Stunned for a moment, Yu Yu was snapped back by hunger. She glared at the swallowing 'person' above, furious but silent. She'd wondered why she suddenly got a quest. Now, was it because she ate noodles outside?
'Legend's Gaze'.jpg
It felt absurd no matter how she thought about it. But if not that, then what?
This place was clearly under the magic circle's control. Why would it pick her, a low-tier spellcaster, over high-tier ones?
Unless it could distinguish players from NPCs.
…Not impossible.
Yu Yu stared as it ate, occasionally glancing at her quest panel. A starter quest with 1000 experience—juicy, worthy of an epic quest.
[(Epic) Listening] (De Erisbo, trapped underground for twenty years, a master of elemental and evocation magic. Free him, and you'll be richly rewarded.)
Sounds nice, but I'll pass. Yu Yu reached to press E.
…No reject button?
Accepted blindly from the start, no chance to decline.
[(Epic) Listening] (Completed)
[Gained +1000 Experience, 'Erisbo's Improved Elemental Shield,' 'Delayed Burst Fireball,' 'Flame Burst,' 'Lightning Beam,' 'Chain Lightning,' 'Erisbos Improved Spell Counter.']
Yu Yu's eyes dazzled with rewards. Wait, what?
Full elemental shield? Delayed burst fireball?
Chain lightning? Flame burst? Lightning beam?
And a pricey universal spell, Spell Counter?
Improved, no less?
Yu Yu shamefully wavered.
He gave so much! (Voice trembling)
One bite of rice bowl for 2000 experience, four 2nd-ring spells, one 3rd-ring spell, and a super-expensive universal spell…
Yu Yu, weak-willed, looked up.
Cough, more?
Via the system panel, she learned this was a male spellcaster, race unknown, likely not human—his look from below was bizarre. Lifting her head, she caught him licking the plate…
Can I say that?
Sensing her gaze, the plate floated down.
"Magic circle's little spellcaster?" A eerie, raspy voice sounded.
"The magic circle's grown pathetic, sending such a thing to me. I should've shattered your mind back then."
Yu Yu: "…"
Your words don't match your generous rewards!
Be nicer!
After a pause, seeing no reaction, he snorted coldly, "Weak ant, scram."
[(Epic) Ant]
(Weak, you can't help Erisbo. You can do nothing. 'Become a mid-tier spellcaster.')
Only then did Yu Yu speak. "Your Excellency, do you like rice bowls?"
Her words triggered a new quest—
[Gourmet (Recurring)]
(Trapped underground for twenty years, Erisbo forgot the taste of food, but he's certain he's never eaten anything this delicious. Bring more, bigger portions! You'll be well rewarded! Avoid the spell ring's eyes~)
"Ignorant, I don't like eating!" He seemed provoked, growling, "Take her and leave, or must I kill her?"
"Thank you, Your Excellency." A black-robed woman appeared, bowing lightly.
Before Yu Yu could react, she was outside the cave, daylight blinding.
Yu Yu wailed, "My loot! My Banban!"
Black-robed woman: "?"
You're lucky to be alive, and you're whining about loot?
Prioritizing money over life?
That one's been mad for twenty years, waking suddenly. If she hadn't seen him talking to the little spellcaster, she wouldn't have dared enter. If this seedling wasn't so closely watched, she wouldn't have risked it. But how did she catch his attention?
And he didn't harm her?
Curious, she asked.
Yu Yu, innocent: "My food's tasty?"
Black-robed high-tier spellcaster: "?"
What nonsense?
Yu Yu, sweet: "I'll bring some for Senior next time?"
The woman huffed. "Don't call me Senior. I'm much older than that Felix kid. Call me Lynn."
"Senior Lynn, hi."
Lynn: "?"
I said not Senior?
Whatever.
She snorted coolly. "I've lifted the spell. Your cat will find its way out."
She vanished on the spot. Her shadowless coming and going—Yu Yu was jealous.
Was that a 4th-ring Teleport?
She wanted it.
