Table of Contents
Extra
Prologue: The Mine and EX Skills
Chapter 1: Event Rewards and Their Uses
Chapter 2: The Library and Linguistics
Chapter 3: The Underground Library and Horror
Chapter 4: Synthesis and the MOB Boom
Chapter 5: Reselling and the Production Guild Concept
Chapter 6: The Guild Charter and the Special Attack Slime
Epilogue: Working Zoel and the Guild Hall
Afterword
Special Appendix: A Gift from the Making Box
Prologue: The Mine and EX Skills
“Finally, I’ve gathered 100 of them…”
At the dim entrance of the mine, I had been coming here for the past few days, searching a little and then heading back.
“If I venture deeper, I might find more mining points, but since there’s no deadline for the quest, I guess it’s fine. No need to rush.”
(The quest I’m currently undertaking is aimed at the Forging Valley and Crafting Skills. Previously, I couldn’t accept this quest because my Crafting Skill level hadn’t reached the required threshold, but now that I’ve met the conditions, I can finally take it on.)
“Still, the quest’s completion condition is ‘Collect 100 ores from the mine.'”
At the entrance of the mine dungeon near the Third Town, there are hardly any MOBs, allowing for safe mining. However, since the mining points are limited to the entrance area, it takes time, and on a lucky day, I could gather about ten ores, while on a bad day, only five.
During the mining, I didn’t find any ore-type items, but I collected a lot of dirt and stone materials, which I kept in my inventory instead of discarding them.
Today, this monotonous task would finally come to an end. With the borrowed pickaxe for the quest slung over my shoulder, I headed back to the Third Town.
My destination was the tavern where I had accepted the quest. I approached the NPC man who had issued the quest.
“I’ve gathered the ores as requested. I have two steel ores, and several iron ores, along with some other ores.”
“Hmm, hmm. Then I shall recognize you as a proper miner.”
Phew, finally completed the quest…
Though it wasn’t a long quest, I recalled the moment I had accepted it.
“Hmph, back again, are you?”
“Yeah, this time I’ve actually leveled up.”
“Then, try hitting me. If you can move me even a step, I’ll acknowledge you.”
The quest NPC spoke the standard lines for starting a quest. This man was the same NPC who had kicked me out when I first came to this tavern. He had scolded me for lacking strength, saying things like, “With those skinny arms, how can you exert any force?” It was a bit unreasonable, but I managed to accept the quest this time. As part of the quest initiation, I had to punch this NPC in the stomach.
His abs felt like iron, and a normal punch would likely hurt my hand instead. I couldn’t budge him an inch, nor inflict any damage.
Can I really go all out?
“Ah, a man’s word is his bond.”
“Is that so? Then I’ll give it my all.”
This was the exchange during my second quest acceptance. At that time, my Crafting Skill had surpassed the required package level, allowing me to accept the quest without issue. However, that wasn’t enough to satisfy me.
“Here I go! Additive Attack!“
I poured all my frustration from the previous unreasonable exchange into my strike.
“Wait, what?!”
This time, I was going all out. I enchanted my physical attack power with the Additive Sense I possessed. Additionally, I equipped accessories that boosted my ATK on each finger to enhance my physical attack stats. The man seemed to want to say something, but I ignored him and took a deep breath.
“Fly away!”
At that moment, the accessories I had equipped acted like brass knuckles, and I executed a straight punch, just as Magi-san had taught me. I focused on stabilizing my lower body and twisting my waist while rotating my arm.
“Ha—?!”
“Crash! Crack!” The sound of my own actions startled me. The NPC man bent over at an odd angle, forming a perfect arc.
I froze, staring at the wooden table and the glass foxes arranged on it. I had braced myself to minimize damage, but the unexpected result left me dumbfounded.
“…Hey. Are you alive?”
“Well, I must acknowledge your strength. However, this is merely the entrance to the world of Forging.”
The NPC man stood up as if nothing had happened, but his expression was now more serious, causing me to instinctively take a step back. Yet, I noticed his legs were trembling like a newborn deer, confirming that I had indeed dealt some damage.
