Leveling Up By Surviving Alone - L.U.B.S.A Chapter 65

 

—

 

Good grief. It hadn’t even been an hour since he’d eaten a full meal, and he was already starving.

 

“…This isn’t just false hunger, is it?”

 

—

 

– **The Watcher denies it.**

– **After that explosive movement and skill spam, it’s natural. High-rank Hunters deal with this daily.**

– **He recommends fast-absorbing, high-calorie carbs.**

 

“Like sweet potatoes?”

 

—

 

– **The Watcher nods.**

– **He laments that they’re all gone.**

 

“Yeah, tell me about it.”

 

He *really* wished they had some left.

 

Right now, roasting Combat Sweet Potato over this fire sounded *amazing*.

 

“Hmm… Should I go down and grab some?”

 

With Kim Kkokko, it’d be quick.

 

*Kkok!*

 

Kim Kkokko perked up, as if to say she was ready to go anytime—probably feeling peckish too.

 

At this point, it was a real dilemma.

 

If they *could* rest for a while, why not recover with a proper meal?

 

“…Should we make a trip?”

 

*Nod!*

 

But it turned out they didn’t have to.

 

Having listened to the conversation, Combat Sweet Potato’s eyes suddenly widened—

 

—and a sprout emerged beside Ji Yeonwoo, something bulging from its tip.

 

“Sweet potatoes?!”

 

Now that he thought about it, even while dying in pieces, Combat Sweet Potato had won him over like this.

 

Now, restored beyond its original strength, producing sweet potatoes was practically a given.

 

He almost facepalmed for not realizing sooner.

 

Combat Sweet Potato *knew* how much he and the others loved its fruits.

 

And right now, they needed something far more nutritious than before.

 

*Nutrients… Richer nutrients…!*

 

The sweet potato swelled.

 

Bigger than the forearm-sized ones from yesterday—so large that roasting it whole would be tricky.

 

Ji Yeonwoo’s cheering froze mid-clap.

 

“Uh… Maybe not *this* big? I’d prefer the size from before!”

 

*Understood…!*

 

The giant potato began shrinking, compressing back to yesterday’s size.

 

But then—

 

*Compression…*

 

*Denser compression…!*

 

The result?

 

The massive potato’s nutrients concentrated into something *otherworldly*.

 

*Whoooosh!*

 

Its skin gleamed *golden*.

 

Ji Yeonwoo stared, mesmerized.

 

“G-Golden… sweet potato?!”

 

“*Golden* sweet potato!!”

 

Compression had turned its color from brown to *gold*.

 

He plucked one, dumbfounded.

 

Like someone had dipped a brush in gold paint and coated it.

 

It was *heavy*—unnaturally so for its size.

 

The thigh-sized potato had shrunk, but its weight remained.

 

“Whoa… How’d you make this?”

 

Combat Sweet Potato’s crescent-moon eyes curved smugly.

 

*Just… followed orders.*

 

That was all.

 

It had lived solely to obey commands.

 

Though lacking creativity, its determination to fulfill its master’s wishes was absolute.

 

Obedience without question—pushing limits without hesitation.

 

And this was the result.

 

Its *old* master had never given such orders.

 

This was its first time—and the outcome was glorious.

 

“Can you do this regularly?”

 

*If ordered… yes.*

 

*Definite yes…!*

 

“R-Really?”

 

*But… same nutrients…*

 

*Seven suns… needed.*

 

“So this quality would take a week?”

 

*Affirmative.*

 

Meaning one golden sweet potato of this caliber per week.

 

“Damn… This is insane. You could *sell* this as actual gold.”

 

How would it taste?

 

Should he roast it like last time?

 

Or would that waste its potential?

 

As he pondered, a system message popped up.

 

—

 

– **This ingredient has special effects.**

– **Use profession skill [Effect Manifestation]?**

 

“…?”

 

Ji Yeonwoo blinked.

 

He’d used **Effect Manifestation** countless times—but only on *finished* dishes.

 

Mana kelp chips and bamboo shoots needed processing first.

 

A *raw* ingredient having effects? Unprecedented.

 

Of course, he nodded.

 

The golden potato, already radiant, shone brighter as its effects manifested.