Perfect for escaping!
Yu Yu agonized over her loot, pacing, heart breaking. Luckily, she'd tied her bags to Banban before leaving. Praying Banban walked steadily, not darting through rough terrain!
Mid-prayer, she heard Zi Shu's voice.
"How'd we suddenly get out?"
Zi Shu's weak voice sounded. "Why now? I'm dehydrated, stacked with debuffs…"
Yu Yu perked up. "Zi Shu?"
Hearing her, they hurried over. Yu Yu saw four refugees.
…Yeah.
Fuyu half-draped over Zi Shu, with a numb look on her face. Chang Yu's face was already red with blood streaks, and its eyes were full of mosquito coils carried on Zi Shu's back. Beside them, Shu Tu, pale as death.
Yu Yu, thrilled: "You're out?"
"Water bottle," Yu Yu said.
Zi Shu fumbled for one.
Fuyu, teary: "Big boss Yu, you have no idea how we survived these days!"
"We drank raw beast blood! Ugh, my stomach's crawling with parasites, and it didn't even quench thirst… ugh."
Chang Yu, dazed, opened her eyes, excited. "Boss, potions quench thirst!"
Seeing their tattered state, Yu Yu couldn't bear to look. "I thought you'd gotten out earlier."
Zi Shu, drained: "Thinking's one thing, doing's another."
Fuyu eyed Yu Yu's water bottle hungrily.
Yu Yu filled it and handed it over. "Another."
Soon, she filled all four bottles. "Got food? I'm starving."
Shu Tu finally spoke, voice trembling. "Ban… Banban?"
Yu Yu felt guilty. "Still inside."
Shu Tu collapsed. Yu Yu rushed to pinch her philtrum. "It's not dead! It'll come out! Wake up! Wake up!"
After a long wait, the big cat sauntered out, a bloody snack in its mouth. Under Shu Tu's worried gaze, Yu Yu squirmed. She'd feared for Banban too. Seeing it stroll like it was on a picnic, she yanked its round ears. "See, fat cat's out!"
Shu Tu, tears of joy, hugged Banban, nuzzling. Banban licked her twice, then rubbed Yu Yu, eyes longing.
Shu Tu: "?"
When did you two get so close?
Yu Yu coughed. "I brought the cat food you made for it…"
So Banban loves me.
Shu Tu: "…?"
After water and a long rest, the five recovered.
Fuyu wailed, "The bear's gone!"
Zi Shu, prepared: "Who knew we'd be stuck so long? Can't be helped."
In a wild rift or forest, a fresh corpse wouldn't last.
Yu Yu: "Forget the bear. Check my loot."
Fuyu perked up. "Just beasts and uglier beasts in there—what's worth taking?"
"And why'd we suddenly get out?"
Yu Yu dry-laughed. "It's the magic circle's assessment. I finished, so we're out."
Zi Shu sighed. "Why don't warriors have a guild?"
Fuyu nodded. "Exactly! And NPCs curse us, calling rogues gutter rats."
"Makes me mad—NPCs leading class discrimination!!!"
Shu Tu was fine. "Rangers have a decent rep."
It turned into a complaint session. Yu Yu stayed quiet. She felt spellcasters were indeed favored. Look, the Grand Archon's a spellcaster. Yu Yu untied the bags from Banban.
"Good, good, the important stuff's here."
Counting colored gear, Yu Yu sighed in relief.
Zi Shu's heart sank. "Important stuff's safe, but…"
Yu Yu petted Banban's head. "No choice. I was teleported out. If I hadn't tied the loot to Banban, we'd have nothing."
"As for Banban," Yu Yu shrugged, "no one watching—how do you think it walks?"
When she rode Banban, didn't it go parkour-crazy when excited?
"Feels like losing a billion," Zi Shu said, heart bleeding.
Yu Yu smiled. "Not a loss."
