Healing at the Academy convenience store

With Rudika gone, Nephti and I found ourselves facing each other, contemplating the upcoming events.

“···You. Hang in there.”

“Keep it down.”

Holding my throbbing head I thought.

The assassin, Hatsan, had promised to visit tomorrow, and I knew I would have to accompany her to the Sleeping Mountain to collect spicy herbs.

As I pondered, I couldn’t help but recall the abundance of spicy items available in Korean convenience stores. Crazy Spicy Chicken, Dying Spicy Chicken, Killer Spicy Chicken, and more – it seemed like everything was about spice. I even recalled the bizarre Crazy Spicy Chicken Fish Ice Cream, an idea I couldn’t fathom.

Nonetheless, I turned around and glanced at the shelves of ‘my convenience store.’

To my dismay, there were only candies, bread, and some cream tucked away in a corner. I realized I had the beans in my office, unsure whether to sell or display them.

My sense of duty as a super convenience store manager kicked in. I needed to fill those shelves with items, and what better choice than spicy goods?

‘···Not bad.’

This was anticipated.

Truthfully, I even considered that Kelters might be targeting me at this very moment.

Currently, a powerful individual has approached me, we share a common objective, and there’s something I must do.

‘I use it to gain, use it to accomplish, and apply it to fill in.’ 

For that, I need to think. What can Wolfram do? What can help? Even if you fall, isn’t it the job of a veteran to evade enemy blows, gather the riches, and rise again?

The Sleeping Mountain represented Act 2, a phase with substantial rewards compared to Act 1. It was like a new chapter, offering more challenges and opportunities.

The story is only now revealing that Kelters, playing a game of tag in Act 1, while I can go to the map of Act 2, which is a significant advantage.

With Rudika as my companion, I began calculating the monsters that would await us at the beginning of the Sleeping Mountain.

I feel anxious.

It’s not Rudika that unsettles me, but rather the realization that my life is at risk.

Act 2, in many ways, represents the true essence of the game.

Once the tutorial and initial chapter are completed, new ideas are introduced to those who have grasped the basics of the game. These should evoke a sense of mini-puzzle intrigue, akin to thinking, “Ah, so this is the strategy I should employ.” It’s a hallmark of well-crafted level design.

Naturally, it all has to start from the beginning, and a horde of new patterned monsters soon bursts onto the scene.

“Nephti, join us tomorrow.”

“···You mean to die? In the Sleeping Mountain?”

“I’ll pay you three hundred thousand Rin for the day.”

“This life is always yours, my lord.” 

Was the price of faith three hundred thousand?

Well, anyway, it shouldn’t be that difficult.

If I use Nephti’s characteristics there… Hmm. It’ll work.

“As an employer, I have two orders for you, Nephti.” 

“Speak, my lord.”

“I know it’s late, but I’d appreciate it if you could prepare one item by tomorrow.”

“Umm. That’s a bit… It’s already night?”

“I’ll add another hundred thousand.”

“Loyalty and faithfulness. And fidelity. I stake my faith on fulfilling your will.”

Yeah.

Do that.

****

The following morning, as it was a day off, we decided to meet in front of the convenience store. Rudika was the first to arrive.

“Wolfram, Rudika is here.”

“···Hmm. I see.”

“Let’s set off now.”

“Wait a little bit. One more person is coming. Stay put.”

“Okay. Got it.”

Following my instructions, Rudika sat down.

“Have you had your meal?”

“I was too busy to eat. It’s okay. Rudika can survive a week without eating.”

“······Tch.”

I handed her the last piece of black bread and some water. Additionally, I gave her mixed beans to spread on the black bread.

“What is this?”

“Try it. It’ll make a good meal.”

After showing her how to eat it, Rudika skillfully scooped a heap of cream onto the black bread and put it in her mouth.

Gulp, gulp.

In less than a minute, she finished her meal, including drinking the water, and stretched out.

“How’s the taste? Is it edible?”

“Hmm? ···Uhmm. It’s good energy. I could fight for ten days. Good meal. Thanks, Wolfram.”

Despite the odd conversation, I didn’t pay it much mind. Conversations with Hatsan never went smoothly anyway.

As we chatted, our third companion arrived.

“Lord, I brought the item you ordered.”

“You’ve worked hard.”

“Were you two in a lord and servant relationship?” Rudika asked curiously at Nephti’s response.

“It’s temporary.”

