Later, the aroma of unseasoned meat cooking filled the air, mingling with the earthy scent of the freshly sprouted crops in the farm zone. Rows of green shoots lined the fields beside the cabin, a testament to Ryan's hard work.
Inside, Ryan was busy constructing the floors in the next room. He had already finished the flooring in his bedroom, choosing the Herringwood Pattern for its intricate and visually appealing design.
"Even if it's just wood, it's still beautiful to look at," he said, hammering the last plank into place.
After hours of meticulous work, the floors were finally finished. Ryan stood up, stretching his aching back, and admired his handiwork. The herringbone pattern added a touch of elegance to the otherwise rustic cabin.
"Hooh, now this is a very productive day," he said, a satisfied smile on his face.
He glanced out the window, where the sun was setting on the horizon, painting the sky in shades of orange and pink. The sight was breathtaking, and for a moment, Ryan just stood there, taking it all in.
But his stomach growled, reminding him of the unseasoned stew waiting for him. He sighed, grabbing a wooden bowl and spoon from the kitchen area.
"Here we go again," he muttered, filling the bowl with Simple Stew.
He took a hesitant bite, his face twisting in disgust. "Bleaughh… I can't get used to this," he said, forcing himself to swallow.
Despite the bland taste, Ryan ate the entire bowl, his hunger outweighing his distaste. "Ughh… one day, I'll eat a proper meal," he said, setting the empty bowl aside.
He leaned back in his chair, staring at the ceiling. The cabin was starting to feel more like a home, but there was still so much to do.
"Floors are done. Next, I'll work on the walls and windows," he said, making a mental checklist. "Then furniture. Maybe I'll even find some herbs or spices to make the food bearable."
Ryan stood up and walked to the door, stepping outside to enjoy the cool evening air. The farm was coming along nicely, and the sight of the growing crops filled him with a sense of accomplishment.
Ryan checked his inventory, scrolling through the items he had accumulated:
[ Planks x18 ]
[ Wood x20 ]
[ Map of the Region ]
[ Meat x10 ]
[ Rabbit Fur x12 ]
"Hmmm… tomorrow, wood is the first priority," he said, nodding to himself. "The trees in the Tree Logging Zone are already sprouting so damn fast. I'll have to go west of the forest this time or maybe clear a path toward the mountain. That's it! I'll clear a path from my cabin to the mountain. Two birds with one stone."
He opened the Research Tab, scrolling through the extensive list of options. His eyes widened as he noticed some unexpected entries.
"Oh no, why is there Drug Production?" he muttered, raising an eyebrow. "Even Psychoid Brewing? Don't tell me I can plant psychoid. And Cocoa? I can make chocolates and sell them. There's also Beer Brewing. What?? And Devilstrand? That's… actually useful. It can be used to make silk that's tough, good at insulation, and resistant to heat. Though it takes longer to grow and only grows during the day."
He continued scrolling, noting other intriguing options:
[ Complex Clothing ]
[ Complex Furniture ]
[ Heating and Plumbing ]
[ Septic Tanks ]
[ Irrigation ]
[ Modern Bathroom Fixtures ]
[ Swimming Pools ]
[ Central Heating ]
"Now that I think about it, it is pretty cold in here," Ryan said, rubbing his arms. "But making pipes requires iron, and I don't have any iron yet. That'll have to wait until I clear the path to the mountain. Hopefully, there's iron there. Wait, if I dig downward… Nah, that's too much work."
He paused, considering his options. "If I research Gunsmithing, weapons will need iron and steel. Let's focus on what we can do for now."
Ryan tapped on Complex Furniture, and the system displayed the available options:
[ End Table ]
[ Tall Shelves ]
[ Cabinets ]
[ Bookcase ]
[ Brazier ]
[ Double Bed ]
[ Sofa ]
...
"Hmm, these only need wood," Ryan said, nodding. "I can make some of these and maybe trade them in the village. Hopefully, the village isn't hostile. But I can't just openly reveal my position. Still, the village is miles away, just beyond the mountain and the river at its foot."
