With the limited time I had during the day, I managed to log in briefly to brew potions and deliver supplies to Magi’s shop. However, the number of deliveries felt insufficient, and I resolved to purchase another crude item.
Since moving to a remote area was a hassle, I asked if I could acquire adjacent land. The NPC replied, “If that’s the case, it’ll cost you an additional 2000G as a handling fee, making a total of 5000G.”
I hesitated but reluctantly made the purchase.
Now my funds were down to 3000G. Once again, I found myself short on money, and with no time to properly prepare my fields, I couldn’t generate any income.
In the end, I delivered a small number of potions to Magi. Since she wasn’t always at the shop, the NPC on duty bought them at Magi’s price instead of the usual NPC price.
The supply of potions began to flow smoothly, and as a result, the resellers started lowering their prices, allowing me to acquire a small quantity of the herb materials.
Still, I craved more money. I needed to upgrade my weapons and armor, assess fossils, and the list went on. There were also tasks like turning metals into ingots, crafting accessories, creating antidote herbs, and producing Light Dispelling Chapters. It felt overwhelming.
I had perhaps expanded my skills too broadly, making it hard to manage everything. Worst case, if I couldn’t handle the fields, I might have to hire an NPC. But that was only if I had the money.
Today, I found myself in front of Gantz’s house during a calamity.
“Hey, Takumi! Open up already! It’s so hot I might just melt!”
“Excuse me for intruding. Here, Takumi. Ice cream.”
“Thanks!”
We faced each other as we enjoyed the ice cream I had brought.
“How’s your homework going?”
“All copied down perfectly. Thanks.”
“Well, it’s the same every year, so it’s fine. So, what brings you here today?”
“I’m here because you called me, Takumi. And when you call, it’s almost always about games. Even if it’s not, the second thing you say is usually about games.”
“Just a week after the service started, potions are being supplied steadily, and I’ve already reached the Second Town!”
“Oh, really?”
“What’s with that lackluster response?”
“Honestly, I don’t care. Is that really why you called me?”
—No, that’s not it. Players who reach the next town can use the Popo Portal to transfer between towns. So, I was thinking of progressing westward to tackle the next town. And for that, I want you to join our party.”
“Why me? I’m a production class.”
In response to my invitation, Takumi replied calmly, “You have the skills of Alchemy and Synthesis, so you can be expected to play a healing role in our preparations. Plus, we learned that enchantments were effective in the last battle. Since our party members are the same as last time, there’s no worry about revealing Nika’s identity.”
“Yeah, but…”
“Is there a problem?”
“There are too many problems to count. I’m short on beginner gear and money, and I lack potion materials. And then there’s the fields…”
“Why are you spending money on fields?”
“Why are you so negative about farming?”
“Anyone who knows the history of the eighth edition wouldn’t want to farm. To put it simply, here’s Takumi’s explanation.”
“In the second edition, the southern region didn’t even exist; it was just Kamahoko Town, which was added in the last update of the second edition. The seeds that were added at that time were apparently hard to obtain.”
“So, no one has a farm. Even if you were lucky enough to find seeds, there are twenty slots for fields, so you’d need to gather twenty seeds to be efficient.”
“Wow! Then, just buy more and become a potion tycoon! Hahaha!”
“In the second edition, Alchemy was also underappreciated, and when seeds were added, most people probably didn’t even try the lower-tier transformations of herbs. Since no one tried, there’s little information about farming in the official version. Takumi, who fights on the front lines, says that more than half of the players probably think farming is useless.”
“Eventually, there might be some farming adjustments in an update. So? Will you help me?”
“Hmm. Recently, I’ve only been doing short tasks, so my combat skills haven’t leveled up. But those drops from Sandmen and Golems are tempting.”
“Got it. But is that all you want?”
“I want the enemy drops. I don’t know what will be useful, and I want at least one plant-based item prioritized.”
“You’re being picky again. Fine, fine, I understand. I’ll let the others know. So, our request is for fifty potions and twenty pills.”
“That’s impossible! I’m lacking gallstones from herbivores!”
“Don’t worry. I’ll cover the materials. Generally, the drops from the English are just inventory fodder…”
“Then that’s fine. When are we hunting?”
“Tomorrow and the day after. I’ll contact you with the time later. Tomorrow we’ll start with Sandmen for practice, and the day after we’ll tackle Golems. If it seems impossible level-wise, we can try again next time.”
“Yeah, yeah. After all, I have garbage skills.”
“Don’t sell yourself short. I trust you.”
Takumi said that lightly, but I was half-joking when I said it. Besides, as long as I have the items, I can produce them with a recipe. Ah, and if I lack the necessary materials, I can gather them in the western forest along the way.
“Alright. Then, I’m heading home to prepare. I think I’ll try making some accessories. My defense is paper-thin, but it’s better than nothing.”
“Okay, then. Good luck.”
So, Takumi’s party was off to defeat the boss MOB. I was a bit excited.
Once logged in, I used the ingots I had to create accessories. I placed copper and blue steel ingots synthesized in the valley into the portable furnace, watching as they heated up. When making ingots, I just had to hit them hard, but for accessory crafting…
It seemed that wouldn’t work. I had to follow a series of steps that popped into my head, and if I failed at any step, the quality of the accessory would drop.
It required instant reactions, memory, and repetition, much like a rhythm game. Honestly, I ruined my first blue steel ingot.
“Hmm. Enchanting should be the same as turning it into an ingot. Then I just need to select what I want to make on the system screen…”
At that moment, the rhythm game-like processing began. I hammered with a spear, returned it to the furnace, hammered again, and returned it. Sometimes I would bend it with pliers to create a ring and then put it back in the furnace.
Without a single break, I continued processing with the heat of the furnace. Even the simplest accessory took time now. I had to concentrate on this unfamiliar task, which was quite exhausting.
As a result, I failed several times, lowering the quality, but I managed to create my first accessory without any catastrophic failures.
Bronze Ring [Equipment]
DEF +1
Nice. I had crafted a minimum-level piece of equipment.
“There’s a profound feeling about this. But is this even sellable?”
It took quite a while, and I was out of blue steel ingots. All I had left was iron. My crafting level had increased, but I didn’t feel confident about making anything with iron.
“Well, I guess it’s okay to fail.”
Overthinking wouldn’t help, so I placed the iron ingot into the furnace. I hammered, returned it, bent it, connected it, and heated it…
Even though it was a game, I wiped the sweat from my brow. Gradually, the heat was overwhelming, and my thinking ability was diminishing. Still, I kept hammering away. Like some mindless polishing, even if I failed, I immediately put in the next ingot.
As my MP recovery and enchantment balance dwindled, I focused solely on the ingot in front of me. Mindlessly, unconsciously, I continued the assembly line. My arms felt heavy. My throat was parched, but I didn’t stop swinging. With the fourth ingot, I gazed at the accessory I had just completed for several minutes.
“Finally done,” I sighed deeply.
[Ring Equipment]
DEF +2
I still had a long way to go. Moreover, the accessories Magi made casually were on a whole different level. My ring was a plain, unadorned piece with no engravings. Magi’s creations were intricately crafted, with gems cut into beautiful shapes embedded in the base.
“Seriously, there are so many types of accessories like bracelets, necklaces, and earrings. It’s a shame I’m not even close to that level right now.”
After rolling the two completed rings in my hands, I equipped them on my fingers. I wore the iron ring on my left middle finger and the bronze ring on my left ring finger.
I gazed at my left hand thoughtfully. Unlike Alchemy or Synthesis, creating something I could actually equip gave me a sense of accomplishment. And my slender, pale fingers—described as resembling a white fish—felt oddly out of place.
“Well, for a first attempt, it’s not bad. Surprisingly, I still have some time left.”
I didn’t have time to make more ingots or go hunting, but somehow I found myself with extra time. Just then, a message from Takumi came through.
“What’s up?”
“Just letting you know about tomorrow. Let’s meet at noon, and then we’ll hunt Sandmen for leveling. Are you ready?”
“I made two rings. The total defense is the same as my starting gear.”
“That’s great! Double the defense. Isn’t that cheating?”
“Double the defense of starting gear isn’t cheating. By the way, do you have any idea about the market price for accessories?”
“Prices vary widely. Good ones, like bracelets with DEF +8, were going for over 10,000G recently.”
“Wow! Then how much for a ring with a gem?”
“A ring? The gem enhances the accessory’s abilities, but they’re quite popular with women.”
“Why’s that?”
“Well, they’re shiny. Some guys even gift them.”
“Oh, shiny things. Now I’m craving seafood.”
“Not the food! You really are laid-back.”
“I don’t see the point in rushing.”
“That’s fine. Just don’t be late tomorrow.”
“You too.”
After that, I engaged in some light conversation with Takumi, and before I knew it, time had passed. I realized that this was how it usually went at school, but since the break started, we had been spending more time apart.
The next day, I arrived early at the meeting spot by the west gate for the Sandman hunt with Takumi and the others. I had a tendency to feel anxious if I wasn’t there at least ten minutes early.
“Takumi, I’m here.”
“You’re as early as ever. You’re the third one here.”
Takumi welcomed me, and at the meeting spot were him and Kei. The two of them seemed to be engrossed in some lively conversation.
“Long time no see, Yun.”
“Yeah, long time no see. What were you and Takumi talking about?”
“Huh? We were discussing the effective use of skills and their effects.”
“Oh, sounds interesting. Takumi, pass me the materials. I’ll make some potions and pills while I can.”
While Takumi was loading items onto the trade screen, I listened to one of their discussions.
“Sharing information is important. Yun, since you have Crafting, do you know about equipment colorization?”
“This one is made of iron, but there’s an EX Skill in the production team called Colorization that changes the color. Most production players have it, but you’ll need dye items.”
“Seriously? Wait a moment.”
I checked my Crafting skill list and found Ring Creation, Colorization, and Crafting added.
This meant that by making the ring, these three skills had appeared.
And this Crafting skill changes the default patterns and shapes of accessories. So, my ring was just a default item! How embarrassing for a production player to have a default item.
“Ah, then I guess I’ll try that next time? Also, what kinds of combat skills are there?”
“Well, Yun, you have the Combat Skill of Longbow, but there are many other skills. Takumi and I have Combat Skills, but there are also magic classes with staves and books, and in the previous version, there were plugs, swords, daggers, shields, clubs, and even body parts like Gantz’s as weapons. Did you not check thoroughly?”
“Ah, I think I’ve seen some of them, but I just skimmed through. I picked from the bottom of the skill ranking on the strategy site.”
“You’re such a fool! But well, I got to see something interesting, so it’s fine. There are also fun skills like Cooking and Fishing, which are called hobby skills.”
“That sounds interesting. In a game, the ingredients won’t go to waste, so I might give it a try.”
“Fool! Don’t! Those are also called garbage skills. Takumi only half-heartedly teaches… I don’t know why, but Kei seems to be getting mad for me. Meanwhile, I’m shining with my Potion skill, so I must look surreal.”
“I think, considering the range and bonuses, Yun’s combat style will be stealthy… Stealth is a colloquial term.”
Kei recommended skills mainly for combat support, such as Stealth, which prevents detection from skills, Discovery, which finds hidden objects, Critical Strike, which increases critical hit rates on vital attacks, and Preemptive Strike, which adds bonus damage on first attacks.
By the way, if you incorporate these skills, combat skills like Throwing with daggers or Short Sword skills are said to work well together.
“Kei, don’t recommend such advanced skills to Yun. That’s a setup focused on PVP, right?”
“Maybe… I might have been a bit hasty. Sorry. Just forget it.”
“No, it was helpful. Well, Discovery seems interesting.”
“Wait, wait!”
“I’ve finished making the healing potions.”
I forcibly handed the items to Takumi and began searching for new skills.
“Oh, Discovery! Found it! Now, let’s acquire it.”
Inventory:
[Longbow Lv6] [Discovery Lv2] [Speed Increase Lv5] [Discovery Lv1] [Magic Talent Lv2]
[Magic Power Lv2] [Alchemy Lv9] [Addition Lv1] [Crafting Lv3] [Production Knowledge Lv1]
[Alchemy Lv1] [Alchemy Lv5] [Synthesis Lv1]
Oh! Now I can see gathering points that I couldn’t before! This is a delightful discovery for an item gatherer.
“Takumi! I can see items!”
“Of course, that’s the point of that skill. I didn’t expect you to acquire it.”
“Discovery is usually held by scouts or advanced players, and even if it’s held by a previous version, it might not be useful.”
“What are you talking about? Being able to see is a wonderful thing! Oh, it’s amazing that I can now pick up items I couldn’t before.”
“Hey, what’s at the top of this Discovery skill?”
“Ah, I think it becomes the Combat Support skill called Insight. Insight allows you to sense an opponent’s preparatory movements in advance. There are also other ways to sense, like Perception and its advanced version, Sixth Sense, among others.”
“Why are there so many variations?”
“That’s because they are derived skills. The most famous ones are the Attack Power Increase and Defense Power Increase skills.”
When you grow them to a certain level, they transform into the Physical Increase skill. Having more than one skill combined into one is highly valued.”
So that’s why Miu had those two. It means she could free up space for equipment skills. She’s quite knowledgeable about skill derivations since she played the second version.
“However, the downside is that the skills before derivation disappear and are categorized into a different skill tree.”
Skill trees and categorization? Those were unfamiliar terms. I had questions, but I couldn’t resolve them immediately.
“Hey, I’m here!”
“Long time no see, Yun!”
Suddenly, I was embraced, letting out a small scream. What kind of voice just came out of my mouth? In response to my reaction, Minuts snuggled closer, calling me cute. Before I knew it, Kei’s friend Mami was standing beside her. Together, they made quite the picture—a silent warrior and a gentle witch.
