Table of Contents
Prologue: The Shop and the Cuckoo
Chapter 1: Cooking and Satiety Level
Chapter 2: Summer Event and Childhood Mistakes
Chapter 3: The Unicorn and the Stranded Elf
Chapter 4: Swimming and the Lake Bottom Ruins
Chapter 5: Cursed Equipment and Childish Discussions
Chapter 6: Revenge and the Sorcerer
Chapter 7: A Stroll and an Emergency Quest
Chapter 8: The Great Beast Devourer and Support
Epilogue: Rewards and Customer Footfall
Afterword
Sense Composition Data
Prologue: The Shop and the Cuckoo
In a brand-new wooden single-story building, untouched by the sun, the simple interior features a floor made of stone tiles. Inside this ordinary fantasy-style house, light streams in through the open entrance, illuminating the space. Leaning against the elegantly crafted wooden counter, I gaze lazily at the entrance, only to see the occasional passerby without any sign of customers entering.
“…No one’s coming,” I sigh, trying to welcome customers to the Atelier, but it seems no one is interested. Feeling a bit disheartened, I press my forehead against the cool counter, finding it refreshing. After a while of waiting in this unmotivated state, the light at the entrance dims, prompting me to sit up reflexively.
“Welcome,” I hear Kyoko-san’s voice.
Standing at the entrance is Kyoko-san, the NPC shopkeeper.
“Yes, I just got back. What have you been up to?” she asks.
“I’ve been waiting for customers, but no one seems to be coming.”
“Well, even if no one comes, you’re still running the shop, right?”
“Well, that’s true.”
It’s true that this newly opened shop has low visibility, and customers aren’t flocking in, but I believe that once people learn about this place through our consignment partners, they will start to come. I just need to be patient.
As I respond, Kyoko-san, with her charming smile, begins to report on her tasks from outside.
“By the way, I managed to get a good price for the Enchant Stones from Magi-san and Claude-san.”
“That’s great. Does this mean we’ve reached our target amount?”
“Yes, it’s more than enough.”
The amount I have on hand, even after deducting necessary expenses, is sufficient to expand the shop and purchase higher-tier alchemy equipment. However, it will leave me completely broke again.
Currently, I am in the Atelier, a shop primarily dealing with potions and consumable items, located within the OSO world. This shop belongs to Yun, my character in the game, and I am the owner. The establishment of my Atelier is quite unique; instead of the usual grind of earning money through stalls, I primarily earn through consignment sales to others. Thanks to the ongoing relationships with these partners, the lack of foot traffic doesn’t threaten the shop’s survival—though it does feel lonely.
“It’s lonely when no one comes.”
“Well, you could go outside to earn some money or restock potions for when you’re not around, Yun-san.”
“I’m here, after all.”
Kyoko-san, with her endearing face, speaks the truth, and I can’t help but agree. I take out my equipment to check it over.
[Since we’ve reached the target amount for expansion, I’ll go place that order now.]
I also want to practice some light hunting, I think to myself as I exchange places with Kyoko-san and step out of the shop.
My first destination is the NPC who manages the sale of fields.
“Hey, old man, are you free right now?”
“What’s up? Is that you, Ken-chan? What do you need?”
“Don’t call me ‘girl.’ I’m a guy.”
The sun-kissed man in overalls has a reason for treating me like a girl. It’s because, during the character edit at the start of OSO, the system mistakenly identified me as female. As a result, even NPCs refer to me as ‘girl.’
“I’d like to request an expansion for the shop. I want a workshop built behind the store, and I’d also like to install higher-tier alchemy equipment.”
“Looks like you’re finally making progress from just a counter shop.”
He looks like he’s about to take my money. I want to tell him it’s none of his business. Sure, the current shop is just a wooden building with a counter and a herb cultivation field behind it, but it serves its purpose well enough as a base.
“Well, that’s fine. When will the renovations be done?”
“It should be ready in a few days. Now, I’ll get back to work.”
