The morning after the mine quest, JP sat at the guild counter with a pouch heavier than usual. The ore samples and a few bat hides had fetched him a tidy sum.
As the clerk counted coins, a faint chime rang in JP's ears. His vision blurred, and for a moment, glowing text shimmered before him:
[Status Board Updated]Name: JPLevel: 3 → 4HP: 110/110MP: 62/70Skills Learned:
Crafting Insight (Lv.1) – Enhances efficiency when combining materials.
Mana Conductivity (Lv.1) – Increases stability of mana-infused items.
JP blinked hard, heart hammering. So it wasn't just my imagination back then… this really is a system.
He whispered, "Status," and the board appeared again, faintly glowing in his mind's eye. His niece's words back on Earth echoed: Levels, skills, stats, parameters… just like those webnovels.
He almost laughed out loud.
But the coins in his hand pulled him back to reality. He needed to eat—and build.
That afternoon, JP set up his crate again in the village square. His Glow Pebbles sold quickly; a farmer's wife bought three straps; even a passing guard bought one of his water-saving jars.
But not everyone was happy. He caught rival merchants glaring, muttering among themselves.
"Undercutting us…""Those strange stones… dangerous."
JP forced a smile, pocketing his coppers. They'll have to get used to me. I'm not stopping.
From the shadows, Lyra leaned casually against a post, arms crossed, silver eyes watching. She didn't say a word, but he felt her gaze like a knife.