[Nitana2003: Thought we lost, and you were moping.]

[Megantress: Not me, I was sure we would win.]

[Herald Stone: Very sorry. Too excited by the rewards.]

[Kezodilla: Don’t sweat it. Fifteen-minute team break. That enough?]

I told them I should be done by then. I smiled when Megan replied that she’d unpack the luggage she hadn’t touched since returning from vacation. Nitana chimed in that she was going to cook food. One by one, my party mates logged off. As for me, I submitted the requirements for the hidden achievement.

“I know you’re asking for just two Vinereaver Essences, but here’s the three I have,” I told Bawu. “And take all my goop too—that sentence would sound weird out of context. I have no use for those with the quests done.”

It was logical that Bawu needed more ingredients. If she were going to take on the Mountain Guardian, she’d make as many super soldiers as possible. I should’ve asked her about it earlier. I was sure she’d give some clue about the hidden achievement—these challenges usually weren’t convoluted. But that didn’t mean it’d be easy.

There were two parts to this secret achievement.

Collecting more [Toxic Goop] than required—five hundred extra pieces at that—would be a challenge lacking the [Large Fragile Bundle] to attract more monsters. A player would need multiple rounds through the tunnels, waiting each time for the Blighted to respawn. Without the [Large Fragile Bundle], it was probably impossible to complete Bawu’s timed quest for the [Piece of the Tattered Map] while also obtaining this hidden achievement. Thank you, Big Brain of Herald Stone, for the idea of keeping the package.

As for the [Blighted Vinereaver Essence], the only way to get three was for others to donate their loot to one person—an unlikely occurrence. People doing such a long quest together would probably have the same quest, in contrast to my party’s situation in which Kezo, Megan, and Nitana were just helping me.

“Splendid, dear youngling,” Bawu said as her mutated assistants took the ingredients. “The first time I laid eyes on you, I immediately judged you trustworthy.”

“Somehow, I don’t buy that. You wanted to experiment on me back then. However, that was your other side. How many pieces of the Vinereaver’s Revenge set are you giving me? I’d do anything to get three—almost anything. Please don’t turn me into a test subject.”

“And three you shall receive, for the three Blighted Vinereaver Essence I required.” With a wave of her hand, Bawu conjured a screen with a list of Vinereaver’s Revenge items.

There were six pieces—head, shoulders, upper chest, hands, legs, and feet. Nothing for the lower chest, flank, or feet. The available choices might be the body slots most races had; not everyone had two chests like Mardukryons. No main-hand and off-hand pieces either. The lack of weapons, I understood—retribution was a defensive build even if technically a DPS mechanic—but I thought there’d be a shield.

To poison with retribution, a monster had to attack retribution gear coated with poison. Out of all pieces of equipment, a shield would receive the most hits, especially if the player strived to Head-On Block attacks. But I’d rather pick shields leaning more on defense. I hoped the final set effect of Vinereaver’s Revenge worked the way I assumed so I wouldn’t need a shield with retribution.

“All Blighted?” I mumbled, raising a brow. “This isn’t the regular version.” This was the way to complete the set, though what did it mean story-wise?

I had assumed the Blight resulted from an accident due to Mon Aleh trashing Bawu’s labs. But these Blighted armor pieces contradicted that theory. Bawu had made the Blight long before the outbreak and tested it on many Vinereavers.

Bawu didn’t have the goops before, or she wouldn’t have asked me to collect them. Mon Aleh and friends absorbed chemicals they shouldn’t, churning out [Toxic Goop].

This realization made Mon Aleh’s failed rescue mission even sadder. Not only did the brave weed monster fail its goal, but it also contributed to Bawu’s success. The story finally became clear.

Rest in peace, Mon Aleh.

Unless it was going to revive and return to its area as a mini-boss.

I already had the helmet and gloves pieces of the Vinereaver’s Revenge set, so I picked the shoulder, chest, and legs pieces:

Blighted Berms of Vinereaver’s Revenge {1} | Item Level: 20

Relic | Heavy-Armor | Shoulder

224 Armor

140 Retribution Damage (Poison)

5% All Retribution Damage

Requires: 44 Might, 57 Vigor

--------------------

+72 Retribution Damage (Earth)

+85 Armor

+17% Earth Resistance

Blighted Bark of Vinereaver’s Revenge {1} | Item Level: 20

Relic | Heavy-Armor | Upper Chest

254 Armor

155 Retribution Damage (Poison)

6% All Retribution Damage

Requires: 49 Might, 62 Vigor

--------------------

+45 Vigor

+410 Health

+27 Health per Second

Blighted Spikes of Vinereaver’s Revenge {1} | Item Level: 20

Relic | Heavy-Armor | Legs

201 Armor

130 Retribution Damage (Poison)

4% All Retribution Damage

Requires: 42 Might, 54 Vigor

--------------------

+60 Retribution Damage (Neutral)

+32 Might

+16% Water Resistance

[Blighted Vinereaver’s Revenge] Set Bonuses:

(2 pieces) + 105 Retribution Damage (Neutral), +5% Armor

(3 pieces) 50% of (Might + Vigor) added as Retribution Damage (Earth), +5% Armor

(4 pieces) +25% Neutral Retribution, +25% Earth Retribution, +25% Poison Retribution, +450 Health

(5 pieces) Blight Cloud: Inflict 37% of all Retribution Damage to enemies in a small area around you per second.

“That’s a third of my level-twenty-outfit-change done,” I said with a large smile. My DPS would massively increase, making my leveling to thirty or even forty smoother.

