Gantz, having risen to his feet, bowed his head in apology, but the sound of something shattering echoed from his head, causing his movements to freeze.
“Yun-chan, nice assist!”
“I’m angry too, you know. You broke something I made.”
Though I had given it to him as a pet, it was no different from a consumable item. However, the effort that went into its creation and the fact that it was destroyed in an instant stirred a small anger within me. This time, I had thrown a 【Floor Elixir IV】. I thought Minits would handle the incapacitated Gantz, but, as expected, Mami moved first, stopping both Minits and me.
“W-wait!”
“Mami, are you going to stop this? The punishment for this idiot?”
“Yes. I’ll decide how it ends.”
Her words were refreshingly clear. Yes, I needed to support her.
“W-wait a minute…”
“(Enhancement) | Intelligence. Plus, if you drink this, your INT will increase even more.”
I handed Mami an enhancement potion that raised INT, in addition to the enchantment for her fragile attack power. As she swallowed it, her eyes widened in surprise.
“Ah, so you’re planning to unleash maximum firepower, huh?”
“Maximum firepower!”
“Mami is a typical mage, after all. Well, usually she holds back on her power. It may not be noticeable to her, but…”
With a fierce determination, Mami faced Gantz, gripping her staff tightly. Gantz’s face turned pale as he prepared to face her.
“《Aero Cannon》!”
If expressed in kanji, it would be “Seiki U”. It’s a mid-tier wind attribute spell, but its power is relatively high. However, due to a longer charge time than usual, it unleashed more than double the power, and an invisible projectile blasted Gantz away.
“Using Sense【Sequential Thought】 to enhance MP recovery speed and the power of the next spell. Plus, with Yun-chan’s enchantment and status-enhancing items, that’s some fiery power!”
Without a point of comparison, I couldn’t tell, but the gust from the impact ruffled my long black hair.
Mami, without waiting to see the results, turned her back on the spell and pressed her head against my chest.
“Is it already over?”
“Please make another one. Something I’ll like even more!”
“Got it.”
I felt a bit nervous with a girl getting close to me, but if I thought of her like a little sister, it was no big deal. I pushed her away gently, then, after a moment’s hesitation, I began to explore.
Afterward, I was teased by Kei and Minits, who said I should cheer up by eating some sweet treats.
Gantz, with his shoulders slumped, had provided Minits with ample material for laughter, receiving hearty pats on the back.
“Seriously, you’re such an idiot. But that was the funniest thing ever! Ah, Yun-chan, thank you! I had so much fun after a long time. This is just a little thank you.”
With Minits, the beautiful blonde, laughing uproariously, I couldn’t quite grasp what was so funny, but I received some money as a reward for the prank.
Well, I could think of it as compensation for the synthesized MOB that Gantz had eaten and reduced. Besides, it was true that I needed the money.
“Yun-san, please make sure to create it properly. Oh, of course, Gantz will pay for the pet.”
“Looks like I’m getting dragged into this. Ugh… hey, Yun-chan, can you give me a pet too?”
“…What? Are you planning to use it up as a guardian again?”
Receiving my cold glare, Gantz protested, “No way! I learned my lesson from Mami’s slime, so I want a pet I can handle myself! I’ll pay properly!”
“Fine, if that’s your reason, I can’t argue. We’ll put off the request for a gel for Mami. What do you want for your pet, Gantz?”
“Let’s see. First, it can’t die! Next, it should be able to take damage without too much trouble.”
That said, the only options I had in my shop right now were slimes and their gel-like relatives.
“Then, how about this? 【Huge Slime Core Level 3】. It has damage reduction against physical attacks and a high HP, but it doesn’t have any other features.”
“Alright! I’ll buy it!”
So, I handed it over to Gantz for the price of 10,000 G.
“Come forth! (Summon)!”
The Huge Slime Gantz summoned was a green slime with a volume that easily surpassed that of an adult. Gantz spread his arms wide, calling the slime with eyes full of affection.
He might have intended to treat it like a newly adopted puppy, but the AI was still mechanical, and he was confronted by the enormous slime MOB, which made it difficult to even touch. As a result,
“Whoa, wait! Hold on!”
“Hahaha! Ouch! My stomach hurts! I jumped right into the slime!”
Minits clutched her belly, shaking with laughter. She seemed to be having a great time.
My premonition was spot on, and I watched with a bemused expression. Gantz called the giant slime over, but instead of stopping like a normal MOB would, it continued to advance, engulfing him.
“D-damn it! I’m definitely going to master how to handle this thing!”
“Good thing I chose a smaller gel.”
