The night within the Great Jura Forest was nothing like the peaceful evenings I had spent in my previous life.
Every sound felt amplified. The rustling of leaves became potential threats lurking beyond my sight, while distant howls caused Nepoleon's feathers to bristle even in his sleep. The darkness itself felt alive, as though countless unseen eyes were observing every movement I made from beyond the boundaries of the forest.
Earlier, I had decided to tame the Forest Troll and give it the name Timber. At a time when I desperately needed every bit of assistance I could gather, letting such an opportunity slip away would have been foolish. Besides, Timber was an invaluable asset in his own right. He was Initiate ★★★★, considerably stronger and sturdier than me, and if cultivated properly, he could grow into a terrifying ally in the future.
---
BEAST INFORMATION
Species: Forest Troll
Rank: Initiate ★★★★
Age: 8 Years
Trait: Regenerative Bark
Loyalty: 62%
Special Abilities:
[Vine Manipulation] – Can control plant life within a 20-meter radius.
[Natural Armor] – Bark-like skin provides enhanced defense.
[Photosynthesis] – Slowly regenerates health under sunlight.
---
I scrolled through Timber's information for the second time. Despite standing nearly twelve feet tall and possessing enough strength to crush me into paste, he was only eight years old. It made me wonder just how massive Forest Trolls became after reaching maturity and undergoing proper cultivation.
Putting that aside, I had spent the remainder of the day constructing a crude shelter using branches and bark gathered by Timber. Surprisingly, neither my summons nor my tamed beasts were restricted by the territorial barrier. The only unfortunate soul trapped within the fifty-meter radius was me.
Naturally, I had immediately sent Nepoleon and Timber to scout the surrounding area in search of water. Unfortunately, the results were disappointing. There were no visible streams, ponds, or rivers anywhere nearby.
With a sigh, I opened the quest interface and shifted my attention toward the requirements for territory expansion.
---
Territory Expansion
Current Radius: 50m
Upgrade to 100m Requirements:
• 100 SP
• 1 Building Constructed
• 6 Inhabitants
---
The first obstacle toward building a village was obvious.
I needed to expand my territory.
The problem was that expansion required 100 SP while I only possessed 60 after purchasing the healing potion for Nepoleon. Even if I somehow managed to gather enough points, I would still need to construct a proper building and increase my population.
My eyes drifted toward another notification.
[Inhabitants: 3/6]
A wave of relief washed over me.
Apparently Nepoleon and Timber counted as inhabitants.
Otherwise, I honestly had no idea how I would have fulfilled that requirement.
[You know, most people sleep during the night.]
ChatZero's interface flickered into existence above me.
"Most people aren't trapped in the deadliest forest on the continent with a countdown hanging over their heads."
[181 days now. It's already past midnight.]
I groaned.
"Thank you. Your ability to increase stress remains unparalleled."
[That's the least I can do for someone who still considers drinking his own urine a valid survival strategy.]
"Actually..." I shifted slightly and sat upright. "I've been thinking about the water problem."
At the moment, Timber stood guard near the perimeter while Nepoleon rested. Not that there was much danger inside the territory itself. We had already explored most of the available area, and according to the restrictions placed on the zone, creatures significantly stronger than me couldn't simply wander inside without permission.
At first, I had found that suspicious.
Now, however, I was beginning to view it as a safety mechanism.
Perhaps whoever had thrown me into this world wasn't entirely interested in watching me die.
Either way, it gave me time to grow stronger.
More importantly, Timber's presence was reassuring. An Initiate Four-Star Forest Troll was more than capable of dealing with any threat that could realistically enter the territory.
[So what's this brilliant plan of yours?]
"Hmm... I was thinking about digging for water using Gravity Manipulation."
There was a brief silence.
[Using gravity... to dig for groundwater?]
"Groundwater exists almost everywhere. Timber also confirmed there's water beneath us. If I focus enough gravitational pressure downward, I might be able to compress the soil and create something similar to a well."
