Chapter 56
Chapter 56
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 56
Chapter Title: Discovered a Worker Copy Bug
The idea of mass-producing recovery potions to clear out the inflated prices on the exchange and normalize them was a good one.
But the problem came after that.
'Where am I supposed to get the materials...?'
Like how she'd gotten Lumina Bells from low-grade gates, should she scour low-grade gates for them?
'Ugh... I really don't want to go into gates...'
It looked like she'd have no choice but to search the forest instead.
But then another problem arose.
'Once I get the materials, then what?'
There were bound to be limits to how many potions she could produce alone.
So in the end, she'd have to borrow the spirits' hands.
But asking the spirits—who were already helping with cafe work—to churn out recovery potions like a factory...
Wouldn't that be too harsh?
Her mind was a jumble of such thoughts when it happened.
"...Huh?"
Off in the distance, at the edge of her vision.
She spotted some irregular creature lumbering about.
'A monster?'
Greenish skin. Jagged fangs protruding.
Stooped back, potbelly sticking out.
It was a monster with an appearance very similar to the 'goblins' often mentioned in the Awakener community.
'...What the heck?'
This was a gate that had already been cleared.
There shouldn't be any monsters wandering around.
She let out a breath and tried to calm herself.
'It's fine.'
It was fortunate that her attack skills could be used without a weapon.
'A goblin should be something I can take down easily with the attack skills I have.'
But her anxiety didn't settle easily.
What if it didn't go down with one skill shot?
What if it suddenly went berserk and caused a commotion?
What if the customers found out there was a monster blatantly wandering around...?
'Bad rumors would spread in no time.'
Then she wouldn't get any good info anymore.
And the little bits of happiness from small talk with customers... those would vanish too.
'That can't happen!'
She bolted straight to the tables where the customers were sitting.
"Something urgent came up, so I think I need to close the cafe for a bit!"
She bowed her head to the seated customers, asking for their understanding.
"I'll make sure to give you all some complimentary service next time you visit. I'm really sorry, so sorry..."
After hurriedly sending the customers out and closing the gate door.
She headed straight toward the goblin, which was ambling along with its back turned.
One step, one step.
As she drew closer to the goblin.
Kwachak—
Nyam nyam nyam—
Strange sounds began reaching her ears.
And soon enough, she figured out what the noise coming from the goblin was.
Kwasak—
Nyam nyam—
The goblin was clutching cookies that had fallen on the floor with both hands, frantically chewing and swallowing them.
It must have been starving.
It was shoving them into its mouth so desperately it didn't even notice her right behind it.
'...But why are the cookies I made on the floor?'
It stung a little.
But that wasn't important right now.
⚔ STATUS ⚔ [Goblin-Hops] [Lv.10]
She'd cleared quite a few gates so far, but she'd never once seen info like this displayed over a monster's head.
On top of that, it was a fairly high level for a monster from a low-grade gate.
'Should I call the spirits even now?'
The thought crossed her mind.
But summoning the spirits again right after they'd collapsed from exhaustion helping with serving felt too bad.
'No, I can handle a goblin by myself.'
She raised both hands, sharply drawing up the mana in her body.
- Kieek!
Did it have a sensor for detecting hostility?
Even before she'd activated her skill, the goblin that had been picking at the cookies shrieked "Kiek!"
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ The rampaging entity from the dual gate, 'Goblin-Hops', detects the territory's master. Cheolpudeok—
It flopped flat on the ground and began trembling violently.
'Huh...?'
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ 'Goblin-Hops' has recognized its master. ⚔ STATUS ⚔ [Goblin-Hops] [Lv.10]
⚡ Relation: 'Hostile' → 'Submissive' 💨 Status: Starving / Terrified ✨ Loyalty: ★☆☆☆☆ She narrowed her brow as she read through the letters floating in front of her one by one.
Dual gate? Rampaging entity?
And what was loyalty?
...What the hell was going on here?
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ 'Bride, find.'
The marriageable goblin, Hops, left his hometown to find a bride to marry.
While the other goblins in his tribe paired off one by one and started families, he was the only one left alone.
So Hops resolved himself.
With the single flower he'd carefully kept in his bosom, he'd propose to his fated bride someday.
But journeys were always grueling.
Wandering aimlessly, strength drained from his legs bit by bit, and his empty stomach growled endlessly after days of starvation.
- Kkoreek!
- Kkorrreek!
At this rate... he'd have to chew and swallow even the flower he'd saved for the proposal.
Hops swallowed hard as he gazed down at the flower tucked preciously in his bosom.
Right then.
"Kieek?"
A sweet scent wafting from somewhere tickled his nose.
Hops bolted instinctively toward the source of the smell.
