Chapter 20
Chapter 20
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 20
Chapter Title: Tar's Food Crisis
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It was mealtime. Yuseong leisurely opened the lid of the small box. Nutritional supplements filled it. He picked one up and popped it into his mouth. He took a sip of water, then swallowed it down with the supplement.
‘Good.’
It was an immensely satisfying meal. He no longer felt stomach pain from eating food or drinking water.
Of course, they couldn’t compare to things like the black bread from Arc, but that alone—being able to intake nutrients in reality without the gut-wrenching agony—was more than enough.
‘I can savor flavors in Arc.’
The nutritional supplements were pricier than black bread, but that was because a pack contained dozens of them.
Compared to the black bread from the Purchase Window, which cost ten times as much per serving, it was incomparable.
That was why Yuseong planned to cover all his real-world meals with nutritional supplements.
He figured he’d occasionally eat black bread in reality for a change of pace.
‘To think I can choose my food now.’
It was a situation he couldn’t have dreamed of just a short while ago.
Yuseong gazed fondly at the Virtual Reality Device.
His eyes shifted to the cable connecting the Virtual Reality Device to the battery that stored power from the solar generator.
His expression grew even warmer.
It was because of the battery charge level displayed on the screen.
‘Almost full.’
He turned his head to look at the powered exoskeleton standing in the corner. Its charge was already complete.
Yuseong stood up. With the bright light pouring from the ceiling lamp, he no longer had to worry about bumping into furniture like before.
It was unimaginable given the power situation he’d endured until recently.
This was all thanks to the new generator and battery he’d acquired.
‘And it all started with discovering the Virtual Reality Device.’
Yuseong looked at the Virtual Reality Device once more.
He recalled a phrase from a book he’d read long ago: “Not eating yet feeling full.”
To Yuseong, who had always suffered from food shortages, it had only elicited curses, but now he could somewhat relate.
‘Time to get back to it.’
The moment he entered, he’d eat a piece of black bread first. His mouth watered at the thought. It was then, as Yuseong moved to step toward the Virtual Reality Device—
【Attention has exceeded 10,000. New items have been added to the Purchase Window.】
Yuseong froze. His face lit up.
‘It rose!’
Good thing he’d taken down that other extra boss.
‘What got added?’
The Purchase Window had greatly improved his quality of life. He couldn’t help but anticipate the new items.
Yuseong opened the Purchase Window without hesitation.
‘This is it!’
A familiar and welcome item appeared.
Nano Machine (Common)
It was the top contributor that had sustained Yuseong’s life, back when he had no choice but to eat toxin-laden beast meat and contaminated water before unlocking food and clean water in the Purchase Window.
‘I was just thinking I needed to restock on Nano Machines.’
The daily removal of injected toxins and healing of injuries had worn them down severely, dropping their performance.
No matter how sparingly he used them, they’d reach the end of their lifespan within a year at most.
He’d been worrying about where to find new ones, and now they’d appeared prominently in the Purchase Window.
‘I’ll buy one right—’
But Yuseong had to halt.
‘...It’s expensive.’
Purchasing the Nano Machine required a whopping 3,000G.
He had a decent amount of money from defeating the owner of the old mansion and miscellaneous hunting, but he’d planned to buy armor with it.
Buying the Nano Machine would leave no room for armor.
‘But I need armor too.’
During the fight with the owner of the old mansion, Yuseong had felt the dire need for armor.
He’d never taken a direct hit, but even glancing blows had shaved off huge chunks of his HP.
‘Monsters will only get tougher from here.’
Armor was essential.
Yet no matter how vital in-game armor was, it couldn’t outweigh real-life safety.
‘...No choice. Armor will have to wait.’
Yuseong purchased the Nano Machine.
He jabbed the syringe containing it into his forearm. The Nano Machines entered his body.
‘Good.’
He clenched and unclenched his fist. There wasn’t much change in his body. Nano Machines only activated in earnest when something was wrong.
Yuseong drew a knife and deeply sliced his fingertip. Blood trickled down. But it soon stopped.
He wiped away the blood. The skin was pristine, as if the wound had never been.
‘Recovery’s faster.’
Proof of the Nano Machine’s performance. He hadn’t doubted the Purchase Window, but confirming no issues still pleased him.
‘Next...’
He looked back at the Purchase Window.
Unlike moments ago, disappointment clouded Yuseong’s face.
‘Nothing else?’
He’d been so thrilled about the Nano Machine that he hadn’t checked properly, but that was it. A map had been added too, but compared to his expectations, it was underwhelming.
‘Strategy Guide. Why’s this the only item?’
【As I explained before, items are added only from what you’ve acquired or crafted. At the 10,000 attention point level, you haven’t obtained or made much, so little was added to the Purchase Window.】
‘Damn, so I need new stuff after all.’
Then he’d have to scour other areas. Conveniently, new maps had been added, so maybe he’d find something new like the previous shelter.
But another thought crossed his mind.
‘Do I really need to go out?’