 

—

 

**[Compressed Combat Sweet Potato (Large)]**

– **Restores 60% stamina.**

– **Boosts all stats by 30% for 1 hour. (Cannot stack with same ingredient.)**

– **Effect applies to 3 people.**

– **Additional attributes can be granted depending on the cooking method.**

 

“Whoa…!”

 

Before coming here, he’d used **Effect Manifestation** on roasted sweet potatoes too.

 

—

 

**[Magical Combat Roasted Sweet Potato (Large)]**

– **Restores 30% stamina.**

– **Boosts all stats by 15% for 3 hours. (Cannot stack with same ingredient.)**

 

Size varied, but instant stamina recovery + 15% stat boost for *three hours* was already busted.

 

But this *compressed* version?

 

*Uncooked*, it outclassed the roasted one.

 

And it could gain *attributes* based on cooking?

 

This was *peak* combat food.

 

The ultimate ally in their current situation.

 

“This… *needs* to be roasted!”

 

Reasons were plenty:

 

It was the quickest method, roasted was tastiest, and *fire* would likely be super effective against plants.

 

No reason *not* to.

 

Ji Yeonwoo shaved more fur, balling up the loose strands and wrapping them around the potato before tossing it into the fire.

 

Not as good as foil, but better than nothing—ensuring even cooking.

 

*Whoosh!*

 

*Pop! Pop!*

 

The fire flared, sparks dancing.

 

An impromptu campfire moment.

 

Ji Yeonwoo, Kim Kkokko, and the Watcher stared at the flickering flames.

 

—

 

– **The Watcher wonders what it’ll taste like.**

– **He’s *dying* to know. Hopes it cooks fast.**

 

“Hehe. You *really* love sweet potatoes, huh?”

 

Ji Yeonwoo felt the same.

 

“Kinda curious too. It’s gotta be better than last time, right?”

 

*Kkok!*

 

Kim Kkokko agreed.

 

Though non-bamboo foods didn’t aid her evolution, the impurities from sweet potatoes had become a *combat resource* for her.

 

So a *golden* upgrade?

 

*Very* exciting.

 

Three pairs of eager eyes watched the fire crackle, the golden sweet potato nestled within.

 

Even split three ways, it’d be a feast.

 

“Hehe. Should be ready soon. Trust me!”

 

—

 

– **The Watcher trusts the judgment of the firstborn son of a roasted sweet potato family with years of expertise.**

 

“Ufufu! You won’t regret it!”

 

The crackling fire. The erratic flames.

 

The thick fur blanket (?) and Kim Kkokko’s warm flank.

 

Even the biting high-altitude wind felt bearable now.

 

This moment—roasting sweet potatoes by a winter fire—

 

Was *healing* in its purest form.

 

His heart settled.

 

But a doubt crept in.

 

*Is it really okay to be this peaceful?*

 

“By the way, you *sure* everything’s fine up there? No contact?”

 

Combat Sweet Potato’s eyes brimmed with confidence.

 

*Pressure… intense pressure.*

 

*Enduring… shamelessly. Skilled… my… eloquence…!*

 

“Uh…?”

 

Ji Yeonwoo blinked.

 

Did it just boast about its *eloquence*?

 

Well, if it was holding up, that was good.

 

Worst case, he could chew it mid-fight.

 

—

 

***

 

Around the same time.

 

At the cliff’s peak, a massive monster spread its petals toward the sun.

 

Its central eye remained half-lidded, as if asleep.

 

*Twitch. Twitch.*

 

Its eyelid spasmed with each incoming report.

 

The main body was receiving updates about the “intense battle” below the clouds.

 

But… why wasn’t it ending?

 

Unclear. It considered sharing vision but decided against it—that’d require fully waking up.

 

And that’d halt seed production.

 

No expansion.

 

No growth.

 

Without growth, only death awaited.

 

With this land’s true master gone, *now* was its only chance to claim it.

 

If the master returned before it fully matured?

 

It’d be reduced to *nutrients*.

 

So the main body delegated most authority to its limbs, focusing solely on seed production.

 

But…

 

The battle below *wouldn’t end*.

 

This was strange.

 

Even when it sent inquiries—

 

*Report status.*

 

*Battle ongoing. No issues.*

 

*#1 has gone berserk, but we’re subduing it gently. It’s family, after all… Such betrayal is tragic. We’ll restrain it peacefully and investigate. Defying *your* orders? Unthinkable!*

 

*…Fair enough.*