Why level up in isekai, when you can hack your way through

Chapter 11 - Our First Night

Afterward, I crafted a pot and created a bonfire which we used to make meat, although it was nothing but salt and meat broth, It still tasted so good. Of course, the villagers would also get the smell of it so I multiplied everything and well everyone enjoyed it.

Nuzma'h and the soldiers were undead so they didn't eat anything. So I gave them a task to set up a barrier around the village.

After I was finished eating, I let Belle and the villagers eat some more apples and I went to my house. (Well I'm calling the newly build shelter my house, since I have no base or place to stay at in this world.)

Then I went to the bedroom and started weaving the remaining mattress combined with wool from Infernopaca.

I'm pretty sure both apples and meat would soon get rotten as long as they stay in my inventory, regardless of quantity but I'll think about that later.

For now, let's finish this and I need to ask Athena some questions regarding what happened in the dungeon.

(Athena, you awake?)

( ( "Yes, do you require any assistance?" ) )

(No, but I have some questions, regarding events that happened in the dungeon. "Why did you suddenly show up that ring, when you had taken it inside of you?")

( ( "I believe it was the quick and efficient solution, to end this fight in your favor without a living person." ) )

(I see, then, "What about the King's throne, and how'd you know about its ability to see through things, and why didn't you tell me you can create portals?")

( ( Alright, I'll explain to you from the very beginning, "As you know, our souls are linked by the system. When you opened your gift, the thing you desired most was the Cheat Trainer. But instead of being given to you, it became my ability, though I had no idea how to make it work for you. So I entered your soul, trying to connect every part of mine with yours. During that time, I couldn't respond to any of your requests, and still, it didn't work." ) )

( ( "Since I was created to serve you, I became desperate, searching for ways to fulfill my responsibility. But when you put on the ring, a surge of power ran through me. It not only upgraded me, but also bonded our souls, and granted me the ability to manipulate the laws of this world from within your body, bypassing the system. Although I can still administrate the system if I were to return within the system, our souls may unbind, and we might lose the ability to use hacks." ) )

( ( "As for how I knew about the king's throne room and other powers, I initially had my own research abilities and stored data. By using distortion, I learned even more about the dungeon. With our bonded souls, I can borrow any of your skills. So when you sit on the throne, I was able to create a teleporting portal by borrowing your skill and mimicking it the way you first arrived in this world." ) )

( ( "This is why, when you thought you activated sense-based abilities, you couldn't feel them because I was borrowing them to assess our surroundings and plan the best countermeasures. Then, I would return the skill to you so you could decide and perceive whatever came next." ) )

...

(Gosh that was way too much for anyone to comprehend, but still, that fills most of the gaps that were bothering me.)

(So Athena, you're telling me that our souls are bonded together as of now and you're pretty much doing most of the work right?)

( ( "Yes." ) )

(Does that mean you can also possess me?)

( ( "Yes, but I was born with the purpose to serve you and carry your burdens, so I cannot do It without your consent." ) )

(Hmm...)

(Well Athena, since you're inside me I have one task for you.)

( ( "Yes?" ) )

(You see, the souls I've conjured don't seem to be interested in serving me. However, I understand that it's a good thing that they chose to remain loyal to Belle even though I'm their master now. Is there something you can do so that they obey my commands? I don't want to be harsh on them, I feel like both Belle and them are a part of me now.)

( ( "Understood." ) )

Afterward, Isabell came saying, "What have you been doing here, all alone?"

At the same time, I was done with the mattress, as well as with the pillows.

So I replied, "Nothing, just making this bed for us."

"Kazuki... you really don't expect us to sleep together right after what Goblin Elder said right...?" Isabelle said with a suspicious and doubtful gaze she said.

Then she continued, as she started blushing "I mean we've known each other for a little time right, you would give me some time to prepare right...?"

Then I replied, "Actually Isabell, we can't sleep together..."

For some reason, she was startled and peeved by his comment as she said.

"Huh!? What!? What do you mean by that!? Do you find me unattractive? Do you not think of me as your wife after making all those promises?"

So I quickly responded before things could go sideways, "Hey chill out, it's not that... It's just... I have a sickness, I can't sleep together with anyone."

"What sickness!?" she exclaimed.

But it was something I couldn't tell her... otherwise she would've kicked me or murdered me...

"I can't tell."

Furious she was, she said, "That's it! We're sleeping together tonight!"

And so she grabbed me by the ear and dragged me to bed as we both lay down side by side.

It felt kind of uncomfortable since I was still in my armor... but my sickness was already tingling I had to do something to divert it from my head. So, I initially turned off most of the physically affecting cheats to fall asleep faster and then I started asking Belle a few things.

"So how'd you like it? Your first day out of the palace."

And so she said, "Hmm, why do I feel like you're up to something... But still, I'll answer it. Honestly, I don't know how I feel about today. Everything was new for me. I got to eat delicious apples, drink some water, and even get to taste meat after so long. It really brought me joy I had once forgotten about. Still, these new emotions are unexplainable and a bit hard to adapt to. But I do feel like it was worth getting out of there."

I see, so uh... then she interrupted me saying, "Nuh-uh, It's my turn to ask now."

"Tell me about yourself and how you got there, for some reason I feel like, all of this is new to you as well."

And so I told her the entire story about me from my parents' situation to how I died and got here.

Then she gave me a hug that pressed my head against her chest and she said, "I'm sorry to hear that you had it rough too."

You don't have to be sorry, Belle, if it weren't for you I feel like I might still be walking under a dark cloud. Even though it's too early to say having you here gives me strength.

(I feel like this could be our moment as we both bring our faces closer.)

But then a groaning foreign voice spoke,

...Heh Heh Heh! Looking at you two unfortunate love birds sure makes my heart melt fast.

Huh!!!?...