Chapter 10

009. 8,720 rin per hour, meals provided (2)

Now that I think about it, the game D/Z SAGA had many peculiar aspects.

It was certainly not a god game. Of course, it wasn't a terrible game either.

Just a regular game? It did have a lot of things to do. Especially, recruiting comrades and completing quests to see the ending was quite enjoyable.

But besides that, there were quite a few side quests and mini-games.

One of the things I called 'stupid stuff' was the 'Bean Collector' title.

It was really ridiculous; you had to mix beans in the game to create results, which would fill up the collector's guide, and once you filled it all, you would get the title.

The total number of combinations was probably around 1,500, right? But the title's performance was quite powerful. It increased the effect of using beans, and there was also a stat boost.

Anyway, during the game era, I could buy a lot of beans and do it, but when I inquired at Yggdrasil, it turned out that beans weren't very popular, so there wasn't much stock.

So, I went to the Bean Garden myself and, at the moment I created the 'Whipping Beans' with a health recovery effect, a system window appeared in front of me.

【Combination Success!】

【Whipping Beans】

【Title: 'One Who Has Stepped on the Path of Beans'】

【Effect: Learned a bean combination formula. The Bean Collector Guide has been created. You can feel the taste of beans more sensitively.】

There was no additional status or skill. In fact, initial titles are all like this. As I mentioned before, Jefrin is a game that gives 'rewards proportional to effort.'

The hidden piece I aimed for was actually this. But if you collect all 1,500, the title effect is really good. It's not at the level of the final ending, but it's close to a semi-final level.

Anyway, what lies ahead of me is the endless grind of 1,500. And the fruit at the end.

"Actually, that's what was good. There was the fun of effort, and the fun of effort being rewarded."

I shrugged. It's better to have it than not, so I decided to switch to the title. As I was operating the panel, another window appeared below.

【You have performed the Mix Beans combination for the first time.】

【The following rewards are given.】

【1 point of Dexterity status is given.】

And

【You have achieved a great success in the first bean combination.】

【One of the 7-tier beans is given randomly.】

【Energy Beans are given.】

"Huh?"

***

It was the eastern forest, and there was no reason for anything big to happen.

The count wasn't even complete, and on the way back, I just hunted one goblin and that was it.

The corpse, of course, I kept.

In front of the mercenary office, Nefte and I finished the settlement. Even though it was 5 minutes past the start time, when I counted it as one hour of work, Nefte's expression was unusually bright.

"Thank you."

"You worked hard."

"Yes, yes! And I ate well. It was a meal without any shortcomings, just as you said."

"Is that so?"

"By the way, it's amazing. Beans are a dangerous crop, aren't they? They can explode or cause poisoning if handled improperly."

"That's right."

"Beans can be combined. It was the first time I saw such a technique."

"Wait. What did you say?"

"Yes? I said I ate well."

"......No, not that. Did you say it was the first time you saw the technique?"

"Yes. It was a truly mysterious technique."

"Let me ask one thing. Has the exact classification of beans not been done?"

"Who would classify them? They're just beans that grow everywhere, and they all look similar."

"......"

Once again, the subtle differences between the game and reality are being adjusted.

Beans are literally beans that grow everywhere, but their species easily exceed several hundred.

The difference between the game, where names and descriptions are attached the moment you obtain them, and the reality where there is no clear classification, is significant.

I thought about why I got the title of the first bean combiner, and this might be the reason.

"But did you eat what I gave you without hesitation?"

"......"

"Were you that hungry?"

"......"

Nefte didn't answer at all.

He just bowed his head and went on his way.

***

After returning from the convenience store, I opened the status window.

【Wolfram von Roen格林】

【?T】

【Status:

Strength: 4

Dexterity: 6 + (1)

Health: 2

Magic: 3

Will: 4】

【Skills:

Royal Bloodline.】

"......The status really increased."

The status that can be added to Dexterity.

What's more, I'm glad that this status can be increased when I need it, rather than being immediately applied.

Increasing status from 6 to 7 is relatively easy. Conversely, increasing from 60 to 61 is a different level.

I'll save this for later.

"Since I can't benefit from investing in status right now, I'll keep it for now."

Next is the 7-tier Energy Beans, which came as a reward.

It has quite good effects, but to make Mix Beans, you need quite high dexterity and knowledge. Otherwise, it might not even succeed and could explode.

I can't use either of them right now.

But they are good rewards that let me dream of the future.

However, more important than these two rewards is the information that I was the first.

"......It's strange. No matter how I think about it, it's strange."

The fact that no one thought about combining beans was seriously bothering me.

***

A few days later.

Ayla came to the grocery store.

"Is the candy business going well?"

"Not bad."

"I see. But there are still no customers. Why did you open a convenience store in such a place?"

"......Isn't this building yours?"

"Uh."

If you buy it and say the business isn't good, that means your eyes are blind. Ayla's hands trembled, containing this meaning. Thinking about it, she's an ambitious but strangely naive person.

"I heard a rumor. That you went out with a famous commoner from the Knight Academy?"

"That's right."

"Nefte. I heard she's a Knight Academy student from the west, who is trusted among commoners."

"Is that so?"

"But she said this: Wolfram is quite a good person. We might be misunderstanding him."

"......Unnecessary praise."

