"Mines, Missions, and Moonlight"
As the sun began to set, Loli was calmly grilling a rabbit for everyone. Although food in the game acted as a buff for players, it also helped restore energy… and more importantly, it was delicious.
In the real world, thanks to vitamin connectors, they didn't need to eat. These devices administered nutrient capsules that covered all bodily needs. But not eating felt unnatural. That's why, inside the game, they could enjoy as much food as they wanted without gaining weight"and it even boosted their stats. It was, without a doubt, paradise.
Meanwhile, Sig was still practicing her magic over and over again. Her smile said it all"she loved casting spells. At the same time, her magical control was improving steadily, though slowly. The focus never dimmed the light in her eyes.
Bert, on the other hand, was drawing a plan in the dirt with a stick, always serious and methodical. Ganfall had arrived with excellent news: the crops were growing faster than expected. Thanks to that, they would soon have ingredients that would further enhance their dishes"and thus, the buffs.
Though Bert's initial plan had been to level up by hunting horned rabbits, the process was slow. They needed to find a demonic beast that granted more experience.
Their synergy with Alfred had also improved noticeably. His speed when hunting rabbits was so efficient that the group was starting to feel confident.
That's when Ganfall approached, his usual calm expression on his face. Though his body in this world looked no older than twenty, he moved with the wisdom and patience of an old soul.
Suddenly, he stopped. He turned his head to the side, and his eyes widened with surprise.
"Hey… is that the girl?" he asked, nodding in a specific direction.
Everyone stopped what they were doing and looked toward where he was pointing.
There stood Lua.
Dressed entirely in red, she walked with elegance through the twilight breeze. She looked like an ethereal figure moving across an invisible battlefield. Her perfectly fitted outfit enhanced her figure with a mix of authority and beauty. She had even slightly changed her hairstyle, adorning one side with a small flower"Sia's idea.
The group stared in disbelief.
Loli's mouth hung open so wide it looked like her jaw might fall off, and her heart felt like it needed just one more beat to explode.
Lua, as always, walked with calm composure. Her serene gaze didn't flinch for even a second at their stunned expressions.
"I have a mission for you," she said bluntly, ignoring the dazed looks as she unfolded an old map. "I want you to find a metal mine. It's time to start crafting tools."
Mission: Village Growth
Type: Exploration and Gathering – Profession Quest Chain
Difficulty: Low
Requirements: Possess the Mineral Mine Map
Description:
With the village beginning to take shape, Lua has identified a key step for future development: obtaining a blacksmith. Using the Mineral Mine Map, locate a nearby metal vein, gather basic materials, and bring them back so Lua can prepare a recipe to unlock the Blacksmith profession.
Objectives:
Use the Mineral Mine Map
Find a nearby mine
Collect at least 5 basic minerals
Deliver the minerals to Lua
Unlock the Blacksmith Profession Recipe
Rewards:
Group EXP: 5,000 points
Unlock: Blacksmith Profession
Recipe: [Blacksmith – Level 1] (Allows crafting of smelting furnace, anvil, and basic tools)
Next Mission: Forging the Future
Type: Profession Support Mission
Chain: Blacksmith
Difficulty: Medium
Description:
The player who accepts the blacksmith profession must gather essential resources to construct their own workspace. There is no prebuilt "workshop""everything must be crafted by hand. With the group's help, they must build a smelting furnace, an anvil, and at least one functional tool to begin production.
Objectives:
Gather:
10 Solid Stones
5 Metal Ingots or Smeltable Minerals
3 Durable Wood Pieces
Craft:
1 Smelting Furnace
1 Basic Anvil
1 Basic Tool (Hammer, Tongs, or other)
Rewards:
Group EXP: 5,000 points
Each member receives: 1 Large Mana Stone
Unlocks the next mission: "Tools for All"
Everyone grew interested immediately. Having a blacksmith wouldn't just improve the village's items"it would also allow them to forge weapons. The horned-spear weapons weren't bad, especially after Lua's upgrades, but they all knew a blacksmith could create something far more powerful.
And the experience rewards were another great incentive. Even if the five of them went together, the two missions would grant 2,000 EXP per person. Sig and Bert, both at level 7, could gain three levels each. Alfred, currently at level 5, would gain at least four. And Ganfall, still at level 2, would jump up five levels.
Even Loli, who needed 2,000 EXP to level up, would gain a level. And unlike the others, her stat gains were significantly higher with each level"making her growth even more impactful.
"Let's do the mission!" Loli said excitedly, already calculating all the benefits in her head.
The others quickly nodded and accepted the quest without hesitation.
Lua handed them the map, trusting them completely. After all… this group had never let her down.
