After Sofia walked away, Daniel resumed his running, using the exercise to clear his mind. Later that day, he returned to his rented room, where he had been busy with his barbecue business. The daytime hours were often consumed with preparing skewers of various vegetables and meats, a task that took considerable time and effort.
Although Daniel rented only a single room, it was part of a larger three-bedroom apartment. The other rooms were unoccupied, and he had access to a communal refrigerator in the living room. With no one else living there, he kept all his ingredients in the fridge. His business was modest, so he bought only a small amount of supplies, which fit comfortably in the compact refrigerator.
"If I could just bring some vegetables and meats out from that special space, I wouldn't need to spend so much on ingredients. That would really help my budget," Daniel pondered as he worked.
This seemed like a brilliant idea. If he could retrieve chicken from that space, it stood to reason he could also access other items. He wasn't too concerned about whether the ingredients would be edible, given that he had already eaten chicken sourced from there and found it delicious. Plus, he had noticed that food stored in his magical backpack didn't spoil; it remained fresh and even retained heat, which was quite remarkable. He had no doubt that other ingredients would fare just as well.
That evening, he headed out to set up his barbecue stall again. Before discovering the possibilities of his time-and-space ring, he had been reluctant to alter his current life too drastically, fearing that any disruption might jeopardize his livelihood.
As the night unfolded, business was steady but not overwhelming. Daniel cast envious glances at the barbecue restaurant across the street, imagining how it would feel to run his own establishment one day. He envisioned a larger space, an inviting atmosphere, and plenty of customers.
Just a short while ago, this had seemed like nothing more than a distant dream, one he felt unlikely to achieve. His luck had always been poor, and he often worried about how long his barbecue stall could sustain itself.
But now, with the magical ring in his possession, everything felt different. The prospect of opening a store no longer seemed so far-fetched.
If the old man who had given Daniel the ring knew that after obtaining it, his only thought was about how to open a storefront and achieve satisfaction, he would likely be exasperated.
When Daniel returned home, it was already past one in the morning. After a quick wash, he lay on his bed, excitement buzzing through him. He turned the ring on his finger and silently recited "transmission," a method taught to him by the old man.
As expected, the familiar darkness enveloped him, thick and disorienting. Fortunately, that feeling subsided quickly, and in the next moment, the familiar village appeared before him again.
This time, Daniel felt more prepared than during his initial visit. His excitement was palpable; he believed this ring could indeed change his life and allow him to leave his past behind. But as the old man had warned, this opportunity depended on his own actions.
With determination, Daniel ran toward the village chief's house. He felt grateful for the Identification Skill he had acquired and was eager to see if the village chief had more treasures to offer.
"Grandpa Village Chief, I'm back! Do you have any tasks for me?" Daniel called out as he entered.
"Tasks? No, no! Just go away; I don't want to see you," the village chief grumbled. His expression was far from welcoming, still evidently irked by the events of yesterday when Daniel had pressured him for the Identification Technique.
"Don't be like that, Chief. We've known each other long enough for that to sting my heart," Daniel replied, putting on a brave front. "If you have any tasks, just let me know. As for rewards, you can give whatever you think is appropriate."
"Really?" The village chief seemed skeptical, recalling how Daniel had shamelessly demanded divine artifacts and pets just the day before. "What changed your attitude so quickly?"
"Of course! Do I look like the kind of person who only cares about rewards? That's not me!" Daniel declared, patting his chest confidently.
Despite only having visited this world twice, he had already realized that even though it functioned like a game, the inhabitants were real, complete with their own feelings and thoughts. Building good relationships with them was a wise approach, especially since, as a newcomer, he needed all the help he could get.
"Not bad! I didn't misjudge you after all," the village chief admitted, somewhat convinced by Daniel's words. "However, I truly don't have any tasks for you at the moment. You might want to visit Old Man Li instead."
"Old Man Li?" Daniel echoed, surprised.
"Yes, he's the pharmacist in our village. While we may be small, we have top-notch pharmacists, cooks, and blacksmiths. They are among the best on the entire continent!" the village chief proclaimed with pride, his demeanor reflecting a touch of the charlatan he had shown previously.
Bragging, Daniel thought to himself. He recognized this village as merely a starting point for newcomers to familiarize themselves with the game mechanics. Players typically wouldn't linger here long, and the residents could only assign basic tasks. He doubted the old village chief's claims about the villagers' abilities.
However, Daniel kept that thought to himself; he didn't want to offend the chief and risk being sent away. He was still vulnerable and knew that leaving the novice village could lead to dire consequences.
After learning where to find Old Man Li, Daniel decided to visit him. Although he didn't have a task from the village chief, he figured that others might, and he was open to any opportunity that came his way.