Chapter 5
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 5
Chapter Title: Proficiency
-----------------------------------------------------------------
1.
'Then...'
Yoon Young glanced around.
'No other enemies nearby.'
He steeled himself toward the brown-capped mushroom.
Creeping closer, then—whoosh.
He charged just as the mushroom turned and noticed him.
"Hup!"
He swung the wooden sword with all his might.
Clang!
'Huh?'
But the impact felt all wrong.
It was solid like striking a lump of metal, yet oddly springy—the force of the blow rebounded straight back into his hands.
"Hep!"
His body lurched back from the uncontrollable recoil.
His hands throbbed so badly he could barely hold onto the sword.
"Kiiik."
The King Oyster Mushroom's eyes flashed brightly.
Yoon Young instantly knew he was screwed.
'Gotta run!'
This thing was way out of his league.
Forgetting the humiliation of losing to a mushroom, he cast aside all pride and bolted back the way he'd come.
A quick glance back showed the mushroom chasing him, eyes blazing.
It wasn't faster than him at running, but it was still pretty quick.
'Portal!'
Spotting the portal, Yoon Young hurled himself through it.
[Forest Path 2]
"Phew."
Only here could he finally relax.
'Looks like I need to level up more before I can take on mushrooms.'
He hated to admit it, but he had to.
That mushroom was strong.
The other veggie monsters at least screeched and winced when he hit them hard.
But the King Oyster Mushroom he'd just faced? It didn't even flinch.
Like, "Did you hit me?" level of nonchalance.
With his current strength, every swing was just hurting himself more.
'Guess that means back to grinding fruits.'
Yoon Young muttered from inside the portal.
"What kind of game is this brutal..."
The road ahead was long, but he couldn't despair.
This was a world where effort paid off, at least.
Keep at it, and someday he'd have a warm back and a full belly.
Definitely.
2.
Three days had passed since fleeing from the King Oyster Mushroom and hitting a wall.
"Kiiing..."
A Wild Herb took a barrage of Yoon Young's full swings and collapsed.
"Hoo."
His body was steaming hot, sweat pouring down.
He wiped his brow, savoring the fact that he'd taken down another one.
'Oh! Three of them. Didn't know it could drop three.'
Usually one or two, so he must've gotten lucky this time.
He waved his hand to open his inventory and shoved the Unknown Wild Herbs inside.
[Unknown Wild Herb (11)]
'Okay, that's ten collected.'
Enough to complete the Village Chief's quest.
'Farmed food for today too... time to head back.'
Today's menu: Sweet Potatoes and corn.
Should taste great stir-fried in a pan.
He trudged back to the village, and the sight felt incredibly familiar now.
'This life has become routine.'
Level up, got the hang of things.
Life was definitely easier.
Used to be wrecked after two fruits; now he could handle three.
Not weaklings like Pea Vines, but solid ones—sometimes he'd be full enough to have leftovers.
Could eat more if hungry at night, but for regular rhythms and emergencies, better to stockpile preserved food.
One horrific experience taught him that—seeing preserved food in his inventory felt like having insurance.
'Even if it's just veggies, aim for three full meals a day.'
His body adapted to veggies and one meal a day; hunger wasn't as torturous anymore.
Humans really are creatures of adaptation—he felt it now.
'Cleanliness recovery is a real lifesaver.'
Without it, weakened immunity, infections from dirt and scrapes—he'd have withered away slowly.
Staying intact this long was mostly thanks to Cleanliness recovery.
'Oh, and inventory too.'
Items in inventory don't spoil.
That's why leftovers counted as preserved food.
World still sucked, but gotta be grateful for that.
'Thanks for sticking around, you two.'
Yoon Young headed to the Village Chief's house.
"Welcome to Rubean Village."
"Oh, you. Got those Unknown Wild Herbs?"
[Quest conditions satisfied.]
[Complete the quest?]
Yoon Young replied as if speaking to the Village Chief.
"Of course."
"Excellent! The reward will be deposited into your inventory."
[Lost: Unknown Wild Herb (10)]
[Acquired EXP.]
[Acquired Plain Coin (1).]
'Whoa, even EXP?'
The unexpected bonus lifted his spirits.
'Completing quests gives EXP, huh.'
No idea how much, but worth repeating.
"Thanks for helping the village. The farm boys will be thrilled! But there's still plenty of Wild Herbs out there. If you're up for it, could you hunt more...? Bring 'em anytime for pay."
"Got it."
[Accepted quest.]
[End conversation]
"Farewell, adventurer."
Leaving the Village Chief's house, he opened his inventory.
Pulled out the Plain Coin reward and fiddled with it.
A copper coin stamped with the Plain World logo from the original game.
Identical to the game's.
'Wonder what I use this for?'
First things first, back to Ria's house.
"Ria, I'm home."
After greeting, he opened the keyword window to talk.
