Ryan stepped into his small warehouse, the dim light filtering through the cracks in the wooden walls. He transferred some wood from his stockpile to his inventory, along with ropes he had crafted earlier from vines and bark. As he worked, his mind buzzed with ideas and plans.
"System," he muttered, his voice tinged with frustration, "I know most of your mechanics are like in the game. Aren't there any warning notifications? Like in the game?"
The system remained silent for a moment, as if considering his question. Then, a holographic message appeared:
[The early warning system is currently locked along with the Colony Management function.
It will be unlocked if there are more than 2 colonists in the settlement.]
Ryan sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Fine, it was stupid of me to ask you anyway. I'll make it myself."
Ryan spent the next three hours working tirelessly, his hands moving with practiced precision. He crafted wooden chimes from hollow logs, tying them together with ropes made from vines and bark. The chimes were designed to clatter loudly if disturbed, alerting him to any intruders. He also fashioned wooden spike traps, their sharp points carefully carved and positioned to deter—or incapacitate—any unwelcome visitors.
As he worked, Ryan muttered to himself, his voice a mix of determination and dark humor. "Let's get this set up before I proceed to make rations for my trip to the mountain. I know it's not a coincidence the goblins ended up here. They're either scouting or lost. Either way, I'm not taking any chances."
Ryan carried the early warning system and spike traps outside, his eyes scanning the perimeter of his cabin. He tied the ropes just below knee level, ensuring they were taut enough to trigger the chimes if disturbed. The spike traps were placed in the gaps between the ropes, their sharp points hidden beneath leaves and dirt.
"I know it's kinda primitive," Ryan said, stepping back to admire his handiwork. "But if it works, then I have no other complaints. It's better this way."
He tested the system by gently nudging one of the ropes with his foot. The wooden chimes clattered loudly, the sound echoing through the forest. Ryan nodded in satisfaction. "Perfect. Now, if any goblins—or worse—decide to pay me a visit, I'll know about it."
After finishing the setup of his early warning system and spike traps, Ryan headed back into his cabin. The familiar scent of wood and herbs greeted him, a comforting reminder of the home he had built from scratch. He walked over to the butchering table, where the fawn's corpse lay waiting.
Ryan took a deep breath and began the process of butchering the fawn. The holographic guides appeared in his vision, showing him how to skin and cut the meat with precision. His hands moved methodically, the AI-assisted system ensuring he didn't waste any usable parts. Once the meat was prepared, he set some aside to smoke for his rations and began cooking the rest.
Ryan's cabin soon filled with the mouthwatering aroma of garlic, onion, and tomato as he cooked a hearty stew. He also prepared a pot of rice, the grains fluffy and steaming. For the first time in what felt like forever, Ryan was about to enjoy a proper meal.
He smiled as he stirred the stew, the vibrant colors of the vegetables and the rich scent of the broth making his stomach growl in anticipation. "For the first time," he muttered to himself, "this is the most proper meal I could have after tasting bland meals for days."
Ryan stored some of the cooked rations in his inventory for his upcoming trip to the mountain, leaving a generous portion for himself. He set the table on his balcony, arranging two bowls of rice and a steaming bowl of stew. The sun was setting, casting a warm golden glow over the forest and his cabin.
Ryan sat down at the table, his hands trembling slightly as he picked up the spoon. He scooped up a bite of rice, the grains perfectly cooked and fragrant. As he brought it to his mouth, his eyes widened in disbelief. The flavor was simple but satisfying, a stark contrast to the bland meals he had been surviving on.
Next, he sipped the stew, the rich broth and tender meat melting in his mouth. The garlic, onion, and tomato added layers of flavor, each bite a reminder of how far he had come. His eyes teared up, the emotions overwhelming him.
"Ahhhhhh…" Ryan shouted, slamming his hand on the table. "I've waited for this for so long! Where were you, my baby?"
He continued eating, savoring every bite as if it were a feast fit for a king. The tears streaming down his face were a mix of joy, relief, and exhaustion. For the first time in what felt like an eternity, Ryan felt a sense of normalcy—a small but significant victory in his struggle for survival.
Ryan savored every bite of his meal, the flavors of the stew and rice a stark contrast to the bland survival rations he had been subsisting on for days. As he ate, his mind wandered to the things he missed most from Earth—modern conveniences, technology, and, of course, food.
"I know the salt will come in later," he muttered between bites, "since I still don't know how to make it. And MSG? Ugh… that's going to take forever. I know some modern guys who dream about being isekai'ed, saying any fantasy world is better than Earth. It's not!! Okay? Earth has evolved significantly, and what better way to test that than food? We've made carefully processed seasonings, ingredients, and even researched how to make food taste better. Here, I'm just trying not to starve."
