Guys Like Me

Veterans like me—those of us trapped in this game, grinding away hundreds, thousands of hours, clawing our way up even from the hellish endgame—we graduated from "enjoying" the game ages ago.

What can I say? Once your playtime hits around 5,000 hours, the game naturally turns into "work." You chase peak efficiency in everything until you become a monster.

So when someone like me suddenly steps up to help, you can bet there's a reason behind it.

This is one of the heroine side quests that pops up around this time: Daisy von Shukros's "Ore's Trust" chapter.

It's ridiculously straightforward with a clear solution—no real time sink to clear it. The rewards are simple too: +1 to her favorability level and +2 to Low Tier Rock Magic.

Give her a little counseling, and bam—magic level up. Nice deal.

Daisy von Shukros, torn between combat mage and support/production mage paths. The play here is to butter her up with fancy words and nudge her toward support/production.

Clearing this quest locks her in as an ally completely—she's already down to 3 wish counts left. Perfect for long-term plans.

She's essential in Act 4, no question.

"Daisy von Shukros."

"……."

"Show me your most powerful spell from the ones you can cast."

At my words, dozens of elongated ore crystals materialized above her head.

She swung her hand lightly, and the pristine white crystals swarmed like a flock, rocketing toward the ground like missiles in a barrage.

Impressive visuals... but.

I picked up one of the fallen crystals and prodded it with my dagger.

"I see. No penetration property at all—just summoning ore in the air and hurling it indiscriminately. Easy to dodge or block with a shield, and the damage cancels out."

"……."

"What's the real difference from chucking rocks?"

"Ugh."

Tears welled in the corners of her eyes. Tsk. On the verge of crying over basic feedback like this.

"Lady Daisy. Have you ever considered processing that ore?"

"Processing...?"

Hm. She doesn't get it.

Her current attacks are just summoning ore and flinging it at targets. No real firepower.

I scooped up a fallen crystal from ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the ground, gripped my dagger, and shaved down one end.

"Like this—sharpen the tip, or add runes to amp the damage. Ever thought of that?"

"Ah... No, never."

She nodded, chanted her spell again, and snapped her fingers.

The floating crystals spun, morphing into long, pointed spears.

"Hoo. Metalworking too, huh."

"It's ore magic. Gems for magic tools go through processing like this."

Ore transformation property. Summon raw ore or shape it on-site into accessory-sized pieces—way more suited to production than combat.

"Here."

I strolled over to where the crystals had embedded in the dirt, pulling a branch of spirit wood from my pocket.

"Now shoot them at me."

"......You sure?"

"Doesn't matter."

She swung her staff. The spear-cluster followed her arm like a formation, launching straight at me.

Of course.

Not a single one touched me.

Jump? Dodge? Why bother.

They propel the ore with mana, so I ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠traced the mana flow, interfered lightly, and batted away any that didn't veer off with my dagger.

The ones looping behind? Intercepted them all with a fireball right there.

The final one aiming for my heart? Caught it barehanded and slammed it into the ground.

I dusted off my hands, pocketed the spirit wood, and looked at her.

"You just sharpened the tips for penetration this time. No real change from before."

"......What."

"I only used one Low Tier spell. Is that all your magic's got?"

Daisy von Shukros stared in dazed shock.

Yeah, figured. She'd thought it was her ace spell, and I dismantled it with basic magic.

"So I really have no talent ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠for combat magic... Production it is, then......"

"Lady Daisy, one question."

"......Ask away."

"You know your talents fit production perfectly. Why the lingering attachment to combat?"

She pondered briefly, then spoke.

"Just a momentary worry."

"Worry?"

"Yes. Our house, the Shukros, only wields Earth Elemental Transformation Magic—no other spells. And we're specialized in rear support and production over combat."

Right. The Shukros family secret art: Ore Magic under Earth Elementals. Hilariously, it's just the Mohs hardness scale from middle school science—step-by-step ore upgrades. Calcite to fluorite puts her at stage 3 limit right now.

"But our rivals in the west, the Wolfgang house, excel in combat magic. They handle every element with genius aptitude."

I see. The Athletic Festival defeat sparked comparisons with Reina, stirring combat doubts.

"And honestly—I hate admitting it—but she's smart and strong. She's ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠closing in fast... At this rate, top spot goes to Wolfgang. I'd be the shame of a defeated house."

Knowledge is a great weapon, but worthless against a gun. She's threatened by the terrifyingly growing runner-up Wolfgang.

Tsk. Foolish worries.

"Follow me for a bit."

"Pardon?"

"I'll give you my answer to your dilemma."

I led Daisy von Shukros to the central district.

"This is... a mineral shop?"

"Got money?"

"......Of course. What do you take the Shukros house for?"

Hm. Fitting for a family centered on magic tool distribution—loaded, no doubt.

"Plus, this shop's run by one of our affiliated students. They'll recognize me inside."

I see. Salenium's an academy, so commerce is student-run too.

As I mentioned before, tuition here's brutal. Cover room, board, everything? You need deep pockets.

That's why student guilds and merchant ventures are allowed—for economic activity.

But flunk the minimum grades, and it all stops. Tough all around.

With so many students, shops abound—including ore dealers. Essential for jewelry and magic tools.

Inside, the owner spotted Shukros beside me and bowed gracefully.

"Welcome. And the gentleman...?"

"Business together."

"Understood."

I scanned the display ores, then told the owner,

"Can I buy this mineral?"

"Ah, fluorite. Right away."

A stone shimmering in turquoise, purple, blue hues.

I held it up to Daisy von Shukros; she nodded, paid, and we took it.

Back at the clearing.

"......Mind explaining?"

"Why the mineral?"

"……."

Whatever. Your money.

"Never heard from your family?"

"About what?"

"Anything feel different holding it?"

Her eyes widened.

"Wha... Wha......"

"Feels like an epiphany, right? Try a spell."

And then.

"【Earth Elemental Transformation Magic: Fluorite】."

Brilliant multicolored crystals floated around her.

I smiled lightly at her stunned gaze.

"That's your stage 4. Congrats."

"H-How......"

Tricks of the trade. An Easter egg, really.

Hand her ore from the mine field, unlock stage 4 Ore Magic.

But some insane veteran realized, "Wait, shops technically sell field-gathered ore per lore?" Tested it—and boom, bug unlocks stage 4.

Kept it secret. Devs probably don't even know.

"Also, as a noble lady, you've got basic self-defense training, right?"

"Yes. Proficient with thin swords, spears, axes—various weapons."

"Then why not use your surrounding ore as 'weapons' for self-defense?"

Her eyes widened again.

"Calcite—'ore crystals'—are soft enough to shatter on my dagger. But fluorite? Different story."

She formed a thin sword from one, gripped it.

"......Ah."

"Plus, you mentioned skill in magic tool rune crafting. Your ore could be the medium."

"......Yes."

"So etch a one-use rune like 'explode on impact' into your ore. Gives it ranged lethality and blast power."

All from my experience, naturally.

"Ah...... S-Such methods...... Why didn't I......"

"Daisy von Shukros. You're not Reina von Wolfgang, and she's not you. No need to imitate. Even if you do, carve out your unique path within it. That should suffice."

"......Yes."

Trust gleamed in her eyes as she gazed at her magic—something absent before.

"Wolfgang is Wolfgang. Shukros is Shukros. You're right."

Her eyes turned to me.

"At first, I thought you were utterly bizarre. Still do, but even so......"

Stoic expression. But I caught the faintest uptick of her lips.

"Not today. Thank you."

No. What?