He glanced at the mountain in the distance, his mind racing with possibilities. "The problem with making a base underground in the mountain is the insects. Hopefully, they're not like in the game, where they dig through your floors. Brrr…" A chill ran down his spine. "That'd be bad."
Ryan closed the research tab and leaned back in his chair, staring at the ceiling. "Alright, tomorrow's plan: clear a path to the mountain, gather more wood, and start crafting complex furniture. Maybe I'll even make a double bed. Sleeping on the floor is getting old."
Ryan opened the Structure Tab and navigated to the Windows section. He selected Plank Window and placed the transparent model onto the window frame in his room. The system clipped it perfectly into place, and a holographic hammer and nails appeared, ready for assembly.
"Alright, let's get this done," Ryan said, grabbing the hammer.
He worked quickly, following the system's guidance to secure the window. After a few minutes of hammering, the plank window was firmly in place. Ryan stepped back to admire his work.
"It's a simple board," he said, testing the window by opening and closing it. "Light and wind don't go through when it's closed. It's like a simple medieval plank window. Not the most advanced, but it'll do for now."
He glanced outside, the forest bathed in the soft glow of the setting sun. "Can't have someone or something staring at me while I'm sleeping," he added, chuckling. "Privacy is important, even in a survival situation."
Ryan walked around the room, inspecting the window from different angles. "It's not perfect, but it's a start. Maybe I'll upgrade to glass windows later, once I figure out how to make them. For now, this'll keep the bugs and prying eyes out."
He closed the window and latched it securely, then turned his attention to the rest of the room. The herringbone-patterned floors looked great, and the addition of the window gave the space a more finished feel.
"Alright, what's next?" Ryan said, opening the Structure Tab again. He scrolled through the options, considering his next project.
"Maybe I'll work on the doors tomorrow," he muttered. "Or start crafting some furniture. A double bed would be nice."
---
Ryan James Cooper woke to the sound of birds chirping outside his cabin. The air was crisp, carrying the faint scent of pine and damp earth. He stretched, his muscles stiff from the previous day's labor, and glanced out the small window. The sun was just beginning to rise, casting a golden hue over the dense forest that surrounded his cabin.
He reached into his inventory—a strange, otherworldly ability he still wasn't entirely used to—and pulled out the region map. The parchment materialized in his hands, its edges glowing faintly before settling into a solid form. Unfolding it, he studied the detailed eagle's-eye view of the area. The river snaked through the forest like a silver thread, his cabin marked by a small brown square near its banks. To the far top right, a mountain loomed, its peak obscured by clouds. Just beyond it, a cluster of brown dots hinted at a village, surrounded by vast stretches of black, unexplored terrain.
"Hmmm," Ryan muttered, scratching the stubble on his chin. He glanced at the horizon, comparing the map to the landscape. "If I clear the trees to the left of the cabin and turn that way, I'll be facing the mountain. Then it's just a straight shot—well, as straight as a forest allows."
He folded the map and returned it to his inventory, watching as it dissolved into shimmering particles of energy. The slot updated instantly, displaying the familiar icon of the parchment alongside his other items:
[Map of the Region]
[Meat x10]
[Fur x12]
"Alright," Ryan said, clapping his hands together. "Time to get to work."
He stepped outside, the morning air biting at his cheeks. The forest was alive with sound—rustling leaves, distant animal calls, the occasional creak of branches. Ryan took a deep breath, savoring the quiet before the chaos of the day began.
"Enable tree logging," he muttered.
Instantly, his field of vision shifted. The world around him became overlaid with holographic details—outlines of trees, glowing markers indicating where to strike, and a translucent axe materializing in his hands. He gripped the handle, feeling the weight of it despite its ethereal appearance.
"Still weird," he said, swinging the axe experimentally. "But hey, if it gets the job done."
He walked to the nearest tree, the holographic lines guiding his aim. With a practiced motion, he raised the axe above his head and brought it down. The blade cut smoothly through the bark but stopped midway, as if the tree were resisting. Ryan sighed.
"Here we go again. Deforestation, here I come."
