Chapter 70: Fire

Chapter 70: Chapter 70: Fire

’How considerate...’

Seraphina Sinclair shook her head, focusing her attention on the task at hand.

The Protective Clothing could defend against most Spiritual Pollution and resist the path’s negative effects. Now that the Immunity Crystal was no longer effective, she didn’t have to worry about how to manage the remaining time.

She also received 50 Black Fog Coins.

Seraphina Sinclair now had a total of 60 Black Fog Coins, but unfortunately, she hadn’t encountered a merchant NPC. Even with money, she had no way to spend it.

The remaining F-level Supply Box gave Seraphina Sinclair a pleasant surprise: a standard stone table blueprint.

Judging from the drawing, it seemed to include two small wooden stools as a bonus.

Seraphina Sinclair examined the details. The materials required were only wood and Stone, both of which she had, so she decided to craft it right away.

Five grayish-white stones compressed and fused, gradually extending into a flat tabletop. Their edges smoothed out as if polished by invisible sandpaper.

Three pieces of wood instantly transformed into long, slender strips. Two of them twisted and coiled to form the support legs for the short stools, while the remaining wood was assembled into two round seats, each 30 centimeters in diameter.

In just a few seconds, a standard square stone table and two perfect wooden stools materialized before Seraphina Sinclair.

She pulled over a small stool and sat down to test the table’s height.

It was a perfect fit, ideal for both eating and placing items.

’Compared to this, the stone platform I built myself is so crude... and it could collapse...’

Seraphina Sinclair decided to dismantle the stone platform. She crafted another stone table and placed both of them together against the wall. The new setup was sturdier and more aesthetically pleasing than the original.

By the time she finished, it was already eight o’clock.

Seraphina Sinclair stretched, planning to heat up some leftovers for dinner.

Just as she started to relax, she heard a bizarre sound.

Footsteps.

’Footsteps...?’

Seraphina Sinclair slowly turned her stiff neck to look out the window.

The footsteps sounded distant, definitely not from inside the mobile cabin. Yet, they were dense and numerous, a frantic patter that filled her ears and created a sense of urgency.

Seraphina Sinclair still hadn’t figured out what was happening. Outside, the black fog churned. With the sky now dark, her visibility was much worse than during the day, and she couldn’t see a thing.

After a moment’s thought, she suddenly remembered the matchstick from the starter pack.

’A match is for lighting a fire.’

’So... lighting a fire first can’t be the wrong move!’

Steeling herself, Seraphina Sinclair rushed to the bathroom, grabbed a bundle of wood, and arranged it in the usual spot inside the mobile cabin. She deftly crumpled some toilet paper and, with the sound of footsteps drawing ever closer, successfully lit the bonfire.

The instant the flames illuminated the darkness, the footsteps that had been echoing in Seraphina Sinclair’s ears abruptly vanished.

She turned her head and looked out the window again. The black fog was unchanged, but the sound of footsteps had well and truly stopped.

This meant Seraphina Sinclair’s guess was likely correct—lighting the fire had stopped something.

’What would have happened if I hadn’t lit it?’

Seraphina Sinclair observed for a moment. The firelight acted like a gentle barrier; it was clearly safe within its glow.

She let out a sigh of relief and opened the Regional Channel.

Someone had already discovered the fire’s purpose and announced it on the Regional Channel.

Notably, it was the same person who had shared the Insight results for the path selection on the Regional Channel last time.

[Not Cheering Today]: Everyone hear those footsteps? Light a fire! I tried it, and the sound disappeared instantly. It must be a safety mechanic. Monsters can’t get close within the firelight. If you haven’t lit one, hurry up! Monsters will appear as soon as the footsteps enter your cabin. So far, there are confirmed Rotting Corpses, Rotten Centipedes, etc.—all the common monsters from the novice protection period. Don’t think you’re strong enough to handle them. The monsters are endless. They can keep coming into your cabin. Can you really fight them forever?

That wasn’t all. As if worried he wouldn’t be convincing enough, just like last time, he added a follow-up.

[Not Cheering Today]: A few more discoveries: First, you can use anything to start the fire; it doesn’t have to be the match from the starter pack. Second, the fire needs to burn continuously. The footsteps will return within 30 seconds of it going out. Third, I’ve observed that it’s completely safe within the firelight, but you can still hear footsteps beyond its range. I assume it’s still dangerous out there, so try to stay in the safe zone.

This was very useful information. Seraphina Sinclair mentally took note.

’There aren’t many people like him in a place like this.’

’But what does kindness get you in return?’

Seraphina Sinclair shook her head and sat cross-legged by the bonfire.

The Regional Channel was flooded with messages of gratitude, but there were always one or two trolls ready to ruin the mood.

"Thanks for the heads-up, master!! The footsteps nearly scared me to death, but it went totally silent after I lit the fire! SOB... May you have a long and safe life!"

"You’re a legend, master! That info was crucial. I was still hesitating when I heard the footsteps, and next thing I knew, I could see a dark shadow outside my window... I barely managed to light the fire in a panic and escape!"

"@Not Cheering Today, you’re a true saint, master! You shared the path info last time, and now you’ve saved my life again. You’ve given me a second chance at life!!"

"LMAO, and some people were saying it was useless to save the match. I guess we know who’s *really* useless now, huh?"

"Heh, trying to act like some kind of savior? Anyone could’ve figured out to light a fire. You just love showing off."

"You need someone to teach you such a simple mechanic? Don’t tell me some people are actually stupid enough to wait for the monsters to get inside before they react."

"LMAO, what a bunch of simps. The guy posts one little thing and you’re all falling over yourselves to thank him."

This time, Not Cheering Today didn’t have to say a thing. Other people who couldn’t stand the trolls jumped in and retorted.

"?? Hey, you guys up there, have your brains been pickled by the stench of a Rotting Corpse’s feet? Is it a crime to share information now?"

"Don’t act so smug after you benefited from it. If the master hadn’t said anything, who knows if you’d have figured it out. But here you are, running your mouth."

"What’s wrong with sharing info? Last time, you didn’t know if it was true, so I didn’t say anything when you flamed him. This time he’s saved who knows how many people, and you’re still mouthing off? You’re insane!"

"He should be more like Master Blacktiger! He doesn’t even charge much, just a few materials! That way, he could just keep these kinds of people out!"

Seraphina froze. ’Why am I being brought into this?’

"But... this situation is different. People would be dead by the time a trade went through. There’s no time for that!"

"Help... I don’t know where my match went! Can anyone give me a light?!"

"How the hell do you light this thing? The footsteps are so close! Can someone share how they did it?"

"Why wasn’t there a striker strip?! How did you all get your fires lit?"

Seraphina Sinclair genuinely hadn’t considered this could happen. But at the same time, her heart skipped a beat as she realized this was a massive business opportunity.

Time was of the essence. Seraphina Sinclair immediately drew up a trade contract, opened a private message to one of the people crying that they couldn’t light their fire, and sent it over.

Without waiting for a reply, she immediately posted another message on the Regional Channel.