Settling In: Skills, Squirrels, and Surprise Guests
Others don't know, right? "I just wanted to know where you were staying." Kim Minseo finished her coffee and stood up. Park Jaeyoung was a little taken aback by how quickly she rose. He'd figured she'd at least stick around for dinner since she'd come all this way.
"Why not stay longer?"
"I'll come back next time. That's okay, isn't it?"
Park Jaeyoung nodded after a brief hesitation. His sudden retirement had left him feeling indebted to her.
"Thank you."
Kim Minseo waved at Porri, who was standing on one side with its tail bristled. "See you later, little squirrel."
Whether it was due to the intense presence Kim Minseo gave off, Porri had been on high alert ever since she appeared. Though nowhere near Park Jaeyoung's level, she was still solidly S-rank at her core.
"Then I'm really heading out."
Right after Kim Minseo vanished, Park Jaeyoung smacked his lips. He hadn't exactly hidden that he was in Muinjidae, but he hadn't expected her to show up this soon. His goal of living quietly seemed to have gone a bit off the rails.
Architecture (A)
Allows construction of sturdy buildings. Completed structures gain various buffs.
Just like Cooking, this was a skill he'd picked up by shelling out a fortune for a skillbook. After deciding to retire, Park Jaeyoung had bought and learned a ton of lifestyle skillbooks. Even if he was living in the wild, he wanted comfort.
Activating Architecture and looking around, the ground revealed itself in various colors. Black meant never build there. Red was not recommended for various reasons. Yellow was ambiguous but doable. Green was fine for anything. And blue...
"Huh? It's real."
Right after learning the skill, he'd met one of Korea's top architects. When Park Jaeyoung asked for just one tip, the architect had said:
"Since it's you, Mr. President, I'll let you in on a special secret."
"Once your Architecture hits a certain rank, you'll start seeing blue ground."
"Buy it, no questions asked. Fill valleys, carve mountains—whatever it takes. Demolish anything in the way."
He'd emphasized it multiple times, so this had to be the spot.
Park Jaeyoung approached the blue patch of land. He marked the boundaries with scattered twigs—it was huge. Five hundred pyeong at least. If he wanted, he could build one of those mega-mansion estates like the chaebol chairmen in dramas.
Site secured. Time to hunt materials.
Park Jaeyoung had no intention of using mundane stuff like timber, bricks, rebar, or concrete. He planned to build with gate-sourced materials. Easier to procure right here in Muinjidae than lugging heavy loads around. Gates were everywhere, after all.
"Let's go, Porri."
Shortly after entering the forest with Porri, Park Jaeyoung spotted a gate. He checked the info and smacked his lips again. Orc villages were infamous for lousy loot. Sure enough, all he found were rusty spears, worn glaives, and iron ore.
Not disappointing, though. He planned to clear at least thirty today. Spotting and clearing gates didn't take long.
Orc villages, troll dens, giant springs, ogre woods, ancient mineshafts, and so on.
After clearing his twentieth gate, Park Jaeyoung finally hit paydirt.
◈ Mana-infused tree from the forest. Highly resistant to heat and moisture, with immense strength.
◈ Emits vitality, invigorating the surroundings.
Park Jaeyoung started chopping with his axe. As he worked silently, Porri latched onto one Living Wood tree, claws out, scratching away.
Scritch scritch!
Each pass wore the bark down further. By the time Park Jaeyoung felled them all, Porri's tree was on the verge of toppling.
He spotted the marks and marveled. "Impressive."
Porri perked its ears and scampered up to his shoulder. Park Jaeyoung stroked its head, then swung the axe. One hit, and the nearly severed tree crashed down.
Woodworking (B)
Allows processing of special woods.
Back at the clearing, Park Jaeyoung laid out the Living Wood. For fine work, he invoked his skill. He'd learned over a hundred lifestyle skills from the start.
His stomach growled loudly as he finished. Work was important, but so was eating.
