Chapter 5 Campfire Under the Stars
After making sure the cave was far behind me, I moved through the dense forest with quiet urgency. The scent of blood still clung to my clothes, and I knew it would attract unwanted attention. Goblin corpses-and worse-meant predators would be drawn in. I needed to get far, fast.
Activating Advanced Search, a translucent blue screen appeared in my vision, pulsing softly. I scanned the surrounding terrain.
[Nearby Landmark Detected: Freshwater River - 1.7 km East]
Perfect.
I sprinted toward the waypoint, leaping over roots and ducking beneath low branches.
The ground was soft with moss, and the air grew cooler as I neared the water.
Finally, the forest opened to reveal a peaceful riverbank, bathed in the golden hues of the setting sun.
The water shimmered like liquid silver beneath the rising moon.
I let out a long breath. "This'll do."
Kneeling beside the river, I washed my hands and face, scrubbing away the grime and dried goblin blood. The cool water soothed my aching muscles. My reflection stared back at me-tired eyes, dirt-streaked cheeks, and a thin scratch down one side of my jaw.
"Not exactly heroic," I muttered, wiping it away.
Once I felt halfway human again, I activated one of the most surreal gifts I'd received: [Online Shop].
A modern digital interface materialized before me, sleek and responsive, like an e-commerce site from Earth. It was strangely comforting, seeing something so familiar in this fantasy world.
"Let's see... time to cash in some goblin gold."
I tapped through the menus, exchanging a handful of coins I'd looted from the Goblin King's hoard.
[Camping Gear Set]
[Luxury Sleeping Bag - Flame Resistant, Self-Cleaning]
[Portable Tent - Magic Auto Setup, Climate-Controlled]
[Meal Pack: Italian Feast Edition - Pizza, Meatballs, Carbonara, Garlic Bread, Tiramisu]
[Soft Drinks - Cola, Lemon Soda, Mineral Water]
I grinned. "I always wanted to try a full Italian spread."
With a soft shimmer, the items appeared in my inventory. I summoned each one, setting them up beneath a tall willow tree. The tent sprang to life with a soft whump, unfolding itself and anchoring securely into the ground. A campfire pit appeared, complete with clean stones and kindling.
To top it all off, I activated Light Barrier. A soft dome of golden light flickered to life around me, warding off monsters and keeping the space safe and silent.
I sat by the fire, peeled open a slice of pepperoni pizza, and took a bite. The cheese stretched perfectly, the crust crackled in my hands, and the savory scent filled the air.
"God... this world may be dangerous, but at least it has pizza."
The heat of the fire warmed my face as I leaned back, gazing up at the stars. A thousand pinpricks of light shimmered overhead. No city glow to drown them out-just an endless canvas of sky.
For the first time since arriving here, I felt at peace.
While I ate, I got to work.
Using the Weaving ability, I began crafting my next set of custom skills. They wouldn't be usable for another seven days, but preparation was key. The interface shimmered before me as I selected parameters and layered magical logic into place.
[Skill Created: Non-Stop Cultivation] - Automatically cultivates mana constantly, even while sleeping or fighting. Passively regenerates mana over time and enhances mana quality.
[Skill Created: Full Mastery] - Instantly masters any physical skill seen or read. Boosts comprehension speed and improves growth rate of martial and weapon techniques.
[Skill Created: Mach Speed Burst] - Temporarily boosts movement speed and reaction time in bursts. User can toggle it on or off at will, consuming mana proportional to velocity.
"These'll come in handy," I muttered. "Especially if I face anything tougher than that King."
After polishing off the meal and neatly packing away the leftovers, I crawled into my sleeping bag. The river's calm burble and the barrier's gentle hum became a lullaby. My eyelids grew heavy.
"Tomorrow... a village, maybe. A new start..."
Sleep took me fast.
---
Next Morning
I woke with sunlight warming the tent and the sounds of birdsong filtering through the trees. A gentle breeze tugged at the flaps. I stretched, groaning slightly as my muscles protested the previous day's battle.
Despite everything, I felt... good. Rested. Whole.
After a quick breakfast of leftover garlic bread and mineral water, I packed up camp. The tent folded into a palm-sized cube. The sleeping bag vanished into my inventory with a shimmer.
"Let's find civilization."
Activating Advanced Search again, I scanned the map.
[Nearby Settlement Detected: Altheria Village - 3.2 km Northeast]
My eyes lit up. "Bingo."
With steady strides, I set off through the woods. The path was rough-winding trails, uneven dirt, overgrown branches-but manageable. A few curious animals watched me from the underbrush, but none approached.
Eventually, a stone wall peeked through the trees.
As I crested the final hill, the village came into view: Altheria.
Not large, but not tiny either. Stone cottages with sloped rooftops, dirt streets lined with vendors, and smoke rising from chimneys. People bustled about their day-trading goods, hauling sacks, chatting in groups.
I smiled faintly. "Finally... people."
Two guards stood at the entrance, wearing simple chainmail and holding spears crossed.
One of them stepped forward, eyeing me with suspicion. His gaze lingered on my T-shirt and sneakers.
"State your business," he said bluntly.
"Traveler. First time here," I replied calmly.
The second guard frowned. "Outsiders pay two silver coins for entry."
Without hesitation, I reached into my inventory and summoned the coins. The metallic clink silenced any doubts. I handed them over.
The guards exchanged glances, then stepped aside.
"Behave yourself," the first one muttered.
Inside, the stares came almost instantly. My clothes were the issue-plain, modern, clean. I stuck out like a sore thumb. The villagers wore tunics, cloaks, armor pieces, aprons. Even the children had more traditional garb.
"Definitely need to blend in better..." I muttered.
Activating Advanced Search again, I pinpointed a location two blocks ahead.
[Lana's Tailoring Wardrobe - Clothing and Light Armor for Adventurers]
"Perfect."
Slipping into a side street, I reached the shop and stepped inside. A small bell jingled.
The interior was quaint-wooden shelves, warm lighting, walls lined with boots, belts, gloves, and folded tunics. A faint scent of lavender lingered in the air.
An older man behind the counter gave me a once-over. His lips thinned, eyes settling on my shirt and pants.
"Welcome," he said flatly. "What're you looking for?"
"Adventuring gear. Something practical."
He raised an eyebrow but gestured toward the rear racks. "Back section."
I headed there eagerly. Finally, something that felt like character creation.
After browsing, I selected:
A sleek black tunic reinforced with light leather plates.
Durable dark pants with reinforced knees.
A lightweight hooded vest.
Sturdy leather boots.
Fingerless gloves with metal studs.
A deep gray scarf for covering my face in dust or battle.
Simple. Functional. Stylish.
"This is it," I murmured, holding up the gloves. "Exactly the look I wanted."
At the counter, the old man didn't even glance up. He waved to someone in the back.
"I'll leave him to you. No discounts."
From behind the curtain stepped a young woman, early twenties, with silver hair tied in a low braid and amber eyes full of curiosity.
She blinked at me, then offered a warm smile. "I can help you with that."
She quickly tallied the total. "One gold coin, sir."
I placed two on the counter.
"One for the clothes," I said, pushing the second forward, "and one for your kindness."
Her eyes widened. "T-Thank you...!"
I smiled, gave a small nod, and stepped out into the sunlight, the shop bell tinkling behind me.
As I walked through the village now clad in proper adventurer's gear, I felt different-grounded. Real.
For the first time since arriving in this world, I wasn't just surviving.
I was living it.