As Gantz struggled to escape from his pet, each of us had different reactions.
Taku chuckled, “What an idiot,” while Minits burst into laughter, and Mami strongly urged me to make sure her pet was a manageable size.
“Give! Give! Help me!”
“Hey, why don’t you just log out? Is Gantz really going to log out…?”
“Ugh…”
In the end, it was Kei’s calm remark that brought the situation to a close.
After a while, Gantz revived, and it seemed he had quickly shifted his mindset. “I’m definitely going to learn how to handle this Huge Slime,” he declared with a serious expression, showing a bit of motivation, so I decided to watch over him with a warm gaze.
Later, Taku and the others planned to take on a quest as a party, and I saw them off from the entrance of the 【Atelier】. Afterward, I began working on the synthesis of the MOB that Mami had requested.
Chapter 5: Reselling and the Production Guild Concept
During the previous synthesis of MOBs, I had created a large number of various types of slimes and gels, consuming materials all at once, which led to a problem.
“Sigh, I can’t believe I have to go gather the materials myself.”
I stomped on a yellow Bubble Slime in front of me and stabbed its core with my knife. Most slimes would dissolve and drop Blue Jelly from this.
The stock of Blue Jelly, which I had used the most for synthesizing slimes, had run out, and since I needed to continue selling Blue Potions, securing materials was essential.
My level and equipment had improved compared to the past, and my attack power had risen. Still, single-target arrows weren’t suited for slime hunting, so I equipped my “Cooking” Sense and continued hunting with just my knife.
As I continued hunting monotonously, the excitement began to fade, and it turned into a simple task. Originally, the limit on the number of low-level MOBs spawning and their speed was faster than usual, so even if I kept hunting slimes solo, new MOBs would spawn before I could eliminate all of them, creating an endless cycle.
“Sigh, this is the third rare drop from slimes.”
I had just defeated a Blue Slime, and aside from the usual drop of Blue Jelly, there was a rare drop. That was the “Slime Core,” a common drop among slime-type MOBs.
It’s a type of enhancement material that doesn’t provide any effect to weapons but offers a very subtle effect of 【Damage Reduction (Minimal)】 for armor and accessories. However,
“Out of 378 Blue Slimes defeated, this is the fourth rare drop.”
The probability is around 1%. Well, since it’s a rare drop from a common MOB, you can find it for around 10,000 G at shops. If it’s an accessory with additional effects, it can go for around 5,000 G, making it a staple for beginner gear.
“Sigh, well, there are other uses for it besides accessories.”
In addition to the additional effects for accessories, it’s also a necessary synthesis material for improving the AI of the slime and gel-type synthesized MOBs I created the other day. By synthesizing one 【Slime Core】 into the slime and gel-type synthesized MOBs, it’s possible to enhance their AI, which can’t be measured by levels. To put it simply, it’s like the AI in a fighting game. In a mirror match between the same characters, the one with the better AI has a higher win rate. The same goes for synthesized MOBs.
“Well, I’ll say it again, they get stronger within the slime range.”
The enhancement materials I obtained after spending quite a bit of time had many uses. However, on the flip side, their effects were minimal.
“Ah, maybe I should take a break for a bit.”
Since I was near the town, I didn’t need to rush back to the entrance. On my way, I noticed players heading toward the stairs that had formed at the boundary with the northeastern continent, realizing it was near Claude’s dungeon.
Now that I understood, I had a general idea of the location, but it was my first time seeing it. I returned to town and chose Claude’s shop, 【Comnest Tea Café and Clothing Store】, as my resting place and headed there.
Recently, thanks to the updates to the Cooking Sense and the securing of Production Class roles, Claude proudly announced the opening of a café. It operates in a collaborative format with another player who manages the café while Claude handles the clothing store. Since the ownership of the establishment lies with Claude, he is technically the owner. I made my way to the café, which had an open terrace vibe.
“Welcome! How many in your party?”
“Please, allow me to guide you to the counter.”
I was led to the counter seat for one. This was my first time receiving service at a café in this place. The female player who guided me was so polite that I briefly wondered if she was an NPC.
Naturally, my gaze drifted toward the counter. There, I spotted Claude and Lily placing an order with a waiter dressed in chic attire that matched the café’s ambiance. Perhaps noticing my gaze, Lily waved enthusiastically at me, prompting Claude to quickly request a seat.
“Understood. Please, take a seat at this counter.”
Lily sat to Claude’s right, while I took the seat on her left, greeting the two of them.
“Yun-chi, it’s rare to see you here at Claude-chi’s shop.”
“I wanted to see what the café was like. Plus, there’s the matter of the Search Orb and the funding from the Guild.”
