As the sun began to set, casting a warm glow over the stone town, I couldn’t help but smile at the sight.
“Remember, you don’t have to choose just one. You can research in the books and try out some arrangements,” I said, reassuring myself as I picked up the remaining three volumes. After completing the borrowing process at the front desk, I stored the books in my Inventory.
By the time I stepped out of the library, the town was bathed in a fiery red hue, and I made my way to the tranquil square where Rizzi and Zakuro were waiting for me.
“Sorry for the wait, Rizzi, Zakuro,” I called out as I approached. The two of them, who had been lounging on the grass, lifted their heads in response. Rizzi, the white stallion, was illuminated by the sunset, his coat glowing a deep crimson, while Zakuro absorbed the last rays of sunlight with his dark fur, his unique bones and features standing out against the backdrop.
“Well then, shall we head home? If anything comes up, we can always return here,” I suggested, scooping up Zakuro as we began our walk back to the Atelier.
As I turned to glance back at the library, now silhouetted against the setting sun, I felt a slight unease wash over me. The building, reflecting the red light in its glass windows, seemed to harbor a subtle discord, but I dismissed it as mere imagination and continued on my way.
In the days since borrowing the books, I had mostly spent my time reading, as I rarely ventured outside the town to engage in battles. I focused on improving items based on the information I gathered.
“Alright, if I do this… no, that’s not right. Why can’t I get it to work?” I muttered to myself, frustrated.
Currently, I was attempting to enhance the Enhancement Pill made from monster meat. Initially, I had followed the recipe to create the default item:
Enhancement Pill (Stone Variant) [Consumable]
DEF +1 / Duration: 5 minutes
– A pill made from the materials of the Rock Club.
Despite my efforts to improve its effects by mincing the meat, boiling it, drying it, and soaking it in a detoxification solution, I had yet to see any results. However, since it was an item closely related to food, my Cooking Sense had leveled up once during the process.
“Ugh, this is frustrating. I want to create a cost-effective item with high efficacy, but it’s tough to do it alone. If only I could find materials without status ailments, the effects would be better, but the production costs are high due to drop rates… I guess I’ll call it a day and read a book instead.”
As I spoke, I realized I was holding the last book I had borrowed. The previous two volumes had provided simple applications for Synthesis and Alchemy, essentially a list of item recipes.
However, my production kit only supported up to three types of Synthesis. The recipes for items requiring four or more types had been recorded when I created Stone Arrows through multiple syntheses, but I hadn’t considered upgrading my production tools yet.
Now, I was reading a book titled “Let’s Create Synthesis.” The fantasy-themed text often referred to MP as Magic Power and MOB as Monsters, making it somewhat convoluted, so I had taken notes to clarify the important points.
From my readings, I discovered that the Synthesis Sense could summon MOBs through specific item combinations. Unlike the MOBs I had tamed with Rizzi and Zakuro’s Training Sense, these summoned creatures did not possess growth elements like leveling up; their strength depended solely on the synthesis combinations.
However, to create these Synthesis MOBs, I needed a synthesis kit capable of handling five types, which meant I would have to purchase a production kit two levels higher than my current one. The four-type kit cost 10,000 G, while the five-type kit was a staggering 50,000 G. Given that, I would prefer to prioritize tools for Alchemy and fine-tuning my skills.
“Well, my thoughts have wandered off. But realistically, that’s not feasible right now.”
The initial investment was too high for creating Synthesis MOBs, and since I couldn’t create them through multiple syntheses, I decided to put that idea on hold.
“Lastly… if I feel a connection, synthesizing the corresponding materials will enhance intelligence… So, the abilities of the MOBs remain the same, but their AI improves?”
It seemed akin to adjusting the difficulty level in a computer game. The initial challenge would be tough, but gradually, it would become easier. Of course, the character’s abilities wouldn’t change; it would depend on how well one could utilize their body.
Finishing the book, I let out a long sigh. I glanced at the bookshelf, barely able to read the titles, but the contents of the books still eluded me. My Linguistics level was still at 9, indicating I had much to learn.
“Maybe I should go look for a new book to refresh my mind…”
I headed back to the library, leaving Rizzi and Zakuro to keep watch at the Atelier. Entering the library alone, I returned the books I had borrowed and made my way to the production section. I had a general idea of where it was, but I still took some time to locate it. The shelves were dimly lit near the windows, and I picked up a book, moving to the far end to read. I grabbed various books to level up my skills, primarily focusing on those related to my own senses. However, limiting myself to just those would restrict my options, so I picked up anything that piqued my interest.