“From now on, take this pickaxe and gather 100 ores from the nearby mine. Once you finish, you will be recognized as a miner.”
He handed me a slightly worn pickaxe. This pickaxe could only be used in specific areas, apparently a quest-exclusive item.
Having successfully accepted the quest, I headed straight for the mine dungeon to begin my task. Just as I was walking towards the exit, someone grabbed my shoulder.
“…Hey, you. You need to compensate for the table and the drinks.”
“Yes, yes.”
The dandy tavern owner smiled, veins popping on his forehead as he spoke to me. Looking up at someone taller than me made me feel a bit small, so I complied and paid for the damages.
When I turned back, I noticed that this dandy owner had referred to me as “young lady,” but I wanted to correct him…
I am a man!
“Ahahaha! Oh, sis, you really went overboard! Just because you can punch NPCs during quests doesn’t mean you should send them flying and get charged for repairs!”
After completing the quest and successfully acquiring the EX Skill, I returned to my shop, the Atelier. There, I met my sister, Miu, and explained the series of events from the quest. Upon hearing it, Miu doubled over in laughter.
“Wow, my stomach hurts! That was too funny! But the best part wasn’t getting the quest completion reward; it was the very beginning, just like you, Yun-nee!”
“Stop calling me ‘nee-chan.’ I’m your older brother.”
“Ugh, seriously.” She sighed and checked her appearance. Her long, flowing black hair and slightly rounded figure gave her a feminine impression, but I was undeniably a man in real life. During character editing, adjustments were made to balance the body structure, and for some reason, I ended up with a feminine appearance.
“I’m sorry. But hey, it sounds like you had a lot of fun. So, what did you get from the quest?”
“Oh, I got the EX Skill for Mining and this pickaxe.”
I pulled the pickaxe from my inventory and showed it to Miu. It was surprisingly heavy, a tool that required a certain technique to swing straight down.
“Hmm. Maybe I should try to acquire an EX Skill too.”
“That could be good, but the quest conditions require a level of at least 10 in either Forging or Crafting.”
“Then I guess I’ll give up. Well then, shine bright, big brother!”
“Seriously… Welcome.”
With that, I ended my conversation with Miu and began attending to the new players arriving at the Atelier.
Miu was still browsing the products, casually glancing at the samples mounted on the wall or playing with the young beasts in the sunny corner of the shop.
After the summer camping event that had just concluded, customers began trickling into the Atelier, which had previously been deserted.
Among them,
“Excuse me. I’d like a sandwich to go.”
“For sandwiches, please tell that staff member over there how many you need.”
I responded cheerfully and politely. While I was glad to have customers buying from me, it felt a bit strange that sandwiches were selling so well.
The shop wasn’t bustling, but gradually, more customers came in, each purchasing the items they needed.
Sometimes, players who couldn’t understand NPC Kyoko-san’s explanations would come directly to me for clarification, and I would explain the usefulness of my products.
“But why is it that the questions I get asked are always about food and young beasts?”
The Atelier was originally a shop focused on consumables like Potions and Antidotes. However, with the introduction of the Satiety System to improve Cooking Sense just before the event, cooking items began to gain popularity.
While I was happy that cooking items were being appreciated, I couldn’t help but wonder why this reversal was happening.
I had displayed sandwiches as part of my hobby, and they had become a top-selling item right after potions.
Then, another new female player entered the shop.
“Hello! I’d like a Caretaker’s smile, please.”
“That’s not for sale. Please leave.”
“What?! Then I’ll take five sandwiches, three Blue Potions, and two Antidote Potions, please!”
This time, receiving a proper order, Kyoko-san retrieved items from the item box beneath the counter and placed them on the counter. I decided to ask the woman player, who was grinning with a rather carefree expression as she claimed a corner of the shop, a question that had been nagging at me.
“Hey, can I ask you something?”
“Sure, what is it?”