I feel like asking what kind of work an NPC who always stands with his arms crossed has. I suppress the urge to comment and continue walking through the town.
As I stroll through the streets, the anticipation of the shop’s renovations fills me with excitement, and a small smile escapes my lips. My steps feel lighter as I head toward the hunting grounds.
The area I usually hunt is a forest a bit away from town. Here, I can gather materials like herbs and ores for production in the Atelier. I’m in a good mood and want to enjoy a pleasant walk.
However, as I proceed, I encounter a party of adventurers who glance at me and whisper among themselves.
“Hey, isn’t that a bow and arrow on his back?”
“Those must be low accuracy and high cost.”
“Well, it doesn’t concern us.”
At their words, I reflexively turn around to glare at them and draw an arrow from my quiver.
I aim at the trio above and unleash a flurry of arrows. Moments later, a MOB falls from the sky, landing among them and bouncing before vanishing into thin air. Their surprised expressions bring me a sense of satisfaction.
With a renewed determination, I venture deeper into the area, thinking about how much more I can achieve.
The bow, or rather, the Bow Skill, is a tricky weapon that requires consumable arrows. It’s one of my two main weapons, and I have a certain attachment to it. Though I was slightly offended by their teasing, I’m determined to seek out stronger MOBs with this weapon.
“I’ll definitely show them!”
In the area where stronger MOBs appear, I prepare for my first battle, ready to prove myself.
“Right? The trio is safely progressing as a party, while I’m the fool charging in solo… I need to cool my head a bit.”
Just as I feel motivated, I stumble. Shaking my head, I let out a small sigh. Then, I select the logout option from the menu, and Yun exits the OSO world.
I find myself in the kitchen early in the morning, preparing lunchboxes. I’m dressed in my school summer uniform with an apron over it. My younger sister, Miu, is also in her summer uniform, already eating breakfast before me. It’s still early, and yet she’s munching on toast topped with a fried egg and ham.
“Miu, you don’t have to rush; we’ll have plenty of time.”
“Ugh… I know, but I can’t waste any time! I need to gather information in my free time!”
As she gulps down her food with a cup of tea, Miu says, “Thanks for the meal,” and places her dishes in the sink next to me.
After finishing her breakfast, Miu brings her laptop from her room, looking serious as she browses something.
“So, did you find any useful information?”
“Big brother… the server is currently under maintenance.”
“Hmmm.”
“Oh, I see you’re not interested. Also, they’re planning to implement some changes with the version update.”
“Changes? Did they find any bugs?”
“No, no, it’s more like balance adjustments.”
Miu, who is intently staring at the laptop screen in the living room, beckons me over after packing the food into the lunchbox. I join her side.
“They’ve introduced a Satiety Level system to make use of the previously neglected Cooking Sense.”
“Oh, really? So…”
“That means meals will be necessary in the game. If you get hungry, your stats will decrease, and worst case, you’ll die and respawn in town. It reminds me of rogue-type games.”
My middle school sister crosses her arms, nodding as she reminisces. What could she possibly be nostalgic about when she’s younger than me?
The rogue-type she refers to is a roguelike RPG. In this game, players and monsters take turns moving on a grid-based field, with action order determined by speed—it’s a very straightforward game. However, players must cleverly utilize items and villagers scattered across the field while predicting enemy movements, or they can easily meet their demise. If a player faces more than eight monsters at once, they must maneuver skillfully to avoid being surrounded. Strategies like lining up for a straight-line attack or targeting three squares in front and on both sides are essential.
If players don’t maneuver well, the monsters might end up fighting each other, causing the surviving monster to level up. Players can find themselves trapped by hidden traps and mercilessly attacked. The game also makes continuous leveling in the same field difficult due to the Satiety Level system. This roguelike genre is something my older sister, Shizune, excels at, and she often says, “As long as you can predict the enemy’s moves, you can manage. If you can’t, you’ll just have to die and learn.”
