The next several weeks were a blur of manual labor and constant vigilance. Building a two-bedroom cottage inside a cave was significantly harder than the DIY videos made it look back on Earth. With nothing but a basic hatchet and a wolf-bone knife, I spent my days felling trees at the forest's edge and my nights shaping timber by the glow of the Frostbloom Lilies.
We fought every day. Wolves, spiders, and the occasional grumpy bear became our routine. They were getting easier to handle, our teamwork becoming a seamless dance of ice and shadow.
[Status Update]
Silver: Level 8 (Exp Required for Level 9: 12,800)
Rose: Level 8
Current Residence: "The Grotto Cottage" (Under Construction)
Just as I was putting the finishing touches on the small cottage, Roselyn dropped by for a visit. She looked around my handiwork with a hum of approval, but her expression held a rare gravity.
"The Blood Moon is approaching, my dear," she warned. "In this world, the moon turns the color of a fresh kill, and monsters spawn at random in waves. You must stay within your sanctuary. Do not go deeper into the woods until the sky clears."
I nodded, feeling a chill. I wasn't ready for a horde. But as she turned to leave, she froze. She tilted her head, her many eyes narrowing as she scanned the back of my cave. Suddenly, she began to laugh.
"You truly are a lucky one, aren't you?"
With a casual, powerful strike against the far wall, the rock face shattered. A hole big enough to fit an elephant appeared, revealing a hidden chamber I hadn't even suspected was there.
Behind the wall lay a verdant, underground garden. It was beautiful—filled with glowing flora and small, peaceful animals wandering through the brush. I saw more of the mutated rabbit hybrids, but here, they didn't have the red, aggressive eyes.
"Nothing in here will be hostile unless you strike first," Roselyn said, leading me deeper.
We walked for twenty minutes through the lush greenery until we reached a second cave mouth. This one was different. A shimmering, bright blue membrane—pulsing like a heartbeat—blocked the entrance.
"Touch it," Roselyn commanded.
As my fingers brushed the cool, magical film, a screen erupted in my vision.
[SYSTEM NOTICE: DUNGEON DISCOVERED]
Name: Goblin Settlement
Minimum Level Required: 25
Recommended Party: 5 Players
Status: Locked (Under Level)
I glanced at my Level 8 status and swallowed hard. Level 25? I wasn't going in there anytime soon.
Roselyn's voice turned deadly serious. "Listen to me, Silver. Keep this a secret. If the humans find out you have a dungeon entrance in your backyard, they will kill you to take it. These are sources of infinite wealth and resources. To a kingdom, this cave is worth more than a mountain of gold."
I gave her my word, my heart racing. She patted me on the head, her touch surprisingly gentle. "You have grown much stronger since the day you ruined my lilies. You are doing well, my dear."
She looked at Rose, whispered something to herself that sounded like a chuckle, and vanished back into the shadows of the forest.