“Well, this Atelier sells consumables like Potions, but I was wondering about the sandwiches…”
I hesitated to finish my thought, but the girl in front of me widened her eyes and began to passionately explain, her hands and mouth trembling with excitement.
“Are you unaware? I hold the title of ‘Caretaker,’ embodying nurturing and maternal qualities, and yet I am still underestimated! The overwhelming inner beauty that shines when interacting with Young Beasts! Moreover, one of those Young Beasts is a Unicorn, a symbol of purity, which only adds to my popularity! Handcrafted sandwiches by such a beautiful girl! It’s a dish that gathers the romance of both men and women! Among players with titles like OSO, who are mostly combat or production classes, this title comes from my personality. It’s a rare value!”
I felt my face flush red from her machine-gun-like talk, almost wanting to apologize for asking. Satisfied with my reaction, the girl smiled and said, “Thank you for the meal,” before leaving the shop.
A few players remaining in the store exchanged awkward glances after witnessing her enthusiastic praise and quietly exited. I bid farewell to the last customer alongside Kyoko-san, saying, “Thank you very much.”
“What the heck was that? That was beyond embarrassing,” I muttered, covering my face with both hands, trying to cool down the heat radiating from my cheeks.
“Come on, being called ‘Caretaker’ isn’t so bad. It sounds lovely and caring,” came a voice from behind.
I reflexively looked up to see Miu, who had been lingering in the shop. She must have overheard the earlier praise, and I quickly covered my face again, feeling the heat rise once more.
Concerned for me, Ruit, the Young Unicorn, and Zakuro, the Young Beast, nuzzled against me, their heads rubbing against me in a comforting manner.
“I’m sorry for worrying you. Just give me a moment to calm down,” I said, taking deep breaths to steady my heart.
“You should be happy to receive a title like that. Or would you rather create a painful title for yourself?”
“Both options are beyond my comfort zone,” I replied to Miu.
To me, being called ‘Caretaker’ was an unwelcome title. There were various reasons for this, but it had started after the camping event. The Young Beast I had tamed during the event, while not particularly strong, was incredibly popular due to its inherent cuteness.
“My sister seems to be quite heartbroken, so I think I’ll take my leave now. See you at dinner!” Miu said, taking Ruit and Zakuro with her as she departed.
As I watched her leave, I shot a resentful glance at her for teasing me so much, but I couldn’t hold it for long, and it quickly faded.
“Seriously, there are so many things that don’t go my way,” I sighed, just as I was about to log out. A cheerful sound echoed, and a small icon appeared at the edge of the menu.
“Friend communication. It’s from Magi-san.”
I accepted the friend communication, and a conversation with Magi-san connected.
[Hello, Yun-kun! I’m planning to have a tea party soon. Are you coming?]
“A tea party? Where is it?”
[At Lily’s place. The members will be from the party during the last event. It’ll be a gathering of production class players and those who have childhood friends as partners.]
I could easily imagine her winking on the other side of the line. I smiled slightly, even though Magi-san couldn’t see it, and replied eagerly.
[Got it! Is it okay if I come now?]
“No, not now. I’ll contact you later. This time, Lily and Claude are hosting, so I don’t know the details myself.”
[Understood. I’ll wait for your message.]
“Looking forward to it!”
…With that, the communication with Magi-san ended. I prepared to log out, returning from the world of OSO to reality.
Lying on my bed, I removed the VR gear from my head and stretched widely.
So, a tea party with Magi-san and the others. While I was excited, I couldn’t shake the worry that something strange might be served, especially concerning Claude, but deep down, I was looking forward to it.
Chapter 1: Event Rewards and Their Uses
Summer had passed, and although my real-life student life resumed, I hadn’t lost my connection to the world of OSO.
I had made acquaintances and even managed to run a shop as a production class player. Most importantly, I had my beloved Young Beasts by my side.
“Looks like the contents of the Making Box are just Herbs again. If I keep getting the same items for a week, what are the odds of other materials showing up?”
I pondered in the workshop of the Atelier. The Making Box was one of the rewards from the summer event, a mysterious box that delivered some item every day. However, I felt a bit let down as I checked the materials, finding only those I already possessed.
