Only Sense Online Volume 4, 4 - Beginners and Material Merchant

Volume 4, Chapter 4 - Beginners and Material Merchant

"Um… thank you very much for coming to help us. As I thought it was impossible challenge for beginners. Ah, I'm called Alphard. Feel free to call me Al."

"…I'm the older sister, Rainard. Raina is fine."

The saved duo calmed down, they turned towards the 【Material Merchant】 and introduced themselves.

Raina, the older sister had trimmed short ash-blonde hair, only her hair on the sides in the front was long. Her slightly slanted eyes and a grumpy expression gave a strong-willed impression.

Even now, it was unknown whether she was grateful for being saved or just acting rebellious, she introduced herself with just a few words.

Al, the little brother had more grey than black short hair and slightly drooping eyes and was surrounded by a calm atmosphere. He lightly apologized for Raina's cold attitude, he might have been bossed around by her. I could somewhat sympathize with having to go along a sisters' whims.

"I'm Yun."

"I'd like you to call me Emilio."

The 【Material Merchant】 and I briefly introduced ourselves and delved into the main subject.

"So, you two, why were you in such a place?"

"…………"

"Come on Rai-chan. I'll talk."

Al started to explain in place of Raina who defiantly kept silent.

"Just by taking a look at us you can tell, but this is our first day in OSO."

Raina and Al knew about OSO since the β and seemed to have applied to become testers.

They were unable to obtain VR Gear from the first batch produced, but this time they were able to get it from the second batch and were finally able to start playing the game.

"Is that so. So that makes you late starters."

"Yes, I actually think that we should enjoy it steadily but… there's also Rai-chan."

"What, I just chose a risky method to become stronger. I can do it."

Raina was shaken by what Al said and angrily raised her shoulders.

There's lot's to puberty isn't there. I thought so and sent Al a gaze, then spoke to encourage him to talk.

"Rai-chan wanted to keep up with OSO and checked various walkthroughs on the , looked around lots of places and watches lots of videos, thinking about it… and, um…"

"Found a method of leveling she thought she'll be able to use?"

When 【Material Merchant】 spoke with a mechanical voice Al shook his head vertically.

"It was a video called 【Low level solo Moor Frog leveling】."

"…haa? What are you talking about."

Possessed SP25

【Bow Lv33】【Longbow Lv4】【Hawk Eyes Lv43】 【Speed Increase Lv25】 【See-Through Lv6】 【Magic Talent Lv43】【Magic Power Lv46】 【Enchant Arts Lv19】 【Dosing Lv24】 【Earth Element Talent Lv16】

Unequipped:

【Alchemy Lv30】 【Synthesis Lv30】 【Engraving Lv1】 【Swimming Lv13】 【Crafting Knowledge Lv32】 【Taming Lv7】 【Linguistics Lv16】【Cooking Lv23】

I checked my Senses just now, but the average level of my Senses was about 26. How can you do it when you're even lower leveled.

"Ohh, that video. It uses a specific approach, tactic and utilizes prepared equipment. Also, quite high skill is required from the player."

"But in that video it worked!"

"I said, it's too reckless. In the making of that video there were collaborators who prevented unwanted mobs from joining in. Do you even have anyone who can do that?"

Raina closed her mouth in response to 【Material Merchant】 Emilio's somewhat cold tone of voice and just argument.

"As I thought. We should listen to what experienced people have to say, Rai-chan."

"Even so! I want to become strong!"

"Rather than get a death penalty for being reckless, it's better to do what's within the range of your abilities right? Are you really fine with involving your little brother with that?"

She said she wants to get strong, but having me point that out Raina fell silent and chagrined. Younger brother Al said "I don't mind" but Raina realized that she was too impatient and blinded by that, receiving a shock.

"Then that'll be it. I myself was saved by 【Material Merchant】 Emilio so it might sound like I'm acting self-important, but today was just a whim. That's why we'll be going already."

"——Wait!"

Leaving that behind I tried to leave with Ryui and Zakuro, but Al raised his voice to stop me from going.

"Please make me, no, please make me and Rai-chan strong! Please!"

"Wait, Al! What are you saying?!"

"I mean, look, it's the person who saved us! We don't have anyone to rely on here! It's because Rai-chan's attitude is so bad!"

