Chapter 16

The dwarves instinctively filled the empty cart with diamonds when they saw it. However, the cart's capacity was ridiculously low compared to the dwarves' production speed, and they soon became dissatisfied. They stared at me intently, waving their arms vigorously, gesturing for more to be sent.

The cart, now full of diamonds, rattled back. At the same time, a sparkling blue light appeared on the other player's device.

"Ah! Confirmed 300 diamonds! Thanks for the cool trade!"

Then he dashed into the orchard. With money in hand, he was off to the gacha again. I have a feeling I'll see him again.

After that, things moved swiftly. I first fed the fruit to Daisy, and occasionally to Elder and Mesquite as well.

Mesquite laughed, saying it was the first time he had eaten so many nutrient fruits at once. "Gulp, I'll treat you to plenty more in the future!"

The people who had deposited diamonds to me ran into the orchard and reappeared a short while later. Then they deposited more diamonds and went back into the orchard again. It felt a bit like I had become the owner of a pawnshop in front of a casino...

"Um... Druid..."

It seemed that we had gathered almost all the nutrient fruits in the area. Even those who had kept failing at the gacha had eventually managed to get a Dryad and waved goodbye to me.

Among them, one person who I often saw buying nutrient fruits, Daisy tugged at my coat and spoke. Did you call me? When I looked down, Daisy had a rather subtle expression.

"Um... I'm full."

Wow, Daisy told me she was full! This is the first time that kid has said she's full! The same kid who ate several people's worth of food alone at the inn's restaurant! But, are nutrient fruits meant to fill you up?

"My master, Jay. This means Daisy has reached her growth limit. It would be nice if she could eat more, but..."

Mesquite looked at me intently and gave a slightly awkward smile.

"The sapling can't grow any bigger because Jay's soul limit is too small."

My low level was the problem.

A promising newbie wants to give back to society with some diamonds!

Battle! Hunting! Experience! Yeah, let's go kill some monsters! I need to grow, so Daisy can grow too.

I was ready to head out into the field, but Mesquite suggested we prepare more thoroughly, as it could be a long journey.

So, like at the start of an RPG game, we needed to get water, food, potions, and the most important, my equipment.

"My master, Jay. We Dryads are connected to Jay's soul. When Jay gets stronger, we are affected too."

Oh, so the Dryads' stats are influenced by the master's stats? I was curious about what else I could do to make them stronger, especially since they had already bloomed and were wearing equipment.

I looked at my shabby coat. The newbie wear that automatically equipped when I fell into this world. Yeah, let's go buy some equipment.

Reluctantly putting aside my plans to head into the field, I looked at the map and headed for the shops. The decision on which direction to go wasn't influenced by Elder's whining or the first store I saw.

"Every day is not a day of opportunity. This month's limited jewelry! A specialty item only available in the 26th Terrarium! The special-grade 'Ruby' ring of wisdom lottery is about to close! Give your Dryad the best sun!"

The words "limited," "special grade," and "game user's craze" stuck in my ears. My head immediately turned. What is that? Jewelry? How do I get it? Is it good?

"I'll buy it! I'll buy it! Just tell me the price in diamonds!"

I ran to the person shouting into a megaphone in the middle of the open square. I waved my phone, saying I had lots of diamonds, just like the dwarf who had tried to impress me with his diamonds. But he looked awkward.

"I'm sorry, but the jewelry is not for sale. It can only be obtained through a lottery draw."

"Then where can I buy the lottery tickets?"

"You can get them by purchasing items from stores decorated with golden ribbons. Here, take a free ticket!"

I received a star-shaped paper with a number on it. Oh, so I need to collect a lot of these?

Golden ribbons! Looking around like a hyena hunting for prey, I saw a few stores with golden ribbons at their entrances. Can I buy the stores?

Elder walked over to the glass case in front of the person with the megaphone, as if in a trance. Inside the glass case, a ruby ring was elegantly placed on a beige velvet cushion, radiating a brilliant light.

"Processed birthstone jewelry... It's definitely a rare item. If it's special grade, it can maximize the magical effects of the birthstone. It's a desirable item. I would have preferred the 'Diamond' of immortality, though."

"Mesquite, do you like gems? Do you want one?"

Elder seemed to like anything that sparkled, so I understood, but Mesquite's reaction was unexpected.

"Hehe, my master, Jay. The birthstones I mentioned are more valuable than just gems. They are not just gems. They are gems that contain the power of the sun. Specifically, they contain the time of the sun. The ruby is the sun of July. Did you know that Dryads receive battle bonuses on certain dates?"

