Dismantler Shadyna is reporting for duty~

Yesterday was considerably peaceful compared to my first two days. I would hope the peace to last but that definitely is a bad flag so I am not going to raise it.

As soon as I login, a dark elf warrior runs to me and prostrates himself.

…Why?

[??? - Apprentice knight - HP: ==========]

Yeah, even his name is ???.

If he was my acquaintance, I would at least see his name.

_ Knight: I am very sorry for our rude behaviors yesterday! Please forgive us! We will bankrupt by the end of the week if these sanctions go on!

Seriously, I don't even know who you are!

_ Shadyna: Uh… did you mistake me for someone else? I don't believe we have met.

_ Knight: There is no mistake! You are the glorious Illusive Sprout! We have erred greatly for trying to steal the boss you were fighting yesterday! We will never do such things again so please have mercy on us!

Is he talking about the eye boss thingy…? Was he one of the stalkers I sensed back then?

_ Shadyna: I don't mind, but next time please just call me out normally, okay?

_ Knight: Fear not! We will try our best not to cross your path ever again!

I would rather you not do that! This is an MMO, not single-player!

Parting ways with him, one question remains.

What the hell made him apologize like that? I'm sure a boss fight wouldn't lead to this kind of behavior…

Okay, at least I wasn't being pulled into a weird plot where I have to save someone and somehow end up slaying the demon king or something like that.

With that over and done, what should I do today?

_ Shadyna (PM): Elri, are you free today?

_ Elri (PM): Oh, hello. Sorry, I am busy today. We left your share of yesterday's loots at 's, so pick it up when you have time.

_ Shadyna (PM): Okay~ Good luck to you then~

I forgot about the last boss's loots, but I am not refusing their kindness, obviously!

Since the atypical elf girl is not here today, let's idly wander around again with Gelly~

No matter where I look, this crystalline place just screams "PLEASE MINE ME!" all over. Un, let's go ham on mining today~

The pickaxe throwing is out, since I will have to fix it after each throw! It would just end up being a grinding session for [Enhance]!

Equipping my faulty pickaxe, I leave my dismantling tent. It doesn't disappear after a whole day, so I wonder why there's barely any player-built stuff out in the field…

Oh well, let's find a suspiciously shiny place that looks like a good ore deposit!

…

No matter how I try, the shiniest place I can see is where the eye boss resides! There's no way I can dig while evading its attacks at the same time!

In this game where players build their own town, I suppose there wouldn't be an abandoned mine filled with treasure and monsters huh…

If I want a mine, I'll have to build one myself!

I come across a silver deposit, but it depletes after one harvest attempt. I guess it will need time to respawn like trees huh… That means building a mine around a single exposed deposit like this is no good.

Trees respawn, ores respawn…

_ Shadyna (PM): Hessy~, is it possible to build a basement in this game?

_ Hessy (PM): That was out of nowhere. Yes, you can build basements. You'll need lots of digging and building in a short amount of time to prevent terrain from being restored however. Are you going to build one?

_ Shadyna (PM): Of course not~ I am in the wilderness right now you know?

_ Hessy (PM): Right… Remember to stop by my place when you are in town.

_ Shadyna (PM): For the loots right? I'll keep that in mind~

So you'll need [Construction] to stop the terrain from reverting back. If not for that mechanic I think the craters I made in the forest will never heal up, so it's fine to suspend the immersion for a bit!

…

I am back at the lake where my pickaxe dynamite-fished yesterday.

Why here? Because the dismantling tent was found so easily by and co, that's why! There is no privacy if I build anything on the ground. Therefore, I need a place that's hard to spot!

Normally a mine is expected to be somewhat of a cavern with wooden doors, right? The moment someone sees that image they will undoubtedly barge in because that's what adventurers do: Pillaging public constructions!

The lake's bottom is also filled with crystals. If I camouflage the entrance with the same material there's pretty much no sane person will be able to see it. And if they are crazy enough to do so, I don't mind letting them in because it's just a normal mine anyway!

_ Shadyna: [Weapon Craft]!

[Received Blue Crystal Construction Multi-tool (Faulty) x1]

Because it would be too troublesome to switch equipment, I made a hammer-shovel multi-tool! With this, digging and building can be done without changing. Laziness is the drive of all progresses!

