Project: Creating a Pet ------------------------------------------------------------------------
After nearly losing consciousness, our group hurriedly exited the dungeon. In the chaos, we almost left behind two fallen users, but thankfully, Vivian reminded us, allowing us to carry them out one by one. Seeing them still dazed, it was clear Vivian had caused some trouble. When I shot her a sharp look, she avoided my gaze, confirming my suspicion.
“Brother, are you okay?” Ansol asked, her face full of concern as we walked through the forest after leaving the dungeon.
“Yeah, I’m fine. Don’t worry too much.”
“But still…”
Ansol couldn’t take her eyes off me, clearly worried. Her concern was touching, but my mind was a mess. The relationship between Hwa-jeong’s power and my stamina was far beyond what I had anticipated.
As Ansol continued to speak, I shook my head, hoisting another user onto my back. Yujeong, who had been leading the way, turned her head and spoke up.
“If it’s too much, let me carry them. The mana reversal incident last time… it still bothers me.”
“I’m fine. Just keep an eye on the path ahead. With Hyun and me each carrying a user, you’re the most important right now. Of course, if things get rough, we can set them down, but we can’t do much about sudden ambushes.”
“Ugh… I know that! I’m just worried!”
“The area is safe. Since we’re taking a shortcut to Mule, we should arrive by tomorrow,” Vivian interjected. Yujeong shot her a glare before turning away. I wanted to comfort Yujeong, who was taking her frustration out on the wrong person, but my mind was too cluttered. After using my power, I nearly collapsed. The dizziness was too intense to dismiss lightly.
I hadn’t expected it to be this severe. If this keeps happening, I can’t just brush it off. I still had some ability points left, but I was torn between investing in strength, agility, or magic.
Noticing my deep contemplation, Ahn Hyun silently followed behind me, carrying a limp female user on his back. Watching him grow day by day, I resolved to find him a Qi Gong master. But no matter how much I pondered, the ability points were beyond my control. If I invested all my remaining points into stamina and calculated the maximum points I could earn in the future, I might reach 90. But the allure of a 101 ability score was too tempting to give up easily.
After wrestling with these thoughts for a while, I shook my head to clear it. Since I couldn’t solve it immediately, it was better to focus on the current situation. The important things were the items we obtained from the dungeon, the two users we rescued, and returning to the city for Vivian’s treatment. After a brief rest, we also needed to prepare for the exploration of the ruined lab. Even without my ability concerns, there was a mountain of tasks ahead. In this world, one misstep could cost everything, even if the first button was fastened correctly.
Anyway, once we returned to Mule, I decided to take the day to rest and clear my mind.
I looked at the group with a blank expression, suddenly longing for a woman’s embrace. Just holding someone without thinking about anything else. I craved the warm pleasure of intimacy after so long.
Yujeong’s sharp face, slightly frowning, caught my eye. Her long hair and the curve of her chest stood out. Her hair wasn’t this long during the rite of passage, but it suited her well. Then there was Sol’s innocent face and her slender, white neck. Her small, delicate lips… I was about to turn my gaze to Vivian when I snapped back to reality. What was I thinking about the girls?
Was I just frustrated? I felt the need to embrace a woman soon to relieve this tension. I felt pathetic for the first time in a while. With a sigh, I adjusted the user slipping down my back. Come to think of it, I still didn’t know who these users were.
Since leaving the dungeon, I had been too preoccupied with Hwa-jeong and my abilities to think about anything else. I hadn’t taken the lead because I didn’t want to be distracted. Although I hadn’t found a solution, I decided to activate my third eye. After some rest and treatment, my head no longer felt heavy.
Name: Shin Sang-yong (2nd Year)
Class: Normal Mage Expert
Nation: Babara
Clan: -
True Name · Nationality: Seeker of the Truth of Magic Circles · South Korea
Sex: Male (28)
Height · Weight: 183.7cm · 69.2kg
Alignment: Lawful · True
[Strength 40] [Endurance 42] [Agility 45] [Stamina 40] [Magic 85] [Luck 60]
Name: Jung Ha-yeon (2nd Year)
Class: Normal Mage Expert
Nation: Babara
Clan: -
True Name · Nationality: Drop of the Lake · South Korea
Sex: Female (26)
Height · Weight: 166.5cm · 42.8kg
Alignment: Lawful · Good
[Strength 34] [Endurance 38] [Agility 40] [Stamina 32] [Magic 87] [Luck 80]
Hmm? I glanced at their stats without much thought, but my eyes widened. Both were mages, and considering they were in their second year… not bad. Initially, I wondered what possessed them to enter the Dark Forest, but after seeing their stats, I understood.