“I’m sorry, Zakuro. It’s not that I’m in a bad mood or anything.”
The voice came from the black little fox Young Beast, Zakuro, who was nestled in my arms, tilting its head curiously as I gazed at the Making Box.
I smiled at its adorable expression and gently stroked behind its ears and neck.
It squinted its eyes in pleasure, snuggling closer into my embrace, causing a small smile to escape my lips.
Interacting with such small, adorable Young Beasts was one of the joys of my weekends in OSO, and it had become a cherished part of my life.
“Alright, let’s head back to the counter.”
At my words, Zakuro wagged its two black tails happily. This was indeed a fantasy world; Zakuro was a two-tailed fox Young Beast.
And then there was another one. The Young Beast lying in the sunniest spot of the Atelier was also my precious partner.
Noticing that I had returned with Zakuro, Ruit, the Young Unicorn, stood up gracefully. A small horn sprouted from its forehead, marking it as a Unicorn Young Beast.
“What’s up, Ruit? Is it that…?”
Ruit stood up and nudged me gently with its belly, guiding me to the sunny spot. I understood what it wanted from the careful way it avoided poking me with its short horn.
“Got it. Since there’s no one around today, I’ll do it.”
Ruit took two steps back, and I chuckled as I settled down in the sunny spot. I sat cross-legged, and Ruit rested its head on my thigh. Zakuro, having been released from my arms, curled up beside Ruit, wrapping its tails around itself.
“You really love this lap pillow, don’t you?”
Ruit looked up at me with half-open eyes, as if to say, “What’s wrong with that?” A wave of indescribable feelings washed over me.
I shook my head, brushing aside the thoughts. Ruit seemed to enjoy being petted, closing its eyes again and relaxing.
I ran my fingers through Ruit’s neck and mane, enjoying the texture. Unlike Zakuro’s soft, fluffy fur, Ruit’s was sleek and silky, slipping through my fingers. Even after spending time with Ruit, my thoughts had already shifted to the upcoming tea party.
“Speaking of which, Magi-san also chose the Making Box. I wonder how she’s doing with it?”
Magi-san had chosen the same reward during the summer camping event. I decided I would casually ask her about her material delivery status.
As the promised time approached, I prepared to set off.
“Zakuro, Ruit. I’m heading out, so wake up.”
At my call, Ruit stood up lazily. Zakuro, who had been leaning against Ruit, lost its support and tumbled over, shaking its head as it got back up.
“Come on, Zakuro. We’re going out.”
Responding to my voice, Ruit and Zakuro chirped softly, transforming into small stones that fit in my palm.
With the Taming Sense and summoning stones, I could freely call upon my Young Beasts, and this time, I had them revert to their summoning stone forms.
Now, off to Lily’s place.
Since there were no specific items required, I headed out from the Atelier empty-handed towards Lily’s woodworking shop.
Lily’s shop was located on the east side of the first town, directly across from Claude’s café and clothing store.
As I peeked into Lily’s shop, I saw the NPC staff and neatly arranged wooden weapons. Magi-san and Claude, who had arrived earlier, noticed me and waved lightly.
“Hello, Yun-kun!”
“Hello, Magi-san. And Claude.”
“Yun. Why is there a slight pause only when it’s my turn?”
“No, just place your hand over your heart and see for yourself.”
As I spoke, Claude, the producer of leather and cloth armor, tilted his head in confusion and placed a hand over his heart. Meanwhile, Magi, the producer of metal weapons and armor, let out a dry laugh, “Ahahaha,” without following Claude’s lead.
“Welcome! Magi-chi, Claude-chi, and Yun-chi! I’ve been waiting for you all!”
From behind the counter, a boy peeked out; he was Lily, the shopkeeper and producer of wooden weapons.
Lily beckoned us over and led us to the back of the shop. The area reminded me of a shooting range, wide enough to accommodate meters of space, and I recalled a bitter memory from a previous mishap I had there.
