Chapter 34 - Chapter 32: Affiliation: None
"Shou-kun, it's almost 5:30."
"Roger, heading back."
I checked my set traps and caught 1 Saloon Lizard and 2 Bicobits. Lupi easily defeated the 1 South Snake we encountered on the way.
This leveled up Trap Crafting to Lv2 and Trap Setting/Disarming to Lv3. While on my rounds, I searched for Red Clay, Papu Fruit, and vines usable for traps, which raised my Gathering skill to Lv3.
My inventory was running out of space, so this is good timing.
"Things that won't spoil can stay outside, right?"
I casually placed the clay and other items around the tent. I'd be working outside anyway.
The vines too, I guess. I'll put a stone on them just in case they get blown away by the wind.
"I wish we had a Storage."
"I know, right? I guess it's about time I crushed that goblin settlement…"
If I can make pottery bottles, I can prepare Paralyze Potions, and I want to have a few Heal Potions ready for emergencies.
After that, if I can lure them effectively and trap them, I feel like I can take them down one by one. My level has also gone up.
"Alright, logging off."
"Yes."
…
Returning to real view, Bell-buchou seemed to still be playing IRO.
"Good work."
"Yeah, good work. Was the Material Processing skill on the forum after all?"
"Yes. Um, was it better if I hadn't told you?"
"No, no, you helped me out a lot. There are so many skills; who knows how long it would've taken to read all the descriptions."
They really prepared an incredible number of skills; finding anything was a struggle.
If I don't accidentally run into quest spoilers, I guess I should check the official forum too…
"What is Yata-sensei looking at?"
"There was an official announcement just now~, they're apparently lifting new player restrictions next Sunday~."
"That was surprisingly fast. I thought they'd wait about a month."
It has nothing to do with the Uninhabited Island Start getting exposed, right?
"And around that time, the main story is supposed to begin~. Well~, it probably doesn't concern Shou-kun, though~."
Saying that, he showed us the official announcement page.
Let's see, 'Chapter 1: Empire in Turmoil Arc' and…
"Shou-kun, you don't seem to belong to any nation, do you?"
"I don't, but do other regular players usually belong to one?"
"In the tutorial, you register at the Adventurer's Guilds in each starting area~, and that's where your affiliation is decided~."
Yeah. I didn't get a tutorial or anything…
Apparently, if you don't register, you don't get a Guild Card, and naturally, you can't accept quests, so no player goes without doing it.
Currently, just me? Though there might be other players who started on an uninhabited island.
"Will the world change based on player actions?"
"That should be the case~. That's one of IRO's selling points, after all~."
Living in a World of Turmoil sounds like a very classic, typical fantasy setting.
Natto started in the Empire, and he likes this kind of development, so he's probably fired up.
As we were chatting, 5:40 PM arrived, and the club end notification came, shortly after which Bell-buchou also returned to real view.
"Phew, enemies with paralysis attacks are really troublesome."
Hmm? Paralysis?
"Enemies with paralysis attacks appear?"
"It's a scorpion called a Narins Scorpion. It showers you with venom from its tail, and it's really tough when multiple appear."
Apparently, when paralyzed, you can't use the Shield skill's art
Come to think of it, Miki (Seth) also used a Shield Bash art. My Dagger skill hasn't gone up at all… or rather, I haven't done much proper combat.
No, more importantly…
"Aren't there any potions or magic to cure paralysis?"
"Anti-Paralyze Potions are quite expensive sold by NPCs. And few players can use the Holy Magic
Is that so…
"Shou-kun, what you just…"
"Ah, yeah. Um, can't Papu Fruit be obtained?"
"They can be obtained, yes. I think I saw them on a quest going to a village south of the Capital. Also, dried ones are sold as dried fruit."
Dried persimmons, right? I get it.
Apparently, they have value as tasty portable rations, but because they don't really increase satiety, no players buy them.
Or rather, haven't the players making potions noticed this?
"So, what about it?"
"Ah, sorry. Just this."
I took out the archive of my game play from just moments ago and showed them the part where I Appraised the Papu Fruit…
"…"
"Hoh~, that's interesting~."
Bell-buchou froze, while Yata-sensei was all smiles.
"It seems player-made potions are circulating, but they haven't noticed this?"
"That's right. What's sold in the Capital is dried fruit. Appraising that probably wouldn't show the text 'removes paralysis'."
Apparently, Papu Fruits don't circulate in their raw form.
And also, it seems that currently, the demand for Heal Potions is so high that everyone is focused solely on those.
"Only the top-tier strategy groups are currently dealing with paralysis-inducing enemies. Shou-kun, would it be alright if we shared this information with the production group we're close with?"
"Yes. Or rather, I can't do Alchemy until I make pottery first, so it would be helpful if someone could verify it for me."
I'm only trying pottery tonight, and if that goes well, then maybe. Even though I got the skill, I don't really feel confident it'll work on the first try…
"That would be a great help! Of course, we'll provide the verification results. And it will also be an opportunity to re-examine items that we've only Appraised in their processed form, besides Papu Fruits."
They'll definitely do it much more thoroughly than I would. Their equipment is probably proper to begin with.
"Shou-kun. Should we not include the part you showed us in the video you upload?"
"Ah, that's right. People might suspect the information came from me, and our connection with Buchou and the others might be revealed?"
"From my perspective, it wouldn't matter if it was revealed, but…"
All eyes turned to Yata-sensei.
"Given yesterday's incident, it would be better to keep it under wraps until things calm down a bit~."
"Let's wait for the right time, then Mion-san and I will do a collaboration. After that, we can openly interact, as everyone will know we're acquaintances."
Ooooh, I kinda want to see that… but will I just be observed by the two of them?