“Oh, isn’t this a bit yuri-yuri? To think we’d see some yuri right from the start.”
Gantz grinned, looking pleased, but he shouldn’t be looking over here. Speaking of which, Gantz’s armor has evolved from regular leather armor to scale mail reinforced with scales. Is this still considered leather armor? What a nice piece of equipment he’s got.
As I was sulking alone, I noticed Mami gazing quietly at my hand.
“Hey, hey, Yun! That ring on your finger, hehehe.”
“W-What is it, Mami? What do you want?”
Mami had mentioned my “hand.” It’s just a hand, but as I looked at it, someone shouted loudly, echoing in my head.
“Yun-chan! Where did you get that ring?!”
That shout was so loud it hurt my ears!
“S-Sorry! But, hehehe, you’re such a girl! Who gave it to you?”
“Well, it’s on the engagement ring finger, right? Who is it from? Come on, tell us!”
“What the heck is going on?” I glanced at Taku and Kei. Taku was trying to hold back laughter, while Kei wore a knowing expression. If you know so much, why don’t you explain it?
“W-Why did you look at Taku-kun?!”
“Looks like Yun-chan has a boyfriend!”
Gantz suddenly shouted. No, I’m a guy! I am a guy, but that’s not what I meant! What am I even trying to say? Meanwhile, Mami quietly showed her left hand, revealing a slender ring on her finger.
“…No, no, that’s not it! Just listen!”
“Just tell us, Yun! We want to know!”
Desperately trying to clear up the misunderstanding only made me seem more embarrassed, and I felt myself sinking deeper into the hole.
If Taku hadn’t stopped it after a while, who knows what would have happened? Seriously, he should have helped me out sooner.
“See? I told you it’s not what you think!”
“I’m sorry! I jumped to conclusions.”
“Thank goodness. If a cute girl like you had a boyfriend, I might have snapped and broken his neck!”
I made Gantz and Minuts sit down in seiza at the west gate, where there were people passing by, and stood in front of them with my arms crossed, striking a pose. To avoid further misunderstandings, I switched the ring to my right hand.
“Seriously. I told you before, I’m a crafter. This is a ring I made myself.”
“I’m sorry for the misunderstanding.”
“Oh dear, how unfortunate.”
Minuts bowed deeply, while Mami placed her hands together, looking amused.
“Hey, hey, time is passing! First, let’s check the potion specialist book and confirm our positions.”
Taku distributed the potions I had just made to everyone, giving more to the front line. This time, the battle against the Sandman wouldn’t be as fierce as against the Big Boar, but it was still something to be cautious about. The Sandman is slow and doesn’t have the same high attack power as the Big Boar, but it has high physical defense. If we charge in unprepared, we’ll definitely end up in a war of attrition. My bow wouldn’t deal much damage, so it seemed I wouldn’t be the one to draw its attention this time.
“So, the plan is simple. The men will hold it down, while the women will attack with magic. E-Yun, can you cast attack enchantments on us?”
“Isn’t defense important?”
“Keeping HP around fifty percent is the safe zone. As long as we don’t break formation like we did against the Big Boar, the backline won’t be attacked. This time, we’re going for a short, powerful battle.”
If Taku says so, then I guess that’s how it is. But still, not being able to enhance our magical attack power feels like a significant loss.
“Well, we’ll just have to give it a shot.”
“Exactly, let’s keep it relaxed.”
“Minuts, don’t let your guard down too much. You’ve been focused on healing until now, so your magic hasn’t grown much, right?”
“Even so, I have a light level of 0, so it’s not a problem.”
What were Kei and Minuts talking about? Meanwhile, I was busy casting speed enchantments and running around. The forest was filled with items—gemstones, iron ore, and plenty of herbs and branches. I also gathered leaf mold since it’s needed for farming. I didn’t need any more arrows since I had upgraded to iron ones, but I picked them up just in case.
I ventured deeper than before, through the western woods, to a clearing that resembled a quarry. There were plenty of stones that looked just right for sitting.
These were also MOBs—Stone Armadillos and Rock Crabs. They had high defense and slow movements. They weren’t favored by warrior classes, but they were considered a tasty target for magic users.
Minuts and Mami unleashed spells as they advanced. The front line was holding their ground well. I cast attack enchantments on the three of them.
From what I could see, physical attacks, especially slashing ones, didn’t seem very effective against the Sandman. However, when Gantz bent one of its sandy fingers in the opposite direction, it clearly showed a pained expression.
It’s sand, yet bending its joints… Even with the attack enchantment, the damage increase was minimal, and we were left relying on luck to win.
Minuts and Mami bombarded it with attack magic, but they ran out of MP midway, revealing that we had many issues to address.
“MP running out is definitely a bottleneck. While we’re suited for short battles against the Big Boar and Blade Lizard, this one is more suited for long-term engagements. If the magic users aren’t attacking, then the minimum level for magic power should be…”
“Looks like we’ll have to prepare for a long battle and switch Minuts back to healer.”
“That sounds like a good idea. We can level up steadily. If it seems impossible, we can always try again.”
“Hey, Taku? Don’t we have any other allies? I think we could take on more people.”
“Ah, about that…” Taku’s voice trailed off, and the atmosphere around us turned warm. Why?
“The party limit is six people. If we exceed that number while hunting a single MOB, we’ll incur penalties.”
He explained that unlike the death penalty, which is called the Death Penalty, this one is referred to as the Cooperation Penalty. The penalties include a decrease in sense level growth, a drop in item drop rates, a reduction in status, an increase in enemy MOB stats, and random negative status effects, in that order. It’s a ridiculous system.
If someone gathers MOBs and pushes them onto others, the one who initiated it receives the penalty, while those caught in it do not. What a strange balance. The recent AI is impressive.
“There’s no benefit to calling for help. So let’s take our time and move forward.”
“What the heck? You’re always like this. You only reveal important things later. I only learned about OSO when I visited your house, and all I got was a light handover of the VR gear… Are you even listening, Taku?!”
“I get it! So stop getting so close to my face!”
“You don’t get it!”
I thought he should be more responsible in situations like this. I felt the gazes on my back.
“To the house… or maybe, a childhood friend, tsundere moment incoming!” I heard something, but I didn’t want to dig deeper.
“We’re going to hunt down the Sandman! I can’t attack, so I’ll keep casting enchantments!”
Minuts and Gantz seemed to get even more pumped up at my declaration, but they were players. Once combat began, they switched into focus mode.
I contributed to the battle by creatively casting enchantments.
- Most of the party leveled up, and with efficient Sandman hunting and enchantment support, we managed to grow strong enough to defeat them before running out of MP.
We stopped at a good point, preparing for tomorrow’s Golem battle. Defeating the boss MOB would open the path to the third town. Well, for me, it’s the second town.
And then, the day of the boss MOB, the Golem, arrived.
As we headed towards the Golem with Taku and the others, I felt uneasy about our stock of healing items.
When I told Maki that I couldn’t deliver the potions, she replied,
“That’s fine, that’s fine. Yun-kun has started hunting too. Just bring them when you can. Right now, the potions are stable.”
Her words were reassuring. After the hunt, I put my all into preparing potions, but I felt like I had prepared too many—fifty seemed excessive. Well, it shouldn’t go to waste.
And then, it was time for alchemy again. I decided to boil the blue jelly I got from the slime in an iron container. The blue goo separated into liquid and solid, and when I evaporated the liquid further, it turned into blue powder. The name was simply “Blue Powder.”
When I added water again, it became blue jelly. What is this even?
Next, I mixed the blue jelly with herbs. The result was a Blue Potion. Isn’t it great that its potency is similar to that of a synthesized potion? Don’t you think? But it’s different.
The effects of the potion itself are on a different level. By turning it into blue powder first, then mixing it with the explosive herb and extracting it like coffee, its potency increased.
Using high-quality herbs further boosted its effects. I was thrilled with the high recovery amount.
Now, for the extraction. The production quantity was small, but I decided to experiment with “synthesis” as well.
Why did it turn out like this? In synthesis, it became Blue Gelatin. Moreover, the description indicated it was a food item.
“Does this even make sense?!”
Turning materials into recovery potions and then dropping it as a food item? What a ridiculous joke!
I took a deep breath to calm myself.
Alright, I’m good now. I’ll store this in my inventory.
I put away the Blue Gelatin and took out the blue jelly again. I powdered it, mixed it, and extracted it. Mixing it required quite a bit of strength, so I cast a stability enchantment. Lately, I felt like I couldn’t survive in this game without enchantments.
In the morning, I prepared potions like this, and in the afternoon, I headed west as I had the day before. I avoided battles as much as possible, making my way toward the Golem.
At first, everyone was joking around, but gradually, their chatter dwindled. It seemed that fighting a boss MOB made everyone tense.
And then, the moment arrived.
“Everyone, are you ready?!”
With Taku’s shout, we all lined up. Before us stood the Golem—a massive rock giant over three meters tall. Its movements were slow, but its powerful grip was intimidating.
“Alright, let’s start with a (buff) attack!”
I cast enchantments on the three front-liners, and then Taku and Kei received defense enchantments, while Gantz got…
a speed enchantment, creating a double enchantment. This was the most efficient way to hunt the Sandman. Taku and Kei held the line, while Gantz executed joint locks, causing the Golem to lose its balance. Then, he pinned it down in a cross-hold. What a fluid and impressive move! Oh, the Golem looked like it was in pain—wait, is this pro wrestling?!
As a martial artist, Gantz was a walking weapon. I had never seen such powerful punches, kicks, and throws before. It was incredible. Throwing such a massive creature like that could only happen in a game, but he might have some martial arts training in real life. Oh, the Golem was completely down.
“Magic users! Now’s your chance!”
At Taku’s command, magic was unleashed in rapid succession, attacking the Golem. Gantz returned to the backline, where he could see the entire battlefield.
“Yun-chan, please heal me!”
“Sure, I’ll also recast the enchantments!”
The combat style of the martial artist-type players was close combat. The characteristic of close combat was that they used their bodies as weapons, which meant they took a bit of damage when attacking. They seemed to be considering various protections for their fists and feet, like gloves and boots, but still, they couldn’t avoid all damage. I continued to play the role of the healer, watching Gantz’s back.
With red and yellow light trails of attack and speed enhancements, Gantz dashed around.
The Golem, now standing again, targeted the darting Gantz, but Taku and Kei blocked its path, forcing it to change targets.
And when it lost its balance, magic struck it hard.
With each magic hit, the Golem’s HP visibly dropped.
Could we actually win like this? I thought, but it was a boss after all. It wouldn’t go down so easily.
“We’re out of MP! Frontliners, hold on!”
The magic users ran out of MP when the Golem’s HP was still around forty percent.
The continuous attacks from the two magic users ran out of MP faster than my double enchantments.
From here on, it was up to us men to hold the line until the magic users could recover their MP.
That said, my own MP was running low. I had to focus on maintaining the minimum.
The three front-line fighters switched their enchantments to defensive ones. Unlike the previous heavy attack enchantments, this was aimed at maintaining the front line. With this change, even if they received a critical hit, it was said that a front-line class would barely survive.
Additionally, they attempted to sustain the battle line with a massive influx of potions.
“Hey! Trip again!”
“Stop it, Gantz! This is different from last time!”
As Kei’s voice echoed, Gantz bravely leaped in front of the Golem.
He grabbed its arm, trying to maneuver it, and attempted to lock its joints. However, this time he failed. The enchantments were barely maintained, and if a speed enchantment had been active, he could have disengaged immediately, but now only the defensive enchantment was in effect. His evasion speed was insufficient.
Gantz was caught off guard as the Golem’s arm slammed into his abdomen. He was lifted and flung through the air, tracing a parabolic arc. It seemed he had avoided a critical hit, as his HP still had a slight buffer. But—
“Dodge!”
Minuts’s voice rang out from a vantage point. The Golem, having risen, aimed to strike down on Gantz, who was trying to recover mid-air. The impact sent him crashing into the hard ground, plunging his HP into the red zone.
Otaku and Kei hurriedly called out, changing their targets.
“Get back and heal!”
“Hey, move! What’s with the timing?!”
Gantz remained motionless. His HP stayed in the red zone.
Despite being in a dangerous situation, he couldn’t move—no, he was unable to. The bad status effect “Stun” was the cause.
“Stun” is a status ailment that occurs with a low probability when HP is reduced by a certain percentage at once. To think it would happen at this moment.
The two in the front line couldn’t provide support for Gantz, and the two magic users couldn’t step forward either.
I shouldn’t go out there. The only one who can move now is me.
The healer, a human, pulled out a Blue Potion, the one with the highest healing capacity, and dashed forward.
Accelerated by a speed enchantment, I closed the distance in a single leap.
I splashed the potion on Gantz, smacking him to literally wake him up.
“That hurts!”
“Get up already! Here, another one!”
I broke another Blue Potion and poured it over him. With two potions, he would be fully healed.
“What the hell is this healing amount?!”
“Just get back! You’re becoming a target!”
I grabbed him by the scruff of his neck and pulled him.
“My MP has almost recovered! I can cast again!”
“Then just cast! Forget about timing for a knockdown!”
As we shouted, spells of light and wind flew past us.
The grinding sound of rock being crushed and explosive noises echoed. The intense light made it hard to keep my eyes open.
As the magic paused during its cooldown, the Golem emerged from the swirling dust.
“Is it done yet?! Damn it!”
—No, it’s already over.
While I cursed under my breath, Takumi danced around.
The Golem let out a heavy groan and began to crumble.
The Golem, collapsing from the top down, had an air reminiscent of the gatekeeper of the Third Town, evoking a sense of sorrow for its failure to protect.
