Chapter 25

It seems that not many players have reached the third town yet, giving it a rather desolate feel. I took a stroll and, while doing so, talked to the town's NPCs to look for an item shop.

"Welcome. What are you looking for?"

The man seemed rather lackluster. He had pale skin and didn't quite fit the town's atmosphere, but I didn't pay much attention to that. I browsed the item list. My goal was to find material items. As I scrolled down, I found something new near the bottom.

Herb of Medicine Spirit—looks like an advanced version of a medicinal herb.

And another one.

Herb of Magic Spirit—there was a herb related to magic. Perhaps this could be used to make the long-desired MP potion. But it's expensive.

Both items cost 500G each, totaling 1000G. This would wipe out my savings of 2830G over the past few days. But I wasn't planning to buy a lot. Just one would do, and I could increase it over time.

So, I decided to buy it.

Feeling satisfied. But lately, whenever I feel satisfied, something bad tends to happen. Oh well.

While asking various NPCs if they had anything interesting, one suggested a place.

It was a bar in the center of town.

Thinking it wouldn't be dangerous since it was in the middle of town, I went there, but there were quite a few rough-looking people. There were also some muscular guys, making me feel out of place.

"Hey, kid. This isn't a place for kids."

"Don't call me 'kid.' And I'm a guy."

I glared up at the short-haired, sleeveless man who had spoken to me. Was this an event NPC? I decided to play along.

"Huh? What's that on your finger?"

"It's a ring, isn't it?"

Suddenly, the drunkards became quiet, and the man's eyes turned fierce.

"Did you make that ring?"

"Yeah, I crafted it."

"Ha! You think you can handle metal with those skinny arms?"

He yelled at me!

"Of course I can! Look, it's right here!"

"You're only satisfied with junk like this. Your skills are limited."

Clank. I was getting annoyed. Even knowing he was an NPC, I was still irritated. I wanted to make more intricate accessories; I just didn't have the time.

"What? You think you can do it with those skinny arms? Then hit me. If you can make me move even a step, I'll acknowledge you."

"I don't go back on my word."

"Neither do I."

I crouched down, gathering my strength, and then delivered a powerful punch to his stomach. But the man didn't flinch. His abs were as hard as iron, and my hand hurt from the impact. It felt like hitting a tank's armor.

"Hey, are you kidding me?"

"Women's weak arms are just like that. Come back when you're stronger."

"Wait a minute!"

I tried to stop the man, but a dandy-looking bearded man, who seemed to be the owner, dragged me out of the bar. What's going on?

As soon as I left the bar, I could hear the men's voices. It seemed I had ruined the atmosphere, and it made me feel bad.

Ah, I'll go back and complain to Magi.

My speed boost skill is still low, so I decided to run instead of using a portal. The quarry enemies are slow anyway.

With that decided, I used my speed boost and enchantment to sprint back to the first town, ignoring the inactive golems and sandmen, and gathering items along the way.

The iron ore I collected from the quarry was now in abundance.

"Magi, listen to me."

"Oh, Yun. Wasn't today about MOB strategies? Did you fail?"

I reached Magi's shop and talked to her across the counter.

I pulled a nearby chair and started complaining.

"I successfully defeated the golem and went to the third town."

"Ah, that place. My group is planning to go there soon because we need higher-level metals. We're going with a large group of 36 people, half of whom are production classes. The goal is to reach the town, so the penalty for fighting together doesn't matter to us. Our leveling fields are different anyway."

"Ah, the difference between combat and production."

"Basically, it's about overwhelming with numbers. But, let's get back to the golem. What happened?"

With that, I finally got to the point.

"I was just exploring the third town and went into a bar. An NPC challenged me to a fight, but I couldn't do it."

I summarized it quickly, but Magi seemed to understand.

"Ah, that bar near the center. It's nostalgic."

"What's that place?"

"It's a path that all metalworking production classes must go through. Yun, what's your crafting level?"

"Um, 13?"

"Then it's impossible. You need at least level 25 to progress in that event."

"What do you mean?"

"Metalworking and crafting aren't just about handling metal. You can use other materials too."

"Right, but right now, I can only use metal and gems."

"Exactly. So, if you punch the NPC at level 25, they'll say, 'Strength isn't everything in metalworking!' and send you on a quest, eventually dumping you in a mine alone."

What's the point of that event? Is it to make players angry?

"Well, you gain a special skill, generally called an EX skill, from events like this."

"Really? What kind of skill?"

"It changes the appearance of items using non-metal materials."

"Does it affect performance?"

"No, but items made this way are often treated as unique and favored by some people."

For example, using animal fur to make cat ears, dog ears, or animal tails. These items were traded among a niche group of enthusiasts.

"I started this trend, actually."

"Really, Magi?"

"Now, I mainly make solid metal weapons and armor, but I'll make these unique items if someone orders them. During the beta, I made a lot of money doing this."

"That's interesting. But it seems like people would order these to create image characters."

"Sure, a friend who is a woodworker made a necromancer-themed staff with bones and skulls. A tailor made a vampire-themed robe with bat skin. There's a lot of freedom. Both were happy to make these items. They handle cloth and wood, but there are similar events in the second town. They might be going there in a group now."

That's interesting. I learned a lot. Creating image characters with accessories. There's a lot of freedom.

"By the way, do you want to buy any extra potions?"

"Ah, sure. Can I show you the new ones I made?"

"Sure, I'll check them out."

I showed him the precious blue potions and the extra potions. I had made too many for the golem fight, using about half of them.

"Ah, blue potions. And they have high recovery. They're almost as good as a lesser high potion."

"Are they effective?"

"Yeah, ten blue potions and twenty-three regular potions. Hmm, blue potions are cheap to sell to NPCs, but with this high recovery, they're comparable to high potions, which cost 500G each. So, 500G for the blue potions and 5805G in total?"

"Wow, blue jelly, a cheap material, has become valuable."

"I don't know how you made them, but this is great for me. I look forward to your future deliveries."

I got to vent my frustration, and the blue potions turned out to be a good source of income.

My evaluation of blue jelly skyrocketed. I bought it from the NPC shop, and while it's 7G per unit, buying 100 units would cost 700G, which is a bit steep.

I had about 6000G left. Instead of buying equipment, I spent it on more fields, leaving me short on funds again.

I'll work hard on the fields and crafting from tomorrow.

Revised and completed.