Vision 5 - Handling (3)
Resting on a tree branch was more comfortable than I thought, and the leafy area became a good pillow for me.
I spent two days straight in the forest. I could have gone anywhere, but the branch under the sun was warm, and the moon at night was beautiful.
"For how much longer are we going to be here?"
But Persephone easily gets bored. She wants to travel around. But going around the world is too much for now. I don't know why she is getting impatient—resting like this is pretty relaxing, in my opinion.
And it's not like I did nothing.
"I did go to the city for a walk."
"Walk? You just went around and picked up useless things. Except for that sword, which is also worthless."
Obviously, I wasn't just lying around, even though I wanted to. I picked up some stuff during my walk.
"Don't worry, it will be useful. Rather, shouldn't you be solving the riddle?"
I also found something to kill my time. Just like Persephone, the Nubeculas who were watching me also wanted me to go around doing something interesting.
Since I still had to wait and these higher existences were bugging me, I suggested we play riddles. At first, they found my suggestion crazy.
Who would suggest playing riddles with higher existences, who are supposed to be like gods? But I wasn't so normal either. Once I started asking riddles, they all quickly got obsessed with the game.
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[The Nubecula 'Who Likes Cigars and Candy' says your riddle is ridiculous.]
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[The Nubecula 'Razel' comments, "The answer is rain."]
[The Nubecula 'Whose Heart Bleeds for the Heartbroken' comments, "No, it's food."]
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[The Nubecula 'Gumiho' wants you to repeat the riddle.]
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[The Nubecula 'Hwang Jini' wants to join as well.]
[Some Nubeculas also want to join as well.]
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Well, it looks like Hwang Jini got interested. Gumiho must have told others about me asking riddles to Nubeculas.
Hwang Jini was from the Joseon Dynasty. She was famous for her charm and intellect. She was considered almost a myth-like legend in Korean history.
"Okay, one more time. 'I have a head and a tail that will never meet. Having too many of me is always a treat. What am I?'"
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[The Nubecula 'Who Likes Cigars and Candy' comments, "You like to eat snakes."]
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[The Nubecula 'Whose Heart Bleeds for the Heartbroken' is wondering about your food taste.]
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[The Nubecula 'Gumiho' comments, "Your wife will have a hard time making your food."]
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I frowned. These Nubeculas have a wild imagination. How does asking about snakes lead to a wife cooking food?
"I have no such taste."
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[The Nubecula 'Whose Heart Bleeds for the Heartbroken' is relieved.]
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I ignored the messages I was getting. And why was she relieved? I have some weird Nubeculas watching me.
"Come on, time is ticking."
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[Some Nubeculas are seriously thinking about your riddle.]
[The Nubecula 'Hwang Jini' is seriously thinking about your riddle.]
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"Head... Tail... too many is a treat..."
Persephone also thought about the answer. It's been fun for me as well—more than I thought.
But if the employees knew about this, they'd be angry that I am taking all the attention.
I closed my eyes to rest again. Since the Nubeculas were thinking about the riddle's answer, I could have some peace. Right now, I am waiting for one specific message.
It's been days, but I knew he would come.
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[The Nubecula 'Dionysus' is observing you.]
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I opened my eyes, and finally, the message I was waiting for appeared. I stretched my body as if doing morning stretches. Persephone noticed my movement.
"Hmm? Are you going to pick up useless things again?"
I smiled—a refreshed smile—because now it's time to work.
"Now, it's time to work and greet an honest man."
"Honest man?"
I nodded and jumped down from the tree, walking in a certain direction, but then I remembered something.
"Ah... The answer was 'Coin.'"
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[The Nubecula 'Razel' comments, "Coin seems reasonable."]
[200 points donated.]
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[The Nubecula 'Who Likes Cigars and Candy' says he was going to answer that.]
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[The Nubecula 'Gumiho' wants to play some more.]
[100 points donated.]
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[The Nubecula 'Whose Heart Bleeds for the Heartbroken' likes how intelligent you are.]
[200 points donated.]
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[The Nubecula 'Hwang Jini' has taken an interest in you.]
[Some Nubeculas nod their heads in understanding.]
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I ignored all the messages and only focused on the points. Riddles helped me get some points since Nubeculas enjoyed playing with me.
I've accumulated quite a few points, considering I've only been in this world for a week. I haven't used them because I haven't had the need to. I have Persephone with me.
I walked toward the path commonly used by the citizens of Brigian. A middle-aged man was walking from the city road toward the forest.
I looked at the man and activated Prescient Description.
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[The Active Skill 'Prescient Description' is activated.]
[Name: Bob High
Age: 39 years old
Blessing: None
Active Attribute: Loves Wood Cutting (General)
Active Skills: Axe-Wielding Lvl.3, Absolute Sense Lvl.1, Woodcutting Lvl.5
Passive Skills: Tenacity Lvl.2, Analyst Lvl.2
Overall Stats: Strength Lvl.30, Stamina Lvl.29, Agility Lvl.25, Magic Power Lvl.21
Description: He works as an analyst for a local wood corporation in Brigian. His hobby is woodcutting. He's so passionate that he practices woodcutting on every free day.]
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As soon as I read the Active Attribute of the person walking toward me, a smile formed on my face. This was the person I was waiting for.
He is the person Dionysus often watched—Bob High. He is like any middle-aged man, with short black hair and a medium-length beard. He was wearing hiking clothes and carried two axes, one in each hand.
I walked toward him. Our eyes met, and I spoke with a genuine smile.
"Hello, sir."
I greeted the man in hiking clothes. He stopped walking and looked me in the eyes. His were so obvious to read, that I could practically see confusion in them.
"Hello."
"You're Bob High, right, sir?"
"Yes?"