As everything fell apart and nothing moved, I finally exhaled.
“Phew… It’s finally over. That was seriously nerve-wracking.”
“Thanks for that. Yun, I appreciate it.”
“I’m perfectly fine,” Gantz said, lightly jumping to demonstrate.
“Seriously, if the magic users could attack right away, I wouldn’t have had to help.”
“Don’t be ridiculous. Even if I die and respawn during a boss fight, it wouldn’t count as a successful raid for me. That would be lonely.”
“Plus, if you hadn’t pulled Gantz, I would have ended up caught in my own magic.”
“Kaede!”
“Oh, right, sacrificing the small for the big, huh? Minuts, you’ve got a point. But yeah, we don’t have any revival items right now, so if we go down, it’s a respawn.”
“Just kidding. Gantz did well.”
“Everyone, good job. Looks like we can head to the Third Town now, Yun, you too.”
“Yeah, good work. So, shall we go?”
“Before that, the customary drop check. Someone might have a rare drop.”
Ah, I see. Well, rare drops aside, I’m pretty sure it dropped some High-Quality Iron Ore. If I can alchemize the Iron Ore I have, I should be able to gather a decent amount of High-Quality Iron Ore for leveling up and crafting ingots.
With that thought in mind, I opened my inventory, but instead of High-Quality Iron Ore, I found a different item.
“Hey, I got a [Earth Spirit Stone].”
I muttered casually.
“Rare drop, here it comes!”
The loud shout startled me, making my body jump. That sudden loud voice was frightening.
“Sorry, sorry. Boss drops come in two types: normal and rare, but to get one right away, Yun must be lucky.”
“The Earth Spirit Stone is a rare item that can grant additional effects when used in crafting equipment. Gantz’s armor was enhanced with a Blade Lizard’s scale stone, giving it the additional effect of reflecting damage when hit.”
Hmm. What’s this all about?
Earth Spirit Stone [Material]
A stone imbued with the power of the earth spirit.
Is that all the description says? I have no idea what additional effects it has, but oh well.
Hmm. I don’t really see its value. Maybe I’ll ask someone next time.
“Stop right there. The OSO rule is to avoid revealing the composition of your sense and not to hint at possessing rare items. The former is for PVP countermeasures, and the latter is to avoid being targeted for trade.”
Oh, I see. So that’s how it is. But I trust Miu and Magi, so I could probably ask them. Still, my armor is basic, and I don’t have money, so I probably won’t have any use for it yet.
“Well, for now, it’s just inventory clutter.”
“That’s a waste. But taking it at your own pace is just like you, Yun. You’ve recovered quite a bit, so let’s head to town.”
We all headed to the town together. We arrived at the mining town.
The buildings were wooden two-stories, with a somewhat sparse greenery. The NPCs had tanned skin, dressed in slightly dirty clothes and towels, looking every bit like miners.
“You’ve come, huh? To another town.”
While the old man trembled with emotion, everyone else said,
“Good work. We’ll see you again.”
“This time, Yun-chan helped us out, so we’re grateful.”
“See you. Next time, let’s look for enemies to level up the [Long Bow].”
—So long then.”
“See you, Yun. Until next time.”
As they touched the pale blue orbs, they vanished one by one. I was left standing alone.
Everyone is surprisingly indifferent. Seriously, don’t leave me behind like this.
Chapter 5: The Pursuer and Equipment
It seemed that few players had reached the Third District Town, giving it a somewhat deserted feel. While taking a stroll, I talked to the town’s NPCs and searched for item shops.
“Welcome. What can I show you?”
The man looked utterly unmotivated. His skin was pale, and he didn’t quite fit the town’s atmosphere, but I decided not to dwell on that.
I scanned the NPC’s sales list. My goal was material items. As I scrolled down the list, I found some new items.
- Medicine Spirit Grass | Clearly a superior version of herbs.
- Magic Sphere Grass | It seemed to be related to mana. Perhaps I could finally make that coveted MP Potion. But it’s expensive.
Both were priced at 500G each. That’s a total of 1000G. My earnings over the past few days were about 2800G, and now they would vanish. However, since I could multiply the items as long as I bought at least one, I decided to purchase them.
After that, I asked the NPC if there was anything else and was recommended a certain place.
That place turned out to be the tavern in the town center. I thought it would be safe since it was in the middle of town, but there were quite a few ruffians and muscular individuals, creating an undeniable sense of mismatch.
“Hey there, girl. This ain’t a place for kids.”
“Don’t call me girl. I’m a guy.”
I looked up at the short-haired man in a short-sleeved shirt, checking out his muscular arms. He was probably an event NPC. I decided to play along.
“Hmm? What’s that on your finger?”
“It’s a ring.”
Suddenly, the drunken crowd quieted down, creating an eerie atmosphere. The man’s expression turned serious.
“Did you make that ring?”
“Yeah, I crafted it.”
“Don’t think a scrawny arm like yours can handle metal.”
I was yelled at.
“Of course I can! Look!”
“Getting satisfied with such scrap metal and trinkets shows your level.”
Clang! This guy was really getting on my nerves. Even though I knew he was an NPC, it still irritated me. I wanted to create more intricate accessories, but I just didn’t have the time.
What’s this? Want to fight? If you can make me move even a step, I’ll acknowledge you.
“A man’s word is his bond.”
“Of course.”
I crouched down, gathering my strength. I aimed to deliver a powerful strike to his abdomen. However, the man didn’t budge. His abs were as hard as iron. My hand hurt from the impact, as if I had struck Takumi’s armor.
“Hey, no way.”
“A girl’s scrawny arms are just like that. Come back when you’re ready.”
“Wait a minute!”
I tried to stop the man, but a dandy-looking older gentleman, presumably the shopkeeper, tossed me out of the store. As soon as I stepped outside, I could hear the voices of the tavern’s men leaking out. It felt like I had ruined the atmosphere, leaving me in a bad mood. Ah, I should just go back and vent to Magi.
The sun was still high. Instead of using the portal (the blue-white orb-shaped transport object), I decided to gather resources while running. The mining area was slow anyway.
With that decided, I activated the “Speed Up” enchantment and dashed away. Ignoring the inactive Golems and Sandmen, I collected items and returned to the First Town. After harvesting at the quarry, my stock of Iron Ore had increased dramatically.
“Oh, Yun-kun. You tackled the boss today, right? How did it go?”
Upon reaching Magi’s shop, I spoke with her over the counter.
I pulled out a nearby chair and began to vent.
“We successfully defeated the Golem and made it to the Third Town.”
“Oh, that place. We’re planning to go there soon since we need high-level metals for our party.”
“Magi, you’re a crafting class, right? Can you fight?”
“No way. That’s why we’re going with six parties. A total of 36 people. Half of them are crafting classes. Our goal is just to reach the town, so the co-op penalty doesn’t apply to us. Besides, we’re in different leveling fields.”
“Ah, I see. The difference between combat and crafting.”
“It’s all about overwhelming numbers. So, what’s this about the Golem?”
With that, I finally got to the main topic.
“I went to the tavern after exploring the Third Town, and I got into a fight with an NPC, but I couldn’t handle it.”
I summarized it too simply, but Magi seemed to understand.
“Hmm. That tavern near the center, huh? It brings back memories.”
“What’s that about?”
“It’s a path every crafting class dealing with metal has to go through. What’s your crafting level, Yun?”
“Um, I haven’t leveled it up…”
“Then it’s impossible. You need to at least talk to them to progress that event.”
“What do you mean?”
“We, blacksmiths and crafters, don’t just handle metal.”
“Well, that’s true. Right now, I can only use metal and gemstones.”
“Exactly. So, if you level up that event, you’ll be thrown into a situation where you have to deal with more than just metal.”
“What’s the point of that event? Are they trying to anger players?”
“Well, you gain special skills from it. Generally, they’re called EX Skills, which are event-acquired skills.”
“Oh, really? What kind of skills?”
“Using items other than metal changes the crafting experience.”
“So the performance doesn’t change…?”
“It doesn’t, but depending on the design, it can become a niche item that some people love.”
For example, using animal fur on a headband to create dog ears, cat ears, or tails. Apparently, they were traded among certain enthusiasts.
“Well, I was the first to start that.”
“Magi, was it you?”
“Now I make solid metal weapons and armor, but I’ll craft anything if there’s an order. By the way, I made a fortune doing that in version 8.”
“You’re doing interesting things. But I imagine there are orders for creating character-themed accessories.”
“Oh, definitely. A friend of mine, a woodworker, once asked for a grotesque bone decoration to fit a necromancer theme, and a tailor wanted a vampire cloak, so he stripped the surface of the fabric. There’s quite a bit of freedom in it. In the end, both were happy with what they got. Those two handle fabric and wood, but there’s a corresponding event in the Second Town. They’re probably going in a group now.”
I see. That’s an interesting story. So, creating accessories based on character themes offers a lot of freedom.
“Well, that’s about it. Also, if you have any leftover potions, could you sell them?”
“Oh, sure. Is it okay if I sell the new ones I made?”
“Sure, let’s check them out.”
I had a stash of Blue Potions and some leftover potions. I had made fifty for the Golem fight.
I had made too many. I only used about half of them.
“Ah, Blue Potions. And the healing amount is impressive. This is on par with a high potion.”
“Are the effects that good?”
“Yeah, yeah. Ten Blue Potions and twenty-two regular potions. The Blue Potions sell for cheap to NPCs, but their high healing amount is like a high potion, and at fifty percent of the high potion price… that’s about 5770G total?”
“Oh, wow! Blue Jelly, a cheap material, has become valuable.”
“I don’t know how to make it, but I’m glad the effects are high. I’ll be counting on you for future supplies.”
I was able to vent my frustrations, and the Blue Potions turned out to be quite a profitable venture.
The evaluation of Blue Jelly skyrocketed. Later, I bought some from KPC’s shop, but I hadn’t planned well, spending 700G on a hundred of them at 7G each.
I was left with about 6000G. Instead of upgrading my equipment, I ended up short on cash again due to expanding my fields.
That evening, during dinner, we engaged in lively conversations about our recent experiences.
“Oh! Big brother, you went to the Third Town!”
“I was invited by Takumi, playing the role of a pseudo-healer.”
“Yeah, well, Takumi seems to be thinking that way. Crafting classes want to head to the Third Town as soon as possible.”
Miu seemed to understand this. In reality, Takumi might have had similar thoughts. Thinking about it…
I felt like I wasn’t being fooled all the time.
“By the way, big brother. Today, I acquired the ‘Defense Increase’ skill and also got the new ‘Physical Increase’ sense.” I also added the ‘Action Restriction Release’ sense to my available slots.”
“‘Physical Increase’? I’ve heard something about sense trees. What’s that?”
“A sense tree is like a family tree of senses. It branches out from ‘Sword’ to ‘One-Handed Sword’ and ‘Two-Handed Sword.’ But it can also change into a different type of branch.”
“Is there something to that?”
“For example, if you train senses A and B, you might acquire sense C from a different tree. Once you obtain C, A and B become unacquired.”
“So, you have to start over again?”
“But starting from level 1 is a bit harsh, so unless you’re a hardcore power fighter, you probably won’t take that route. Some people choose not to switch trees and just focus on leveling up within their current system.”
“Hmm. So what about ‘Action Restriction Release’? I didn’t see it on the list of obtainable senses.”
“Big brother, you should know a bit more. It’s efficient, but you also need the mindset to enjoy the green side while sipping tea.”
“Once your total acquired SP exceeds a certain amount, the number of Senses you can gain will increase. When it was at 2, even for humans, it increased, so I think it might do the same for you. So, when you reach that point, you’ll have to adjust your image accordingly.”
“There are people who completely swap their Senses to match their image, after all.”
“So, does that mean the Senses that appeared at level 2 are stronger?”
“Yeah, not at all. In terms of performance, there’s not much difference. However, there are noticeable Senses that exploit enemy weaknesses or grant resistance to status effects. Plus, there are some Senses that seem like they could evolve into something amazing if nurtured, like the Insight Senses.”
“The [Eye of the Province] stands out too.”
“For example, there’s the [Eye of the Serpent] Sense, which inflicts paralysis on the target when activated. This one can be acquired starting from level 2. It’s definitely more combat-oriented than the [Eye of Loyalty].”
“You’re being harsh on it. Sorry, [Eye of Conflict]. But I won’t abandon you.”
“Even the [Eye of the Throat] could become the strongest if nurtured.”
“True, no one knows the growth or evolution of the [Eye of Sound]. However, it seems that those who acquired it could identify it with just a sword.”
“Alright, let’s try to nurture all the Senses. But thinking about it, there might be a lot of people trying to acquire many Senses just to gain more SP.”
“In reality, there were those who grabbed everything and ended up at level 0. But doing that without thinking is tough. To acquire higher-level Senses, the SP cost is 2, or even up to 5. If you keep doing that, you’ll have to raise your level to acquire those higher-level Senses. It’s quite a challenge to raise them evenly.”
“As expected of an advanced player. You’re discerning the shortest route.”
“I still have a long way to go until I reach that level. What about you, big brother?”
“What do you mean by ‘what about me’?”
“I mean exactly that. What are you doing to level up?”
“Ah, I’m making Potions and accessories. I want to turn material items into money. It’s a good way to level up, even if it’s just production.”
“Still struggling with money, huh?”
Miu giggles with a voice like rolling bells. It’s not a big deal. Even with this, I can still be somewhat useful in combat at my current level. It’s true.
“Well, I’ll keep an eye on you, big brother.”
“Yeah, keep an eye on me.”
“Uh-huh. It’s my job to make sure no bad bugs get to my big brother.”
