Chapter 10

"Hey! I'm here!"

A new person had joined the circle of women chatting.

The green marker indicated she was definitely a player, and she was definitely beautiful.

But her ears were long and pointed.

An elf?

"Reina, hey!"

From that point on, the atmosphere was such that even interrupting the conversation was impossible.

It was hopeless.

"Whoa, the main point. Look at this."

"Wow! Isn't that the carapace of an Evil Ant!"

"That's right. I want to change my plans to make equipment with this today. Okay?"

"Following up from yesterday, huh! But I get it just by seeing this!"

"Well, the thing is, I don't have enough money for the equipment crafting fee."

He managed to interject.

"Huh? Oh, you're Keith, right? Nice to meet you! I'm Reina, the Woodworker!"

"Um, how did you know my name when I didn't introduce myself?"

"Because we share virtual windows when we form a party!"

There's such a function.

It's a feature I don't have access to since I'm not in a party with other players.

Feina approached me, slightly restraining Reina, and spoke to me.

"Didn't you have a needle when you defeated the ant?"

"Yeah, I have it now."

"Wow! Show it to me!"

"Reina, calm down."

The 13 needles from the Evil Ant were in her backpack, but she took out only one.

The four women paid attention.

It was a bit scary.

"By the way, can I use [Appraisal] on it now?"

"Sure."

Suddenly, the conversation with the women disappeared.

It was as if the noisy atmosphere from just a moment ago was a lie.

Looking around, the NPCs were still indifferent.

No, their gazes were coming, I think they were bothered.

I'm sorry, I'm causing trouble.

Reina took out a few arrows and laid them on the table.

The fletching looked the same, but the nocks were different.

"Oh, sorry. I'll send a [Union] application to you, Keith, can you register? We'll use whispers for the conversation."

Suddenly, Feina spoke to me.

Then, information flowed into my mind.

[Player Feina has sent a [Union] application. Do you accept it?]

I chose Yes for now.

'Sorry, I got into the habit of just talking among ourselves.'

'No problem.'

'Reina is a Woodworker and an archer, she's the ranged damage dealer in our party.'

'So, these are the prototypes I made by comparing the arrow nock materials!'

'Can I use [Appraisal] on them?'

'Sure.'

There were four types.

I appraised them all at once.

[Weapon Item: Arrow] Beginner's Arrow AP1 Damage 1 Durability ∞

An arrow used by novice adventurers. Its power is minimal.

An arrow for getting used to handling a bow and arrow.

[Weapon Item: Arrow] Obsidian Arrow Quality C- Rarity 2

AP1 Damage 2 Weight 0+ Durability 30 Range -30%

An arrow with an obsidian nock.

Due to its weight, it can deal damage with its impact, but the range is shorter.

[Weapon Item: Arrow] Rabbit Horn Arrow Quality C- Rarity 2

AP4 Damage 1 Weight 0+ Durability 40 Range ±0%

An arrow with a rabbit horn nock.

It has moderate penetration and is easy to handle.

[Weapon Item: Arrow] Bronze Arrow Quality C Rarity 1

AP2 Damage 1 Weight 0+ Durability 30 Range -10%

The nock is covered with bronze.

If not maintained, its power can easily decrease, so caution is needed.

I can't really judge which is good or bad.

After all, I haven't even seen a bow and arrow in use.

'Are you aware of the current shortage of arrows due to the increase in bow users in this service?'

'Yes.'

'There's still stock of the arrow shaft wood and fletching, but the nocks are in short supply! I've been experimenting with monster drops!'

'I see.'

'You have the Evil Ant needles, right? If you provide them, I can give you a discount on the equipment processing fee?'

'Hey, Feina! That's Saki's customer!'

'Mio, it's fine. Sorry, Keith.'

It seems there are differences of opinion within the party. Is it okay?

'Right, Saki. The bulletin board information had no screenshots or [Appraisal] results, so it was hard to believe, but now it's confirmed.'

'A glimmer of hope has appeared.'

'Prototype! You can just embed the nock! Can we test it here?'

Reina's ears wiggled up and down.

Oh no, she's so cute.

'Can I ask you? It's quite important.'

'Sure.'

Thanks to Feina's encouragement, I should be cooperative here.

I can't help but agree.

It's not because Reina is cute!

The arrow Reina took out of her quiver had no nock.

And it seemed to have a cut at the tip.

She embedded the Evil Ant needle at the tip, filled the gap with something like glue, and secured it with thread.

'You have the right to [Appraise] it first, Keith! Take a look!'

I took the arrow and used [Appraisal].

[Weapon Item: Arrow] Evil Ant Arrow Quality C- Rarity 2

AP8 Damage 0+ Weight 0+ Durability 30 Range +10% Minor Continuous Damage

An arrow with an Evil Ant needle nock.

Designed to increase penetration and cause bleeding damage.

It's a strange arrow.

Since I don't have much attachment to bows and arrows, I immediately returned it to Reina.