"Alright, let's find a good spot to start a mine," said Loli energetically as they walked beyond the village borders. Beside her, Bert held the Mineral Mine Map carefully, studying every line and detail with full attention.
"I think this point is ideal for a scan," he commented, stopping. The location was at an optimal distance from the village, and according to his calculations, it would serve as the perfect center to maximize the scanning radius. The map had a precise range of twenty meters in all directions"they had to use it wisely.
"Well? What are you waiting for?" asked Sig, tilting her head with interest.
Bert nodded and unrolled the map. The moment he activated it, a magical pulse spread out from beneath their feet, revealing everything beneath the surface"roots, rocks, and most importantly, minerals. The once-blank parchment now displayed intricate drawings. Even their own positions were marked as small blue dots.
"There are some veins here… but they're small and scattered," Bert murmured, evaluating the layout. Extracting them was possible, but the effort wouldn't be worth the yield.
"Then let's keep moving," Loli said without missing a beat, already counting her steps to measure the next search zone before anyone could object.
They advanced at a steady pace. At each stop, Bert reactivated the map, while Alfred meticulously recorded the scan results on a piece of cured leather. His handwriting was clean, precise"almost artistic. His memory was flawless. To Sig, he was an invaluable assistant.
After several minutes, Bert opened the map again… and his eyes widened.
"Wait… I think we've found something," he said, holding back his excitement.
In one corner of the map, a tight cluster of mineral veins appeared. Even more promising, a large formation extended just beyond the scan range. Without wasting time, they rushed toward the edge of the revealed zone, trying to position themselves for a full reading.
Bert activated the map once more, this time with a hint of tension.
And then his expression changed entirely.
"Damn…" he muttered, slowly lowering the parchment.
A massive mineral network unfolded before them"iron, copper, and mana stone veins, all concentrated in one area. But what truly caught their attention weren't just the resources… it was the tunnels. Dozens"hundreds"of underground passages crisscrossed the map. And within them… thousands of red dots.
"Enemies…" Bert confirmed, his voice low but steady.
"But the tunnels are already dug," said Sig with a smile. "That saves us a lot of work."
"We need to tell Lua. Now," Loli declared urgently.
The three of them turned and bolted back toward the village. Alfred, meanwhile, remained exactly where he was"completely calm. He knelt down and began tracing the tunnels by hand onto his leather map, recording every curve and intersection with meticulous care. For him, it was less a task and more a memory game.
…
As night began to fall, the forest buzzed with strange sounds. Edward stood silently in the rear, watching. In front of him, a perfect formation of slimes"exactly three hundred"faced off against an aggressive pack of horned rabbits.
But something was different today.
"They're more violent…" Edward muttered, narrowing his eyes.
Even though each attack still only reduced one point of durability, the rabbits' speed and ferocity had clearly increased. One of them even darted behind him and shot through his gelatinous body, emerging from his chest. Yet his HP remained untouched.
"Focus on one target. Ignore the rest," he ordered mentally.
The slimes responded instantly. Like a unified blob, they swarmed a single rabbit, pinning it down with their collective mass. Then, in a synchronized motion, they all activated Devour. The creature's HP began to drop"10 points per second. Edward approached calmly, holding a makeshift spear tipped with a sharpened horn.
The other rabbits struck from all directions, stabbing and slashing, but Edward didn't flinch. He kept his focus on the trapped target. After several tense seconds...
You have slain: Horned Rabbit under the Moonlight.
EXP Bonus: +200%
Drop Rate: +200%
EXP Gained: 150 Points
You have leveled up.
[STATUS PANEL]
Name: Edward
Level: 4
Race Level: 0
Race: Devourer Slime (Rare Class – Physical Type – Low Tier)
Title: Unstable Form
[STATS]
Health: 160
Mana: 130
Damage: 1
Defense: 1
Strength: 8
Endurance: 8
Intelligence: 4
Speed: 6
Dexterity: 4
Luck: 2 (fixed)
EXP: 0 / 600
[EQUIPMENT]
• Improvised Spear
[ABILITIES]
• Humanoid Form
• Devour
• Anti-Physical Body (Passive)
Unstable Form – Granted to races without a fixed shape. The user has full control over their physical structure: density, volume, and form can be altered within reasonable limits. This enables the evasion of basic attacks, infiltration through narrow spaces, or partial mimicry. Does not enhance direct combat, but greatly increases mobility and utility outside of battle. Also grants +5% resistance to physical status effects.
Edward stood silently, watching as his slimes returned to formation. The battle had gone well… but something within him stirred.
A growing desire to improve.
And with the tunnel map now heading back to the village…
A new phase of growth was just beginning.