However, what I’m worried about is… “If I get full in the game, I won’t be able to eat in real life. It would be sad if I made dinner only to say I already ate in the game.”
“I don’t think that will happen. I tried eating the cooking item ‘Onigiri’ in the beta version, and while it tasted good, it didn’t fill me up. So, it’s more of a game mechanic.”
“Is that so?” I nodded in understanding and turned my gaze back to the screen. Various samples of food items were displayed before me. My in-game shop, the Atelier, primarily dealt in consumables. It might be interesting to add cooking items to the inventory. Making something simple like a sandwich would be easy—just layer the ingredients together. Perhaps I should acquire the Cooking Sense as well.
“Hey, big brother, aren’t you taking on too much? You’ve got Bow, Enhancement, and now Cooking…”
“Leave me be, you little cheat.”
I knew I was spreading myself thin, but I had no regrets. I intended to play the game at my own pace. Any senses I didn’t use could simply be stored away for later.
“I think if you got the support magic-related senses, you’d fit the role of a party-supporting mage perfectly, Yun.”
“Stop calling me ‘big sister.'”
I grimaced at Miu’s words, but I understood what she meant. She was envisioning a style where I would enhance the party’s stability with Healing and Enhancement, and if I had the chance, I could also unleash offensive magic. …Actually, that’s not too different from my current style.
The only difference was whether I used magic or potions for healing, and whether I attacked with magic or a bow. There wasn’t much of a role distinction. Besides, my character was specialized in support. If cooking was needed for the guild, then supporting them was my rightful role.
Of course, even if I didn’t enhance my Cooking Sense right now, I had planned to acquire it eventually. Cooking dragon meat steak was a dream of mine.
“Geez… that’s true. Well then, make sure to let me eat delicious food in the game too.”
“Sure, sure. But the bento’s getting cold, so cut me some slack.”
“What do we have today?”
“Chicken rice.”
“Yay! I love it, big brother!”
Seeing her so excited over such a childish dish made me feel a bit embarrassed as the one who made it. But well, it was easy to prepare, so I couldn’t complain.
“Come on, let’s eat the bento before it gets cold.”
“Big brother, wait a second!”
Just as I was putting away my bento to eat breakfast, Miu stood beside me, her eyes glued to the laptop screen once more.
The content included various schedules and communications from OSO. The latest information had been updated in video format.
“I’m going to play it now.”
“Hello, everyone. I’m Kazuto Yoshino, the head of the ‘O〇Koma no eoつOo’ development team.”
We focused on the man who appeared on the laptop screen. He was a handsome man in his late twenties. Wasn’t he just some idol?
“This announcement is about the update details and the official event.”
I glanced sideways at Miu, who was watching the video with a serious expression, her eyes glued to the screen. Yu was also quietly returning his gaze to the video.
“In this update, we’ve introduced a Satiety Level system to incorporate a more realistic experience. Additionally, for the official event, we have prepared a summer surprise for you. At 1 PM, after the birthday celebration, we will hold an official event in the first town. The participation limit is one item per adult…”
A party. Each participant can bring up to one hundred items. If players manage to navigate this event well, even those with less playtime can become stronger in a short period. Moreover, the event includes several powerful elements, so we hope you’ll join us.
The video was a quiet three minutes long, but Miu seemed to be deep in thought about its content.
“An official event… the possibility of short-term strengthening… the only condition is the item possession limit per member.”
“Miu? Time’s up. We need to head to school.”
“Okay.”
As we left the house, we continued to discuss the announcement from earlier.
“What do you think about the announcement, big brother?”
“It’s the first event, right? They haven’t revealed any detailed information, so there’s not much to think about.”
“That’s true, but short-term strengthening means we might get unique items or level-up items from the official event. It smells like rare loot.”
“I don’t understand that world. But I might join in. What do you think Shizune will do?”
“I think she’ll definitely participate since she’s a master of the guild. Plus, during summer, there will probably be a lot of participants.”