"Al! You've some guts to disparage your older sister in public! A mere little brother, mere twin brother shouldn't try acting like he's better than his sister!"

Right in front of me the siblings went "gyaa gyaa!" and "wah-wah!" noisily quarrelling. Those two, they aren't fighting for real are they, I could somehow tell. In particular, some of Raina's gestures and wording reminded me of Myu.

However, I wasn't strong enough to think of helping them, and couldn't show them the way.

"Then, since it seems like it'll take time I'll be goi——"

"I won't let you get away! Guild solicitation is horrible now so there's no one to rely on! I can't let such a good and caring person get away!"

"…I don't think that has anything to do with it."

Al who grabbed mine and the 【Material Merchant】's hands was willing to detain us even as he was being dragged along, and I was unable to shake him off.

Also, there was a term I was concerned with, the thing called 'guild solicitation'. Somehow, several patterns have appeared in my head and my feet stopped.

"Haa, geez…"

"Will you help?"

"Well, it can't be helped this time can it?"

Possibly, I might have been part of the reason for that.

The flood of new guilds appearing stems from the competition between the 【Crafting Guild】 and the 【Resale Guild】.

During the start-up of the 【Crafting Guild】 we planned to purchase 【Guild Emblem】 from the market to establish it, but the 【Resale Guild】 bought them out to lift the price.

That's why we obtained the 【Guild Emblem】 directly by doing the guild founding quest and established the 【Crafting Guild】.

Because of that the 【Guild Emblems】 became a dead stock and a large amount of them was sold at low price, players purchased it and a flood of guild establishment has come.

In the end, it might have been just me blaming myself, but felt there was a connection.

"You're right, it's something Yun's acquaintance, Taku caused after all."

"Yeah… hey, haa?! What does Taku have to do with this!"

"The one who defeated a Moor Frog on level 8 in the video mentioned earlier was your acquaintance, Taku. I took a look at that video and confirmed it."

Hearing that and coming to a realization that Taku and I are acquainted Al and Raina stared at me respectfully with a glitter in their eyes. However, Taku and I were two different people and even if we know each other, it's not something that compliments me nor am I a maniac gamer! Don't look at me so expectantly!

"…Taku, I'll definitely punch you!"

I secretly swore in my mind. Still wearing a mask, Emilio looked towards me with pity.

"It can't be helped. I'll join too. Well, you might not want to stay with a suspicious person that wears a mask on her head though."

"Thank you very much!"

"…hmph."

Al happily lowered his head, but Raina seemed not to acknowledge Emilio and put on a cold attitude. It made Al panic, but Emilio wasn't offended in particular, instead she just smiled wryly.

"Well, I won't continue doing it forever, maybe until I reach second or third town. Until then, I'll teach you some things."

"Then, I'll make some items from the materials I have with me. Also, I want some help collecting materials, I guess?"

The two of us gave them some conditions, but neither mine nor 【Material Merchant】's were harsh, we lent them a hand in leveling in quite a gentle manner.

For some reason I felt that I didn't disappear at all, but forming a party of four people who aren't affiliated with any guild wasn't that bad.

The consultation was over and we were about to leave the location but——

"W-what?! My body's strength is…"

"I can't stand up either. I have no strength. Enemy?"

Raina and Al raised their voices. Apparently they received a penalty due to the decrease of satiety. Seeing that, the 【Material Merchant】 decided what to teach them first.

"Then, first thing we'll teach you is the management of your status."

In response to Emilio's declaration, I passed some of the 【Atelier】's sandwiches to the two and calmed them down.

"Nomnomnom… I absolutely won't forget this humiliation! Seconds please!"

"Rai-chan, you're saying such things again. Ah, me too!"

"You two… don't you have any restraint, geez."

Each sandwich recovers 20% of satiety, and when hands extended for their sixth, Emilio strictly stopped them.

"Just because there are items that doesn't mean you have to use them all. Set at least one aside and keep it in your inventory."

"What, this is mine! I won't be taking any orders from you."

"No, they're my sandwiches in the first place."

Emilio spat out a tired sigh in response to Raina's aggressive attitude.

"Well, fine. I guess the little brother will properly listen to my advice right?"

She tilted her head lightly, and with the face hidden behind the mask she made a smile that only extended to her mouth. Scared by that expression, Al acknowledged by nodding time after time.

