Episode 9 — This House Is Mine (2)
[Construction complete.]
“Finally…”
Aren set down the hammer in his hand and gazed proudly at the house he had built.
The construction was finally finished.
It hadn’t been easy.
He had relied only on the fading memories of helping his father build houses long ago, so he had been uncertain at first.
But despite the worries, the result… turned out surprisingly well.
“A house I built myself.”
He placed a hand on the wall he had crafted.
The house was simple — stripped of all unnecessary complexity.
A wooden door.
Windows designed to let in the morning sunlight.
The interior layout was completely different too.
Before, it had been one open space like a studio, but Aren had divided it — creating personal rooms, and even a storage space in the back.
Warm air greeted him as he stepped inside.
“It’s not truly mine… but still.”
“It feels good.”
He couldn’t hide his pride.
It had been a tough process, but looking at the finished house filled him with deep satisfaction.
His hands trembled.
He felt exhilarated — a kind of joy he’d never felt working at his office job.
The sense of accomplishment filled his chest so powerfully he almost wanted to shout, but he held it in.
[You’ve achieved a remarkable feat.]
[You are the first outsider to successfully build the Village Chief’s House.]
[You have completed construction without relying on any skills.]
[All stats +5]
[Dexterity +50]
[You have gained experience.]
[Level up.]
[Level up…]
[The Hand of the Stars skill gains experience.]
[As you personally built this house, your understanding has reached its peak.]
[The Understanding of the Stars skill gains experience.]
Notification messages kept flooding in.
[Quest “Let’s Build a House” cleared.]
[Experience gained.]
[You have discovered a Hidden Piece.]
[Quest rewards upgraded due to achievement.]
[Unique Title condition met – “This House Is Mine.”]
[This House Is Mine]
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Rank: S (Unique)
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Effects:
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Dexterity +20
-
Dexterity enhancement +10%
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Work efficiency +20%
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Wooden structure durability +15%
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Recovery efficiency +200% (applies only in houses you’ve built yourself)
-
[You’ve received 20 Gold.]
[Your fame spreads among NPCs.]
“A Hidden Piece?”
This was already his second one.
The first was a special job.
The second — a title.
“Alright, let’s see the status window.”
[Status Window]
Name: Aren
Level: 10 (EXP 35.55%)
Job: Carpenter of the Stars
HP: 1,200 / 1,200 MP: 1,200 / 1,200
Attributes:
Strength: 15 + 2 Stamina: 10 + 2 Agility: 11 + 2 Wisdom: 10 + 2
Special Stats:
Dexterity: 78 + 30
Unspent stat points: 6
“So I’m the first person to build a house without using any skills…”
He distributed his remaining points to Dexterity and closed the window.
“Ho? You’ve finished the house?”
A sudden voice startled Aren.
He turned around — and found an unexpected figure standing there.
“Sir Lex?”
“Hohoho, it’s been a while, Aren.”
“What brings you here?”
“What else? I came to see how your work was going, of course. Hohoho…”
Lex’s eyes gleamed as he took in the newly built house.
“You rebuilt it, didn’t you?”
“Yes. It was too far gone for repairs, so I figured rebuilding would be better.”
“Is that so?”
“Did I… do something wrong?”
Aren asked carefully, but Lex shook his head with a warm smile.
“No, no. If that’s what a carpenter like you judged best, then it must be right.”
Lex’s gaze lingered on the house — filled with affection and nostalgia.
“It’s the way of the world — old things crumble, and new ones take their place.”
“…”
“Do you know why this village ended up like this?”
“I don’t, sir.”
“Of course you don’t. It’s simple. This happened because of the stubbornness and pride of old men.”
Lex spoke as if telling an old story to a grandchild.
He told Aren how monsters had begun to attack frequently.
The younger villagers had wanted to seek outside help, but the elders refused — clinging to their traditions.
“The old ignored the cries of the young… and shut their ears in arrogance.”
And so, the village fell.
“In the end, the monsters overran the place, and everyone fled.”
“I see…”
“Hohoho, don’t look so sad. It’s karma — simple cause and effect.”
Lex ran his hand gently along the wall.
The house had shed the skin of the old world and been reborn anew — strong, beautiful, and full of life.
“It’s sturdy.”
“It’ll withstand storms and snow alike.”
“Hohoho, I can tell just by looking.”
He tapped the new wooden floor with his foot and smiled.
“You carved all of this by hand, didn’t you? Truly, your craftsmanship is remarkable.”
Even the polished window frames caught his admiration.
The old traces had vanished completely, replaced by something vibrant and new.
“Thank you.”
“It’s nothing. I just did what needed to be done.”
“There are few who even do that much. You’re too modest.”
Lex chuckled softly — then said something completely unexpected.
“I want to give you this house as a gift. What do you say?”
Aren blinked in surprise.
Give… the house?
“The house has changed, so shouldn’t the owner change too?”
Seeing Aren’s confusion, Lex continued.
“Just seeing this house reborn makes me content. So take it — it’s yours now.”
[Lex’s Affection greatly increases.]
[He had long regretted his choices.]
[Seeing the newly built house has lightened the burden he carried.]
[Lex transfers ownership of the house to you.]
“Truly… thank you.”
And so, Aren gained his own house inside Illusion.
* * *
“…”
“…”
Team Leader Kim Jun-ha and Oh Kyung-tae sat speechless.
Neither had expected anyone to actually discover that hidden piece.
Who could have imagined it?
“He built the whole house by hand? Without skills? Is that even possible?”
“Rewind the footage.”
“Yes, sir.”
Oh Kyung-tae typed rapidly on his keyboard.
The replay showed everything — every nail, every board.
From start to finish, Aren had demolished the ruin and built a new house entirely with his own hands.
“…Unbelievable. How did he even—”
“Why wouldn’t he use skills? That work takes a day with them!”
“His level’s only 10, by the way.”
“What!? Level 10, and he built that!?”
“Yes, he’s got a special job, but no construction skills. Actually, when he started, he was only level 4.”
“…”