Due to the request for a synthesized MOB, expenses were high, but as expected from a capable party member, they had set a price of one million G for the synthesized MOB.
Breaking down the costs, Mami’s pet fee was five hundred thousand G, while Gantz’s pet fee was zero.
“Let’s make the most of what we can get.”
“So, I’ve prepared about one million G, but the price for the Search Orb was outrageous.”
“Ha ha ha! It’s a whopping ten million G!”
“Wow, that sold for quite a high price.”
I had previously entrusted the Search Orb to someone to check its value. It was a quest reward that hadn’t been handled by four Taku. Given the current supply, it seemed rare, but the effect was rather underwhelming. Even so, ten million G was impressive; I had anticipated it would be good if it fetched one million.
“I showed it to several parties to create competition. Some parties reacted positively, while others did not. They also requested that I prioritize them when the next batch arrives.”
“That’s impossible. Wait, so it’s actually profitable?”
If that’s the case, I’d have to take on quests every night… but no way! I had no desire to venture into the haunted underground library.
“Yun-chi? Isn’t it a production item? Is the material rare?”
“I’ll exercise my right to remain silent.”
“Well, since there’s an information advantage, I won’t press you.”
Claude’s comment made me feel a bit relieved, but then he raised a finger and began to speak, perhaps sensing something ominous.
“However, I have information as well. Recently, Yun has been frequenting the library. Ha, it seems I hit the mark.”
I was curious how he knew about my recent activities, but I was even more surprised that he pinpointed my location so accurately.
“Given that you’re exercising your right to remain silent, it’s safe to assume it’s not a production item. Also, when determining the price, there were no benchmarks. Therefore, it’s unlikely to be something purchased from an NPC.” If it had been bought, that would serve as a minimum benchmark. This meant it was likely a town quest that could be undertaken by a Production Class without combat power, rather than a field requiring material gathering. Considering my recent activities, it was becoming clearer.
“Claude-chi, you’re like a detective.”
“Seriously? How do you know all this?”
When he deduced so accurately, it made me wonder if he was actually monitoring me. Well, that was probably not the case.
“Well, even if you know the location, you won’t be able to find the quest. Information will circulate eventually, even if we don’t look for it.”
Claude seemed to have a rather dry perspective on this, resigning himself to the situation.
Ultimately, the funding for establishing the Production Guild amounted to five hundred thousand G from individuals and ten million G from the Search Orb.
“Phew, so it’s a total of fifteen million G. That’s quite a significant contribution. And on top of that, I won’t be enhancing the cosplay café at all.”
As I rejected Claude’s suggestion, he made a brief, disappointed expression.
“Why not! Right now, I could prepare a mini-skirt police outfit! With Lily as a set!”
“Why does it have to be paired with Lily? And why a police officer? We’re both guys!”
“The mini-skirt police is a classic duo of two women. The top is a white shirt with a black tie, an armband, and a knee-length mini-skirt that barely reveals the absolute territory when bending down! And then, capturing the criminal and putting them in handcuffs… what a romance!”
He took a breath, exhaling with an expression full of confidence.
Seeing this, the female player waitress interjected, “Please don’t cause too much trouble for the customers,” as she twisted Claude’s arm behind him, applying a joint lock.
“Whoa! Wait, this is surprisingly tight!”
“Come on, you wanted to be arrested by the police, right? Then, let’s secure the criminal!”
With a tap on the counter, Claude, a grown man, surrendered, finally released from her grip.
The waitress straightened her outfit as if nothing had happened, waiting for our order. I felt a sense of respect for her professional demeanor.
Setting aside how Claude was treated, I found myself slightly envious of the calm atmosphere of the café and the casual interaction made possible by VR, which was different from the Atelier.
“So, what did Lily choose?”
“I went with the shortcake and tea set.”
“Then, I’ll have the chocolate cake and café au lait set. This way, we can compare!”
“Thanks, Yun-chi.”
“Shortcake set and chocolate cake set, got it.”
The waitress gave a slight bow and stepped back.
Then, she efficiently prepared our order behind the counter, and the aroma of tea and coffee wafted over to us.
The cakes were stored in an item box, or rather, a showcase-type item box, so the preparation was quick.
“Thank you for waiting. Here are the shortcake set and chocolate cake set.”
“Thank you. Let’s eat.”
I thanked the waitress, then cut a bite-sized piece of chocolate cake with my fork and brought it to my mouth. I savored the slightly tilted chocolate and moist texture, resetting the sweetness lingering in my mouth with the café au lait.
“Yun-chi, Yun-chi. Let’s swap!”
