The Meaning of Skills - 2
-Observation skill used.
Item: Island Vegetable Bibimbap (Lv. 1)
Made from ingredients grown on the island. Extremely delicious.
First consumption: +1 to all stats.
Continuous consumption: +1 to a random stat.
Surprisingly, the bibimbap made mostly from crops grown on the island had turned into an item. And it boasted an incredible spec: +1 to all stats on first consumption.
I figured it was because it was made with the Cooking skill. In other words, anything I created with a production skill could become an item.
It felt like a whole new world had just opened up.
I ate the bibimbap first. It was fantastic. At least on par with the famous bibimbap chain restaurants.
Nyaang?
Hoya gave me a look that said, "Is that tasty?"
"Yeah, it's good. Want some?"
Nyang! Hoya reacted with fierce rejection.
Baekya, on the other hand, scarfed down the bibimbap I offered without hesitation. Maybe because I skipped the gochujang, added just a bit of soy sauce, and used sesame oil for flavor—no resistance there?
Krung. Then he got mad, as if saying, "Why'd you do that to me?"
"If you don't like it, don't eat it."
Baekya started grooming his paws furiously, like he'd lost his appetite.
Clearly not to cats' tastes.
After finishing the bibimbap and getting +1 to all my stats, I leaned against Baekya's belly to digest and picked up a woodworking book.
There were tons of things you could make with woodworking. Furniture to start, then all sorts of tableware, and more.
What interested me most were making wooden swords and bows. Of course, the book didn't cover that. I'd have to learn basic woodworking first, then find separate books and practice making them.
I read intently for a while, but no Woodworking skill appeared.
"Why not?"
Reading a book alone probably wouldn't create the skill. I figured I'd need to actually make something hands-on.
For languages, reading and practicing speech aloud counted as "action," but woodworking was different.
"Need tools for this anyway, so later. Time to level up my Archery skill after a short break. You know, Baekya?"
Krung.
My pets were great at responding.
With that thought, I dozed off briefly.
My Archery skill was currently Lv. 2. It just felt like I could shoot a bit better now.
What would happen if I kept leveling it up?
Seon-woo's Archery was Lv. 3, and the difference was that his was a passive skill.
Even with the same name, his Archery and mine were probably different.
Typically, the difference between passive and active skills? Passives are always on, actives need deliberate activation.
Passives are more convenient, but actives pack more punch.
So at the same Archery Lv. 3, mine would be stronger.
"But don't actives usually need mana or something to activate? It's been activating without that so far... What triggers the active?"
This was crucial. Knowing what it used would let me plan skill usage.
That's when it hit me.
You have comprehended mana.
Mana is now displayed in your status window.
"Whoa!"
I checked my status window. Sure enough, MP—mana—was there.
With my stamina at 35, HP seemed tied to stamina. MP at 210 felt linked to intelligence or spirit. They matched, so hard to say which exactly, but probably spirit—like in most games.
"The status window doesn't show everything about me."
That was today's biggest realization. The status window wasn't complete; I had to figure things out myself.
"Kinda fun discovering it bit by bit. Let's hunt, Baekya!"
Krok!
Baekya loved hunting. Why? Treats after—like churu snacks.
Baekya bolted into the forest at incredible speed, the woods rippling as it swallowed him.
Last time, I hadn't sensed it, but maybe I wasn't at that level yet. Definitely some kind of barrier around that forest.
I tried Observation on the forest, but no info came up. Probably needed higher skill level.
Krrung.
Then Baekya emerged with something in his mouth.
"An orc?"
Baekya had brought a classic monster: pig-nosed, muscled orc.
Name: Island Orc (Lv. 18)
An orc living on the island. Unlike others, lives alone.
Meat is contaminated—inedible. Consumption may cause death. No stat gains from eating.
Lv. 18 orc. I nocked an arrow, focusing my mana into it, and fired.
Shwoong!
Boom!
Krok?
The orc exploded in one shot. I was shocked, and so was Baekya beside me.
Archery level has skyrocketed. Lv. 5.
You have comprehended how to infuse weapons with mana.
Charging (Passive) Lv. 1 skill created.
Three alerts in a row—blissful. Archery jumped straight to Lv. 5, probably from that explosive power.
I'd learned to infuse weapons with mana. Observation explained Charging as a skill to concentrate mana.
So I'd unconsciously used Archery with mana focus and got a huge reward.
"Jackpot."
And a level up. I put the 5 remaining points into spirit (to 25) and intelligence (to 22). MP rose to 250.
As expected, MP tied to spirit. Then intelligence?
"Related to skill power? Or magic? Can I even use magic? Never heard of anyone learning it in a gate..."
No stories like that. But gates held secrets—someone might have it. Still, it'd be rare, or it'd be all over SNS. Plenty of crazy hunters out there.
"Would be nice to be a mage, but no clue how. Reading fantasy novels won't do it. Archery first! Let's go, Baekya!"
I said "go," but only Baekya went.
Krok!
Baekya dove back in. I started charging mana into my crossbow.
Soon, five orcs fled toward me, chased by Baekya. I fired a bolt at each, friendly-like—no fighting needed.
Thud! Thud-thud-thud!
Not full power, so no explosion, but each bolt was devastating—right between the eyes. Instant kills.
Five orcs, one level. Fair enough. I invested 5 points in spirit. MP hit 300.
"This leveling thing is oddly addictive."
Seeing tangible growth hooks you.
"Alright, Lv. 20 today max."
Krok!
Ten hours of hunting got me to Lv. 20. Final stats:
Strength and agility first—I'm a survival-type gate owner.
At Lv. 20, something amazing happened.
You can now select a job.
I already had a job—office worker—but this meant combat class, like in games.
Odd, though. Seon-woo had "Archer" at Lv. 9. Why me at 20?
"Let's see what's available."
Available jobs:
Elite Hunter, Elite Archer.
I'd expected more, but these were Lv. 20 specials—"Elite" prefix made them stronger than Seon-woo's.
But I held off. No clue on future growth or restrictions.
"On hold for now. Time check."
Ten hours left. Time for rest.
Commuting to work is never... fun. If you enjoy it, something's wrong—company's not a playground.
Sure, workaholics or those who prefer office over home might disagree, but that's weird, right? I'm perfectly normal.
Still, like most, I work diligently. Makes time fly, and I'm getting paid.
Today was uneventful—normal for office life. Daily drama means something's off with the company.
After work, I met Seon-woo briefly, asked about jobs. He didn't even know he was an "Archer"—laughed when I told him. He'd leveled archery over time, and it auto-assigned.
I asked about real swords; he said he'd get one.
Today's goal: generate Woodworking skill in the gate. Bought tools on the way home and entered.
Peaceful as ever—no lost animals eyeing me now. Maybe I looked easy when low-level.
Current me? One-shot boars, wolves. Even Lv. 18 orcs—no sweat.
"Time to work."
I dove into the woodworking techniques from the book.