Chapter 52

During the middle of summer vacation, the rhythm of life for my sister and me had comfortably integrated with [OSO], providing a good way to pass the time. However, this morning was different.

"Big brother... they’re doing server maintenance right now."

"Hmm."

"Also, they’re making some changes with the version update."

"Changes? Did they find a bug?"

"No, no, it’s more like a balance adjustment, I think."

I was called over by Miu, who was staring intently at the screen of the laptop she had brought into the living room, and I stood beside her.

"They’ve introduced a hunger system to make use of the previously useless [Cooking] skill."

"Really? So, in other words..."

"In-game, you need to eat. If you get too hungry, your stats will drop, and in the worst case, you could die of starvation and respawn. It reminds me of roguelike games."

My middle school third-year sister crossed her arms and nodded, muttering something about nostalgia. You, younger than me, what do you have to be nostalgic about?

The roguelike games Miu mentioned are games where players and monsters take turns moving on a grid field, with the order of actions determined by speed. It’s a very simple game, but you need to use items and traps scattered around the field and read the enemy’s movements to avoid being surrounded and killed.

If there are nine monsters on the field for one player, you’ll be surrounded if you don’t maneuver well. You can line them up and use a straight-through attack or attack a row of three squares in front of you, among other various attacks.

If you maneuver poorly, the enemy monsters will kill each other and level up. If there’s a two-level difference, it’s impossible to beat them physically.

And with the hunger system, leveling up on the same floor becomes difficult.

This modern version of shogi, known as roguelike, is something my older sister, Shizuka, is good at. She says, "Player skills can be managed with foresight. If you can’t foresee, you’ll die and learn."

"So, it’s going to be like a sadistic roguelike? If it is, I probably won’t be able to do it."

"Don’t worry, it’s not that extreme. They’re also adding more food items. It seems like a collaboration with a company."

"What’s that?"

"Food companies are investing in the game company in exchange for their products being turned into items in the game."

"So, they’re going to use it as advertising. If the food in the game tastes good, people will want the same taste in real life, right?"

The game company improved the previously useless [Cooking] skill, and the food companies wanted to advertise their products. This collaboration made it possible.

"Also, if you get full in the game, you won’t be able to eat in real life, right? If you say, 'I already ate in the game,' after I’ve made dinner, big brother, that would be sad."

"I don’t think that will happen. I tried the [Onigiri] item in the beta, and it’s just a normal rice ball that doesn’t fill you up. It’s just a game status."

I nodded in understanding and returned my gaze to the screen. Various types of food items were displayed on the screen.

With the hunger system implemented, people coming to my shop will need food. Maybe I should add some food items to my inventory. Sandwiches, for example, are easy to make; I just need to add some fillings, and I can buy the ingredients from Martha, the baker.

"Maybe I’ll get the [Cooking] skill too."

I also plan to get the [Swimming] skill for picking up jade from the riverbed.

"Big brother, aren’t you going in a strange direction? An archer with the [Enchanting] and [Alchemy] skills, and now a cook..."

"Leave me alone, you cheater of a sister."

I think I’m spreading myself too thin, but I don’t regret it. I intend to play the game at my own pace.

"Yun-nee would probably be good as a support mage, focusing on party support with healing and enchanting skills."

She would enhance the party’s stability with healing and enchanting, and if there’s time, she would use magic to attack. ...Actually, that’s not much different from my current style. The only difference is that she uses magic for healing and potions, and I use magic and a bow for attacks.

"There’s not much difference in party roles. My character concept is to be a dedicated supporter. I’ll support anyone who needs it, even with cooking."

Of course, I planned to get the [Cooking] skill eventually, even if it wasn’t enhanced at this point. Dragon steak, for example, is a dream.

"Mmm... That’s true. Then, let me have some delicious food in the game."

"Sure. What do you want for lunch?"

"Chicken rice!"

"Got it."

Chicken rice is a surprisingly childish dish, but it’s easy to make, so I don’t mind. I just need to cut the chicken, thaw the mixed vegetables, and sauté them with butter, then add ketchup and rice, and finish with more ketchup.

"It’s ready."

"Big brother, come here."

I served the food and stood beside Miu, looking at the laptop screen again.

"I’ll play it."

It seems a video was posted with the update.

"Hello, everyone enjoying [OSO]. I’m Kiyoshi Yoshii, the head of the development department."

The man who appeared in the TV video letter was there.

From the way he leads the video, he seems to be quite a show-off, but I’ll keep quiet to avoid angering Miu.

"We’ve introduced a new hunger system. Also, the second wave of players has started the game. To help the second wave catch up with the first, I’ve prepared a summer vacation surprise.

In three days, at 1 PM, we’ll be holding an official event in the first town. The party size limit is one to six people, and each player can bring 100 items. If you handle the event well, the first wave players can become even stronger, and the second wave might catch up.

The event will include several gift-like elements, so we encourage everyone to participate."

The video was a quiet one-minute clip, but Miu was deep in thought about its content.

"The first official event... handling it well... strengthening the second wave... item limit"

"Miu? The food is ready."

"Okay, thanks."

We discussed the content of the video while having lunch.

"What do you think of the video, big brother?"

"Umm, it’s the first event, and they didn’t reveal the details, so there’s nothing to think about, right?"

"But, strengthening the second wave means we might get official unique items."

"Are there unique items already?"

"Mostly, they’re quest-specific items or items you get from quests. But for official events, unique items are often ability-focused or completely novelty items. It’s exciting!"

"Umm, maybe I’ll participate."

But, Tak and the others have a six-person party, and Mew and the others also have a six-person party. There’s no room for me... Should I invite Shizuka-nee?

"Will Shizuka-nee participate?"

"Of course, she’s a hardcore player, so she’ll definitely participate. And with the summer timing, many people will join."

"How many people are usually in Shizuka-nee’s party?"

I’ve never played with Shizuka-nee, so I don’t know her role. The last time I saw her, she was a mage.

"Six-person party plus three shared members. She’s also the sub-leader of the fastest-established guild. They have about thirty members now and are ahead of us."

"Really!?"

"True. We’re currently leveling up at the southern entrance, but Shizuka-nee is further in. She’s also earning money for the guild."

Wow, they already have a guild. The guild creation quest is said to be difficult, especially the final funding requirement, but they’ve cleared it. I don’t plan to join a guild, so it doesn’t matter to me...

"Then, there’s no one reliable. I’ll have to participate alone. Well, I’ll prepare anyway."

"Right. I need to prepare for leveling up too."

Miu finished lunch and rushed to her room to log into [OSO] as soon as the maintenance ended. I followed and logged in as well.