Jameson crouched behind the bush, observing the village. The AI, persistent as ever, continued chiming in his mind.
[ Hmm... weird, they're using the empire's language. ( ´ □ ` ) ]
Jameson furrowed his brows. "What do you mean?"
[ It's my creators' language. ]
Jameson paused, considering the implications. "Could they be remnants?"
[ (๑﹏๑//) Maybe. I lost most of my data because I'm on power-saving mode right now. ]
He sighed, straightening up. "Let's just ask them. Maybe they know more, and obviously, we can't keep hiding here."
[ Good idea! ( – ⌓ – ) ]
As Jameson stepped into the village, the villagers quickly took notice. A burly man wielding an axe approached him cautiously.
"Who are you, and what are you doing here?" the man asked gruffly.
Jameson was about to panic, but then the AI's voice echoed in his mind.
[ Don't worry! I'm translating their language in real-time. Just speak as you normally do. ]
Clearing his throat, Jameson answered, "I lost my memory. I stumbled into the forest and eventually found this village."
A wrinkled elder stepped forward, stroking his beard. "The church's doing again, no doubt..." he muttered before looking at Jameson with a sympathetic smile. "You must be tired. Come, you can take refuge in an abandoned hut. The previous owner perished in a monster attack."
"Thank you, Elder..."
"Since you have no name, it would be right for us to give you one. How about Jay?" the elder suggested.
Jameson blinked. It was close enough to his actual name. "Jay... yeah, I like it."
The elder chuckled. "Then it's settled. I am Magno, the village elder. And this here is Boris, our blacksmith."
Boris grunted in acknowledgment. "The church often exiles those who refuse to follow their teachings. They erase their memories and send them to the Wildlands, hoping the monsters finish them off. You're not the first, nor will you be the last."
Jameson frowned. "Exiles? Does the church hold that much power?"
The elder and Boris exchanged glances before Magno said, "For now, let's get you settled in. Let me show you around the village."
As they walked, Jameson noticed villagers casting wary yet curious glances his way. Magno gestured towards a worn-down building. "That there is our pub. We drink to forget our problems and fears of monster attacks."
"Monster attacks?" Jameson questioned.
"Yes," Magno sighed. "The Wildlands are teeming with creatures that see us as nothing more than food. Our village is on a plateau, so we experience fewer attacks than those below. Still, it's a dangerous place to live."
Boris chuckled. "Either you're lucky or skilled to have found our village. Regardless, we're glad to have another pair of hands."
Jameson glanced at the pub—shabby, but lively. Then, Magno gestured to another building. "Come, let me show you the blacksmith. Boris has been looking for an assistant, so it's a good chance for you to familiarize yourself with the trade."
The blacksmith shop was functional but worn. Rusted tools lined the shelves, and patched-up armor hung on the walls. Boris sighed. "It's not much, but it's what we have."
Magno added, "Our mines have been overrun by goblins, so obtaining iron and coal has been difficult. Most men would rather defend the village than risk their lives venturing out."
Jameson crossed his arms. "What about commissions? You could hire outsiders to clear the mines."
Magno shook his head. "Few are willing to risk their lives for mere coins. Boris already struggles with the cost of resources."
Shrugging, the elder continued, "Come, let's visit the marketplace."
The market was bleak. Stale bread, nearly rotting fruit, dried meat, wooden utensils, and simple clothes were among the few goods being sold. Magno smiled despite the state of things. "Monster attacks on the trade routes have made it difficult for merchants to reach us. But we make do with what we have."
Eventually, they arrived at the outskirts of the village. Beyond the trees, a cliff stretched into the distance. Magno gestured toward a modest hut. "This will be your home, Jay. It isn't much, but it's yours now."
Magno continued, his wrinkled hand reaching into his robe before pulling out a small pouch. He tossed it to Jameson, the weight of it landing solidly in his palm with the soft clink of coins shifting inside.
Jameson looked down at it, then back up at the elder, shaking his head. "Oh no, Elder, you're too kind. You don't have to—"
Magno raised a hand, cutting him off with a warm chuckle. "Just keep it, young man. Call it a… what do the merchants call it again?" He scratched his chin in thought before snapping his fingers. "Ah, yes. Call it an investment."
Jameson hesitated, then gave a small smile. "Investment, huh?"