The middle-aged man was confused, but I couldn't sense any annoyance in his tone. He really is a simple and honest man. I smiled as gently as I could.
"Good morning, Sir Bob. I'm Arthur. I've heard a lot about you, and I want you to introduce me to the art of woodcutting."
"Arthur? What happened to you? How did you become so polite? You've changed. Sniff"
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[The Nubecula 'Who Likes Cigars and Candy' is laughing at your polite behavior.]
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[The Nubecula 'Razel' comments, "One should be polite."]
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[The Nubecula 'Whose Heart Bleeds for the Heartbroken' likes polite behavior as well.]
[The Nubecula 'Gumiho' wants the bad boy attitude back.]
[The Nubecula 'Hwang Jini' has taken an interest in you.]
[Some Nubeculas agree with Gumiho.]
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[800 total points donated.]
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I wanted to roll my eyes. Why are they being so dramatic? I'm always polite. I ignored the Nubeculas and Persephone, who is shedding crocodile tears next to me.
Seeing my gentle smile, Bob also smiled in kind. His smile was even gentler than mine. It could only be because he's honest at heart.
"Of course. It's rare to find young people who would take an interest in this hobby of mine."
My smile widened—I think I was almost grinning. It went perfectly. Bob loves woodcutting as a hobby, but with the technology available all around, it's hard to find someone who would take an interest in his hobby.
"Wonderful. Thank you so much."
"It's okay, but it seems you don't have an ax. You can use this one—I always carry an extra."
I took the ax from his left hand and nodded. It's always easy to work with positive people.
"Let's go. I'll take you to a good place for woodcutting."
"Sure."
We both then started to go deeper into the forest. After walking for half an hour, we arrived at a place filled with trees 5 to 6 feet tall.
It seemed like the sky was covered with leaves, and sunlight poured down from the gaps between them. There were also some half-cut tree trunks. It was quite a beautiful sight.
"Peaceful, right?"
I nodded. Bob's words were true. I would probably have a peaceful sleep here.
"I like the forest. That's why I like to work in the Cloud Continent. Even though we use most of the technology from the Modern Continent, it's difficult to have this natural atmosphere."
I understood what Bob was trying to say. On Earth, there were many talks about reforesting to restore the original nature we were losing. But that doesn't mean people didn't want to develop cities and advance as much as possible.
Teraa, in that regard, was quite well-developed. One side embraces nature and tries to preserve it, while the other develops it to its heart's content, maintaining a balance.
Too bad. Dark matter is still going to overload.
"Come on."
"Yes. Actually, it'll be my first time cutting a tree, but I'll try my best."
"That's alright. Everyone starts from somewhere."
I smiled at his words. Persephone flew beside me. I quietly moved my mouth to say, "Little stats," and she nodded.
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[The Nubecula 'Dionysus' is observing you.]
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I picked up the ax and with the shared stats, started hammering the sharp side of the ax at the same spot on the tree trunk. I knew the basics of woodcutting.
After five hours of continuous work, I was able to cut down one tree. I depleted all my stamina and was sweating. I had taken off all my upper clothes at some point.
"You did great for your first time."
"Thank you."
Bob had cut down six trees—it was insane. He made it look too easy, but it was actually a lot harder.
"But you were amazing, sir. Your passion for woodcutting can be seen through your work."
I was earnestly praising him. He had cut down six trees and even cut them into smaller pieces so they could be used as firewood.
"Thank you. You yourself are quite amazing, boy. Even though you're young, you have maturity in you. I'm flattered to have your praise."
"Is that so? I've always been called someone who makes things worse. So, getting praise from someone as honest as you makes me feel good."
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[Some Nubeculas are curious about what you said.]
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As I glanced at the purple texts on the white panel, I sensed Bob and Persephone frowning at my words, but then Bob relaxed his brows and said, "It's getting late, and I need to go back."
"Yes, let's go back. I hope you can come with me again. Are you free tomorrow?"
"Yes... I'm actually free."
"Great. Let's meet at the same time and place where we met today."
After tying the firewood, Bob nodded, and we both walked back toward the city. I split up with Bob after coming out of the forest and went back to the tree branch where I had spent the last two days.
I lay down on the branch and looked toward the moon, which was on its way to the top. As usual, it was beautiful, but I'd been feeling a hint of frustration for quite some time. And it wasn't settling down because it wasn't mine.
I looked toward the person who had been quiet for some reason, sitting on the branch next to me.
"What?"
Persephone asked me in an annoyed tone. I kept staring at her. It wasn't like I could ask her directly—Nubeculas would message me something like, 'Why are you talking to yourself again?'
"Why are you looking at me like that?"
You know why. Spill it.
My gaze said that. She tried to look away but could still feel my stare.
"When you said you're someone who makes things worse..."
Ah, it was that. I turned back to look at the moon. Why is she asking that? I thought it would be something important, but it wasn't.
"Isn't it a common thing?"
Everyone's heard that at least once in their lifetime. People always criticize others—it's not something unusual.
"But when you said it, I felt like you were saying it as if it was too common for you."
"So?"
"Who used to say those things to you?"
I looked toward the astral projection of Persephone. She didn't have a look of pity or unease. She was gazing toward the moon with a calm expression as if she was just asking a normal question.
It made me smile. It's easy for me to talk to someone whose emotions I can feel.
I took a deep breath and answered her question.
"Everyone. My father, my mother, my friends, my relatives."
Since I was a little boy, everyone always told me not to do anything besides studying—that studying was the only thing I was decent at.
There was silence after that. Persephone didn't say anything in response to my remark. For some reason, I also didn't get a message from the Nubeculas about any statement I made. It was peaceful.
"Tomorrow, we'll be busy. Good night."
I said good night to Persephone and closed my eyes. Tomorrow, I'll be getting one of the things I need to survive in this world.