“Can you please stop teasing me with that? Sometimes I want to forget about it.”
“Got it. Then, I’m going to go wash up with Shizuka-nee.”
“Okay, please say hi to Shizuka-nee for me.”
“Big brother, aren’t you going to wash up together?”
“Not today. I’ve done a lot already, and the boss MOB was nerve-wracking. The immersion in VR is insane, but the tension during combat was overwhelming. I never thought it would drain my nerves like that. I might end up fighting a dragon someday.”
Just thinking about it sends a shiver down my spine. Ah, I should stop thinking about it.
“Then, big brother, make sure you don’t get overtaken.”
With that, she enters the room. Considering her words and today’s party hunt with Taku, I realized once again that I should enhance my weapons and armor.
A few days passed, and with the goal of improving my equipment, I focused on farming, making accessories, and polishing to level up my Crafting skill, while saving up 40,000 G with Potions. With the money accumulated, I wore a satisfied smile. I just hoped there would be someone willing to sell me a bow as I walked through the town when—
“I’m being stalked!”
Wait, no. This must be a mistake. A tall, model-like man in his early twenties and a loli-shota boy were following me. Seriously, why stalking instead of flirting?
As I hurriedly made my way through the town, they kept chasing after me. They seemed like pretty high-level players.
When I glanced back, I could see the tall man’s head and the edge of his coat far behind me, making it obvious. Yet, even though they must have realized I noticed them, they strangely didn’t stop tailing me.
“Should I send out an SOS? But… no, if it’s PK, it’s faster to escape than to call for help.”
I was confident in my speed. They probably wouldn’t be able to keep up until the Third Town. With that decided, I sprinted west with all my might.
“(《Enhance》|Speed)”
I cast the enchantment and dashed forward. I had memorized the geography of the forest I had been gathering in. I made a beeline for the quarry. However, the two behind me stayed right on my tail.
They really are above my level! But why are they targeting someone like me?
The only thing I could think of was the Earth Spirit Stone. Or maybe my money. If they realized I had enhancement materials, it would be bad. Even if not, if I got PKed, half of my hard-earned 40,000 G would go to them.
The benefit of the PK system is that you gain the money of the player you defeated. There’s no way I could handle two players with just my starting gear!
Being a guy and getting stalked by other guys, it’s a life-threatening situation. Even if it’s just a game.
I had to make it to the Third Town and use the portal to get back and seek help.
In the quarry, I avoided the Armadillo Club and ignored the Sandmen and Golems. The two behind me were caught up by the Sandmen. Yes! This is my chance to retreat! I took a deep breath at the town entrance.
“Haah, haah, I finally made it. What the hell were those guys? Ah, that was scary.”
I turned to check behind me, relieved to find they weren’t following anymore. But I needed to find someone to sell me a bow when I returned to the First Town. And armor. Cloth armor. Ah, speaking of which, that tall guy’s outfit was surprisingly cool. I wondered where it was sold as I teleported through the portal.
“Finally, I found you! Claude!”
For some reason, the people from earlier were at the portal. How did they catch up from that distance? I couldn’t help but wonder.
“I didn’t think you could make it to the Third Town with beginner gear. We had to respawn.”
They respawned. I had no real business in that town yet, and if I was going to use the portal to return, I might as well keep an eye on this place.
“Hey, wait! We need to talk!”
I ran again, this time to a place where those guys wouldn’t come. No, I should hide somewhere until I can call for help. Yes, Magi’s shop would be perfect. With that thought, I took off running.
A quick glance back showed the two were sprinting after me, but they were slower than before. Oh, I see, it must be the Death Penalty causing a status decrease.
Now’s my chance! I charged into Magi’s shop.
“Magi… can I talk for a moment?”
The two men had arrived. I could hear their footsteps approaching. My heart raced, and even though I couldn’t see them, I kept glancing around to confirm their location. Even if PK isn’t possible in town, I didn’t want to be around those kinds of guys.
“What’s wrong? How’s that speed-boosting accessory from before?”
Magi spoke in a much more casual tone. The two seemed to be regulars at Magi’s shop, Open Sesame.
“My speed is quite impressive. With five equipped, I could match speed-type players.”
“You were fast. If you could acquire some speed-related Senses with your spare SP, you could aim for the fastest.”
The two spoke calmly about the dead chase we just had.
“Just knowing that if you enhance your equipment, you can bridge the performance gap is enough.”
Magi, you’re really on point.
I looked up at Magi from behind the counter. Seeing her shake her head, she smiled and gave me an OK sign with her finger.
“What are you talking about? Recently, various blacksmiths have been coming to me for advice, but our rule is to sell at a fair price.”
“The fair price isn’t the issue. I already know most of your Sense composition.”
“What we want to know is about the ‘mysterious Blue Potion seller.’ We’ve heard about the effects of what Magi is selling on consignment.”
Blue Potion? Is that my Blue Potion? Why would anyone care about that? Anyone can make it.
“Ah, I see. So you’re trying to forcefully extract the recipe for high-quality potions from that Blue Potion seller and teach it to those with Alchemy or Synthesis skills, right? Claude?”
Magi’s tone dropped a notch. I could see Claude, the man she called, flinch at her words.
“N-no, Magi! That’s not it! Claude was just curious. Besides, I’m interested in the beginner players you’ve been helping lately. Claude has also been wanting to know the source of large pelts and skins.”
“Listen, Lee Lee. I don’t know what you two have done, but the fact that that girl came to me for help is enough for me. And how is it okay to forcefully extract techniques? That would undermine her efforts and advantages.”
This time, the loli-shota fell silent. Thank you, Magi. You’re reliable.
“So, what did you do?”
“I wanted to hear the story from the start…”
“And?”
Magi looked down at me, her face close enough to reach. She was smiling while cornering the other party.
“At first, I thought about calling out to her, but… I was waiting for the right moment, and then… she ran away.”
When I finally called out to her as she came out of the portal, she panicked and fled here… so this person is just a coward.
When I was called a jerk, I thought she looked really angry.
“Seriously, what kind of foolishness are the top blacksmiths engaging in? And Lee Lee, you too. Think about how a girl feels when being chased by two men. Even if it’s a game, expressions and feelings are conveyed realistically. Just because it’s a game doesn’t mean ordinary ethics don’t apply, and it’s understandable if she feels threatened.”
—Magi, you said everything you wanted to say. But I’m a guy. Different ethics mean that being a guy isn’t a crime.
“Claude looks scary with that frown. Of course, she’d run away.”
She delivered the final blow.
“I-I get it! I’m sorry! How about I prepare some items to make up for it?”
“I’m asking you too, Magi.”
Magi let out a grand sigh.
“So, what will it be? Will you forgive them, Yun-kun?”
I was addressed from behind the counter. Based on what I heard earlier, it didn’t seem like they were going to do anything to me, so I guess it’s fine to show my face. Claude seems a bit intimidating.
“Thank you, Magi.”
“…You were here?”
Claude looked uncomfortable.
“So, Yun-kun, will you forgive them?”
“Whether to forgive or not is up to you, Magi. Since you said everything you wanted to say, it’s fine now.”
“I see, I see. Yun-kun, you’re such a kind boy. I’m happy, big sister.”
“Stop calling me a girl. I’m a guy.”
“There’s no way such a cute boy could be a guy!”
Claude suddenly raised his voice.
Ah, I think I understand Claude a bit now. He’s like Gantz in that regard.
Receiving my cold glare, Claude cleared his throat, and Lee Lee smiled awkwardly.
“So, can you introduce us?”
“Um, you’re the mysterious Blue Potion-selling Bow User, right?”
“I’m Yun.”
“Then, Yun-kun it is. Nice to meet you. I’m Lee Lee, a woodworker, so come to me for bow-making requests. I mostly get requests for staves, so I’m getting bored.”
“I’m Claude. I mainly handle leather and cloth as a tailor.”
Ah, both of them are production classes. No wonder I didn’t see any weapons on them. I was surprised because I thought they might be mages.
“So, I want to ask, what’s this mysterious Blue Potion?”
Hmm. Everyone is making subtle expressions. It feels like only I don’t know what’s going on.
“The mysterious Blue Potion.”
That’s the potion being sold on consignment at the metal weapons and armor specialty shop, Open Sesame.
The Blue Potion, when crafted, is equivalent to a regular Potion and was valued for being inexpensive to make in the 2B version, but the crafting difficulty requires Alchemy level 5 or higher, making it a high hurdle for players who just started the official version. This, combined with the fact that there were no players making Blue Potions in the early Potion market, caused its price to skyrocket.
Currently, Potion prices have stabilized, but there are concerns that High Potions will rise in price next, and the Blue Potion, which has a high recovery amount, has emerged.
While it’s inferior to High Potions, its affordability and usability have made it highly sought after by players pushing forward on the front lines. This led to the emergence of the mysterious Alchemist, or rather, the mysterious Blue Potion seller.
“We were looking for that… and I’m sorry for scaring you.”
“No, it’s fine. So, I’m that Blue Potion seller…”
It’s surprising. I just mixed Blue Jelly and dried Herbs to extract it.
“That’s right, it’s Yun-kun. The moment we noticed you, it was clear you were out of place since you weren’t a player entering with metal armor or weapons.”
That’s true; both my bow and cloth armor aren’t items that Magi’s shop handles.
[Well, I’m a broke production class. That’s why I’m selling Potions like this.]
“But I don’t like it. Are you really looking at yourself properly?”
—”Yeah.”
Claude frowned deeply. Honestly, it’s a bit scary how he’s glaring at me. Magi looks cheerful, while Lee Lee is nervously glancing back and forth.
“Why do you think we production classes care about our equipment?”
“Uh, maybe for the stat boosts?”
- When I tilted my head slightly, Claude’s eyes widened.
“Wrong! It’s because there’s romance in it!”
“Yes!”
“Certainly, enhancing stats is necessary in a game! But if that’s the case, the system…”
Should be enough with the generic equipment created by the system. We production classes seek things that the system or game doesn’t provide. For example, if someone orders revealing clothing, I’ll make it. But if I just create a revealing outfit that shows too much skin, it becomes vulgar. Plus, it’s important to make it beautiful and attractive. That’s where the romance lies! Just like the cat ear gear Magi made! Or the gear Lee Lee creates! Or my own romantic outfits!”
I was listening in Japanese. But I couldn’t understand what this guy in front of me was saying.
“I’ll say this. You’re wasting good materials by sticking with your initial equipment.”
“Are you a pervert?”
“Well, Claude is strange, but I can relate to some points. Thinking about how to make something easy to use, how to make it fit the person, and imagining how they’ll use it while creating is enjoyable.”
Magi expressed. Somehow, I felt like I understood the meaning smoothly.
“I don’t think that far when making Potions. I just think about how to sell them for a high price.”
“I’m the same. I create what I want to create. Everyone is different, so that’s fine.”
Lee Lee gave me a carefree smile. Even though they’re all production classes, there are various types of people.
“So, here’s the deal. No, it’s not a deal. If you pay, I’ll make the best armor as a measured item.”
“Claude, you’re quite condescending.”
“Yeah, uh… please let me make your armor.”
“Claude is quite humble.”
“Huh? Who was it that chased after them together? Lee Lee?”
“Eh, me too.”
“Of course, both of you need to apologize. Use your skills to make up for it. By the way, make it for 40,000.”
“Seriously, the Magi who just lectured me on what it means to be a production class suddenly switched to a strong tone.”
“…That’s too cheap! Cloth armor costs at least 40,000 for one piece. For six pieces, it’s around 100,000 at the current market!”
“Who said it was just for Claude? It’s 40,000 for both of you combined.”
“Geez, Magi, that’s ridiculous.”
“Magi, you’re going overboard.”
“Yun-kun, you’re just too kind. If you didn’t entrust me with the Potions, you could have circulated your money faster.”
“Well, I don’t really mind the money. But if I dig too much, my sister’s complaints will increase, and I’m not in a hurry. Magi, you said you’d sell it at a fair price, right? That’s what I mean.”
I thought to myself, I can trust this person.
“You sure know how to make me happy. It can’t be helped, boys.”
“Y-yes!”
Magi’s voice resonated, a tone lower than usual.
“You’ve put your life on the line. You should thank Yun-kun. However, the main culprit, Claude, must at least make you some armor, Yun-kun.”
“Ah, of course.”
Hmm. 40,000 for a part of my body, huh?
“By the way, what are the six parts of the body?”
“Mainly, the head, chest, skin, waist, inner wear, and outer wear. By the way, the beginner’s gear only covers the waist and outer wear.”
“Oh wow. Then, I’ll just order the outer wear first.”
“What about the additional effects? For production jobs, it’s better to have high DEX.”
“Would that count as a production job? Right. I heard I could use this for enhancement; is that okay?”
I took out an item from the corner of my inventory.
“I see, since you were able to pass by the Golem, it means you defeated it.”
“Oh, the Earth Spirit Stone. Another rare material request has come to Claude. I’m so envious.”
I held the Earth Spirit Stone I had taken out. I thought I would be PK’d for having this, but…
It might be better to use something like this sooner rather than later.
“If you have a rare material, put all your current money on the table. I won’t settle for anything less than the best quality.”
—Is that really okay? The minimum price is 40,000, right?
“That kind of performance is just the lowest quality, or the lack of materials is the cause. Hehehe, with this, my level will rise too, and we both benefit.”
That dark smile is a bit scary. Well, he’s going to make it for me, so I’ll just ask.
I placed all my money and the Earth Spirit Stone on the counter and left the shop.
A few days later, I was told that Magi would contact me.
I anxiously awaited the completion of my armor. In the meantime, I quietly made potions and practiced enchanting.