Soon, they divvied loot. Notably, Chang Yu had leveled twice. Yu Yu had no idea how many monsters they'd fought. A grim time, especially since, with Yu Yu there, they'd forgotten torches. Chang Yu, level 3, got 2 stat points, 2 skill points, one passive, one passive point. Her stuff later—Yu Yu spread the gear, then pulled out bottles and jars.
~Edit and rewritten by Rikhi, Reiya_Alberich, ReiNyam~
Zi Shu's group's gear durability was iffy; they'd need repairs. Yu Yu didn't know the magic circle's rewards. After such a delay, loot was her compensation. Good thing she'd wiped a squad—there was loot.
[Unyielding]
Quality: Superior
Armor: 20
Stats: Constitution +1, Strength +1
Trait: Unyielding
Requirements: Strength 10, Constitution 6
Weight: 10
Durability: 100/100
(The glory of the strong)
A sleek wooden shield glowed blue. Zi Shu gaped. "Two stat points? And a skill?"
She touched it, hesitant. "Superior gear—too valuable?"
If they'd fought together, she'd accept, but Yu Yu just handed it over…
Yu Yu waved it off. "Useless to me. If you feel bad, help me butcher pigs."
Zi Shu choked. She knew pigs were coming…
"If nothing goes wrong today," Zi Shu paused, "I'll check out your place first."
"But I recall a tiger at your door…"
Yu Yu rubbed Banban's head, getting a half-hearted lick. "Big cat's adorable, super cute!"
"With Shu Tu watching, it's fine."
Banban, sprawled, encircled Shu Tu and Yu Yu, head by Yu Yu's hand, tail flicking. Shu Tu couldn't even pet it. Zi Shu, won by the shield, nodded firmly.
[Unyielding]: In defensive stance, Armor +10, Resistance +5, resists 'Cripple.'
Zi Shu couldn't let it go—her first blue gear. With this game's stinginess, she'd keep this shield for ages.
[Blood Dagger] x2
Quality: Fine
Attack: 10–16
Stats: Agility +1
Weight: 2
Durability: 99/100
Two blood-red daggers made Fuyu's eyes shine. "I'll help butcher pigs!"
Yu Yu shrugged. "I can't use them. No need to be shy."
She valued Zi Shu and Fuyu. For those she respected, Yu Yu was never stingy.
[Jungle Guardian Boots]
Quality: Fine
Armor: 3
Stats: Agility +1
Trait: Movement Speed +5
Weight: 1
Durability: 50/50
Fuyu already had speed boots; these were Shu Tu's.
Finally, Yu Yu's loot.
[Thorn Staff]
Quality: Superior
Attack: 0–1
Stats: Spell Cost -5, slightly reduces casting time for 2nd-ring and below spells, (Wood spells slightly boosted, casting time moderately reduced)
Trait: Thorn Spell
Description: It's prickly—watch your hands.
[Pack Belt]
Quality: Fine
Capacity: 30
Stats: Weight -75%
Zi Shu stared at the belt, intense.
Yu Yu coughed. "My scrolls and bottles take up space. Next time, promise."
Recalling Zi Shu's bottomless carry capacity, Yu Yu said, "Back in town, I'll get you a bigger pack."
Zi Shu grinned. The rest was minor. Yu Yu tossed extra small packs to Zi Shu—only one weight reduction worked.
Zi Shu noted, "No extra reduction, but they shrink items. I can carry more."
Yu Yu: "Keep them."
Zi Shu, team inventory. Now, the big moment. Eyes gleaming, Chang Yu silently vowed to level fast and join fights.
[Agile Stance], [Crippling Strike]
[Poison Crafting], [Forced Stealth], [Shadow Leap]
[Plant Affinity], [First Aid (Herbs)], [Forest Herbs], [Recipe (Damaged)]
[Thorn Wall], [Rage Spell], [See Invisibility], [Venom]
Rich haul—humanoid enemies always dropped well. Especially skills—they were generous. Warriors, rogues, and spellcasters dropped duplicates: Agile Stance, Shadow Leap, Venom.
Yu Yu pocketed them. "Sell to NPCs later."
