Chapter 7,

“Valentine? What sort of a name is that?”

Vera speaks up a little annoyed as we’re walking down the road towards where the blacksmith told us the merchant caravans would be.

“I just like that name. Then what did you want to suggest I name it, a rose with thorns?”

She stays quiet for a bit. “Now that you kind of explain it. Beautiful like a rose with thorns. Bloody Valentine. Yeah, it’s not that bad.”

“Oh, right. I suppose I haven’t introduced myself. I’m Chris Val. Or at least my player name is.”

“Your player name? Are you the roleplaying type? I’m Vera Marconi.”

“So, you’re interested in blacksmithing?”

“Yeah, oh my, how did you guess? Probably because I was training under an actual blacksmith?” She says exaggeratedly.

“Nah, I thought maybe you wanted to be a store clerk or something.” I remark with a similar tone.

It’s no coincidence I wanted her to go along with me.

I mean I can’t let the blacksmith slav- I mean friend that I found, get away so easily. She needs to make me all kinds of weapons and armors that I could use so that I could use this class I have to its full advantage.

Kinda makes me wonder what that compensation item was that I received from that support person. Too bad I could only get it once I go outside the town.

“My family owns this metalworking company. So, I just got interested in it since childhood. But they never let me actually use it. It’s too dangerous or something. Once I got in this world and realized I could learn blacksmithing, there’s was like no way I’m not doing that.”

“Fair enough.”

“So? I told you mine, now tell me your reason for playing the game.”

Giving a smile, I reply “Oh, do I really need a reason for playing it?”

She doesn’t really reply but I could hear her muttering under her breath

“That was a cute expression.”

What? Did I somehow manage to get my hands on a carnivore?

This time I look around a bit better, but am not able to spot many players around. The few that are there, were busy running around, completing quests of sort I suppose. Not responding to any calls or waves.

“Let them be. Bunch of newbs who think a higher level would guarantee them victory in the tournament.”

“Tournament?”

“How can you not know about it? Of course, there’s a PvP tournament after a week. The greatest thing is that it would be a battle royale. No level restrictions. A bunch of prizes for the rankings but not too much.”

A PvP tournament… It’ll be a great chance to gain some early in-game fame. That would come in really handy.

“You’re planning to participate in it?”

“Yeah of course. I’ll also get to test the items I made myself.” She replies almost instantly.

“That’ll have to depend if they allow your own items in the battle royale.”

But they probably will. Though I can’t be sure.

We reach the marketplace where the merchants are.

It’s quite loud here with them shouting out the names of their products(?) or goods and services they offer and competing with each other on it.

“Sure makes the world seem really lively. Like a world which exists even without the player being necessary to complete it.” She comments with a face that seems quite serious.

“Wait, you’re not having an existential crisis or something, are you?”

“…No!” Her obviously delayed response makes me look into her eyes with a bit more seriousness.

“No, of course not. Don’t look at me like that. I’m perfectly fine.”

“Yeah. Fine. Right.”

As we’re having this little conversation, through the corner of my eye I’m looking towards the merchants, the ones who seem most likely to be going to the capital soon.

One of them certainly seems really interesting.

Merchant spotted.

Name is unknown to you.

He seems to be selling wooden dolls made from an unusual material.

I walk to his stall and pick up a doll to inspect it.

“Made from Shiftbark, the most fragrant of woods. Just for 30 Rial.” The merchant speaks up cheerfully

You have now identified the doll made from shiftbark.

Knowledge in alchemy is increased slightly.

It’s a quite artistic doll made for home decoration purposes and for children’s enjoyment.

I inspect it a bit closer and smelling it to find if what he said was true.

I also tap it using my fingers. It’s hollow?

“You don’t need to look so cute while doing that.” I hear Vera say under her breath.

It certainly raises my concern for what type of person have I gotten myself involved with.

But it did have an odd scent. I feel like I’ve encountered that same smell a while ago. Can’t remember where exactly however.

I put the doll back in its place and ask the merchant,

“Shiftbark? From near the capital city’s woods?”

“Yes. Since that is the best source for Shiftbark.”

Really? I was just spouting random stuff.

“If possible, me and my assistant,” I point towards Vera “would like to go to the capital, if you’d allow us to accompany you in your trip.”

“Sure! I was going to leave tonight with the Trade union. You can accompany us, but it’ll cost a bit, of course. Or you can come as adventurers, but you’d have to defend us against the bandits we might face.”

“What trade union?” I ask, just for the heck of it.

“The Greater Good Merchant Union of course.”

I turn towards Vera and whisper,

“What do you suggest?”

“As adventurers of course. No need to pay for this needlessly. We’re players in the first place.”

Not like I had a choice since my only real possession right now are these fairly normal clothes and Valentine that I’ve kept in my inventory.

Actually, now looking at Vera, she’s wearing quite nice clothes. At least for the standards here. Which isn’t really speaking that much since all of it is plain. Well, she was acting as a store clerk.

I suppose she does have some money from completing those quests. While I’m practically broke. Unless she’s willing to be my sugar mama.

Anyways, turning back to the merchant,

“Yes, we’ll go as adventurers.”

“Always good to have extra hands to defend us in case of an attack. I’ll tell the merchant union. Be back here before nightfall and we’ll start our journey. It’ll be throughout the night and would reach the capital by tomorrow midday.”

We leave after that and head towards the other shops.

“So… I was curious. What clothing are you wearing?” I ask Vera.

“Hmm? This? I got this for the job of being the store clerk for about half a day.”

“Why are you still wearing it, then?”