[Present]
A new keyword he'd never seen before.
'What's... this?'
Curious, he selected it right away.
[What will you present?]
The popup asked what to present, and only one option: a Plain Coin.
[Presenting Plain Coin (1).]
He held out the coin, and Ria's reaction shifted.
"Mm, nothing worth trading right now."
"Oh."
Yoon Young let out a small exclamation.
'Can trade with NPCs too. Knowledge gained.'
Anyway, time to cook.
Tired of boiling, he'd been braving fire the past few days.
Washed and prepped the sweet potatoes and corn, peeled them, tossed into the pan, and stir-fried.
Sizzle, sizzle...
No oil, so careful not to burn.
'Looks about done.'
Splashed water to douse the fire.
Plated it—looked decent enough.
"Sweet potato corn stir-fry, complete!"
He shouted excitedly with the plate, but it was so pathetic he deflated fast.
Everything around being dolls instead of people was driving him nuts.
—Hey, idiot, quit clowning and eat.
'Wish there was even a grumpy uncle to say that.'
Right then.
[Cooking Proficiency Level Increased]
[Dexterity Stat +1 Level]
"Eh?"
Yoon Young stared at the popup.
'Cooking Proficiency Level? Dexterity Stat up?'
He opened his Status Window to check changes.
Nothing there.
'Doesn't show in Status Window, huh...'
But the effects were clear enough.
Cooking Proficiency up—he'd get better at cooking.
Dexterity up—better at handiwork in general.
'Whoa, this is huge!'
Even just better cooking was great, but the real deal?
Proof of a proficiency system!
'If there's Cooking Proficiency, there must be Swordsmanship or whatever!'
Didn't know why cooking came first, but grinding monsters would eventually level proficiencies, making him stronger beyond stats.
'Yeah, effort doesn't betray.'
Games are great—one unit effort, one unit result.
That's why people get hooked.
Nom nom nom...
Yoon Young ate happily.
Belly pleasantly full, he zoned out.
Sitting idle, his lower half swelled on its own.
"Ha."
He couldn't help a hollow laugh.
'Pavlov's dog?'
The experiment where feeding a dog with a bell made it drool at the bell alone.
Exactly that.
Every meal ended with hugging Ria and mindless sex.
Now, eating alone made it stand up.
'Well, gotta do what ya gotta do.'
He scooped up Ria from outside, stripped her quick.
Plenty of foreplay, then keywords.
"Haht! Hello, adventurer!"
"Yeah, hi."
Inserted as he greeted.
Squeeze, sqqueeze...
Inner ridges pulsed and clenched.
'Ah... Ria's insides are perfect today too...'
Savoring her body deeply, he thrust and came.
"Good as always."
"Haah, haah..."
Smack.
Kissed her cheek gratefully, gathered his clothes.
3.
Another four days passed.
"Where ya goin', where ya goin', where!"
Thwack, thwack, thwack!
"Think you can get away! Die! Die! Die!"
Thwack, thwack, thwack, smack!
"Kiieng...!"
'Okay. That's enough for quest completion.'
Now he could handle Wild Herbs even after four fruits.
No level up, but steady growth.
Yoon Young flexed his arm.
'Muscles filling out a bit?'
All that exertion made his arms feel more developed.
Straight veggie diet, no issues.
Regular life—felt healthier even.
His hypothesis gained ground: 「Monster veggies have all needed nutrients」.
Or just the body's mystery.
'Plus, after proficiency, the wooden sword feels better in hand. Definitely less tiring.'
Yesterday was mystical.
[Swordsmanship Proficiency Level Increased]
[Blunt Weapon Proficiency Level Increased]
[Destructive Power Stat +1 Level]
Swordsmanship and Blunt Weapon Proficiency both popped up.
Destructive Power was bonus.
Not sure why exactly, but probably using the wooden sword like a club built both slowly.
'Maybe time for mushrooms soon.'
After hitting level 3.
'Head back today.'
Quest complete, eat, sex, rest, sleep.
Regular day.
'Two proficiencies up at once hits different. Destructive Power up too...'
Impact felt meatier, somehow.
Something satisfying there.
[Destructive Power Stat Total: Level 2]
Destructive Power up, but not reflected directly in stats.
Dunno why.
Like level 1 + 1 = 2? 2 + 2 = 3 structure?
'Find out next level up.'
Reviewed the day and slept.
4.
Morning, sharp wake-up.
Another day begins.
'Feeling good. Time for more fruit ninja.'
Stretched while opening inventory to check preserved food.
'Always reassuring.'
Stockpiled enough for three days without hunting.
'Could do lunch and dinner soon...'
Stable two meals, then maybe train even if tiring.
'Push a bit more.'
Yoon Young stepped outside.
"Morning, Ria."
"Today a wandering merchant visits the village. Wonder what he's brought?"
"Huh?"
Ria's line changed.
Wandering merchant?