Video game I Can Turn Waste Into Treasure novel Chapter 2

Chapter 2 No Escape from the Grind

‘I’m barely a snack. I wouldn’t even be enough to get stuck in a shark’s molars,’ Andrea thought, her lips twitching with a mix of annoyance and dread.

Currently, her only weapon was a blunt piece of wood.

She briefly wondered if she could just negotiate with a shark and ask if it wouldn’t mind parting with a few teeth, but that seemed like a one-way ticket to being eaten.

She was starting to suspect that her NPC status gave her the ability to communicate with sea life, but that didn’t make the task any less suicidal.

If anyone tried to pull her teeth, she’d bash their head in.

She let out a long, weary sigh, deciding she would just have to figure it out if she actually ran into one.

Before moving on, Andrea opened her reward mail.

The system had sent two sets of thermal gear and two sets of underwear.

She didn’t hesitate for a second, immediately changing into the thermals because she was absolutely freezing.

The quality of the gear was a pleasant surprise. It was a complete set, including everything from a beanie and gloves down to thick socks and boots.

As she layered up, a delicious warmth finally began to spread through her body.

She then turned her attention to the pile of salvaged trash she had collected, pulling out an empty plastic bottle.

She was parched and needed to test her reforge ability.

System: [Please select an item to reforge. Remaining uses today: 1]

She was about to select the bottle when she noticed a scrap of plastic wrap with some faded branding on it.

It was a label for premium mountain spring water.

On a whim, she switched her target to the label instead.

[Reforging successful. Obtained: 24-pack of 16oz Mountain Spring Water.]

Her eyes nearly popped out of her head at the sight of the crates. ‘This isn’t just a restoration skill; it’s a multiplier.’

This was the ultimate trash-to-treasure cheat code.

She immediately ripped one open and downed half a bottle in one go.

Finally, she felt like a human being again.

Refreshed and warm, she quickly packed her things and prepared to set off.

However, she hadn’t gone far before her island was blocked.

A shark, roughly ten feet long, was idling directly in her path.

It floated on the surface, its head and dorsal fin exposed as it watched Andrea with a strange, unreadable expression.

‘Is the shark population always this dense out here?’ she wondered, her pulse hammering against her ribs.

She took one look at its tightly clamped jaws and decided her impolite request for teeth could definitely wait.

She liked being alive far too much to risk a confrontation.

She was just about to try and steer around the predator when the shark actually spoke.

“Granny Shark?” it said.

The word hit her like a freight train.

Andrea stayed silent, not daring to utter a word.

‘Is this for real? I’m not even married, and I already have a grandson? And he’s a ten-foot apex predator?’ she thought, reeling from the sheer absurdity of it all.

Seeing her lack of response, the shark swam closer until it was right alongside the edge of her island.

Andrea stood frozen, her eyes tracking its every move.

“Granny, how are you feeling today?” the shark asked, its tone surprisingly gentle. “Are you heading into work now?”

The realization hit her like a bucket of ice water. She finally understood which NPC she was playing: an elderly shark.

Apparently, even at an age where she had grown grandkids, she wasn’t allowed to retire.

‘I guess the corporate grind is universal,’ she thought bitterly, feeling a sudden pang of sympathy for her character. ‘Not even NPCs can escape being a slave to the system.’

“Mhm,” she grunted softly.

She had no idea what kind of personality this Shark Grandma was supposed to have, so she figured being vague was her safest bet.

To her surprise, her dismissive response only made the shark more attentive.

“Don’t you worry about a thing, Granny. You just focus on enjoying your job,” it said. “I’ll take care of everything else.”

Andrea blinked in surprise, wondering if she had heard correctly. That sounded like a dream come true.

She had been worried about blowing her cover, but having someone else do the heavy lifting was a huge relief.

Still, she couldn’t help but feel a bit cynical. ‘Is it even possible to enjoy a job?’

She gave her “grandson” a small, regal nod, continuing her silent act.

She just hoped the gig came with a paycheck, because she wasn’t about to do manual labor for free.

The shark’s eyes crinkled in what looked like a smile, clearly delighted by her acknowledgement.

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