Chapter 23
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 23
Chapter Title: Level 8
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After a good night's sleep at the inn, your fatigue has recovered further.
HP and MP have fully recovered.
Cleanliness has recovered.
“Ouch... everything hurts.”
The moment Yoon Young opened his eyes, stiffness and muscle soreness hit him.
He must have really pushed himself yesterday. Even after sleeping at the inn and recovering extra fatigue, the aftereffects lingered quite a bit.
'Still, it's more bearable than I thought.'
But thanks to pumping up his Stamina stat quite a bit, it was manageable enough not to hinder today's work.
In the old days, he'd have been groaning in pain, barely able to move.
'Guess I've grown a little.'
He felt his growth right here. Once he got more used to slime hunting, he should restart training soon. Proficiency was wealth, after all.
Crunch!
Yoon Young opened his Inventory and munched on some raw vegetables. He'd sold so many to make money that he didn't have much left now.
Once these were gone, he'd have no choice but to buy food at the inn. Or head back to Rubean Village and farm more.
'But that might be inefficient, huh?'
After a simple meal, he trudged toward the Adventurer's Guild like a day laborer heading to the staffing office.
'Wonder if there's a new mission today.'
The reason Yoon Young had gritted his teeth and pushed through yesterday's mission was so a new one would appear today.
Would his hard work pay off?
Upon entering the Adventurer's Guild, Yoon Young headed straight for the bulletin board but stopped short when he spotted a girl's face.
Blonde hair, blue eyes, priestess robes. A girl armed with a mace.
“Amael... you're here?”
She hadn't been around yesterday, but here she was today.
He'd only first met her two days ago, but after just one day apart, he was thrilled to see her again.
Amael might not know it, but from Yoon Young's perspective, they'd shared life-and-death battles, rubbing shoulders on the battlefield.
Their emotional intimacy had no choice but to max out.
Yoon Young rushed over, pulled her into a hug, and smooshed her cheeks.
Her cheeks were just so soft and squishy. Mwah.
“My cuddle doll's back.”
He'd worried he might never see her again, but that was just unfounded anxiety.
She'd simply been absent yesterday—Amael was an NPC who visited the Adventurer's Guild periodically.
She was probably at the church or something yesterday.
[Talk to her]
“Ah, hello? I'm an apprentice priest dispatched from the church.”
[Present]
“Slime Cores, huh. Proof that you've exterminated slimes.”
[Gift]
“You're giving them to me? I'm so happy...! Submitting these to the church will prove I hunted slimes!”
Amael's favorability has increased slightly.
NPC Amael's favorability toward you has risen to Stage 2.
“Oh!”
Amid the same lines as before, a welcome message rang out.
He hadn't done much, but her favorability hit Stage 2?
'Must be from the gifts and hunting together as companions.'
In other games, favorability rose quickly when recruiting companions and hunting with them, so it wasn't strange.
[Talk to her]
“Ah, Adventurer. Nice to see you again.”
Amael's dialogue had changed slightly when spoken to.
[Chat]
[Enter what to say.]
“Hmm...”
What should he talk about with Amael?
From chatting with Ria, he knew there weren't many working keywords.
It wasn't easy to think of ones she'd respond to.
[Hi?]
When he couldn't think of anything, start with a greeting.
“Nice to meet you.”
Amael smiled faintly and greeted back.
Ah, this really felt like playing a game.
Like the virtual reality from novels had come to life.
For a moment, he wondered if he was just a brain in a vat right now.
What if he wasn't? What if this was real life falling apart in real time?
'That'd be way too horrifying.'
Yoon Young refocused on his conversation with Amael.
What keyword would make her react...?
[What's the El Church like?]
“The El Church is a gathering of those who serve the Goddess El. I've been raised in the El Church since I was very young. I'm training as a priest to spread the greatness of the Goddess El.”
[What's a priest's job?]
“Priests use various useful divine spells to protect allies from enemies and heal them. I still need more training, though.”
Hmm... more responsive keywords than expected.
Maybe try something more personal.
[What do you think of me?]
“Huh? Uh... I don't really know.”
As expected, that got a "don't know" response.
He figured it wouldn't work.
[About slimes]
“Slimes...! Eugh, they're all squishy and jiggly and gross. But if I encounter one, I won't back down.”
Slimes got a reaction too?
[Priest training]
“To become a full priest, you have to complete various missions assigned by the church. Being dispatched to the Adventurer's Guild to help the city is one of them.”
