The moment I said those words, fireworks went off in my head again and I heard a congratulatory message.
[Tiring!]
[Congratulations! The trait 'Map Making' has been unlocked.]
As I had high expectations for the special feature, I was very disappointed. I thought it was a special ability that would double attack power or increase defense power...
"Just making maps···"
At that moment, the 'brave wolf' lying on the floor was waking up, groaning.
"···Ugh!"
I put aside my thoughts about reward and quickly approached the 'brave wolf'.
"are you okay?"
"······."
Fortunately, the 'brave wolf' opened his eyes, but his pupils were unfocused. The 'brave wolf' shook his head and tried to force himself to get up from his seat, with a small amount of blood dripping from the corner of his mouth as he tried to come to his senses.
I held his back carefully and spoke with a worried look in my eyes.
"Stay. Be. Breathe. Do."
"······."
The 'Brave Wolf' nodded once and let out a long breath. I took a closer look at his face, especially his jaw area, but thankfully there were no cracks or breaks.
Phew!
While I was sighing in relief, the 'brave wolf' kept opening and closing his mouth, moving his jaw back and forth. Still, he spat bloody saliva on the floor with a pained expression, as if he was in pain.
Phew!
After a while, the brave wolf stood up and shook his head at me with an apologetic expression on his face.
"I thought I was going to die. I'm still dizzy."
"The intensity. I adjusted it. I'm sorry."
When I offered another polite apology, the 'brave wolf' waved his hand and smiled brightly.
"There's no need to apologize. I was the one who said we should fight warrior to warrior. I expected these injuries to some extent."
"···still"
I scratched the back of my head with an apologetic expression as I watched him with his chin slowly swelling up.
The 'brave wolf' acted coolly, seemingly unconcerned about his jaw injury.
"A very big two thousand days! I lost to you. From now on, I will learn your fighting skills."
"···okay."
"I would like to teach you how to shoot an archery, but I think it is too late today."
Even without that, as the sun set, the surroundings were gradually getting darker. I nodded in agreement with the 'Brave Wolf's' opinion.
"The village. I'm going back."
"Okay. Let's go."
* * *
Upon returning to the village, the 'brave wolf', whose jaw was more swollen than before, spoke with difficulty.
"Enjoy your dinner and see you tomorrow morning."
"You. Rest. Well."
The 'brave wolf' turned around and walked away briskly, as if a heavy burden had been lifted from his shoulders.
'What is it? Your steps look very light.'
After a while, I returned to the hut, finished dinner, and had some quiet time alone.
"Status Window!"
[Lv 5. Lee Cheon-il]
[Affiliation: None.]
[Trait (2/8): Map, Map Making]
[Ability]
Strength: 26
Agility: 18
Stamina: 23
Wisdom: 18
[Remaining points: 4]
[Beginner combat skills]
– Martial Arts (11/20)
[Beginner Non-Combat Skills]
– Lenape Language (9/20)
And I checked the unconfirmed messages.
[Randomly grants +1 ability and +2 ability points.] [Agility stat increases by 1 based on the random ability increase.]
"my agility has improved."
I wanted to check out what the newly opened 'map making' feature would do, but I held back and put it off until later.
[You have reached level 5.]
[A special level has been met, so you will be given a special reward.]
[As a reward, you will be able to acquire books from the 'Celestial Library'.]
[Would you like to confirm? Y/N]
I said it without a moment's hesitation.
"yes!"
The surroundings changed in the blink of an eye as if I had been teleported by a transparent light that enveloped my body.
A grand and quaint building.
[Tiring!]
[Depending on your level, access to the 'Celestial Library' may be restricted.]
[You only have one chance to select a skill, so choose carefully.]
As expected, a large bookshelf appeared before my eyes.
"I was looking forward to leveling up… but this time it's only ten volumes."
I was disappointed when I saw the books on the bookshelf.
"What? It's not much different from what I saw last time."
Beginner/Archery.
Beginner/Creation.
Beginner/Swordsmanship.
Beginner/Shield Technique.
Beginner/Striking Weapon Techniques.
Beginner/Throwing.
Beginner/Tracking
Intermediate/Martial Arts.
Beginner/Hunting Skills.
Intermediate/Lenape Language
The only thing that has changed is the intermediate/Lenape language. I have the 'Beginner/Lenape Language' skill, so I haven't had any major trouble conversing with the people here yet.
In addition, my proficiency in the 'Beginner/Lenape Language' was increasing day by day.
"Language is fine."
Disappointment was also briefly considered with a cautious eye. What survival skills do I need right now? I briefly pondered among the books on hunting techniques and weapons.
"I think I can learn hunting skills from the tribesmen, so I'll pass."
The question is, should I learn intermediate martial arts or should I choose other weapons? While I was debating between archery and spearmanship, I reached for the 'Beginner/Spearmanship' book on the shelf.
[Tiring!]
[You have chosen Beginner/Spearmanship.]
The book 'Beginner/Spearmanship' in my hand suddenly glowed and disappeared like smoke. At the same time, I, who was in the 'Celestial Library', returned safely to the shack.
Perhaps because I had used the 'Celestial Library' once, I looked at the window that was turned on calmly.
[Beginner Combat Skill]
– Martial Arts (11/20), Spear Arts (0/20)
[Beginner Non-Combat Skills]
– Lenape Language (9/20)
"As expected, it starts from zero."
There are three main reasons why I chose window dressing. Defensively, a spear can secure a longer safe distance than other weapons.
Also, you can easily obtain materials to make spears by carving trees around you. And the fact that it is a weapon that can be swung, stabbed, and thrown.