Miu, walking beside me, stretched her arms high and squinted at the sun, and I did the same, shielding my eyes from the brightness.
“Maybe if Shizune is free, we could team up and participate together.”
“Ah, no way. Shizune is busy managing the guild, you know. She’s got about thirty members to handle, and she can’t prioritize us just because we’re family. Besides, she’s already ahead of us.”
“Seriously? That’s impressive.”
“Really. While we’re leveling up at the southern entrance, she’s already deeper in the game. She’s also gathering funds for the guild.”
“Oh wow, so the guild is already established. I heard that after completing the guild establishment quest, the final hurdle is funding, but they’ve already cleared that. I’m not planning to join a guild, so it doesn’t concern me…”
“That means we don’t have anyone to rely on. I guess I’ll be going solo. Well, I should prepare anyway.”
“Yeah, I need to get ready for leveling up too. Still, ugh, I really want to play the game now. School is such a drag.”
“It’s only half a day. I’ve already prepared the bento.”
“Big brother, you’re such a good brother.”
“What kind of nonsense is that coming from my little sister?”
I sighed at Miu’s words. We made our way to school with plenty of time to spare. The path to school was on foot. In this sweltering heat, walking on the scorched asphalt while sweating was physically exhausting.
Finally, we arrived at the school gate. I was in high school, while Miu was in middle school, so we parted ways there.
As I walked down the hallway, voices spilled out from the classrooms. I entered my own classroom.
“Hey, Tada! Long time no see!”
“It’s not that long. We’ve been meeting in the game occasionally.”
I complained while throwing a light punch that Takumi easily caught.
“You look like you’ve been on vacation. Are you getting enough sleep?”
“No, I was leveling up until 2 AM last night. The enemies in the mines are tough, and they keep pushing me. But leveling up is rewarding.”
“Such a hardcore gamer. So, how’s it going? Any good items?”
“Not really. Mostly ore, which we don’t use. We’re just bringing it to the Production Class. Also, the boss is way too strong. I’m trying to level up as much as I can before heading north.”
“I see. I’m just doing some gathering and production stuff. If you find anything, come to the shop.”
“I’ll take you up on that.”
Hmm. The mines, huh? I’d like to check them out someday. Well, I’ll consider it once my Crafting Sense improves.
We talked about this morning’s maintenance, the update information, and the official event. Takumi shared his thoughts on the video, suggesting that the update would allow us to utilize senses that hadn’t been used before.
I spent the rest of the time chatting with Takumi and some classmates I hadn’t seen in a while until morning homeroom started.
On school days during summer vacation, we received reminders from the teachers about being careful during the break, did some cleaning around the school, and then headed home.
Takumi said he would log into OSO as soon as he got home to check out the update details and dashed off.
On my way back, I stopped to pick up dinner before heading home. I planned to log into OSO right away.
Chapter 1: Cooking and Satiety Level
The Satiety Level system is a numerical value that gradually decreases over time and with activity. It’s necessary to regularly recover the Satiety Level with cooking items.
When the Satiety Level drops below a quarter, it negatively impacts your status, and when it reaches zero, your HP will gradually decrease.
Unlike status ailments, the Satiety Level does not recover naturally, so prompt artificial recovery is necessary. Consuming items like potions or pills will only restore a small amount of Satiety, while cooking items like rice balls or sandwiches will restore a much larger amount.
In summary, that’s how it works.
Additionally, the Cooking Sense allows you to create dishes using materials from monsters, which can temporarily enhance your status. Human ingredients are also a possibility, but…
“Oh, Yun! Hello there.”
“Oh, Kyoko! Hello! Are there any customers today?”
I hadn’t noticed Kyoko approaching since I was focused on the menu screen regarding the Satiety Level.
“None yet. We should be seeing more customers by now.”
