episode_0006

Thud!

The burning legs began to break apart slowly, and the massive body lost its direction, plummeting to the ground.

Soon after, a blue flame spread throughout the body.

The blue flame, born from my magic, consumed the flames that were burning from its legs,

and started burning even more fiercely.

The giant Ent, writhing in agony, gradually began to extinguish the flame of life.

I climbed up onto its huge form and, after steadying myself, plunged a sword deeply into its heart area.

Thunk!

Thanks to the weakened body from the flames, the sword easily pierced through.

I stabbed deeper to finish it off perfectly.

In its eyes, the vitality gradually faded away as it completely breathed its last.

Ssshh…

It turned into ashes and disappeared.

The massive body vanished without a trace, leaving behind only a small box.

A small box decorated with a gold frame on a green background.

How much I struggled to obtain this box.

It feels like all the hardships I endured yesterday and today are being rewarded.

Excitedly, I opened the box.

If this were a game, there would have been sparkling effects.

“Well, no such effects appeared. A bit disappointing.”

Instead, inside the box was the accessory I had long desired.

I took out the ring-shaped artifact and slipped it onto my left hand.

———-

≪Grace of Nature≫ 「Epic」

Increases Health and Mana stats by 20%.

If the field is a ‘Forest,’ an additional 10% increase.

———-

Finally, I obtained it.

An efficient accessory that can be obtained early on.

Is the mana stat subtly important?

How frustrating would it be to die in a skirmish without being able to use your ultimate ability?

So, for someone like me with a small vessel for mana cores, this item is extremely necessary.

Now, I can also utilize the mana amplification attribute, expanding the strategies at my disposal.

It’s a very joyous occasion. I feel like dancing in happiness, but since the dungeon is about to close, there’s no time for that.

With a heart full of excitement, I exited the dungeon as if on a leisurely outing.

The exit was formed in the same manner as the portal that had disappeared at the entrance, so I quickly arrived.

“Hehe…”

The joy of obtaining the artifact, returning to the academy to deal with monsters, and thinking about selling the loot inadvertently made me start making strange laughing sounds. Though almost expressionless.

Working when it’s time to work and enjoying oneself properly brings vigor to life by allowing one to savor joy.

I lay my tired body on the ground and absentmindedly gazed up at the sky.

“How nice.”

It’s only been two days since the incident with Jung Hak, but I feel good knowing that I’ve grown in various ways.

Many challenges will surely come my way in the future, but if I overcome them like I did yesterday and today, that’ll be enough.

Honestly, I was initially bewildered and incredulous, but now I feel like I’ve gained some confidence.

“I’ve even developed new skills today.”

And today, I pondered many things until clearing the dungeon.

Since I’m in a world within a game, shouldn’t I live as I please?

Specific goals are better.

I plan to escape from the misguided path of my family and heal at the academy.

Although the academy is located on an island, it could be considered a small city in reality.

Or should I say a small country.

With a population of just under ten thousand, this place has its own currency and rules, wielding enough influence to be called a microstate.

Since the infrastructure here is well-established, it might not be a bad idea to settle down after graduating from the academy.

So, for now, let’s leave the family, graduate from the academy unscathed, and then see if I can return to Korea where I used to live. That would be the best scenario.

“In the end, it’s all about escaping from the family’s starting point.”

I sprang up and began to pack up my belongings that I had laid out.

But… before I go, what should I do about my clothes?

The clothes I put on in the morning are already tattered and torn in various places.

While the pants are somewhat okay, the top is quite worn out, so

I take out the clothes I stored after taking them off yesterday and roughly dry them with fire magic.

It seems to smell a bit. No, it actually smells quite a lot, but it’s still usable with a rag.

After roughly putting on the rag, I set off to leave the forest.

….

“Hoo.. Hoo..”

Not only is the ground sticky, but carrying heavy luggage is not an easy task.

The increased load compared to before may have increased my stats, but for someone with poor stamina like me, it was still tough.

After a long lunchtime journey, I finally arrived at the gate.

I was planning to rest a bit and then return to the dormitory, but things took a different turn.

