Chapter 17
Chapter 17
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 17
Chapter Title: Chapter 1-2. To Live in This World.
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All the information was there. Stats, skills, and traits.
But more than anything, the items I wanted most were displayed.
Affinity and trust.
Even without feeling tense, just seeing it made my strength drain from my body. Ha ha, a feeble laugh escaped my lips. The information window for Gentia floating in front of me remained in place.
This is interesting. It feels like we're truly entering the game now. The age of adulthood here is fifteen. This body's current age, Yuda's, is eleven this year. That leaves four years ahead. I need to learn even more within that time to recover the fragments in this harsh world.
'I can't do it alone.'
Unless I obtain [Lusen Ardahan], one of the fragments of Lord Perlnirn—an autonomous golem—I'll desperately need companions before then.
'For that, I need exceptional companions.'
Yuda's eyes shifted back to the information window.
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「Status Window」
[Name: Gentia]
[Title: Tracker]
[True Name: None]
[Level: 49]
[Job: Mercenary (C)]
[Race: Beastkin _ Tiger]
[Strength: 63 (B) / Potential B]
[Stamina: 69 (B) / Potential B]
[Agility: 79 (B) / Potential A]
[Mana: 50 (C) / Potential B]
[Magic Resistance: 51 (C) / Potential B]
[Knowledge: 49 (C) / Potential C] ◀ Special
[Luck: 55 (C) / Potential B] ◀ Special
[Affinity: 10 (Neutral)]
[Trust: 30 (Believable)]
「Traits 4/5」
[Primal Instinct] - Rank: B
[Tiger-Horse Mutual Aid] - Rank: B
[Hunter] - Rank: C
[Wise Wife and Mother] - Rank: C
「Skills 5/5」
[Beastkin Transformation] - Rank: B
[Spear Ghost] - Rank: C
[Mercenary Left-Hand Dagger Arts] - Rank: C
[Concealment] - Rank: B
[Ambush Attack] - Rank: C
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Distinguishing capable companions isn't hard. Check the stats, traits, and skills, but even without that, just seeing if they have a True Name or not is enough.
Unlike titles, which are bonus effects earned by achieving specific feats or gaining fame,
A True Name is like a guaranteed check. Even if someone is living a wretched or miserable life now, if they possess a True Name, their future will be grand.
Those with a True Name start off with a huge advantage over those without. Their stat potentials are inherently superior, and they either possess A-rank or higher traits or skills from the start or are highly likely to acquire them later. Naturally, they also have more slots available to learn such traits and skills than the baseline. Players in the game always checked for a True Name first.
Of course, lacking a True Name doesn't mean they're useless. They could still have A-rank or higher skills or traits. The issue is that the odds are lower, and the stat differences are unavoidable.
'......'
And disappointingly, Gentia had no True Name. Her skills and traits were mostly basic, and her stats weren't particularly high either. She'd nearly maxed out her potentials thanks to level-up points, but otherwise, they'd have been considerably lower.
In short, she wasn't outstanding as a companion. Plus, this wasn't a game where you could leave companions at an inn and swap them out with a couple of mouse clicks, so inviting her on adventures wasn't easy.
'No. It's too soon to decide.'
It's far better to travel with someone trustworthy than a potential betrayer. Yuda decided to reconsider when setting out on adventures in four years.
"......"
Yuda let out a small sigh and closed the information window in front of him. Sitting on the living room sofa, he stared blankly at the ceiling. The ceiling had no patterns, making it boring. Zoning out like this didn't make him sleepy; instead, random thoughts started creeping in.
Why am I here, of all places?
What if my desire to go home fades away?
Do I even have to go back? I could live here plenty fun and enjoyably. Even if I returned, after the brief joy of seeing family and friends, I'd just suffer through job hunting to make money... Huh?
A sudden realization hit him. No. I don't need to job hunt. The contract money from the VR game deal was enormous. That money sitting untouched in my bank account needs to be used. It's enough to live off for at least ten years, plus royalties later. And I need to wipe the stuff off my computer's hard drive.
'I do need to go back.'