[I'll help you]
“Really? Thank you, Adventurer.”
Yoon Young tested various keywords for a while to check reactions.
Not much there, really. Just for chatting when lonely.
Still, seeing the NPC show human-like responses with varied dialogue made her feel three-dimensional, which was nice.
'Felt the same with Ria—it's amazing.'
How was their AI programmed?
They seemed like total NPCs, yet they understood keywords and interacted. Incredible.
He'd heard generative AI was advancing and being applied to games...
'But for generative AI, they're too passive and dumb.'
Anyway, chat time was over.
[Recruit as companion]
“Looking forward to working with you, Adventurer.”
“Same here.”
Apprentice Priest Amael has joined as a companion!
With Amael recruited as a companion, he checked the bulletin board.
The usual herb gathering and slime extermination.
And below that, a new mission.
[Slime Mutant Hunting]
You know slimes appear in the forest near Belgadis, right? Well, recently, mutant variants of forest slimes have started showing up suddenly.
For now, thin their numbers. Hunt 20 and report back.
— Knight Redia
* Completing this mission will spawn mutant variants in the Slime-Infested Forest.
Caution! Mutants are stronger than regular forest slimes.
“Oh.”
This one was from Redia.
Sudden mutant variants? It gave that tingly feeling of a story kicking off.
In game terms, exactly like an epic quest.
'Nice. Rewarding me for grinding through that Frederick mission yesterday.'
If he'd slacked off and not finished yesterday, he'd still be on that one today.
Story missions felt like they gave better EXP and rewards.
To hit Level 8 fast, he needed mission power.
Good thing Amael was at the guild today.
Mutants were stronger than regulars, after all.
“Let's go, Amael!”
“Ah, coming with you.”
As Yoon Young dashed off energetically, Amael scurried after him once the distance grew.
And so, the two headed to the hunting grounds.
Squelch!
While diligently hunting slimes with Amael...
A clearly unfamiliar specimen appeared.
Regular forest slimes were green, but this one was purple. Looked like it'd infect you just touching it.
Definitely bigger and stronger-looking.
“Amael, hold up a sec.”
Not that she'd listen, but Yoon Young said it anyway as he pulled pills from his Inventory.
Strength Pills and Speed Pills bought from Alchemist Eri.
He dumped them in his mouth and swallowed.
Strength Pill effect: Physical attack power increased for 5 minutes.
Speed Pill effect: Agility increased for 5 minutes.
'Saved these for a time like this.'
Doped up, Yoon Young drew his fully spiky mushroom club.
“Power Slash!”
Power Slash
Splat!
A full swing landed hard, heavily stiffening the mutant slime.
Thud thud thud!
Then the spikes rained down for extra damage.
“Holy Bolt!”
Holy Bolt
Amael's Holy Bolt hit next! With its continuous stun, Yoon Young could whale on it freely.
Power Slash, Power Slash, Power Slash.
He unleashed his hoarded Stamina wildly.
Wham! Wham! Wham!
Relentlessly pummeled, it looked half hedgehog.
Squish...
It died before he knew it.
“What? Already dead?”
He'd tensed up expecting strength, even doped, but...
It was stronger, sure, but not double or anything.
'Well, not a boss.'
With doping and heavy Stamina use, easy pickings.
[Slime Mutant Core]
[Iron Bow]
“Oh!”
Checking drops: besides the junk core, a bow too.
He picked it up for a look. No special options, but high base attack.
Were bows high attack normally? Not in Plain World, he thought.
No arrows anyway, so couldn't test. Probably sell it at the shop.
'Not like I'm going archer.'
Yoon Young had no interest in archer. If class changing, maybe tanky knight or ranged mage?
He hated pain, after all.
This world was still single-player game shaped. No sudden world-ending crises.
Single-player perk: play at your own pace, slowly.
Safe hunting via endless farming. That was Yoon Young's style for package single-player RPGs.
A sword would've been better, but greedy. Bow would sell well.
'Sweet. Let's keep going.'
Thus, until nightfall, he hunted with Amael.
Regrettably, purple mutants were rare; couldn't complete the mission.
Tomorrow again.
The next day, Yoon Young headed out solo without Amael.
“Whew...!”
Mutants were tougher without Amael.
But he completed Redia's mission that day.
“Yes! Mission complete confirmed. Here's your reward.”
Level up amid the receptionist's fresh smile.
Finally, time to check that portal. What could be inside?
Brimming with curiosity, Yoon Young left the Adventurer's Guild.