"Yes," Magno nodded. "Besides, you have nothing to your name. Unless you plan to survive on fresh air alone, you'll need to buy a few things."
Jameson glanced down at the pouch, tightening his grip slightly before letting out a small laugh. "Alright, you've got a point."
"Of course I do," Magno said with a knowing grin. "For now, get some rest or spend some time at the pub—introduce yourself to the others. Tomorrow, see Boris. He could use an extra set of hands at the forge."
Jameson nodded. "Got it."
Magno patted his shoulder before turning away. "And if you need anything, I'll be at the pub. I spend most of my time there these days."
With that, the elder strolled off toward the center of the village, leaving Jameson standing outside his new home, the pouch of coins still in hand. He exhaled, glancing up at the darkening sky.
"Well," he muttered to himself, "guess I better get used to this place."
The AI chimed in his mind, [ You could buy some materials and start working on something cool! (๑•̀ㅂ•́)و✧ ]
Jameson sighed, shaking his head. "One step at a time, alright?"
Jay stepped inside his new home and let out a deep sigh. The place was barely livable. Cobwebs hung in the corners, dust blanketed the floor, and a broken table leaned against the wall. The cupboards were half-open, revealing a few rusted utensils, a half-sack of wheat, and a molding piece of bread. An old iron knife sat on a shelf, dull and slightly rusted. As for the bed—well, calling it that was generous. It was nothing more than a pile of hay covered in worn leather, with a thin blanket and no pillow.
The AI chimed in cheerfully.[ Come on, let's buy some materials and start building something! (≧ᗜ≦) ]
Jay groaned and ran a hand through his hair. "Have you already forgotten? We can't buy materials. The village itself is struggling with shortages. The real issue isn't just the monsters—it's the economy. If this place isn't valuable enough, merchants won't risk coming here with little to gain."
[ Then what are you gonna do instead? (¬_¬") ]
Jay sighed. "I don't know… maybe explore the village some more."
[ How about you work out? (˶˃ ᵕ ˂˶) Since I'm technically a nanobot colony resting inside your body, I consume very little energy. But if things get bad, I might have to start using your life energy instead. ( ` ꒳ ´ )✧ ]
Jay froze. "Wait—WHAT?! Didn't you say you had 20 years left?"
[ Yeah, but if I start consuming your life energy, we might both only have 20 years left.
( •̯́ ₃ •̯̀) ]
"Nahh, dude, no way."
[ That's why I suggest working out. ( ˶ˆᗜˆ˵ ) ]
Jay raised an eyebrow. "And how exactly does that help you generate energy?"
[ Ever heard of triboelectric generators? ]
"No…?"
[ Basically, Triboelectric Nanogenerators—or TENGs—generate electricity through triboelectrification and electrostatic induction. Since I'm already integrated into your body, I can harvest energy from the friction between your bodily tissues and fluids.
(⸝⸝´꒳`⸝⸝) ]
Jay blinked. "So… you're saying I generate power just by moving?"
[ Exactly! And look, I even compiled some data for you. ]
A translucent blue screen appeared in front of him:
Jameson "Jay" Villanueva
Age: 21 (30)
Implants: None
Constitution: 3.65
Perception: 3.93
Charisma: 1.10
Combat: 2.35
Intelligence: 3.96
Blueprints Acquired: None
Jay stared at the screen, narrowing his eyes. "Wait… are these my biological stats? And—hold up—are you inside my veins right now?"
[ Amazing, right? ✧｡٩(ˊᗜˋ )و✧*｡ ]
Jay skimmed the numbers again before frowning. "Wait a second—why is my charisma the lowest?"
[ I dunno. ¯_(ᵕ— ᴗ —)_/¯ ]
Jay scowled. "You're messing with me."
[ Of course not. (≖⩊≖) ]
"Nahh, you totally are. That smug face says it all."
[ No, I'm telling you—it's accurate. (^▽^)👍 ]
Jay groaned, rubbing his temples. "Fine. Whatever. What do you want me to do?"
[ Oh! Glad you asked. Here's your first Daily Quest! ]
Daily Quest:
Sit-Ups: 20
Push-Ups: 20
Pull-Ups: 20
Run 5 laps around the village
Rewards: +2 Stat Points
Jay exhaled. "Easy enough. Let's get this over with."
[ Good luck! (ദ്ദി ˙ᗜ˙ ) ]