Thereafter, he discovered something plump and abandoned on the floor.
'...?'
It had a horrific visual reminiscent of piled-up shit.
But the current Hops had no luxury to be picky.
'Poop, eat.'
He snatched it up from the floor and crammed it into his mouth.
Sweet.
Soft.
Nutty.
A shocking flavor he'd never tasted in his life.
Hops's whole body shuddered with thrill.
"Kieek, kieeek...!"
Delicious! Poop, delicious...!
Caught up in the wondrous new experience, Hops nearly lost his mind as he frantically devoured the brown lump.
Slap slap—
Unaware of someone approaching, lost in his first happy meal in ages, Hops—
Sensed the immense hostility stabbing into his back and shrieked without thinking.
"Kkieek!"
Hops instinctively whipped around.
There stood an unfamiliar being emanating chilling hostility toward him.
Cheolpudeok—
His legs gave out, buckling right there.
His heart pounded madly, breath caught in his throat.
His mind went blank white.
'Ruler...'
Instinct told him.
This was the ruler of this place.
Hops trembled with his nose pressed to the ground.
Thud—
The moment the ruler's toe touched beside his head.
Hops's heart sank.
'Punishment, coming.'
For wandering around looking only for a bride without working.
Or maybe his head would be chopped clean off.
Terrifying delusions flooded Hops's mind.
However.
"Really hungry?"
What came from the ruler wasn't stern punishment or a decree.
"Want some more of these?"
What was held out before Hops's eyes—
Was an appetizing poop cookie.
"Kieeek..."
Taking three cookies, Hops alternated his gaze between the ruler's face and the cookies in her hand.
But no matter how he thought about it, he couldn't understand the situation.
Why would such a great being as a ruler show kindness to a worthless worm like him?
'Me, Goblin Hops.'
With trembling hands, Hops fumbled in his bosom.
There, the one flower he'd cherished so dearly to meet his bride touched his fingertips.
It might be nothing but a worthless weed to the ruler.
But to him, it was his most precious treasure, his everything.
'Repay the ruler.'
Hops bowed his head deeply.
Then, with shaking hands, he carefully offered the flower.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ 'A monster from a rampaging gate recognized me as its master?'
She didn't fully grasp what was going on.
But.
Tremble tremble—
The goblin trembling and prostrated flat before her didn't look threatening at all.
It had also eaten the cookies she'd made with such relish.
⚔ STATUS ⚔ [Goblin-Hops] [Lv.10]
⚡ Status: Starving / Terrified The starving status bothered her, so she held out all the cookies from her pocket to the goblin.
Then.
- Kieeek...
The goblin's eyes went wide, its face filling with moved emotion.
And it started spamming messages overhead again.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ 'Goblin-Hops''s loyalty has risen sharply, entering the 'Trust' stage. ⚔ STATUS ⚔ [Goblin-Hops] [Lv.10]
⚡ Relation: 'Submissive' → 'Trust' 💨 Status: Starving / Moved ✨ Loyalty: ★★★☆☆ ⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ 'Goblin-Hops' will do its utmost to carry out your orders perfectly. 'I can give orders to a goblin?'
Did that mean she could use this guy as a worker?
As she blankly read down the messages.
The goblin fumbled in its bosom with trembling hands, then held out a very pretty rose toward her.
"For me?"
Nod—
She accepted the flower in a daze.
📜 ITEM INFO 📜 [Seren Rose]
- A single rose blooming in the dawn dew amid darkness.
- The courtship flower most favored by gate monsters, regarded as a 'token of devotion'.
[Effects]
- Promotes stamina recovery.
- Increases wound healing speed and alleviates bleeding.
[Warnings]
- Petals wilt easily once moisture dries, sharply reducing effects.
- Effects halve if not processed immediately after harvesting.
[Uses]
- 'Recovery Potion': Recovery potion made by mixing flower sap and purified water.
- 'Seren Tea': Dry petals and steep to drink for fatigue recovery and calming effects.
- 'Healing Ointment': Concentrated flower sap ointment. Used for wounds or burns.
The flower's info filled her vision.
Her eyes naturally went to 'Recovery Potion' under the uses.
'I can make recovery potions with this flower?'
Just moments ago, her head had been throbbing over where to get materials.
Who knew the solution would roll right in front of her like this.
'If... I can stably cultivate this flower...'
Deflating the bubble in recovery potions would be a piece of cake.
"Haa..."
It was definitely good news that a stepping stone toward her goal had appeared.
But the worry clouding her face didn't lift easily.
'It's probably... because of this.'
The message that kept circling her mind.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ The rampaging entity from the dual gate, 'Goblin-Hops', detects the territory's master. Dual gate, rampaging entity.
She needed to look into those first.