'Yeah! This can be used!'

'The low damage is a bit of a problem, but the high AP is good, and there's a range bonus too.'

'Let's go hunting! Hunting!'

'We need to test it!'

'Wait, Keith will be left behind!'

Feina's stern voice silenced everyone.

She is undoubtedly the leader of this group.

She speaks the least, though.

'So, Saki. What about the previous talk?'

'Okay.'

'About the equipment processing fee, I can't do it for free, but can you pay 400 dines?'

'No problem.'

'Then, let's make a deal. I want to buy all the Evil Ant needles from you. Actually, I want to buy anything I can.'

'Um, what do you mean by that?'

'It's something we already know from the beta version, but the skill progression in crafting requests between players varies depending on the processing fee.'

'Really?'

'Yes. The more the producer's skill, the materials, and the appropriate amount of money match, the more experience you gain. It's no good if it's too high or too low.'

'So, you want to add the money I get from selling the needles to Feina to the money I pay to Saki for the request?'

'Yes. If there are other items I can buy, I'll do the same. I don't want to set prices that don't match the rarity too much.'

'Is there some kind of penalty possible?'

'It actually happened in the beta version.'

I see.

Since it's a mutually beneficial deal, there's no reason to refuse.

'Then, I'll bring out the items I can sell.'

I lined up the items from my backpack and [Item Box] that I thought I could sell.

I stopped at potions and recovery pills. I'm a bit scared to bring them out here.

While bringing out the items, I also confirmed them with [Appraisal].

It was a bit troublesome since there were multiple items, but I appraised them all.

Some items were one quality level lower. It's good to confirm them.

The items I brought out were as follows.

[Material Item] Bat Fang Raw Material Quality C+ Rarity 2 Weight 0+

The fang of a Hunter Bat. It is a slightly flat knife shape and very sharp. It is not poisonous.

[Material Item] Rabbit Horn Raw Material Quality C- Rarity 1 Weight 0+

The horn of a Horn Rabbit. The tip is sharply pointed.

[Material Item] Striped Rabbit Meat Raw Material Quality C- Rarity 3 Weight 1

The meat of a Horned Rabbit. It is a meat with the power of the wild, but it is too hard to eat as it is.

[Material Item] Striped Rabbit Horn Raw Material Quality B- Rarity 4 Weight 0+

The horn of a Horned Rabbit. The tip is sharply pointed and the horn itself is curved.

[Material Item] Evil Ant Needle Raw Material Quality C Rarity 1 Weight 0+

The needle of an Evil Ant. It is not poisonous. The tip is sharp and very light.

[Material Item] Prairie Hawk Wing Raw Material Quality C- Rarity 1 Weight 1

The wing of a Step Hawk. It is generally used as fletching material.

[Material Item] Silver Chicken Wing Raw Material Quality D+ Rarity 1 Weight 1

The wing of a wild Silver Chicken (female). It is generally used as fletching material.

[Material Item] Snow Ape Bone Raw Material Quality C Rarity 3 Weight 0+

The bone of a Snow Ape. It is light and strong.

[Treasure] Magic Stone Magic Item Quality E+ Rarity 2 Weight 0+

A substance that is the core of the magic power concentrated in a monster.

'Wait, this!'

'Everyone, wait! Don't speak for a moment!'

Feina's stern voice made everyone freeze.

'Even if we calculate it with the provisional rarity standards, it's around 2,000 dines.'

'Wow! A fortune in the early stages!'

'That's the minimum, though. Depending on the item, someone who wants it might pay double.'

'I want all the materials for arrows! Bat fangs, Evil Ant needles, rabbit horns, and all the wings!'

'The only thing not on the bulletin board is the Snow Ape bone. The Snow Ape skin from earlier, too.'

'Personally, I want the meat!!'

'Sorry, let me think quietly for a moment.'

Feina fell into deep thought again.

'Hey, Keith, you didn't play the beta version, right?'

'Yes, I'm a new player in the full service.'

'So, you're playing solo, right?'

'Well, I can't find anyone to form a party with.'

'You haven't played this kind of online game before, have you?'

'Yes, I think it's my first time.'

'I have a request. If you don't exchange information and spread it while interacting with someone somewhere, it can be dangerous.'

'Dangerous?'

'For example, if you know the field clearance conditions but don't share any information, what do you think will happen?'

???

Oh! I see!

'You're monopolizing the information and the profit. There's a possibility that you'll be seen that way.'

'Yes. It actually happened in the beta version, and it happens in other online games too.'

Hmm.

Posting information on the bulletin board or something seems like a hassle.

'Items with a rarity of 3 have some value in the early stages. With those materials, a production class can make items equivalent to a rarity of 4 even in the early stages.'

'Even if you're not a player, a high-level NPC in a production class might be able to make items up to a rarity of 5.'

'Honestly, it's a target for the strategy group.'

'The worst one here is probably the Snow Ape bone. There's no information on the bulletin board even after searching.'

'And it's an