Chapter 1.03
1.03
Desperate for food and water, Erin Solstice cleans the inn and discovers a new skill. After finding a stream, she is attacked by a large fish, which she manages to kill, but then severely injures her hand while trying to prepare it.
Summary
Waking up sore from her previous encounters, Erin Solstice began her day with the primary goal of securing food and water. She first traveled to the Blue Fruit Orchard to gather more fruit, contemplating the nearby presence of Goblins and the potential dangers they posed. Upon returning to The Wandering Inn, she decided to clean the filthy common room to make it more habitable.
As she worked, Erin was shocked to find herself cleaning the entire floor with supernatural speed and efficiency. A notification in her mind revealed she had acquired the [Basic Cleaning] skill, confirming her suspicion that leveling up in this world granted tangible abilities. Her satisfaction was short-lived, however, as severe dehydration set in, forcing her to abandon her work in a desperate, delirious search for a water source.
Erin eventually stumbled upon a Stream and drank from it greedily, which resulted in painful stomach cramps. While recovering and bathing in the water, she was suddenly attacked by a large, aggressive Four-Eyed Stream Fish with sharp teeth. Erin dodged the creature's lunge, causing it to fly past her and beach itself on the grassy bank. Unable to return to the water, the fish eventually suffocated and died.
Struggling under the weight of her unexpected catch, Erin managed to haul the massive fish back to the inn's kitchen. Eager for a proper meal, she attempted to gut it using a Goblin Knife. The knife slipped, and she inflicted a deep, agonizing gash across her left palm. The chapter ends with Erin enduring hours of excruciating pain from the wound, using her knowledge of chess as a mental mantra to cope through the long night.
Major Events
Erin Discovers the [Basic Cleaning] Skill
While cleaning the common room of The Wandering Inn, Erin Solstice realizes she is working with supernatural speed. She receives a mental notification, discovering she has gained the [Basic Cleaning] skill.
Attacked by a Four-Eyed Stream Fish
After finding a stream to quench her severe dehydration, Erin is attacked by a large, vicious Four-Eyed Stream Fish while bathing.
The Fish Beaches Itself
Erin dodges the fish's attack, causing it to launch out of the water and land on the grassy bank. Trapped on land, the fish suffocates and dies, providing Erin with a large source of food.
Erin Severely Injures Her Hand
While attempting to gut the fish with a Goblin Knife in the inn's kitchen, the knife slips, and Erin inflicts a deep, painful gash on her left palm.
Major Appearances
A cold, deep, and fast-flowing stream located near The Wandering Inn.
A large, aggressive, four-eyed fish found in the stream near The Wandering Inn.
aka mutant fish with teeth, the fish
A young woman from Earth who stumbles into a fantasy world and takes refuge in an abandoned inn.
aka Erin, the young woman +31
Small inn where Erin is present; currently occupied by her. Noted by the Watch as having been abandoned years ago but Erin is using it; the Drake and Klbkch enter here to investigate.
aka the inn, Abandoned hilltop inn +13
Minor Appearances
An entry-level culinary Skill improving preparation of simple meals.
aka [Basic Cooking]
A knife Erin took from a Goblin in a previous encounter.
aka the knife
Small green humanoids with red eyes and sharp teeth that chased and slashed at Erin.
aka Goblins, little green things +5
A veritable orchard of strange, spindly trees that produce blue, juicy fruits.
aka the fruit trees
A foundational Skill that enhances a user’s ability to clean surfaces and spaces efficiently.
aka [Basic Cleaning]
Entities by Type
Quotes
“When you level in dreams, you level in real life?”
“Weird.”
“Barely. They’re not that dangerous. They’re like kids. And I can beat up tons of kids even with knives. If I’m careful.”
“Sort of clean. You couldn’t eat your dinner off it, I guess. But that’s why we have plates.”
“Feel sick.”
“Hm. So, [Basic Cleaning] was really a skill after all?”
“Or not. Knock on wood.”
“Right. Lunch.”
“Oh. Oh god. Why—why is that yellow? What is that?”
+72 more quotes →“Ahh. Ah.”