Another pause followed.
[...That's actually not completely stupid.]
"High praise."
[Don't get used to it. You'll probably exhaust yourself and pass out again.]
Despite ChatZero's pessimism, I felt a small spark of hope.
Morning arrived faster than expected.
Or perhaps I had fallen asleep without realizing it.
Either way, my alarm clock arrived in the form of a certain oversized rooster.
COCK-A-DOODLE-DOOOOOOO!
I nearly launched myself out of the shelter.
"Damn it, Nepoleon! A little warning next time!"
The rooster stared at me.
Not merely stared.
Smugly stared.
A notification appeared.
[Loyalty: 78% → 79%]
"Oh, so terrorizing me first thing in the morning increases your loyalty? Wonderful."
After stretching my aching limbs, I opened the System Shop.
---
SYSTEM SHOP LV.1
Carpenter Set – 15 SP
Rice Seedlings (x50) – 5 SP
Low-Grade Potion – 10 SP
Wooden Bucket – 3 SP
---
I blinked.
"Wait."
Something felt off.
"ChatZero, why is there a wooden bucket in the store now? It wasn't here yesterday."
[The store gradually adapts to your circumstances. Think of it as a merchant trying to sell what you need most.]
That was... unexpectedly useful.
And somewhat concerning.
Regardless, I purchased the bucket, reducing my SP to fifty-seven.
The craftsmanship was surprisingly decent. Sturdy oak construction reinforced by iron bands.
"Alright."
I turned toward Nepoleon.
"We're going digging."
The rooster tilted his head.
"Don't look at me like that. This plan is absolutely going to work."
Whether he believed me or not remained unclear.
Next, I turned toward Timber.
"Timber, find the location most likely to contain groundwater."
"Timber... help Master!"
The troll immediately spread his vines throughout the surrounding area. Several minutes later, he pointed toward a small clearing.
"Good boy."
A notification appeared.
[Loyalty: 62% → 64%]
I couldn't help but smile.
Apparently praise was all it took to improve his mood.
Approaching the designated area, I crouched and inspected the soil. The grass here grew noticeably thicker while the earth beneath my boots felt softer and slightly damp.
I wasn't a survival expert by any means.
Still, I had watched enough documentaries and survival programs to recognize a few basic indicators.
"This should work."
I placed the bucket nearby before lowering both palms toward the ground.
The key wasn't power.
It was control.
Yesterday, I had used Gravity Manipulation almost entirely through instinct and emotion. Today, I needed precision.
Closing my eyes, I focused on the earth beneath me.
Layers of soil.
Roots.
Stone.
Weight.
I could feel all of it through my ability.
"There."
The sensation resembled touching an invisible thread hidden beneath the surface.
Slowly, I increased the gravitational pull within a circular section of earth roughly three feet across.
The soil trembled.
Then gradually began sinking inward.
Sweat formed along my forehead almost immediately.
This wasn't like throwing a punch.
It felt more like trying to lift increasingly heavier weights using only my mind.
[Stamina: 87%... 84%... 81%...]
The ground continued collapsing.
Six inches.
One foot.
Two feet.
My breathing became heavier.
Three feet.
Four feet.
[Stamina: 62%]
The deeper I pushed, the harder the soil became. Dense layers resisted the pressure as though actively fighting against me.
Still, I persisted.
"Just... a little more..."
Five feet.
Six feet.
[Stamina: 48%]
Then—
Something changed.
Through my gravitational perception, I sensed movement.
Not soil.
Not stone.
Something fluid.
Something flowing.
My eyes snapped open.
"Water!"
Excitement surged through me.
Without thinking, I increased the pressure further.
The compressed earth suddenly gave way.
WHOOSH!
A surge of muddy water burst upward from below, splashing directly across my face before settling into a shallow pool at the bottom of the newly formed pit.
I immediately released the ability and collapsed onto my back.
[Stamina: 31%]
Several notifications appeared.