Kyoko shrugged her shoulders. Now that I thought about it, the morning maintenance meant players couldn’t log in, so it made sense that no one was coming to shop. I chuckled at my own foolish question. Sometimes, NPCs have such realistic personalities that I forget they aren’t real people.
“What’s wrong, Yun?”
I had been staring at Kyoko, and she looked back at me with a puzzled expression.
“Nothing much. Could you buy some herbs along with the materials for Polpo tomorrow? I need to restock the Beginner Potions.”
“Understood. Here’s what I harvested today.”
Kyoko examined the items handed to her. They were herb-related items cultivated in the field next to the shop. Herbs grown in the field can be transformed into higher-grade herbs, and potions made from those materials have significantly enhanced effects, though they don’t require over-healing.
“Well, I compensate for that with a different Sense.”
“What should I do today? I need to gather funds for further upgrades to the facility…”
Additionally, I wanted to acquire the Cooking Sense for the new update’s satiety system. But first, I needed to organize the items for delivery. As I looked down at the menu, a voice floated down from above.
“Hello.”
Startled, I paused my work and turned to the source of the voice.
“Hey there! Long time no see, big sis!”
“Hello, Yun-kun.”
It was Miu and Rukato. What brings them here?
Miu called me “big sis” due to my current appearance. I had always been somewhat feminine in real life, but the character edit in OSO had further enhanced that aspect. My hair flowed down to my waist, my voice had become higher, and my body had taken on a curvier shape. I couldn’t help but sigh at the reality of it.
“What’s up? Is there something on my face?”
“Seriously, can you stop calling me ‘big sis’ already?”
“Still, it seems like there aren’t any customers at all. Are you managing to recoup your funds?”
“Listen to what I’m saying, will you…”
Miu glanced around the shop, which was silent except for the occasional chirp of the ancient island, while Rukato stood beside her with a wry smile. I let out a small sigh.
“The variety and prices of the items aren’t bad, but just having a shop doesn’t attract customers.”
“The limit on the number of items that can be purchased is one reason for that. Oh, could you take care of this for me?”
“ST Recovery Potion and Hi-Po, got it. Sigh, I guess I have no choice but to keep running the shop steadily.”
I took over the accounting from Kyoko, the NPC who was working nearby. When the game first started, I encountered price surges and reselling of potions, so in the Atelier, I set reasonable prices and limited the number of items sold to ensure everyone could access them. Even if that hinders customer traffic, I had no intention of removing those limits.
As I pondered, the accounting wrapped up.
“Alright, now that we’re ready for our adventure, we’re off to a journey filled with dreams and romance, so expect some stories when we return! I’m looking forward to dinner!”
“That’s just like you. Seriously… Rukato, can you take care of Miu?”
“Of course. It’s the usual thing…”
I felt reassured leaving Miu in Rukato’s care as I waved goodbye to the energetic duo and contemplated my next steps.
“Now then, where should I start?”
As I crossed my arms in thought, Kyoko, the NPC, chimed in.
“How about stopping by Magi-san’s place while delivering the items?”
“That sounds good. I’ll do that first. Alright, I’m off.”
With the items in hand, I exited the shop.
The streets were bustling with people after the update, so I decided to walk and observe the town instead of rushing through.
Everyone was forming parties, gearing up, and players were loudly calling out to attract customers.
Enjoying the lively atmosphere, I made my way to Magi-san’s shop, “Open Sesame.”
“Magi-san, are you here?”
“Hey, Yun-kun! Long time no see. I was worried since you haven’t come by much after leaving the deliveries to the NPCs.”
Though she expressed concern, Magi-san greeted me with a warm smile.
It felt more like she was looking forward to chatting with me.
“Well, I was suggested to come and talk to you since it’s been a while.”
“NPCs are quite autonomous, you know. Just the other day, one of them made a mistake and got scolded.”
“Thanks for your hard work.”
Magi-san glanced at the NPC shop assistant organizing weapons to display in the store.
As we exchanged conversation, I delivered the items.
