Chapter 36
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 36
Chapter Title: Give and Take
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Early dawn. I got up from my spot and started moving.
It was still pitch black all around.
"Should I take the shortcut?"
Having made up my mind, I dashed quickly along the shortcut and hopped off the cliff.
Splash!
"Wh-what?!"
The loud splash of water jolted Science awake from her sleep, and she turned to stare at me.
Oh right. There were people here.
Park Soyoung, on the other hand, slept soundly without a care, highlighting the stark difference in their personalities.
"Sorry for waking you. Go back to sleep."
As an apology, I offered her an orange, but Science eyed me warily without taking it right away.
"You're not asking me to peel it for you at this hour, are you...?"
"Of course not."
After hesitating for a moment like a cat skipping its food, Science snatched the orange from my hand in one swift motion.
Every time I saw it, I couldn't help but think she was adorable.
"Hey, that look in your eyes right now... I said no."
"Haha, misunderstanding. Total misunderstanding. Get some more rest."
I parted ways with Science and headed to the beach.
Then, pretending it was a jog, I ran along the sandy shore.
Cash: 272,924 won
Cash flow from Science and Park Soyoung was going smoothly.
They both worked hard, providing plenty of food while steadily accumulating 10,000 cash per day.
Thanks to that, with some breathing room, I could focus solely on earning points for the next three days.
Remaining Points: 48
Nine daily quests.
Three main quests.
And the bonus from completing the first quest achievement.
All that added up to a whopping 48 points.
I stroked my chin, lost in thought.
"Hmm. I want to increase the daily quests, but with Science and Park Soyoung working hard, I don't really need to do much myself."
Waking them three times a day was already pushing it.
Increasing the count further wouldn't make sense now.
"Maybe raise the difficulty?"
If I was going to do it, better now. That way, I could earn even one more point.
"But what if it's a dud? What if it's too hard to clear?"
The uncertainty made me hesitate.
I shook my head.
"No. Putting it off will just leave me behind. To seize what I want, sometimes you need boldness."
Park Jimin came to mind. Her audacity in swiping Yoo Hana's cosmetics.
Something I'd never do.
But by doing it, she got exactly what she wanted.
"Sometimes, you need decisive action."
10 points vanished, and a notification popped up before my eyes.
Daily Quest difficulty has been changed.
A new daily quest has been issued.
The quest details completely changed.
I stood rooted to the spot, staring blankly at the new content.
Complete one of the given quests.
📍 Choice 1: Catch 10 or more clams (shellfish)
📍 Choice 2: Secure 600ml or more of drinking water
📍 Choice 3: Make clam soup E-grade or higher
🎁 Reward: 2 points + bonus points based on score
It was familiar content.
Things I'd already cleared once through the main quests.
The difference? Each one now had "or more" attached.
"So, if I want more bonus points, I need to go above and beyond."
Cooking was out since I had no talent for it, leaving Choice 1 or 2 as options.
Of those, Choice 2 was the cheapest and available anytime, making it perfect for me.
"The question is how much water to buy for maximum efficiency."
No way to know without testing. I opened the shop window and bought a 2L bottle of water.
You have completed 'Daily Quest 2'.
2 points awarded.
1 additional point for D-grade achievement bonus.
"One bottle of water nets a 1-point bonus?"
Not bad. Just one bottle for a total of 3 points.
I stashed the bought water in my inventory and purchased two more.
2 additional points for C-grade achievement bonus.
2 bonus points this time. One more than before.
"Then three this round."
3 additional points for B-grade achievement bonus.
1 bottle: 1 point.
2 bottles: 2 points.
3 bottles: 3 points.
"Does it increase by 1 point per additional bottle?"
Based on the results so far, yes.
"What the hell... This is basically buying points with cash?"
Isn't it?
Of course, it was a golden opportunity for me.
Points had always been the issue.
One downside: heavy cash expenditure.
Water cost about 1,000 won each.
To earn 1,000 won, I'd need to sell 10,000 won worth of goods.
That wasn't easy, and overselling could crash the market value for those items.
"Clams are still dirt cheap because of last time."
That was why I wasn't pushing cash farming too hard.
Beyond a point, efficiency dropped.
"Hmm. No need to pour cash into top grades then."
If I aimed for moderate gains, it was highly profitable.
For example:
One bottle (1,000 won) clears the quest for 3 points.
Convert 1 point back to cash, buy another bottle.
Repeat, pocketing 2 points net each time.
Points multiplying automatically.
