NOVPUB
Chapter 33: Chapter 33: Your skin is screaming for help... and I am here to answer the call
Isabella finally thought about how to make everything, then realized— Wait.
How was she supposed to make soap without a pot? Perfume without something to store it in? Shampoo without a grinding stone?
Her eye twitched.
"Bubu," she said slowly, as if speaking to an idiot. "Where are the pots? The pans? The grinding stones? The mortar and pestle? The— EVERYTHING?!"
The system was quiet. Suspiciously quiet.
Isabella narrowed her eyes. "Bubu. Don’t play dumb. How am I supposed to do all this if I don’t even have the basic tools?"
Silence.
Then—
Ding!
New Tasks Unlocked!
Isabella felt her soul leave her body.
Her head snapped to the glowing screen, and sure enough— more tasks.
1. Make a Clay Pot (You need something to cook in.) (150 points)
→ Find and shape clay. Dry it properly. Don’t crack it.
→ Reward: +5 crafting Points
2. Create a Mortar & Pestle (No grinding stones? Get to work.) (120 points)
→ Carve wood or shape stone to make a grinding tool.
→ Reward: +4 crafting Points
3. Craft a Water-Boiling Container (Drink clean water or enjoy parasites.) (140 points)
→ Use clay, metal, or hollowed wood to make a water-safe container.
→ Reward: +6 craft Points
Isabella stared at the screen. Then she gritted her teeth so hard her jaw ached.
She lifted a trembling finger and pointed at the system.
"You better remain a system forever," she hissed. "Because if I ever get my hands on you, I am going to make SYSTEM SOUP."
She meant it. She didn’t know how, she didn’t know when, but one day she was going to find a way to cook this stupid system.
[Oh? so you want to make system soup?] Bubu’s voice was filled annoyance.
And before Isabella could even get what was about to happen next—Ding!
New Tasks Unlocked!
Isabella didn’t even look at the screen. She just closed her eyes and inhaled deeply, her fists clenching like she was manifesting inner peace.
She knew what had just happened. She knew.
Bubu had just ruined her life.
When she finally peeked at the glowing text, her eye twitched.
---
Building the Well - Required Equipment
1. Primitive Picks → Sharpened rocks to break through soil. (Good luck.)
2. Shovels → Carved from wood or bone. (Your hands won’t cut it.)
3. Baskets or Sacks → For moving dirt. (Make them from hide or woven grass.)
4. Flat Stones (30+ Pieces) → To reinforce the walls. (Carry them manually.)
5. Thick Logs → For structural support. (No magic. No cheating.)
6. Clay & Mud Mix → To seal the well’s walls. (You like digging, right?)
7. Fire Starter Kit → To purify water. (Or drink raw and see what happens.)
8. Sand & Charcoal → To make a water filter. (One mistake = stomach disaster.)
9. Water Pouch → Skinned from an animal. (Enjoy.)
10. Rope System → Woven from plant fibers or tendons. (This will take days.)
11. Huge Flat Stone or Wooden Cover → To prevent accidents. (Try not to drop it on your foot.)
12. Warning Signs → So someone doesn’t die.
...
Silence.
Then—
Isabella turned around and stomped away.
She wasn’t running away.
She was just... taking a very long walk to process her existence.
Her lips moved rapidly as she muttered to herself, "I swear, I’m never talking again. Never. Not a word. My mouth has been my biggest enemy. Why do I keep talking?! Why do I keep—"
She threw her hands up and groaned like a tortured ghost.
Then, after thirty seconds of soul-crushing realization, she sighed and slumped against a tree, eyes dark and dead inside.
"If all these doesn’t take me a year to finish..." she whispered. "I need to know exactly what will cause it"
SOMETIME LATER
Isabella exhaled slowly, her eyes narrowing at the glowing screen in front of her.
Fine. Fine. She’d show Bubu who was boss.
After all, this was her life, her world now, and she wasn’t about to let some petty system push her around like a clueless NPC.
But... where did she even start?
The skincare tasks were tempting. Bringing hygiene, self-care, and actual beauty into this world felt like a divine mission—one the universe had clearly entrusted to her.
But then again... water.
Clean, safe water.
It wasn’t like she was dying of thirst, but she couldn’t exactly waltz around the village boasting about a skincare routine while everyone else was out here drinking mud-flavored despair.
Still, she wasn’t about to expose her personal water source. It was close to her hut, sure, but strangely, none of the villagers seemed to know about it. Which was perfect.
And honestly? She wasn’t even surprised.
That stupid king had personally assigned her hut to be at the very edge of the village.
A rejection? A punishment? A half-hearted assassination attempt? Who knew. Maybe he thought isolation would break her. Maybe he simply didn’t want her anywhere near him and his people.
Either way, she wasn’t mad.
Actually, she was grateful.
Because thanks to him, she had a hidden water source, privacy, and absolute peace.
But now, she had a plan.
She wasn’t just going to dig a well. She wasn’t just going to introduce skincare and hygiene.
No.
She was about to revolutionize this entire world.
Clean water. Cooking. Farming.
The first-ever beauty industry.
All hers.
But first—
Her lips curled into a slow, mischievous smile.
She had to pay a certain lovely king a visit.
Not for revenge. Not to curse him out for ruining her life.
She just... missed him.
Or maybe—just maybe—she missed his broad, stupidly perfect chest.
When Isabella got to the palace, she was forced to wait.
Of course.
She should’ve expected it. It was Kian she was dealing with. The man probably thought making people wait built character or something.
She sighed and shifted on the stone slab, resisting the urge to start tapping her foot. Just as she was about to lean back dramatically and start dying of boredom, a familiar, excited voice rang out.
"Isabella!"
Before she could even react, Shelia practically materialized in front of her, beaming like she’d just found a bag of gold.
"The guards told me you were here! I was just about to go see Ophelia, but this is way better."
Isabella blinked at the genuine joy on the girl’s face and, despite herself, smiled back. Shelia was one of the few people here who actually felt... normal.
"Glad to see me that much?" Isabella teased.
"Yes!" Shelia clapped her hands together. "I’ve been so bored lately. There’s never any fun gossip, and my brother is as dull as ever. I need some excitement in my life, Isabella."
"Well, you came to the right person," Isabella said with a smug grin. "Chaos follows me everywhere."
Shelia laughed, and the two chatted for a while, exchanging bits of harmless gossip. Isabella almost forgot why she came.
But then, for the first time since rushing over, Shelia really looked at her.
Isabella noticed the shift immediately—the way Shelia’s eyes narrowed slightly, how her smile faltered for just a second.
"What?" Isabella asked, tilting her head.
Shelia hesitated, then sighed dramatically. "I don’t know. You just... you’re staring at me like you’re about to say something concerning."
Isabella exhaled. It was now or never.
She reached out, gently cupping Shelia’s face with both hands. The girl froze.
Then, Isabella said, in the softest, most serious voice she could manage:
"Shelia, your skin is screaming for help... and I am here to answer the call."