“It provides a small boost to strength and dexterity, stats essential for a blacksmith. And its slightly better than the starter clothing.”

She continues, “Actually, yeah. You should buy new clothes. Pretty much anything is better than the starter clothes. Anything legitimate at least.”

I step inside a shop, making her follow me into it. It’s a clothing store, of course.

“Nice idea. How about you buy me some?” Not like I have any money since I’m broke for not actually doing any quests.

I hear her muttering under her breath “Even though I don’t have much money after buying the blacksmith supplies.”

“Welcome, customer. Here at Gebeir’s Boutique, we have clothing from the latest trends from the entire continent, including the elven cultures.” The attendant speaks up as she spots me. Or is she the owner? Doesn’t matter.

With the attendant’s help I sort through the clothes taking my sweet time posing in front of the mirror.

As Vera hangs about close by. I even do her the favor of choosing clothes for her. One that has a fantasy-like feel, apparently the flowing garbs are meant to represent holiness, somehow. It was inspired from depictions of angels, allegedly. Costing around 200 Rial.

…

A while later as I’m finally done choosing.

“An excellent choice indeed. Made of ChaosSilk, known to be advantageous for magic users. And a design currently trending among the dark elf nobility.” The attendant, which I now am fairly sure is the owner herself, continues praising me.

It’s a completely black long coat. And with a pure white shirt, representing my innocence, and black pants, closely fitting, with the ankles slightly visible. Makes me think that this was meant for women somehow. But it fits me. So it’s fine.

The dress set even includes the shoes and leather gloves to match. The only thing missing is the wand that apparently the dark elves use, but isn’t really available here because humans can’t replicate it, and dark elves won’t share their weapons technology or send a sample. The dress itself is imported, however.

Like some vampire from those horror stories.

With fitting pale skin, I suppose.

“She’ll pay for it.” I say as I point towards Vera and then head outside the store.

“It’ll be 950 Rial.” I hear the owner say as the door closes behind me.

Integra’s Disguise (Crafted, set item)

This cloth armor seems to have some secrets of its own.

Cloth armors are more suited for mages that cannot use metal armors. It does not provide as much defense however it does not block magic use and can even boost magic attacks. Movement is also not restricted at all.

It probably requires intermediate mastery of the Slayer profession to equip.

Decreases received damage by 5-10 points.

A 10% damage increase to magic attacks.

You are currently unable to see more details.

Hmm… I’ve been noticing this pattern recently.

I’m unable to see any details at all in the objects I acquire! I need to do something about that.

That, but another thing is I’m able to equip items even though it says it has some requirements that I don’t meet…

Not letting my train of thought continue for much longer, Vera barges out of the store, huffing in anger.

“That cost me like all that was left! We barely have enough for buying rations or something.”

All that was left? Ah right, she spent most of it on those blacksmithing supplies if i remember correctly. Is it an expensive hobby or an investment worth the price? I'll need to look more into it.

I turn to face her and while holding her cheeks, say with my most sincere face.

“I’ll make sure you believe it was worth it.”

“Y-yeah, sure, whatever, no big deal.” She stutters while dodging her eyes away from me.

I really do need to pay this girl back for all she’s done. Can’t let the sla- I mean friend feel that she’s being cheated.

“Its your fault for dressing up as eyecandy.” I hear her mutter quietly.

I look at the time the system shows, There’s 2 clocks for both in-game time and real-world time.

Still a few minutes left for dinner.

So, taking that chance, we roam about in the streets full of shops. Vera somehow still holding onto my hand but not like it matters. Window shopping because we don’t have any money. Not that the shopkeepers think that way because of our dresses.

Evelyn has messaged you.

“It’s time for dinner. Don’t lose yourself playing a game.”

Of course, it’s possible to message someone inside the game from the outside. Since the accounts are already linked to the headset and the game, just sending a message or an email or something to that account will alert the person even if he’s in game.

“It’s time for me to eat dinner, Vera. How about we meet at that merchant’s caravan after this?”

“You don't need to tell me that. It's about dinner time here too. You better show up there on time, got it?” She says with a slightly bossy tone.

We both log out from the game.

I take off the headset and move away from the bed to stretch my limbs out a bit.

Evelyn walks in with a tray and sets it on the table, with me taking the chair beside the table, instead of eating from the bed.

“Fish? Why is there fish for dinner today?”

“You said it yourself that you wanted fish, didn’t you? I even went through the effort to remove any and all bones and spines from it.”

Stabbing the fork into the dish, I very carefully bring it to my mouth. Taking a small bite at a time.

“Hmm, the texture isn’t too bad. The taste reminds me of a lot of things. Did you put basil in it?”

“What are you, a food critic? Yeah, I did put basil in it. Now just finish it. I have to clean the dishes too.”

“You can’t rush a sick person to eat like that. What if I accidentally choke on it?”

From the corner of my eye I see her helpless expression.

It’s not that I like being sadistic.

I let out a sigh. "I get upset you know, leaving the virtual world. It's just a lot more fun there than it is here."

"Hey! That's not true. This world can be fun too."

She thinks for a bit then continues.

"How about I take you somewhere tomorrow? Since the weekend's approaching."

"But-" I start to say and get interrupted.

"Yeah I know. A place that you would certainly like to visit."

Before I can say anything. "No Ifs and buts. It's been a while since you went outside this place."

Oh well, i suppose going somewhere outside wouldn't be bad. At least if she's accompanying.

I finish the dinner and then we go outside for a walk to get my muscles moving.

I put the headset back on after laying on bed.

I have a feeling this trip to the capital would be… Eventful.