Chapter 36: Chapter 36

【Race: Half-Elf】

【Class: Druid Lv3 (0/600)】

(Note: Up to 30% of this level’s XP can come from combat)

【HP: 250/250】

【Mana: 100/100】

【Attributes: Strength 8, Constitution 11, Agility 11, Intelligence 12, Perception 17, Charisma 11】

【Languages: Common, Elvish, Druidic】

【Skills: Nature Sense, Wild Empathy, Animal Companion, Woodland Stride, Pass Without Trace】

【Spells: (Cantrips) Druidcraft, Light, Create Water, Purify, Flash, Find North, Detect Poison; (1st-level) Shillelagh, Entangle, Healing Word, Produce Flame, Thorn Whip, Longstrider, Fog Cloud, Jump, Speak with Animals, Magic Claw, Endure Elements, Identify Plants, Detect Animals; (2nd-level) None】

【Free Attribute Points: 0】

The XP needed for level 3 had doubled, but the proportion that could come from combat had dropped by another 10%, now capped at 30%—that’s just 180 points.

Looks like combat XP will matter less and less! Good thing Muying doesn’t rely on monster-hunting to level up.

Also, the Perception point she gained earlier had already been spent.

The new class skill, Pass Without Trace, was another support ability.

【Pass Without Trace: The Druid leaves no tracks and cannot be tracked while moving through natural terrain, but can choose to leave tracks if desired】

Paired with Woodland Stride, this skill would let her move through the wilds faster and more stealthily—natural terrain would never hinder her again, nor would she leave any trace behind.

After studying the knowledge of Pass Without Trace, Muying couldn’t help but imagine: could the ultimate Druid ability be to completely merge with nature itself?

As amazing as Pass Without Trace was, Druids are a divine spellcasting class, and at this stage, her spellcasting ability was still the main factor in her strength.

Her spell list now included 20 new 2nd-level Druid spells.

There were five attack spells among them, and even better, the defensive spell she’d been longing for—solving her most urgent need.

【Barkskin: By touch, you can grant a willing creature increased defense, making their skin as tough as tree bark】

Muying immediately became engrossed in learning her new spells.

2nd-level spells were much harder to master, but their effects were incredibly tempting. She practiced over and over until her mana was completely depleted, and only then did she reluctantly stop.

At this point, she could barely affect a small patch of her own skin.

Outside, night had fully fallen. The rain kept coming, not heavier or lighter, just the same steady drizzle.

Muying’s stomach gave a painful rumble.

So much had happened today—rain, leveling up—she’d even forgotten to eat lunch, and the meager breakfast she’d had was long gone.

Muying walked to the stairs, about to head down, when she saw a round little figure lying on her empty basket at the stairwell, looking up at her with eyes full of accusation.

“Ahem, hungry?” Muying coughed guiltily. “Come on, let’s get you something tasty.”

To show her remorse, she did her best to scoop up the chubby creature—who’d grown even bigger, now resembling a plump little bear and getting hard to lift—and headed to Sera’s Eatery for a meal.

Sera’s Eatery had opened not long after the officials’ group arrived.

Most of them had just come to the camp out of curiosity and didn’t stay long, but since they’d all arrived around the same time, and her territory only counted people who entered on a given day as residents…

Muying had taken advantage of the timing loophole and recruited a restaurant—Sera’s Eatery.

It was a family-run place, managed by a family of three.

Sera was their surname.

The owner of Sera’s Eatery was a much better cook than Bruce. In fact, he’d even paid to learn a bunch of Deep Blue Star recipes from people in the camp.

A lot of people in the camp had made some extra money teaching him.

If the owner was the talented chef, then Mrs. Sera was the business brain. In a short time, she’d picked up the concepts of cafeteria-style dishes and group-buy promotions, which had really boosted business.

Thinking of the food, Muying quickened her pace.

She left the treehouse and had just opened her umbrella when she was startled—why were there so many people outside?

She saw crowds hurrying through the rainy night, umbrellas up and heavy bags on their backs, all heading out of camp.

When she reached the row of treehouses where the shops were, she saw that even at this late hour, the bakery and general store were brightly lit, with several people still lined up outside.

Usually, only the tavern and eatery stayed open at night.

Puzzled, Muying entered Sera’s Eatery. She’d been here plenty of times lately, but tonight, even after dinner hours, the place was still bustling—far more crowded than usual.

“You’re here! Come, sit over here,” Mrs. Sera called as soon as she saw Muying, leading her to a special seat at the bar.

“Why is everyone in such high spirits tonight?” Muying asked curiously as she approached the counter.

“I heard all your local food suddenly spoiled today. A bunch of people came from Qingshan Town’s Coastal Safe Zone, so the general store’s flour and rations, and Marlin’s black bread, are selling like hotcakes.

So our camp folks can only get food here or at the tavern. And with the rain outside, everyone’s just eating, drinking, and chatting the night away.”

Mrs. Sera seemed in a great mood, even giving Muying two free glasses of juice.

Muying didn’t disappoint her either—she opened the menu and ordered several signature dishes, especially those her chubby companion loved.

“What are we going to do? All the supplies we worked so hard to gather are gone.”

“Just the other day I was complaining about eating instant noodles every day, now I don’t even have those.”

“Will we never get to eat instant noodles, spicy strips, chips, or cola again…?”

“Ugh, this damn apocalypse!”

“What even is this apocalypse game? Is it really just a game? When will it end?!”

…

Listening to the noisy complaints around her, Muying felt a pang of worry. If everyone had to buy food, a lot of people really wouldn’t be able to afford it.

But she couldn’t lower the entry fee either—that would cause the population in her territory to skyrocket, attracting more people who just wanted to hide away and delude themselves.

Maybe she could start growing food in the camp? But she’d have to wait for the crops in the plantation to mature before she could harvest any seeds."