Leather will be fine underwater, and I don't think crystals absorb water either, so I don't have to make additional clothing. Too bad but the swimsuit episode will have to wait!

_ Shadyna: Commence excavation!

I start digging at the shore. Of course I wouldn't be digging underwater! My movement was really sluggish during my dive into the lake in the forest, thanks to the overly immersive physics engine. No thanks to doing heavy labour at half speed!

Rather than digging, it is more suitable to say I am breaking off chunks of crystals… There's no dirt to dig in the first place!

…

This should be deep enough.

If my calculation is correct, I should be about half the height from the lake's bottom to the shore.

[Construction]!

I build a crystal ceiling on top of my head. If all goes well, the part above the new ceiling will be restored over time, completely hiding this place from all curious eyes!

Next, build the real entrance of the mine!

…

I dug sideways, then downwards until I was around the lake's depth

After another sideways mining session, I managed to connect the lake and my tunnel.

Water quickly flooded in, but the tunnel shape prevented it from flooding the upper horizontal part, thanks to physics engine simulating air pocket, or lack of simulation to begin with.

Anyway, it worked as expected~

If it hadn't, I would simply hope water would disappear over time.

Building an opaque crystalline door at the tunnel entrance and a hatch separating the upper tunnel from the lower part leading to the lake, the first part of the mine is complete~

In real life, this would be a death trap due to non-renewable oxygen. Even though players probably won't die in this game from lack of air, it's important to stay immersive. The atmosphere is important! So… how am I going to deal with this?

This place is still dimly lit due to the crystals. Would the "trees" grow here?

…Let's try it!

I use [Farming] from [Refinery] to plant trees I got from yesterday's scavenging around. Somehow this changed from building a mine to building a self-sustaining underground secret base…?

Let's not think too much, un!

[A large wave of corruption is coming soon, please be advised.]

Oh, what's this system message? It sounds like some kind of event. Maybe a lot of monsters are going to appear?

_ Hessy (PM): , a raid is coming in an hour or two. You should return to town or logout if you want to avoid combat.

_ Shadyna (PM): A raid?

_ Hessy (PM): Happens once every few days. Lots of monsters not normally found in fields will appear and attack everything, including players' buildings. Currently only Tyrel has enough manpower to repel it.

Ah, so that's why no one builds outside.

Welp.

I wonder if the raid can detect this disguised location…

For now, let's fill up the pit at the shore because I don't know when the terrain will be restored. And clean up my dismantling tent too, because there's no way I can protect it!

____________

Tyrel is in high alert.

Because these raids can destroy the player-built town, players have to do their best to protect it, lest their infrastructures be pillaged.

_ Olkan: Though unexpected, this will give us the chance to test our new siege weapons.

_ Vladina: Just don't lose them all before we get to use it on the Magnus Bestia.

Usually, players will stay on top of the walls and rain death on the monsters uncontested. This time, a large area outside the walls is being used for construction of many instruments of war hastily. Without a good defense, most if not all will be destroyed, undoing all the hard work and resources the two big guilds poured into.

and are hiring to help defending the western construction site outside the walls. Interested players please gather at the north gate.>

At said location, an elf with abnormal breast size and a blond waitress with a cold glare that freezes hell are having a staring contest.

_ Hessenria: Look, in a raid the number of monster is more than enough for fill the whole town. Melee players who are not even capped should just join the line and hold out against the horde. Diving in is suicidal.

_ Fuelri: I am not even asking you to resurrect me! Just give me the food like everyone else and how I do my part is my damn freedom!

_ Tippe: Girls, please don't fight because of me!

_ Ignar: They are definitely not fighting over you…

_ Olkan: What happened, ? My chamber has enough space for both of yo…

_ Hessenria: [Dark Bolt].

*WHACK*

Because is fully dressed for battle, he wouldn't die over one skill. His overflow HP is completely gone though.

_ Olkan: MY BLUE HP!!!

_ Ignar: You deserve it…

_ Hessenria: , knock some sense into your damn member. She's planning to dive into the horde!

_ Olkan: Really? Ehm… you are…

_ Fuelri: Don't try to remember people by staring at their chest! I'm , joined your guild since last week.

