Room Upgrade and the Baby World Tree
"The fall damage is worse than I thought."
He checked his HP—about 10% had evaporated.
It wasn't even that high up, and he'd used the Harpy Queen as a cushion, no less.
Carpe decided to avoid jumping from heights whenever possible as he got back to his feet.
-You just took her out like that. I figured you'd beat her down to the brink of death and then talk her into joining us.
The original plan had been to pummel her right up to the edge of death, then hit her with a classy, gentlemanly line like, "Wanna die like this? Or come with me?" But Carpe had straight-up defeated the boss monster instead.
"Changed my mind. After fighting her myself, she's kinda iffy."
What Carpe had hoped for was an AI with cool-headed intellect that could analyze and adapt to info in real time—not some wild beast of an NPC.
"She needs to be way smarter than this. A good personality would be the cherry on top."
-Hmm. There are monsters like that, sure. Problem is, they only show up in high-level zones.
Still, he couldn't just leave the relic sitting around until he hit high levels.
He'd have to find some kind of compromise somehow...
"If I can't find one after searching, I'll have to settle. And if even that's not an option, we call in Death Heavenma."
-...Let's definitely take a look around. Even low-level hidden bosses or event bosses often have high intelligence.
"Yeah. Something like a fragment of the Servant Lord would be perfect... Huh?"
Come to think of it, Carpe had encountered event bosses twice before.
The fanatic priestess Mainades.
And the fragment of the Servant Lord he'd met in the elf forest.
Both bosses had shown exceptional intelligence—and they shared one more thing in common.
They were mandatory gates you had to pass to obtain a relic of the Magic King.
"...So maybe there's one this time too? Some insanely strong event boss."
Drek had said the relic was safely stored underground in the royal castle, so no worries—but Carpe couldn't agree so easily.
From his experience so far, RaSe was a game that excelled at defying player expectations, for better or worse.
-A very healthy attitude. You can't trust these insane RaSe devs. I've been backstabbed dozens of times over my ten years. Gotta keep doubting everything.
And from the perspective of Cheonma, the backstab expert, Carpe's suspicions were more than justified.
"If an event boss pops up midway, we'll have to deal with it somehow."
-Yeah. Best plan in my book too. But no guarantees it's 100%, so think of a backup.
"Of course."
With that, their next destination was set: Ramark Kingdom, where the relic was sealed.
"Whatever happens there, it'll get us moving."
-Hmm. Level 40s graduating Luana already...
"Huh? Why? Is there a level restriction for going to other regions?"
High-level users couldn't enter low-level zones, so maybe the reverse applied too?
-Nah, no restrictions on going. Just... the timing's a bit early. But you'll be fine.
Most RaSe players hit level 50 around the Luana area.
Then they did their second job change quest at 50 before heading elsewhere—it was practically an unwritten rule.
"Why's that?"
-Difficulty spikes the second you leave Luana. Second job change makes it huntable.
It wasn't for nothing that the community called finishing your second job change "escaping newbie status."
HP and MP skyrocketed upon completion, and you gained a few job skills, just like with the first change.
Combat power naturally exploded as a result.
-Even with that massive boost, it's no picnic out there. Leaving Luana pre-second job? Straight-up suicide. Super rare cases aside.
And Carpe was one of those super rare cases.
The HP/MP explosion from second job? New job skills?
He was already overflowing with power without them.
The term "off-spec" seemed made for moments like this.
-Second job or whatever, your combat power is more than enough. Head out whenever.
"Sweet. Gotta wrap up the rest quick then. Cleanup first."
Carpe checked where the Harpy Queen had vanished—and there was an item on the ground.
◈ A stylish scarf. Gift some flair to your precious pet. It flutters even more coolly in the wind.
◈ Option 1: Wind/Lightning skill effects +10%
◈ Option 2: Wind/Lightning skill resistance +10%
"Oh? Pet gear?"
Carpe was caught off guard—he hadn't expected a drop like this.
-Lucky break. Pet gear has low drop rates mostly. And the Storm Scarf's pretty popular.
"Really? Options look solid."
