Chapter 18

017. Beginner Set

After Rudika disappeared, Nefuti and I, who were left in that spot, looked at each other.

"···Well, hang in there."

"Be quiet."

I held my throbbing head and thought.

That assassin Hassan is supposed to come tomorrow. And I have to climb the Sleeping Mountains with that guy and dig up a lot of spicy herbs.

"Hmm."

I organized my thoughts.

In South Korea, convenience stores are filled with incredibly spicy items. There are fried chicken, spicy chicken, and even chicken that can kill you. Although they are all chicken, I should start with spicy ramen and sausages. By the way, there's also a puffer fish ice cream. I don't know whose idea that was, though.

Anyway, I turned around and looked at the shelves of 'my convenience store.'

The only items available were candy, bread, and some cream stored in a shaded corner.

Oh, the beans are in my office. I didn't want to put them out or sell them.

The doughnut cream is too delicate to be put outside, and doughnuts, being fried, are best made on the spot. If left out, they quickly harden and become inedible.

However, as a super convenience store owner, wouldn't it be nice to have the shelves full? Now, looking at these empty shelves, I just feel sorry and angry.

I'll fill them.

With spicy items.

"···Not bad."

Actually, it's even better.

Strong characters punish third-rate villains.

This was within my expectations.

To be honest, I even thought that Kelters might come to target my neck at any moment.

Now, a strong character has come to help, and we have a common goal. My task is one.

"I will obtain it by using you, achieve it by utilizing you, and fill it by applying it."

For that, I need to think. What can Wulfram do? What would be helpful? As a seasoned player, I should avoid attacks while picking up gold and getting back up.

The Sleeping Mountains are Act 2.

And Act 2 is, well, Act 2.

To put it simply, the rewards are far more substantial than in Act 1.

The story is just now starting with Kelters playing a little kid's game, but I can go to the map of Act 2, which is a huge advantage.

Let's see. The Sleeping Mountains. The companion is Rudika. If I assume the character is an assassin, let's calculate the monsters that appear at the beginning.

Hmm.

Umm···.

I'm nervous.

Not that Rudika is nervous, but my life is.

Act 2 is, in a sense, the real main part of the game.

After completing the tutorial and prologue, the game introduces new concepts to those who have gotten a feel for it, giving them a mini-puzzle feeling of "Oh, so this is how you tackle this."

Naturally, this should start from the beginning, and a lot of new pattern monsters swarm in.

So.

"Nefuti."

"Yes, yes?"

"Come with me tomorrow."

"···Are you telling me to die? The Sleeping Mountains?"

"I'll give you thirty million rin as a day's pay."

"This life is always yours. My lord."

The price of loyalty was thirty million, wasn't it.

Anyway, it shouldn't be that difficult.

If I use Nefuti's traits, ···hmm. It should work.

"Then, as your employer, I have two orders for you, Nefuti."

"Please instruct me, my lord."

"I know it's late, but I'd like you to prepare one item by tomorrow."

"Umm. That's a bit···. It's already night?"

"I'll add ten million more."

"Devotion, loyalty, and faithfulness. I will fulfill your will with this belief."

That's right.

Do it.

***

The next morning.

Fortunately, it was a holiday, so we agreed to meet in front of the convenience store, and the first to arrive was Rudika.

"Wulfram. Rudika is here."

"···Hmm. I see."

"Let's go now."

"Wait a moment. One more person will come. Be patient."

"Is that so. I understand."

Rudika followed the instructions and took a seat.

"Have you eaten?"

"I was busy coming here, so I didn't. It's fine. Rudika can survive without eating for a week."

"·····Tsk."

I handed over the last black bread and water, along with the mixed beans to spread on the bread.

"What is this?"

"Try it. It will be a good meal."

After I showed her how to eat it, Rudika skillfully scooped a lot of cream and spread it on the black bread, then put it in her mouth. Munching, she swallowed as quickly as possible. She finished her meal, including the water, in about a minute and stretched.

"How does it taste? Is it edible?"

Seeing her reaction, I asked for her opinion, and Rudika tilted her head, then said:

"Hmm? ···Umm. Good calories. I can fight for ten days. Good meal. Thank you, Wulfram."

"·····?"