I seemed to be running low on pills, so I gathered herbs and fur from the surrounding area.
My fields were stable, yielding a good amount of Magic Sphere Grass and Earth Spirit Grass, and I completely transitioned to buying herbs from NPCs.
My stats had also increased quite a bit.
Current SP: 2
【Level】
【Hawk Eye Level】
【Magic Talent Level 8】
【Magic Power Level】
【Alchemy Level】
1] 【Addition Level: Evil】
【Alchemy Level 2】 【Synthesis Level 1】 【Crafting Level 1】 【Production Knowledge Level 1】
Passive
【Training Level 1】 【Speed Increase Level 7】 【Discovery Level 5】
_「Poetry Level 1」 – Equipment」- Military Level 7」[Inquiry Level 5」]
From the herb spirit, I could create High Potions. From the Magic Sphere Grass, I could create MP Potions. However,
like the herbs, going through the drying process increased the recovery amount. But perhaps due to my low 【Alchemy】 level, more than half of my attempts initially failed. Now, I was at about a 70% success rate.
I also refined them, and since the lower conversion in alchemy increased the quantity, I could perform alchemy quite a bit, but I couldn’t secure enough to sell. For now, they were exclusively for me, but they provided excessive recovery from low HP.
On the contrary, my recent worry was the growth of my 【Synthesis】 Sense. I no longer needed to create synthesis potions, and I felt no need to raise it. Recently, I had been buying arrows from the shop.
“My synthesis has reverted to a garbage sense.”
At this rate, the necessity for 【Synthesis】 would disappear. I had to do something about it, and I found myself staring at unused items in my inventory.
Hmm. I hadn’t done any three-way synthesis lately, and even combining synthesis potions only slightly increased the recovery amount. As for High Potions and MP Potions, perhaps due to insufficient levels, I failed. What other items could I use? … Stones?
I had picked up a large number of stones. I probably had around two hundred by now. I had tried using them in 【Synthesis】 and 【Alchemy】 before, but somehow I felt like I could succeed with my current level.
“They say it’s easier to give birth than to worry, so let’s try 【Synthesis】!”
Using a kit that allowed for three types, I combined three stones and ended up with a rock. A nice, round rock that seemed just right for sitting on.
“Oh, it’s heavy. Can it fit in my inventory? … Oh, it fits!”
It was cumbersome, so I decided to convert the stones into rocks for leveling purposes. Along the way, I tried using 【Alchemy】 as well, but it failed. I wondered if there was some kind of rule. A rock isn’t a higher-tier material than a stone. So what could I use it for?
It was a perfect size. I thought it might improve the scenery if I placed it around the fields, so I set down several rocks.
Gray stones, yellowish soil, and herbs, with one corner featuring the purple of the broken grave and the yellow of the paralysis area, transformed the area into a flowerbed rather than just a field.
“Wow, it looks beautiful. I know it’s a bit self-serving to say, but it might be nice to take a screenshot and show it to Miu.”
Everyone makes fun of farming, but if it’s just about appearance, it looks nice. I heard that if I had a frame as a furniture item, I could display the screenshots I took.
I want to have my own shop one day and decorate it.
A short sound echoed in my mind. It was a message from Magi.
“Yes, this is Yun.”
“Ah, the armor is done. Claude just dropped it off with a note.”
“Ah, then I’ll pick it up while delivering the potions.”
“Understood. I’ll be waiting.”
Well, Blue Potions can be made quickly using the recipe. However, it requires multiple processes, so it consumes more MP than just following the recipe. That said, my magic power grows faster because of it. Both have their pros and cons.
“Alright, it’s done, so let’s go.”
I switched to 【Speed Increase】 and applied some enchantments, rushing through the town. Leaving behind a yellow afterimage, I reached 【Open Sesame】 near the town center in just a few minutes.
“Magi, hello.”
“Yes, yes. Welcome. Here’s your armor. Also, there’s a little something extra.”
Nervously, I accepted the armor from Magi’s trade screen. It even came with an inner layer.
DEF +6K6 Additional Effect: DEX Bonus Automatic Repair
“Wow, this is a world apart from my current armor.”
“That’s right. But the most amazing part is the additional effect from the Earth Spirit Stone.”
Rare materials that grant additional effects to equipment are called enhancement materials and provide special effects.
“The effect of the Earth Spirit Stone is automatic repair. This automatic repair effect absorbs the wearer’s MP to recover when durability decreases. According to the note, it can fully recover even if it breaks, given enough time and MP.”
“That’s convenient. If this breaks, I’ll have to pay properly to buy a new one.”
“Also, if you want to enhance the armor, come to me; I’ll upgrade it for you.”
“Oh, that’s great. Then I’ll try it on right away.”
When I took it out, it looked like a coat in black and yellow-brown. The shoulder was sharply cut, exposing the skin on my shoulders and arms, prioritizing ease of movement. It had leather and golden metal decorations in various places, showcasing Claude’s good taste.
The simple black inner layer had high durability and felt nice against the skin. If I wore the leather coat over it, the inner layer would come off.
Though it’s called a leather coat, the hem isn’t very long. It barely covers my backside. If I tighten the belt around my knees, I can adjust it to fit snugly against my body.
“It’s cool. I like it. But what does the ‘CS’ in the name mean?”
“Oh, that. Production jobs can freely change the names of the items they create, but for Claude, he numbers his masterpieces like that. It’s an abbreviation for the Claude Series.”
“That’s a bit embarrassing. It feels like a limited edition or something. But it’s fine.”
“I’ll make sure to call it something normal next time we meet.”
“That still feels embarrassing. Also, he mentioned that if I model for him next time, he’d give me a discount. That was in the note too.”
“Ugh, I have a bad feeling about what he means by ‘modeling.’ Knowing him, I might end up wearing something weird, just like Gantz.”
“I’ll think about it.”
“Right. As for anything else… it seems there’s nothing.”
“I see. Then I’ll deliver the potions.”
I placed the Blue Potions on the trade screen.
“Ten Blue Potions at 500G each comes to 25,000G. I’ve gathered quite a bit in three days. It’s a bit of a burden.”
“With this, I might be able to own a shop someday.”
“That’s right. I want to own one someday, but well, in due time.”
“I see, if that happens, you’ll be selling your own stuff. The older sister will feel lonely.”
“If that happens, I’ll occasionally hold competitions. It’s fun to talk with Magi.”
“Oh my, are you trying to make your older sister fall for you?”
“What kind of joke is that? It’s the truth. Besides, it’s nice to have conversations between production jobs.”
As Yun smiled, Magi widened her eyes in surprise and quickly returned the smile.
“Conversations between production jobs. That sounds appealing. Well, even if that happens, I’d be happy if you still delivered potions occasionally.”
“Then, as a souvenir when I visit your shop.”
We happily talked about things that seemed far off in the future.
“Now, I’ll go test the performance of the armor.”
“Huh? Are you going to produce again? Since your DEX has gone up, you might succeed at what you previously failed.”
“Before that, I need to engage in combat. I don’t know what will affect my stats.”
“Hmm. If you learn something from that kind of verification, let me know.”
“Understood.”
I heard that and left town, heading east.
Between the regions where Big Bopoa, Goblins, and Slimes appear, two types of MOBs, Milbirds and Grayrats, show up. In terms of level, they are comparable to the Stone Armadillos and Rock Clubs in the quarry, but these are faster and have lower defense.
The Milbird, circling in the air, lets out a cry when I get within a certain distance before charging at me. Miu had been using a method to drop them at the right timing. Even though it’s a charge, they make a loud noise beforehand, making it easy for me to detect.
The Grayrat is a huge rat. It’s not cute at all. It’s about the size of a small dog, and it won’t attack unless I get too close. It’s a MOB with a short link distance.
Today’s target is the bird.
I aim for the Milbird in the sky with a long-range shot. My attack power isn’t particularly high, but the bird’s HP isn’t high either. I land a hit, and as it notices me, I shoot three arrows before it can get close, causing it to fall to the ground.
My bow doesn’t seem to have the low hit rate that others claim; in fact, my current sense feels even more precise. I can aim effortlessly. Yes, I can shoot specific parts.
In fact, I aimed for the feathers of the flying bird, disrupting its flight and causing it to disappear from fall damage. I realized how much of a difference just changing my armor made. I also understood that the damage varies depending on the specific part of the bird I hit.
Especially if I hit its small head, it would almost certainly be a critical hit. If I hit both wings, it would disrupt its flight.
I see, the relationship between the bow and dexterity.
Thanks to the DEX bonus from my armor, my hit rate increased. In other words, for a bow user, DEX provides a hit rate correction.
This explains why many bow users have given up. Range, hit rate, and cost performance.
Range tends to depend on ATK, while hit rate tends to depend on DEX.
Cost performance relates to the player’s financial power.
Indeed, this game requires individual player skills, but that doesn’t mean there are no assists. Magic users have magic tracking, and swordsmen have Arts motion assistance, for example.
In other words, it’s only natural that bows also have assists, but perhaps players were too focused on range and didn’t sufficiently meet the hit rate correction.
—In other words, they were being brainwashed. And here I am, with high DEX due to my production sense. What an irony. Even with a garbage sense, when I unravel the stats, it turns out like this.
Initially, all my levels were low and didn’t grow, but as I trained everything, my DEX increased, and hit rate corrections were applied, which is my hypothesis.
In other words, if I intentionally lower my DEX, the hit rate of my arrows will decrease, indicating that DEX is indeed providing a correction.
I decided to revert my armor back to the initial equipment and remove any senses related to DEX. I don’t think I can shoot down the birds in the sky without “Inner Eye.” For now, I trust in the level of my bow and shoot.
The arrow flew a dozen meters. It didn’t even reach half of the distance of my sense-equipped gear. It fell short of the bird, tracing a parabolic arc, and hit a mouse that was scurrying on the ground.
With an arrow embedded in its back, it charged at me in a fit of rage.
I hurriedly nocked another arrow, but I couldn’t hit it at all. I fumbled with adjusting my senses and armor, and even if I tried to run away, it would catch up to me.
I was forced into close combat and was overwhelmed by a single mouse, leading to my death and return.
“Ouch… dying is surprisingly painful. I haven’t taken damage like this in a while.”
It had been since the first day of the game. Until now, I had managed to get by with production and long-range shooting, but perhaps I had gone too far in a practical sense.
I was returned to the central square of the first town.
“I guess it was proven. The speed of the herbivore field is fast for the initial stage, so if the DEX of the bow and arrow is low, it might be easy for enemies to evade.”
I stood up and adjusted my equipment.
I was at a loss with the Death Penalty. This is bad. I had some time left.
Should I log out for shopping? Maybe I’ll have Chinese food for lunch today.
Akiura
I gave up on today’s production activities and spent the day quietly.
—
No Terashin Oosushin Nan to Shin
Chapter 6: The Trion Ring and the Value of Information
The next day, I decided not to go outside the town, applying the lessons learned from the previous day. No, it wasn’t that I was being reclusive; this time, I was going to make money to buy arrows.
I had a steady income from Blue Potions, but I had nothing else, so I thought about selling the accessories I had on hand. I felt that if they sold, that would be good enough.
Thanks to the DEX bonus from my armor, the failures in gem polishing had decreased, and I was able to process them more steadily, so I thought it was time to move on to the next stage. That would be processing High-Quality Iron Ore.
[I want to test the limits of my mobile device. And I want to create a one-off piece of equipment just for me.] Inspired by what Magi and Lili had said before, I felt a surge of desire to design my own equipment, leading me to this point. I placed the High-Quality Iron Ore I prepared through alchemy into the furnace to turn it into ingots.
I wanted to enchant myself and swing my spear vigorously. And the first one was completed. If my DEX is high, the success rate of production increases. I understand this well through comparison. It’s easy.
Even that iron, I can now produce while humming a tune. And I keep mass-producing High-Quality Iron Ingots.
The effort I put in this far is, of course, for leveling up. After all, the path of the strong is the path of the warrior. For low-rank production, one-shot production through skills is fine, but for high-rank, doing it by hand seems to yield better experience points. And the success rate is said to be higher as well.
And I crafted a ring just for myself. I changed its design and name, matching the color to the black of my clothes, creating a black metal feel with three interlocking rings, embedding a peridot in the central pedestal. The gem’s material effect increases defense. Extremely small gives +1, small gives +2, and medium gives +3.
The completed ring turned out to be something far superior to the rings I had before.
Itorion Ring (Equipment)
– DEF +9
Since the upper limit for High-Quality Iron Ore is 6, this is certainly a high-level accessory. As I admired it, I noticed that my 【Addition】 level had surpassed 3.
【Sense [Addition] Level: Knife or higher required | SP Cost: 3 【Addition Technique】】
This is the first time I’ve seen a sense I’ve acquired. The total number of SP acquired hasn’t even exceeded the previous amount, so this must be the growth of my sense.
The explanation of the Addition Technique includes an increase in the types of additions, unlocking prerequisites for attribute-based enhancements, and so on…
The former allows for three additional types. With an INT Enchant, I can bolster the rear guard, enhancing my significance in the party. However, the latter is a bit lacking. The prerequisites are clear, but the other conditions remain a mystery. The explanation continues further.
| Additions to Items.
| … Seriously? If I can enhance items beforehand, combat will become much easier. I wonder if I can do this with non-equipment items as well.
Excited, I quickly check my Skill list.
The Addition Skill list has expanded significantly. There are now enhancements for magical attack power, such as Intelligence, and magical defense power, like Mind. Additionally, there’s a new option to lower the target’s stats (Curse Addition).
Two new types have also been added: Skill Addition and Material Addition. “Skill Addition means… it applies the player’s skills to an item. That’s quite a boon for me! But isn’t this just attaching someone else’s skills to my equipment?”