“Loyalty. Faithfulness. Fidelity. My faith is in him,” Nephti declared.

Rudika looked puzzled, but I didn’t dwell on it and inspected what Nephti had brought.

It was a massive handcart, big enough to comfortably accommodate at least six people standing.

“How on earth are you planning to use this, my lord?”

“Hmm.”

I climbed onto the cart, loading the supplies I had prepared. Then, I gestured to Nephti to hold the handle of the handcart.

“Pull the cart with me and the supplies on it to the Sleeping Mountains.”

“What?”

“I’ll add an extra 50,000.”

“If it can aid in my lord’s travels, consider it an act of loyalty!”

Thus, I mounted the cart, and we set off toward the Sleeping Mountains.

As we traveled, Rudika occasionally looked at me with concern.

“···Is Wolfram comfortable?”

“Mm. Comfortable.”

“···No, what Rudika is asking about is Wolfram’s emotional state.”

“······.”

However, with my stamina at 2, there was nothing I could do about it. It was better than passing out right away.

Think about it.

Damn it.

***

We finally arrived at the Sleeping Mountains after pooling our strength. Nephti’s stamina was at 17, and her strength was at 16, so she wouldn’t be that worn out.

Anyway, we reached the mountains, I got off the cart, and began preparing.

“Let’s all check the gear we brought and how we packed it,” I suggested.

Nephti and Rudika nodded in agreement, and I immediately started assessing our gear, relying on my veteran instincts. Nephti’s gear was typical for a novice knight—longsword, shield, wristband, leather armor over a cloth lining, greaves, and leather boots—all well-kept.

As for Rudika, it was exactly as I had expected.

“A dagger,” I said, examining Rudika’s sole weapon.

“Yes. Rudika is sufficient with just this,” she replied confidently.

It was a single dagger with a dark blade—nothing more.

As expected, this was exactly what I had anticipated.

“We’ve checked all the gear. Ahead of us, monsters will appear. It’s different from the Eastern Forest, where only edible slimes and goblins show up. Ahead of us is… a real battlefield.”

“I see.”

“I’m not a wizard, so me giving commands might be disagreeable, but I hired Nephti, and Rudika, you came here at my request. So, I will be the one to take command. Any objections?”

“None, my lord.”

“Rudika also has none.”

“Then this is our first and final strategy. Prioritize the protection. We must protect at all costs.”

“······.”

“······.”

Hey, don’t look at me like that, seriously.

“You seem to be misunderstanding. I will be hiding behind the handcart or in the nearby bushes. Nephti, you are to protect Rudika.”

“What?”

“Huh?”

Who said anything about protecting me?

***

Initially, everyone was perplexed by my orders, but after our first encounter with a monster and the subsequent battle, they completely abandoned their doubts.

Before explaining our strategy, it’s essential to understand the origin of the name of these Sleeping Mountains, the stage for Act 2 of D/Z.

It truly induces sleep.

No joke.

The mountains are infested with worm-like monsters called Sleepy, which primarily use sleep magic. Additionally, there are Mothmen, creatures resembling a fusion of humans and moths, who sprinkle sleep-inducing powder from their wings. The entrance is filled with monsters that inflict various ‘sleep states’.

If Act 1 was about fighting physical attacks, Act 2 is about fighting status conditions. That’s the design of this map.

Sadly, this is a battlefield where assassins can’t exert their power.

But look at Rudika now. She moves silently, and her footsteps can’t be heard. She just appears behind the monsters and swiftly slits their throats.

[Hatsan Style: Stealth: Rear Capture.]

[Hatsan Style: Throat Slitting: Critical Strike.]

“Kieeek!”

“Kiaaaaaaaak!”

“Kaaaak! Kieeeeeeek!!”

With these two skills, countless Sleepy and Mothmen fall.

Poor Mothmen. They simply die.

But that doesn’t mean Rudika avoids all attacks from Sleepy and Mothmen. Avoiding Sleepy’s attacks is one thing, but the Mothmen emit a sleep-inducing powder upon being hit. It’s what you’d call reflected damage.

Then what happens? We fall asleep at a certain probability.

If Rudika, who arrived with nothing but a dagger, falls asleep, then I’m in trouble. So, I employed a trick from the old-timers.

“I never thought you would use such a tactic,” Nephti commented while sipping her leisurely bean tea.