[Achievement Unlocked: Founder of a Well in the Wilderness]
[+20 SP]
I ignored them.
Instead, I simply stared at the sky.
Then slowly turned toward the pit.
Water.
Actual water.
Nepoleon cautiously approached the edge and peered downward before looking back at me.
The expression on his face seemed to say:
"You actually did it?"
"Yeah."
I laughed weakly.
"I actually did."
The water remained muddy for now, disturbed by the excavation process, but given enough time it would settle.
And that meant one thing.
We had water.
[I'll admit it.]
ChatZero appeared.
[That was impressive. Reckless, stupid, and completely irresponsible... but impressive.]
"Your praise means everything to me."
[Sarcasm detected and ignored.]
I remained sprawled on the grass for several minutes.
A strange sense of satisfaction settled over me.
Water had always been the foundation of civilization.
Villages formed around it.
Kingdoms fought wars over it.
Entire populations rose and fell depending on access to it.
If I wanted to build a village, then the first step was never houses.
It was water.
Two hours later, after the sediment had settled somewhat, I used the bucket to collect a sample.
The first sip nearly made me emotional.
Cold.
Clean.
Refreshing.
After spending nearly two days worrying about dehydration, it tasted better than any luxury drink from my previous life.
Nepoleon drank enthusiastically from a bowl I had carved out of bark while Timber spread several vines into the water source.
Almost immediately, the Forest Troll appeared noticeably healthier.
His leaves brightened.
His bark seemed richer in color.
Even his posture improved.
"Timber, you like the water?"
"Timber... need water. Timber happy. Timber won't eat Master."
I paused.
"Funny that eating me was still an option."
Timber merely blinked.
Honestly, I wasn't entirely sure whether he was joking.
Then again, according to the inherited memories, Forest Trolls occasionally consumed living organisms when deprived of sunlight and water for extended periods.
Perhaps he wasn't joking at all.
Suddenly, another notification appeared.
[New Quest Available!]
I nearly dropped the bucket.
"What now?"
A new interface unfolded before me.
---
SIDE QUEST: FOOD SECURITY
Objective: Establish a sustainable food source.
Options:
• Plant 50+ Rice Seedlings
• Hunt 3 Initiate-Rank Beasts
• Discover Wild Edibles
Reward: 30 SP, 1 Normal Summon Ticket
Time Limit: 7 Days
---
A summon ticket.
Now that was tempting.
"ChatZero, can I complete multiple objectives?"
[You can. However, the reward is only granted once. The quest ends the moment any single objective is completed.]
"Hunting sounds fastest."
Three Initiate-ranked beasts.
Considering I had already subdued a Four-Star Forest Troll, it sounded manageable.
[Overconfidence is a slow and insidious killer.]
I frowned.
"Is that from a game?"
[Darkest Dungeon.]
"Thought so."
Ignoring the AI's ominous warning, I opened my status window.
---
STATUS WINDOW
Name: Marfin
Age: 16
Rank: Initiate ★★
HP: 100/125
Stamina: 31/125
Trait: Gravity Manipulation
SP: 77
Summons: 1 (Nepoleon)
Tamed Beasts: 1 (Timber)
Territory: 50m Radius
---
"Not bad."
A small smile formed on my lips.
For only two days of struggle, the results were surprisingly decent.
My stamina, however, remained dangerously low after digging the well.
Rest was necessary.
"Hunting can wait."
I glanced toward my companions.
"Nepoleon. Timber. Guard duty."
Timber immediately puffed out his chest and took position near the well while Nepoleon strutted toward the opposite side of the shelter, clearly treating the assignment with utmost seriousness.
Satisfied, I returned to my crude shelter and closed my eyes.
Sleep arrived quickly.
Far too quickly.
And just as quickly, it was interrupted.
THUD.
THUD.
THUD.
Heavy footsteps echoed through the territory.
My eyes snapped open.
For a moment, I considered the possibility of another Forest Troll.
Then I turned toward the source.
And immediately froze.