[Sure, you can eat my cake first.]
“Thanks! Then, I’ll dig in!”
Lily cut a piece of my cake with her fork and took a delightful bite. Seeing someone else’s happy expression made me feel warm inside.
“Alright, now it’s your turn, Yun-chi. Ahh.”
Lily held out a piece of the shortcake she had cut for me, and I reflexively took it into my mouth. I enjoyed the balance of the strawberry’s tartness, the sweetness of the whipped cream, and the softness of the sponge cake as I chewed. I placed my hand over my mouth, swallowed the cake, and closed my eyes to relish the lingering taste.
“…Claude, what’s up with this girl? She’s dangerously cute. Just watching her makes my heart race.”
“Right? She’s one of the models I have my eye on.”
“I dismissed her earlier antics as just her usual quirk, but now I can empathize.”
“Hey, you two café owner and employee, what are you talking about? And waiter in the counter, stop smirking and pay attention.”
“Yun could become a wonderfully charming model. So, wear the gear I made for you.”
“Stop with the cheesy lines that sound like they’re from a bad magical girl show. And I’m not a model! Do you really think that would attract customers?”
I sighed and looked at Claude, who didn’t seem to care at all.
“Now that the café is finally operational, it’s frustrating that no one is coming. Honestly, I’ve been so bored drinking coffee that I feel like I might burst from just coffee alone.”
“It has a nice atmosphere, but not many people are coming?”
I glanced around the sparsely populated café. I was worried since the Atelier had been lonely not long ago, but Claude conveyed the situation nonchalantly.
“Yeah. The Cooking Sense gained attention with the introduction of the Satiety Level system, but that’s all it is. It would be great if we could consistently provide meals that enhance stats.”
“What a waste. This modern vibe is nice.”
“On the contrary, those who enjoy the atmosphere come, but… you’re really concerned about the shop. If that’s the case, maybe Yun should wear a maid outfit to attract customers.”
“Not a chance.”
As we continued our casual conversation, enjoying our drinks, I suddenly caught a glimpse of a shadow on Claude’s face.
“Hey, Claude. How’s the preparation for the Production Guild going? Is there something worrying you?”
Though he had been joking just a moment ago, there was still a shadow lurking behind his words.
“Yeah, that’s right. I think it’s okay to talk to Yun about it.”
Receiving a silent cue from Lily, Claude began to shift his gaze uncomfortably before explaining.
“We’ve managed to reach our target amount for establishing the Guild. We’ve secured the land and set up the foundation for the RPC. However, there’s one crucial item that we still haven’t prepared.”
A crucial item that remains unprepared… What could it possibly be?
“That would be the Guild Charter. It’s a special item required to establish the Guild within the game’s system. Without it, no matter how much we prepare, we can’t officially start the Guild.”
“Oh, isn’t that something you can obtain through a Guild Quest?” I recalled hearing about it in passing, but the memory felt distant. I was about to suggest that we could just complete a quest to get it, but Lily’s words interrupted me.
“Yun-chi, we’re in the Production Class. We’re not really good at combat. So, Claude and Magi-san tried to purchase the Guild Charter, but…”
“We were outpaced by reselling players and their guilds. What started as a market price of 1 million G has been bought up, and now it’s skyrocketed to 4 million. Moreover, as all players’ levels rise and communities and parties form, the demand for Guilds is increasing.”
Claude clenched his fist in frustration, and Lily looked at him with concern.
“If only I had bought it earlier… No, I should have noticed the price increase and directly asked a random player to obtain the Guild Charter or purchased it myself at that time. Now, the fees for directly requesting a player are too high. Plus, buying it from the market is difficult. But we can’t afford to wait for the price to drop.”
While Lily and I exchanged worried glances, Claude still showed no signs of giving up.
“So, Yun, Lily. Will you help us?”
“When do we start? I’ll give it my all!”
“If there’s anything I can do to help, just let me know.”
What I said to Claude wasn’t just out of loyalty; it was from the heart. I’m also looking forward to the birth of the Production Guild.
“Our budget for purchasing is 3 million G. We need to find a way to buy the Guild Charter, which is currently priced at 4 million G, for 3 million G… by scouring the shops to find someone selling it for less!”
Claude declared firmly.
“That means it’ll be me and Lily doing the searching.”
“Exactly. Including me, it’ll be Yun and Lily. We’ll use my owner privileges to dismiss that waiter.”
“Could you at least call me by my name?” the waiter player called out from behind the counter, but Claude elegantly ignored him.
“We’ll use a swarm strategy to find the cheapest Guild Charter possible. Our budget, including Yun’s financial support, is 3 million G. We want to get it for less.”