After reading several books, I came across one titled “Preparation of Special Ingredients: Techniques for Detoxification.” It detailed how to handle items that could be utilized after detoxification.
It explained the characteristics of poison glands, their status effects, and how to carefully remove them.
The features of the poison glands seemed similar to those found in the meat of the Rock Club. Specifically, when cut vertically, they revealed a purplish vein-like substance, but I had been grinding the meat and drying it without consideration.
If I chopped it up, I would undoubtedly damage the poison glands, contaminating the meat. The temperature changes could also lead to contamination. The book outlined general methods for detoxification.
“This… could be useful.”
I closed my eyes for a moment, reimagining the process. I would make a vertical incision in the Rock Club meat and carefully remove the surrounding poison glands without causing damage. After that, I could wash the meat and proceed with the recipe for the Enhancement Pill.
Though there were still unread books, my eagerness to test this new information propelled me to my feet.
I quickly returned the books, borrowed the one on detoxification, and hurried back to the Atelier. As I entered, Rizzi and Zakuro, who had been napping in a sunlit spot, lifted their heads in curiosity. I passed by them and entered the workshop area of the Atelier.
Taking out the detoxification book from my Inventory, I gathered the necessary materials and a knife. I ignited the blade of the knife, crafted by Magi-san for my use, and began to slice into the meat. It was a more painstaking task than removing tendons from chicken breast, and I ended up damaging the first piece. However, since the poison glands remained, I decided to continue practicing.
Ultimately, I ended up damaging the poison glands three times on the first piece. The second piece met a similar fate. On the third attempt, I thought I had done better, but I let my guard down at the end and caused damage. I continued this process, resulting in a rather messy detoxification, but somehow, I managed to succeed.
Afterward, I grew accustomed to the process through repetition. Eventually, I reached a point where I succeeded about one out of every three attempts. I had gathered enough materials, and just then, I received a notification that my Cooking Sense had leveled up.
—It was a message I had seen before. I quietly checked my new Skill.
“(Detoxification, huh? A skill for removing toxins from ingredients. The success rate depends on the player’s level and DEX. It’s not usable during combat, so it’s more of a production support skill.)”
In any case, “(With a success rate of only one in five attempts, doing it manually would yield better results.)”
Given that I was working with low-grade materials, I decided to proceed with manual detoxification. By the way, the materials I failed to detoxify transformed into a mysterious damage item called “Byproduct,” which I had previously created through failed Synthesis and Alchemy. That had been a liquid, but this time, it was solid and had a strangely purplish, toxic hue. I wondered what the difference was.
I carefully dried the Rock Club meat using my Pharmacy skill, grinding it into a fine powder. I took an equal amount of the dried meat and the Medicine Stone I had stored and mixed them together thoroughly to avoid any unevenness.
“Finally, I’ll add a little water and bring it all together… there!”
I added just a splash of water, mixing quickly to form a cohesive mass. If I added too much water, it would turn into a watery paste, which would be a failure. Conversely, if I added too little, it wouldn’t hold together well, but that wasn’t too much of a concern.
In the end, I cut the mass into small pieces and shaped it using my skills.
“That last part is just a matter of preference, I suppose?”
With this, the pills will be ready after drying, but to be honest, the oral pills have a rather unpleasant texture. From here on, while it won’t affect the healing amount, I will dust the still-moist pills with powder to improve their mouthfeel. The Medicine Stones and Gallstones have a slight oiliness, making it easy for the powder to adhere. I will also add some coloring to them.
Just like the Enchant Stones, the effects can be identified by color. This time, the Enhancement Pill for the Rock Crab is designed to increase Defense Power, so I will color it with the same blue dye used for DEF enchantments before dusting it with powder and letting it dry.
What I ended up with was a vibrant blue pill.
Enhancement Pill (Stone Plate) 【Consumable】
DEF +4 / 1 piece
A pill made from Rock Crab materials
“Looks like I managed to make it without Aging Grass…”
I was half in doubt about whether the detoxification was effective, but now that it was successful, I felt a weight lift off my shoulders. The effect is more than sufficient compared to the cost of the materials. Now, all that’s left is to set a price that won’t collapse the market for Enhancement Pills and put them up for sale in the shop.
“Kyoko, are you there?”
“Yes, what is it?”
“Could you do some market research? I want to determine the optimal selling price for this Enhancement Pill based on its effects.”
“Another new product, huh? Understood. I’ll check it out when I go to buy materials next time.”
