Escort Supplies

Before learning magic, Yu Yu prepared to deal with the spoils of war first. Since setting up stalls was no longer allowed in the spawn plaza, Yu Yu had to go outside the city gate. Although only a few days had passed, the number of players in the city had noticeably increased, with new players in hemp clothing constantly appearing at the spawn point.

With more people came more commotion. The city gate area became bustling with players looking for teams, buying and selling items, and... guilds recruiting members...

In any game, as long as it wasn't single-player, people would immediately form groups. Yu Yu declined invitations from several guilds—both familiar and unfamiliar—and also refused team invitations while walking to the city gate to look at the notice board. She hadn't checked it for several days, and new entries had appeared.

[Outsiders, please exercise restraint. Without the blacksmith's permission, it is forbidden to remove the blacksmith's pants. Violators will be severely punished. —Town Hall] (crossed out)

[The carpenter's pants can't be removed either!!! Nobody's pants can be removed!!!] (crossed out)

[...Please, outsiders, have at least some shame and don't remove your pants in front of the Town Hall!] (crossed out)

[NO REMOVING PANTS ANYWHERE!!!!!!]

From what started as relatively calm notices, they gradually became hysterical, with force that seemed to penetrate the paper. Yu Yu couldn't stop laughing. It seemed the Town Hall had been tormented recently. When would NPCs learn the correct way to manage players?

Yu Yu couldn't stop laughing. The Town Hall had clearly been through the wringer. When would NPCs learn how to handle players properly?

"Outsiders, no farming by the gate."

"Your food's worse than pig slop, and now we can't even grow our own? Are you deliberately screwing players over?!"

The farming player hadn't even responded before the crowd erupted in outrage.

One player, fuming, shouted, "I'll smash that rip-off shop one day! Their food made me puke multiple times!"

"With such realistic senses, they could've made it amazing, but no—they make it disgusting on purpose! The devs are pure evil!"

The guards, stone-faced, didn't understand a word. "No farming at the gate."

Yu Yu, hood up, nodded. "It is bad. Time to grind some life skills."

The guard's expression darkened, but when he saw Yu Yu, his scowl softened to confusion.

"Outsiders are so unreasonable. We've eaten Uncle Bagen's food our whole lives. What's wrong with it?"

The players froze, stunned by the guard's sudden friendliness.

Moments ago, he'd looked ready to draw his sword!

Who was this? A pay-to-win VIP?

Yu Yu, caught off guard, was nudged forward by the crowd. She sighed and spoke up. "Did Captain Keya say no farming by the gate?"

The guard nodded. "It's true. No farming here."

Yu Yu glanced at the dejected farming player. "Where do you usually plant?"

The guard blinked. "…There's a garden in the north district, but the soil's tainted here, so close to the Fallen Zone. Food's usually shipped from Silver Moon City."

He added, almost reluctantly, "If you…" He eyed the surrounding players, his face hardening again. "If you must farm, talk to Uncle Bagen. The garden's his."

Lately, though, outsiders had driven Bagen up the wall—calling his food gross, vomiting on the spot, no manners whatsoever. His mood was, to put it mildly, not great.

"He's a key NPC? Why didn't you say so!"

"Is it too late to grind favor with him?"

"What does the tavern owner like?"

The players scattered, already scheming.

The farming player approached Yu Yu. "Thanks! I'm Rabbit Cat Tail, but you can call me Tail. I thought I was headed for a fight…"

She thumped her chest. "Once my crops grow, dinner's on me."

Yu Yu smiled, added her as a friend, and headed back to the gate.

The guard, seeing she wasn't pushing the farming issue, followed her. "If you want to plant, there's some unused land behind the barracks. You could try there."

He hesitated. "Is it really that bad?"

"I haven't tried it," Yu Yu admitted, "but if everyone's saying so, it's probably true."

"But we think it's delicious."

Their voices faded as they walked.

"Who is she? Why's the guard so chatty? Answering every question—since when do guards do that?"

"He even offered barracks land? I'm so jealous…"

"I glanced at them once, and they looked ready to gut me!"

