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HC: Handyman | Ch. 100 - Swim

Added 2024-10-04 10:12:26 +0000 UTC

I didn't plan for chapter 100 to come out on the same day that the book was released on Amazon, but it's nice when things work out.

Thank you all for your support!

By the way, I revamped the format for system notifications. You'll notice they will look a bit different from now on. With time, I'll implement the same format for earlier chaps.

*******

Jack double-checked his pocket for Rob’s apartment keys and felt the weight of the VRX helmet nestled in his duffel bag.

“Are you sure I can’t drive you? It’s no trouble at all,” his father asked again.

“No, Dad. I’ve got it,” Jack replied, forcing a smile. “Thanks, though.”

“Have a good first day at school!”

“Yeah... thanks,” Jack mumbled, stepping out the door.

Outside, the crisp morning air hit him, his breath forming little clouds in the chilly air. It did little to cool down his burning cheeks or to appease his churned-up stomach, but it did throw him back to his school days when he had to wake up early to catch a bus and go to class.

His parents’ reaction today only strengthened that impression. His mother had made him pancakes with a smiley face of bacon and eggs—something she hadn’t done since he was a kid. His father had even been up early, eager to drive him.

Why did I have to lie to them and tell them I’m going to vocational school... Why didn’t I just tell them the truth?

The guilt gnawed at him. The lie seemed more ridiculous with every passing day, especially now that he was starting to make some profit. Jack glanced at his phone. Another ocarina sold, and his auction listings were buzzing with bids. The money was coming in fast—faster than he’d expected. Rent for his room, the helmet rental, all covered. By the look of it, he would be sticking to his newfound career.

That begged the question: How would he explain to his parents that he had lied to them? Moreover, how could he explain his new job to his parents? His mother would support his new career after she got over the hurt of being lied to. But his father? He’d never understand. He would call it a “get-rich-quick scheme” and say it was time to get a real job.

This is a real job, though.

Jack frowned. He didn’t remember ever making this kind of money in such a short time. Sure, working around the clock for ten days straight wasn’t exactly sustainable, but it had paid off, and he could take things a little easier from now on, now that the pressure was off.

As he climbed the stairs to his cousin’s apartment, Rob came out the door with a half-smile.

“Rob! I wasn’t expecting to run into you.”

“Hey, Jack. How are Uncle and Auntie?”

“They’re good. All pumped up about ‘school,’ you know.” Jack laughed awkwardly.

“Right. By the way, I think you made a mistake.”

“Tell me about it. I should never have lied to them.”

His cousin laughed. “That’s not what I’m talking about.”

Jack’s heart skipped a beat. “What do you mean? Did I do something?”

“No, no. It’s about this transfer you sent me.” Rob held up his phone. “Hadn’t you paid me back already? You sent me fifty more credits.”

Jack chuckled, relieved that he hadn’t done anything to upset Rob. “Yeah, I know. The extra’s for all the meals I’ve been mooching off you. Plus, I’m using your water, electricity... figured I could chip in.”

Rob gave him a pleased look, shaking his head with a smirk.

Jack tilted his head. “Why do you look so smug?”

Rob shrugged, grinning. “No reason. Just, it’s nice you’re thinking about it. By the way, sorry I bailed on you in-game this weekend.”

“Don’t worry about it,” Jack replied.

“I think I’ll get to Embersgate soon. Maybe tonight or tomorrow?”

“Sure, hit me up,” Jack said.

Rob glanced at his watch and tensed. “Oh, gotta run. See ya!” Rob dashed down the stairs, leaving Jack to climb the last few steps alone.

Once inside, Jack tossed his duffel bag onto the couch and let out a long breath. The cozy familiarity of Rob’s apartment welcomed him. Finally, he thought as he grabbed the VRX helmet from his bag. He lay back on the sofa and, in one smooth motion, slipped into the world of New Earth.

Back at the vicinity of the lake, Jack urged Snowy forward, her massive paws sinking into the soft earth as they approached the shore.

As they neared the lake, a pack of ornithopods came into view. The large, herbivorous dinosaurs were gathered in clusters, their sleek bodies reflecting the moonlight in soft, muted shades of green and brown. Their heads, crowned with crests, dipped low as they drank from the lake.

Jack couldn’t help but admire their serene presence. They reminded him of a herd of grazing cattle, peaceful and calm, except for their sheer size and the muscles rippling under their skin.

But as they drew closer, the peaceful scene burst like a bubble. One of the larger ornithopods lifted its head sharply, nostrils flaring. It let out a low, guttural sound, causing the others to stir.

Jack tensed. This was the first time the ornithopods reacted to him like this. The pack’s mood shifted in an instant. The larger ones shuffled into a protective formation around their young, their eyes now fixed on Snowy.

Before Jack could react, the first ornithopod slammed its tail against the water with a loud crack, sending ripples across the lake. It was a warning. The rest followed suit, their tails thrashing the water violently, creating sharp, echoing snaps that cut through the night.

Jack’s heart leaped into his throat. “What’s happening?” he muttered, his hand tightening on Snowy’s fur.

Snowy, too, responded to the sudden aggression. She rose onto her hind legs, matching the height of the ornithopods, letting out a sharp shriek.

Jack swallowed hard, his pulse quickening.

What’s going on here? Is there some feud between sloths and ornithopods? There are so many. If they charge—

He glanced at their powerful tails and imagined them battering Snowy or smashing into him. He wasn’t sure if Snowy’s size spooked them or if something else was triggering them, but the last thing he wanted was a fight.

