Elixir Harvest and the Blue-Haired Beauty
Having arrived at the valley like that, I blankly stared at Erika, who was stretching languidly after finishing the laundry, her body feeling heavy and sluggish.
Her clothes were soaked from the splashing water, clinging tightly to her body in a way that could fell most men on the spot with its sheer lewdness. Her breasts were too massive to grasp with one hand, her nipples protruding prominently since she wasn't wearing underwear, her waist so slender it could be encircled by a single arm, and below that, hips wide enough to suggest she'd bear children with ease. Coming to my senses after dazedly ogling that explosive figure, I saw her straining to lift the now even heavier wet laundry and immediately stepped forward to hoist it up effortlessly.
"Thank you so much. Without you, I'd have had to make several trips back and forth."
"No big deal. Next time you need to lift something heavy, just tell me. I'll help anytime."
Chatting with Erika on the way back to the village, I steadily built up her affinity. After escorting her all the way to her house, I headed out of the village to search for elixirs.
Having ventured quite a distance from the village, I scoured every nook and cranny, pouring my energy into the hunt, but as expected of elixirs, they weren't easy to find. Just as I was starting to feel mentally drained from the scarcity, a flash of insight struck me.
Possible.
"What? Then why didn't you tell me?"
Because you didn't ask.
"……."
I wanted to argue, but it was spot on, so I just grumbled to myself, fuming alone. Muttering complaints at the unhelpful system, I asked it again.
"Then, are there any elixirs around here?"
None in the immediate area. Proceed about 1km south for Vitum Herb, which boosts stamina stats.
"Tell me about any other herbs nearby too."
Understood.
Following the path marked on the system map, I soon spotted a familiar plant blooming with red flowers and checked its effects via the system.
◈ A herb with red roots that slightly boosts stamina stats (usable up to High rank)
"Nice!"
I'd found nothing in hours of searching, but with the system's help, I unearthed a mid-grade herb in under thirty minutes. I dug up the Vitum right away, brushed off a bit of dirt from the roots, and examined them.
Gazing at the ominous, blood-red roots that seemed to scream they'd send me straight to hell if I ate them, I reminded myself they were all tonics and shoved them into my mouth.
"Urk."
Other novels claimed herbs like this had some exotic flavor, but this was just like chewing raw grass roots—an overwhelming bitterness that dominated my tongue and entire mouth. Suppressing the instinctive urge to vomit, I clamped my lips shut to keep any juice from spilling and forced it all down.
"Ugh... ptooey, ptooey!"
No sense of growing stronger, just that insane bitterness lingering. I was tempted to summon a monster and kill it to pass the time, but for the main heroines waiting after the tutorial, I endured.
"Next?"
Mana Grass is 300m to the west.
At the next spot, I found a flower blooming with blue petals and checked its effects immediately.
◈ A herb with blue roots that slightly boosts mana stats (usable up to High rank)
The Mana Grass roots were a deep blue, reminiscent of sports drinks from the real world, which made them feel oddly familiar. I was about to pop one in my mouth when I remembered my stats had no mana.
In the game, unless you learned to handle mana, eating mana-boosting elixirs would rupture your insides and kill you. So I quickly asked the system.
"Hold on, I have no mana stats. Is it safe to eat this?"
You couldn't without a special ability to handle mana, but you possess Evolved Body, so no issue.
Grateful for my dutiful Evolved Body, I popped the Mana Grass into my mouth. The intense minty blast hit instantly, and I fought back a coughing fit.
"Kuh, kek... kehek!"
I covered my mouth, but the cough escaped, spitting saliva everywhere. Seeing a notification that the efficacy had dropped, I chewed thoroughly, enduring the mint overwhelming my mouth.
"Hoo..."
After swallowing every root, I opened wide to exhale the mint that had conquered my mouth and brain. Finally feeling alive, I slumped to the ground in sage mode, sighing deeply.
This was supposed to be a sex game—did I really need to suffer like this? As doubts crept in, the system pointed to the next elixir spot.
Requiem is 3km northwest.
"Requiem here???"
Yes, it exists here due to the abundant Ma-gyeong energy.
The game Hero of the Fantasy World had several priceless elixirs, one being Requiem—a fruit from vines. It massively boosted strength, far beyond Mana Grass or Vitum, a total steal for early game.
"Guide me."
Heading to the marked spot, I soon reached a thicket of black vines. In the center gleamed a glossy black fruit.
◈ A black-glowing fruit that greatly boosts strength stats, but prevents mana use for 3 days (usable up to Top rank)
The game always slapped debuffs on top-tier elixirs to prevent pure herb-grinding growth, which I already knew. Plucking the fruit, I brought it to my mouth.
I won't need mana until I log out anyway.
Worrying what horrific taste awaited, I bit into the Requiem—only for my fears to vanish as sweet cherry flavor filled my mouth. Savoring the fist-sized fruit slowly, I ate it all.
Strength stat greatly increased.
A power leagues beyond the herbs surged through me instantly with the alert. Dismissing it, I checked my status window.
One top-grade elixir had jumped my strength from Mid— notoriously hard to raise—to Mid-High straight away.
Jackpot! Jackpot!
"Any more elixirs like this around?"
None in the area.
Thrilled by the elixir's insane efficiency, I asked about more, but as expected of top-grade, none nearby. I hunted more herbs, but time had grown late. As I rose to return to the village, I sensed movement nearby. Approaching, I spotted a stunning beauty with blue bobbed hair.
Who's she?
I hadn't seen her at yesterday's festival. Aside from Erika, luck was on my side with another beauty. Excluding Erika, I activated Lustful Eye.
"?!"
Lui, the mischievous cat-faced beauty with blue bobbed hair, had smaller breasts than Erika but even wider hips. Wearing a dress matching her hair, she had hiked up her skirt for some reason. Recalling her preferences and status, I wondered if she was masturbating here. Creeping closer stealthily—
Crack!
"Who's there?"
Normally I'd have dodged the twig, but my Evolved Body snapped it effortlessly. Shit. Ducking into the bushes, she luckily didn't spot me. Glancing around anxiously, she straightened her clothes and headed toward the village.
"Damn it."
A chance to witness outdoor masturbation right before my eyes, ruined by one slip. Sighing in regret, I circled wide to avoid her and made it back to the village.
"You're quite late today."
James, the evening guard I'd met at the gate yesterday, called out. Brushing him off casually, I recalled Lui's face from the forest as I entered.
The village was gathered in the center for communal dinner as always. Smiling at Erika's bright grin, I got my serving and ate Pibha's stew. Circling the village hoping to spot Lui again, I came up empty—probably masturbating at home. Imagining that, I headed back to my house.