“And could you gather a small variety of monster materials as well? Just a few samples.”
“Got it. I’ll head back to the counter now.”
As Kyoko left the workshop, Ritti and Zakuro came in.
“Ah, sorry about the mess. I haven’t cleaned up yet. And Zakuro, don’t go over there!”
I quickly scooped up Zakuro, who was trying to waddle over to the workbench where the knife was.
Ritti’s gaze was fixed on the scattered, contaminated Rock Crab meat at the edge of the workbench.
“Come on, let’s head back to the shop.”
I patted Ritti’s back, trying to guide him, but he took a step forward instead.
“Hey, hey!”
Looking over, I saw Ritti conjuring a water sphere, pulling in the sweat-soaked Rock Crab meat and washing it vigorously. It was quite a sight, reminiscent of a washing machine in action.
And then, after washing it, Ritti ate the Rock Crab meat! What the—!
“Hey! That’s meant for detoxification! And it’s still raw! Spit it out! Spit it out!”
I hurriedly tried to tell him, but he just chewed and swallowed it down, munching away.
“…Are you okay? You’re not feeling anything, right?”
At my words, Ritti shivered and looked a bit sheepish. He then tossed another piece of the washed Rock Crab meat into his mouth.
Since it was crab meat, it could probably be eaten raw. The taste was… well, not bad? I’d compare it to miso soup.
I couldn’t think of any other use for it besides cooking. Wait, no—
“Is there no aging? Why?”
Even as I asked, I already knew the answer. It must be Rui’s ability.
Previously, when I was afflicted with the [Curse] status ailment, he had healed me with a water sphere, but it seems that the range of status ailments includes [Poison] as well.
“Hahaha, what a fool I was, desperately trying to master detoxification techniques.”
The mountains of discarded Rock Crab meat had been purified by Rui’s water sphere and were now reusable. Zakuro, wanting to eat too, started to squirm, so I gave him a bit of the Rock Crab meat and collected the rest.
With a little time on my hands, I decided to cook something using the abundant Rock Crab meat. I prepared a menu of clam risotto, crab miso soup, salad, and crab skewers, and soon enough, acquaintances and regulars, drawn by the enticing aroma, began to stop by the Atelier for a bowl of miso soup and a serving of rice.
Chapter 3: The Underground Library and Horror
Since then, I’ve been visiting the library several times. With the sales at the Atelier entrusted to the NPC Kyoko, I could lean on the counter and read books without any issues.
At the library, I read various books, and finally, I managed to surpass Level 0 in Linguistics. Now, I was opening a thick dictionary-like series of books outside of the Production Class corner.
From Sense Courses: Beginner Edition, Weapon Edition, Armor Edition, Body Technique Edition, Physical Ability Edition, Action Assistance Edition, Production Edition, to Life Edition, there was a wide range of topics.
I picked up a book while considering my Sense status and play style. I opened the section on bows in the Weapon Edition.
“The king and the arrow are one. Both must be used together.” Well, that’s obvious.
The other noteworthy information mentioned the automatic retrieval function of arrows. That was about it.
Once the Weapon Sense surpasses a certain level, it generally gives rise to what are called Derived Senses.
For example, with swords, it branches into various types like One-Handed Sword and Two-Handed Sword. However, this derivation doesn’t consume the Sense of the original category; instead, it allows you to acquire One-Handed Sword Sense while still possessing Sword Sense.
In other words, it results in having [Sword Lv. 1] as a backup while equipping [One-Handed Sword Lv. 1]. In this case, you can continue to use the Arts learned with the Sword Sense. It’s also a valid strategy to deliberately equip it to master the [Sword] Sense, but it seems that in areas where the average level exceeds a certain threshold, the power of the pre-derivation Sense becomes somewhat lacking, as Miu mentioned. It’s better to switch to the Derived Sense if possible.
“The derived options are Long Bow, Short Bow, Mechanical Bow, and there are quite a few. Since my weapon is a Long Bow, I might as well try to acquire that. Still, it’s interesting how the official sources acknowledge the poor accuracy of bows. The book states that the longer the distance, the harder it is to hit the target. Beginners are advised to start with Short Bows or Rapid-Fire Bows.”
“Well, I have no intention of changing my weapon. Is there any other useful information?”
As I skimmed through the daily entries, it was clear that with the title including ‘Beginner,’ the useful information was mostly about initial Senses and their derived forms. Other books I read mostly focused on growth based on levels or derived Senses. However, the books on magic contained information about various Attribute Magic Skills up to a certain level.
