Golden Ratio & The Capital City

DING!

[Owlbear | Lvl 55 | General | HP: 4986/6084]

So this is the Owlbear I've heard so much about, Daisuke thought with a tad of indifference. It's as powerful as they say. "And yet—"

The world seemed to stretch as he suddenly took off from where he was standing, the Salamander's Claw tracing a blazing orange arc through the air. In a flash, he streaked past the fiend like a comet, slicing it cleanly in two. Then Zephyr went in for the overkill by engulfing the remains in a fiery inferno.

"You're still nothing but child's play compared to my stats," Daisuke murmured, flicking the crimson stain from his dagger.

DING!

[You have slain a «Owlbear»!]

[287 Experience Points have been acquired.]

[Owlbear Claw has been acquired.]

[Zephyr has acquired 229 Experience Points.]

A month had slipped by since Daisuke set out for Lunarel. A horse or carriage would have cut the journey down to mere days, but he deliberately chose a slower pace. The Eye of Verity was too valuable an asset to waste; every mile held the potential for discovering Unique Dungeons or encountering elusive Field Bosses—opportunities he refused to miss.

Yet, with the entire player base hunting him, discretion might have been the better choice. And now, with the princess entangled in his plans, absolute secrecy was no longer just a precaution—it was a necessity.

Whatever the case, he had achieved two levels throughout the course of his excursion—sure, he didn't invest too much time into hunting since time was of the essence, but he did mow down all the obstacles in his path… especially the monsters that seemed interesting, tough, or looked at him funny.

At some point, Daisuke had toggled on his EXP notifications to better analyze the points gained from hunting monsters several levels above his own. This field test had also served as a brutal reminder that slaying regular monsters—particularly those closer to his level—was an inefficient use of time and effort.

Given that he was splitting his EXP with Zephyr, targeting Field and Unique monsters, as well as delving into Irregular Dungeons, was a far more lucrative strategy. Not only did these ventures yield significantly higher EXP, but the rare drops they offered were infinitely more valuable than anything general-type monsters could provide.

There was, however, a silver lining.

During his month-long journey, he uncovered an important detail: champion and elite-tier monsters never appeared near starter villages. Moreover, these higher-tier foes granted significantly more EXP than their lesser counterparts. The gap between champion and elite monsters was so vast that the thought of encountering a giant-tier monster felt like discovering a treasure trove. Unfortunately, the higher the grade of the monster, the scarcer they seem to be, which would explain why he had yet to encounter a giant.

Still, depending on one's point of view, hunting general-type monsters wasn't entirely a lost cause. In the last MMORPG he'd played, monsters ten levels above one's character was the golden ratio to receive optimal experience points from each kill. To his surprise—and relief—the same logic applied in Sehreneti Online.

[Name: Haxks

Species: Human

Level: 45 | EXP: 8,457/316,406 (2.67%)

After downing a level 52, 53, and 54 monster, Daisuke would receive 355, 360, and 365 EXP respectively, which meant each succeeding monster yielded an additional 5 points in experience. But the moment a level 55 monster was slain, which was exactly 10 levels above his own, instead of 370 EXP, he received 574 instead.

That was an approximate 55% increase in the acquired EXP, and the results were consistent when he tackled level 53 monsters at level 43, level 54 monsters at level 44, and now the level 55 Owlbear at level 45.

"Mmm…," Daisuke cupped his chin in thought. Would there also be an EXP bonus if I slew mobs 20 levels stronger? "Now this makes me curious about the EXP yield from dungeon monsters," he mused aloud. "Since they're more aggressive than surface mobs, does that mean they offer better rewards?"

"Rawrwu?" Zephyr tilted his head curiously.

"Still, I'm surprised I didn't come across a single Field Boss this whole time," Daisuke muttered disappointedly. "Did my luck finally run dry? Or are they deliberately avoiding the more populated areas of the map?"

The moment the final set of words fell from his lips, another Owlbear charged from the woods with a vengeful roar.

"Ah, jeez!" Daisuke sighed nosily. "Don't you bastards hibernate for the winter at all? I mean, you are part bear!"

"Grrr!" Zephyr growled.

Exchanging a telling glance, both warriors threw themselves into the fray.

***

To avoid the flow of people and vehicles, Daisuke gingerly proceeded along the far side of the drawbridge, his boots echoing against the worn wood as he made his way toward the outer gate where the sentries stood vigilant. His gaze, momentarily distracted, drifted upward to the towering golden statue of a griffin perched majestically atop the wall, its wings spread wide as though preparing to take flight.