The other one, however, does provide a clear benefit for me.
Material Addition grants the player’s Enchant to an item. If I can apply this and sell it, it could work! (Material Addition) | Enchant Attack.
Without hesitation, I apply Material Addition to a random accessory.
Ring [Equipment]
DEF +5 Additional Effect: ATK Addition
I did it! But when I got a bit too confident and applied a second enchant, it broke.
“Ah… right, that makes sense. If I could enchant items without limit, I could double or triple enchant them without any risk.”
I took out accessories I planned to sell or items I wouldn’t use and began experimenting.
[Can I apply a Cursed enchant in addition to the others? Well, time for some experimentation. (Material Addition)]
“Cursed Defense.”
With a dark glow, the ring’s status changed to DEF Curse Addition.
“Wow, this is a child’s item. When I think about it. (Material Addition) _Cursed Attack.”
And it broke again. This time, I applied the addition, curse, and addition in that order.
“My crafted Trion Ring. Seriously, this performance is unbelievable.”
Trion Ring
DEF +9 Additional Effects: ATK Addition, SPEED Addition, MIND Curse Addition.
“This means that for magic users, they can forgo attack power and allocate it entirely to magical offense and defense.
The reason it breaks with double enchantments or curses is that each material has its own capacity.
In other words, with the current materials of the item, the additional effects can only be one at most, either positive or negative. To exceed that,
I would need to upgrade the material grade or apply a negative curse. Furthermore, when applying the same type of
enchant and curse, they cancel each other out. This means I can freely modify equipment under this rule.
By the way, it’s impossible with consumables or food items. They break and disappear in one shot.
When I applied an attack addition to the ingots and stones I had, I wondered how to use them. If combined with the Trion Ring, would my attack power increase? The possibilities are expanding. Well, for now, this is all I can demonstrate. Plus, the fact that it doesn’t break under the known conditions means this is a form of magic, not production.”
“By the way, am I the only one who has developed the Addition Sense to this extent?
To pose that question, I message Magi.
“Magi, are you free right now?”
“What is it, Yun? Are you here to deliver potions again?”
“Yes, I am. Also, I have a few things I want to discuss.”
“Got it. I’ll be waiting.”
I ran towards her. I equipped an accessory with a speed enchant and dashed, but it seems that item enchants and regular enchants are treated differently. There was a slight difference in speed. I almost bumped into a few people, so I switched to a brisk walk. The advantage of item enchants is that they don’t produce any visual effects.
“Magi, hello!”
“Oh, you made it! Shall I deliver the potions now?”
“Let’s do that.”
As usual, I sold the Blue Potions for some money. Thanks to the DEX bonus, my potion-making failures have decreased, so I’m considering expanding the fields and additionally crafting Recovery Potions and Detox Potions.
“How’s the Salt Tree, Yun?”
“Well, it’s coming along. Also, I found out that the hit rate for bows is related to DEX.”
“Oh, you finally figured that out. As expected of my disciple.”
“Well, we’re not exactly in a master-disciple relationship, and it seems you already knew about the hit rate.”
“You think so? Who do you think I am? I’m Magi, the blacksmith. Back in version 2, I was researching various Sense characteristics with Claude and Lili to find the best adjustments for combat classes.”
“If you knew, you should have told me!”
She chuckled at my complaints. When I shot her a sideways glance, she quickly made a ‘sorry’ gesture with one hand and invited me to continue.
“I’m not being mean. Just think about it. How would it be if I taught you everything from A to Z? It would be no different from reading a strategy guide.”
“Well, that’s true.”
“Plus, I dislike being coddled. I believe that finding things out for yourself is a point of pride. I’ll give advice to those who come to me, and I’ll negotiate too. I welcome interesting people like you. What I dislike are the unremarkable ones. If you want to be taught, go find some ‘I’m the best’ types or browse strategy sites. If you want to break the concept of being top-tier, go ahead and do it.”
“Those are some pretty harsh words.”
“Well, I think exchanging information is fine. I buy information about items and MOBs to find the best weapons and armor suited for them.”
“Those are some wise words from a top-tier production class. I really need to forge my own path.”
“I feel like I might be charged tuition for that lofty lecture.”
“Haha, I’m not that much of a demon. As long as you continue to be my ally in production, that’s good enough.”
“Then, as a sign of my growth, I’ll gift you this ring. Today…”
“I finally made it from high-quality iron ore.”
“Oh wow, you’ve finally reached that level. I’m currently working with steel. I’m also starting on silver products.”
“I still have a long way to go. Here, take this. I’ll be working on my own too.”
I took off the Trion Ring from my finger and handed it over. I still can’t be confident in my production skills.
“Well then, I’ll be focusing on making money from now on.”
“Okay. Take care. I’ll cherish this gift, Yun.”
As I left the shop and started running, Magi suddenly rushed out after me. However, I didn’t notice her as I dashed away.
“What on earth did he leave behind? I’ve never seen such an accessory before.”
Magi muttered under her breath, unheard by anyone.
I used the money I had to expand my fields for my money-making endeavors. The price for fields after the fifth one skyrocketed tenfold, and when I tried to buy adjacent ones, I was charged extra fees.
As a result, I increased my fields to six, allowing for a total of one hundred and twenty items. I also purchased other necessary items for Alchemy from the shop, leaving me with less than 10,000 G.
“I made a big show in front of Magi, but now I’m broke again.”
Purchasing weapons and new armor, along with buying my own shop, is a long road ahead. Before that, I need to buy a higher-ranked furnace to craft accessories.
A furnace capable of processing steel costs 80,000. The next tier is even higher.
“I wonder if I can do something with the remaining money.”
I looked around my inventory. The items that failed the skill verification had disappeared. The rest were randomly enchanted accessories taking up a corner of my inventory.
“Are there any other useful items? Meat, poisonous shells… Oh, I’ve left a fossil lying around.”
The fossil I had almost forgotten about was tucked away in a corner of my inventory. I found it during my adventure with Mew and had left it untouched until now.
“The appraisal fee is 5,000 G per item. If I take potions to Magi, I can get a decent amount of money, or I could have it turned into an item. Now, where can I get it restored?”
I recalled that I needed to show it to an NPC geologist. If I didn’t know their location, I could ask the town NPCs while I searched, so I began wandering around the town.
When I first asked an NPC in the central square, they told me it was in the northern district. I extracted the precise location and headed there, only to find it was a curio shop.
“Hey, hey, this isn’t just any fossil; it’s a shop selling remnants of civilization.”
“Welcome! Do you need something from our store?”
A disheveled man wearing a tattered vest and sporting messy hair appeared.
“Do you appraise fossils here?”
“Ah, we also deal with antiques. Sometimes we have hidden treasures.”
Looking around the shop, it seemed more focused on furniture and decorations rather than combat items, and some items even had “broken” in front of their names.
“Today, I just need an appraisal. Please take a look at this.”
I pulled out some money from my inventory and placed it next to the fossil.
“Alright, I’ll take it. Let’s see what we have here.”
He took out a monocle from his vest pocket and examined the fossil through it. Watching him, I couldn’t help but think it might make a good subject for my next accessory.
“I’ve appraised it. This is a seed.”
“A seed? Like a cucumber for the fields? That’s just what I need.”
“What? You’re a farmer? This is a seed from the Vitality Tree. It’s not particularly rare.”
“Really? I thought it would be something special.”
“It’s a tree that grows in slightly cursed areas, and it can be easily harvested in volcanic regions. Where did you find this fossil?”
“Near a nearby excavation site.”
“Maybe it grew around here too. If you want to sell it, I’ll buy it for 100 G.”
“No, I’ll take it home. I want to cultivate it.”
It’s not a rare tree, but if it takes root, I can harvest fruit daily. In the long run, that might be more beneficial.
Thus, I received the seed of the Vitality Tree. I hurried back to my fields, eager to plant it, but unfortunately, I hadn’t prepared the ground yet. With three new fields to tend to, I swung my hoe with determination.
Under the blue sky, I worked in the fields, reflecting on the red and yellow lights, enhanced by the accessory, showcasing my efforts like a human tiller. It was easier than before, but it still took a considerable amount of time. I hadn’t prepared enough to sell accessories or gather funds. However, I was on track for stable production of High Potions, MP Potions, Detox Potions, and Paralysis Potions.
Today, I logged in during the afternoon. The fields I had desperately tended to over the past couple of days were half-covered in plants, while the remaining half lay fallow due to a lack of seeds. I was utterly dismayed by my lack of planning, but since this is a game, I decided not to dwell on it too much.
Suddenly, a familiar voice echoed shortly after I logged in. It was Magi. It was unusual for her to contact me so soon after yesterday, but I connected the friend communication.
“Hello! What’s up?”
“Hey, Yun! Actually, Claude and the others want to talk to you. Could you come to Claude’s shop for a bit?”
“Seriously? Uh, well…”
It’s hard to match their energy. The stalking incident is behind me, but I still find him difficult to deal with. His attitude and mannerisms…
“Looks like you’re still not fond of Claude. I felt the same way when he said something ridiculous.”
“Yeah, well…”
I didn’t say that out loud.
“Can I make some potions first? I’ll be there in about thirty minutes.”
“Got it. Just come to Open Sesame, and I’ll guide you to Claude’s shop.”
I ended the communication with Magi, gathered my farming items, and checked on the Vitality Tree, which had only grown a little and wasn’t ready for harvest yet. Still, the items I planted had increased.
However, with the increase in fields, harvesting took longer, and I didn’t have time to make potions.
“Ah, I don’t have time. I’ll just deliver the High Potions and MP Potions I have on hand. I can make more when I get back.”
I confirmed the items in my inventory and left the fields.
I took the familiar path, easily avoiding NPCs. As I passed by two players…
I slipped past them, and after dodging, I noticed one of them looking surprised. Sorry about that.
I dashed through and arrived at Magi’s shop.
“I’m here!”
“Oh, right on time! Let’s go.”
After saying something to the NPC shopkeeper, Magi led me out of Open Sesame.
As we walked, people passing by glanced at us. I usually sprint through town, so it’s rare to be noticed, but it seems that Bow Users are quite a sight. It made me uncomfortable, and I wanted to get to a less crowded area quickly.
“Magi, um, where’s Claude’s shop?”
“It’s on the main street in the eastern district. Look, there’s the Comnest Tea and Clothing Shop.”
Pointing ahead, I saw a shop with an open terrace. It looked just like a café.
“By the way, on the opposite side is Lili’s shop, Liwaari’s Woodworking Shop.”
Looking across, I saw a chic shop with a wooden sign. The flow of people wasn’t too intense, but there seemed to be a decent turnover.
“One seems to be quite faithful, while the other… well, it’s quite a café.”
“Right? Claude says he’s going to host a cosplay café.”
I had a bad feeling about this. I didn’t want to go in, but I had to.
“Shall we enter?”
“It seems to be closed, though…”
“His Cooking Sense is underwhelming, so he’s not operating as a café. Let’s go in.”
Following Magi, I entered the shop, and immediately, we were met with a fierce attack.
“You’ve arrived. Now, change into this.”
For some reason, Claude was waiting for us, holding a pink maid outfit and a traditional Japanese maid outfit in each hand. Magi, acting on impulse, delivered a punch to his gut as we entered. What a way to enter.
“Guh… your punches are heavier than before. I thought my insides would turn inside out.”
“Claude, you always tease people like this. It’s not good.”
“Hmm. The way you put your strength into it is different. This ring is quite something.”
The three of us were saying different things. I stood at the entrance, dumbfounded, while Magi checked her fist’s grip, and Lili, who had already taken a seat at the counter, crouched next to the collapsed Claude and poked him with her finger.
“Are you okay?”
“I’m fine, no problem. It’s just the impact; there’s no pain or HP damage.”
“Then why do you have to break the atmosphere right when we meet?”
Claude chuckled lightly at Magi’s glare.
“Why? Because it’s time. I wanted to see what you’d look like in these outfits. The unique sheen and practicality of them.”
The pink maid outfit exuded a cutesy charm, while the traditional Japanese maid outfit radiated a calm color scheme and nostalgic Taisho romanticism, showcasing a mature beauty! I just wanted to see them! That’s all!
“Okay, okay. I understand, but please stop in front of Yun, who doesn’t know you well.”
Listening to their light banter, I took a step back.
“Well, enough of the jokes. Yun, I want to ask you something. Is that alright?”
“W-what is it?”
After their lengthy exchange, I braced myself for the question.
“You haven’t given any accessories to anyone besides Magi, have you?”
“The Trion Ring? Ah, yeah. I don’t have enough to sell yet.”
Most of them had become practice dummies for enchanting, and the only ones left were the copper rings that couldn’t withstand the enchantments. Only accessories made from bronze or higher materials can be enchanted.
“I see. Then follow me.”
I looked around the shop. The room we were led to behind the counter had the atmosphere of a workshop, adorned with fabrics, leather, and tapestries, along with a simple stone fitting room.
The four of us sat around a large wooden table in the center of the workshop.
“Alright, I have a few questions.”
“Y-yeah,” I replied, feeling a bit anxious. Just to clarify, if there’s something you don’t want to share, you don’t have to. If you think it might put you at a disadvantage in the game or if there’s something you really want to keep secret, feel free to keep it to yourself.
Claude had an air about him that felt like an interrogator, which only heightened my discomfort. I glanced at Magi, who gave me a reassuring nod.
“Let’s start. Can you freely create the Trion Ring that Magi is wearing?”
“Yeah, if I have the time.”
At this point, I considered mentioning my Sense of Addition Technique, but I hesitated. Magi and the others had previously said they wouldn’t force me to divulge crafting methods, so I held back.