The tent was comfy enough. He'd roughed it in ruined buildings, basements, hillsides, apartment stairs—you name it. Back in the early Great Cataclysm days, they couldn't be picky. Men and women crammed together for sleep; compared to that, a solo tent was paradise.
"Time to eat."
Park Jaeyoung pulled out a hunter-grade instant pork bowl from his pack. Injecting mana after opening the package released a mouthwatering aroma. He scooped a big bite with the included spoon—then Porri tapped his leg.
'Should I try giving it this?'
He reached into his pack and pulled out a single leaf pulsing with a fresh scent.
◈ First intake: +20 mana.
◈ Subsequent: Recovers 2,000 mana.
◈ Tamer emergency herb.
Tamers carried these as emergency herbs, and since Porri handled mana, it should be fine. He offered the Forest Crystal. Porri sniffed, snatched it, nibbled tentatively—then its eyes widened, and it devoured the rest in a frenzy.
As the crystal vanished, a system message appeared.
Empathy (F) acquired.
Existing skill achievements raise Empathy's rank further!
Empathy has risen to C-rank.
A tamer or wyvern knight skill, now his too.
Empathy (C)
Animals understand commands better.
Checking his skill window, the effects matched what he knew. Back to eating—but Porri tugged his pants hard.
"Food first."
Porri tugged again.
"Let me eat."
Porri shook its head and tugged once more. With a sigh, Park Jaeyoung stood. There had to be a reason if it was this insistent.
Shouldering his pack, he followed Porri into the forest. It zipped across, then scaled the mountain. Midway up, under a massive tree, it stopped and mimed digging with its paws.
"Dig here?"
Porri nodded. Park Jaeyoung mana-wrapped his hand and carefully dug. A thick root emerged.
◈ Intake slightly increases mana, with massive recovery.
Park Jaeyoung harvested carefully to avoid damage. Jackpot. This beast was worth at least ten million won. Overkill for a quick hike, but he wasn't hurting for cash anyway.
Chirp chirp!! Porri gestured triumphantly at his waist.
Park Jaeyoung chuckled and petted its head. Porri rubbed against his leg.
"Let's head down. I'll make something tasty later."
He'd planned other dinner fare, but bellflower changed everything. Charcoal-grilled bellflower with pork belly. Pure bliss. Drool-worthy just thinking about it.
But feasting came later. Work first.
With plenty of Living Wood, Park Jaeyoung decided to build Porri a house. He crafted six panels: two for roof, four for walls. One wall got a round door hole.
Finished, he asked, "Porri, like it?"
After all the chirps, he could kinda read it now. This meant yes. Porri's tail swished side to side.
"Sleep here for now. Once my house is done, we'll live together."
Chirp chirp!! Porri nodded, understanding. Park Jaeyoung laid a blanket on the floor to complete it.
"What time is it?"
Phone check: 5:15 PM. Dinner time.
Down at the stream, he prepped the bellflower fast. Slicing a piece of the pale flesh, he popped it in his mouth. Fragrant essence filled him.
Mana increased by 50.
Current mana: 78,500,450
Mana was plentiful, but more never hurt. Gochujang-glazed and grilled? Heavenly.
Back at the table, he mixed marinade: gochujang and powder for spice, sugar and corn syrup for sweet, minced garlic for umami, sesame oil and soy for depth, sesame salt. Tossed in the flattened bellflower to marinate while prepping sides.
"Gonna be delicious, right Porri?"
Onion salad done, he selected fatty pork belly, oiled the grill.
Sizzle!!
The savory fat-and-heat aroma perked Porri's tail.
"Hold on."
Grill hot, he laid on the pork with tongs.
Sizzle!!
Mouthwatering scent spread. He added marinated bellflower to the spare space.
Gulp.
Swallowing hard, Park Jaeyoung tonged a pork piece—
"President!"
A familiar voice. Morning's guest, Kim Minseo, appeared.
Park Jaeyoung stared. No proof, but he was sure now.
"Did you install a Portal Magic Scroll or something?"