Into the healing farming game

16th day of spring

The effectiveness of the buff was better than expected. Specifically, the Luck buff was the most beneficial. Level 2 fishing was less noticeable than I had anticipated, but Luck Level 1 influenced both the appearance and quality of treasure chests. From my experience, they appeared more frequently.

I’m unsure about the +1 stamina boost. From the beginning, I never had much trouble with stamina while fishing. By now, I had enough stamina to fish all day.

Perhaps thanks to the Luck buff, I got some good equipment from the treasure chest: a Level 29 longsword and Level 33 chain armor.

Equipment that was originally meant to be made and used by oneself is becoming more accessible through fishing. Resources were first invested in tool upgrades and enchantments rather than equipment production.

Due to the nature of fishing, as the level increases, the value of the treasure chest also gradually improves. Good equipment appeared thanks to both luck and the increasing fishing level. I thought from now on, whenever I have the time, I should visit more often and somehow get Evangeline’s cooking.

As for the buff, I knew it would always be beneficial to me. Just as knowing something in your head and feeling it in your body are different, having experienced it myself, it feels like my body is reminding my brain repeatedly that this ability is useful.

The great thing about buffs is that they allow you to skip steps. If you receive a buff that increases fishing by 2 levels while you’re at Intermediate Level 8, you’ll be able to demonstrate the abilities of Advanced Level 1. You won’t gain the additional abilities you’d choose as a trait, though. Still, you can take advantage of the benefits that come with moving up to the advanced level.

“Should I prepare some fish for Evangeline?”

I decided to treat the occasional cooking from Evangeline as a special meal. Sometimes I eat something delicious, and I receive a buff. I was a little excited when I got the buff, so I promised myself I would come every day. Will that actually happen? I think if I just visited her every day and ate a meal without any shame, all the pain I had suffered so far would disappear.

To get the buff every day and prepare the buff I want, I’ll have to cook for myself. That’s right. Since I don’t know which dish gives what buff, I’ll need to experiment with each one. As I don’t trust my cooking skills, I can only hope that they gradually improve along with my cooking level.

So, I finished fishing for the day, went home, and ended the day like usual.

In My Dream

In my dream, I went shopping for a long time, buying cooking utensils, ingredients, and equipment. I couldn’t buy seeds because they were more expensive than I had expected. Since you never know when a situation like this might arise again, it’s a good idea to save some extra gold. Moreover, since I had used potions, I also had to replenish them, so I didn’t have much gold to spare. I earned 400 gold through fishing, but I spent it quickly.

Light Shining Through the Window

I woke up, frowning slightly at the bright light. I took out the tools and equipment packed in my bag. I wanted to make space by expanding and upgrading the house at the crafting table. But, as always, I didn’t have enough gold.

There are tools, but no gas stove. No problem. If there’s no fire, just make fire. There’s wood and kindling lying around. I went into the yard and instinctively watered my crops, now a familiar task.

I picked a couple of cloves of garlic. Just like in games, there’s a significant difference in effectiveness between purchasing and using it myself. Except for ingredients that are hard to obtain, it’s best to grow or gather them and use them, especially if buffing is the main goal.

I picked up dry twigs, made a small bonfire, and created a space to fit a frying pan. I also brought a couple of pieces of wood from the warehouse. After preparing the fire, I dug a groove, covered it with dry grass, and made a fire using friction.

“It’s easier than I thought.”

Perhaps this survival technique is like logging, or maybe it’s because my physical stats have improved. Whatever the reason, the fire started quickly. I placed the frying pan on top and added oil, throwing in the meat and garlic.

Cooking is simple. Isn’t it enough to just bake the meat and eat it when it’s well cooked? First of all, I don’t know how to cook, so that was the best I could do. I ate well-cooked meat, but unfortunately, there was no buff. Maybe I wasn’t upset because I expected this result.

Dungeon Adventure

After finishing the dishes, I took my longsword and chain armor and headed to the dungeon. My body had somewhat recovered over two days, and I had better equipment. Combat Level 8 provided excellent experience. Today, I moved north, determined to obtain the poison of the Red Sea Spider.

As I entered through the ominous purple portal, I was greeted by the musty smell of the air. The first monsters I encountered on the first floor were zombies, and although they were slow and non-infectious, they were still aggressive. I cut through the rotting bodies easily and advanced toward the lower floors without hesitation.

The goblins on the third floor were fewer in number than before. I rushed in and cut them down quickly. My body seemed to want this, and my mind was screaming that it was possible.

I reached the 10th floor without any injuries. Previously, this was the floor where three direwolves had suddenly appeared.

“Grrr…”

A low growl.

A gray form.

Yellow eyes glowing in the dark.

It was a dire wolf.

There were three of them.

The situation was the same as before.

The battle felt more challenging this time, but I couldn’t let the tension show. Relying on the muscle memory of my body and mind, I gripped my sword tightly.

It was a fight where you had to wear down your opponent bit by bit.

I stayed focused, knowing exactly what actions to take, while calmly watching the wolves. Slowly, they widened the distance between them and began to encircle me. I moved cautiously in one direction to avoid being completely surrounded. If necessary, I knew I would have to break through at one point, ensuring I could keep all the wolves in sight.

The dire wolf on the right moved first. Then, the one in the middle twitched. I immediately knew he would pounce after gauging my next move.

I feigned movement to the right, then quickly shifted my body to the left—a move similar to a feint in soccer or basketball. I might have miscalculated the wolf’s reaction speed, but based on the direction the wolf on the right lunged, mouth open, my trick seemed to have worked.

