Chapter 26 - The Magic Crafter
◇ You have defeated the Great Winged Bird Flock ◇
◇ Titles Acquired ◇
・Vanquisher of the Great Winged Bird Flock
・One-Hit Shatter
◇ Skills Acquired ◇
・Heavy Attack Manipulator
◇ Skill Growth ◇
・Jump Maneuver ⇒ Jumble Step
"What an unsatisfying feeling."
Come to think of it, was this the first boss I'd defeated without a real struggle? The mushrooms, the boar, the scorpion—they all had moments where I was in a pinch. But this one just ended anticlimactically, without any kind of late-game frenzy.
No reinforcements ever came. I just systematically smashed the four bird heads and got a 'Congratulations.' It felt good to pay them back for all the trouble they gave me on the way here, but honestly, it was a little… no, a lot…
"Isn't this… kinda broken?"
I looked down at myself, at this body that was accumulating power at an accelerating rate, and felt a cold sweat break out.
Arcadia is an online game—one that bills itself as an MMORPG. While there are surely many exceptions among the numerous titles in the genre, as a rule, boss battles in MMOs are designed to be difficult.
True to the name Massively Multiplayer Online, the game design is often based on the premise of multiple people working together.
I've only been playing for a few days, but from what I've seen of its detailed construction, Arcadia's combat seems to be set at a fairly severe difficulty level.
Lynch mobs, ambushes, targeted attacks, using the terrain to one's advantage—the concepts presented are already brutal by the fourth field, and a calm analysis would reveal that all of them encourage mutual support among multiple players.
And then there was me, who had just crushed a boss solo while practically humming a tune…
"Did I over-level…?"
"What's your level now?"
"Still only around 30."
"That's about right for this area."
I see. In that case, putting aside the lump-of-iron hammer, there's no way I was over-geared with just a store-bought iron sword and my underwear. This must be it, then. The all-weapon proficiency skill tree that everyone online dismisses as trash must be…
"Huh?!"
It was only after casually exchanging words that I realized. Lifting my head from my thoughts, I whipped around to find a player standing behind me.
As my eyes focused on the figure, a faintly glowing blue cursor popped up above their head… This was my first-ever encounter with another player outside of a city.
And wow. Red hair and a loosely worn kimono—an incredibly eye-catching outfit. The well-designed avatar face and dignified aura made it look quite stylish, but it was an imposing presence you'd never see in real life.
In these kinds of games, the equation of 'flashy gear = strong player' is never broken. It was a given for a beginner like me, but this person was undoubtedly my superior.
Just as I was tilting my head, wondering why such a player was in a beginner area like this, they spoke first.
"Sorry to pop up like that. I was watching the boss fight. Congrats."
"Uh, oh, thanks."
Contrary to their splendid appearance, their tone was frank… or rather, I sensed a hint of a coarse roleplay in it.
I'd been reflexively wary due to the surprise and their flashy appearance, but their relatively easygoing style naturally put me at ease. Even with virtual avatars, you can get a sense of someone's vibe after facing them and exchanging a few words.
A friendly and beautiful veteran player—yep, not a single reason to be on guard.
"Alright, I'm not a fan of beating around the bush. Let's get straight to the point."
While I was busy convincing myself with that incredibly foolish line of thought, she raised her left hand with a somewhat mischievous smile.
A familiar system window unfolded at her slender fingertips. After a few practiced motions, another small window with a different color scheme popped up.
"I'm getting ahead of myself—the name's Kagura. A pleasure to make your acquaintance."
The window, flicked by her fingertip, came spinning toward me. I caught it reflexively and saw her player profile displayed there, just like a business card.
"…Mirage Workshop?"
Secretly thrilled by Arcadia's wonderfully mysterious system, I unconsciously read aloud the name written next to her player name, [Kagura]—a noun that probably signified her affiliation.
Kagura nodded, then unceremoniously extended a hand toward me.
"I'll be direct. Are you interested in having a personal Magic Crafter?"
After a brief freeze induced by the sudden offer…
"…A 'mah-ko-shi'? What's that?"
…the dumbfounded words that left my mouth echoed inanely across the land, now bereft of its master.
◇◆◇◆◇
"—So, a Magic Crafter is basically an all-purpose artisan who can make anything with magic. Is that about right?"
"Mostly, yeah. The fields you specialize in will differ depending on how you raise your proficiency, but this game doesn't have job systems like 'Blacksmith' or 'Tailor.'"
Apparently, while many players give themselves such titles, those who primarily create equipment are broadly referred to as 'Magic Crafters.'
The name seems to come from 'Mako,' the name of the production skill tree.
"My specialty is mainly iron—metals. I focus on weapons and armor, but I also do some engraving for accessories and such."
"I see…"
Since the conversation was getting a bit involved, we had moved to a tavern inside Istia. I was excited by the classic atmosphere of the place, but it turned out to be just an ordinary eatery.
