Chapter Sixty three

It was not that Artha didn't want to sell the items he had gathered. Problem was he didn't want to sell to guilds, he wanted to be low risk case to them. He couldn't sell to others because the moment he set the stalls, some guild or middleman would notice and let many or all know. So, in a way, it turned out to be same problem as first. The only options left were to sell to NPCs or use them himself. NPCs would give coins and XP. Using himself would net him finished products and XP, finished products if not too different, could be sold to players, guilds or otherwise.

Unfortunately, Artha had just become apprentice cook and he didn't have much cooking items stored. Majority were for other lifestyle jobs and he was still stuck in first part of the quest in many of them. Nearest to small goal among them was for Zoya, the potioneer extraordinaire. He had nearly finished reading the tome, the massive book. Just around five minutes left. Then the next step, copying it. If reading, with game AI, took so much time, copying would be even longer. That's why whenever he chatted with her, he never brought up becoming apprentice again.

Zoya's mood was okay. He got the job of cleaning the the shop again. She was resting, munching something delicious. Yes, the senses within the VR game meant Artha could see the gooey cookie, smell the wonderful aroma but had to satisfy the craving by crunching some crisp apple. Win some, lose some!

Zoya said suddenly, "I heard now you are cleaning in and around the inn."

Artha answered while working,"Can't say cleaning. It's just clearing the debris, sorting them out. Why? You want me to clean your shop too?"

"I don't do packaging and stuff like Zumi's. Why would there be so much junk at my shop?"

Artha nodded, what she said was true. Maybe he could get a sidegig at Zumi's or Peehu's, both generated more junk.

Zoya continued, "Why don't you go to Training place? They generate a huge mess there. I heard it is because of huge influx of apprentices."

Artha nodded again. He could try that too. Training place, as called by the NPCs was the place where NPCs and players alike trained their lifestyle jobs. Without the apprentice badge, entry was impossible. That place had all the things needed for apprentices. Obviously, the rental charge there was also very huge. Despite that, all the apprentices queued there to get the rooms. Apparently, the completion rate increased a bit in those rooms. Apart from those with huge backers, others used those rooms limitedly, mainly due to high rental. It could be seen that the guilds might start late but their apprentices could get promoted faster. Money runs the world.

Zoya suddenly remembered that Artha also wanted to learn potion making. "Yeah! Why haven't you pestered me again to make you into an apprentice? I remember you practically harassing me few days back. Hate this job? After all, it is not for everyone!"

Who wanted to report that they had incomplete quests? Artha sighed and answered, "I have nearly finished reading the book you gave."

Zoya was shocked. "What? You finished reading it already?"

"No. Not finished already, but nearly finished. Still need to read last few pages."

"I don't believe it."

"Try me!"

"Fine! I'll ask few questions based on the book and you have to answer. Only then will I believe it." Zoya's shock was understandable too. NPCs didn't have game AI to cheat, so they had to study old fashioned way. That book was filled with facts and it was very easy to get confused while remembering. Memorizing it would be basic step. Important thing would be to assimilate and correlate it.

She started viva voce just like that. Poor Artha. In real life he had finished so many exams but inside the game too he had to give exams. Torture!

"Tell me about Brimli."

"Brimli is pernacious plant growing to heights of 1 to 2 feet. Though it can grow practically anywhere, it growly verdantly in valleys. The leaves are cool but the flowers are warm."

"Why are flowers warm?"

"Traditionally, flowers are needed for pollination, seeds formation and new plant growth. However in Brimli's case, it's the root which is main part for plant to propagate. Flowers mainly work as thermo regulation to maintain core temperature of the plant as the leaves become cool in sunlight."

"Fine! What are the uses of it?"

"Like I said, you need roots for new plants. The leaves are cool. Young budding leaves have least cooling properties, thus used to make tea. The older leaves are used in cooling lotions, calming potions. The flowers, it can be used for decorating. The inner stamen is important though, it can rise the temperature forcibly if used correctly. So it's use in potion making and forging is very high. However, each plant will have only six flowers in it during its life span. So, a lots of Brimli plants are needed to have sufficient quantity of inner stamen."

"To which plant it is confused with?"

"Intact plant is very similar to another plant that grows in valleys- Shamura. The leaves are often confused with Casiopia leaves which look and feel similar but Casiopia leaves don't have cooling properties. The flowers on the whole are very vibrant. Nearest immitator would be Dogbane flowers. As for the inner stamen, it looks like ordinary pollen but if not stored properly, the container might catch fire. So it's always wrapped with leaves of the same plant to keep it cool."

"About Singlly shacks....." And so the viva voce went. Artha didn't stop his work. Unfortunately, even after he finished stacking and cleaning, the questions were still coming. He checked the countdown timer in his status bar. He was cutting close to his meet with Bloody Rose. They would not wait for him and the places they were grinding and searching for dungeons was not a easy place to reach. Would he have to waste the free babysitting time? After all, in company of stellar players, he could play like a pig and still be safe. From the looks of it, the period of cooperation was coming close. 1 day lost means 1 day lost. They would not extend the baby sitting, even if he was well behaved child.