Chapter 3
Chapter 3
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 3
Chapter Title: The Baker's Request
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“Inventory!”
He shouted the command in a pronunciation that was still clumsy and awkward. A translucent window popped up.
A gun and ten bullets. And five potions in a sparse space. Below that was a slot with a gold coin icon. Inside the slot floated the number 50.
He touched the slot. A number pad appeared. It was probably asking how many he wanted to take out. He entered 1 and withdrew just one coin.
‘It’s the basic currency they give you, right? How many black breads can I buy with this?’
If one black bread cost 1, then 50 of them. His mouth fell open at the thought. Fifty black breads. Just imagining it was pure bliss.
But he didn’t know the exact price of black bread yet. And even if he could buy it for one coin each, fifty would wipe out his money.
‘I need to go hunting, then?’
That’s what these games were about—killing monsters for money and items.
If he kept killing monsters, he could get money endlessly and buy black bread nonstop. He could even step it up and buy something tastier than black bread.
‘But do I just head out of the village and hunt?’
He scratched his head.
‘That’s probably it, right? I have no info on the game, so I don’t know what to do next. Oh yeah, I activated the strategy guide earlier. How do I use it?’
As he grumbled inwardly,
【Do you desire information?】
He jumped at the sudden voice. It came in the same style as the system voice, but it was clearly distinguishable.
‘W-What’s that?’
【This program is a strategy guide designed to assist Player with smooth and comfortable gameplay. Do you desire information?】
‘You just think it, huh?’
He hadn’t even realized that and had grumbled out loud for nothing.
Learning how to use the strategy guide was definitely good news. But he didn’t know how much info it could provide. For now, he asked what he needed most.
‘How do I get more money?’
Money—the medium to exchange for black bread—was his top priority right now.
【There are several ways to earn money, or currency. Hunting monsters, completing quests for rewards, selling items for payment, and so on.】
‘Then I’ll hunt monsters.’
He recalled the ‘Giant Sewer Rat’ from the tutorial.
‘That thing was easy enough. It won’t be much harder, right? Nah, it’s early game, so probably not too tough.’
【The lowest-level monster around here is the ‘Giant Sewer Rat’ from the tutorial. The others aren’t that strong either.】
The strategy guide’s reassuring words boosted his confidence a bit. He glanced at the gun and bullets in his inventory.
‘Ten bullets won’t last long. How do I get more?’
【Bullets can be purchased at shops or crafted by Player. In this village, ‘Blue Meadow Village,’ the place to buy bullets is the ‘Weapon Shop.’】
A translucent map appeared before him. A blue light and a red light blinked on it.
【The blue light is Player’s current location. The red light is the destination.】
The words “Weapon Shop” floated over the red light.
‘How much for a bullet?’
【Basic bullets with no enchantments cost 1 gold each.】
‘Gold?’
【The unit of currency.】
He had a total of 50 coins.
‘50 gold. That’s fifty bullets? Should be enough for now….’
But it depended on how much money he could make going forward.
‘Where’s a good spot to hunt? Wait, there were quests too, right?’
If his vague knowledge was correct, quests were about fulfilling conditions from NPCs or the system and getting rewards.
‘Any quests you recommend?’
【Here is a list of recommended quests calculated based on Player’s weapon, level, stats, etc.】
A window appeared before him.
【The most recommended quest is at the top of the list.】
Following the strategy guide’s advice, he checked the top one and responded immediately.
‘I’ll take this one! Uh, how do I do it?’
A new map appeared with a red dot marked.
【Go here to accept the quest.】
He set off right away.
Honestly, he didn’t know if this quest was really the best or superior to others. There was only one reason he picked it.
[Quest: The Baker’s Memories.]
Reward - 15 EXP, 30 gold, 10 black breads, linked quest.
His eyes were fixed solely on the black breads in the reward. He could already feel the sweet taste of the one he’d tried earlier lingering on his tongue.
* * *
When he arrived at the place the strategy guide indicated, he stood blankly in front of the shop for a while.
Gulp!
His throat moved automatically at the savory aroma of baking bread. Forcing his gaze away from the displayed loaves, he barely managed to step inside.
‘How do I accept a quest?’
【The old woman inside will ask for help. Accept then.】
Just as the strategy guide said, a wrinkled old woman sat inside with a gloomy expression. But ignoring her, his eyes locked back onto the breads filling the shop.
“Ohh, young man. Could you possibly help me with something?”
Without tearing his gaze from the breads, he just nodded. He could hear with his ears alone.
“Thank you! Truth is, I lost a memento from my husband, who passed away last night. It’s a hairpin he gave me when we were young. I’ve kept it by my side all these years, but yesterday a rat snuck in.
Unlike ordinary rats, it had eerie red eyes, so the whole family was on guard. But that one swallowed my hairpin whole and fled.”
The old woman let out a deep sigh.
“My children are grown and have taken over the bakery well. Now, my only wish is to be buried with that hairpin beside my husband when I go. Could you find it for me?”
[Quest: The Gloomy Old Woman’s Request]
The old woman of Blue Meadow Village’s bakery has lost a memento from her late husband—a hairpin. From her account, the culprit seems to be a ‘Red-Eyed Giant Sewer Rat.’ Hunt the ‘Red-Eyed Giant Sewer Rat’ and retrieve her hairpin.