Both players and NPCs hurriedly shuffled about, their movements fluid and carefree as they navigated the chaotic flow of traffic without a second thought. Unlike Daisuke, they didn't seem too concerned by the danger of being trampled or crushed beneath the thundering hooves of passing horses and the burdens they hauled behind them.

"ID," demanded one of the guards, a burly man with an old scar etched along his cheek.

"Sure, one sec."

As Daisuke retrieved the card with a flick of his hand, the other guard briefly assessed him before turning to attend to the next arriving person. The burly man carefully securitized the guild card then heaved a satisfied grunt. Afterward, he briefly looked Daisuke over as well, clearly pleased with his impressive attire and the fact that he didn't have a tail or ears sticking out from the top of his head.

"Next!" he called, returning the card with a slight nod of his head.

Surrendering to the organized chaos, Daisuke went with the flow, following the long line of people spilling into the city. I guess I shouldn't be all that surprised that they demanded my ID here. Wonderelle's a starter town, so they aren't as strict as the capital city.

As the turbulent tide of people dispersed into the surrounding streets, Daisuke paused to take a look around, his mouth agape in awe. At the same time, his nose flaring by the myriad of alien but enticing aromas wafting on the wind, Zephyr's tiny head popped out of Daisuke's shirt.

The royal capital was a breathtaking city that seamlessly combined natural beauty with architectural splendor. As Daisuke progressed through the southern gates, he was greeted by the sight of an expansive cityscape nestled in a valley surrounded by snow-capped mountains.

The city itself radiated outward in concentric circles, with canals of shimmering water crisscrossing its districts. Elegant bridges connected the various sections, and white obelisks rose high above the skyline. The outer districts featured neatly arranged houses with rooftops painted in vibrant blues, while the inner areas led the eye toward the heart of the city—a magnificent palace that sat atop a hill, commanding the view like a jewel in a crown.

Daisuke's eyes darted around like a child in an amusement park as he moved toward the inner districts. Lunarel's streets bustled with activity, from merchants peddling their wares along the marble-paved walkways to citizens strolling leisurely, their movements reflecting the supposed prosperity and peace of the capital. The waters of the central lake sparkled under the sunlight, and gondolas glided gracefully across its surface, adding a touch of sophistication to the scene.

After pausing for a quick brunch to restore Zephyr's civility, Daisuke asked around for directions and eventually found his way to the apothecary. A part of him had half-expected to see one of Verna's many twins behind the counter, but instead, he was greeted by a completely unfamiliar face. Still, the woman's politeness was no less warm than what he had received from Verna and her siblings.

After exchanging pleasantries, Daisuke began browsing the items available through his holographic menu. The shop offered a broader selection of consumables compared to the one in Wonderelle, but, unsurprisingly, the prices were steep. While he had more than enough gold to afford what he wanted, he chose to hold off, planning to wait until monsters dropped the items he didn't typically need.

However, there was one particular item he felt he couldn't pass up. After replenishing his usual stock of potions, he scrolled down the list, his gaze landing on the Insidious Incense. Remembering how it had been used against him during the skirmish with the bandits, Daisuke realized it had several unique applications that might come in handy down the road.

[Insidious Incense]

[A pouch containing a potent mixture of ingredients that releases a thick, acrid smoke, irresistibly drawing monsters from the surrounding area. Whether used as bait or to provoke a challenge, this incense is not for the faint of heart.

Skill Effect: Attracts monsters

Duration: 5 Minutes]

"I'll take three of these."

After wrapping up his business at the apothecary by selling off the monster materials he had absolutely no use for, Daisuke made his way to the general store to stock up on the seasonings he had depleted during his month-long journey. As he sifted through the selection, his eyes caught sight of something that made him pause—a particular item he couldn't possibly leave without adding to his collection.

[High Grade Stun Trap]

[A finely crafted crystal that can be embedded into any surface. Upon placement, it generates a two-meter-wide magic circle, undetectable to the naked eye. The trap activates when pressure is applied, releasing a burst of electricity that paralyzes the target for 10 seconds.

Skill Effect: Paralyzes and immobilizes target

Duration: 10 seconds

Cooldown: Single-use item]

This is definitely going to come in handy, Daisuke thought, his eyes narrowing in amusement.