Chapter 31
– Building Advice
Find appropriate materials in the Black Forest: Komo Tree, Tia Stone.
– Agricultural Advice
Best land for farming: Look near the Grace Lord’s Castle. (Hint: Just because it looks good doesn’t mean it is.)
Edible fruit: Orange-colored, fist-sized, bitter taste—must be cooked before eating. (Even I have to boil persimmons to remove the astringency and roast them for peak flavor.)
Good fertilizer: Grind dried Dural leaves and ferment them with Mohe moss for one week. Mix thoroughly into the soil.
“Huh? That’s it?”
Compared to the terrain info she purchased last time with the same number of points, this was pathetic.
Donghee squinted at the glowing blue interface, hoping something more would appear.
But the hovering status window remained stubbornly static.
“Isn’t this a scam?”
She had worked twice as hard—shouldn’t she get twice the information? Had she known it would be this short, she wouldn’t have bothered with the forced acquisition.
Glaring daggers at the sapphire-blue interface, Donghee felt deeply scammed. If she could grab it by the collar and shake it, she would’ve.
As if displeased with her attitude, the status window flickered wildly before scribbling out a response:
– Dear user, expecting too much for a measly few hundred points. How utterly shameless.
“Measly? I spent 1,000 points!”
– Would you like to cancel your purchase?
“…That’s possible?” Donghee stopped yelling, her tone turning cautious.
– Yes. However, upon cancellation, only 50% of the points will be refunded, and the acquired information will be completely erased from your memory. Side effects may include corruption of previously acquired data and reduced memory retention. Proceed with cancellation?
The screen rapidly flashed options: [Cancel Purchase], [Confirm Purchase], [Write Review].
Donghee frowned. The first two made sense, but… Write Review?
Was this some kind of joke?
“Do I get anything for writing a review?”
– Absolutely nothing.
“Then why put that option in there?”
– It looks fancy. Now, would you like to proceed with cancellation? 50% refund. Possible side effects: memory degradation.
This was practically robbery. The only thing missing was a knife to her throat.
“How is this any different from saying it’s non-refundable?!”
– Oh dear, having reading comprehension issues? We clearly stated that cancellation is possible, albeit with minor side effects.
Donghee gritted her teeth, suppressing the rage bubbling up.
The scammy status window continued flashing the refund prompt and that useless “Review” option as if mocking her.
“…I’m not cancelling.”
Just the thought of how much she’d suffered for this “forced acquisition” made it impossible to give up.
Losing half her points and risking damage to previous knowledge wasn’t worth it. Her memory wasn’t that great to begin with—what if it got worse and she couldn’t even remember who she was?
And maybe, just maybe, there was hidden value in this stingy little snippet of information.
Besides, judging by the status window’s behavior, it was likely a stepping stone for the next level of knowledge.
– Even users with poor memory can access premium intel with minimal side effects! Please look forward to future sales and events. Teehee~
Donghee swatted at the glowing interface like she could slap the smugness out of it. Of course, it didn’t budge, but it helped vent her frustration.
Once the interface finally faded from view, she collapsed into the plush chair.
As her cheek sank into soft fur, exhaustion hit her like a wave.
She considered napping, but her curiosity about the value of the information she’d just “overpaid” for kept her awake.
With a grunt, Donghee forced herself up and flung open the carriage door.
The cold wind hit her face, instantly clearing the lingering nausea. Good thing she stepped out.
As Chloe emerged from the carriage, two waiting knights snapped to attention.
“Bring me the builder.”
Since the Black Forest wasn’t far from Morta Village, she needed to investigate the Komo tree and Tia stone right away.
The younger of the two knights bowed sharply and dashed off.
In the distance, she spotted the builder barking orders at a group of workers. Even from afar, his dedication and work ethic were palpable.
Moments later, the builder arrived, hair damp with sweat, panting but alert.
“You called for me, my lady?”
