[NR] No, You're Not Fine - Chapter 653 (Patreon)

The trio set out the next day to explore the nearby forest. Since they have taken up residence, a bubble of space had somewhat stabilized, shifting less often. The change didn’t stop, but the general structure remained more than not.

So this trip wasn’t the wildest adventure, but it got Jason out of the clearing. It got him fighting. And most importantly, it got him out of his mental rut. This obviously wasn’t some sort of quick fix. You can’t slap some duct tape on the brain and move on. However, it did give him some mental distance.

Then he was able to focus on the fights and the group could go deeper into the Deep Wilds. Said Wilds seemed to almost respond to his need by bringing in large groups of weaker monsters for him to go through like a hot knife through butter.

A group of goblins? Jason rushes in low to the ground, his fingers like knives as he slices the tendons in their legs, disabling the entire group moments after the fight starts. The clean up takes longer.

A horde of dog-sized salamanders? Like, the actual irl lizard and not the fire spirits? Jason took more time on this one. Though more because he forced himself to go for clean kills, with a stomp to the head. Quite difficult when you consider they were attempting to bite him at the same time. Still wrapped up quickly with the assistance of Rosha and Courtney.

A few more fights like that and Jason feels up for getting some work done. This really was a spur-of-the-moment thing and the group should have been hunting around the clearing for a water source. Still, sometimes you just need a bit of release.

At least, that was how Jason felt. Rosha had other thoughts on the issue. “Oh no we are not! You do not fix something like that with a few fights. If that’s how you handle things, it is no wonder why most cultivation novels have the old monsters all some form of crazy.

“We are going back to the clearing and you’re going to relax. No work or cultivation. We’re going to sit around a campfire, eat delicious food, and you will pet Lily until you actually relax.

“I know I’m exactly the one to give this advice, what with my family and the fact I wouldn’t have to work if I didn’t want to. But! Even I know you need to be able to find joy outside of work. And guess what? You turned every one of your potential in-game hobbies into work.

“I wouldn’t be surprised if you ended up joining fishing competitions if I gave you a fishing rod. That or you’d get a net to be serious about it. So, once we get back to the clearing and you’re relaxed, we will find you a hobby!”

Then, as she forces the other two back to the clearing, she grumbles under her voice about how NeoRealm had ruined having fun in video games. How connecting the world economy to a game just made the game another job.

Courtney watched Rosha with a sad smile. She wasn’t wrong. Even before the nonsense, games had tried “play to earn” style games where in-game currency could be turned into cash. All that ever resulted in was people in third world countries grinding gold to feed their family. At least NeoRealm was introduced after humanity had moved into arcologies and basic needs had been assured. Courtney shakes her head, that was a dark time.

The group makes it back to the clearing and Rosha forces Jason to sit at the central campfire. “We can handle everything! Take care of Lily.”

Jason really did want to help get things together. To do something useful.

“No”, Rosha points back at the stump seat by the fire. “If you want to do something, sit there and tend the fire.”

Jason did just that, ending up petting Lily without even thinking about it. More from the need to be doing something.

Rosha shakes her head, “You’re like a career business man who was forced to retire. Things will get better. You of all people have the time for it, if that lifespan stuff you talked about is true.”

Courtney interrupts. “It should be at least partially true. While we do not have some magical method to put ‘lifespan’ into a single number. Technology can be used to monitor the various signs related to it. Like being able to see an analog clock arms tick without knowing the day. Anyway, the test subjects all show signs of a long term slow down of such things.

“Maybe if there was just one element I would be more pessimistic, but the indicators across the board are minutely improved. The tests and studies aren’t fully conclusive, if only because of the small sample size. However, it at least isn’t hurting.”

Rosha sighs, “Not the point. Anyway, hobbies. Are there any you might be interested in?”

Jason shrugs, “Never was a hobby type of person. Cultivation and martial arts are my focus. Like, I guess I enjoyed tea, but not as a hobby. Rather, it is one of those near ceremony type things done on rare occasions that I find interesting. Same with coffee. The ritual behind it all is what interests me, but not something I would want to do all the time.”

Rosha nods, “I can see that. While I am thankful that I never had to go too deep on it, ‘tea ceremony’ is still a big thing with a certain set. Sigh, It wasn’t ever all that to my taste.”

Rosha shakes her head to clear it. “Back on topic! We need to figure out something you can do as a hobby while on the road. While in NeoRealm, that is. I guess if you want to do something in your personal VR room, like how I collect those plushies, that would work. Though I’d have to guess if we actually want you to keep up with it, we’ll need to get you a hobby you can do in-game.”