He chuckled to himself, shaking his head. "One thing I really want from Earth is the entertainment, food, technology, and—of course—weapons. The bigger the boom, the better."
Ryan laughed, his voice carrying a hint of mischief. "Hahahahaha, anyway, I got carried away a bit too much."
As he finished his meal, Ryan leaned back in his chair, staring up at the darkening sky. The stars were beginning to appear, their faint light twinkling through the trees. He sighed, his thoughts drifting to the comforts of modern life.
"I mean, sure, fantasy worlds have magic and dragons and all that cool stuff," he said, talking to himself as if trying to justify his situation. "But Earth has Netflix. And pizza. And air conditioning. And, you know, actual plumbing. Here, I'm just trying to figure out how to make a decent meal without salt."
He paused, his expression turning thoughtful. "But I guess that's the challenge, isn't it? Building something from nothing. Surviving, thriving, and maybe even dominating this world. Hahaha, okay, maybe not dominating. But still, it's kind of exciting in a weird way."
Then suddenly, Ryan's laughter grew louder, his "world domination" personality kicking in again. "Hahahahaha, imagine if I actually pulled it off. Me, Ryan James Cooper, the guy who couldn't even keep a houseplant alive, ruling over a fantasy world. That'd be something, wouldn't it?"
He shook his head, his laughter subsiding as he stood up and began clearing the table. "Alright, enough daydreaming. I've got a mountain to climb, goblins to deal with, and iron to find. No time for world domination… yet."
After enjoying his first proper meal in what felt like forever, Ryan shifted his focus to preparing for his upcoming expedition. He packed all of his essentials into the wagon's inventory: smoked meat, wood, his cooking pot, his bow and arrows, his bedroll, his tent, and his firestarter.
"I'll head out early tomorrow," he muttered to himself, his voice firm with determination. "But for now, let's make some water pouches. At least five of them."
Ryan walked over to his warehouse and grabbed some leather from his stockpile. He placed the leather on the crafting bench and opened the crafting menu, selecting the Water Pouch option. The system guided him through the process, his hands moving swiftly as he crafted five sturdy water pouches.
Crafting the Wooden Barrel:
As he finished the water pouches, Ryan's gaze fell on a wooden barrel on the bottom of the crafting menu. "Let's just dismantle the goblin weapons for the iron scraps," he said, heading back to his storage area to retrieve the crude weapons he had looted earlier.
He examined the weapons, their rough iron edges glinting faintly in the dim light. "The wooden barrel needs three iron scraps," he muttered, weighing the weapons in his hands. "These might be enough, but it's the only iron I've got. Well, let's just invest in it. The first problem on a long expedition is water. I can hunt for food along the way, but water is the real challenge if I'm not near a body of water."
Ryan dismantled the goblin weapons, carefully extracting the iron scraps. He placed them on the crafting bench and selected the Wooden Barrel option from the menu. The system guided him through the process, and soon, a sturdy wooden barrel sat before him.
By the time Ryan finished crafting the barrel, night had fallen, the cabin roof casting long shadows in the moonlight. He took the remaining time to fill the barrel and the water pouches, ensuring he had enough water for the journey ahead.
As he worked, his mind wandered to the challenges he would face. "The mountain is a long way off, and who knows what I'll encounter along the way? Goblins, wild beasts, maybe even something worse. But I've got to do this. I need that iron."
With the barrel and pouches filled, Ryan stored them in the wagon's inventory. He glanced around the cabin, his eyes lingering on the early warning system he had set up earlier. "At least I'll know if anything tries to sneak up on me while I'm sleeping, hopefully I'll wake up" he said, a hint of pride in his voice.
Ryan stretched, his muscles aching from the day's work. "Time to get some rest. Tomorrow's going to be a long day."
Ryan lay down on his bed, the soft glow of the moonlight filtering through the window. His mind, however, was far from restful. He stared at the ceiling, his thoughts racing as he strategized his approach to the goblin settlement.
"How shall I plan this?" he muttered, his voice low. "My main goal is iron. If their settlement is near the foot of the mountain, I can do stealth and sabotage. Burn their homes while they're asleep and instill chaos. Or maybe poison their water storages. But how can I find poison? Some frogs, maybe? I know enough that colorful and shiny frogs are poisonous. And snakes—I can catch them easily since I learned how to handle them during my part-time job at the zoo."
He paused, his brow furrowing as he considered the challenges. "But if they're huddled up inside a cave in the mountain, it'll be hard for me to get in. I can't exactly dress up as a goblin. Maybe I'll block the entrance, light a fire, and fill the cave with smoke. But that's too reckless. I can't determine if they're dead or not. Well, let's just figure it out when I'm there. For now, let's sleep. I need to be up early tomorrow."