Magi-san’s shop primarily dealt with metal weapons and armor, and she possessed a Production Sense in the blacksmithing category. I, on the other hand, specialized in Alchemy, creating potions and herbs, which I entrusted to her for sale. The Blue Potions I supplied were made from inexpensive materials and had decent effects, selling quickly due to the foot traffic in her shop.
“Why does your shop sell so well? We sell the same items.”
“I haven’t seen your shop yet, but what’s it like?”
“Oh, I have screenshots. Want to see?”
I displayed screenshots of my quaint wooden shop and the lush herb field for Magi-san to see.
“This is my cozy little wooden shop, a beloved place of mine. And over here, the vibrant herbs. Recently, I’ve started to cultivate the Vitality Tree to bear fruit.”
“Wow, the background is really nice.”
“…I suppose so.”
From an ordinary person’s perspective, that might be true. I felt a bit embarrassed as Magi-san observed me.
“N-No, I think it’s great! It has character, you know? Something like that.”
“That’s fine. The shop is a bit run-down, and I’ve set limits on item purchases, plus I leave everything to the staff and don’t advertise. The only customers I get are my sister’s party members. The commission sales make up a larger portion of my income.”
I planned to invest in improving the shop’s facilities and appearance soon. For now, I was keeping things minimal.
“By the way, Yun-kun, I have a suggestion. How about placing some Enchant Stones here?”
“Enchant Stones, you say?”
I rubbed my eyes in disbelief and looked at Magi-san, curious.
Enchant Stones are one of the main products of the Atelier. They are created using my Skill, Skill Addition, which is a higher-level Sense that can be acquired once the Addition Sense reaches a certain level. This skill allows me to enchant items with the skills and Arts that players possess, using a keyword as the activation key. Strictly speaking, it’s not a production skill.
I imbue inexpensive materials into excellent stones using the Addition skill, conveniently calling them Enchant Stones. Depending on the player’s Sense and composition, magical skills can also be imbued into the items. Since these are enchanted into gemstones, they are referred to as Magic Gems. They require a bit more effort to produce, making them one of my personal means of attack.
The items to be enchanted can be anything as long as they meet a certain standard, but these items disappear upon use. Therefore, they are essentially consumable items.
I found myself lost in thought for a moment.
“Yeah, I’ll make sure to explain how to use them and promote the shop. Since we mainly deal in metal products, the stats that can be increased are just Attack and Defense.”
Hmm, that sounds appealing. If the existence of such items becomes known, customers seeking magic attacks or defensive items will come to the Atelier. And since my shop is currently the only one selling them, repeat customers will likely increase. Additionally, backline players might buy MP Potions.
“…But, you know…”
“Is there something bothering you?”
“Well, while making them is fine, it feels more like farming than production to me.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“If we have a hundred herbs, I can use my skill to turn them all into potions at once. But with Enchant Stones, I have to select each stone individually and apply the magic. So, it’s a hassle, and making a lot takes time. Well, it takes about a minute per stone, including the polishing and dyeing processes. This effort is necessary to make it easier to distinguish the effects of each type.”
“Plus, I need to gather a certain number of stones as materials…”
“Then, you won’t be able to make many. In that case, I can introduce you to someone who can help.”
“Can I deliver them starting tomorrow? Also, I’d love to hear your thoughts on them once you use them.”
“Understood. Since customers are coming in, see you later!”
“Yes, see you!”
With that, I left the shop just as a new customer entered.
Sense Points
Having spent my excess SP to acquire the Cooking Sense, I purchased a beginner’s production kit necessary for cooking and transferred to the second town through the portal.
Current SP
– Sense of Sitting Level 0
– Speed Increase Level 6
– Discovery Level 9
– Magic Talent Level 8
– Magic Power Level 1
– Skill Addition Level 9
– Pharmacy Level 4
– Crafting Level 2
– Production Knowledge Level 2
– Cooking Level 1
– Training Level 1
– Synthesis Level 2
– Earth Attribute Talent Level 3
– Bow Level 2
– Alchemy Level 2
As I arrived in the second town, the pastoral scenery shifted before my eyes. I approached the NPC shopkeeper near the portal in the second town.