“Do you fully understand the crafting method?”
“Not yet. I don’t think I even grasp half of it.”
“Last question. If you were to sell the Trion Ring, how much would you sell it for?”
That was an unexpected question.
“Umm… I’d say around 15,000 G would be good.”
“Haah~”
Everyone sighed at once. Did I price it too high? “Is it too much…? Then, how about…”
“No, no, Yun, it’s the opposite. It’s too low.”
“Huh? Since I’ve been buying items, I didn’t know the market price,” I admitted.
“To put it simply, yours should start at a minimum of 5,000 G. If it can be combined freely, a magic team would likely pay over 100,000 G.”
“What? Selling a single iron ingot for 50,000 G? That’s outrageous! It’s impossible!”
In reality, an iron ingot would sell for around 500 G at best.
“Our bonus effects currently only allow for one type. However, yours has three. While the curse effect is a downside, it can be advantageous for players who don’t rely on physical attacks,” Claude explained.
I understood that if I added INT and MIND while reducing ATK, it could sell well to magic users. It could also be tailored for those focused entirely on physical combat. Customization based on individual play styles was possible.
And my Sense was still at Crafting. If I leveled it up to 3 and reached Quick Cash, I might be able to add bonuses more freely.
“So, it’s worth that much?”
“Yes, providing equipment to players is essential. That brings me to a request. I’d like you to share your crafting method. Of course, I’ll pay for the information.”
“Whaaaat?!”
Caught off guard by this sudden request, my mind momentarily froze.
I couldn’t tell how Claude interpreted my silence, but he began explaining with a serious expression.
“We’re not suggesting RMT. We intend to pay with in-game currency.”
—Wait, hold on. Why are we talking about this? You want me to sell my crafting method? What’s the point of that?
Even if I were to share my method, it wouldn’t hold much value. Once information is out on the internet, it becomes free to access. But if I had to say, it aligns with our trio’s core philosophy.
I still didn’t understand. Perhaps my expression conveyed my confusion, as Magi continued for Claude.
“One of our core philosophies is ‘selling at fair prices.’ It shouldn’t be too low or too high. By chance, we were the top crafting team in the second version. The equipment we create usually sells at the price we set. Therefore, we want to establish fair prices for items and information.”
So, they aimed to create a price standard to invigorate the in-game market?
“For example, if you were to create a new crafting method for accessories, it wouldn’t matter if it’s cheap or expensive. If you set an inappropriate price, what do you think would happen?”
“…If it’s priced low, it’ll get resold at a higher price. If it’s priced high, one person will monopolize the profit.”
“Exactly. Furthermore, if it becomes difficult to obtain, it could lead to a breeding ground for RMT. We want to avoid such situations.”
“Thus, by knowing methods or crafting techniques in advance, when such issues arise, we can create the same items and set fair prices. Ideally, we can laugh it off as a way to maintain game balance. We would negotiate similarly if another player discovered a new crafting method, not just you. In-game currency is just imaginary money. We wouldn’t mind paying for information.”
So, they were essentially saying they were making enough to spend freely. And at fair prices, no less.
“So, I just won’t sell it, right? But that’s not the case. What if someone else finds out?”
“Yeah. We don’t intend to hinder your play. You’re free to play as you wish. You can also decline this offer.”
Lily said that, but I thought it might be beneficial to cooperate. My first impression of Claude and Lily wasn’t great, but their outer gear was well-made, and I trusted Magi quite a bit.
“Alright, I’ll share it. But it’s not anything special.”
“Ah, that’s a relief.”
What I explained was related to my Sense of Alchemy.
The two new additions from Addition Technique were Skill Addition and Material Addition. The past effects of the Trion Ring utilized Material Addition.
“The reason I incorporate curses is that otherwise, it would break.”
“If it doesn’t adhere to the crafting laws, the item will vanish. I added three bonus effects to the materials, but the number of additional effects that can be enchanted may vary depending on the type and rank of the materials used. It’s impossible for consumables and food items, but it is possible for material items. That’s what I currently understand.”
“Wow, Yun, you’ve done quite a bit of research. I get the Material Addition, but what about Skill Addition?”
“Skill Addition… I haven’t fully tested it yet, so I don’t know for sure, but I think it’s a skill that attaches your existing skills to an item.”
“So you only understand half of it. It’s good to know in advance.”
Claude cleared his throat. “I don’t think this is particularly useful.”
“Yun, you’ve learned quite an incredible skill. The ability to freely attach your skills to items is quite useful.”
“I don’t feel like it’s useful at all.”
“Well, the skills that can be attached include the upper and lower transformations of the ‘Arts’ skill, the ‘Alchemy’ and ‘Synthesis’ recipes, and skills from the Crafting Sense.”
(Skill Addition cannot attach automatic abilities associated with the Sense. For example, the long-range vision or night vision abilities of the ‘Eye of the Ruler’ or targeting abilities. Additionally, the appraisal ability of the ‘Crafting’ Sense cannot be attached.)
In other words, active skills are the ones that can be attached. Therefore, I cannot attach the speed increase effect of my ‘Speed Up’ skill or the long-range vision ability of ‘Just an Eye’ to an item.
“Speaking of possibilities, what about the items with attached skills? Can they be added to materials, or not? What happens to the used items? If a magical skill is attached, where does the MP come from? These three factors will greatly influence the outcome.”
“We need to test it. So, Yun, try adding it to this staff.”
Lily pulled out a piece of wood that glowed and transformed into a crude staff. It was likely crafted using the Woodworking Sense.
“Is that okay? But I don’t have any magical Sense.”
“Addition Technique falls under the category of magical Sense. Can’t you just use Addition?”
“Got it. Ah… it seems I need to register some keywords.”
It looks like I need a phrase to activate the added skill. Hmm, perhaps this is a measure to avoid overlapping with the creator’s skills? Alright, then I’ll go with ‘Active.’
“Setting it up. Now, (Skill Addition) ‘Add Attack.'”
My MP drained, and the staff in my hand glowed red, altering its stats.
Staff [Weapon]
ATK +2 INT +8
Additional Effect: ATK Addition
“Alright, I’ll give it a try, okay?”
Lily took the staff.
“The keyword is ‘Active.'”
“Got it, here I go. ‘Active!'”
With Lily’s voice, the staff emitted a red light, enveloping her, and then it broke.
“I see. That’s the hefty price of Skill Addition. A skill added through Skill Addition can only be used once and is disposable. So, Lily, how’s your MP?”
“None at all. I enchanted it without consuming any MP.”
“Oh, so it can be used without a Sense, and it doesn’t drain MP. But it’s disposable, huh?”
I felt a bit out of place thinking it was a waste to break the weapon.
“This is insane. The fact that it’s not just limited to you, Yun, but can be used by anyone is huge. If it could be used on just materials instead of equipment, it would become a low-cost magical item.”
Afterward, we experimented with several items, but there were limitations on Skill Addition. Only one skill could be attached. However, it could coexist separately from Material Addition. Additionally, the attached skill would not activate unless the creator had set a keyword beforehand. Using the skill would always result in the item breaking. Having weapons or armor break during combat could be fatal.
Some skills couldn’t be added at all. This included the two types of Addition Technique: Skill Addition and Material Addition. It was only natural that those couldn’t be added.
In the end, the ability to add to material items was significant. Moreover, items with Skill Addition could be freely named.
“Huh. I see. For now, it’s a unique privilege just for you, Yun.”
“That’s right. Well, I don’t think these are all the limitations. Just like with Material Addition, if it’s an accessory made from a pot, it will break. Higher-ranked skills likely require appropriate materials. I’ll contact you again once I understand more.”
Magi and the others expressed their gratitude. I felt thankful for their help in the testing, but I was the one who should be grateful.
“Thank you for today. If you ever decide to sell an item made with Addition Technique, I’d appreciate it if you could consult me about the price.”
“Sure. I’d be more than happy to ask.”
Now, Yun. This is the information fee.
A trade screen appeared, connecting me to Claude. When I saw the amount sent, I couldn’t believe my eyes.
3,000,000 CG. That’s 3M.
It was such a large sum that it didn’t feel real. Suddenly acquiring 3M left me utterly confused.
“No way! This amount is ridiculous! Wait, wait, hold on!”
At my outburst, Claude tilted his head, while Magi and Lily chuckled lightly.
“When you work, you get paid. That’s only natural. And that amount was agreed upon beforehand by the three of us. There’s no foul play.”
“Three of you? So you each contributed 1M? No, no, I feel way too guilty about this.”
“I can’t accept this much…”
“Don’t worry. You’ll spend that money quickly in this game. In fact, it’s about double what you’d need to set up a shop. Plus, it’s necessary for equipment expansion. So keep it. Or do you want to return it?”
Claude’s last words made me think. While the large sum was tempting, it also made me anxious. With my current gear, I’d lose in a PK encounter. I didn’t want to be robbed of such a large amount. Personally, I’d prefer to trade it for items. Yes, I should convert it to goods as soon as possible.
Hmm… Claude and Lily, could you equip me for 1M?
“Sure. Yun, your weapon is a bow, but what type do you want? A longbow? Or a shortbow? Which bonus do you want, ATK or DEX? I’ll take care of it for 10,000 G.”
“Then I’ll handle the inner clothing and waist gear for 10,000 G. The enhancement materials can be upgraded later. The bonus will be the same DBEX as last time, and I’ll leave the design to you.”
“Um, Lily. For the bow, I’ll go with a longbow and the ATEKE bonus. And Claude, keep the same bonus for the armor. Also, no skirts in the design.”
It was surprisingly easy for them to accept my equipment requests. And when I told Claude no skirts, he made a face as if he was disappointed.
“You’re one of the ideal models I’ve found! I want to dress you in a sailor uniform, a shrine maiden outfit, a war goddess attire, a kimono, a Chinese dress, or even a swimsuit! I’m holding back now, but at least let me have a skirt!”
I was at a loss for words. Why was he so insistent?
“Let me wear it once and take screenshots from various angles! If you do that, I’ll give you a discount, and I’ll be satisfied!”
“No way! I don’t want to wear that! I’m a guy!”
What… you’re saying you’re a guy? Then how about a boy scout uniform, a military outfit, or a naval costume? No, maybe a swordsman style with a flowing robe. No, no, how about a cute animal pajama series? Unsettling thoughts began to swirl.
Magi adjusted her Trion Ring and checked her fist’s grip. Claude began to sweat as he watched.
“Please, just no skirts or embarrassing outfits.”
“Understood. It’s a craftsman’s duty to fulfill the client’s requests. But one day, you’ll wear my cosplay outfit.”
That was a chilling thought. It completely ruined the cool atmosphere.
Well, whatever. I paid each of them 1M as an advance.
“I really don’t know how to use the remaining 2M.”
“Yun, since you’ve only had starter gear until now, you probably don’t realize that repairing equipment takes quite a bit of time and money.”
“By the way, the higher the rank of the equipment, the more expensive the repairs. For weapons, it’s about 20% of the purchase price. For armor, it’s about 10%.”
So, for the weapon I just ordered, it would be 80,000 G, and for the armor, it would be 30,000 G for two pieces. That totals 140,000 G.
“Well, the price can vary depending on the condition, but it’s an amount you’ll use quickly, so plan accordingly.”
I received Magi’s kind advice and logged out after delivering the potions.
Chapter Seven: The Black Maiden’s Longbow and Magic Gem
“I no longer need to worry about money. More like, I don’t want to carry around 50,000 G in 200-ton increments.”
Having suddenly acquired a fortune, I was still a small-town citizen at heart. I didn’t want to carry around large sums of money. It was genuinely frightening, especially with the threat of PK. Perhaps this is how lottery winners feel after a big win.
“In times like this, I should consult a reliable veteran.”
I selected Taku from my friend list and initiated a friend communication.
“Hey, are you there? Taku?”
“What’s up? If it’s about hunting, I can’t do it right now. I’m currently hunting around the second town.”
“I need to discuss something. I won’t take up much of your time.”
“Got it. Everyone, take a break! I’ll be right back.”
“Sorry if I interrupted your hunting.”
“So, Yun, it’s rare for you to consult me.”
“Well, I’ve saved up quite a bit of money, but I’m scared to carry it around. Is there anywhere I can store it?”
“Isn’t there a bank in the game?”
“Ah, I’ve never seen one. But there are storage functions for items and money in guilds and homes.”
“I don’t have a home.”
“Well, you haven’t set up a guild yet either. Some people are talking about starting one, but…”
I see, a guild. Well, that doesn’t concern me as a solo hunter.
“So, how much have you saved up?”
“I’m not telling you because I’m scared. Plus, I want to store it to avoid spending it all at once.”
“Yeah, that makes sense.”
“Haha! You know, the price of fields skyrockets after the fifth one. The fees are also a burden.”
“Don’t tell me you bought more fields.”
“…I bought up to six. I’ve spent nearly 10,000 G on fields so far.”
Surprisingly, I had spent quite a bit, but for some reason, it seemed to vanish into thin air. Materials and tools, perhaps? It was strange.
“You’re planning to set up a shop there, aren’t you?”
“Wait, can you do that?”
“I don’t know, but… maybe you can?”
“I’ll ask an NPC.”
“Oh, then I’ll go with you.”
After that conversation, we parted ways. No way, a farm in the southern district? If that happens…
Everyone would buy up the surrounding farms. That’s not going to happen, right, NPC?
“What’s that? You want a store? You can’t build one unless you buy a decent piece of land and become a landowner.”
“Can I really do that?”
“By the way, how much land do you need?”
“You need ten plots to be recognized as a landowner. However, land for a store is separate. Additionally, the construction of the store is also a separate matter.”