"I see. Now that you stuffed yourself until bulging, let's start collecting items."

"Haa?! Why. It's leveling first right?"

"That's fine by me but… do you have consumables to use to continue fighting?"

"I don't need that."

"Maybe. Raina using a spear might have no problems, but what about Al who's a mage? Once he's out of MP he'll just be beaten up you know? You need to think about using time to recover, so fighting mobs while looking for items is the most efficient way. It's critical for a party to match their pace."

Hearing Emilio's logic Raina went silent. Seeing that I thought that's decided and proceeded with preparations by setting up base in the field.

The place we're in currently, was one of the safety areas to the west of the first town. Although mob encounter rate is low in here, I have had something to do here that's why I specified this place.

"First, an outdoor crafting base and a portable furnace. I'll need Mixing tools as well. Ah, and a table. I've got the ones Lyly made so I'll take it out… there we go."

Speaking loudly to myself I pulled out two long wooden tables in the safety area and lined up side by side. On top of it I prepared required crafting tools, gradually giving it a proper form.

Seeing that the two siblings were dumbfounded, Emilio advised them amazed.

"Well, that's cause she's a tough player when it comes to survival. This player you're seeing here."

"W-what? Is it weird?"

"Wait wait wait! It's not just weird! Why do you have such things prepared! Are there really players who suddenly build bases in fantasy RPG's?!"

"Is that so? At first I picked up items and continued crafting in a safety area, how nostalgic."

With a distant look in my eyes I saw myself pick up herbs in the forest to craft potions, collect materials for arrows, the times when I had to do my best because of a low cost-performance ratio Senses.

"Don't worry, I won't tell you to imitate me."

"There's no way I would could do that!"

Somehow, it seemed like a connection appeared between Raina and Emilio, maybe they became friends just a little bit.

They looked at each other with strange expressions and were talking about something in low voice. I thought it's good that they aren't fighting, meanwhile Zakuro left the hood and got on top of Ryui who was lying down at the base of a nearby tree.

"Really, when you came to help us you were holding a dagger, but now you're equipped with a bow and yet you used magic! Also, you have a horse and a fox accompany you, as well as some kind of weird tools! Just what on earth are you!"

"Ahh, I can't put it in a word. All you said is true though. Also, it's not a dagger but a kitchen knife, I use it for cooking."

"I didn't ask about that!"

Grahhhh! Raina was frustrated over her capacity and started to roar and Al calmed her down.

"Well, I'm a little of everything. Also, I'm weak in combat. You could call me a jack of all trades I guess?"

"Mm, you could also classify me as a crafter for the time being, most likely."

"Hee, so you were a crafter as well."

"My field is 【Alchemy】 and 【Synthesis】 so it's quite different from normal crafting."

"So 【Material Merchant】 comes from combining materials into better ones?"

"Indeed. Depending on combination a variety of items can be made."

"Is that so! I also have 【Alchemy】 and 【Synthesis】 but I only use it in a specific manner. Does that mean the golem from earlier is a synthetic mob?"

"That's——"Hey! Don't ignore us!"——Sorry about that."

When Emilio and I started a discourse on the crafting Senses, Raina sensed it might take a while and decided to meddle in.

Since I was forgetting about my surroundings, I thought it's good that she stopped us. When I turned my gaze towards Ryui, I saw it stand up and stare at me intently.

"Ahahaha, sorry Ryui."

Hmph, Ryui snorted and lied down again. If I continued to talk like that, I would've probably been headbutted. I imagined it with ease.

"Okay then, I'll go with these children."

"I'll leisurely wait here. I leave gathering to you."

I sent the three off with that.

Now then, let's try a few things as I wait. Even without any material gathering I can make some sweets as I wait.

●

"I made a simple one, but will it work?"

I peeked into the small window of the 【Oven Stove】 I obtained during the camp event to see how the pound cake grows.

As I made the sweets made with the use of 【Sweets Factory】's mould that also dropped from the mob in the camp event, a sweet scent has started to quietly spread throughout the forest.

"Look! It's stopped with 【Parry】. Al, hit it now!"

"Nh! Ha!"

"Just because your MP ran out, to hit it directly with the staff is…"

Raina held a wooden shield reinforced with leather and metal rivets and held a spear in the other hand. She thrust the spear at the mobs and hit them with the shield.