I had seen it on the stone slab in the greenhouse. It said that Daisy and Mesquite received battle bonuses in April. I nodded enthusiastically, as it was a setting I recognized.

"The dates for battle bonuses are the same as the first blooming dates of our Dryad's mother plant. It's the most perfect time. In Elder's case, since he receives battle bonuses in June and July, he is particularly interested in the July ruby."

He was so interested that his eyes seemed to be trying to pierce the glass case. Anyway, the fact that the blooming period and battle bonuses overlap is a romantic setting... Hearing it that way makes me want it even more. Isn't this a special item for Elder?

"So, if it's July and he has that ring, Elder will receive more battle bonuses?"

"Exactly."

I needed a lot of lottery tickets. The more options, the higher the chance of winning.

"Elder! If you don't come, I'll leave without you?"

Elder followed with a reluctant look. I decided to buy the most necessary things first.

The person with the megaphone said the lottery was closing soon, but looking at the hourglass next to him, there was still plenty of time. I felt I could clean out all these stores.

What equipment should I buy? It would be nice to get rid of this old coat. It's too shabby to keep.

The owner, recognizing a good customer, greeted me with a smile and led me to the corner I needed.

"Should I wear the same armor as Mesquite?"

I picked up a silver helmet on display. Forget it. It's way too heavy. If my head is this heavy, how heavy will the other parts of the armor be? I put it back.

"You made a good decision. With Jay's health, heavy armor would be too much. The helmet... it could even break your neck if you're not careful."

I got a chill. I had secretly hoped to wear the cool armor Mesquite was wearing. I thought shiny armor was a basic part of RPGs. But it's probably too much for me, who doesn't exercise and has no muscles.

"Is there a beginner's set? Something for a new player to wear."

It would be even better if it had a set effect. When I asked the expert, he led me to a mannequin with a set of rough leather armor.

Crazy, it's so shabby. Of course, it's a beginner's set. I want to wear pretty and cool equipment, even as a beginner! Why can't beginners wear pretty clothes? Do all games have a pact to make beginner equipment shabby? Is it a costume? Is decoration the only answer?

"It looks light and practical. The important vital points are well protected. It seems to fit Jay's frail body well."

"You're right! This set of equipment is also warm and has high defense. If the master's defense increases, the Dryads can fight with more peace of mind!"

Is that so? My ears perked up. The more I heard, the better it sounded...

"Then I'll buy that too."

But I can't stand the shabby look. I need to cover it up. I pointed to a black robe hanging next to it. If possible, I want a color that doesn't show dirt easily.

The price was cheaper than I thought. The headband, top, bottom, gloves, and boots together cost 150 diamonds. The robe was 10 diamonds. They even gave me a 10% discount for buying the set.

I took off my coat, took out my phone, and asked them to dispose of the rest. Some bread and milk I had bought and stored in my pockets came out, but I ignored them, planning to buy new ones.

With the help of Mesquite and Daisy, I put on the equipment over a simple T-shirt and shorts. I didn't have the courage to wear the headband on my forehead, so I tied my hair up in a bun.

I felt a bit stuffy with the robe on. It was also a bit hot. Finally, I looked like a proper RPG adventurer ready for my first adventure.

"My master, Jay. You look much more solid now."

Can Dryads sense stat increases? It would be nice if there were system messages, but since there aren't, I can't tell.

There didn't seem to be any equipment specifically for Dryads, so we left the store. The owner gave us 6 lottery tickets. What? Give me more.

Elder pointed to a store with a staff member. An artifact workshop.

Wow! A store to decorate my room?

Elder's eyes said, "Buy it." Even though his mouth was closed, his eyes clearly said it.

Let's go, then!

The store was much wider than a department store. There were few customers, either because decorating artifacts weren't essential for adventures or because of the prices.

The store was divided into sections by the theme of the items for sale, specifically by "self-sustaining fields." "Normal Field," "Desert Field," "Swamp Field," "River Field," and so on.

I picked up a basket-like box at the store entrance, woke up my phone, and poured the diamonds into it.

Before the dwarves' endless diamond assault overflowed, I quickly stopped and gave each of my Dryads a diamond box. Daisy looked surprised, but Elder's expression was incredibly bright.

"Buy what you really need or really want with this!"

I'm going my own way! I even pushed Mesquite, who wanted to stay by my side, into the Desert Field corner and ran to the 'Random Box Corner' in the center of the store.

Gacha! The random probability that has been stimulating my interest the most since I got infinite diamonds!