Yu returned to where he had left his axe, pulled it from the soil, and headed toward the forest’s edge again.
His enhanced Strength and Constitution could not function simultaneously, but the ability to alternate between them had completely transformed his logging efficiency.
He spent the following hours repeatedly switching their values.
Whenever he needed to chop quickly, Yu maximized his Strength.
The axe whistled through the air in his hands, sending one Oak Tree after another crashing to the ground.
Whenever his Stamina ran low, he reduced Strength to zero and poured everything into Constitution.
His Stamina recovered rapidly, allowing him to return to work soon afterward.
Repeating this cycle produced astonishing results.
By the time the setting sun painted the horizon orange-red, more than twenty large trees lay fallen behind him.
His Storage had accumulated forty-seven Wooden Planks, along with several additional byproducts.
[Apple (Common) ×4]
[Bark (Common) ×12]
[Resin (Common) ×3]
[Tough Vine (Common) ×5]
[Acorn (Common) ×1]
The final item was a small, round object.
It was brown, with a tiny cap perched on top.
Yu picked up the Acorn, and its information appeared beneath the Eye of Omniscience.
[Acorn (Common)]
[Description: The fruit of an Oak Tree, protected by a hard outer shell.]
[Use: Can be consumed as food after processing to remove its bitterness or planted as a seed.]
“A seed…”
Yu weighed the hard fruit in his palm.
For now, it was practically useless.
He could neither eat it immediately nor exchange it for resources.
He casually slipped it into his pocket and stopped thinking about it.
Yu wiped the sweat from his forehead.
Even with Constitution accelerating his physical recovery, continuous labor had still left him mentally exhausted.
Deciding to rest, he looked back at Marin, who had followed him all day but spent most of it watching from the sidelines.
She had found a relatively flat rock and sat there with her chin resting in both hands, seemingly lost in thought.
Her figure was bathed in the warm glow of the softening sunset.
Her Logging Axe had been carelessly discarded beside her feet.
Yu glanced at the Acorn in his pocket, and a mischievous idea suddenly occurred to him.
He took it out, pressed his thumb against his middle finger, and aimed.
Whoosh!
The small brown projectile struck Marin’s smooth forehead with a light tap.
“Mm!”
Startled out of her daze, Marin instinctively jerked her head back and covered the spot where the Acorn had struck.
It did not hurt much, but it was enough to bring her back to reality.
She blinked at the culprit, looking completely bewildered.
“Aren’t you going to chop any trees?” Yu asked calmly, resting the axe on his shoulder.
“The Wood needed to repair your cabin isn’t going to gather itself.”
“But I just had my nails done!
Look, aren’t they pretty?
Chopping trees will ruin them!”
Her slender fingers were decorated with elaborate, sparkling crystal nails.
Complex patterns had been painted across them, scattering tiny reflections beneath the sunset.
Unfortunately, several had already developed small cracks from her earlier attempt at chopping.
Yu glanced at the extravagant nails, which resembled the legendary “Nine Yin White Bone Claws.”
“They’re okay.”
After delivering that expressionless judgment, he shouldered his axe and headed toward a relatively open stretch of land on the other side of the forest.
He already had enough Wood to repair the cabin.
Before darkness fell, he needed to explore the surroundings and search for other useful resources—especially a reliable source of food.
“Huh?!
What do you mean, ‘they’re okay’?!”
Yu’s indifferent reaction left Marin speechless.
She puffed out her cheeks and grumbled unhappily.
However, when she saw him walking farther away, she quickly jumped off the rock, brushed the dust from her skirt, and hurried after him.
She soon caught up and walked beside him, her earlier irritation seemingly forgotten.
“Where are we going, Yu-kun?” she asked curiously.
Yu did not answer immediately.
He took one of the red Apples dropped while logging and tossed it to Marin.
Then he took another for himself, casually wiped it against his clothes, and bit into it.
The sweet juice temporarily eased his thirst and fatigue.
“We’re checking the surrounding area for other supplies.
We can’t survive on bread for long.”
Yu spoke while chewing and scanning his surroundings.
Under the Eye of Omniscience, labels appeared throughout his vision.
Apples could provide water and a small amount of sugar, but they were nowhere near sufficient as a staple food.
“Okay!”
Marin happily accepted the Apple and began eating as she followed close beside him.
They soon left the forest’s edge and entered a broad, relatively flat area covered in wild grass that reached their knees.
The moment Yu stepped into the region, a new terrain label automatically appeared.
[Lush Grassland]
[Description: A vibrant Grassland with relatively fertile soil and numerous herbaceous plants.]
[Small edible plants and medicinal herbs may be hidden here.
It also serves as a habitat for certain small animals.]
[Warning: Remain cautious of potential dangers concealed within the grass.]
‘So I’ve found a new terrain type.’
Yu slowed down and began examining the area carefully.
With the Eye of Omniscience assisting him, labels and faintly glowing outlines appeared among the previously chaotic grass, identifying valuable plants.
[Dandelion (Common)]
The entire plant can be used medicinally, while the tender leaves are edible and slightly bitter.]
[Use: The leaves can be served cold, added to soup, or dried for tea.]
[The roots can be processed for medicinal use to clear internal heat and promote urination.]
[Wild Leek]
[Description: Resembles a thick green onion shoot and possesses a sharp aroma similar to garlic and chives.]
[Use: The stems and leaves can be eaten as vegetables.]
[Its strong flavor allows it to replace some green onions or garlic as seasoning.]
These were both edible wild vegetables.
However, Yu did not immediately gather them.
He continued searching.
Before long, he discovered another plant whose label carried a faint red warning.
[Stinging Nettle]
[Description: Its leaves and stems are covered with tiny stinging hairs.
Skin contact causes pain, redness, swelling, and itching.]
[Use: Tender shoots become edible after blanching.]
[The tough fibers within the stem’s outer layer can be used to make crude rope.]
[Note: Gloves or Dexterity above 10 are required for safe gathering.]
[Gathering it barehanded with insufficient Dexterity causes minor damage and a persistent pain Debuff.]
“Dexterity above ten…”
Yu glanced at his current Dexterity, which was temporarily set to zero.
With the Cheat Engine, raising it above ten would be effortless.
He continued sweeping his gaze across the Grassland until it settled on a slightly raised mound near the center.
A detailed label appeared beside an inconspicuous opening in the soil.
[Mouse Burrow (Resource Node)]
[Available Gathering Methods]
[Set a trap—Requires the Simple Trap skill or an appropriate tool.
Can capture Field Mice.]
[Excavate—Requires a shovel-type tool or bare hands.
Destroys the Mouse Burrow and may yield Unknown Seeds or Grain.]
[Note: Excavating will permanently destroy this Resource Node.]
“Field Mice…
Meat…”
Yu narrowed his eyes.
Meat could provide far more calories and Satiety than plants.
The information also gave him two possible ways to obtain it.
Imagining a Field Mouse sizzling as it cooked, Yu swallowed unconsciously.
‘But how am I supposed to make a trap?’
He crouched beside the Mouse Burrow and examined it carefully, considering how best to exploit the Resource Node.
Marin’s curious voice came from beside him.
“Yu-kun, what are you looking at?
Is there something special about this mound?”
…