Boosts to damage and resistance for two elements at once—top-tier options!
Carpe nodded instinctively.
Compatible pet found.
Equip now?
"Of course."
As Carpe agreed, the red scarf vanished from his hand.
"Kyuu?"
And it equipped around Mukhyang's neck.
Mukhyang pawed curiously at the scarf with her short front legs.
"It suits you perfectly, Hyang. I can feel your elegance shining even brighter."
"Yeah... Hyang looks so cute. And cool."
"Kyuu kyuu!"
The two dolls heaped praise, and Mukhyang nodded in satisfaction.
The item description had seemed a bit half-assed at first, but maybe it nailed the essence perfectly.
"She already has lightning skills, so if I snag a wind one, it goes to Hyang."
He'd come for a quest item, but this was an unexpected bonus.
Grinning, Carpe headed to the next spot.
He still needed herbs to cure the steward's granddaughter.
-Lemme see... Ah, there. That lion-shaped rock. Narrow gap behind it—squeeze through.
Carpe followed Cheonma's navigation.
It was spot-on, and soon he had his target herb.
"Yes!"
It looked like common weeds, but knowing it was a 7-star skill made it the most beautiful thing ever.
-Alright, got everything. Time to head back. No must-do quests left in Luana.
A few hidden quests remained, but their rewards were available elsewhere too.
Back in Luana, Carpe stopped by the lord's castle to find Steward William.
"Wha—no! How did you?!"
William shouted as Carpe handed over the Jairos Grass.
Tears streaming, he seized Carpe's hand.
"We searched everywhere and couldn't find it... Thank you so much. The hero who saved Luana from demons has now saved my granddaughter too."
Hidden Quest: The Steward's Worry
🎁 Rewards:
■ William's affinity maxed (permanent)
■ Guaranteed 7-star skill pack
"Just doing what needed doing."
Carpe left the bowing, grateful William behind and exited the castle.
More rewards awaited.
"Hahaha! Didn't expect you this quick! My eye for people never fails!"
Blacksmith Zeke's Request
At Forge Street, Carpe handed Zeke the Wind Feather and claimed his reward.
"As promised, the blueprint. May the god of smithing bless you!"
Acquired all blueprints for Wind-Infused Equipment.
Links with Magic Engineering skill. Can now craft these items.
"Nngh."
Just seeing the notice made his stomach full. No way he'd sit on this.
"Gotta craft it now. Slap on the Wind Set and graduate Luana."
-Head to the Room then. Open the 7-star pack there too.
Carpe left the smithy and warped straight to his Room.
"Man, it's been a while here too."
Looking around anew, he'd left Room management entirely to Cheonma, only dropping in to hammer stuff.
And he hadn't crafted lately, so yeah, long time no see.
-It's come a long way. Stashed items from the mine and orchard in storage—check 'em when you got time.
"Nngh. Nice. First the pack, then..."
That was when it happened.
As Carpe reached for his inventory, a window popped up.
Entered Room.
Inventory contains item that can substitute for Room upgrade.
Proceed with upgrade?
"Huh?"
Substitute item?
What the hell? Carpe checked the Room upgrade menu.
■ Player Level: 43/40 ✓
■ Ebony Wood: 20/20 ✓
■ Flower of Vitality: 0/1 ✗
Carpe had been stuck on the Room upgrade.
Of the two materials for stage 3, Ebony Wood was doable from the elf forest—but the final piece, Flower of Vitality, eluded him.
Even the forest-dwelling elves knew nothing of it.
"The Flower substitutes?"
Did he have something like that?
Carpe opened his inventory.
And in one corner...
The Second Leaf of the World Tree that Alteer had given him in the elf forest was blinking brightly.
Use substitute item for upgrade?
"Uh, yeah."
Carpe nodded on reflex—and the ground rumbled as the terrain shifted!
Room upgrade in progress.
18%... 38%... 79%... 100%!
Room upgrade complete!
A small tree appeared in the center of the Room.
New facility unlocked.
Manager's Room-exclusive skills now available.
Special item created Baby World Tree. It will grant beneficial effects to the Room as it grows.
"...Whoa."