Chapter 3

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003 - With Hope in My Heart

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Soft, pale amber hair swayed in the gentle breeze, the bangs fluttering back and forth in front of her emerald eyes.

Jyun, a petite and slender figure with a gender-neutral appearance that could easily be mistaken for a woman if her hair were longer, sat on a chair at the entrance of the house, staring at her status board.

She had finally managed to read her job, which was "Efficiency Master," but she had no idea what this job entailed.

Old Lady Shar had books about jobs, but none of them mentioned the Efficiency Master.

Similarly, the books about skills did not mention the Chain Score skill.

Her abilities were not much different from those of a typical villager or farmer, and they were not suited for combat.

● Status

【Job】Efficiency Master

【Level】0

【Experience】0/10

【Health】10/10

【Mana】5/5

【Strength】9

【Stamina】8

【Intelligence】10

【Resistance】8

【Dexterity】10

【Agility】9

【Skill】Chain Score

【CHSC】0

【Status】Wanderer

【Rewards/Punishments】

The status board was like a stone tablet, floating in the air and visible only to her. However, with her permission, she could show it to others.

She touched the words "Efficiency Master" with her index finger, and an explanation appeared.

"Someone who pursues efficiency. Gains the skill Chain Score."

When the text was garbled, this explanation did not appear. Now that it was clear, she felt relieved.

"Efficiency... huh."

Jyun had been gathering herbs in the mountains, meticulously researching the locations where they grew and the time it took for them to regrow after being harvested, to gather them more efficiently.

She had also hunted animals like mountain rabbits, always thinking about how to do so more efficiently.

Perhaps her experience in these areas had led to her being given the Efficiency Master job.

Next, she touched the Chain Score skill.

"By defeating enemies in an unbroken chain, you can gain Chain Score. You can spend CHSC points to increase your abilities, learn new skills, or level up existing skills."

It seemed that by defeating enemies in quick succession, the Chain Score skill would activate, and CHSC points would accumulate.

These points could then be spent to increase abilities, learn new skills, or level up existing skills.

She understood the content, but she had a question: why did you need to spend Chain Score points to increase abilities?

Normally, abilities would automatically increase as the level of the job increased.

However, with the Chain Score skill, you needed to accumulate and spend Chain Score points to increase abilities.

This made her wonder if the level had any meaning at all.

"Well, I'll just try it and see."

There were two problems to address:

1. What exactly counted as an enemy?

2. How to defeat these enemies.

A mountain rabbit could be defeated by a child, but they were fast runners and hard to catch.

"Monsters might be tough."

Her abilities were those of a typical villager, so she lacked the strength to fight. Her skill, Chain Score, was more of a supportive one. It was clear that fighting monsters or even humans would not be easy.

"What are you doing?"

Old Lady Shar opened the door and came out, holding a bucket. She was probably going to draw water from the well in the yard.

"I'll do it."

"Thanks, Jyun."

Old Lady Shar handed her the bucket, as if she had been waiting for Jyun to offer.

After drawing water and returning, Jyun placed the bucket on the floor, and Old Lady Shar, who had taken her seat, asked, "What were you thinking about so deeply?"

Jyun explained her job and skill, including the descriptions.

"I see. Well, monsters are certainly enemies."

"Yes, I think so too."

"Other than that, humans and animals might be enemies, but I think they can be divided into enemies and non-enemies."

"I see..."

"Since monsters are enemies, why don't you try hunting them?"

The difference between monsters and animals was whether they had a magic stone inside them. If they had a magic stone, they were classified as monsters, and all monsters were thought to attack humans.

"I don't have the strength to fight monsters. That's why I was thinking about how to fight them."

"Do your best. Even if you fail, you won't regret it as much as not trying your best."

"Do my best... Yes, you're right!"

"Besides, you'll be fine when it comes to fighting."

"Huh?"

Old Lady Shar gazed at the forest that spread beyond the property. The house was built in the forest and surrounded by a waist-high wooden fence. The surrounding forest was so dangerous that it was called the "Forest of Evil," and Jyun had once asked if it was safe. Old Lady Shar had explained that there were two layers of barriers around the property: a strong barrier that prevented powerful monsters from entering within a 2-kilometer radius, and a weaker barrier that prevented weaker monsters from entering within a 100-meter radius. As long as she stayed within 100 meters of the house, she would be safe.

"There are lots of Big Mosquitoes in this forest. You can hunt them."

Big Mosquitoes were mosquito-like monsters about 20 centimeters long. They sucked human blood, causing itchy swelling, but they were not lethal. They could be easily squashed with both hands, but they usually formed swarms of dozens. Even though one was weak, being bitten by five or ten could cause anemia and collapse.

"Big Mosquitoes form swarms... Wait a minute... That's it!"

Jyun snapped her fingers.

"Old Lady Shar, do you have a net?"

"A net?"

"A fishing net."

"Oh, that. I think there's one in the shed."

"Can I have it!?"

"Sure, take it."

"Thank you."

Jyun pulled the net out of the shed. She planned to use this net to catch the Big Mosquitoes.

"The mesh is a bit large, isn't it?"

The mesh was about 3 centimeters. Although the Big Mosquitoes were 20 centimeters long, their bodies were thin, and Jyun thought they might slip through the 3-centimeter mesh.

"I have some repair thread, so use it as you like."

"Thank you!"

Jyun used the repair thread to halve the size of the mesh. The mesh became a bit uneven, but as long as it functioned, it would be fine. This work took her two full days, but it was worth it.

Next, she needed to practice throwing the net.

Throwing the net so that it spread out was surprisingly difficult, especially since the target was moving. If she couldn't hit her target, the net would be useless. She practiced for five days, and a week had passed since she first had the idea.

"Since Jyun is small, a sword might not be the best choice. Take this instead."

"Thank you for everything."

Old Lady Shar handed her a machete, which was shorter and lighter than a short sword.

Jyun, who often ventured into the mountains and forests, was familiar with using a machete. She inserted it into her belt.

"Then, I'm off!"

"Don't overdo it."

"Okay."

Shouldering the net, she left the house with high spirits. Once she made a decision, she stuck to it. She couldn't erase the past, but she tried not to dwell on it.

Now, Jyun focused only on her job as an Efficiency Master and her skill, Chain Score. If she didn't do something, she would think about the hero and Miria, so this helped her concentrate. This might not change in the future, but at least it allowed her to move forward.

A river flowed a short distance from the house. Jyun had been caught in a fallen tree here and was lucky to be rescued by Old Lady Shar. If not for her, she would have died. If she had died, she wouldn't have been able to move forward like this. The debt she owed to Old Lady Shar was something she could never repay in a lifetime.

"To repay her, I'll master the Efficiency Master job."

Big Mosquitoes were often found near the river, so she carefully searched the area around it. She had been walking in the mountains and forests since she was a child and could tell if monsters or animals were nearby by their tracks and droppings. However, since Big Mosquitoes flew in the air, she couldn't get such information.

"There they are."

A black, writhing mass floated in the air. It was a swarm of Big Mosquitoes.

They were small and weak, but they were still monsters.