When the enemy movements stopped, Al used the staff like a stick and hit the enemy time after time with it.

Emilio stood a step behind them with her arms folded and evaluated them.

Bluntly speaking, their cooperation felt nothing but chaotic.

In the first place, as β testers Myu, Sei-nee and Taku as well as their companions were familiar with the game right from the beginning.

So that's how it looks like at the beginning. I wondered, deep in thoughts.

"Even though I saw so many videos and did so much image training! Why won't it work!"

"Rai-chan, your moves are still amazing."

In response to Raina's tired yell, Al retorted while sitting down on the ground and out of breath.

"It's fine if you slowly learn to cooperate. Everybody is like that at first."

"Khhh, how frustrating!"

Raina and Al explored for about 30 minutes. Emilio accompanied them and safely collected items.

"Yun, choose some of the items you need and make the two something."

"Roger. I'll make some potions for them from these herbs."

While the pound cakes were being baked in the oven I started to make potions instantaneously.

I continued to process herbs with hand movements I was familiar with and extracted potions.

As I hummed while making potions, on the side I asked Ryui to create some water and boiled it to prepare tea.

"Uuu, here I'm completely tired and uncool, why is there someone doing such feminine stuff right here… I want to look cool and cute as well."

"Before you start talking about that put these potions in your inventory."

With such remark I passed the two Beginner's Potions.

They're just Beginner's Potions, but I guess they'll change to normal Potions before long.

The two took them reluctantly, but Emilio who saw the potions' effect from the side approached me and asked in undertone.

"Is it fine to give them those? They're Beginner's Potions, but the amount recovered is comparable to normal Potions."

"It's fine. If they raise their level the amount recovered will decrease anyway. In the end, they can't use potions for attacking anyway."

The potions had a recovery amount restrictions. The Beginner's Potions I passed to Raina and Al had the amount they recover greatly reduced after the user's total SP surpasses 10. In the same manner, Potion that's one rank higher has its recovery amount reduced after SP surpasses 30.

As for the High Potions, the recovery limit is not yet known. However, Blue Potions unlike normal potions were not restricted by a limit. Instead, their effect was very weak and required use of many materials, so they had their merits and demerits.

When I fell silent thinking about potions, I suddenly felt a stare.

Depressed Raina raised her face and her gaze focused in a single place.

"…hey, can I touch those two animals? I think I'll feel better afterwards."

Raina who raised her face after drooping down directed her gaze towards the tree under which Ryui and Zakuro were resting.

"They hardly let others touch it. But you're free to try——"

I told her that they aren't accustomed to people, fell silent and poured the made potion into a pot.

"Eh, so it's okay! Then, I won't hold back…"

Without waiting until I finish explaining Raina approached them, but with her presence alone Zakuro climbed on my back and hid in the hood. It's two tails wound around my neck, making me feel sweltering hot.

Ryui quietly stood up and took distance from her.

"What a shame. It seems like they ran away from you."

"Why…"

As Raina stood with an extended hand and in shock, I could hear Al mutter "Again her bad habits come out".

"Zakuro… the black fox is shy and has a fear of strangers. As for the white horse, it won't let anyone but people close to it touch it."

"Even though it's so fluffy and looks so pleasant to touch, it won't let me touch it… one more time!"

Raina charged at Ryui who took distance from her, but it was naive. Not even Myu managed to catch it so a beginner stands no chance. The moment she approached its body, she was lightly avoided.

Feeling defiant Raina didn't want to lose and thought of making a clumsy feint with her legs, but it was all seen through and continuously avoided. Clearly having it easy with her, Ryui produced situations where she was just a step away from touching it.

And like that, they slipped out of the safety area. One human and one animal ran around throughout the forest.

"Yun-san, Emilio-san, is it fine to leave them like that?"

"Isn't it fine? They'll come back after they're tired."

"There's no need to worry about our Ryui. Sweets are more important than that."

As Al worried about elsewhere, I poured improvised tea for Emilio.

While enjoying the scent of tea that came from the pot, I waited for the pound cakes to grow in the oven.

"Ohh, a little bit longer and they'll be baked."

"No way, to think he'd fulfil the promise so fast…"

"Emilio? Did you say something?"

She seemed to have muttered something, but I couldn't catch it. After that she returned "it's nothing