_ Olkan: That's the only way I can remember ladies! Anyway, have you fought in any corruption raid before?

_ Fuelri: I have. Last time I was in the line at the north gate.

To give melee players a chance to participate, usually gates are held opened so monsters will avoid scaling the walls and funnel through the gates instead. Players will form defensive lines to block monsters at the doorstep.

Or as savvy players would say, "abuse the AI pathing and chokepoints".

_ Olkan: Then why change?

_ Fuelri: I am trying out new playstyle.

_ Olkan: Can't you just wait until the raid is over?! We are trying our best so this place doesn't get destroyed here!!!

The guild is providing free food buffs as well as normal skill buffs as payment for the defenders. A player getting themselves killed on purpose is just wasting time and resource in the eyes of the guildmaster.

_ Fuelri: …Fine! Consider me a useless merchant sitting at the market then!

Pouting like a young child throwing a tantrum, runs off.

Not everyone is actively fighting. Crafters and merchants who don't have much fighting potential in the first place is better off just staying inside to avoid being a hindrance.

Friendly fire is a big problem in this game, and it is definitely not friendly.

_ Hessenria: Your guild is filled with weirdoes, .

_ Olkan: How is that my fault?!

_ Ignar: Uh, when can we get our food buffs?

And so the food distribution continues.

_ Tippe: Still, , you really have softened up ever since you met the Illusive Sprout. The you back then would have just looked at that girl coldly like she's society trash.

Even though she's no longer a waitress, 's glare still have to work overtime.

_ Tippe: Thank you very much for the service!

____________

_ Fuelri (PM): , are you participating in the raid?

_ Shadyna (PM): I don't think I will. I'm just your daily pacifist~

_ Fuelri (PM): Yeah right. Would you party with me? I can really use some LDR bonus for the raid.

_ Shadyna (PM): Sure thing~ I do not have food buff though.

_ Fuelri (PM): It's better than nothing.

Buying a normal meal from the tavern, summons her new mount and checks her new skill arsenal.

[Sustained Charge: Reduce collision impact while running. Deal a small amount of damage on collision.]

[Graze: Increase defense while running. Add evasion chance on receiving hits while running.]

[Full Guard: Watch for attacks from all sides. Decrease bonus damage received from the sides.]

[Sustained Charge] is her horse's skill, while the others are passive skills to help in her new style. She intended to acquire some active skills as well, but they are on low priority because she doesn't have much MP.

_ Fuelri: I still have some time, let's try to get [Mount Guard] too.

[Mount Guard: Protect mounted beast from harm. Decrease damage on mounted beast.]

Before she realizes it, she has already fully committed to a new way of playing because of a single new skill she received.

[Accelerate Bonus: Absorb external mana to enhance charging attacks. Increase damage based on current skill level.]

Her wallet is already crying after buying those [Inspect] scrolls for the skills… She can find what a skill does from the board, but the [Inspect] information themselves require identification shops. Because of gossips and rumors, the only "official" data is from these [Inspect] result.

She's going to play like this for the foreseeable future, so it is a worthwhile investment… Probably…

____________

[A corruption wave is sweeping across the land, brace yourselves.]

_ Fuelri (Party): It's begun.

_ Shadyna (Party): Do your best~

Meanwhile I'll just dig my farming area, next to the relocated tent. It's monotonous work, so I'm glad to have someone to talk to!

_ Fuelri (Party): Are you sure you don't want to join? A raid has a lots of monsters so it's good experience and loots. If you can stay alive.

_ Shadyna (Party): I'm fine~ Although please bring back a lot of corpses so I can practice [Dismantling] later.

_ Fuelri (Party): I won't be able to move if I carry too many corpses!

As many as possible is fine though…

I think you can carry more if you have STR? Hessy did mention something like that, and I managed to go full speed with the Merexxa corpse in my inventory after accidentally increasing my STR using [Absolute Zero].

If only there was a way to permanently increase your attributes. Some kind of equipment, I suppose? How come no one managed to make equipment with attribute bonus?! Considering Sateri's personality, it's impossible for her to somehow forget implementing it!

Sigh, I guess just a month is still too short for players to explore everything huh. Maybe in the near future a player will discover it~

I kind of finished digging the general area, by throwing Gelly repeatedly.