“Hello, Marsa.”
“Oh, Yun! Hello!”
I greeted a middle-aged woman with a generous figure, holding a basket. This was Martha, the baker, an NPC for quests. From her, I could accept an item delivery quest, but there was also another quest available.
“Are you out making some pocket money with deliveries again today?”
Martha’s delivery quest was a local resident’s task, similar quests could be found in the First District as well. By delivering items around town, one could earn a bit of money. The tasks were simple and the rewards modest, but they were incredibly safe. Additionally, one could receive various random items from the NPCs involved in the quests.
“No, today I came to take a bread-making class.”
“Oh my, how delightful! It’s so nice to have a young lady like you come by! The fee for the class is five thousand G.”
“Alright then, here’s the tuition.”
At that moment, I accepted the quest 【Martha’s Bread Class】.
This was one of those tutorial quests that helped improve various cooking skills. Tutorial quests allowed players to learn knowledge and techniques from NPCs in exchange for money. Similar quests could also be found at fishmongers and butchers, making it hard to focus on just one.
“Now, let me teach you how to make bread that even a Beginner can easily create. Don’t worry too much. You can use the tools and ingredients here as you like.”
Overwhelmed by the NPC’s swift preparations, I donned the brown apron pressed against my chest.
“Now, let me explain. The basic skill of 【Cooking】 requires you to effectively use three types: 【Cooking】【Processing】【Enhancement】. The 【Enhancement】 skill can be used to shorten the resting time of the kneaded dough.
Then, tear off pieces of the dough and shape them as you like. From now on, you can create rough shapes from registered forms using 【Processing】. If you’re short on time, you can use the 【Cooking】 skill to whip up a dish straight from the ingredients. However, this skill, while allowing you to finish the process in an instant, has a low evaluation. Taking the time to make it properly will yield a tastier dish. Now, go ahead and make your favorite bread.”
“Wait, right off the bat? Well, I have the tools, so I guess I’ll just make something.”
Even though I was supposed to be making bread, there were already freshly baked loaves among the ingredients. I decided to make use of them.
I cut up Martha’s bread, bacon, lettuce, and cheese into pieces, following a recipe that required little more than guidance and had no fancy ingredients.
Yun’s Sandwich 【Consumable】
Satiety Level + 15% Evaluation 5
A sandwich made with care by Yun.
This was the result. The name of the item would be attributed to the creator, and the description would reflect the heartfelt effort put into the dish. The evaluation of the item quantified its tastiness.
The evaluation ranged from 1 to 10. While NPC food items typically had evaluations of 2 or 3, a score of 5 was quite impressive.
“Wow, you did it! Now, go ahead and give it a taste.”
My satiety level was still fine, but since I had made it myself, I wanted to try it.
“Here, this is your sandwich. And this is the recipe from my shop.”
I received a mountain of sandwiches packed into a basket as a quest reward, along with a poorly made recipe on cheap maroon paper from Martha. I flipped through the few sheets of the recipe, which mainly contained pictures and numerical ingredient measurements. Even without cooking knowledge, I could grasp the general method.
“Well then, that concludes the bread class. By the way, there’s also a delivery of bread to old man Huster. What do you say?”
“Then I guess I’ll take on the delivery quest as well.”
I accepted the delivery quest and the paper bag containing the sandwiches from Martha.
“He’ll probably be fishing by the river as usual, so be careful when passing through the forest. Yun, you stand out, but try not to get into any trouble.”
With a sigh typical of an older woman, Martha waved me off. All the NPCs shared a knowing smile at her human-like warmth.
I stored the paper bag in my Inventory and made my way through the town, passing into the forest filled with trees.
A place where light filtered through. The moment I emerged from the forest, I felt the cool, damp air of the river against my skin.