"Do gate guards have a favor system?"

"Why's this game so obsessed with random details?!"

"Don't you know Boss Yu? You must be day-one newbies."

"She cleared a hidden quest. The barracks are practically her second home now," a player said enviously. "Probably faction favor. No clue how to grind it."

"Boss Yu selling gear again! Hurry!"

Yu Yu wrapped up her stall and returned to the city.

She'd misjudged the market. Sure, the last wave of players had scored plenty of loot, but with newbies flooding in, demand was still high.

Six pieces of gear netted her 38 silver coins.

Combined with her quest rewards, she was sitting on a fortune: 2 gold, 138 silver, and 140 copper.

Enough to buy sixteen first-ring spells!

At the Academy, the clerk wasn't Yun Lun but the cool beauty who'd let her buy on credit before.

"I want first-ring spells," Yu Yu said.

The woman summoned a light screen. "Which ones?"

"Any recommendations?"

The beauty's eyes flicked up. "I suggest Spell Identification, Spell Detection, Spell Alert, Force Shield, Deflection Field, Daze, Grease, Cause Fear, Summon Wolf, Slick Step, Light Body, Barkskin, and a few elemental spells."

Her flat voice rattled off the list like a menu. Yu Yu counted on her fingers. Sweat beaded on her forehead. Twelve spells—phew, she could still afford four elemental ones.

Yu Yu raised her hand, ready to splurge. "I'll take—"

"But," the woman continued evenly, "your points only cover two."

Yu Yu froze. "?"

The beauty's gaze held a hint of amusement. "Insufficient points."

Yu Yu's face fell.

Right… she vaguely remembered.

Her magic circle quest had earned her faction points, but buying Academy spells required those same points.

She'd been careless!

"However," the woman said, "you performed well on this mission. The city guard commended you, granting a first-ring quest reward: 800 points, 50 silver, and one first-ring spell."

As she spoke, Yu Yu received the rewards, plus experience.

400 XP gained.

Yu Yu pouted. "Senior Fei, can you say everything at once?"

"It's Felix."

"Sure, Senior Fei."

The woman seemed unbothered, continuing in her steady tone. "Which spells?"

Yu Yu studied her. "How many spells can my points cover?"

Felix checked her screen. "You had 900 points. Spent 300 on Lightning Bolt, 10 on library access. With the 800-point reward, you have 1,390."

"First-ring spells are 300 points each. Cantrips are free."

Only four spells.

She had money but couldn't spend it. Yu Yu was gutted.

"Zero-ring quests give 100 points, first-ring 400, right?"

"But cantrips cost 2 silver, first-ring 20—a tenfold jump. Why aren't points scaled the same?!" Yu Yu whined.

Felix's expression didn't flicker. "I suggest learning Summon Night Raven, preparing a proper envelope, and mailing your feedback to this address…"

She handed Yu Yu an address.

Yu Yu leaned back dramatically.

This Senior Fei was too serious. No sense of humor!

Still, she memorized the address. Might come in handy.

Four spells were a drop in the bucket.

Lightning Arrow was strong but single-element, easily countered. She needed another offensive spell. As a squishy spellcaster, she also needed tricks for escape, defense, detection, and control. To her surprise, Felix's earlier list aligned perfectly with her needs. She scrambled to jot it down before she forgot. Then she realized the game had no built-in notepad…

"Senior Fei got any paper and pens for sale?"

"Basic magical paper, magical quill, magical ink—one set, 5 gold."

Yu Yu: "…"

"Just… regular paper and pen."

"Free."

Felix produced them from somewhere, and Yu Yu exhaled. "Thanks, Senior Fei."

Every breath in the Academy felt expensive. Too expensive.

Other classes couldn't possibly cost this much!

Without a side hustle, being a spellcaster would bankrupt her.

Yu Yu scribbled down the spell list in a flash.

"Senior Fei, what's Slick Step like?"

"Transmutation, first-ring. Applied to legs, lasts 30 seconds, costs 30. With mastery, duration increases," Felix said coolly. "Pairs with Light Body. No conflicts."