“Couldn’t we have bought it at a higher price earlier?”
I thought about how top Production Class players must have plenty of money, but then I looked up at Claude’s next words.
“Just try to leak that information. The reselling players will raise the price even higher, causing the Guild Charter to skyrocket.”
Once, information leaked that we were looking to buy, and the reselling guild began to inflate the prices. As we weren’t even a Guild yet, we were at a disadvantage due to the difference in financial power. That’s how we ended up with the current price of the Guild Charter.
“Still, it seems impossible for the reselling guild to keep collecting Guild Charters indefinitely,” I was about to say, but Claude met my gaze head-on, silencing me.
“The reselling guild’s goal isn’t to collect Guild Charters endlessly; it’s to sabotage the establishment of our Production Guild. They profit by buying items cheaply and selling them at a higher price. If a Production Guild that sells at fair prices emerges, what do you think will happen?”
“Well, they won’t be able to sell their items anymore. Ah, so that’s why they’re sabotaging us.”
“Exactly. They’re raising the price based on the assumption that the establishment of our Production Guild is a certainty. They probably made a profit initially with the Guild Charter, but now they’re likely at the breaking point or even in the red. However, if they can offset their losses by delaying our Guild’s establishment with other items, they can still remain in the black overall.”
“Ugh, this is complicated.”
“And when they determine they can’t make a profit, they might sell us the Guild Charter at a discount as part of their stock clearance, trying to gain a favor from us.”
Saying this, Claude let out a suppressed chuckle, hinting at a possible future.
Lily and I exchanged uneasy glances at his somewhat eerie laughter, but Claude quickly shifted the topic.
“Well, even though we’ve lost the information war against the reselling guild, if we can just get our hands on a single Guild Charter, all our problems will be solved.”
He seemed to care about losing the information war against the reselling guild, but the world of information warfare in games felt quite advanced.
While I pondered this, Claude’s determination didn’t waver. He clenched his fist tightly, drawing strength from his resolve, and after a brief pause, he declared:
“Now, we will buy a Guild Charter at a low price from the shops!”
With a cool pose, he said something quite sad, and I felt a lump in my throat.
“I’ll handle the money. So, if you find a cheap Guild Charter, let me know via friend communication.”
With that, Claude and the waiter player dispersed to scour the shops.
Lily and I paired up and quickly began our search, but…
“Hey, what’s this accessory?”
“Oh, that’s a rare drop from a boss. It’s an accessory that increases damage against insect-type MOBs. It’s quite popular among girls like you.”
“That one has no practical use. It’s a generic accessory obtainable from regular quests. It’s meant for beginners, but I think it’s insufficient for you.”
We found ourselves distracted by various items rather than efficiently searching for the Guild Charter, which was our original goal.
“Hmm. I’m not good against insect types. The price is 1 million G. No chance of a discount.”
“Sorry, but I also have something I want, so I can’t lower the price.”
“Even so, we don’t have any money to begin with.”
Waving my hands to emphasize our lack of funds, I exchanged a wry smile with the shop player before moving on to another stall.
“Hey, Lily. Do you think we’ll find it?”
“No luck so far. How about you, Yun-chi?”
“I’m not having any luck either.”
It had been a while since we roamed the stalls outside of the food stands, and I could see that the variety of products had changed significantly. There were players specializing in crafting materials, players carrying great swords dealing in rare materials, drops, and equipment at high prices, and a jovial, plump merchant player who enjoyed lively banter while selling potions, food, and various joke items.
Some stalls felt like unattended shops run by NPCs, lacking any vibrancy or calls to customers.
We leisurely browsed through the stalls, occasionally buying necessary items, experiencing the ups and downs of finding cheaper shops, feeling a mix of regret and joy.
Amidst this, I spotted a familiar player running a stall.
“Hey? Yun-kun and Lily! It’s rare to see you both at a stall together.”
“Magi-san, what are you doing here?”
I found Magi-san, just like when we first met, displaying weapons at her stall and attending to customers. The weapons were easy-to-handle beginner gear, like standard long swords and shields, made from ordinary materials and priced reasonably. However, they were the highest quality equipment made from those materials.
“I’m gathering information. Claude asked me to look for a cheap Guild Charter from the stalls.”
“Oh, is that so? Have you found anything?”
“Well, according to the people who came to my stall, it seems the prices have gone up again. I’m just collecting information, but it’s tough to find anyone selling it at a low price. I’ll keep searching patiently. Also, I heard there’s another stall over there, so maybe you should check it out?”
“Thank you for the information, Magi-san!”