I thought we were going to have a tea party in this spacious area, but Lily continued deeper into the shop.
“Huh? We’re not having the tea party here?”
“This is just the beginning. Follow me.”
As she said this, we approached a black door further back in the shop. However, comparing the shop’s exterior with the door’s position, there shouldn’t be any space beyond it…
“Alright, I’m opening it. Come on in!”
Lily said as she opened the door and stepped inside, followed by Magi and Claude. What lay beyond was—
“Where is this?!”
We arrived in a vast plain, with a forest nearby, and I could see a partially constructed building made of timber.
“Isn’t it amazing? This is my Personal Field Ownership!”
“Oh, the event reward. I didn’t expect it to be this impressive.”
In front of the grand sight, Lily spread her arms wide, beaming with joy at the sight of her creation.
As we moved toward the building, I glanced back to see only the black door we had just entered and a wall a few dozen centimeters high. There was nothing on the other side. I couldn’t help but tilt my head in confusion, and Lily chuckled at my bewilderment as I followed her inside.
Inside the building, I noticed a pile of neatly stacked timber and a small table placed at the entrance.
“Today, we’re having our tea party here! Claude-chi, please prepare the tea.”
“Sure, leave it to me. I want to hear your thoughts on the products from the café section of the Komunesu Tea Shop.”
Prompted by Lily, Claude took out a tea set and some mini cakes from his inventory. These were samples meant for tasting, so they were in mini cake form.
“These are cakes that our patissier can make. If you find any combinations that would work well for the shop, let me know. Also, if you have any other ideas, feel free to share.”
Magi and I couldn’t help but gasp at the colorful array of cakes laid out before us. Each teapot held a different brew, and it seemed we were meant to serve ourselves.
As I was about to take a seat at the table, Magi tugged at my sleeve as if she had just remembered something.
“Yun-kun, wait a moment. Hey, Lily, if there’s a plain, can I summon Rikuru?”
“Oh, right! Then I’ll summon Shia-chi too!”
Understanding what Magi meant, I quickly retrieved the summoning stones for Ryuui and Zakuro from my inventory.
A safe, spacious area where no one would be watching was the perfect playground for our young beasts.
Magi summoned Rikuru, a small light blue wolf. Lily summoned Neshias, a beautiful bird with a mix of blue and gold. Claude summoned Kutsushita, a little wolf with a black body and white paws.
And I summoned Ryuui, a unicorn, and Zakuro, two black wolf pups.
“This place is safe, so feel free to play around. Just don’t wander too far, okay?”
All the young beasts perked up at Magi’s voice, and understanding her words, they greeted each other by rubbing their noses together before dashing out of the building and into the plain.
I almost wanted to comment on how they were all riding on Ryuui’s back instead of using their own legs, but I soon saw them scatter off into the distance, starting a game of chase, which put my mind at ease as I took my seat at the table.
“Now, let the tea party begin! Don’t hold back on your thoughts!”
With that, we eagerly dug into the cakes. Magi and Lily, both known for their sweet tooth, were quick to indulge, and I, who didn’t mind sweets either, savored each bite.
I took a straight tea and a piece of cake, comparing the flavors.
“After all, the classic combinations are the best.”
“Is that so? I think balance is key. Chocolate pairs well with coffee, don’t you think? The sweetness and bitterness create a perfect harmony.”
“Hmm. Lily prefers the standard. Yun-kun likes chocolate, huh? I personally love the sweet and sour taste of fruit cakes, so if the cream or chocolate is too sweet, it overpowers the acidity.”
“I see. So, balance is indeed the essence. This is quite enlightening.”
Claude, though typically straightforward, seemed to have found some answers. However, perhaps he was just confirming that none of the cakes were a miss.
“Also, cakes are difficult to transport. If you had something easy to carry, like cookies, people might take them home after visiting the shop. Things like Baumkuchen, waffles, or chiffon cakes would work too.”
“Our Atelier sandwiches are designed for outdoor dining, so they were chosen for their convenience and ease of transport, but cookies fit that category as well.”
“I’ll take that idea into consideration.”