Especially Venom—the spell ring hadn't cataloged it. Maybe… heh.
Each grabbed skills, beaming with harvest joy. Fights were brutal, but splitting loot was sweet. You'd know if you divvied. Yu Yu eyed Shu Tu's book. The recipe was half-ruined by poison water, barely legible. Such a wrecked recipe…
Yu Yu leaned back.
"Just small stuff left."
"No scrolls or potions—they used them all," Yu Yu sighed. "Attrition fights are like that. They ate the loot. Loss."
Shu Tu's eyes lit up at arrow quivers. "So many arrows?"
[Fine Woodland Arrows] x250, [Ice Arrows] x40, [Lightning Arrows] x20, [Flame Arrows] x40
Yu Yu: "Their ranger couldn't hit me or my walls, so arrows were useless."
Zi Shu: "They seemed strong. How'd you win?"
Yu Yu outlined her strategy.
Zi Shu: "…"
Fuyu: "…"
Shu Tu: "…"
Fuyu opened her mouth and said, "What a shameless tactic…"
Yu Yu: "What else?"
Zi Shu quickly reacted, "Spells can be used like that? Spellcasters' spells are so versatile…"
Yu Yu grinned. "Obviously."
Zi Shu: "Rangers… why skills like Plant Affinity? Herbs, first aid—is ranger a jack-of-all-trades?"
Shu Tu nodded. "Seems so."
"My skill list shows rangers suit lone wolves—beasts, plants, bows, some dagger skills."
Fuyu held her chin up in envy, "I feel like every one of your professions is better than a Rogue. If I had known, I wouldn't have chosen a Rogue."
"I get scolded every day and can't fight. When a war starts, I'm the most dangerous. There's also discrimination against NPCs..."
"Spellcasters are extremely versatile, warriors are extremely strong, rangers are also so versatile, so I, a rogue, can only be a thief... woooo..."
Fuyu with pain mask, tired of saying "envy."
Yu Yu, unsure: "Late game, maybe? Rogues should shine."
"Strong wilderness survival, right?"
Sneak past monsters—other classes can't. Stealth, speed, blazing fast.
Fuyu, unconsoled: "Another 'future potential.'"
She griped, "Every game, I pick 'future potential' classes."
Zi Shu packed the swapped gear and extras, standing. "Let's go, fast. Back to town today, or we'll log off."
Fuyu perked up. "What's next?"
Shu Tu flipped through a book. Complete the quest to earn contributions and enter Silver Moon City."
Yu Yu: "Right, Zi Shu can haul bricks at the docks."
Zi Shu: "???"
"Can't I do something else?!"
Fuyu teased, "Dream on. Warriors are oversaturated, tons of NPC warriors. You'll fight for brick jobs."
"Ugh, this game's forcing me to steal! Help!" Fuyu went emo again.
She couldn't even find work—maybe just finding cats. Who'd hire rogues? Bottom-tier class—she was nearly a thief!
Back in town, they got kicked offline, no time to wash up.
Tomorrow, Silver Moon City for quest turn-in. Heh.
Savoring the thought, Yu Yu went downstairs. That rice bowl was meant for Senior, but…
No biggie, another bowl later.
"Don't grab my leg, don't grab my leg!"
Yu Yu's voice was very loud, and Shu Tu also came down.
"Is it hungry?"
Yu Yu: "How can a big cat get hungry so easily? It eats and sleeps, sleeps and eats, and then it gets fat."
The cat rubbed her leg, purring, super clingy. Yu Yu couldn't break free. Seeing Shu Tu, the cat switched, eagerly hugging her leg. Leaving Shu Tu, Yu Yu slipped to the kitchen, hunting for food.
"What's today's plan?"
Yu Yu thought. "Go and bring my calf back. The cowshed was built yesterday, but it needs to be reinforced later. I'll go buy some cement materials today."
"I'll learn online how to mix cement."
Poverty and anomalies made Yu Yu a jack-of-all-trades. People rarely went out now, unless, like Shu Tu or Chang Yu, money paved the way.
