Starting Village
Trait Collector Lv.Max
You are blessed to absorb the essence of the world's principles and techniques. Acquisition probability for traits from all actions is extremely boosted.
◈ Firewood Chopping Lv.2: You've grasped the efficiency of strength usage. Axe-type weapon damage slightly increases when equipped, and base Strength stat is permanently +5.
◈ Throwing Lv.1: You've understood the trajectory of projectiles cutting through the air and the flow of wind. Accuracy rises with throwing weapons, and ranged attack power increases.
◈ Healing Lv.1: You've glimpsed the principles of life and bodily restoration. Natural recovery speed increases, and effects of treatments like bandaging or applying herbs are boosted.
Very satisfying.
Feeling yourself grow was truly… an addictive sensation.
Wasn't there a saying about tomorrow being better than yesterday?
Experiencing it in real time was an absolutely incredible feeling!
Crunch…
Lee Han clenched his fist experimentally. He could definitely feel the surge of stronger power.
And his muscles had bulked up too.
Among his acquired traits, the most satisfying was naturally Healing Lv.1.
In a world where each recovery potion was a rarity, boosted natural recovery speed and amplified treatment effects were nothing short of miraculous for survival rates.
"Heh…"
Lee Han unwittingly broke into a contented smile.
He couldn't contain the grin leaking out.
And then.
Ariel, watching the scene, felt cold sweat trickle down her spine.
'Eek…!'
The man who had been applying herbs to her bare skin suddenly stared piercingly into empty space and started laughing soundlessly!
A man grinning at nothing in the void.
Eyes unfocused.
And that expression as he alternated glances between her torn wounds, licking his lips.
'He's crazy… This guy's a complete psycho…!'
Danger alarms blared wildly in Ariel's mind.
And she instinctively knew not to provoke him.
The moment she upset this madman, that terrifying violence that had smashed goblin heads might turn on her!
Ariel bit her lip hard, forcing a calm expression.
But she couldn't hide her knees trembling under the thin blanket.
Rustle.
The sound reached Lee Han's ears.
He pulled his gaze from the floating status window and looked down at Ariel.
A face drained pale. Pink eyes filled with fear. Slender shoulders quaking.
Only then did Lee Han grasp the objective reality of his situation.
'Ah.'
He couldn't even imagine how it must have looked.
'…Like a total lunatic.'
Feeling awkward, Lee Han let out a dry cough.
"Ahem, ahem!"
Ariel flinched like a startled rabbit at the sound.
Lee Han quickly composed his expression.
"Ah, sorry if I startled you. I was lost in thought and was rude."
He noticed his speech sounded odd even as he spoke, but pushing the concept would break character, so he pressed on.
Ariel blinked in confusion at his sudden shift.
"P-Pardon? Ah… N-No, it's fine…."
"Your wounds seem mostly treated. The herbs are effective, so scabs should form soon."
Lee Han pulled the bedside chair back slightly and asked,
"That said, now that you're feeling better, could I hear what happened?"
"What… happened?"
"Yes. I was checking the forest state on the back mountain when I spotted you being chased and saved you by chance…."
"…."
"I just can't make sense of it. How did you end up chased by a goblin pack?"
Ariel took a deep breath, convincing herself it was a misunderstanding.
'Right. He lives alone, so….'
Maybe long forest solitude had given him habits like muttering to himself or staring into space… A simple, kind hunter?
Forcing that thought, Ariel hesitantly opened her mouth.
"Um… I… Actually, I'm a beginner adventurer who just started."
"A beginner adventurer?"
Lee Han's eyebrow arched slightly.
"This might be rude to say."
"…."
"Frankly, you didn't seem prepared at all for someone just starting out."
Lee Han's gaze flicked to Ariel's torn clothes hanging by the window.
"Even for a newbie, that's… too much. Gear and clothes with zero defense—just thin fabric—and your only weapon was that embarrassingly short dagger."
Something about it clicked with the world's erotic game basis.
Yeah, in eroge, that was standard.
Equipment that shreds on hit, and monsters defiling you, right?
Meanwhile, Ariel's head drooped at his words.
They rang true.
Realizing it brought a surge of misery and sorrow up her throat.
No reason to lie to this kind, polite man.
If anything… she wanted to unburden this heavy load on someone.
"Haa…."
Ariel sighed deeply, lifting reddened eyes to Lee Han.
"No need to hide from my benefactor. Truth is… I have a little sister."
Lee Han nodded quietly, listening.
"She's afflicted with a rare, horrible disease. Without daily herbal brews, even breathing is a struggle…."
Tears she'd held back plopped from Ariel's eyes.
"I had to earn the medicine money. Restaurant jobs or odd chores barely covered a day's dose. So… knowing the danger, I registered at the adventurer guild anyway. It's the fastest way to make money."
"So you formed a party and went in without proper gear?"
Lee Han asked back. Ariel shook her head in a choked voice.
"I knew nothing. The quest I heard about was supposed to be… pretty easy…."
Unable to continue, her shoulders shook.
Lee Han wondered if she had the thick-headed trait and spoke.
"Was this your first quest as an adventurer? Your debut turned into this nightmare?"
At his question, Ariel finally broke, sobbing like a child and nodding.
"Sob… Hic… Y-Yes… Huh…."
Watching her weep pitifully, Lee Han thought again.
Sure enough, she's got the thick-headed trait.
Of course, outwardly he handed her a handkerchief.
"My goodness… Such bad luck. You suffered terribly."
Ariel took it and wiped her tears.
"Th-Thank… you… Sob."
"By the way, about where we are."
Lee Han gestured to the dense forest outside the window, changing the subject.
"Follow this mountain down, and you'll reach a small village. Know it? Name's Lindel."
Ariel's eyes widened mid-sniffle.
"Ah! Yes. It's the village we started from."
"Good. It's close."
"Y-Yes, really…."
"Then, is your sick sister staying there?"
"Yes… At a rundown inn on the village outskirts. I told her sis is fine, but I ended up like this…."
Seeing Ariel sink into despair again irked him a bit.
He had to check the village for limited-time farming or bugged mechanics…
More to do than expected. Might as well bundle it all.
With that thought, Lee Han brought it up.
"Don't worry. I'm heading down early tomorrow to sell firewood anyway."
"Ah…!"
"Your sister must be anxious with family not returning. How about I stop by the village and deliver a letter for you?"
Ariel was speechless at his words.
Maniac killer? Gore-loving pervert?
No.
This man before her was a ray of light in this beast-infested hell continent—a paladin incarnate!
"Sob… Waaah…!"
Ariel buried her face in the blanket and burst into sobs.
'Ugh, damn it.'
Lee Han grimaced inwardly but didn't show it.
"Really… Thank you so much… I'll repay this grace even if it takes my lifetime…."
Ariel bowed repeatedly, face a mess of tears and snot.
Lee Han wrapped up to end the talk.
"Since I'll visit, could you tell me your sister's name?"
"Yes… My sister's name is… Seria."
Ariel answered with a sniffle.
"Seria. Seria…."
Lee Han froze for a moment.
'Seria.'
A familiar name.
Seria was… the heroine's default nickname!
'So this Ariel is the heroine's sister?'
He'd planned to just test extractable stuff and tell her to head back on her own.
His responsibility ended there.
Ariel sounded like an extra he'd never heard of.
No events tied to her, right?
But this changed everything.
Linking with her meant naturally linking with the heroine.
That meant tons of event triggers—and tons of traits!
Lee Han's eyes began to gleam.
'That look again… Does hearing about my sick sister…?'
Seeing the sudden shine, Ariel flinched once more.