Sitting at the counter and listening to her—to Kagura-san's—'sales pitch,' I fiddled with a charming wooden cup, still unable to shake my confusion.
After her lecture, I understood what she meant by a Magic Crafter, but I still didn't get why this artisan had suddenly contacted me.
"Um, why approach a newcomer like me all of a sudden?"
"Because you're a newcomer."
As she took a sip of her drink, she glanced at my tilted head. She let out a sigh that seemed to say, 'good grief,' then manipulated her system window to open a screen in front of me.
"Hm…? General, Questions… wait, is this—"
It was a familiar sight—in fact, it was the very forum I had just posted on. Wait, seriously? You can access this stuff from inside the game?!
She must have read my surprise, as Kagura-san added, "Only the officially run sites, though," which made sense.
"You posted there, didn't you? And I'm sure you know what you did, but you don't know about the uproar that followed."
"Uproar? What do you mean?"
Seeing my confusion, Kagura-san simply tapped the forum screen with her finger, as if to say, 'just look.'
It was the will of a veteran player, so I dutifully complied—
"………………What the hell, this is creepy."
—A few minutes later, I was completely put off by the lively excitement of the veteran players, who were having a field day, to put it mildly, all starting from the post I had dropped.
"Do you understand the situation now?"
"Ah… yeah, I think so. For the most part."
Well, what can I say… In conclusion, it seems there's something wrong with me. That's what it is. Every single comment on my post pointed out that abnormality.
And with that, I also understood how she had appeared.
"First of all… for the record, I'm fully clothed."
That was my first comment after grasping the situation. I spread my arms to protest being treated like a 'naked pervert,' only to receive a look from Kagura-san that one might give a fool.
"Having no equipment on is what you call being naked in a game."
"That's disrespectful to my finest outfit."
"Calling the default underwear your finest outfit… honestly…"
I earned a wry smile, as if she were completely exasperated, but it's not like I'm a nudist by choice. I'm just embodying the optimal solution according to the talent bestowed upon me by God.
"…Anyway, I get that the thread is blowing up because I dropped a bomb on it. But getting back to the topic, why does that lead to a Magic Crafter offering their exclusive services?"
"It wasn't just a bomb, it was a nuke we haven't seen in a long time… Well, part of it is an apology. I'm aware that I fueled this whole thing out of curiosity."
She was probably referring to how she had found and observed me, then posted her own thoughts. When she bowed her head and said, "My bad," I lost any will to complain. Besides, this was a classic case of 'ignorance is a crime.'
The huge commotion… and the fact that several other players, following her lead, had apparently already started looking for me, was entirely my own damn fault.
"But honestly, that's just a bonus. To tell you the truth—I simply want to make you a weapon."
"And that's… again, why?"
Seeing the genuinely amused smile on her face, it was clear that was her true motive. Naturally, my confusion only deepened…
"It might sound strange coming from me, but I'm an artisan who's in it for the fun. Unlike the types who stoically pursue high-quality items, I'm an enjoyment-oriented player who wants to create interesting things."
"Huh… okay?"
"I do guarantee a certain level of quality, though," she added with a joking laugh to my vague response.
"But a creator needs a client, you see. There aren't that many interesting requests, and even if I make something on my own, there's no one to use it—and that's where you come in."
She pointed at me out of the corner of her eye and said, looking utterly delighted.
"The requests you'll bring me sound like they'll be fun. That's the reason."
"…I see."
So, in other words, since I, on my second day, am already adopting a crazy playstyle, I'll probably bring her requests that are just as crazy… wait, this isn't exactly a compliment, is it?
"You're just having fun with this, aren't you?"
"It's a game. What's the point if you don't have fun?"
…………Hmm. That's an irrefutable argument.
"As you know, I'm a total newbie. I don't have any money or materials, so I won't be able to make any significant requests for a while, you know?"
"It's nothing to brag about, but I have a few eccentric clients, so I'm not hurting for cash. Don't you worry about it. Just bring your requests to me first when you need something, and that'll be enough."
So she just wants my business. For someone like me who's just started and has no connections, getting to know a craftsman who seems to be a fairly high-level player is an incredible opportunity.
There'd be nothing to gain from deceiving a beginner like me, and from her vibe, it's pretty clear her offer stems from goodwill—or rather, a desire for entertainment.
Honestly, I kind of like her. She's straightforward, and our back-and-forth feels direct and honest. In that case, well—
"…It's a bit late, but my name's Haru. I look forward to working with you."
Since we were in such an atmospheric tavern, instead of a handshake, I offered up my cup.
"A pleasure to have your business. I'll give you a good price."
With a charming smirk, Kagura responded in kind, and the sound of our cups clinking rang out cheerfully.
Here's the morning's consecutive post.