The Purchase Window meant no more survival issues.
Venturing outside brought only threats from beasts and monsters. Wasn’t going out just to dump waste enough?
‘I plan to spend most of my time in Arc anyway.’
He could live like that forever. No, it might even be the smart choice.
‘As long as the Virtual Reality Device holds up...’
Suddenly, a chill ran down his spine. His gaze lingered on the Virtual Reality Device.
‘It won’t break, right?’
At least by his knowledge, it was inexplicable technology. He didn’t think it would fail easily.
‘But that’s just my guess.’
Its durability might be surprisingly poor.
‘Should I gather spare parts?’
That posed problems too. Even with his mechanical know-how, he didn’t fully understand the Virtual Reality Device. If it broke, repairs were questionable.
Above all, swapping parts might not maintain its transcendent performance.
‘Still, I need to prepare.’
So what could he do?
‘Gather spare parts first.’
If repair was uncertain, at least there was a chance.
‘And keep raising attention.’
Maybe parts for the Virtual Reality Device—or the device itself—would appear in the Purchase Window.
‘It’s something I acquired, after all.’
He concluded he’d continue much as before.
‘Strategy Guide. Any extra bosses near here?’
【There are no extra bosses near your current location.】
Fortunately, he wouldn’t need to charge at another one in his rags.
‘First, make money. Gear up on basics, buy maps, and scout for useful stuff.’
Yuseong logged into Arc.
He opened his status window first.
lv 14 (exp 61 / 192)
HP - 102 / MP - 0
Strength - 42
Vitality - 51
Agility - 79
Dexterity - 10
Intelligence - 10
Mana - 0
Luck - 10(+30)
Bonus Points ? 0
※ Traits
Savior's Blessing: +30 to designated stat (can change once per day)
※ Attention ? 23,428
He’d gained 2 levels defeating the owner of the old mansion in the last fight. He’d already allocated the bonus points and switched the designated stat to Luck.
‘Attention shot up hugely.’
How long had it been since surpassing 10,000 and unlocking new items? Now it was over 23,000.
‘If only it keeps rising like this.’
Wishing so, he closed the status window. Then he opened his inventory.
Items from the old mansion owner were added.
The difference wasn’t huge since it was the relic of a reclusive sage, just 2 levels apart.
Sundry junk, material items like Steel Ingots. And a pretty decent-looking sword. But for Yuseong, whose main weapon was a gun, the sword wasn’t particularly useful.
‘Getting a gun from the reclusive sage’s relic was lucky too.’
He decided to hold onto it for now. With armor purchases delayed, he didn’t feel like trekking to a shop just to sell this.
Yuseong stowed the sword.
‘Better to progress quests than regular hunting, right?’
Yuseong asked the Strategy Guide for recommended quests. Like before, it displayed available quests, highlighting the recommended one at the top.
‘Good, let’s go!’
Without a hint of hesitation, Yuseong selected the recommended quest.
Quest: Tar's Food Crisis
Reward - 23 EXP, 42 gold, 10 black bread, linked quest
It was a quest right up his alley.
* * *
“As you can see, this is a mining village. Rocks and stones everywhere—no way to produce food. Naturally, we import it from outside, but monsters have started appearing on the western road we use for imports.”
“I see.”
Now fairly accustomed to Arc, Yuseong nodded along with the NPC. But his eyes, just like in the blue meadow village, were fixed on the neatly displayed bread.
“With our current wheat stock, we won’t last long. Then the many folks in this mining town will starve. I can’t just watch that happen. Will you clear out the kobolds on the road? I’ll reward you properly.”
Quest ? Tar's Food Crisis
A large group of kobolds has suddenly appeared, blocking the road used to import the village’s food. With no food production here, the village won’t hold out long. Eliminate twenty kobolds to resolve the crisis.
Reward: 23 EXP, 42 gold, 10 black bread
“Got it.”
Confirming the quest window, Yuseong replied.
He turned from the grateful NPC and left the shop.
‘Time for one first.’
The aroma wafting from the shop made Yuseong pull out a black bread and take a bite. The nutty, fragrant scent danced on his tongue.
With a pleased expression, Yuseong reopened the quest window.
‘No linked quest marker this time either.’
Like the old lady’s bread memories, it was probably hidden.
‘Is this connected to the old lady’s bread quest?’
【Yes.】
‘Kobolds... on the western road?’
【They roam the road and lurk in nearby caves.】
‘What’s a kobold?’
【A small bipedal monster with a dog’s face. About 1m tall, they use basic weapons like clubs. Not very strong, but they come in packs of two or three, so stay cautious.】
‘Dog, huh...’
Yuseong pictured the dogs he knew. Beasts with mouths taking up half their bodies, filled with sharp teeth. But probably not that.
‘Likely dogs from before the world went to hell.’
He’d only seen them in faded photos, so the image wasn’t clear.
He’d see for himself soon enough. Fingering the Eonir pistol at his waist, Yuseong followed the Strategy Guide’s directions.