LIGHTNOVELONLINE Chapter 2 - Came to Another World - Part 2
Chapter 2: Came to Another World – Part 2
Of course, there’s no such law in a place like this.
This was a place unknown to him, a place where the common sense of Earth didn’t apply. Talking cats were apparently possible here. Lee Han forced his racing heart to calm as he loosened his grip on the stone axe.
“Enlightenment?” he asked.
“Didn’t a window pop up in front of your eyes, nya? That’s called Enlightenment: the ability to see the essence of things, nya. There are two main ways to achieve it!”
“Really?”
“First, it can happen when someone experiences the boundary between life and death through battles, nya. Those enlightened this way are classified as ‘combat jobs’ and often gain skills suited for fighting, nya.”
“Oh…”
“Second, it can happen through crafting, nya. People with good dexterity who use their talents to make things can achieve Enlightenment if they create a well-made item. Looks like you were enlightened through crafting, nya. That’s not easy to do! It’s very rare for someone to achieve Enlightenment so quickly.”
This cat certainly liked to talk. It strolled over and sat in front of Lee Han, finishing its lengthy explanation with a flick of its tail. Its eyes darted between Lee Han’s makeshift shoes and the recently constructed tent.
“Those three things are all you’ve made so far, nya? Or is there more?”
“That’s all.”
“Then that’s a new record, nya!”
A sharp cat indeed. Lee Han nodded, and the cat smirked.
“According to the Witch’s records, the fastest anyone has achieved Enlightenment through crafting in the Great Forest was on their tenth try. You did it in just two, nya.”
The cat’s words raised more questions than answers.
“The Witch? Who’s that?”
“The Witch is the ruler of the Great Forest and the master of all magic, nya.”
“Great Forest?” Lee Han tilted his head, puzzled.
The cat looked at him incredulously. “You don’t know about the Great Forest or the Witch? Strange, nya.”
“Ah… that’s…”
Lee Han glanced around, feeling uneasy. An unfamiliar place, an unfamiliar world, and now a talking cat. It was hard to accept, but he couldn’t deny the evidence before his eyes.
“It seems I’ve ended up in another world,” he concluded.
The cat’s reaction mirrored Lee Han’s initial surprise. After listening to his story, the cat sighed sympathetically.
“Don’t despair, nya. This place is quite livable.”
“Oh… thanks,” Lee Han replied.
“So, you’re trying to survive here, huh? Can you tell what’s safe to eat, nya?”
“No.”
Even with Enlightenment, the only information Lee Han could access pertained to the items he had crafted. The window didn’t appear for anything else.
The cat seemed to have anticipated this. It hopped onto Lee Han’s shoulder. “Then let’s get moving, nya. I’ll help you survive!”
☆☆☆
“Nya~! Nya~!” The cat, perched comfortably on Lee Han’s shoulder, hummed a cheerful tune as they walked through the forest. Its fluffy white paws tapped rhythmically on Lee Han’s shoulder, drawing his attention to the surrounding flora.
“Look over there, nya! That’s a Sun-Dried Mushroom! It gets spicier the more sunlight it absorbs. It’s rare and quite fiery, so handle with care, nya!”
“Ah, really?” Lee Han responded, intrigued.
“Legend has it that Argos, the hundred-eyed giant, once ate one and cried from the heat, nya! It was quite a sight to see tears streaming from all those eyes!”
“Oh…” Lee Han murmured, trying to picture the scene.
The cat continued his botanical tour. “Ah! That’s Fast-Growing Grass! It shoots up in a single day and has a refreshing taste, nya! But it also has a bitter aftertaste, so it’s not everyone’s cup of tea!”
“Noted,” Lee Han replied, making a mental note to avoid it.
“Dwarves used to believe this grass could make them taller, nya! They harvested so much of it that it’s now rare outside the Great Forest!”
“Oh.”
“Oh! What’s that over there, nya?! Go on, check it out! It’s a Skinny Fruit! It’s sweet and juicy, but it has no nutritional value. You could eat a whole tree full and still be hungry, nya!”
“That’s incredible,” Lee Han chuckled.
“It’s not dangerous to eat, but it won’t fill you up, so it’s not a good food source. Don’t bother collecting them, nya!”
“Right…”
“That’s Straw Grass, nya. Do you know about it? Many herbivorous beastfolk in the Great Forest eat it, nya.”
“Can’t humans eat it?” Lee Han inquired.
“It’s too tough for humans, nya! But if you chew it enough, it has a nutty flavor. You should try it sometime, nya!”
The cat’s explanations were thorough and engaging. As they continued their foraging expedition, Lee Han absorbed a wealth of information.
“So,” he said, glancing at the cat on his shoulder, “there are other intelligent races in the Great Forest?”
“Of course, nya! Did you think you were the only one? The Great Forest is vast, with many different races. The most common are the dog beastfolk, nya.”
Dog beastfolk? Lee Han’s curiosity piqued. He’d love to see one.
Suddenly, the cat tapped his shoulder again. “Oh, what a shame, nya! That’s a Night Apple. It’s juicy and delicious, but the blue color means it’s not ripe yet. Unripe Night Apples are incredibly sour, nya!”
At the cat’s seemingly disappointed words, Lee Han approached the small tree. It was barely chest-high, with plum-sized blue fruits dangling from its branches. He reached out.
“Growth Acceleration,” he intoned.
The tree responded instantly, growing rapidly. The unripe blue fruits began to turn red. The cat watched in amazement.
“What was that, nya?!”
