin was learning how to talk.
Seriously, what was this?
Would he truly end up becoming some kind of protagonist?
By the ninth day, he had already begun speaking a few words like an ordinary human child.
Which led me to wonder...
Was he unique, or could all evolved monsters imitate humans?
In any case, his loyalty had only increased throughout these days, now standing at 20%.
Timber and Nepoleon were already maxed out.
And through countless little conversations and affectionate gestures, Lys's loyalty had risen to 90%, while Pride's had climbed to 97%.
I certainly never imagined that one day Pride would become fully loyal to me.
If I looked back at those earlier days and that rejection, it would never have truly occurred to me.
It only showed just how much I had grown over these past few days.
Kaira and I enjoyed the view, exchanging stories and small details about ourselves back and forth. It was the sort of pleasant conversation one never truly grows bored of.
But eventually, we called it a day, and I quietly excused myself from her private space.
134 days remaining.