"Should I just farm 2 points per quest like this?"
Not a bad plan, right?
Lost in that wild idea, I suddenly remembered something.
"Wait. Isn't the settlement overflowing with water?"
Not just overflowing—fresh water poured endlessly from the mountain. Gushing nonstop.
Realizing that... damn, what a sweet deal of a quest.
If I could get containers, I'd be raking in points.
"It'd take time and effort, though. Scooping water diligently."
But a solution hit me.
Have the girls fetch the water, then collect it all later?
"I save cash and time, clear quests, earn points—without lifting a finger!"
Lying back, points flowing in effortlessly.
Excitement surged; I clenched my fist.
This was huge.
Sweeping points like an excavator.
"Of course, too early to be sure."
But I felt certain.
It'd work.
"Alright. Quest method sorted. Now, check top-grade rewards."
Top spots always have special prizes.
Who knew what extras.
Confirming today's quests done, I invested all spare points to max out daily quest slots.
Upgrade successful. Daily quests now available 8 times per day.
Fully prepared, I started calculating.
1 bottle: D-grade.
2: C.
3: B.
"Top is probably A? Or S?"
Ding—a notification appeared.
Grades: F - S
Sure enough, up to S.
So logically, 5 bottles should hit S.
"Here goes."
Bought them with cash.
Quest complete!
You have completed 'Daily Quest 2'.
2 points awarded.
4 additional points for A-grade achievement bonus.
No S-grade.
Miscalculated?
Added one more bottle and completed again.
4 additional points for A-grade achievement bonus.
Still A.
Even at 7, 8, 9 bottles—same result. Stuck at A.
"No way it's judging water taste or completion speed?"
The shop water was top-tier, better than any on the island.
Speed was maxed; instant buy and clear.
"Then what's the issue?"
Tried for 10, but cash balance caught my eye.
Cash: 224,414 won
"Damn."
In just over 10 minutes, burned through 50,000 cash.
20% of my holdings gone in a flash.
Inventory now crammed with 45 2L bottles—90kg worth.
No room for more.
"Drop and pick up again?"
Tried it, but no dice. System didn't budge.
"Too bad. Wanted to know S-grade cutoff and rewards."
Regrettable, but what could I do?
"Someday, with all that settlement water, I'll find out."
"Anyway, 8 daily quests max now. A-grade gives 6 points total."
Daily max from dailies: 48 points.
From 3 to 48—a massive leap.
"No rush anymore. Points and cash flowing steady. If cash dips, convert points."
Now I could spend points elsewhere too. Income was solid.
Remaining Points: 30
I gazed at the remaining points for a moment, then quietly closed the screen.
"Think about unlocks later. No hurry."
I resumed my halted steps.
Striding forward freely.
With points solved, it felt like shaking off sandbags from my ankles.
Body light.
So I could jog the beach properly, mind at ease.
Perfectly relaxed, I ran alone across the deserted island.
Swish swish.
Early morning. Confirming no one ahead, Woojin moved quietly.
His spot wasn't far from where the class kids stayed.
If some bad luck had him spotted, things could get messy.
"Grab my stuff and bolt."
Woojin crept to his hidden cache.
As he reached for his items, he froze.
"This."
There: a 330ml water, hardtack, and a balanced nutrition pack. All unopened, pristine.
"...Park Jimin. Unnecessary meddling."
But contrary to his words, a smile crept across Woojin's face.
He gathered the items and slipped away quietly.
Two hours later.
"Huh?"
Arriving at the same spot, Park Jimin blinked wide-eyed, scanning around.
Pot, matches, work gloves, and the food she'd left for someone—gone.
In their place: ten 2L waters, a bunch of bananas, five oranges on a white shirt.
Wondering if it was a dream, she picked up the fruits. Then spotted writing.
On the pristine shirt, charcoal scrawl:
『Eat it alone - Q-tip』
"Ha."
She laughed.
The handwriting confirmed it: Q-tip.
"...Thought you were dead. Glad you're alive."
"Tch. Making me worry for nothing."
Park Jimin plopped down, peeled a banana, and popped it in her mouth.
Why? Her appetite, gone for days, roared back.
"Delicious. Whoever left it, it's amazing."
Would taste even better eating together...
Nah, no complicated thoughts now. They'll meet again when the time comes.
"When we do, I'll spoil you lots, my Q-tip."
Smiling softly, Park Jimin picked up a nearby charcoal piece and scrawled beneath Woojin's message.
A cute little heart.