Thanks to the delicious ramen from earlier, the builder looked significantly more cheerful than he had in the morning. His eyes sparkled with almost childlike admiration as he gazed at Chloe.
His intense gaze was a bit much, so Donghee cleared her throat and adopted a more composed tone.
“Do you know anything about Komo trees or Tia stones?”
The builder furrowed his brow, thinking for a moment before replying with a bright smile.
“Komo trees… They grow in the Black Forest, don’t they? And as for Tia stones—they’re everywhere around here. That gray rock beside you is one.”
He seemed genuinely thrilled to be helpful.
“Where?”
Donghee scanned the ground. Bits of gray stone lay scattered about.
“This? This is Tia stone?”
“Yes, though it’s completely useless. So brittle, even a ninety-year-old could crush it with one hand.”
Tia stone was a nuisance.
On windy days, it filled the air with dust. On rainy days, it turned the ground to sludge. If any rolled into a field and got wet, it would ruin the crops. During planting season, clearing them was the first task every morning.
The builder, visibly annoyed, stomped on a Tia stone as if it were a cockroach.
“Really now…”
Donghee picked one up. It was a decent size but feather-light, like a lump of chalk.
“So light…”
“Yes. Small ones fly off on windy days.”
The image of flying stones was… unsettling.
“That could hurt someone.”
“Oh, no. They crumble to powder on impact. No one’s ever been injured.”
“Do other regions have these stones?”
“Not really. Mostly found near snowy regions—only in villages connected to the Black Forest.”
“So you’re saying it’s unique to our territory?”
“Exactly.”
Suspicious, Donghee squeezed the stone.
It cracked with ease and crumbled into powder in her hand.
“Whoa.”
She’d just crushed a rock with her bare hand. Felt like the Hulk. Honestly, it was a great stress reliever.
But the sudden puff of dust made her cough and wave her hand frantically.
The builder joined in, fanning away the dust. A timely breeze helped carry it off.
“If it’s this fragile, shouldn’t they all be in powder form already?”
“They clump back together when wet.”
“Not good for construction, then?”
“Not at all. You can pack it in while it’s wet, but once it dries, it disintegrates. The dust is bad for kids and the elderly—can make them sick. It also chokes crops. Clear these out and the harvest would improve.”
With that, the builder picked up a Tia stone and flung it.
It arced through the air, shattered on the ground, and dissolved into a cloud of gray dust before vanishing on the breeze.
Donghee watched it, frowning.
The status window must have mentioned Tia stone for a reason.
Maybe the key was in the other material—Komo wood.
“Builder, do you know anything about Komo trees?”
“They grow in the heart of the Black Forest, I’ve heard.”
But there was doubt in his voice.
“You’ve never seen one?”
“No, ma’am. Only heard about it from my father when he taught me woodcraft. Most villagers probably don’t even know it exists.”
“Lucky for me, your family’s been carpenters for generations.”
If not for the builder, tracking down the Komo tree would have taken far longer.
Appreciating his value, Donghee gave his broad shoulder a friendly pat—though she had to stretch her arm high to reach.
The kind builder bent down instantly, making it easier for her.
Quick-witted, too… I’m starting to really like this guy.
“Any idea where in the forest it grows?”
At her question, the builder’s face darkened.
“There’s said to be a Komo grove deep in the forest center. But now… I’m not sure.”
His crestfallen expression made it look like he’d committed a crime.
“The center, huh… That’s pretty deep.”
“Yes. It’s a shade-loving tree. Grows only in the darkest parts. Compared to others, it’s shorter but with a thicker trunk.”
As he explained, Donghee tilted her head to the sky.
It was just past noon—plenty of daylight left. But venturing deep into the Black Forest would be risky.
She was still weighing her options when a voice spoke up.
“Milady,” Red Bear said, stepping forward. “Allow me and a few men to scout the Black Forest and locate the Komo grove.”