Why should I excavate piece by piece when I can use dynamite in the shape of a cute leafy blob with extreme firepower? Of course I still need the proper equipment for finer manipulation, so it's not like I am leaving everything to Gelly!

Feeding it a meal made from the crystalline fruits as reward, I have a look around the newly created cavern.

This will be more than enough for farming, I think. I don't know much about it except for the "planting into the ground then use [Farming]" part though… The only experience I have is the pseudo grass planting on the first day, and I didn't even use [Farming] back then!

Oh well, [Refinery]~

Unlike the grass placement, the crystalline plants actually grow roots and dig into the "soil" this time. These plants give some nice fruits for cooking, so I'm looking forward to it~

And before I forget, let's mark this as my room to establish ownership! "Private rooms" can't be entered unless you destroy the whole room, that's why Hessy wasn't worried about living near 's territory.

…I think this whole cavern is already a bit beyond what you would call a room though…

[Construction]!

A drawing starts appearing on the wall.

"I was here!" followed by a cutesy drawing of Gelly. I don't think there's anyone using a Jelleaf as a companion so there's no need to add my name here.

Because giving out my name will just end up with weirdoes PM-ing me!

To add even more confusion, I'll draw a magic circle too! Archeologists love it when there're random drawings without any explanation whatsoever, right~?

Not that anyone can get here without my approval to begin with…

…

I overdid it.

Now this cavern is less of a greenhouse and more of a lunatic cult base…

I couldn't help it! Real life habits are hard to rid of! Once I started drawing these things I wouldn't be able to stop!

Oh well, this is a game so it's fine to go wild.

[Construction] didn't increase level despite the intensive use. Maybe modification to existing structures do not give much experience?

Technically, this is scribbling on a surface, so if I use [Enchant] here, I wonder if it would count as a skill scroll?

…I won't be able to put it into inventory to sell though.

Then, activate a super uber skill that will destroy the whole world?

…Not going to happen. My MP is not even 2000 yet. What kind of final boss only has 1000 MP to dominate anything?!

At my current level, my best bet would be the cute magical girl who risks her own life to protect the school life she despises with all her soul!

_ Shadyna: By the power of friendship and extreme prejudice, grant me the strength to protect my comrades, BY EXTERMINATING EVERYTHING IN MY PATH!!!

I spin around with a [Red Crystal] in hand while saying such embarrassing lines. Hey, I'm supposedly 13 so I can get away with it!

But still, that was off, somehow…

[Condition fulfilled. Unlocked Skill: "Magic Rune Art Lv.0"]

…Excuse me?!

[A player has successfully harnessed the ancient art of strengthening the mind. Rewards have been sent. Congratulations.]

[Condition fulfilled. Unlocked Title: "Rune Artist Origin - Magic"]

Dear Sateri, is it your hobby to give skills and titles as rewards for disturbingly self-humiliating actions?!

And it's an [Origin] title! If [Beast Tamer Origin]'s full [Inspect] result is anything to go by, only one player can have it. It's an S-rank officially but SG-rank in terms of acquisition!

[Magic Rune Art: The mystical art to create strengthening runes. Runes of this field empower the mind.]

Can this be?! Is this the attribute-enhancing crafting skill that I have been longing for?!

Looking at the crafting sphere with a progress bar in my hand that took place of the [Red Crystal], I can be sure it's a crafting skill at least.

Still! This isn't the time to work on it.

Because there's the "Empower the mind" part is definitely screaming "But wait, there's more!" to me.

Okay, Sateri, I will self-humiliate myself one more time which will hopefully (flag raised) not bite myself in the butt later. You had better be preparing good compensation!

Spinning around with a [Blue Crystal] this time, I yell on top of my virtual lungs.

_ Shadyna: PEACE THROUGH SUPERIOR FIREPOWER!!!

No, I am not going to make that my motto. I am a true pacifist!

[Condition fulfilled. Unlocked Skill: "Power Rune Art Lv.0"]

I got it! But in a way, I feel a bit dead inside. I have officially sold my dignity for virtual powers (accidentally)…

[A player has successfully harnessed the ancient art of strengthening the body. Rewards have been sent. Congratulations.]