“Kuhung!”

I cut it down.

I sliced its side without needing much sword movement.

The wolf in the middle lunged at me, baring its teeth. Anticipating a counterattack, I sharply thrust my sword into its path.

Kang!

I didn’t let the power of the impact sway me. A loud crash echoed as the wolf’s teeth clashed with my sword, halting its charge. The force cracked the wolf’s teeth where they made contact. Without letting the clash drag on, I kicked the wolf hard in the face.

I paused the fight and slowly retreated. The scene was gruesome: blood dripping from the wolf’s wounds and anger blazing in its eyes.

The situation was similar to last time.

One of them was bleeding.

I had to ensure I wouldn’t be surrounded.

Gripping my sword with both hands, I waited patiently. This time, two of them rushed at me simultaneously. As they charged, I threw myself to the side, dodging their attack, and cut down one of them with my sword.

Now, two of them were bleeding. Only one remained unscathed. Instead of rushing in, I observed its movements carefully.

Wolves are predictable. The attacks from a four-legged animal are simple.

They jump and bite.

Scratch with their front paws.

Try to crush you with their weight.

There are no other variables. As long as your reaction speed can handle all these attacks, it’s safer and more effective to block and slowly wear them down. My mind knew this well. Though these realizations felt foreign, I accepted them fully, trusting the combat experience that came with being level 8.

The wolf’s expression remained fierce.

Sick and weakened wild animals often become more aggressive. In the wild, showing weakness means being culled.

So, I waited.

There was no need to rush.

The wolf charged, and I stepped back, delivering another slash. The cuts and bleeding began to accumulate.

Slowly, excessive blood loss claimed the lives of these wolves, each standing at around 1.8 meters tall.

One fell.

After a few more thrusts, all three lay motionless on the floor.

The warmth from their bodies lingered as red blood pooled around them. Blood splattered everywhere. I was no exception, but none of the blood was mine.

The distinct, metallic smell stung my nose.

“Whew.”

Not a single drop of my blood was spilled.

The 10th floor.

The battle was over, and I was unscathed.

The difficulty had increased significantly, but it was manageable. Things would get tougher as I descended further, but as long as I didn’t go beyond the 20th floor, I should be fine.

“Be sure to take painkillers,” I reminded myself aloud.

With that promise, I gripped my sword firmly and headed down to the 11th floor. A herd of wild boars awaited me. Surprisingly, they were easier to deal with than the direwolves. Being able to kill them with a single strike was a massive advantage.

On the 12th floor, I encountered goblins.

One fighter, with seven or eight others in tow.

As long as I took down the fighter, the rest didn’t pose much of a threat. Even though I allowed a few long-range attacks, my armor was strong enough to absorb the blows.

It was on the 13th floor that I faced the red sea spider.

It was about one meter in size, slightly smaller than a wolf, with eight legs covered in red fur.

The battle went more smoothly than I expected.

The spider tried to threaten me with its legs, but as I cut them off one by one with my longsword, it began to panic. With its stamina drained, I landed a fatal blow to its head, and the fight was over.

I’m confident I won’t lose in a one-on-one battle.

Laughing, I rummaged through the red sea spider’s corpse. A thorough looting.

I carefully extracted its glowing purple poison sac and placed it into a glass bottle. The UI was incredibly convenient. Even though it was my first time seeing this item, the system made it easy to identify.

I exited the dungeon, climbing the stairs, avoiding as many encounters as possible. Every battle, even on the descent, drained stamina. And I needed to conserve it for the climb back up.

I escaped the dungeon without a single injury. The exhilarating sensation of victory still buzzed through my body. Dopamine and adrenaline coursed through my veins.

It was thrilling and addictive.

I began to understand why people chase after more intense experiences and seek stimulation over and over again.

I walked toward the wizard’s tower to the west. With a light step, I arrived much faster than expected.

The strange tower, covered in mechanical devices, grew larger as it ascended. When I knocked, the door creaked open.

“Come in.”

A voice called from within, the same as when we first met.

The voice of someone whose age was impossible to guess.

I walked slowly into the study, the smell of paper filling the air. Gilbert sat at the far end, staring at me.

“Hello.”

“Did you bring it?” he asked.

“Of course. I have it here in the glass bottle.”

“Hmm. A little disappointing. I was hoping you’d take a different route. If possible, opt for narcotic painkillers.”

“What do you mean?”

“It’s nothing. Sometimes, I let my delusions slip out. A common wizard’s useless imagination. Hand me the vial, I’ll make the painkillers right away.”

“Ah, thank you.”

He was a dangerous person, for sure.

Wizards have a reputation for being a bit unhinged, and Gilbert was no exception.

The wait wasn’t long.

About 10 minutes passed before Gilbert handed me three vials filled with a faintly glowing purple liquid. The system’s UI promptly appeared.

[Red Sea Spider Pain Reliever]

Its only purpose was to suppress pain.

That was all the explanation needed. Whatever it was, the system recognized it as a proper pain reliever, with no side effects.

It was exactly as Gilbert had described.

“Thank you.”

“Yes. I made it because I wanted to. Feel free to come back if you need more. These small requests give me a sense of purpose.”

I bowed my head and left the tower.

Challengingly, I shook the glass bottle in my hand, anticipating tonight’s upcoming promotion at the farm.

Would this painkiller really work?

If not, I’d just have to endure the pain to get promoted.

I’d prefer not to, though.

“Please,” I whispered to myself.

I headed home, silently praying over and over in my mind.