Reward: 15 EXP, 30 gold, 10 black breads
He nodded once more.
[Quest accepted. The quest has been saved to the quest window.]
A window with the quest details appeared before him.
‘Quest window? Same usage as the other windows?’
【Yes.】
The strategy guide answered. He’d only been using it a short time, but he was already very satisfied. It was filling in the gaps in his scant game knowledge, which he’d only picked up from old books and magazines.
‘Huh?’
As he read the quest details, he tilted his head.
‘Show me that recommended quest list again.’
The strategy guide brought up the window again. At the top was the quest he’d chosen, just like before.
Quest: The Gloomy Old Woman’s Request
Reward: 15 EXP, 30 gold, 10 black breads, linked quest
‘Why doesn’t the quest window mention the linked quest?’
【The linked quest for ‘The Gloomy Old Woman’s Request’ is a hidden quest that only appears in this program’s quest list, not in the quest description.】
‘I see.’
A gamer might get excited over a hidden quest—especially a linked one—but he remained indifferent.
Alright. So where’s that ‘Red-Eyed Giant Sewer Rat’…
Then the system voice chimed in.
[Your device’s connected battery is now at 5% or less. We recommend charging it.]
His face twisted. It was a far cry from his earlier excitement, when the new world had him bouncing off the walls.
‘Damn it!’
But there was no helping it. He got angry, but quickly resigned to reality.
‘How do I log out?’
【Say ‘log out.’】
“Log out.”
If ‘log out’ were a person, he’d have muttered it with enough killing intent to devour them without a trace.
Soon, his figure vanished from Ark.
Thus ended his first gaming session.
* * *
The moment the battery charged, he logged back in and prodded the strategy guide.
‘Where’s the Red-Eyed Giant Sewer Rat?’
【‘Red-Eyed Giant Sewer Rats’ appear in most nearby fields and dungeons, but they’re rare, so aimless searching isn’t recommended.】
A translucent map appeared before him. A vivid red dot was marked on it.
【I recommend this dungeon. It has a high spawn rate for ‘Red-Eyed Giant Sewer Rats’ and other higher-level monsters. However, the dungeon’s difficulty is accordingly high, so prepare adequately.】
‘How?’
【Stock up on potions or other recovery items, prepare bullets for your gun, etc.】
‘Then I’ll buy some bullets first….’
He looked at the icon of a transparent glass bottle filled with red liquid.
‘Potions are for healing when HP drops, right?’
Seeing the ones from the tutorial reward, a random thought crossed his mind.
‘I wonder what flavor that is.’
Whatever it was, it probably wasn’t as good as black bread. At the thought, the taste of black bread flashed through his mind again, and he swallowed hard.
‘Let’s go. Clear the quest quick and get that black bread.’
And savor that taste again.
‘Show me the bullet shop. And guide me straight to that dungeon.’
【Understood.】
He started walking toward the new red dot on the map.
* * *
The path to the dungeon was utterly peaceful.
‘Once I get a ton of black bread, maybe I’ll eat it while sightseeing.’
They called that a picnic, probably. His heart raced at the mere idea.
“Haaah!”
A shout rang out. His gaze naturally turned toward the sound.
A man in a white short-sleeved T-shirt and black shorts—the same outfit as him—was swinging a sword. It was one of those generic swords, like the many beginner weapons that vanished after he chose the gun.
‘A player?’
He was briefly startled, then chuckled.
‘Player my ass. I’m the only one in this world.’
Even if other survivors existed, humanity’s infrastructure was shattered. Group gaming like old online games was impossible.
‘It’s a single-player game, but with an online vibe? Weird concept.’
He shrugged it off. More people hunting in the fields caught his eye, but he ignored them and followed the strategy guide’s directions.
* * *
The place the strategy guide pointed to wasn’t far from the village. But it wasn’t easy to spot. Bushes and rocks cleverly hid the entrance.
The opening was just big enough to squeeze through if he crouched low.
He lowered his body as much as possible and crawled inside.
[Dungeon ‘Rats’ Hideout’ discovered for the first time. EXP increased for first discovery. 1 bonus point awarded for first discovery. EXP, money, and item drop rates inside the dungeon increased by 200% for one week due to first discovery.]
[Level up.]
[Level up.]
The system spat out messages nonstop. He opened his stats window.
Lv 3 (Exp 6 / 30)
HP - 20 / MP - 0
Strength - 10
Vitality - 10
Agility - 10
Dexterity - 10
Intelligence - 10
Magic Power - 0
Luck - 10
Bonus Points ? 21
※ Traits
Savior’s Blessing: Designated stat +30 (can change once per day)
His level and bonus points had changed.
‘Bonus points are for raising stats, right? It gave 1 for first discovery, so probably 10 per level up.’
He chuckled at the thought.
‘First discovery, huh.’
No one else to find it in a single-player game. Even in an MMO, no one else was logging in. The word ‘first’ felt utterly meaningless.
‘There are probably other dungeons that give bonus stats like this. What a bizarre game concept.’