Even though our conversation didn't quite mesh, I didn't mind. Conversations with assassins are usually difficult.

While chatting, the third companion arrived.

"My lord, I have brought the item you ordered."

"Thank you for your hard work."

"Were you two in a lord-vassal relationship?"

Nefuti's question made Rudika tilt her head in confusion.

"Temporary."

"Devotion, loyalty, and faithfulness. My belief is with this person."

"·····?"

Rudika tilted her head, but I ignored it and looked at the item Nefuti brought.

It was a huge cart. It was a two-handed item, and it could easily fit six people.

"How do you plan to use this, my lord?"

"Hmm."

I loaded the prepared luggage onto the cart and climbed on. Then I gestured to Nefuti, who was holding the cart's handle.

"Pull the cart, including me and the luggage, to the Sleeping Mountains."

"Huh?"

"I'll add five million more."

"To be able to assist my lord, this is a proof of loyalty!"

So, I climbed onto the cart and headed towards the Sleeping Mountains.

Rudika's occasional gaze, walking leisurely beside me, was painful.

"···Wulfram, are you comfortable?"

"Um. Yes, I am."

"···No, Rudika is asking about your state of mind."

"······."

But Wulfram only has 2 HP, so there's nothing I can do.

Think of it as better than dying right away.

Think about it.

F*ck you.

***

We arrived at the Sleeping Mountains, pooling our strength.

At this point, Nefuti's HP was 17 and her strength was 16, I think. She shouldn't be this exhausted.

Anyway, we got off the cart and started the preparations at the base of the mountains.

"Let's check what equipment everyone brought and how they brought it."

Nodding, Nefuti and Rudika agreed, and I immediately began assessing the equipment.

Even without the 'Appraisal' ability, I can discern things because I am the true seasoned player of this game.

Nefuti had typical beginner knight equipment. Longsword, shield, wrist guards, leather armor with cloth underneath, greaves, and leather boots. It was neatly maintained.

And Rudika, as I expected.

"A dagger, huh?"

"Yeah. One dagger is enough for Rudika."

A single dagger with a black blade. Nothing else.

Of course.

This was a complete hit.

"Checked the equipment. Monsters will appear ahead. Unlike the Eastern Forest, where only edible slimes and goblins appear, this area is ···a real battlefield."

"I see."

"Even though I'm non-combatant, I'm giving the orders. I hired Nefuti, and I'm here at Rudika's request. So, I'll take command. Any objections?"

"No, my lord."

"Rudika has none either."

"Then the first and last strategy is to prioritize protection. You must defend at all costs."

"······."

"······."

Really, don't look at me with those eyes.

"It seems you're misunderstanding. I'll hide behind the cart or in the nearby bushes. I'll give the orders to Nefuti. You, Rudika, will protect her."

"Huh?"

"Really?"

Who said you have to protect me?

***

At first, everyone was puzzled by my orders, but after the first encounter with a monster and the subsequent battle, they all withdrew their doubts.

Before explaining the strategy, we need to understand the origin of the name of the Sleeping Mountains, the stage of D/Z Act 2.

This place really does put you to sleep.

I'm not joking.

There are monsters like the worm-like Sleepy, which focuses on using sleep magic, and the Mothman, which looks like a combination of a human and a moth and sprays sleep-inducing pollen from its wings.

Various monsters that induce 'sleep status' are scattered at the beginning.

While Act 1 was fought with physical force, Act 2 is a battle against status effects. This map is designed with that in mind.

Unfortunately, this is a battlefield where assassins can't use their full strength.

But what about Rudika now? She's silent and her footsteps are inaudible.

She just appears behind the enemy and slashes their neck.

【Hassan Style: Assassination: Rear Grab】

【Hassan Style: Neck Slash: Critical Strike】

"Kieeek"

"Kiaaaah!"

"Kaaaah! Kieeek!!"

With two skills, countless Sleepies and Mothmen die.

The pitiful Mothmen. Just die already.

However, it's not as if the attacks of Sleepies and Mothmen completely miss Rudika.

That's impossible.

While Sleepies can be avoided, Mothmen emit sleep-inducing pollen when hit. It's like what we call reflective damage.

So, what happens? There's a certain probability that we'll fall asleep.

