Chapter 45: Into the Real Forest
Three weeks had already passed since we entered the gate with my family and Seon-woo. They had all reached level 30, while I hit level 41. I'd mastered Hertian swordsmanship completely and even picked up archery. And the big one: job changes.
Father chose Wind Swordsman, Mother went with Earth's Shield, Si-yeon became Water's Friend, and Seon-woo got Long-Range Striker. These were a step above the usual "elite" jobs you see at level 30. So far, everyone had hit their goals.
"I think we should take a break now," Si-yeon said, sounding exhausted.
She wasn't wrong—we'd been grinding hard. Hitting level 40 in five weeks was no joke. We had orc warriors to farm mobs with and Hoya watching our backs, which let us pull off that insane level 30 in three weeks. But even in games, power-leveling needs downtime. Nobody grinds nonstop forever. So I nodded at Si-yeon's suggestion.
She and Seon-woo looked beat, but my parents? Weirdly fresh.
"Mom, Dad—you guys okay?"
"Huh? I'm having fun," Mom said.
"I'm good. Feels like when we used to game as kids."
Made sense for them. Their bodies were buzzing with energy, like they'd rolled back the clock to their youth. Still, a break sounded right. At level 30, they weren't in real danger anyway. Plus, we'd all pumped Intelligence and Spirit past 60 to resist hypnosis.
"Let's rest for a week, then. This place is perfect for it."
"Ugh, second time being a hunter and this place is brutal," Seon-woo groaned.
I turned to him. "Hate it?"
"Nah, love it. But yeah, vote for rest. And picking up life skills while we chill sounds smart."
Life skills during downtime? Solid idea. Mom already had Cooking and Weaving from hanging with the female orcs, helping them spin cloth. Si-yeon hadn't picked up anything there—probably no talent for it. Dad got Farming and Ranching from working with Karak after hunts. Seon-woo snagged Construction right alongside me, from building those log cabins together.
Dad preferred farming over cabins, so Seon-woo and I finished them solo. We had two now: a two-room one for Mom and Si-yeon, and a three-room for Dad, me, and Seon-woo. The orcs were itching for more, so we'd build for them too.
Everyone had their life skills, except Si-yeon. So I handed her something I'd used a ton.
"Hey, you do English?"
Not talking to me—the book title. An English conversation textbook. As a student, she needed practical life skills, right?
"Why? Got a problem? Think about it: get English to level 2, and you can watch Hollywood flicks or dramas without subtitles."
"Ooh, thought that'd hook me? Who you calling dumb?!"
Si-yeon fumed. So I chatted at her—in English, Japanese, Chinese. She couldn't follow, but any modern kid picks up when someone's fluent.
"Whoa, seriously? Skills register it, and I can talk like you?"
"When'd I ever study abroad?"
"Never."
"Jealous yet?"
These days, foreign languages are way more normalized than in my time. Even Korean high schools have native teachers. Si-yeon's school in Gapyeong had an American lady. English is still basically the world language. Master it, and your options explode.
"For real?"
"When have I lied to you?"
"Uh, plenty."
"Fair. But this is legit."
"Fine."
Si-yeon started on English. High schooler or not, something useful beats nothing.
Seon-woo and I brainstormed construction next.
"So, brick houses?"
We could already make bricks—we had. More familiar than logs, too. Our real-world homes were concrete, after all.
"Better long-term, right? Territory's gonna grow."
The female orcs were popping pregnancies left and right. No clue on orc gestation, but faster than humans, for sure. Logs work fine, but bricks are sturdier.
"Let's do it."
Seon-woo grinned. My Construction was level 1, his 2. Why higher? He'd done manual labor gigs back in the day. Friendly system.
We settled on a week of life skills and R&R. Dad and Seon-woo even picked up Fishing—Dad's at level 4, no less.
Three days into family life-skill grinding, I slipped into the forest with Hoya. Just us.
"Hoya, what's this line?"
A new line appeared—one I hadn't seen before. Deeper in from the forest edge.
Hoya pawed it, meowing.
Meow! Meow meow! Nyaang!
"So this is the expert course, huh?"
Hoya nodded, rubbing her head on my leg. Not her usual cute nuzzle—more like marking me with her scent. Cats headbutt to claim territory, spread their smell for comfort and ownership. But this was thorough, protective.
I checked Hoya's status. She'd hit 52. From 47 before—that was nuts. Or...
"My Observation just hit level 4."
Maybe I'd only seen partial info till now. And 52 might be my current cap.
"Hoya, you're higher than 52, right?"
Nyaang?
She eyed me like I was ridiculous. Max-level cat? Possible. She'd lived here decades. The real mystery was why only 47 before.
"Whatever, maxed or not, you're my baby. Right?"
Meow!
She nuzzled my face too.
"Let's cross."
The line hadn't shown at 40 or 41? Entry minimum 41, maybe.
We crossed. And—
"Fall?"
Island was eternal summer. Still was. But here? Autumn. Chilly. That snap from summer to fall chill. Not spring—my senses screamed fall.
"Another world starts here?"
Nyaang.
Hoya nodded.
"Higher-level monsters?"
Meow!
That's why she brought me. Level up here.
Then—a massive bulk lumbered into view. Club my height.
"Troll?"
Observation skill used.
Name: Island Troll (Level 38)
Troll living in the island's forest. The meat is extremely tough and hard to swallow. Nothing gained from consumption. However, troll blood can be used as medicine. Won't die unless the head is destroyed.
Real troll. About 3 meters tall. I nocked my composite bow, aimed for the head. Fired.
Bam!
"First to dodge my arrow!"
Sounded like some chaebol line to a Cinderella heroine. I rapid-fired anyway.
Bam bam! Thunk!
Dodged most, but one hit heart. Troll froze. I drew sword, charged—using Father's Charge skill.
Slash!
I leaped, cleaved the head clean off, burning most mana. Gamble paid off—head separated.
But then—
Thud!
Agony exploded in my back. I hit dirt, rolled up. The decapitated body—one arm had swung. No more attacks. Headless reflex, maybe.
Body stilled. Safe. Then Hoya dipped paw in troll blood, smeared it on my back.
"Whatcha doing?"
Pain vanished.
"Dude, what if it infects?"
Meow!
"Safe?"
System said medicine, so yeah. I hugged Hoya, wiped her paw with my shirt. Some cats love water play; Hoya hates it. Yet she did this for me.
So cute. "But Hoya, I got Heal, y'know?"
Nyaang?
Shocked face. Priceless.