“One of my abilities,” Lee Han explained. “I can accelerate plant growth. So, are they ripe enough to eat now?”
“Yes, nya!”
Lee Han plucked two fruits, popped one into his mouth, and offered the other to the cat.
Crunch!
The cat was right. The fruit burst with a sweet and tangy flavor, far surpassing any apple Lee Han had tasted on Earth. The night apple’s juicy flesh invigorated him, providing much-needed energy after his sudden arrival in this unfamiliar world.
The flesh of the night apple invigorated Lee Han, who had been abruptly transported to this world without a chance to eat.
“Ah! Get that one, nya!” The cat exclaimed, pointing with a paw. “That’s a Sweet Radish! It’s incredibly sweet and refreshing. All the beastfolk in the Great Forest love them. If you gather enough, you could trade them for all sorts of things!”
Lee Han followed Seolmyeong’s gaze to a lone plant. He dug around its base and unearthed a radish as thick as his forearm.
“Want to try some, nya?” the cat asked eagerly.
“Sure.”
Lee Han used his stone axe to cut a chunk and roughly peeled the skin. He took a bite.
Crunch!
The radish was crisp and bursting with sweetness. “This is delicious!”
“It is, nya! Give me some, nya!”
“Here you go.”
Lee Han sat down and shared the Sweet Radish with the cat. As they ate, the lingering fatigue from his journey seemed to melt away, replaced by a sense of fullness and energy that the Night Apples hadn’t quite provided.
“Hey,” Lee Han said, “what’s your name?”
“My name? I don’t have one, nya. I’m just me! But you can give me a name if you want, nya.” The cat tapped his head playfully with his tail.
Lee Han considered for a moment. “How about Seolmyeong (雪明)?”
“What does that mean, nya?”
“It means ‘bright as snow.’ And you’re good at explaining things.”
“Hmm… I like it, nya!”
“I haven’t told you my name either. I’m Lee Han.”
“Nice to meet you, Lee Han, nya!”
Despite their short acquaintance, they had already shared a lot of information, creating a sense of camaraderie.
Lee Han shifted Seolmyeong to his other shoulder and checked the contents of the makeshift bag he’d woven from grass. He had gathered quite a few edible plants thanks to Seolmyeong’s guidance. It was enough to sustain him for now.
“We should head back,” Lee Han said to the cat.
“Aww, but there’s so much more I want to tell you, nya…” Seolmyeong sounded disappointed.
“We can continue our lessons later.”
They returned to their makeshift camp. Lee Han sat down, feeling the tiredness creep back into his limbs. He munched on some of the edible plants he’d collected, sharing a few berries with Seolmyeong.
“So,” he asked, “is it safe to stay here?”
“Perfectly safe, nya. This is a no-combat zone.”
“A no-combat zone?”
“Yes, nya. It’s exactly what it sounds like – fighting is prohibited. The various races in the Great Forest have their own alliances and rivalries, so they might fight if they encounter each other elsewhere. But there are certain places where combat is forbidden, and areas near water sources are one of them, nya.”
“Really?”
“Nya! Most places with a river this large are no-combat zones, making them ideal for setting up a base. Of course, mindless monsters or beasts might still wander through, but they rarely venture into open areas like this. You’ll be fine, nya.”
“That’s reassuring. But you’re saying the forest itself could be dangerous?”
“That’s true, but it’s okay because I’m here. I can sense any dangerous beasts or monsters, nya.”
Seolmyeong puffed out his chest, clearly proud of his abilities.
Lee Han chuckled and stroked Seolmyeong’s head, enjoying the soft fur beneath his fingers. The cat purred in contentment, then suddenly perked up, looking down at Lee Han’s feet.
“Oh dear, your shoes are falling apart, nya!”
Indeed, the makeshift sandals he had woven earlier were in tatters after two trips through the forest. Hastily crafted without a proper tool, they hadn’t held up well.
“Hmm… is there any obsidian around here?” Lee Han wondered aloud.
“What’s obsidian, nya?”
“It’s a type of rock that breaks into sharp pieces.”
“If you mean Glass Stone, there’s some over there, nya.”
Glass Stone? Lee Han followed Seolmyeong’s paw towards a cluster of fist-sized, white stones scattered on the ground. He picked one up and struck it against another.
Clang!
The stone fractured cleanly, leaving a sharp edge. Perfect for crafting a simple knife. Lee Han gathered more of the long grass and, using his newfound tool, fashioned a new pair of shoes.
[Well-made Grass Shoes]
[Shoes made of woven grass. The durability is increased by layering multiple layers of low-durability grass. Although made of crude materials, they are well-made and can be worn longer.]
[Durability increased due to the well-made effect.]
[Crafting Difficulty: ☆]
[Dexterity has increased.]
[Acquired Crafting Skill.]
[Crafting (Lv1)]
[Can craft items when materials are available.]
Another window appeared before him:
[Status]
[Name: Lee Han]
[Gender: Male]
[Race: Human]
[Achievements: None]
Strength: 6
Intelligence: 4
Dexterity: 7
Willpower: 7
Magic Power: 1
Combat Skill Details>>
Production Skill Details>>
“Another new window,” Lee Han observed. “It seems my abilities from the tower aren’t displayed here.”
His unique powers didn’t seem to be reflected in his stats. However, that didn’t concern him too much. The important thing was that he could still use them.
“Your stats went up, nya? Congratulations!” Seolmyeong chirped.
Lee Han gave a wry smile. “Well, it looks like I’ll be able to survive here after all.”