Chapter 42: Checking My Earth Rewards – Item Scan Lv1, Status Lv2, Inventory Lv1, Extra Novel Slot

I have a list of the rewards I received: Earth Item Information Check Lv1, Status Window Lv2, Inventory Lv1, and Novel Entry Spare Space +1.

I skipped the Status Window Lv2 since I'd already checked it out last time. First up, let's examine the Inventory function.

"Angel. How do I open the inventory?"

"Eek! N-no way... You've already unlocked that function? H-how?!"

"There's always a way. So, how do I open it?"

"...You're just gonna gloss over that? Anyway, you use the inventory through sensation... Imagine a blob of cold water floating in the air, and reach your hand into it."

I pictured a blob of cold water hovering in midair, just as she said. Then I thrust my hand into empty space...

Squelch!

"Oh."

"Yes! That's how you use it!"

I picked up a few pebbles lying by the roadside, stored them, and pulled them out a few times to get the hang of the sensation. Definitely a useful feature. With this, I won't have to worry about what to do with the empty glass bottle after taking the 'height growth potion' anymore.

But...

'I hope my guess is wrong... Otherwise, the uses for this would be endless.'

"...Angel. This inventory thing... Does it connect Earth and the worlds inside novels?"

"You mean, if you put a motorcycle from Earth into the inventory and take it with you, can you pull it out in a novel world?"

"Exactly."

"No, not with just the inventory unlocked yet. Think of it as separate 3x3x3m spaces for each world!"

Damn. So it really is like that?

If the inventory worked across all dimensions, there'd be no need for a function that preserves your possessions when traveling between novels and Earth. Who would bother unlocking it? The inventory is a perfect upgrade over that.

'...Too bad. My guess was right...'

I pushed aside my disappointment and moved on to the next function.

This one was easy to use. I just glared intently at the pebble in my hand, willing its info to appear, and a window popped up. It was just a plain, common pebble, so nothing special— I tossed it aside.

It'll be super useful since I'll be wandering ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠fantasy worlds a lot. I can't distinguish magical items, ruins, local animals or plants, or even what's edible from what's not. Should come in handy in other novels too.

"Other novels... Heh heh... Finally!"

Only one function left: Novel Entry Spare Space +1. The one I'm most excited about.

If you ask whether Terraforming helped me at all, I'd say yes, it did... but there weren't many usable opportunities or treasures worth grabbing. Compared to the hardship of knowing the future, the gains weren't that huge.

In typical web novels where you know the future or possess an extra, you monopolize all the opportunities. But Terraforming barely had any—it's more like a brutal survival story where just staying alive is a struggle.

But now, maybe it's my turn for some exclusive opportunities.

I opened the system and activated the Novel Entry screen.

"Huh? It's not auto-registering? 'Empty'..."

The first time, Terraforming was auto-added, so I thought they registered automatically. Guess not. The 'Empty' text is sparkling, like it's prompting me to pick one manually.

"No way... Chanyoung-nim? You've already expanded the Novel Entry slots?!"

"Yeah. I can choose now..."

"Whaaat?! How?! I specifically set it so you could only unlock it after Terraforming progressed a certain amount!"

Baby Angel gawked at me in shock. She could accept me unlocking Inventory so fast, but Novel Entry already? No way.

"Bug! It has to be a bug!"

"...Not a bug. The system AI is smarter than I expected."

"...Ugh, I don't get it. But it can't be a bug... I did QA ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠testing hundreds of times..."

She let out a huge ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠sigh, looking a year older. Still looked like a single-digit kid, though.

"So the second novel isn't fixed like the first?"

"Y-yes... Terraforming was locked as the first one. The environment was perfect for training you..."

"...Ah."

So Terraforming—a novel full of nothing but training, training, training, with zero opportunities—was the starter by design? What the hell...

I debated blaming Baby Angel for a second, but I had to admit Terraforming's world had melted off my fat at an insane rate. No regrets. In a typical web novel packed with nonstop events, I wouldn't have had time to leisurely build stats and train.

Losing nearly 20kg in half a month between Earth and Terraforming? That's headline-worthy.

'Not a totally incomprehensible choice, then.'

Time to pick without hesitation. My next novel.

Ding!

Only three? I scanned eagerly for what I needed most right now.

'Sci-fi! Where's the sci-fi!'

Quantum weapons, photon barriers! ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠All those fresh, creative gadgets from futuristic worlds! Pricey, sure, but registering them in the shop would make me unstoppable.

'Damn... Nothing...'

Sci-fi novels are rare in the web novel market anyway, so I wasn't that hopeful... But no space opera or cyberpunk even in new releases? Disappointing.

Had to check them one by one.

First, Hero and Villain. Superpowers story, as the title suggests. Unique setup, but still heroes vs. villains. Lots of incidents. But no elixirs or special items like in fantasy— no massive power-ups.

Second, White Whale's Footsteps. Straight-up fantasy. No regression, possession, or reincarnation. Protagonist, a native of the fantasy world, joins the 'White Whale' mercenary group and wanders. Refreshingly straightforward, huge popularity for pure fantasy.

Third...

'Wait, Academy in the Game?'

...Why are you here?

Yeah, it's discontinued and popular. But...

'Gender-bender world?...'

A world where women have stronger sex drives than men, and men get confessions from women. That's gender-reversal.

If you ask if I'd enjoy it... Not sure. I dropped it due to discomfort before. But if it becomes reality? Different story.

"Damn, this is messing with my head... Angel, do these lists refresh next time?"

"No? Even after finishing Terraforming and having spare slots, it's the same list! Oh, the three slots stay, so picking one adds a new novel!"

"Got it. Gotta skip one, then."

I ruled out Academy in the Game. Growth first. Sure, I could learn magic, but magic isn't the focus—barely any class descriptions. Mostly heroine conflicts. More romance comedy in an academy setting.

Not ideal for magic learning. Plus... even in a gender-reversal world, this body? Rejection guaranteed. Short, fat, ugly guy chasing women? No chance.

'Might get even more contempt than now...'

Logically, White Whale's Footsteps has the most value. Fantasy world with hidden opportunities and items, plus unlocking fantasy gear in the shop. No world-ending threats or demon kings tomorrow.

"Can just take it easy and let time pass."

Time flies fast in White Whale's Footsteps. Days zip by per chapter. Traveling between villages takes days—obvious.

Huge plus. Hole up training for 3 weeks? Original story only hits episode 5 by then, per my memory.

To be safe, I searched and read the original. Still up despite discontinuation.

'Lucky the author hasn't taken it down? Or does the system only show undeleted novels?'

Checked the others. All still online, like Terraforming.

'System only shows ones not deleted from the net, huh.'

Wish it'd given text files... 'Wait, Heaven has human rights? Copyright too? Then novel worlds are Heaven's fanfic?'

Enough nonsense. Just glad they're available.

I devoured it meticulously, not missing a word.

...My memory was spot on. Perfect fit among these three.

"Alright. This one's it."

I selected White Whale's Footsteps.

Ding!

"First... Gotta confirm the atmosphere matches the original."

I entered the novel without hesitation.