"And another thing. Wolfram uses mysterious techniques, and his protection is worth it. Especially, the meals he provides have something special."

"......"

Was it worth spreading as a rumor?

"So, can you treat me to that special meal?"

"That's not difficult."

"I'll look forward to it. Chef."

Ayla, with her long black hair and eyes like black jewels, asked, and I placed the Whipping Beans I made yesterday in front of her.

"......What is this?"

"Try it. There's only black bread to spread it on."

"......Ha. Black bread, how do you see me, Ayla Triestar?"

"Anyway, try it. It should be quite edible."

Saying that, Ayla spread a lot of cream on the black bread I prepared, hesitated for a moment, and then took a big bite.

"U, Um?!!!?"

Seeing Ayla's eyes widen and start to panic, I nodded.

"This is what I'll sell next. The bread itself is plain black bread, but the cream is homemade."

No matter what I said, Ayla ate the bread all at once. Munch, munch. She ate the bread with dignity and at an incredible speed.

"Not bad. For black bread, it was tasty."

She wiped her mouth with a handkerchief.

"So, where did you get this cream? It really surprises me."

"This is also a secret."

"......If it can be provided unlimitedly, the Triestar Trading Company can buy it. The taste is not bad, so it should sell well. I'll pay for it."

"There isn't that much."

"Why not?"

"Because there isn't."

"Then why not?"

Why not?

Because I'll get tired and collapse from making it.

"Anyway, it has commercial value, so I can start selling it to graduate students from tomorrow."

"Such a waste! Sell it all to me."

"......It's just a decent cream, isn't it?"

"Hmm, hmm. The unique flavor was quite impressive. So, I'll buy it all."

"No."

"Why not!"

Thus, I had a tussle with Ayla, who tried to take the Whipping Beans from me with a tone of 'It's not that good, but I can buy it,' and in the end, Ayla was the first to give up.

"......Fine. I'll back off today. But I will, I will get it. I......I won't give up."

A typical third-rate villain's line.

"......Alright. Do your best."

"......Grr!"

Ayla clenched her fists and glared at me.

What are you going to do by glaring?

"Anyway, the cream is quite expensive."

"Fine. How much? 100,000 rin?"

No, that's too much.

Actually, money isn't that important. If things go wrong, I can force Eve to buy the candy.

"I have a few questions. Let's call it market dynamics. Cross-verification of information."

"......Fine. I'll answer everything I know."

"......Are Jefrin students adventuring? Beyond the Academy District, to the entire artificial island of Jefrin. That is, to the swamps, deserts, grasslands, and canyons?"

"To some extent? They do it for curriculum completion. Jefrin focuses on practical training."

I see.

"Then I'll change the question. How many students are voluntarily adventuring?"

At my question, Ayla's eyes widened, and then she smiled brightly and answered.

"That's a strange question. Do you want to hear an obvious answer?"

"Even if it's obvious, it's fine."

"There are none. They don't go out voluntarily."

"......"

"Wolfram. How many students are willing to risk their lives? When they can get a position in their hometown just by attending classes in the Academy District and graduating?"

***

After Ayla left, I took out a notebook and started taking notes on what I had seen and felt since coming to Jefrin, and a plausible theory emerged.

"Potion prices are a hundred times what I knew. Good equipment prices are ten times. ...Bean mixing hasn't even been researched, and I got the title of the first researcher."

Why is there such inconsistency? I came up with several hypotheses, but Ayla's words made one of them true.

"The world has become extremely afraid of adventures. ...No, they can't go on adventures. This is a reasonable assumption. And the reason is probably because life is precious."

Jefrin is an honest world.

A world where you get rewards proportional to your effort.

"Proportional rewards for just efforts. ...In other words, you can't get rewards without taking risks. But this is reality, not a game."

For example, let's say there's a hero party, and they go on a dangerous adventure and eventually bring back something that helps the prosperity of humanity.

If it were a game, it could be summarized in one line: 'The hero faced a crisis but wisely overcame it, was healed by the cleric's recovery magic, and returned to the battlefield.' What a beautiful game description.

But reality is different. If an arm is cut off, the panic that follows is immediate. It's not a matter of reattaching it. Even with an intact arm, you might feel phantom pain, go insane, or die from shock.

Life is precious, and pain is undesirable. Adventures are scary.

This world, once the minimum infrastructure was established, focused on maintenance and defense rather than monster hunting or adventures.

Especially, Jefrin is a place for students.

That's why potions are a hundred times more expensive. Good equipment is ten times more expensive. Phil said there's no shortage of items.

Of course, it's a world where 'research is less advanced.'

"Thanks to this, I've roughly decided on my future policy."

I started writing down my future policy.

1. Run a convenience store to make a living.

2. Learn at least one skill before graduation.

3. Live a life without getting involved in the main story as much as possible.

"The most important thing is number 3."

The fact that research hasn't been done means that there's no preparation.

But how many times does the protagonist Kelthers and his cheerful friends risk their lives?

From the first act, they have to risk their lives in the game, and if they die once, it's a bad ending for sure.

So, in short.

I'll try to be as cowardly as possible and graduate quietly!

"At least they have good stats and high tiers, but I can die in one hit."

Kelthers, you do your best. I'll do my best to live well.

I swore to the night sky that I would do my best not to get involved in the story.