“Then, I’ll take about four adjacent plots. That’ll be one million G. Can you manage the land by yourself? If necessary, you might want to hire a farmer’s daughter.”
Even the NPC is worried about me. Well, I guess I do seem like I’m not managing things well.
While being concerned for, I receive the land deed.
“You want to build a store, huh? There are plenty of vacant lots right now, so you can choose.”
“Then, I’d like a spot adjacent to a field and the main street…”
“You’re picking a prime location again. Each plot costs one million G.”
“Wait, what? Earlier, you said four plots for one million, and now it’s one million for just one?!”
“Well, a single plot is small, so it’s better to buy three or four to make it spacious.”
“How big is one plot again?”
“It’s the same size as a field.”
“Ah, I see. That would be spacious for four plots, but three might be just right.”
“Then, I’ll take three, please.”
“That’ll be three million G.”
“Wait a minute! You just said one million earlier!”
“That was the minimum price. For three adjacent plots at that condition, three million G is a bargain. I’m already making quite a concession here,” the NPC said, cutting straight to the point. Ugh…
“Fine. That works. Please proceed with that.”
“Here you go, the land deed and your landowner certification.”
I never expected my two million G would drop to one million in such a short time. However, if ten fields produce two hundred items, that’s quite a boon. I might consider hiring an NPC to manage it, I thought as the land deed and landowner certification settled into my inventory as important items.
“Now, take this.”
The NPC handed me several sheets of paper and a pen. They looked important even though they were blank.
“With this, you can sketch the layout of your store and show it to the NPC named ‘Foreman’ in the Second Town. They’ll give you a rough estimate. After that, just pay me the money, and I’ll build your store.”
So, this is a quest item. In this town, you can only rent or purchase a store, but you can’t build one. This might be a dedicated quest for construction.
Indeed, the system’s quest log now displayed “Store Construction.” But…
“Wait, do I have to go to the Second Town?”
“Yeah, once you go there, you can use the portal to travel.”
“But first, I have to fight a boss, right?”
The NPC squinted and crossed his arms. Well, even if you agree, isn’t there something else?
“Oh, right. I almost forgot.”
Something new? Is it a conversation that might be advantageous for me?
“If you hire a farmer’s daughter, it’ll cost you a hundred thousand G for a month.”
Now you bring that up.
“What will you do?”
“I’ll go for a three-month contract.”
Well, I’ve hired her. Ah, she’ll plow the fields, carry fertilizer, and if I specify the plots and give her seeds, she’ll take care of that too.
And she’ll harvest the crops once they’re ripe. Thank you, NPC, for your hard work. Apparently, she’ll keep working even while I’m logged out.
With this, the farming issue is resolved. Starting tomorrow, I need to begin my quest to the Second Town.
To my dream store! I need to meet the NPC “Foreman” in the Second Town to get an estimate for the store, but first, I have to face the boss MOB, the Buplead Lizard.
Honestly, it sounds tedious. However, I have someone in mind who might be willing to help with the quest.
“…Miu. Actually, I want to go to the Second Town. Would you help me with the quest?”
At the dinner table, I brought it up. Tonight’s dinner is meat spaghetti, Miu’s favorite, as a way to butter her up. Well, it’s also easy to make, but that reason is a secret.
“Big brother, you’re finally motivated to tackle a quest! Of course, I’m in! Let’s have a summer adventure!”
—That’s not quite it. Does Miu even know what adventure means?
- Adventure, in French, means a venture. You’re not wrong, but it can also mean a risky escapade or a fling.
“I have to go to the Second Town for a quest.”
“It’s rare for you to take on a quest, huh? For the Second Town, there’s the ‘Fairy Glow Gathering’ or ‘Mildandy Road Investigation,’ and then there’s the guild establishment-related quest ‘Mastil Odein’s Subjugation Request,’ right?”
“No, it’s the ‘Store Construction’ quest.”
“I’ve never heard of that quest before. What triggered it?”
“Uh, well…”
Should I say it? Honestly, it’s a business venture, and I want to secretly buy up fields in the future, so I’d prefer to keep it under wraps.
But I want to say it casually. If I don’t get specific, it should be fine.
“I became a landowner.”
“How do you become a landowner?”
Well, that didn’t go as planned. My adorable little sister tilted her head cutely. If a natural beauty like her does this, everyone would fall for her instantly. But this girl is a hardcore gamer, and right now, she’s probably thinking about the possibilities of becoming a landowner. She’s someone who researches various flags to become a landowner.
“Um… I bought some land.”
“Where did you buy land? I’ve never heard of it.”
“No, you should know. It’s from your story.”
From me…? I put down the fork I was holding and thought. During that time, Miu watched calmly.
“Could it be… ohhhh!”
“You figured it out?”
“The fields in the southern district! You bought them without seeds, right? I haven’t found any yet!”
“No, I bought them because I have seeds.”
“Eh… big brother, you have seeds? Where did you get them?”
“Just like this, I went ‘ta-da’…”
Yes, they shine when you use the skill.
Well, if she figured that out, that’s impressive.
“You found the skill to create seeds?”
She seems to understand. What is this, some sort of telepathy between siblings?
“Don’t go spreading this around or posting it on the bulletin board.”
“I won’t, I won’t!”
—Then, I’ll tell her.
“Thanks, big brother.”
What a straightforward sister I have. Seriously.
“I create them with the Alchemy Skill.”
“Wait, the Alchemy Skill lets you learn such skills as you level up?”
“No, it’s a lower-tier material transformation. For plant-type items, seeds are at the bottom tier, and the plants are above them.”
So, I made them from herbs. That means…
“I’ll buy the materials for the Healing and MP Potions, and with the Alchemy Skill, I’ll increase the seeds and grow them in the fields. Then, I’ll use the Crafting Skill to turn the items into potions and sell them.”
“Big brother! You can make Healing and MP Potions?”
“What? Why are you so surprised?”
“Of course, I’m surprised! Player-made items have better effects, obviously. Considering hunting efficiency, we need potions that are more effective than NPC-made ones!”
I’m solo, so I either defeat enemies before taking damage or get too close and die. I haven’t experienced the typical guidance outside of the usual.
“Right now, I’m growing the materials for Healing and MP Potions. In the meantime, I’m selling Blue Potions to make some money.”
If I can make Blue Potions, that means my Crafting level has increased quite a bit. Recently, high-quality Blue Potions have been circulating, which are just right for the low-HP backline.
High-quality Blue Potions? After the mysterious Blue Potion seller, now we have high-quality ones? I don’t know about high-quality, but since the materials are cheap, I’m buying them and selling them on consignment. Now that I have fields, I plan to switch to Healing Potions.
“Big brother! I’ll set up the best team! Tomorrow, I’ll talk to everyone, so the day after tomorrow, we’ll go hunt the Buplead Lizard!”
“Uh, sure. I’ll also prepare my gear and other things, so that would help.”
It seems she’s willing to take it on. That’s good, but I’m worried about Miu’s sudden enthusiasm.
“Tomorrow, I’ll prepare everything, so the day after tomorrow it is. I’m available at any time, so just let me know what works for you.”
“Leave it to me! We’ll provide a safe, safe journey!”
I asked Miu to help me level up my Bow skill, and she looked thoughtful.
“Hmm. Alright!”
I’m starting to feel really uneasy. I might cause a lot of trouble for the party members. Should I prepare some items as a peace offering for the party members? I could give them as a reward for defeating the boss MOB and also promote my store.
After dinner. Preparing for the day after tomorrow just means buying materials for potions and crafting them. The enemies we’ll face are the Golem and the Buplead Lizard.
When I faced the Golem, I hardly used the Blue Potions I made. From Miu’s words, it seems the current healing items being used are the effective Blue Potions and Healing Potions.
Given Miu and the others’ levels, they probably won’t need Healing Potions against the Buplead Lizard, but it’s not guaranteed to be completely safe. Even if having them doesn’t drastically increase our success rate, I want to eliminate as many uncertainties as possible. Honestly, I feel like something bad tends to happen when Miu is overly motivated.
So, knowing it’s excessive, I made about a hundred Blue Potions. With this much prepared, I can feel more at ease, and Miu and her yet-to-be-seen party members can use them on another occasion.
And since I’m short on time this time, I’ll be using skills for crafting instead of manual alchemy. Crafting and synthesis skills have a high success rate when activated for a single item, but you also gain experience.
If you do it in bulk, some may fail, but the experience gained is substantial. Recently, I’ve gotten used to it, so making Blue Potions is a breeze. There’s no risk of failure, so the loss of materials is minimal.
Hmm. Just handing over Blue Potions feels a bit lacking in impact or excitement. If possible, I’d like to give them something more interesting, something that would promote my store. I’ll look through my inventory to see if there’s an item that fits the bill. Considering practicality, a set of Healing and MP Potions would make a strong impression. It’s like a summer gift.
Wait, that sounds a bit too domestic. I can’t just hand over enchanted rings. I can’t just give away something like that so easily.
Speaking of which, I can also apply (Skill Addition) to materials. If I don’t have an item to give, making one could be an option. Let’s experiment a bit.
Um, the keyword for this is “Pepe Enchant.” (Skill Addition) Enchant Attack.”
I’ll try applying an attack-boosting enchantment to a regular stone. The material, bathed in the red light of the enchantment, remained intact and safely settled in my hand. I’ll call it an Enchant Stone? The activation key is (Enchant).
The Enchant Stone in my hand sensed my thoughts and keyword, releasing the contained skill, turning to dust as it fulfilled its purpose.
“So, it’s not just about saying the incantation; you need to have the will to activate it. There’s a lot to verify.”
I thought about the difference between the completed Enchant Stone and a regular stone.
“If it looks just like a regular stone, it’ll be hard to tell apart, and it’s quite bulky to hold.”
It’s a large, rough stone. Some stones are just awkward to hold.
“Handing it over like this, all rough and unrefined, feels a bit off. Oh, I have just the skill for processing materials.”
I selected the 【Polish】 skill from my skill list and activated it on the new stone.
The rough stone transformed into a smooth, easy-to-hold size.
“This is it, this is it. This size is much easier to grip. But the color is still the same. Enchantments have colors according to their type, so I should dye it accordingly.”
For attack boosts, red; for defense, blue; for speed boosts, yellow. For magical attacks, orange, and for magical defense, green. I polished the stone and dyed it according to the type, applying the corresponding enchantment.
“There are items like this in games, right? Items that temporarily boost stats.”
In this game, the higher-tier potions made from monster meat and potion ingredients are similar to what Taku mentioned before.
“Plus, my (Skill Addition) level has increased… Does this mean that attack magic also levels up when used? Wouldn’t it be amazing if I could embed attack magic into items, like books that cast a spell once or items that can use magic once?”
There should be items like that. Activating them without consuming MP or cutting down on lengthy incantations. Launching a hundred spells like a Gatling gun. That’s pure romance.
Once I started thinking about it, I couldn’t help but want to try it out.
My available SP is…
- 【Hawk Eye Lv1】
- 【Magic Talent Lv8】
- 【Magic Power Lv8】
- 【Alchemy Lv8】
- 【Skill Addition Lv3】
- 【Crafting Lv2】
- 【Synthesis Lv2】
- 【Crafting Lv2】
- 【Production Knowledge Lv1】
- 【Earth Attribute Talent Lv1】
- 【Bow Lv8】
- 【Training Lv1】
- 【Speed Boost Lv1】
- 【Discovery Lv8】
Since it’s non-combat time, I removed 【Bow】 to acquire the attribute talent. The reason I chose 【Earth Attribute】 is that, due to its unpopularity, I didn’t know anyone with this attribute. Not that it’s unpopular, but it’s just that others are prioritized for their appearance and such.
Just because I took magic doesn’t mean I’ll become a magic class. If I consider leveling up 【Magic】 or 【Magic Books】, I’ll focus on producing earth magic items from the start.
—For earth magic, there’s only this one at the beginning.
The earth magic skill has only (Bomb). I tried it out, and it emitted a yellow-brown glow and exploded. Honestly, while the explosion is the same, fire or light is definitely more vibrant.
It’s plain, but it’s not like there’s anything wrong with being one of the six magical attributes. Can I enchant stones?
I took out a stone to try, but it broke. Even after three attempts, it shattered.
This means the stone lacks the necessary rank as a material. I tried applying it to an iron ingot, but that didn’t work either. Even iron ingots failed. That leaves only gemstones as potential materials.
I started with small gemstones, but that didn’t work. The medium-sized synthetic gemstone collapsed due to insufficient strength. All that’s left is the medium-sized peridot.
The small-sized ones were definitely impossible. If the next size fails too, I’ll just give up and go to bed. I’ll set the keyword to (Bomb). (Skill Addition || Bomb)
The peridot gemstone, glowing with a yellow-brown light, remained intact in my hand.
Hmm. It seems that attribute magic requires quite a high rank of material. At least a medium-sized gemstone…
It’s still uncertain, but it seems embedding the highest-level magic would be difficult or even impossible.
Considering game balance, being able to activate powerful magic that consumes a lot of time and MP just by preparing it in advance would be considered cheating. To prevent that, the rank of materials for embedding attack magic might be set high.
“Haha… Seriously? I think that’s reasonable.”
And then there’s my MP gauge. Just embedding the magic consumed about thirty percent. Normally, casting it wouldn’t even use ten percent…
- The MP consumption during the creation of the Enchant Stone isn’t concerning due to the low rank of the enchantment magic or because it’s derived from 【Skill Addition】, which consumes less.
And if I want to embed higher-level attack magic, how much MP would I need? If it’s insufficient, it would be reasonable to consider it a failure, making it difficult to embed higher-level magic.