“Thanks for that,” I replied, glancing around.
The vast expanse of the plain stretched out before us. The wind blew gently, creating ripples in the grass, a sight that captivated my heart. As Claude finished sharing his thoughts on the cakes, I casually turned to Lily.
“By the way, this is incredible. I can’t believe we get such a free field. What was it like at the beginning?”
“Well, it was quite a hassle to organize everything. Initially, I could only choose a field pattern, and that was it. I couldn’t do anything else, so it took a lot of effort to build it up to this point.”
As she sipped her tea from the cup, Lily grumbled, but her cheerful demeanor suggested she enjoyed the process.
“I thought there would be more options for editing the field, but since there aren’t, I ended up building a shipyard that I had been slowly working on. After constructing the building, I realized I needed more timber, so I turned part of the area into a forest to gather wood, which delayed the unveiling.”
“Creating that forest from scratch must have taken a lot of time. Where did you even move the trees from?”
“Huh? I started from saplings. It really took about a week to get to this state. Plus, the trees in the planting area won’t grow beyond a certain point, and they won’t multiply on their own, so I couldn’t just leave the planting area unattended. It’s not like the plain field would suddenly turn into a forest.”
That’s the nature of fantasy, I suppose. Herb fields can be harvested in a day, and shield forests can be cut down in a week…
“I want to know too! What about the making boxes for you and Magi-chi? I’ve heard some rumors about Claude-chi’s dungeon.”
Lily asked about what I had been up to today. I shared my experiences without hesitation.
“I spent a whole week gathering Herbs. It’s convenient to duplicate the materials I was missing, but I don’t want to rely on it too much.”
“I found a Mithril ore on my first day… but hearing that from the blacksmith Magi-san made me feel a bit envious. Mithril is a representative of fantasy’s rare metals. The thought of Mithril = rare was ingrained in me, but the next words from Magi-san erased that envy.”
“It takes five ores to turn it into ingots, and I’ve been duplicating them for a week, but I keep failing, so the numbers aren’t increasing.”
Magi chuckled wryly, and the subtle results shared among those who had received the same reward brought about a shared sense of amusement.
“Maybe I should have gone for a personal field too? I could have filled the entire area with Herbs to secure materials.”
“Before you fill this vast area with Herbs, the excess materials and the hassle of gathering them would make it impossible to enjoy the game.”
Claude’s calm retort made me realize the truth. Currently, the scale that NPC Kyoko can handle is the most manageable. Beyond that, I’d have to hire NPCs to increase the workforce.
“It’s quite a challenge.”
“After all, cultivating things like making boxes or personal fields is more of a bonus from events. If they were too convenient, the gap between players would widen significantly.”
“Well, that’s true. But you can’t help but have expectations, right?”
As I cast a shadow, Claude interjected with his usual calmness, leaving Magi at a loss for words, adorably spilling her thoughts.
“So, what about you, Claude? Isn’t it true that you have the 【Dungeon Creation Rights】 for personal management?”
“Well, yes. Right now, I’m researching efficient ways to earn.”
“What do you mean by efficient ways?”
It involves the dungeon’s level, the materials produced within, and my own leveling up, but primarily, it’s about earning G. Well, we can discuss that later. The reason I called Yun was to talk about the Production Guild.
The topic of the Production Guild had come up before, but I had no interest and declined the invitation, so I hadn’t delved deeply into it here, though it piqued my curiosity.
“Oh, PP Yun-kun, are you interested? Then let’s talk about it before Claude dives into the dungeon discussion!”
“In that case, I’ll take on the explanation.”
With that, he grabbed his black cloak, briefly enveloping himself in it before dramatically revealing himself. In that instant, Claude’s outfit had changed.
He wore a white shirt paired with a gray vest. His trousers, held up by suspenders, accentuated his long legs. He pushed up his square-framed glasses with his index finger, and before I knew it, a whiteboard had appeared.