I smirked at Nephti, my guardian. Today, I spent a whopping 400,000 on Nephti, and here’s why. Ever since joining the team, Nephti had a first act tanker skill known as [Guardian Barrier: Life-saving Grace.]

“It’s a relief that you’ve paid attention in all your classes,” I said.

“Yes, ‘Guardian Barrier: Life-saving Grace’ is indeed a skill learned in the common curriculum for first-year students. But, I never expected it to be used in this way,” she replied.

“Guardian Barrier: Life-saving Grace” is a skill that disperses attacks aimed at the designated target. Nephti activated this skill on Rudika at the moment. The crucial detail is that it also includes protection from status abnormalities within the range of attacks. Although it’s not explicitly stated in the description, it definitely applies.

Naturally, the agile Rudika wouldn’t get hit by attacks from the Mothmen or Sleepy. As long as we’re cautious about reflective damage, all should be fine—Nephti can handle the rest. And at this moment, Nephti is enjoying the mix bean tea that I’ve prepared.

Mix beans are an original item that can be thrown, but they are usually consumed. Quite naturally, they provide basic options like sleep resistance from the very beginning.

To sum it up, our battlefield strategy looked something like this: Rudika should be the one asleep, but the “Life-saving Grace” acts as a counter, Nephti is preventing sleep by sipping hot tea, and Rudika is…

“Squeaaaak!”

“Yaaah, squuueaaaak!”

Rudika relished tearing apart the screaming Mothmen in the distance.

Things were surprisingly calm here in the second act. It was all quite convenient.

“I’m starting to get sleepy,” Nephti mentioned.

“The moment you fall asleep, I’m reducing your pay.”

“I will never fall asleep. A knight would prefer to drop dead while awake.”

“That’s the spirit.”

***

With a smile, Rudika returned from sweeping the battlefield. Countless bodies of Mothmen and Sleepy lay scattered behind her.

“That was fun. Thanks, Wolfram. Thanks, Nephti!”

“Mmm.”

I admired the way she could describe playing with those corpses so cheerfully.

“Anyway, we’ve caught a lot! Let’s go collect some spicy herbs now!”

“I was going to suggest the same. Nephti.”

“Yes, my lord.”

“From now on, you’ll be collecting the plants I name. Understand?”

“…Yes.”

“Work as much as you’re paid. If you slack off, I’ll reduce your wages.”

“I, Nephterian, am experienced in herb gathering while frolicking in mountains and fields. If my body can serve your purpose, then I am content.”

“Good.”

With that, Nephti went off to gather herbs, and I began to traverse the mound of corpses. It was quite neat—each enemy finished off with a precise strike to the neck. Rudika’s dagger itself carried magical enchantments for durability and increased critical hit chance. But her skill utilization was a separate story.

Farewell, poor Mothmen.

“Rudika.”

“What?”

“Did any of the Mothmen you killed drop a glove?”

“…Hmm? Gloves, you say? Ah, you mean the Mothmen wearing gloves? Yes, I saw some.”

“So that’s how it is. Where are they?”

“It was the 51st Mothman I killed! Just a moment…”

With that, Rudika began to search through the Mothmen’s bodies. Luckily, they didn’t seem to be the type to leak fluids.

Phew, what a relief.

So, the items don’t drop upon death; you have to retrieve them from the live Mothmen. That’s another lesson learned.

“Here it is! Is this the glove you’re talking about?”

“Yes. I’ll be taking that.”

“Sure thing!”

Rudika handed me the glove, and I examined it carefully. I never thought I’d have a use for this item.

“What’s so special about that glove? I’ve never seen it before.”

“It’s exactly what I need right now.”

“Wow, can you explain?”

“It’s not that complicated.”

In my mind, I reviewed the information on the Balance Glove, a tier-9 magic item.

The “Balance Glove.”

The “Balance Glove” randomly boosts one of your stats by 3 upon wearing.

However, it doesn’t apply to stats already at 10 or above.

It’s made for those who haven’t even reached a basic stat of 10 by the second act—a token to escape the loser league. This glove is farmed to reach the so-called ‘human right’ of a stat of 10.

“That’s what it does.”

Upon explaining the item, Rudika’s face hardened slightly.

“…Are there actually stats below 10? Wolfram, you never cease to amaze me!”

Must be quite a shock. In fact, all of my stats are below 10! I didn’t tell her this, fearing she’d faint from the surprise.

Damn.