Riches and Bitches: I have a gate to an isekai and leveling-up system!

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58 Well, this turned out to be one big failure

Our small group of three reached the edge of the woods after just a short walk along the riverbed and then through a pretty thick undergrowth. For some reason, nature appeared to thrive the closer one got to the starlight plains… even though once the shade of the trees no longer protected it from the light of stairs, nothing but grass dared to make its appearance. And when I finally laid my eyes down on the plain again, I could tell that this wasn't just your ordinary grass. 'I wonder what would happen upon consuming it,' I thought, suddenly curious. There was no doubt in my mind that consuming that grass wouldn't have any pleasant effects. How could it bring benefit to one, if it grew under the influence of light that put anyone exposed to it in a depressed state?

I shook my head, ridding it of the stupid thoughts and hopes. After all, the point that nailed my idea of using this grass for the purpose of buying myself a luxurious life through the gang was supremely simple. There was simply no way I would be that lucky to have an entire, seemingly endless field filled with something that could rival weed or another special kind of plant for how much it could be worth!

I shook my head again, removing all the idea of ever using this potentially dangerous flora in my plans. And to distract myself, I simply looked away… Which quickly proved to be a bad idea. Both the women had worried looks on their faces. And while I could see all the worry that Fay's eyes were brimming with, her reluctance to let me enter the plain and outright fear that something would happen to me… Her mother's expression wasn't as kind. Fay's mom was still concerned about me, there was no doubt about that in my mind, but if I was right, she simply didn't want her daughter to lose her mate right after getting one. In other words, she was only worried about me in general and out of her love for her daughter. And while it stung a little… I would have to be stupid or naive to expect a stranger to suddenly accept me as their son and fall in filial love with me!

I took a deep breath, clearing my head for the last time. They were worried about me. And there's very little that I could do about it. That didn't mean I was completely out of moves, though!

'Let's see,' I thought, giving a simple disposition to my system with nothing more but a strand of my intent. [Endurance: 7.5] > [Endurance: 10]

[Usable points: 4] > [Usable points: 1.5]

'Huh?'

While increasing my endurance was certainly my point, I actually intended to dump all of my free points in this single attribute!

'Weird,' I thought, intending to raise my endurance again… Only for the two lines to flash up for but a second before returning to their normal state. [Endurance: 10]

[Usable points: 1.5]

'Oh,' I thought, stumped by the sudden and pretty much-unexpected finding. 'That's a huge discovery!' My eyebrows shoot up… only for my gaze to return to the starlight plains, lit up by the light of the stairs as close as the shadow of the nearest tree died out. Even though I failed to raise my endurance above ten points, I could still feel the insane difference this change brought. Right now, I felt like no power existed in the world that could do me harm. What's more, I could pretty much jump and run around for as long as I desired, never to run out of strength to continue. To say I felt like a young god wouldn't be that much of an exaggeration!

'Don't get conceited,' I quickly put myself down, knowing better than to let myself get drunk on the feeling of power bursting in my veins. 'Acting all arrogant is just the easiest and shortest way to fucking something up!'

I shook my head for the fourth time already before looking out towards the starlit plains with renewed, reason-based respect. "Well then," I shook my body to warm it up a little before tapping my hips with my hands. "Wish me luck!"

Not waiting for Fay to attempt to stop me, I ventured forth, leaving the safety of the tree's shadow and subjecting myself to the torture brought by the light of the stairs. The torture… that I've barely sensed, even after moving a considerable distance into the plain. I walked through areas where the light of the stairs was both thin and thick, sensing, at most, slight shifts in my mood. By the time I reached out the very first pillar of pure starlight, I could tell for sure. The light that used to put me into a state of depressing illusions before could only now cause a distant, nostalgic feeling. What was far more important, though, was that I could now stand by the side of the pillar of pure starlight without the sense of a very existential threat. I could stand beside the pillar of pure light… but that didn't mean I was anywhere near capable enough to withstand its actual power. 'If I step into this, I will die,' I thought without even a single shred of doubt. Whether it was me reading the aura of the place or my high wisdom slash intelligence giving me the answer, I knew better than to just give up on my life and daringly step into this strange light. 'I guess I won't be able to level up here,' I thought, gritting my teeth in mute frustration. Still, powerless to change the situation, I simply breathed out a long sigh before turning around… Only to realize that I've somehow walked far further into the plains than I thought I did!

'Calm down, there's nothing to be surprised about!' I clenched my teeth and forced myself to stay calm. 'You already knew this place messes up with one's senses. And even if you moved further, you just need to spend a bit more time going back!'

The reasonable part of my mind spoke out… But in a strange fit of following my instincts, I turned back towards the pillar of light… And bowed down. "I'm sorry for intruding. I now know I'm not qualified to cross this place yet," I whispered in a voice full of respect only to start backing out with my back still lowered. Bit by bit, I got further and further away from the light, all the way to the point where it no longer felt disrespectful to just turn around. And so, I raised up and finally moved to face the direction of the forest…

Only to realize that I was now much closer than when I took a look the last time. Rather than seeing Fay and her mom as merely slightly bigger points in the distance, I could now perfectly make out all their features, the immense worry on Fay's face included. Unwilling to let go of this opportunity, I hurried back while making sure to maintain a hurried but calm pace. Soon enough, I stepped back into the shadow of the trees, sensing the slight sense of anxiety wash away from my soul. "I'm back," I then spoke, only to take a few steps further up and open my arms. A second later, I brought Fay into a bear-like embrace, hugging her with all my might to dispel the lingering worries she could still have. 'I wonder what does that even mean,' I thought while hugging Fay. The fact that I walked much further… and that the distance decreased just because I remained polite to whatever was in charge of this plain… It somehow shortened the distance for me to return?

What did all of that even mean?

I sighed for the uncountable time today, opting to shelve yet another question I didn't expect to get an answer to anytime soon. "Well, this turned out to be one big failure," I spoke as I let Fay out of my arms, sensing she had now properly calmed down. "And that means, we should try something else."

Without skipping a beat, I moved away from Fay and towards her mother, only to lower my head before her just like yesterday. "Do you maybe know if this forest has any interesting herbs growing around?" I asked while doing my best to maintain a leisurely smile on my lips, stopping the woman from peering into the anxieties that asking this question gave me. "It doesn't need to be anything special. Just something that could bring any sort of benefit or change when consumed."

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