By midday, the sun was high, and Ryan was drenched in sweat. He wiped his forehead with the back of his hand and surveyed his progress. Piles of logs lay scattered across the clearing, each one neatly stacked as if by an invisible hand. He still couldn't get over how the system worked—how a felled tree would simply collapse into perfectly cut logs, ready for collection.
"It's like living in a damn video game," he said, leaning against a stump. "Convenient, but… unsettling. I still have quite the distance to cover to the mountain, though I won't have to worry about reckless deforestation for a while. It's one of the excuses these illegal loggers, make when they get questioned. It's to make a path. Yeah right."
The forest was quieter now, the animals having fled the noise of his work. Ryan glanced back at the cabin, its wooden walls glowing in the sunlight.
"Alright, break's over," he said, pushing himself to his feet. "Let's get these logs stored before I pass out."
He began collecting the logs, each one disappearing into his inventory with a faint shimmer. By the time he reached the last pile, his steps had slowed, his legs feeling like lead.
"Ugh… come on, Ryan," he grumbled, dragging himself toward the cabin. "Next time, consider the weight of your inventory. Just because the system handles the heavy lifting doesn't mean you can be lazy."
Back at the cabin, he opened the menu and navigated to Construction Management. Tapping on Zones, he selected Stockpile Zone. A holographic square appeared, hovering in the air and following his movements. He adjusted its size and position, placing it beside the cabin.
"There," he said, double-tapping to confirm. The square solidified, its outline glowing faintly.
Ryan opened his inventory and dragged the wood log icon, transferring four stacks—373 logs in total—into the stockpile zone. The logs materialized in the designated area, arranging themselves into neat piles as if guided by an unseen hand.
"Magic stockpiles," Ryan said, shaking his head.
He chuckled, but the sound was hollow. For all the convenience the system provided, it still felt… wrong. Like he was living in a world that wasn't quite real. He glanced at the mountain in the distance, its peak shrouded in mist.
Some distance away from Ryan's cabin, hidden beneath the canopy of the forest, a figure stood perched on a high branch. Her long ears twitched at the sound of distant chopping, her sharp eyes scanning the clearing below. She was tall and lithe, her silhouette blending seamlessly with the dappled shadows of the trees. Her attire—a mix of leather and woven fabric—suggested practicality and a familiarity with the wild.
From her vantage point, she could see the human clearly. He was leaning against the cabin wall, wiping sweat from his brow with the sleeve of his shirt. He waved his hand in the air, muttering something to himself before turning back to his work. The sight was… unusual.
"Tsk," she muttered under her breath, her voice low and melodic. "A human. Here, of all places."
Her gaze lingered on the cabin, the neatly stacked logs, and the strange, glowing square that seemed to organize the wood into perfect piles. It wasn't natural. None of it was. The way the human moved, the way he interacted with the world around him—it was as if he were bending the forest to his will.
"Why would a human be in the middle of the Forbidden Region?" she whispered, more to herself than anyone else. "And how is he still alive?"
The Forbidden Region was no place for humans. The forest was ancient, its secrets guarded by forces even her kind hesitated to challenge. Yet here he was, chopping trees and building stockpiles as if he owned the land.
She crouched lower on the branch, her ears flicking as she listened to the sounds of the forest. The birds had returned, their songs filling the air now that the human had stopped his work. The wind carried the faint scent of pine and earth, but beneath it, there was something else—something metallic, almost electric. It made her skin prickle.
"This doesn't make sense," she said, her brow furrowing. "Humans don't belong here. Not anymore."
For a moment, she considered approaching him. She could slip down from the tree, silent as a shadow, and demand answers. But something held her back. The way he moved, the way he seemed to command the very air around him—it was unsettling. And then there was the system. She didn't know what it was, but she could feel its presence, like a faint hum in the back of her mind.
"No," she decided, straightening up. "I must first inform the elders."
With a fluid motion, she turned and leaped from the branch, her form disappearing into the foliage. The forest seemed to welcome her, the leaves rustling softly as she moved. She didn't look back. There would be time to investigate the human later. For now, she had her own mission to attend to.
But as she vanished into the trees, one thought lingered in her mind: Who is he, and what is he doing here?