Seeing me in a terrible state near the gate, the student council members who were practicing around the gate began to question me.

“2nd-year Bern Flame. What’s with that appearance? You must have been under disciplinary action.”

“I just went out for a while.”

The student council member, wearing a rag and covered in dust, started sighing deeply as he looked at me.

“Bern Flame, the reason for the disciplinary action was probably to reflect quietly in the dormitory.”

“It’s troublesome if you wander around like this.”

He said with force at the end.

Actually, all of his words were true.

I am currently under disciplinary action, and I should have been reflecting quietly in the dormitory.

This was my own doing.

Wandering around the academy while under disciplinary action, even going outside the academy,

it would seem like a challenge to the student council.

Acknowledging my mistake, I lowered my head and offered an apology.

“I’m sorry. This happened solely because of my unilateral actions.”

“If there’s a problem, I’ll accept additional punishment.” I said, shaking my head.

“…Alright then. I’ll let it go this time. But from now on, until the disciplinary action is over, reflect quietly in the dormitory.”

“And uh.. clean up a bit. You smell.” With these words, the student council member left.

Phew. It seems to have ended well.

I’m sorry, but I’ll just wander around for today!

Well then.. I should wash up first.

Let’s quickly return to the dormitory..

….

“Ah, finally feeling refreshed.”

Indeed, the power of modern culture was amazing.

Being able to shower with warm water in a medieval fantasy era!

“Well, it’s magical, after all.”

Well, as long as I’m comfortable, it doesn’t matter if it’s magical or not.

“By the way, shall we organize the items obtained from defeating monsters?”

A pair of Steel Fangs, a 6th-tier material obtained from defeating a Dire Wolf, 5kg of ordinary leather, an 8th-tier material, obtained from defeating Ents, about ten usable twigs.

Hmm.. The Steel Fangs can be used separately, maybe I can sell the leather and twigs.

This should fetch around 50,000 coins?

Considering the lack of valuable items obtained from defeating monsters and the low tiers of the materials, the only valuable item is the Steel Fangs.

I thought I could earn around 100,000 coins, but it’s a big loss.

Still, I did obtain an artifact in the end.

On my left hand, specifically my index finger, an artifact obtained from defeating a Giant Ent was placed.

A ring with a harmonious pattern of golden on a deep green background, the grace of nature nestled on my index finger.

One of the works created by the eccentric elf blacksmith Gerald, rumored to be one of the quirkiest among the elves living under the World Tree.

However, this item, known to have been made during Gerald’s apprentice days before becoming a master, is a significant testament to his skill when considering its performance.

In the actual game, you could obtain Gerald’s creations from the mid to late game, and their performance was excellent.

However, due to various penalties and the insane acquisition difficulty befitting a weirdo like him, many simply gave up without even trying.

Yet, thanks to its performance that even chewed up penalties and hardcore acquisition difficulties, those of us who’ve played the game for a long time

often chose not to acquire them on purpose for the sake of fun.

But now is not the time to consider fun.

There are two items obtainable from the mid to late game.

You can get a sword and a staff… I think it would be fine to give these to the protagonist or the surrounding heroines.

Since I’ll probably have escaped the clan by the mid to late game, it wouldn’t hurt to raise the protagonist’s party.

So, the plan is to raise the protagonist’s party adequately and find a way back home.

Even I think it’s a perfect plan.

“Yeah, once I escape from the clan, let’s start by apologizing to Elisha.”

Again, specific goals breathe life into one’s existence.

They provide me with the motivation to act.

So, for the remaining two weeks, let’s focus on training to increase stamina and mana cores.

And sprinkle in some swordsmanship practice here and there.

I realized when I fought with a sword that, although using a sword feels natural to me since I’ve always used one,

my combat sense is severely lacking.

Ultimately, fighting is a battle of skills.

If you fall short in skill, you’re done for.

“In that sense, it’s special training starting tomorrow.”

Two weeks until the disciplinary action is lifted.

I’ll give it my all.

Perhaps when the disciplinary action is lifted, the original story will begin.

In terms of chapters, this marks the beginning of Act 1.

This is truly the beginning now.