[Condition fulfilled. Unlocked Title: "Rune Artist Origin - Power"]

[Condition fulfilled. Unlocked Title: "Ancient Rune Artist Origin"]

…Yay? That was one title more than I was expecting.

Checking my status, [Rune Artist Origin - Power] and [Rune Artist Origin - Magical] titles are gone. Only the [Ancient Rune Artist Origin] remains. This must be a combination title. Because combination skill is a thing, it would be weird not to have a title equivalent.

…Ah, I never got to [Inspect] those combined titles. Luckily [Inspect] works as long as I have the name, either in chat, or system messages.

[Rune Artist Origin - Power: The pioneer of power rune artistry. Increase effects of crafted power runes.]

[Rune Artist Origin - Magic: The pioneer of magic rune artistry. Increase effects of crafted magic runes.]

[Ancient Rune Artist Origin: The pioneer of ancient rune artistry. Increase effects and grant special power to crafted runes.]

Looks like having the combined title is more than the sum of the component titles individually.

I am looking forward to its effects on my items. However, there's something I am more interested right now.

Yes, because "But wait, there's more!"

I have to craft fast! I can't risk anyone taking the rewards from me at this stage!

Trash is fine! Overpowered artifact is fine! Anything that gives me experience right now!

Commence crafting spam!

' tavern. We would like to buy information from you.>

is the richest powerhouse. Come to our bar instead.>

Can you guys be quiet for a minute?! I am busy crafting here!

[Received Red Crystal Extermination Magic Rune (Faulty) x1]

…I will say nothing about the name. I have nothing to do with it!

[Skill Leveled up: ]

One more! Just one more! Please let my dreams be realized, Sateri!

Power is a really addictive drug…

[Received Blue Crystal Firepower Power Rune (Faulty) x1]

Got it!

[Condition fulfilled. Unlocked Skill: "Creation Lv.1"]

It has arrived!!!

The crafting combination skill has finally arrived!!!

[Creation: The true craft. Allow crafting of weaker multi-category items.]

You know it's serious business when a skill with exceedingly plain name has such an overpowered description!

Multi-category… you can't be talking about how the hat is actually an edible rune that can be thrown as an explosive weapon, right…?

Please allow me to make that!

[A player has successfully discovered the lost craft. Rewards have been sent. Congratulations.]

[Condition fulfilled. Unlocked Title: "Arcane Maestro Origin"]

[Arcane Maestro Origin: The pioneer of true lost craft. Allow crafting of full-strength multi-category item.]

Oh, craft~

I think my overpowered debut has finally come!!!

I can recognize your voice there, Hessy~

And I have no idea either, if that's what you are asking!

____________

The tavern is mostly empty.

Except for Mera, who is working overtime to compensate for Nerin, all the waitresses have mobilized to the west gate.

She doesn't have much hope that the new ancient art user would respond. Even if they do, with limiting the use of treasury for the waitresses now, she can't compete against the other two guilds.

If only was the person in question, that little girl would probably happily share what she knows. She didn't even hesitate to let everyone know she had [Beast Tamer Origin] after all…

--- Topic: Multi-category items ---

## Silver Merchant

I got a skill called [Multi-category Craft] earlier. I can make a potion that also acts as a chair with it. Is this skill good?

##

## GoldBar9999

It's trash. You would think such items would be at 50% effect since it is essentially 2-in-1. It's not. I have that skill at level 5 and the effect is like 20% of a "pure" item! (╯°□°）╯︵ ┻━┻

##

## Silver Merchant

What the hell LOL. Why would you ever want to use this skill?

##

## Manly Warrior

Currently I have seen it mostly used for rechargeable consumables. By making a consumable-equipment hybrid, the item is not consumed on usage, but acts like an enchanted weapon that can be recharged.

Even that has limited use. The item is so weak, it's usually cheaper to just make normal consumables than buying recharge service/items from enchanters.

##

## OP alchemist

I, a newbie alchemist, would not even attempt to make such item.

Why direct your potential customers to enchanters?

Only hybrid builds having both Alchemy and Enchant would do this, I think.

##

## GoldBar9999

Exactly why you will not see them aside from random weirdoes.

##

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