My Earth Attribute skills are 《Bopobom》, 《Clay Shield》, and 《Mud Pool》. I’ve mastered these so far. The remaining ones are 《Earthquake》, 《Rock Burst》, and 《Explosion》. The explanations for the magic skills I’ve already acquired can be set aside. The unacquired skills include:
Raise the Ground (Earthquake): A range where large rocks explode and scatter like shotgun pellets.
Rock Burst: A knee technique that causes a burst of rocks.
Explosion: An enhanced version of Bopobom. These can be acquired at level increments of 5.
Having read this far, I find Earth Attribute magic quite fascinating. However, I understand well why it’s unpopular when compared to other types of magic.
“After all, Earth Attribute magic has the potential to hinder the movements of allies. It’s more suited for solo play. I’m not sure about the magic at higher levels, but its strong interference with the properties of objects and the field is a defining characteristic.”
“If I use (Earthquake) or (Clay Shield) in a space, I could separate the front line from the back line, making it somewhat difficult to handle in party combat. But since I’m a solo player who doesn’t need to worry about others, I quite like it.”
“Since it affects the properties of objects and the field, it’s perfect for stalling and buying time. It suits me well.”
My fighting style is hit-and-run, striking unexpectedly and retreating. Considering that, Earth Attribute magic, which allows me to manipulate the surroundings to create my ideal situation, is quite appealing.
“I want to try using some new magic.”
With that thought, I closed the book with a snap and let out a long sigh. It seemed I was mentally exhausted since my reader hadn’t awakened yet.
“Hey, is Yun here?”
“Oh, Taku. Welcome.”
I hadn’t noticed Taku entering because I was staring at the ceiling with my hand on my forehead. Taku had come because I called for him.
“What’s up? You said to stop by the shop if I was free.”
“Ah, I have a new item that will be placed in the Atelier. I wanted to ask you to monitor it.”
“I see. So, what kind of item is it?”
“It’s a status-boosting pill made from common monster meat. I’ve decided on the price and everything, but I still want to improve its usability.”
“I get it. But… how did you manage to make that trashy Rock Crab material usable?”
Taku received the Enhancement Pill made from Rock Crab materials and checked its stats. It was impressive that he could deduce the Rock Crab’s name from the term ‘Stone Aid,’ but it seemed he didn’t have any methods to make it usable in his knowledge. Books really are convenient, aren’t they?
“How did I make it usable? Well, I guess it’s thanks to the book.”
“Wow,” he exclaimed, impressed, after confirming the pill, then tucked it away in his Inventory. His gaze shifted to the books placed on the counter.
“Is this the book?”
“No, this seems to be more of a compendium or reference guide for basic Sense. I want to know what options lie ahead as I level up.”
“Hehehe… I can’t read any of it.”
It appeared that Taku lacked the Sense for Linguistics, as he struggled to decipher the text. However, he could at least identify the Sense categories from the illustrations in the book he held.
“This one is a shield. What does it say?”
“It’s the basic Shield Sense category. It lists the Arts you can use and their derivatives.”
That said, this was merely what could be acquired through leveling up; there were Skills and Arts that could only be learned by meeting specific conditions, so this wasn’t everything.
“Oh, all six of these are Arts related to Shields. But in practice, you’d probably only use two or three of them.”
“Is that so?”
While many Shield Arts were defensive in nature, they all had a tricky aspect that made them intriguing. However, Taku mentioned that he wouldn’t use even half of them in actual combat.
“Yeah, if you’re thinking about party combat, simpler Arts are easier to use. If there are too many additional effects or if the activation time is long, it disrupts the flow of battle.”
“I don’t have that many Skills or Arts yet, so I don’t really understand…”
“Well, it also depends on personal preference.”
Saying that, he glanced back at the book, but it was clear that combat dynamics would differ between solo and party play. Particularly, Arts focused on hate management would be useless when playing solo. The foundational Earth Attribute Skills, while impactful in a party setting, could be a boon for solo play if one could control their effects.
Moreover, I had the targeting ability of the Eye of the Court, which, while having some issues with activation power and timing, offered remarkable precision in its activation points—though it was limited to visible areas.
“This has been enlightening. Thank you. It makes me think about various things.”
“Well, you could compare that content with practical experience. How about going on a light hunt with me?”
“Ah, sure. That sounds good for a change. But let me take care of one thing first.”
“Got it. What do you need to do?”
“I need to return this book.”
“In that case, let’s go together. We’ll hunt right after.”
