Chapter 18: This is It!
Seeds can fly in on the wind and sprout from the ground. That's common knowledge. Of course, I knew the odds weren't great, but I'd heard stories of it happening.
"Still, this is..."
The crop right in front of me was one I knew well. I just hadn't planted it myself.
"No matter how I look at it, that's a pineapple. Who knew it didn't grow on trees."
The pineapple in my view looked nearly ripe. After staring at it for a good while, a notification popped up.
Name: Wild Pineapple
A pineapple growing wild on the island. Its sweet, delicious flesh smooths the skin and suppresses acne.
"Looks like my hunch was right—not everything here boosts stats. Anyway, Si-yeon and Mom are gonna love this. Right? If something good for guys shows up, something good for girls has to balance it out."
I dug through the books I'd bought, hunting for info on pineapples. Luckily, I found it.
"Doesn't grow on trees, huh."
I'd always pictured pineapples as tree fruit because of their shape. Turns out, it's more like a houseplant—surprisingly easy to grow indoors. Tricky, but doable.
"Propagate from suckers, got it. Shouldn't be too hard. With this weather, it'll thrive. And it's a multiple fruit, fused from a bunch of flowers? News to me. I've eaten plenty in my life... but seeing this pineapple makes me crave pizza again?"
Nyaaang!
Hoya shot me a look like I was utterly repulsive.
"You sure you're a cat? Hating pineapple pizza that much?"
Personally, I love pineapple pizza. The ripe fruit tastes even sweeter, and it hits the spot. I get that not everyone agrees—the world is big, tastes vary, respect that.
"Like how I hate mint chocolate."
Some people adore mint chocolate. An old junior once raved about it and made me try some. I didn't talk to him for a while after. But hey, his taste. I respect it. I just won't eat it.
"And pineapple with sweet-and-sour sauce? Killer combo. Alright, cooking time today!"
I started building an oven. Plenty of mud and good clay around made bricks easy. I'd researched it online during work breaks. I'd been planning to ditch the tent life for a brick house anyway.
"Bricks first. Baekya, want a snack?"
Grrrowl!
Baekya charged over, rubbing his face against me.
"Help your bro first, okay?"
Grrrowl?
Baekya looked confused, but I knew he got it.
"Got something special for you."
I'd bought wheels outside and built a cart to mount them on. Picked it up from online tutorials. Wood counted as woodworking, so my skill kicked in—nailed a proper tiger cart. Strapped it to Baekya's back and shoulders for easy pulling.
"Follow me."
Grrrowl!
"Half snack now, work first?"
Grrraaawrl!
"'Cause I'm your big bro. World's a harsh place out there—tigers get skinned by sneaky folks. Listen to bro, yeah?"
Chomp chomp chomp, grrrowl!
Doubt anyone outside could skin a tiger like Baekya, but gotta train him right. He's mine now.
"Just wanted to grow pineapples to eat, and now I'm baking bricks and planning an oven? Why's that, Hoya?"
Nyaaang.
Hoya rolled over with a lazy meow. I love that about her. Cats don't mean to be cute, but their antics soothe the soul. Especially petting that fluffy fur—stress melts away. Hoya's coat isn't ordinary; it's got this oily smoothness. American Curl trait keeps it tangle-free despite the long fur. Tangles mean she's sick. That's how I caught her bladder infection early.
"Hoya, you getting cocky with your old man lately? Or have you always? Yeah, kinda."
Gate life means lots of muttering. To outsiders, it's solo talk. Really, it's chatting with Hoya and Baekya. In our languages.
"Less boring this way."
I framed brick molds with wood, shaped clay hauled by Baekya's cart, then fired them in a small kiln. My Dexterity hit a wild 13. Damn useful stat.
Bake bricks, train swordplay in between, more bricks, tend crops, repeat. Finally finished the oven after about 40 hours in the gate.
"Ten hours left? Go to work tomorrow, then weekend at parents', crash here straight after, Hoya."
Nyaang nyaang.
Hoya might prefer the gate now. She's near-absolute power here. Still my kid, though.
"Alright, time for the star: pineapple pizza and sweet-and-sour pork. Hmm... Baekya, fetch a wild boar."
Grrrowl!
Baekya bolted into the woods at my words.
"It worked?"
Didn't think he'd actually hunt on command. But he dove in like no big deal. Soon, he dragged back a smaller island boar—not fully grown, like last time.
"Cooking time."
Dough first, then pizza fixings from the cooler. I'd stocked peppers and such ahead, planning this.
"Never made pizza before, but it feels easy now?"
Cooking skill at level 4. Bonuses from boiling and frying eggs, daily practice piling XP. Gate actions seem to give more XP than outside. Owner perk? Or gate thing? Test when someone's over.
Shoved pizza in the oven, minded the fire, then butchered the boar. Had a proper knife ready. Followed Village Head's lessons, and a notification hit.
Butchery (Active) Level 1
Butchery as a skill right off. Gate's special for me, no doubt. Smoother cuts now.
Passed guts to Baekya—he scarfed them happily. Thought Hoya wasn't an offal cat... but they both dig in.
"You're full of surprises."
No kibble here, so yeah, Hoya survived on stuff like this. Kinda bittersweet.
"Eating too well, huh?"
Delicacy for carnivores? Heard prey guts are a treat. Funny: tamed Baekya still fears Hoya, eats her leftovers. Briefly pitied his size, but Hoya vs. me? Nah, I get it.
"Hoya, Dad's got you."
Nyaaang?
What bullshit face.
"Don't give Dad that look."
Nyaang!
Nyaung nyaung nyaung.
Hoya replied, then back to guts. Meanwhile, I sliced tenderloin, battered, and fried sweet-and-sour pork.
"Can't resist sweet-and-sour."
Sauce on one side, frying—snagged a piece. Crispy crunch perfection.
"Nailed this cooking skill. Heh."
Most satisfying skill. Goes straight in my mouth. Made just my share, iced the rest for parents' trip. Gotta treat family.
Oven wafted heavenly scents. Pizza nearly done. Instinct timed the pull perfectly.
"See? Pineapple's perfect on pizza!"
Nyaang!
Thwack! Hoya's paw punch.
Full force would've flattened me like dough. Lucky she loves me—gentle... but ow.
"It hurts!"
Tear welled up. Hoya climbed me, licked my cheek. Means it was an accident, but she hates pineapple pizza for real.
"Hoya, be honest with Dad. You got a human soul in there? When'd you even try it to hate it that bad?!"
Wait, she nibbled my leftovers once. Hated it since? Makes sense—must've had a bad first bite.
"Anyway, respect tastes. Got it?"
Nyaaang.
Hoya rubbed her head against me, full aegyo mode. Switches on whims.
"Little tease."
I scooped her up, rolled around. This is happiness, what else?
"One bite."
Cheese stretched gloriously—tasted amazing pre-bite.
"Whoa. Insane."
Pizza was perfection. Sell this, make bank. Closer look triggered a notification.
◈ Pizza made with pineapple as the main ingredient.
◈ Improves skin to a dewy glow when eaten.
◈ Delicious, but polarizing—extreme hate food for some.
"Whoa, even the system gets it."
System's team hate, apparently. That description. Effect's killer, though.
"Then what about the sweet-and-sour?"