The Top Crafters And A New Set Of Equips

Hey, Shun here!

Crafting is not really my main but I actually see the beauty of it, that's why I never gave up a single one of them.

What's more, these crafting Senses have already become an integral part of my build.

Also, hard labor is really fun, y'know?

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(Shun's POV)

*grind* *grind* *grind*… a sound echoed throughout the quiet fields.

"Would this sell at a pretty hefty price, I wonder?"

It all started when I just finished working on my first batch of [Boost Marbles]. I worked on it for more than an hour to make 50 [Boost Marbles] of each type.

"Hmm. I wonder, maybe I'll manage to get around 7,000G for this? Their effects are a great boon to players, after all. A free enchant without spending mana is really good in of itself, after all."

Confident that my products would sell well, I left the farmlands and went back to Agann through the southern gate. On the way back I fought against some herbivores to continue practicing with my bow.

I rarely ever fought them, however. They're too easy to kill as long as I make sure I hit them even with my Wooden Arrows.

By now, even without using [Arts], my maximum range is 25 meters. Thus, it's really so easy to deal with these mobs without even breaking a sweat. Honestly, I'm just doing this to improve my aim.

I entered the town with a pleased look on my face, and felt the attention was focused on me. No, well, I've still had initial equipment and the bow was considered mishappen, that must've been the reason why they took notice of me.

Since I don't really give a damn about their stares, I leisurely walked through the town.

"These players sure have nothing to do. Well, once I sell these items, I could get some new equips for myself. That would also help in upgrading my [Special Skill: Transformation]…"

Speaking of transformations, my [NWO] avatar is still much stronger than my [OSO] avatar. Well, not like I mind though.

[NWO] is just some weird game that weirdly allows their players to get stronger so fast. I don't know what's going on with the dev's minds.

As I murmured to myself, I passed through the wide pavements at a leisurely pace. Occasionally people turned around to look at me, but I ignored their annoying stares and arrived at a square on which stalls were spread.

I immediately forgot about the trivialities from before. 'Where do I sell this?', I thought as I looked around at the stalls.

While I did investigate it in advance, not everyone was able to put down a stall. There were items required to put down a stall, and only those who have it are popular.

Moreover, crafters can rent an existing store, redecorate it and make their own customizations.

Well, the item to open a stall costs 10,000G, and renting out a store for a month costs 50,000G, even though I have enough money to rent one, I don't have the required time to sit at a stall for two to five hours selling my products. That's just counterproductive in my case.

There were many people with the stalls. Some sold potions, others sold weapons or cheap armors that is slightly better than the beginner equips. The people who had stalls at this point in the game were people who still had their gold from the β version.

"Hey, the guy over there. Won't you take a look? I've got weapons and accessories."

A woman with a light brown skin-tone, and a bit of reddish hair called out to me. She was probably touting me.

She gave off an atmosphere that made me think I might be able to talk with her easily. Maybe if I do this right, she might buy my products off me. Is what I thought.

I could actually maybe strike a long-term deal. Hmm, wait, why does she look so familiar?

"You mean me?"

"Woaah?! Eh? Aren't you that guy that Cloude was talking about?"

Speaking of which, I remember her now. She's the girl I saw entering the premises of Cloude's maid cafe, accompanied by a trap looking boy.

Yep. That lolishota.

"Oh, so that's why you look a bit familiar."

"Haha, I guess? I didn't recognize you since you have new equips."

"Ah, is that so? Well, I was lucky enough to stumble upon them on a chest. I really lucked out at the time, if I do say so myself…"

"Hee. That really is lucky of you. It looks like they're quite the strong equips as well, especially the bow. Nice nice, I've never seen anything like it."

Umu… she totally knows her stuff. Based on the assortment she have in her stall, she's a blacksmith and not a woodworker so this statement of hers shows that she have enough experience to identify strong items.

Nice, looks like I hit the jackpot this time.

"Well, welcome. Welcome to Magi-san's stall. There's anything from weapons to accessories. I'm Magi, the shopkeeper."

"Hee, since you've got a stall already, are you also from the β test?"

"That's right. Eh, are you a β tester as well? I don't recognize you, umm…"

"Syunpo Panda. Also, I'm not from the β test."

"That's a very cute name for a male player. Sounds like Kungfu Panda to me. Uh… right, then why do you sound quite knowledgeable?"

"Well, my friend and sisters played in β and invited me for the official launch. I asked them some pointers so I'm quite knowledgeable? Only a little though."

'Ahahaha, so you wanted to become an archer' is with someone would say with a dry smile. In nine cases out of ten, such a sarcastic comment would come.

"But I don't have any bows you know? I can sell you some accessories to increase your defence power, though."

"No, I guess you could say that I'm also a crafter?"

"Hee, a fighter with crafting Senses. Not bad, I was also aiming to be a fighting blacksmith, but since the crafting Senses' levelling was delayed because of the fighting part I changed my mind in official version and went full blacksmith. Of course, I can fight on a basic level."

"Is that so. I actually noticed that as well. It's gonna take me forever to actually grind my Sense's levels if I go the ordinary way… Anyway, that's actually not why I came to this place."

"Ah I get it. You want me to buy the items you made don't you. Onee-san will buy it."

"Eh? That fast? Thank you very much! Magi-san! Gee, you're really a lifesaver."

It seems like I surprised her when I said that with a smile. Magi-san blushed slightly in embarrassment and also smiled at me.

In small voice she muttered 'Not good. This is…'.

Hmm? That aside, this is a godsend. I opened a trade screen between me and Magi-san and put in the items that I wanted to sell.

The blush on Magi-san's face from earlier already disappeared as she started to appraise the items. Yep, she's properly emitting that top crafter aura kinda thing right now.

The item I put in the trade window was [Boost Marbles(Red)] ×50, [Boost Marbles(Yellow)] ×50, and [Boost Marbles(Blue)] ×50. I have the [Boost Marbles(Orange)] ×50 and [Boost Marbles(Purple)] ×50 for me and my friends.

"Hee, self-made items huh. Eh? What's with this effects!? Wait a second, is this one of your ridiculous discoveries again!?"

"Umm, what do you mean by 'one of' my 'ridiculous' discoveries?!"

"Haha, well, it's because Cloude told us how you got a Big Fur that could be gathered from killing Big Boars so early into the game. Anyway, do you mind if I give a call to Cloude and my friend, Lyly?"

"Sure, I don't mind…"

Since Magi-san didn't really move away, I could actually hear their conversation. To sum it up, she's inviting her two friends to tell them about an important thing.

I assume this is about my items. I mean, I actually understand why this is an important thing to discuss about. After all, it's currently a one of a kind item, not to mention the fact that it's definitely gonna sell well.

Based on what I understand about Cloude, I guess they're gonna talk about how to price this item of mine, huh? And, if he's friends with Magi-san and this Lyly, this must mean that the two are also top crafters.

As I stood in front of Magi-san's stall I heard their conversation come to an end.

"Hurry and come here, okay? Syun-kun's waiting."

『Got it. We're on our way. We'll be there in three minutes…』

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※~To be continued~※

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Author's Remarks:

※ This is the flashback I'm talking about. It's gonna be a two parter but will only take the space of about half the next chapter. This is just to show how Mutsuko and Shun developed a pretty close bond with the top three crafters. It's a real pretty important info for a future plot. Scratch that. I'm not too sure if it will be important…