The river flowing through the area was wider and had a stronger current than the one nearby, aptly named the Cleansing Stream. This was a safe zone where MOBs appeared, a resting point for players.
I spotted an old man sitting on a large rock by the stream, fishing.
“Hello, are you Mr. Huster?”
“Indeed, what brings you here?”
“I’m here to deliver a sandwich.”
Upon hearing this, Huster turned around with a pleased expression.
“I completely forgot about lunch. Thank you, young lady.”
His response was very gentlemanly and quite endearing. However, unfortunately, Mr. Huster, I am a man.
He took the paper bag and skillfully retrieved the sandwich, wedging his fishing rod between his legs.
The moment he confirmed receipt, Martha’s delivery quest was completed, and I watched as Huster took a big bite of the sandwich. He looked blissful, exclaiming, “Delicious, delicious!”
Noticing the reaction of the fishing rod between his legs, he deftly caught a fish and tossed it into the basket at his chest. He flashed a grin at me as I watched intently.
“This fishing is just a pastime for an old man. Well, the prime fishing time is coming to an end, so I suppose I should head back.”
The old man slowly got up, dragging his right foot as he moved away from the river. I stood up as well, intending to walk back with him.
“Mr. Huster, is there anything special about that river?”
“Nothing much. Just stones and rocks. It’s a quiet place with only fish around.”
“…Stones, huh! That’s it!”
“What are you shouting about all of a sudden?”
“Ah, thank you, Huster. I need to go back to the river for a moment.”
In a hurry, I retraced my steps back to the river. Without hesitation, I stepped into the water, but I was surprised by how shallow it was and the strength of the current pulling at my feet. I bent down, plunging my hands into the water.
“Whoa, it’s freezing!”
The spot where my hand touched the water was shockingly cold, and I scooped up a stone from the riverbed. It was a stone of just the right size, perfect for use as an Enchantment Stone. I stored it in my Inventory and picked up another. I continued to gather stones, and before I knew it, I had waded nearly to the middle of the river, with the water now up to my waist, completely oblivious to my surroundings.
Then, I accidentally lost my footing in the water. Stepping into the deepest part of the river, I was swept away by the current. My clothes soaked up the water, becoming heavy. In a panic, I struggled, but the water merely slipped through my fingers. The only thing I managed to grasp was a fist-sized stone. Gradually, my consciousness began to fade as I rolled along in the water.
I could feel myself being swept away, crashing against the rocks. Cold water rushed into my throat.
The force of the swift current varied in strength, tossing me about and washing me away.
Each time I hit a rock, the air in my lungs escaped, and my vision began to blur.
Yet, I clung to that stone until the very end, pulling my consciousness back as I suddenly awoke in the central plaza of the First Town.
Among others who had also returned from death, I stood out, drenched and disheveled.
As I stood there, the curious gazes of those around me fell upon my soaked form, my clothes clinging heavily to my body.
The dark colors of my attire prevented it from being fully transparent, but my body’s outline was clearly visible, drawing the attention of those nearby.
“Ah… Miu…”
“Hey, this is embarrassing! Returning from death is one thing, but this is just too much!”
Internally screaming in embarrassment, I bolted away. Ignoring my heavy, waterlogged body and the mental fatigue from nearly drowning, I dashed toward the 【Atelier】.
As I sped away, the yellow light swirling around me may have left a strong impression on those who witnessed it.
Once I reached the 【Atelier】, I immediately logged out and collapsed onto the sofa in the living room, utterly exhausted.
It was only after logging out that I realized how mentally draining the game had been. My hands trembled slightly as I removed the headgear, and my knees felt weak.
As I made my way to the fridge to grab some chilled barley tea, I felt like a newborn fawn trying to find its footing.
“Ahh… Today might be a bit much.”
I had no motivation to do anything anymore. Sorry, Miu. Is it alright if dinner is just some instant or pre-packaged meal tonight? I silently apologized to her.