Shu Tu washed up. "Our house is moved. We're heading there tonight. I'll leave you a key. Come over for food if you're up."
Yu Yu grinned. "Sweet."
Shu Tu: "I'm driving to pick up my chickens, ducks, fish, geese. When's the canal dig? Any specs? While we can still hire, let's hurry."
Yu Yu: "On it, on it."
Too much to do—she was swamped.
Needed a strong worker. Zi Shu, when are you coming?
Chang Yu wasn't thrilled about her new house, whining, "Boss, your guest room's empty. I'll pay rent to stay, okay?"
"Okay, okay, okay?"
Yu Yu, hugged and cajoled, stayed stone-faced. "No, I need storage. No space."
Chang Yu, deflated: "Can I visit?"
Yu Yu: "I'll make keys today."
"Yay, you're the best!"
Yu Yu winked at Shu Tu.
Shu Tu laughed, opening the door. "Yu Yu."
Yu Yu: "? What?"
Shu Tu: "Strange footprints outside."
Yu Yu's face changed. She bolted out.
Relieved after looking, she said, "Just some animal. Tons pass through here."
Her gaze drifted to the wild forest. "In a few days, let's check it out. That tiny grove shouldn't hold so many animals…"
She was genuinely puzzled—what drew them?
So many animals had come.
Even giant sea turtles appeared by the river. Weird.
"Once Zi Shu and them arrive, let's explore the woods?"
Shu Tu: "Sounds good."
"I'm in, I'm in!" Chang Yu chimed.
Yu Yu nodded absently, eyes avoiding the sky.
She was vigilant.
Shu Tu: "After breakfast, Chang Yu and I will buy livestock. You're on your own."
Yu Yu eyed Chang Yu. "You're raising stuff too?"
Chang Yu nodded eagerly. "You're all doing it, so I will too."
"Bought tons, not delivered yet."
"Plenty of space, just set it up."
Chang Yu: "I'll give you guys keys when I'm home."
Yu Yu nearly forgot—this one was richer than Shu Tu.
"Good, stock up," Yu Yu said. "Prices are climbing. We're not the only smart ones."
"Tomorrow, if free, I'll use Thorn Wall to fence the complex."
Before, she hesitated—other owners were around, even if absent. Now, the whole complex was Chang Yu's—no worries.
Scorching sun, asphalt steaming—crack an egg, it'd cook instantly. Yu Yu, in a wide sunhat, dawdled on her e-scooter, leading two calves, one on each side.
The speed is close to zero.
It's the new era cowherd boy.
Suddenly, she seemed to hear some noise and looked over involuntarily. What the hell kind of monster?
Checking the direction, Yu Yu relaxed.
Good, not her way.
But she still stopped the car, tied the two calves to the telephone pole, and was ready to run away at any time. Property is not as important as life, just slip away.
Yu Yu hid behind a hedge, watching warily as… a crocodile man sprinted?
Crocodile man is extremely fast, with an agility of at least 8 points. Behind it, there were about seven or eight people chasing with guns. From time to time, there was a sound of gunfire, and Yu Yu subconsciously shrank back into the green belt.
Don't come. Please don't come.
My cow is still here.
However, things went against her wishes. The crocodile man made a sharp turn and tried to take a shortcut.
Yu Yu was completely numb.
The crocodile man looked here with his cloudy vertical pupils, and he saw the calf on the electric pole at a glance.
"Moo, moo…"
The two calves were also frightened by the unusual momentum and screamed, which attracted the crocodile man to look again. The uniformed pursuers spotted the calves.
"Captain…"
Where'd those cows come from?
"Quick, we must kill it fast—can't cause public panic!"
The lid was nearly off, but without official orders, they had to keep monsters from public view.
This thing… didn't look remotely human.
"Captain, it stopped! It's eating the cows!"
The uniformed voice brimmed with relief.
But Yu Yu? She was splitting apart!
Damn crocodile! Your life's mine!