Finn walked in silence, his footsteps soft against the dirt road.
Instead of following the main path back through the center of the village, where most of the crowd still lingered, he took the longer route that skirted along the newly fortified walls.
He needed the space. The quiet.
His mind was a storm, and the solitude gave him room to breathe.
The stone walls beside him stretched higher than any the village had ever seen. Their surface was smooth, seamless, with no sign of manual labor. Not even the finest stonemasons could explain how they were built, or how they had appeared.
He ran his fingers lightly along the wall as he walked.
It was cold and solid. But the most important thing, it was real.
'And I did this...?'
He stopped at a bend and took a deep breath, then willed it.
"Status Panel," he thought.
A familiar shimmer danced in the air before him.
=====
[STATUS PANEL]
Name: Finn
Race: Human
Level: 1
Experience: 650 / 1000
Physical Attributes:
• Strength: 17
• Speed: 4
• Stamina: 4
Mental Attributes:
• Wisdom: 10
• Focus: 10
• Leadership: 10
Free Attribute Points: 30
Builder Points: 58
Hero Points: 31
Skill: None
=====
He studied the numbers.
Thirty Free Attribute Points. A generous reward from killing the beast, though it had cost more than he was willing to admit.
Still, he knew now that raw strength alone wouldn't be enough.
His punch hadn't stopped the monster. It hadn't even broken a bone.
'What did I think just now? I believed that with 17 points in Strength, I could take down a Level 1 beast?'
While he was thinking about that, another thought crossed his mind. He was not only lacking in physique but he was lacking knowledge, too.
'I need to find more books or any information regarding the strength of every being. Only then can I know when to fight and when to retreat.'
Finn's mind was filled with too many things right now. Especially on how to allocate the attribute points. Strength without speed meant nothing. Power without stamina meant he'd fall after a few steps. He understood that now, in a way he hadn't before.
'Balance. I need balance.'
But he didn't allocate anything just yet. Not until he learned exactly what each stat could do for him. He had time, barely, but enough to think first.
His gaze moved to the Builder Points.
Fifty-eight.
He couldn't help but smile a little. 'There are too many things I can build with these many points.'
Despite everything, the blame, and the stares, it didn't affect his initial plan for the village.
'They can hate me all they want. I'll still build this village.'
He summoned the Build Panel.
=====
[Management]
[+] Village Hall (Tier 1)
[+] Resource Depot (Tier 1)
[+] Command Center (Tier 1)
[Operation]
[+] Lumber Mill (Tier 1)
[+] Stone Quarry (Tier 1)
[+] Water Well (Tier 1)
[Food Production]
[+] Crop Field (Tier 1)
[+] Chicken Coop (Tier 1)
[+] Goat Pen (Tier 1)
[+] Cow Shed (Tier 1)
[+] Animal Farm (Tier 1)
[Economy]
[+] Market (Tier 1)
[+] Workshop (Tier 1)
[+] Trading Post (Tier 1)
[+] Storage Barn (Tier 1)
[Education]
[+] Reading Hut (Tier 1)
[+] Village School (Tier 1)
[+] Apprentice Shelter (Tier 1)
[Safety]
[+] Guard Post (Tier 1)
[+] Watchtower (Tier 1)
[+] Emergency Bell (Tier 1)
[+] Stone Wall (Tier 1)
[+] Stone Gate (Tier 1)
[Military]
[+] Training Grounds (Tier 1)
[+] Barracks (Tier 1)
[+] Armory (Tier 1)
[Residential]
[+] Cottage (Tier 1)
[+] House (Tier 1)
[Heroic Development]
[+] Hero Altar (Tier 1)
[+] Hero Academy (Tier 1)
=====
It was the same full list. A vision of what Riverwood could be.
His fingers hovered near a few buildings, but he didn't press any of them yet. Not now.
He wanted to be sure.
That was when another shimmer of text appeared in front of him.
=====
[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION]
When you reach Level 10, you will gain access to the Upgrade Function. You may then touch or select any existing structure to enhance it to a higher tier. Choose wisely.
=====
Finn blinked.
"Seriously…?" he muttered.
It was just like the Shop Panel during the tutorial mission all over again. Teasing him with access to something he couldn't use yet.
He let out a short breath that wasn't quite a laugh.
'Guess the System wants me to level up quickly.'
Still, it worked. A small ember of motivation lit inside his chest.
Finn glanced once more at the Status Panel.
With a deep breath, he focused his will and began distributing the points.
=====
Physical Attributes:
• Strength: 19
• Speed: 17
• Stamina: 19
Free Attribute Points Remaining: 0
=====
He closed the panel, satisfied.
The decision wasn't hard. He still had his Daily Mission to complete before the day ended, and that usually involved repetitive drills. Strength and stamina would serve him better than speed for now.
Besides, he planned to make it balanced over time. A few more days of successful missions, and he could bring his Speed up to match. It was just a matter of pacing himself right.
'I'll get there. One point at a time.'
He stretched his arms slightly, feeling a subtle but noticeable lightness in his movements. His body no longer felt like it was dragging itself forward. The boost was working.
Now came the harder part, which was knowledge.
He remembered what had crossed his mind earlier. He didn't just need muscle. He needed understanding. He needed the information on everything.
That was when his thoughts drifted to something on the Build Panel.
The Reading Hut.
He reopened the panel and tapped on its description.
=====
[Reading Hut – Tier 1]
Size: 5 x 5 meters
Contents: Pre-stocked with foundational scrolls and books on history, beasts, heroes, the world, basic combat arts, and a few more
Effect: Grants passive knowledge gain when visited; may unlock hidden insights or quests
Suitability: Accessible and useful for all age groups, especially villagers and Heroes
Function: A quiet space for study and reflection; promotes mental growth and strategic development
Build Cost: 1 Builder Point
=====
Finn's eyebrows rose. 'This is too good. But, five meters by five?'
That was bigger than he expected for something labeled a "hut."
Still, it came with reading materials. Real ones. Books and scrolls with information. He believed it had everything that he needed for now.
He was genuinely impressed.
'Build Reading Hut now,' Finn ordered in his mind.
However, the village map materialized before him. Transparent and glowing, it floated in the air like a ghostly blueprint.
"I see... You want me to choose where I should build it," he muttered.
His eyes scanned the layout.
The village center was too crowded.
The only space that felt right… was next to his cottage.
He looked toward it now, at the small patch of empty ground that faced the tree line and the distant fields.
It wasn't just space. It was his space.
A quiet corner, where the Reading Hut could sit in peace.
He nodded.
"That's where it goes."