The downside is that it is inconvenient to carry. However, since I have an inventory and can easily take out and put back the spears whenever I want, this wasn't a problem at all.
"Not bad. It's archery. You just have to learn it from the brave wolf and see if it registers as a skill."
There was no need to overthink it, and no need to regret my choice now.
"Save the remaining points."
I clicked on 'Map Making' listed in the properties with a blank expression. A square map window appeared next to the always-on map window.
When I clicked on the square map window, the map, which was almost completely covered in dark clouds, was enlarged to resemble a large LED signboard.
"It is said that wherever I stay or pass through, the dark clouds that cover it disappear."
Having figured out the map's function at once, I clicked on the only place without dark clouds again to enlarge it. I was calmly reading the words written on the map, but then I shouted in surprise.
"Hudson River, New York?"
I blinked and checked the words on the map again. Hudson River, New York. There was not a single mistake in Korean.
"I'm in New York?"
For a moment, the strength left my legs and I collapsed.
"Does this make sense? Does this make sense?"
I checked the letters on the map several times, but nothing changed. At that moment, I noticed a number on the top left of the map.
I checked the map window again, making it larger than it was, and read the number out loud.
"1400, Spring."
When I saw the numbers with the years written on them, I was once again shocked mentally and became confused.
"1400 years ago… hahaha! New York is New York… but it's New York from the very distant past. Hahahaha!"
Laughter poured out of my mouth nonstop as if I had gone crazy. Some time passed like that. Unlike before, I was calming down my surprised heart and staring at the map window.
"···There was no evidence or clues, but I guess it was expected to some extent."
I didn't want to admit it, but deep down I was cautiously guessing, 'Could it be the past?' And when that guess became reality, my mind actually became much calmer.
"America in 1400, before the discovery of the New World."
I don't remember the exact year, but I believe Columbus discovered the New World in the late 1400s.
"Of course there won't be any Europeans. They won't be able to use the convenient modern civilization at all."
I was tired. I closed all the windows on my game system and lay down. But I couldn't sleep. I tossed and turned in bed for a while, my mind wandering.
"How should I live from now on?"
Suddenly, I really wanted to see my parents. Finally, the tears I had been holding back burst out.
* * *
When I open my eyes, my earnest wish is to return to the original world... It just ended with the wind. Nothing has changed.
As soon as the sun rose, the 'Humble Bear' came into the hut and woke me up.
"A very big soy sauce, two thousand days! Ah... it's breakfast. I'm going to practice."
"I. am going."
I got up from my seat weakly. Honestly, I just wanted to rest and do nothing today. However, I couldn't give up the experience and rewards of the quest for my survival.
Also, if I don't do the quest, I feel like I've been unfairly treated. Me, living in a highly developed modern civilization, and the game system that was my only connection to it.
'Status Window!'
I put on my leather clothes and stared at the status window floating above my head. After a while, I finished a simple morning training with the warriors of the tribe.
"dissolution!"
The children and warriors shouted loudly.
"Very great Master Lee Cheon-il! Thank you for teaching me today as well."
The 'brave wolf', whose chin was bruised and bloodshot, followed suit and shouted.
'Soy sauce...whatever you call it?'
Maybe it was because I was feeling down, but I didn't feel anything. When we returned to the hut, 'The Moon Rises' was waiting with food.
"You came just in time."
"huh."
'The Moon Rises' took out the fish that had been cooked golden brown on charcoal with an excited expression. I had no appetite, but I spoke out of consideration for her sincerity.
"looks delicious."
"You speak Korean quite well now."
"Not yet. Not enough."
Now it's become comfortable enough to have a meal while looking at the 'Moon Rises'. As soon as she picked up a piece of well-cooked fish, she took something out.
"A very big two thousand days! What you asked me to do a few days ago."
'The Moon Rises' shyly held out the leather in his hand. I thought it would take longer than expected, but the leather used for the sandbag was quickly shaped into the desired shape.
"thanks."
Although he said it dryly, he meant it.
"No. If you have any more requests, please let me know."
While I was eating with her, she glanced at me from time to time, noticing my unusual behavior.
"What happened?"
"no."
"You don't seem to be feeling well?"
"little."
"······."
There was an awkward silence between them for a moment. But, perhaps because she didn't like the silence, she spoke first.
And even though I didn't ask, he started babbling to himself and trying his best to please me.
"You have to dry it well in the sun so that it doesn't smell fishy. Is the fish tasty?"
"it's good."
"···The honest bear was born with the umbilical cord tied around its neck. The adults said that at the time, the honest bear had no chance of survival, but with the help of the spirit, he survived."
"···hmm!"
At some point, I started forgetting about my current situation and became more and more absorbed in her story.
'If the umbilical cord had been wrapped around the neck... it would have been very dangerous.'
I don't know if it was the spirits' help or not, but either way, it was clear that it was fate. And if your brain hasn't been receiving oxygen for a while...
I can kind of understand why 'Humble Bear' acts and stutters as if he has a mental disorder.
'I see.'
I just listened to her without saying anything.
"······Unfortunately, 'Honest Bear' has no parents. His father died after being attacked by a bear while hunting, and his mother died from losing too much blood while giving birth to him."
I had no idea that the honest bear had such a story.
'I need to take better care of you from now on.'
After a while, when breakfast was over, 'The Moon Rises' got up from her seat, carrying a basket.
"Oh! Right. I almost forgot. Dad said he had something to say and went to the communal hut for a while."
I couldn't help but be flustered by the sudden call from the chief.
"now?"
"huh."