Next on my shopping was equipment for getting hard and endurance—for fighting monsters, not that other kind of fighting. If I was tanky enough, I could kill some of the weaker monsters during the Great Hunt without resorting to poison-and-run tactics. My immediate concern was pushing my healing and regeneration to high heavens for Totem Juggling—I still needed to pseudo-tank for my party so Kezo could focus on DPSing.

After the Great Hunt, the health sustain would be needed for my Plaguetank build, transitioning out of Totem Juggling into good old facetanking. My progression was planned out.

“Brewer Bawu, I’m very grateful for these rewards,” I said. “I suppose it’s now fine to ask when you will transfer your hideout? I thought that you were going to cease your dangerous experiments and go elsewhere for safety? Healer Gula’s letter—”

“How can you think that of me?” Bawu interrupted. “I’m your mentor. I’m not doing anything dangerous, dear youngling.”

We have different definitions of dangerous, I thought. “But you are going to transfer to a better hideout, aren’t you? Not sure what to call it. More hidden hideout of hiddenness? Many are looking for the village guards you, let’s say, compulsorily made part of your family. The first three were bad enough, and you had to add another three.”

“The more, the merrier, isn’t it, youngling?” Bawu said with a creepier-than-usual smile. “I’m very much aware of the consequences of my actions.”

“The Hunter-Warriors are going to search the tunnels soon,” I said.

“It wouldn’t be the first time they chased me,” Bawu said, her chuckles sounding like sandpaper rubbed together.

She wasn’t going to listen to me, was she? “You were packing and transferring things last time,” I said, “but it looks like you’re not moving.”

“It touches my heart that you care so much for your teacher. But worry not about me, dear youngling. I’m not one to court danger for the sake of it. I’ll keep safe and hide.”

“Will I be able to find you again?”

“I’m sure you will, my student. Now, if there’s nothing else, I’ll be returning to my work.”

“One last thing.” I took out the [Large Fragile Bundle] from my inventory. This item immensely helped my farming; I was tempted to hold on to it. But since Bawu said she was moving—I didn’t know how true that was—I should give this to her and complete Gula’s quest. “Brewer Bawu, this is for you.”

Bawu questioningly inclined her head. “More Swineling meat pies?”

“These are potions you left at your sister’s shop. Healer Gula told me to return them to you. She thinks it’s safer if these are with you.”

[ Quest Completed: Dangerous Return of the Dangerous ]

I watched the Mandrake Borples set the bulky wrapped package on the long table.

Essence, Gli, and Artas flowed as I completed the much-delayed and almost-forgotten quest. That was one delivery done. I should work on giving Yusa the precious Peely Fruits she wanted. Or I could continue leveling with the Frost Macaques using my new retribution set. Sorry, Yusa.

“My, my, is this what I think it is?” Bawu ran a long fingernail through the knots of the package, cutting the ties that secured the wraps.

Out came several bottles of different shapes, sizes, and colors and a puff of dust. A blanket of dirt covered each one. Gula didn’t even bother cleaning in a rush to get rid of them. She probably hadn’t touched any since Bawu left them until I accidentally drank one.

Bawu took one of the bottles and examined it against the light of a blazing burner. Then she opened another and sniffed it.

“I had forgotten I’ve given little Gula these.” Bawu checked the other bottles.

“I didn’t break any of them, did I?” I asked.

“Thank you for bringing these to me, dear youngling,” Bawu said. “You must have had quite a difficult journey, for the potions' life scent and arcane emanations would attract monsters aplenty. I appreciate your hard work carrying out my sister’s bidding…”

Bring in the great rewards, I thought, grinning in anticipation. That was what the quest details mentioned.

“…but I’m afraid to say that you have to return these to her.”

“No great rewards?” I blurted.

“These are great rewards,” Bawu gestured to the pile of potions. “Except this one.” She picked out a bottle covered by a metal cap with a Mardukryon skull design. It was the bottle I had drunk in Gula’s shop. “This is my earliest brewed poison. I gave this to little Gula to remember the bygone years when we lived together peacefully. All of these”—Bawu gestured to the pile of the bottles—“were gifts of reconciliation.”

“Wait, what? Reconciliation?”

“These are half the ingredients for my masterpiece healing elixir—my well-kept secret that little Gula so dearly wants to recreate. Gifts. Very generous of me, won’t you agree?”

“Yes, that’s surprisingly generous of you. Though why didn’t you give her all ingredients?”

“Simple, my inquisitive student—I didn’t have the other ingredients on hand. Most are those that need days, weeks or even months of preparation. I can’t snap my fingers and have them ready to give to my precious sister.”

“Why did Healer Gula return these if they’re so important? They don’t look like they’ve been opened. It seemed like she didn’t know… Did you tell her what these were?”

“Of course not,” Bawu said, snickering raspily. “Such a silly thought. Little Gula should recognize what these are because of our familial connection. However, I’m beginning to doubt if we share the same blood from our honorable mother, as Gula doesn’t appear to have an ounce of my brilliance.”

“Such a wonderful reconciliatory gift this is,” I sarcastically said. Gula must’ve thought the bottles contained poison since one was mixed in.

“What is this trash?” Bawu suddenly boomed, towering over me, her hunch gone. She pointed a furious finger at the bottles I had delivered. “Why are these things on my work table?”

Evil Grandma Bawu? “Erm… those are… mine. Those are mine!” I strode to the table and rewrapped the bottles into a bundle.

“I don’t remember teaching you to litter in my laboratory, student of mine,” Bawu said. “Carry your trash and scram! I have much work to be done.”

[ Obtained: Large Fragile Bundle ]

“Sorry for the trouble, most brilliant teacher,” I said, heading to the door. “My trash and I are leaving now.” Trash that might be great rewards—I was going to help Gula replicate Bawu’s secret potion.