“Easy, Snowy,” he whispered, gently patting her side. “Let’s get out of here. No need to stir them up anymore.”

Snowy grunted in response, still standing tall but beginning to back away slowly. The ornithopods kept their defensive circle, tails snapping at the water, their eyes watching Jack. Jack’s skin prickled with apprehension, knowing that just one wrong move could provoke an attack.

Finally, when the distance between them grew, the pack relaxed. They stopped thrashing and returned to the water, dipping their heads low again to drink. Jack let out a long, shaky breath.

That was close.

Just as the tension in Jack's chest began to ease, he heard another sound—distant but unmistakable. The calls of hunters echoed through the trees, and moments later, a group of them burst out from the shadows, weapons raised. Without hesitation, they attacked the ornithopods.

All that commotion for nothing. They ended up getting into a fight anyway.

He shook his head. “Oof, Snowy, let's keep moving. No need to get caught in that mess.”

Snowy grumbled softly and lumbered on, steering away from the pack and toward the lake. Without warning, Snowy veered toward the water, wading deeper until Jack’s boots were soaked.

“Wait, what? You want to swim?” Jack’s eyes widened as Snowy plowed forward, the water rising higher around them. “Are you sure about this, girl?”

Snowy, undeterred, continued into the lake, her powerful legs pushing through the water until she was deep enough to float. Then, with surprising grace, she began to swim, her long arms pulling them forward easily.

The only noises were Snowy’s steady strokes and the gentle water lapping against her fur. Jack cast one last glance behind him. The sound of fighting between hunters and ornithopods had faded into the distance.

Jack couldn’t help but marvel at Snowy’s speed as they swam. Her strokes were smooth, her large claws slicing through the water. It almost seemed like the currents couldn’t slow her down, as if she was cutting through them effortlessly.

He wondered if Snowy’s deep weight cancellation effect also applied to water resistance or currents. It was a pleasant surprise. She moved just as fast in the water as she did on land. The only experience Jack had with swimming was when he ran through the water under the bridge at Piri’s mazes. The drag of the water and how fast he could swim seemed to have no impact on Snowy’s swimming speed. He wondered if he could summon Snowy while inside the pyramid. If so, those dungeons were about to get super easy.

Jack couldn’t help but feel that he made the best possible choice when he chose Snowy as his mount. Jack thought back to the fishermen around the shore and the size of the animals he’d spotted him pull out of the water.

Jack shifted uncomfortably on her back, glancing around. The lake stretched out endlessly in every direction, dark and still. The moonlight only illuminated the surface, but it was a black abyss beneath them. His stomach twisted.

I can’t see what’s under us. What if something’s down there?

The thought sent a shiver down his spine. He had heard some of the fishermen who had come to his camp earlier talk about massive creatures lurking in the depths of lakes—creatures big enough to swallow a man whole. Jack scanned the water nervously, imagining shadows moving just below the surface. Snowy’s swimming was fast, but the thought of something lurking in the deep, unseen, unsettled him more than he cared to admit.

“You know what, Snowy? Let’s stick closer to the shore,” he said.

Snowy snorted but veered left, moving toward the shallow waters near the banks. Jack breathed a little easier, though he still cast glances at the inky water, half-expecting some massive creature to breach the surface at any moment.

After several minutes of calm swimming, Jack finally relaxed. This was the best route. Given the early reaction that the ornithopods had shown to Snowy, they would have likely bumped into other groups and, maybe, even gotten caught in a fight if they had taken the land route. Swimming, they could avoid the ornithopods and travel peacefully.

Moreover, they could avoid any allosaurus attacks.

He heard a distant roar, the familiar sound of the large predator. Jack couldn’t help but wonder how the baby Alosaurus he had delivered to the taming arena was faring. Had Master Leon managed to tame it? Would any player get lucky enough to earn it as a mount?

The bees buzzed around him, diligently flying to and from the jungle, returning with pollen for the colony. Jack considered playing a song for them, but he was afraid it might draw some aquatic predator.

Eventually, Snowy’s feet found the lakebed, and she waded out of the water, shaking off the excess from her heavy fur. Jack dismounted, patting her affectionately. “Good job, girl.”

Even though Snowy had moved quickly through the water, Jack noticed that her satiation bar had dipped a little faster.

“I’m going to be here for a while,” he told her. “Go ahead, forage if you want.”

Snowy trotted off to the nearby treeline, immediately setting to work on a tree with her massive claws. She peeled back the bark and began munching away contentedly. Jack chuckled as he walked past her toward Erwind’s camp.

Erwind’s bonfire crackled brightly, casting a warm glow across the campsite. The bushcrafters huddled around the fire, cooking small animals skewered on sticks. The scent of grilled meat wafted through the air, making Jack’s stomach grumble.

“Evening,” he greeted the group, sitting near the fire.

A few of the bushcrafters grunted in response, barely looking up. Jack’s gaze landed on one of the men—a familiar face. It was the bushcrafter jerk—the one with the knife. Jack tensed, but the man paid him no mind, much to his relief.

Opening the trading window, Jack scanned through the available options. After completing the Alosaurus quest, he had amassed 200,000 bushcrafting XP. Between that and his earlier crafting sessions, he had 240,000 XP, burning a hole in his pocket.

“Here it is,” he murmured, spotting the recipes for which he’d come all this way.

The first one was for a saddle.

Recipe for: [Vine Saddle]

Ingredients: