Chapter 17

"Big brother, I think it’s a bit much to forget dinner just because you were engrossed in a game."

"Sorry, I feel embarrassed."

After dinner, while drinking tea, my sister Miu and I faced each other. Indeed, it was wrong of me to get so absorbed in the game that I forgot to prepare dinner. But, you’re sometimes late too, right?

"Without you, dinner doesn’t come out."

"Well, how about you occasionally show some consideration and make dinner for your brother?"

"Is it okay? Even if I give you food poisoning?"

"No, before that, learn how to cook."

"I don’t want to hear that! Why did it come to this?"

Lately, I feel like I’m losing my dignity as a brother. No, I should stay calm and be honest.

"Well, I got a lump sum of money, so I bought some tools I’ve wanted for a while and have been working hard on production. That’s it."

"So, how much did you earn?"

"I made 4500G by selling potions and materials."

It’s a bit of a boast. I can earn this much now. So, I puff out my chest.

But Miu’s reaction was different.

"Wait, you only made that much? Top-level producers earn ten times that in a day."

"..."

Big brother, my heart is breaking. I’m originally a level 5 trash. I’m a producer, but not a top-level one. Besides, how much do you have to sell to earn that much? Isn’t that price gouging?

"By the way, my current money is 300,000G, and my sister had 200,000G."

Rich girl. What am I? Is that combat power? If so, 630G is trash. Are beta testers using money to get ahead? That’s harsh.

"No lending or borrowing of money in the game either."

"Of course. My pride as a brother won’t allow it."

"Exactly, I’ll forgive you for forgetting dinner. In return, I want you to spend the whole day with me tomorrow."

"Again, carrying your stuff? Wandering through the scorching concrete jungle of summer?"

"No! There’s a quest in the game I really want to do! The restriction is for two women, so I want to do it with you, big brother!"

"But I’m a guy."

"The game character is a woman, right? Besides, no other female players will take on a quest with malicious intent."

So, even if the game character is a woman, I’m still a guy. But what is this quest with malicious intent?

"So, please spend the day with me tomorrow! If you don’t, I won’t forgive you!"

"Alright, tomorrow it is. But will it be okay with just the initial equipment?"

"What? You’re still using the initial equipment!?"

Because I’m broke. I checked the prices in town. A new bow costs 700G, a slightly better one. As for armor, since I have no sense of it, the cheapest cloth armor costs 500G at NPC prices. I might be able to buy it by tomorrow, but it’s barely any defense or attack power. Besides, I don’t engage in direct combat.

"Actually, it’s better to avoid NPC equipment. NPC bows have good performance but low durability. However, beginner weapons and armor don’t have durability set, so they won’t break."

"Really? Then I’ll keep using them."

"Except, the design is intentionally ugly."

That’s right. I’ve been feeling it. There are still beginners around, but Magi and Tak’s armor and clothes have intricate designs.

"The bow is fine, but buy the clothes. How about we go shopping after the quest?"

"Alright. Do I need to get anything?"

"No, it’s just for the numbers."

That’s right. My sister is letting go of her big brother’s hand.

That day, I rested well. The next morning, Miu woke me up. It was 5 AM, way too early! I was angry, but I reluctantly made breakfast and did housework. But getting up at 5 AM isn’t bad. It’s quite cool around 6 AM. When hanging laundry, it’s a refreshing dappled sunlight, not the harsh sun.

But that’s not important. Miu and I planned to take on the quest in the afternoon, and we would act separately in the morning.

Today, I went to sell potions to Magi. I didn’t hunt herbivores yesterday, so I don’t have any pills, but I made 40 potions from high-quality herbs I collected this morning and herbs I gathered, earning 1400G.

There was good news and bad news.

The leather and membrane materials I brought yesterday apparently have higher value, so the next purchase price will be higher.

That was good. But the bad news made me frown.

"Actually, there’s an oversupply of potions. So, prices are dropping everywhere."

"Does that mean my potions too?"

"No, you don’t need to worry. They won’t drop below the fair price, and Yun’s potions are known for their high effects, so they’re a hidden gem."

"That’s a relief."

"Also, I’m finally opening my own shop. I’ve saved up enough money."

"Congratulations."

I sincerely thanked her.

"Yeah, the minimum price is 100,000G, but I’m not settling for the minimum. If I’m going to buy, I’ll get the biggest shop in town. I’ve been saving up to 750,000G, including initial equipment costs and material costs. I have about 1M now."

"1M? You’re rich."

1M. That’s a million. It’s more than Mew and Sei. Impressive, a producer. You might be a top player?

"So, from now on, bring your potions directly to my shop. I’ll buy them."

"Thank you."

I bowed. Our relationship started with me trying to sell potions, but now I think it’s pretty good.

Magi chatted with me while occasionally serving customers and advertising her new shop. I glanced at the prices of the weapons she was selling, and they were surprisingly high and had good performance.

The cheapest one was 20,000G.

"Magi, these weapons?"

"Yeah, one-handed swords? I made them in my spare time. Hmm, maybe I lacked a sense of humor."

"That’s not it. The performance, the performance!"

Wild Blade [One-handed Sword]

ATK+15 Additional Effect: 3% Critical Rate

My bow only has ATK+2, and iron arrows have ATK+3, totaling 5. Most initial one-handed swords have the same, and NPC weapons have a maximum of 6. Currently, with the game just starting, these are relatively high-level weapons. But that’s not the issue. I’ve never seen this additional effect before.

"Ah, the additional effect? Anyone can add it if they have a higher-level forging sense."

"Huh?"

"Once you level up forging to level 30, it evolves into the advanced sense [Forging]. Then you can add effects to weapons. Isn’t that cool? By the way, crafting also evolves to [Engraving] at level 30, so keep working hard."

"Can you teach me that?"

"Sure, sure. It’s already on the strategy guides, so the more important thing is the characteristics and combinations of each sense. The game requires unique talent, not following templates. Unexpected methods should be kept to yourself."

I can relate to that. Hawk’s Eye and Augmentation. No one else would think of that.

Augmentation is a magic for front-line fighters, and Hawk’s Eye is a long-range sense. They seem contradictory, but when combined, the range expands significantly.

"That’s right. But it’s helpful to know that crafting evolves at level 30. I’ll try to reach that level."

"Sure, sure. I like seeing young people work hard."

Magi is young too, I think. Probably a college student.

"It’s almost noon, so I’ll log out and have lunch."

"Ah, I need to log out and make lunch too, or Miu will scold me."

"Wow, a young girl’s cooking. I’d like to try it too."

I felt a hint of something in her tone, but I logged out in a place where I wouldn’t be in the way.

Today’s lunch is stir-fried vegetables, miso soup, and white rice. Yeah, a bit more vegetables for a healthier meal. I added enoki mushrooms, which Miu doesn’t like, to get back at her for waking me up so early.

Revised and completed.