The Heart (1)

It had been three days since the iron plate production line stabilized. The factory ran without rest. The copper plate production line I’d built first had already filled one small makeshift warehouse and was halfway through filling a second, and the iron plate warehouse was also well-stocked.

The day after I built the iron plate line, I produced 100 plates and unlocked a new processed product. Now, the foundry could churn out not just copper and iron plates, but long rods as well.

It felt good to see the progress, but putting these materials to practical use was another matter. I couldn't exactly build walls by slapping iron plates together, and the only other option was laying them on the floor, which felt like a waste.

"I guess even in games, you can't really make any special equipment or items in the early stages."

In games, there’s always a phase where you just expand your variety of goods before you start crafting proper equipment. In a game, that phase lasts an hour or two at most, but in reality, it wasn't something that could be resolved in a day or two.

'Compared to the common sense I grew up with, I’m producing things incredibly fast, but compared to a game... it’s definitely slow.'

If someone in the steel industry heard me, they’d probably smack me over the head, but with my gamer mindset, it was frustrating.

Pushing that frustration aside, I opened the small makeshift warehouse.

"Almost there."

I had been hoarding 500 iron rods and 500 copper rods to unlock the next feature in the research system. Once I provided 500 of each, I would be able to build a new facility: the 'Processing Plant.'

The battle with the deer had taught me a lot. Before, I’d just been doing the quests for fun because there was nothing else to do, but once I felt my life was truly at risk, factory development became a means of survival.

There hadn't been any dangerous moments in the two or three days since the deer incident, but I didn't know what might happen if I had the misfortune of running into another accident.

'Even if I don't die, just getting injured would be fatal.'

The research bunker didn't have medical facilities, and there didn't seem to be a hospital nearby, so a bad injury could easily cost me my life.

That was why, for my safety and Eve's, having at least some form of weapon was a priority. That was the Nail Gun.

If it was the nail gun I knew from my common sense, it would be a device that fired nails. I’d seen them on YouTube, and they didn't seem to have much stopping power, but I figured that if it was game-tier equipment, I could at least fend off a deer, even if a bear-sized animal might be a stretch.

"Jaero, the copper rods have all been collected."

I was lost in thought until Eve’s voice snapped me back to reality.

"Ah, finally. Alright then..."

I put 500 copper rods and 500 iron rods into my inventory and opened the research system.

Before reorganizing the production line, I built the Processing Plant in an empty spot. Glowing particles gathered from below, and the facility slowly took shape.

The finished Processing Plant looked far more complex than the crude smelter and foundry. I could even see something that looked like mechanical arms.

"Watching you build things is always fascinating, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Jaero."

Eve’s eyes sparkled as she poked at the newly built plant.

Meanwhile, I opened the production window to see what I could make.

"Screws, springs... and nails?! So I could make nails here all along!"

Nails would serve as materials for other items, but they would also be the ammunition for the nail gun. I had taken a step toward my goal, but unfortunately, I still couldn't craft the nail gun itself.

"To make the nail gun, I have to unlock the 'Assembly Plant,' produce 'Simple Mechanical Parts,' and then use those in an 'Equipment Fabricator'... I've still got a long way to go."

"Jaero, you don't need to rush. I've been scouting the surroundings since that day, and aside from normal wildlife, I haven't seen any crystallized animals."

Eve tried to comfort me.

Of course, there was no reason to go exploring in a panic. But I kept thinking about that horrific-looking deer from a few days ago. I’d managed to deal with it thanks to my unexpected physical prowess, but the anxiety didn't fade easily.

"But what happens if I get attacked or injured by something like that deer again? Won't I start growing crystals on my body too?"

Eve thought for a moment before answering.

"I don't know for certain. In the early days of the disaster, the contagion and lethality were extremely high; mere exposure to the air was enough to infect you, leading to death within hours. However, as time passed, the contagiousness decreased. According to my records, the final stage of the infection required direct contact with the crystals through mucous membranes or blood."

Eve turned her head to look around.

"But judging by the aggressive behavior of that deer—which seemed to have lost its sanity while crystallized, something not found in the records—I shouldn't rely blindly on those files. Fortunately, I haven't seen any more of them while scouting the area for the past few days, but it is true that we must remain cautious."

She spoke with a hint of uncertainty, but it was still better than me, who had been trembling in vague fear. If it weren't for Eve, I wouldn't have even thought about stepping outside.

"The deer was just so shocking that... I think I got anxious without realizing it. Even if the facilities get destroyed again, I can just rebuild them, so I'll take it one step at a time."

I just needed to unlock things one by one through the research system. It wasn't a problem if another animal came and wrecked the equipment; I could just dismantle it and build it again.

Still, just in case, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠I put some of the processed goods, like the copper plates piled up in the warehouse, into my inventory. Even if the facilities were destroyed while I was asleep or distracted, this much would be safe.

I had to handle the overall design and resource management myself, but since everything else was automated, there was almost nothing for me to do. With the production line set up and nothing else to worry about, I headed deep into the forest.

In reality, my daily task was gathering fuel for the generator. To run the facilities, I needed the generator to produce power, and to produce ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠power, I had to feed it wood or grass—though I mostly used wood.

Grass had terrible fuel efficiency, so using wood was better in the long run. I’d never chopped down a tree before, but the axe was so sharp that it was easy, and since I could just put the logs into my inventory, it wasn't difficult at all.

The only downside was that as I easily cleared the trees, I had to go further and further out to find more. The area around the research bunker and the facilities was slowly becoming a barren wasteland.

"Jaero, let's stop here for today. The sun is setting."

At Eve's words, I looked up and saw the sky stained red.