“Is it okay if I keep you waiting?” I asked, to which he replied, “No problem,” so I decided to take him up on that offer.
Hunting with Taku was still too early for the young Ritti and Zakuro, so I equipped myself without summoning them and headed to the library.
Taku tried to enter the library with me, but when we reached the entrance, he was asked for an admission fee. Since he had no intention of paying, I counted the nearby plaza and decided to wait for him.
I returned the borrowed book and made my way to the production section to select a new one. This time, I picked a textbook on the Sense of Rope and was about to head back to the reception when I spotted Taku outside the window and waved.
Noticing me, Taku initiated a conversation through our friend communication.
“What’s up? Did something happen?”
“No, I just waved because I saw you. Did anything happen on your end?”
“I checked the plaza next to the library, but nothing special.”
“I just picked a book, so I’ll be out soon.”
“Got it. I’ll wait here.”
With that, I hurriedly borrowed the book and made my way back to Taku.
Inside the library, the bookshelves were arranged symmetrically from the main entrance, with the wall-side shelves kept low to avoid blocking the windows, while the inner shelves were tall and imposing. Entering between the shelves, one could feel a sense of pressure from people passing on either side, making the space feel narrower than it appeared.
Some parts of the library had direct exits to the plaza, allowing us to step outside.
“Sorry to keep you waiting.”
“It took quite a while, but is the library really that big?”
“Yeah, the place where I communicated with you was the most spacious. It was around there.”
I pointed to the spot where I had spoken to him. It was at the far end of the building, and Taku tilted his head slightly.
“Yun, the biggest area where you could see your blue was actually two windows over.”
“That’s ridiculous. The production books are located near the very back corner. It can’t be next door.”
At the back, there was a wall lined with bookshelves. There shouldn’t be any open space beyond that.
“Well, I guess I should investigate a bit.”
“Of course! It’s inside the window!”
With that, Taku called me over to peek through the window. Indeed, the third window revealed the spot where I had just been. However, when I looked into the very back window, I saw an inexplicable space that shouldn’t exist.
“The bookshelves are so convoluted that it’s hard to see… Could it be a hidden space like this…?”
The thought of discovering an unknown area in a library I was so familiar with was astonishing.
“Hey, how are the bookshelves arranged in the library?”
“They’re set up in several rows of tall bookshelves. They block the view of the back, so you can’t see through.”
“Then it’s settled. It must be an illusion created by the bookshelves to obscure the actual size of the building.”
“Why would they do something like that?” I could almost hear Taku’s thoughts, but he merely raised both hands in surrender.
“I don’t know. There’s nothing more we can do about it right now. Let’s go hunting!”
“Ah, right.”
“What’s with that lackluster response? If you’re curious, I can do a little investigating. Don’t worry; I’ll let you know the results later. For now, let’s go.”
“I’m not worried! Fine, I get it.”
I swatted away Taku’s hand as he tried to lightly tap my head and quickened my pace to escape. Thus, we set off for a light hunt, but I found myself a bit tired from trying to keep up with Taku’s fast pace.
Initially, I had been troubled by the mysterious space in the library, but the high-speed hunt alongside Taku left me with no room to dwell on it, and I quickly forgot about the library.
Then, a few days later, Taku came to deliver his findings.
Summer vacation had ended, but the lingering heat of September remained. As I cooled my flushed body with my hands while walking to school, I relaxed in the classroom when my troublesome friend Takumi approached me directly from the entrance.
“Do you have time tonight?”
“What’s up? You just show up without even a greeting. Well, I don’t have any plans.”
“Can you clear your schedule? I have the results from the investigation we did last time.”
With that, he plopped down at his desk and rested his head on it.
“Hey, what the…?”
He looked like he had pulled an all-nighter, probably from playing games late into the night again. Even though summer vacation was over, he really needed to adjust his rhythm to fit school life.
As I listened to the announcements during homeroom, I noticed that Takumi stayed until the second period. I sighed softly, realizing I would have to let him copy my notes later, and sighed again at the thought of actually showing him my notes.
Finally, when school ended and I was on my way home, I received a clear email detailing our meeting arrangements.
“Uh, it says, ‘I’ll pick you up at the Atelier at ten o’clock tonight, so wait for me.’ How one-sided.”
My reply was short: just a simple acknowledgment.
I checked the clock. After preparing dinner, eating, and cleaning up, I would have time for a bath and to get ready for school tomorrow, which would bring me to about that time.
I hurriedly prepared dinner, and when it was time, Miu came down from her room on the second floor.
“Hey! Dinner is ready!”