Joshua spent the next three days in bed, trapped in a vicious cycle of pain and exhaustion. His body felt like a shattered shell, each movement sending sharp jolts of agony through his limbs. Even breathing felt like dragging fire into his lungs.
The first day was unbearable. Every attempt to gather energy sent stabbing pains through his core, as if something inside him was broken. His body refused to move, his muscles aching as if he had been beaten with iron rods. His head pounded non-stop, and worst of all, his core felt… empty. It was a terrifying sensation, like a part of him was simply missing.
The medicine Maydee gave him was foul—thick, bitter, and reeking of herbs he didn't recognize. Every sip made his stomach churn, but he forced himself to drink it. He had no choice.
By the second day, he could at least focus enough to do his breathing exercises. Inhale. Hold. Exhale. Slowly, steadily. The first few attempts felt useless, like he was trying to fill a broken cup. But after hours of effort, he sensed something—a faint warmth, weak and flickering, deep inside him.
He latched onto it, guiding the energy carefully through his body. Every pulse of energy came with pain, but he endured it. His core was healing, but the process was agonizingly slow.
By the third day, the pain had dulled to a persistent ache. His energy flow had improved, no longer feeling like trying to squeeze water from dry sand. He could finally sit up without wanting to scream, and the moment he did, he grinned.
"Now I'm healed. Time to log out and take care of real-life matters. I can't wait to test my power. But first i need to get back to the real world."
As soon as he logged out, Joshua's senses were assaulted by the real world. His stiff body ached from lying down too long. The moment he stood, his bladder screamed for relief.
"Ugh… I forgot how much my body hates me," he muttered, wobbling toward the bathroom.
After relieving himself, he ordered food, stomach growling from real-world hunger.
While waiting, he sat cross-legged on the floor. His mind was still buzzing from his recovery in the game.
He closed his eyes and focused. He tried recalling the sensation, the flow of energy he had guided in the game. He slowed his breathing, inhaling deeply, holding, exhaling.
Minutes passed. Nothing.
Frustrated, he repeated the process. Inhale. Hold. Exhale. Focus.
Then—something shifted.
A faint, almost imperceptible warmth flickered at the edge of his awareness. It was weak, so much weaker than in the game, but it was there.
Joshua's eyes snapped open.
"I did it! It's not a fluke!"
Just as he was about to experiment further, the doorbell rang. His food had arrived.
The smell hit him before he even opened the containers, an intoxicating mix of sizzling meat, crispy fries, and fried goodness. Joshua's stomach growled loudly as he set the food on the table.
He had ordered a feast:
A fat, juicy hamburger, dripping with cheese and special sauce, stacked with crisp lettuce, tomatoes, and pickles between a toasted brioche bun.
A large serving of golden, crispy fries, perfectly salted and still piping hot.
A fresh garden salad, loaded with shredded cheese, croutons, and drizzled with ranch dressing.
Three packs of chicken nuggets, crunchy on the outside, juicy on the inside, served with honey mustard and barbecue sauce.
And for dessert, a large cup of ice cream, topped with chocolate syrup and crushed cookies.
Joshua wasted no time, grabbing the burger first. The first bite sent a rush of flavor through his mouth—the juiciness of the beef patty, the tangy pickles, the melted cheese blending perfectly. He chewed slowly, savoring it.
Next, he grabbed a handful of fries, dipping them in barbecue sauce before popping them into his mouth. The crunch, the saltiness, the slight sweetness of the sauce—it was addictive.
Then came the nuggets. He dipped one into honey mustard, the flavor contrast making him sigh in satisfaction.
Halfway through his meal, he glanced at the salad and sighed.
"Fine, I need the fiber."
He stabbed at the leafy greens, shoving a forkful into his mouth before washing it down with soda.
Finally, the ice cream. The cold sweetness was the perfect finisher, sending a pleasant chill down his throat.
He leaned back in his chair, rubbing his stomach.
"I really need to cook to save money, lol."
Feeling satisfied, Joshua took a long, hot shower, letting the warmth soothe his muscles. As he dried off, he reviewed the firearm specs once again, mentally linking each attribute to potential spell effects.
Once dressed, he lay back down and logged in.
Joshua opened his eyes and stretched, his body feeling refreshed. His first priority?
"I stink."
He grabbed a fresh set of clothes from the bedside table and made his way toward the river. The crisp morning air filled his lungs as he walked, unaware that someone was watching.
Bran stood in the shadows, his sharp gaze following Joshua's every movement.
Joshua reached the river, stripping down and stepping into the cold water. He shivered but quickly adapted, scrubbing off the grime from the past few days. The sensation of clean, cool water running over his skin was heavenly. He dunked his head, running his fingers through his hair, washing away the last traces of his sickness.
After a few minutes, he stepped out, shaking off excess water before putting on fresh clothes. He stretched, feeling light and refreshed.
"Much better."
He walked back to the house, only to be greeted by the sight of Maydee standing at the entrance, arms crossed, tapping her foot impatiently.
"Where did you go?" she asked, her tone bordering on exasperation.
Joshua scratched the back of his head. "Sorry, Master. Had to take a bath by the river."
Maydee sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. "My idiot disciple."
Joshua blinked. "Huh?"
"There's a bathhouse behind this house."
Joshua froze.
"…Oh."
Maydee stared at him expectantly.
He groaned, slapping his forehead. "Sorry, Master. I didn't know."
"Now you do," she said flatly. Then her expression softened. "Are you ready to start listening to me now?"
Joshua grinned. "Yes, Master."
"Then follow me."
Without another word, Maydee turned and walked off, Joshua trailing behind her, his excitement bubbling once more.