I suddenly felt glad we were heading to Mule. It was where I had operated before (though, to be fair, there wasn’t a place I hadn’t been), and I had come to find a Qi Gong master. Yet, unexpectedly, I was reaping unexpected benefits, both in terms of talent and resources. I glanced at Sol. Was her luck somehow related to this?
Feeling the warmth of the person on my back, I pondered their potential. Both seemed like valuable additions. They were immediately useful, and while the second year was often seen as the start of a plateau, their abilities weren’t fully developed yet. After the fourth or fifth year, improving became as hard as reaching for the stars, but there was still some room for growth depending on the individual.
Their stats were good, and their alignments were favorable. I’d have to talk to them once they regained consciousness, but they were definitely worth recruiting.
It seemed like we had been walking for a full day since leaving the dungeon. Everyone was mentally exhausted from the all-night march, but thanks to the physical training at the user academy, no one fell behind. Most importantly, the shortcut Vivian showed us was truly remarkable. Having lived in the forest for over a hundred years, it wasn’t surprising she knew the terrain so well. This seemed to have slightly changed the group’s perception of her.
We started our return late in the afternoon, and after a day’s journey, we arrived as the sun was setting. I breathed a sigh of relief when I saw the plains we had first crossed. The others seemed to remember the plains too, quickening their pace.
The atmosphere during the journey was quiet. I had too much on my mind to talk, and Ahn Hyun, carrying a user, was too out of breath to speak. Yujeong and Sol looked anxious, while Vivian was just observing. The subdued atmosphere wasn’t necessarily bad, but it was a bit uncomfortable.
Leaving the dense forest behind, we hurried along the path through the plains. Mule was visible in the distance.
Perhaps because of the time, we saw a few groups of users here and there. As we walked closer to Mule, the number of users increased. We had arrived just before nightfall. Despite many people heading to Babara, there were still quite a few left, indicating that many users shared my thoughts.
The group seemed unsure where to look, perhaps because it had been a while since they had seen other users. I spoke in a low voice.
“We’re just like those users. Don’t act like novices; walk in confidently.”
I urged the group forward with a weary voice. Vivian, who had been looking around curiously, quickly lowered her head when she noticed a few gazes on us. Initially, she had been naked, and now she was wearing only the undergarments and robe taken from the deceased Jung Ji-yeon. Since she was taller than Jung Ji-yeon, the clothes were tight, accentuating her figure. It was almost embarrassing to look at. With her beautiful face and decent body, a few rough-looking male users were openly staring at her. I sighed and gestured to Vivian. She quickly moved to my side, looking relieved.
“Hey, aren’t you going to let go?”
“Can’t you see you’re struggling?”
“What on earth is wrong with you two?” Vivienne, feeling a bit intimidated, lowered her head as she watched the two women glaring at each other with fiery eyes. Ahn Hyun, observing the scene, clicked his tongue and continued speaking.
“Yoo Jung, An Sol, what’s gotten into you? You’re making things awkward for everyone. I get where you’re coming from, but don’t push it too far. Even I’m starting to feel sorry for you.”
As soon as Ahn Hyun finished speaking, the jealousy among the group seemed to intensify. Ahn Hyun, that clueless guy. Vivienne, her face noticeably brighter, looked at Ahn Hyun and chuckled. It was like pouring oil on a fire. Despite his straightforward and cheerful nature, which made him seem like he’d get along well with Yoo Jung and Sol, things were off to a rocky start, and it made her uneasy.
The surroundings were bustling with chatter. People were lamenting about another failed attempt, the poor conditions, and though everyone looked exhausted, their mouths never stopped moving. Occasionally, some users returned with somber expressions, likely having lost companions during the expedition.
As dusk settled, the walls of Mule, which had been visible from afar, loomed right in front of them. The resident guards who had greeted them upon their first arrival were still at their posts. As they saluted the returning users, we slowly made our way through the gates.
At last, we had completed our first expedition and returned to Mule.
---------------------------= Author’s Note ---------------------------=
Haha. Hello, everyone. I hope you’re all preparing well for the holidays.
I’m posting a chapter today. As promised, I’ll be uploading another one soon.
Ah, but I have to go peel bean sprouts right now. I’ll do it quickly and try to escape before I’m given more chores. I barely managed to write and post this amidst all the chaos at home.
I’ll gather all the corrections and feedback later. I ask for your understanding, dear readers. Now, I’ll peel the mountain of bean sprouts and get to writing chapter 73 as soon as possible. Please wish me luck in my escape. Hahaha.