"It's already evening. Alright, Eve, let's head back to the bunker."

I fed all the wood I’d chopped throughout the afternoon into the generator and returned to the bunker. My daily routine after returning was washing up and eating.

There was no hot water, only cold, but after sweating all day, it felt refreshing, so I didn't have many complaints. However, eating energy bars that tasted like dirt every single day was enough to give me depression even if I didn't have any to begin with.

"Eve, you’re surprisingly good at eating these tasteless energy bars."

"I also think they taste bad, but I find them edible if I think about how it's better than having nothing at all."

I had no choice but to eat them since I’d starve otherwise, but I guess I didn't have the same iron-clad mentality as Eve.

"Sigh... Ramen, spicy stir-fried pork, kimchi stew... I'm really craving those today."

"Ramen... stir-fried pork, kimchi stew..."

"Hm? Eve, what was that?"

"Ah, it's nothing."

Eve brushed it off, but had she heard me muttering? It didn't matter if I complained to her. We were in a situation where we couldn't even find a single vegetable or berry, let alone meat, so I couldn't afford to be picky.

I finished a rough meal with Eve and prepared for bed.

It had been about three days since I started living with Eve, and every time it was time to sleep, I felt uncomfortable. There was only one single bed in the bunker, so I’d tried to take turns sleeping or dismantle the bed so we could both sleep on the floor.

"Absolutely not. To deliberately ruin the environment where you can sleep comfortably is something that must never happen. Even if I have to go 24 hours without sleep, you must sleep in the bed, Jaero."

Pushed by Eve’s firm stance, I had no choice but to hog the bed.

'Where on earth does Eve sleep while I'm in bed?'

I’d asked her how she slept and why she didn't sleep until I did, but she never told me, so every time I lay down, it felt like sitting on a bed of needles.

'...Tomorrow, I’ll try to convince Eve to sleep in the bed.'

Thinking that, I closed my eyes. I tried to sleep for a long time, but sleep just wouldn't come. Even when I closed my eyes and counted sheep, my consciousness only became clearer.

How much time had passed while I just lay there with my eyes closed? I heard the sound of the bedroom door opening quietly. It was a movement so faint it was almost imperceptible.

'Hm? Who is it? Ah, is it Eve?'

Eve was the only one who would come into the bedroom. Thinking she might have forgotten something, I didn't bother opening my eyes and pretended to be asleep.

She moved silently, careful not to wake me. Her footsteps, so light I would have missed them if I hadn't been listening closely, drew nearer.

I couldn't tell exactly how close she was with my eyes closed, but the fragrant scent of Eve that I felt at the tip of my nose grew stronger.

As I realized Eve was standing right next to me, my whole body stiffened with tension.

'What is she trying to do?'

I poured all my focus into pretending to be asleep, when I felt a warm sensation on my head.

"Sigh... Jaero."

Eve was suddenly stroking my hair. I almost opened my eyes in surprise at the sudden situation, but I barely managed to hold back.

'Why is Eve stroking my hair?!'

I flinched for a second, but Eve didn't seem to notice. Even as all sorts of guesses flooded my mind, Eve continued to stroke my hair gently, as if she didn't care.

"Jaero, how are you so dignified... If only I could do this for you all the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠time, how wonderful would that be?"

I became even more confused by Eve’s words as she poured out the thoughts she’d been keeping inside, stroking me while thinking I was asleep.

'The usually cold Eve is saying this to me?'

I wondered if she liked me, but as someone whose dating experience equaled my age, I shook my head internally.

'Even on the forums, they said not to mistake a woman showing a little kindness for her liking you.'

Recalling the maxims I’d seen on the internet, I calmed my troubled heart. But the next words she spoke forced me to take a sharp breath.

"Jaero, I love you."

Startled, I opened my eyes wide in shock. As I opened them, I saw Eve’s face looking down at me with an expression of pure adoration.

Our eyes met, and Eve’s eyes began to widen.

"Ja... Jaero? Ah, you weren't asleep yet...? By any chance, did you hear what I just said?"

Eve began to tremble, her eyes wide with panic. Her lips parted as if she were choosing words to excuse herself, but unable to decide what to say, she turned her body away.

Whoosh.

As Eve tried to run away, I instinctively grabbed her arm.

"E, Eve!"

She couldn't escape because I was holding her arm, but she kept her head turned toward the door, avoiding my gaze. I tried to pull her arm to make her look at me, but she didn't budge.

"Eve, that... well, I didn't mean to listen on purpose, but I was trying to sleep and just couldn't. I knew you came into the bedroom, but I thought you were just stopping by, so I pretended to be asleep and..."

Hearing my words, she couldn't contain her embarrassment and tried to leave the room. I grabbed her arms with both hands to stop her.

"Eve! That... what should I say, I didn't hate it! No, I mean, it was nice to hear compliments from a beauty like you!"

The more I tried to make excuses, the more violently Eve struggled to get away. Seeing her ears turning bright red through her flowing hair, it seemed she couldn't handle the shame.

If Eve left like this, it felt like our relationship would reach a point of no return.

"Eve! It was love at first sight! I like you too!"

I shouted it out. At those words, Eve’s struggling stopped as if by magic.

It suddenly became quiet.

I’d been in such a rush that I’d blurted it out without a filter—what if I’d ruined everything? A chill suddenly ran down my spine. What if Eve didn't actually like me and I’d just misunderstood? Or what if she’d meant it in a different way?

All sorts of worries filled my head.

My mind was so chaotic I felt a headache coming on, when suddenly, I felt a warm sensation on my lips.

Chu.

"!!"

Eve had launched a surprise kiss at me.