Rudika, who came with just a dagger, will fall asleep, and then what happens? Wulfram dies.

So, I pulled out my trump card.

A seasoned player's trick.

"Never thought you'd use such a method."

Looking at Nefuti, who was leisurely drinking bean tea and protecting me, I smiled.

The reason I spent a whopping forty million on Nefuti today is this.

The tank skill Nefuti had from the start of Act 1.

【Guarding Formation: Sacrifice for Revenge】

"Still, it's fortunate that you attended all the classes."

"Yes, 【Guarding Formation: Sacrifice for Revenge】 is a skill included in the first-year common curriculum. But I never thought it could be used like this."

【Guarding Formation: Sacrifice for Revenge】 is a skill that distributes the attacks received by a designated target.

Nefuti has cast this skill on Rudika, and it's currently active.

The important point is that status effects are also included in the attack range.

It's not mentioned in the description, but they are definitely included.

Rudika, being so fast, rarely gets hit by Mothmen or Sleepies, and she only needs to be careful of reflective damage, but Nefuti is taking all of that.

And Nefuti is drinking the mixed bean tea I prepared.

Mixed beans are originally an item, and while they can be thrown, they are usually consumed. ···Naturally, they come with a private option like sleep resistance from the start.

In summary, Rudika should be the one to take the sleep status, but I countered it with Sacrifice for Revenge, and Nefuti is blocking the sleep with hot tea, while Rudika is.

"Kieeek!"

"Kiaaaah Kieeek!"

Tearing apart the Mothmen screaming in the distance.

Act 2 is peaceful.

This is going well.

"Getting sleepy."

"I'll deduct your pay if you fall asleep."

"I will never fall asleep. A knight will collapse and die standing up."

"Good attitude."

***

Rudika, who swept through the battlefield, approached with a smile, and behind her were countless corpses of Mothmen and Sleepies.

"I had a lot of fun. Thank you, Wulfram. Nefuti!"

"Hmm."

Cheers to your descriptive skills, calling those corpses 'fun.'

"Anyway, I caught a lot! Now let's gather the spicy herbs!"

"I was already planning to do that. Nefuti."

"Yes, my lord."

"Start gathering the herbs I mention. Got it?"

"······Yes."

"Work as much as you're paid. I'll deduct your pay."

"This Nefterian. I have expertise in gathering herbs while running through mountains and fields. If it can help you achieve your goal, it will also be my happiness."

"That's right."

With that, Nefuti went to gather the herbs, and I walked through the mountain of corpses.

Really, it's clean. One precise strike to the neck. The dagger itself has magical enhancements for durability recovery and increased critical hit probability, but the skill usage is exceptional.

Poor Mothmen. Rest in peace.

"Rudika."

"What?"

"Did you ever get a glove when killing Mothmen?"

"···Hmm? A glove? Oh, a Mothman wearing a glove? Yes, I did."

"Is that so. Where is it?"

"Exactly the 51st Mothman I killed! Just a moment···."

Saying that, Rudika kicked through the Mothmen corpses. Fortunately, they didn't have any sap, so there was no sap river.

Really lucky.

Anyway, it seems that they drop items while alive, not when dead. Another thing I learned.

"Here it is! Is this the glove you're talking about!"

"Hmm. I'll take it."

"Sure!"

With that, Nefuti handed me the glove, and I stared at it.

I never thought I'd use this item.

"What is that glove? I've never seen it before."

"It's what I need the most right now."

"Oh, can you explain it?"

"Not difficult."

I recalled the information about the Glove of Balance in my mind.

Tier 9 magic item, Glove of Balance.

【Glove of Balance】

【When worn, randomly increases one status by 3.

However, it does not apply to statuses above 10.】

That's right. This is the item D/Z prepared for you, the true noob, to get out of the noob stage.

A farming glove to achieve the status of 10, known as human rights.

"That's the item."

When I explained only the item's performance, omitting the D/Z part, Rudika's expression strangely stiffened.

"···Do statuses below 10 even exist? Wulfram always surprises Rudika!"

You must have been very surprised. Wulfram has all his stats below 10. None of his stats are human!

I didn't say this because I thought Rudika might faint in shock.

Damn.