[Initializing Factory System…]
Kael flinched. His hand swung up on instinct, trying to touch the blue panel in front of him.
There was nothing.
His fingers passed straight through empty air.
He pulled his hand back, his breathing a little heavier than before.
While waiting for the installation to finish, Kael looked around. The land beneath his feet was fairly wide, covered in lush green grass. In the distance stood a small village at the edge of a forest, its rooftops simple and unadorned.
Yet what unsettled him wasn't the scenery.
It was the silence.
There was no sound of vehicles. No hum of a city. Only the wind and the vast open sky.
Kael lifted his head, watching the clouds move swiftly across the heavens.
This island… was truly floating.
He swallowed. His body still felt unsteady, as if his sense of balance hadn't fully adjusted to this place.
Then the memories came without warning.
The bus.
That man's gaze.
The white light.
Kael's jaw tightened.
He rubbed his face with one hand and let out a long breath. There were no wounds. No blood. His heartbeat was steady, clear beneath his palm.
But one thing was certain.
He was no longer in the same world.
"So… I really am dead," he murmured.
There was no scream in his voice, only a flat statement spoken aloud. After that, silence returned.
His thoughts drifted briefly…
to his home,
to his parents waiting for him,
to his work desk that might remain empty tomorrow.
A dull ache spread across his chest, faint but real.
Still, he forced himself to stop there. Regret wouldn't change anything.
At that moment, the panel in front of him flickered.
[Factory System successfully installed.]
[Main Mission initiated.]
Kael looked up.
Another panel appeared, larger, clearer.
[Main Mission: Establish a Factory]
[Sub Mission: Recruit 3 Workers]
[Reward: Breakthrough Pill (Qi Gathering)]
Kael frowned.
The system didn't explain who it was.
It didn't ask for his consent.
It gave him no choice.
He tried touching the panel again, dragging it, searching for anything that resembled a cancel button.
There was nothing.
"No way back, huh…" he muttered.
His cautious instincts kicked in immediately. Rewards that sounded too good rarely came without a price. He was old enough to understand that.
But the system remained silent.
It didn't persuade him.
It didn't threaten him.
It simply waited.
Another panel appeared.
[Status Panel]
Name: Kael
Location: Skyland
Active Mission: Establish a Factory
Assets: -
Kael stared at the location name a little longer.
Skyland.
The name felt… fitting.
He exhaled softly, then lifted his gaze toward the distant village. Thin trails of smoke rose from several houses, a sign that life was going on there.
"I need to know where I am," he murmured.
He opened the mission panel again. A blueprint appeared, floating in the air. The outline of a small factory formed, transparent, following the movement of his hand.
Like something out of a game.
Kael moved the blueprint over an empty patch of land. The building wasn't small, about twenty by twenty meters. Much larger than any place he had ever lived in.
He lowered his hand. The blueprint vanished, waiting for the next command.
Not yet.
First, he needed information. And the only promising place in sight was that village.
Kael glanced up at the sky once more, making sure the island was still moving.
Then, with steady but cautious steps, he began walking toward the village.
The journey was short. In less than fifteen minutes, Kael reached a tall wooden fence surrounding the settlement. Thick wooden logs were planted tightly together, their tips sharpened. On both sides of the gate stood wooden watchtowers about three meters tall, each guarded by a man holding a spear.
People entered and exited the gate in an orderly manner. They looked human, but their clothing was different, long robes made of coarse fabric, some tied at the waist with cloth belts.
Like… ancient China?
The thought crossed Kael's mind without warning.
He joined the line, lowering his head slightly without realizing it. Several pairs of eyes glanced his way, some curious, some wary but no one spoke.
When his turn came, a guard raised his spear, blocking the path.
"You. Who are you?"
His tone was sharp and firm.
Kael instinctively wanted to answer, then paused for a split second. The words sounded unfamiliar to his ears, it wasn't a language he knew. Yet somehow, the meaning flowed clearly into his mind.
…Do I understand their language?
His heart began to race.
"I'm Kael," he said at last. "From the neighboring village."
The moment the words left his mouth, Kael cursed himself inwardly.
Idiot. Which neighboring village? You don't even know where you are.
He swallowed, his shoulders tensing. If the guard asked any further questions, his lie would collapse in seconds.
The guard studied him for a long moment, then glanced toward the watchtower. Up there stood a man wearing neater armor, clearly a captain, observing them. Their eyes met briefly. The captain gave a slight nod.
The guard lowered his spear.
"Go in. Leave before five in the afternoon."
Kael nearly sighed in relief.
"Thank you," he said quickly, stepping inside before the guard could change his mind.
Once past the gate, he immediately moved away, his pace a little faster than it should have been. He glanced toward the tower, wanting to nod in thanks, but the captain had already turned away, busy with his duties.
That was close…
The inside of the village was far livelier than he had expected. Wooden houses stood in neat rows, some raised on tall supporting pillars. Simple carts lined the roadside, selling game meat, cloth, and items he didn't recognize.
The air was filled with the sound of conversation, bargaining, and footsteps.
Kael walked slowly, his eyes constantly shifting. The closer he got to the center of the village, the denser the crowd became. His instincts told him that the village chief's residence or that of another influential figure, would be in that direction.
Suddenly, the sound of clashing metal rang out from behind.
Clang… clang…
"Hey! Move aside! The Elite Hunter Squad is passing through!"
At the shout, people along the road quickly stepped aside.
Kael moved to the side as well, then turned to look.
A formation of more than ten people marched past with steady steps. At their front walked a man in a luxurious yellow robe, the fabric clean and gleaming under the sunlight. A long sword hung at his waist, its hilt decorated with fine carvings.
Behind him, the soldiers pushed a large cart.
Kael froze.