Having steeled his resolve over something trivial, Yuda stood up. As he stretched, hunger hit him, and checking the time, it was already lunchtime.
The mercenary guild wasn't far from here, so if Gentia wasn't lost, she should be back soon. He needed to prepare food to eat with her. Heading to the kitchen, Yuda pulled out the meat he'd been saving. The thick slab from the fridge was freezing cold. While thawing the meat, he began prepping other ingredients.
All the ingredients in the fridge and pantry, including the meat, had been bought personally by Kaseun. He went to the market once a month, shopped, and brought them to Yuda. Each time, he made his specialty, beef stew.
After nearly four years of this, Yuda had naturally learned how to make it. Thinking it was a decent dish to serve Gentia, he started preparing stew. For a twelve-year-old—no, eleven—he handled cooking with surprising skill. Wearing an apron and wielding the kitchen knife looked anything but amateur.
"I'm back, kiddo."
The door opened, and Gentia's voice rang out. Yuda, watching the stew simmer, headed to the living room still in his apron. Gentia was carrying luggage inside from outside. It looked like a lot of stuff. He wondered if he should help, but he was in the middle of cooking.
"Huh? What's this, you cook too?"
Seeing the apron, Gentia let out a small "Oh" of admiration. Then she covered her mouth with one hand and muttered quietly.
"You're cute."
Yuda gave a wry smile. She'd probably thought he couldn't hear, but he did. Cute, huh? Well, at just eleven, that's all she'd see him as.
"Shall I help?"
"Huh? Oh. No, no. Finish what you're doing."
Yuda nodded. Even if he wanted to help, he had to finish cooking. It was just politeness. She seemed to have called someone from the guild to bring the luggage to the house, and she moved it inside while Yuda prepared the stew. As the stew neared completion, he sliced the pre-bought baguette into appropriate sizes and plated it. He'd put rice on to cook with the stew, and it was just finishing, steaming away.
He wondered if rice was needed with bread, but eating it with stew turned out surprisingly delicious, so he served it in bowls.
Once everything was set, Yuda went to Gentia's room. It was strewn with unpacked items.
"Eat first, then sort it out."
"Sure? Then shall we go try the food our little kid made? The smell's passing for now, at least. Heh heh."
She must have been secretly looking forward to the aroma filling the house, as Gentia followed Yuda straight to the kitchen. Seeing the food on the table, her eyes widened.
"Huh? This is the dish the captain brags about."
"I learned it. He comes over often and makes it. Thanks to him, stew ingredients are always stocked."
"Hmm. It brings back old memories."
Sitting down, she muttered, "Let's see how it tastes," and picked up a spoon, saying grace. After one bite, she exclaimed in delight.
"Whoa, it's good? Like, really good?"
The stew's seasoning was perfectly salty, pairing well with the rice mixed with grains. He'd checked the bread had jam, so he'd eat it separately or dip if more rice was needed. She must have been hungry, as she devoured it. When he told her to say if she wanted more, she immediately asked for seconds. He'd made plenty. Their eating speeds were both fast. Yuda had always eaten quickly in his old world, and that hadn't changed here. Gentia, from long mercenary life, ate fast naturally too.
"Wow, that hit the spot. Feels like ages since I had home-cooked food full of love. Heh heh."
"Glad it suited your taste."
As Gentia smiled and spoke, Yuda smiled back. Watching him, she suddenly seemed puzzled.
"Aren't you scared of me?"
The out-of-the-blue question startled Yuda momentarily, but his response came quicker than thought.
"Not yet."
"Oh?"
"But why do you ask?"
"Just curious. No real reason. You're the first kid who hasn't been scared of me from the start."
Her crescent-moon eyes curved in a smile. Staring blankly and blushing, Yuda got his cheek lightly pinched as she cooed cutely.
"Alright, time for dishes? I'll help."
She gathered her used bowls, and they washed up together. Afterward, Yuda offered to help unpack, but she refused, saying she wouldn't have such leisure days ahead, so he should rest. He hesitated at her suggestion but returned to his room to relax at her insistence.
And so began the cohabitation of beastkin and human, master and disciple.
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