He tapped it twice with a capped marker, producing a sharp sound. The image he presented resembled that of a detective’s assistant or a scholar from the early nineteenth century. Despite his usual demeanor giving off a somewhat disappointing impression, Claude had a refined appearance when he wasn’t speaking.
But that wasn’t the issue at hand.
“Why did you change clothes so quickly? What was the point of that?”
“There was no point! It was purely for my own satisfaction!”
PP declared emphatically. And with that energy, Claude began his explanation.
“Now, let’s discuss our vision for the Production Guild!”
As he wrote “What is the Production Guild?” in a somewhat mocking manner on the whiteboard, Lily clapped her hands in delight, exclaiming, “Wow!” while Magi let out an exasperated sigh.
“First of all, the concept of the Production Guild is a system designed to promote our common philosophy of ‘fair pricing’ and enhance the skills of production players.”
Thus began the explanation of the Production Guild concept. It seemed that the Production Guild was to be a support guild for production classes, spearheaded by Magi and her friends.
With the rise of players opening bento shops in the market, disputes over space, the activation of reselling, and the undercutting of material items had become common. To alleviate the subtle daily stresses felt by combat and production classes, they planned to create a guild hall and incorporate various systems within it.
By centralizing the buying and selling of materials, they aimed to simplify management and reduce the cost of acquiring materials. Additionally, they sought to stabilize the prices of production items. As support for new production classes, they would provide free access to various production facilities within the guild hall, offering a place for experiencing production Sense and initial leveling. They also planned to hold auctions for items created or obtained by combat and production classes, along with proxy sales for players without shops.
“In simple terms, it’s about creating a support system that allows production classes without shops to enjoy a fulfilling production life.”
“Well, I understand that. But the fact that this hasn’t been realized yet means there must be some issues, right?”
“Of course, even from your explanation, it’s clear.”
“Yeah, I have a vague idea.”
“Large plans often come with difficulties. So, I assumed there would be some issues when you started explaining.”
“Well, if we’re talking about issues, there’s just one: we lack funds. That’s the crux of it.”
“Wait, what? The top three of the production classes all together lack funds?”
At Claude’s cough, the three of them exchanged wry smiles. Lily chimed in, “That’s an overestimation!”
“No, let Claude explain the reasons.”
“No matter how much we earn, there are only three of us. We can’t create an organization to support dozens, or potentially hundreds, including combat classes.”
Claude paused for a moment, and I couldn’t help but agree with his assessment.
“To establish a guild, we need specific items like the 【Guild Charter】, a base for the guild, necessary facilities, and NPCs for ongoing operations. Plus, we need initial funds for buying and selling goods. The list goes on, but most of these issues can be resolved with money.”
I didn’t understand half of what he explained, but I grasped the last part: they needed money.
“So, you want me to join the guild and help out?”
“No, no! I’m not forcing you! I know you prefer to go solo, Yun-kun. I’m just asking for your cooperation.”
Magi-san strongly denied my thoughts, and perhaps my tone had unconsciously dropped. I touched my throat and listened to what Magi had to say.
“I’m asking various production class friends for financial support to establish the guild. Even a small amount would help. Of course, once the guild is formed, we’ll handle proxy sales, reducing the time spent on selling and allowing more time for other activities. Plus, we’ll buy materials at a higher price than NPCs and sell them at lower prices. If materials are cheaper, it makes leveling up production Sense easier, among other benefits.”
“If we use you as an example, it’s like the priority sales of necessary production materials in the 【Atelier】. Well, that’s the benefit for you.”
“What will happen to the Production Guild? Can it sustain itself by selling materials at such low margins?”
“Hmm. It’s not so much about making money from item sales, but rather from entertainment like auctions. You see, through entry fees. The role of the auction is to determine the value of new items or quest items that can’t have fixed prices.”
“Our common philosophy is ‘fair pricing.’ Items that don’t have a balance between supply and demand will be auctioned off, allowing production classes to create items and gradually increase circulation, bringing costs down to fair prices. That’s one of our goals: to prevent situations where unreasonable players like you, Yun, unknowingly supply items for free, thus preserving the activities of all production classes.”