Yu Yu took notes. "Only two first-ring escape spells?"

She decided. "I'll take Slick Step."

Felix updated the screen.

Yu Yu studied the list. "I can only pick one between Spell Alert and Spell Detection. Which is better?"

"Spell Alert is passive, Spell Detection is active. Depends on your needs."

Yu Yu wanted both. "…Spell Detection."

"For shield, control, or a second attack spell, I can only pick two. Which has higher priority?"

Felix paused.

Yu Yu tensed, worried she'd stumped the NPC.

"You have one free spell," Felix said.

Yu Yu's eyes lit up. "A free Force Missile?"

Felix's face stayed blank, but Yu Yu instantly received a notification.

[Acquired Spell: Force Missile]

Yu Yu nearly grinned ear to ear. Not fully random after all! She loved Eternal Darkness's adaptive NPCs!

Noticing her glee, Felix's lips twitched slightly. Anticipating her next question, she continued, "Force Shield blocks one melee hit from a same-level rogue. Deflection Field counters ranged attacks—like a rogue's poison darts, a ranger's arrows, or other classes' crossbows."

"Cause Fear affects multiple targets up close, Daze targets one at range, Grease slows or trips multiple enemies mid-range."

Yu Yu chose quickly. "How long does Deflection Field last? A few seconds isn't worth it…"

"Both last five minutes at entry level."

"I'll take Deflection Field."

Yu Yu wasn't keen on melee. With her pitiful HP, one hit would be her end.

"How long does Cause Fear last? Do I need to be in melee range? How long to cast Daze? High cost? How long's the stun? What's Grease like?"

Felix answered patiently, like a true NPC. "First-ring Cause Fear lasts 0–5 seconds, based on the target's Intelligence and Willpower. Entry-level range is three meters—close quarters only."

"Daze takes 10 seconds to cast, stuns 0–10 seconds. Targets with 7 or less Intelligence and Willpower typically stun for the full 10."

"Grease creates a fan-shaped oily patch, slowing or tripping enemies based on their Agility and balance." She paused. "Requires casting material—basic oil. Buy it at a general store or the Academy's shop, accessible at level 5."

Yu Yu nodded. "I'll take Grease."

"The shop's probably pricey," she muttered, "and I'm out of points."

Felix: "The shop doesn't use points."

"Your spells are selected."

"Not yet!" Yu Yu said. "I'll buy all the remaining cantrips!"

Felix processed quickly. "Total: 88 silver, 1,200 points."

"Can I take a first-ring quest now?" Yu Yu batted her eyes, playing cute.

Felix frowned, her fingers flying across the screen. Her brow relaxed. "Technically, no."

"But I'm 2,000 XP from leveling up!"

Felix hesitated. "There's one quest. Check it yourself."

"I'll take it!" Yu Yu beamed. "Fei-jie, you're the best. Next time, I'll bring you something tasty."

As Yu Yu bounced off, Felix left the counter and headed upstairs.

"Well?" a refined woman asked, smiling. "Her talent's exceptional, isn't it?"

Felix lowered her gaze, pondering. "…She's decent."

"'Decent' from you is high praise," the woman said with a laugh. "The Grand Archon plans a tournament to select capable outsiders. You'll lead Crescent Town's team."

"Understood."

Yu Yu's haul was impressive: 2 gold, 100 silver, 140 copper, and level 4 (7,871/10,000 XP).

Five first-ring spells: [Force Missile], [Deflection Field], [Spell Detection], [Grease], [Slick Step]. Plus four cantrips: [Scorching Ray], [Frost Ray], [Open/Close], [Guidance].

Her old patrol quest had wrapped up. The four missing teammates' bodies were recovered, earning her 1,000 XP.

New quest: [Escort Supplies]

(Crescent Town's quarterly supplies must be delivered to Silver Moon City. The Archon requests the Academy send novice spellcasters to assist. Arrive at the North Gate by 8:00 AM, Allen Calendar 321, August 8. Late arrival results in mission failure.)