1st Person POV (MC)-Present Time-
After we went our separate ways, I decided to go to my permanent home first. With a simple swish and tap on the system, the sights on the lush forest of Deep Woods instantly changed...
-My Home-
The familiar sights of a pristine marble temple with an open ceiling greeted me. Although I look around, awaiting someone in anticipation.
(“I’m pretty sure, he already realized it and is on his way...”)
*THUD* *THUD* *THUD*
(“There he is... Right on cue.”)
“Master!” -Gaia-
He has a sprightly voice, clearly excited after noticing my presence and seeing me.
Somehow, I see an image of a golden retriever overpping with Gaia, or maybe it’s just my delusion as I welcome him with open arms.
“Who’s the cutest? Who’s the goodest? *Chu* *Chu* *Chu*”
Gaia looks so happy as I pepper him with affection...
(“After all, A little cuddle and kisses don’t hurt, right?”)
...
...
...
Haaaa... Having a break after a long grinding session like that is nice. In the meantime, I asked Gaia to sit with me underneath the golden tree.
Aside from brushing him, we occasionally take rexing time like this. Simply leaning my body against his warm, soft fur while he curled his neck and rested his head on my legs.
Thankfully, a bit of a distance away, achieved by his massive size, since...
That massive antlers!
(“He tries not to poke me with those. How considerate fufufufu...”)
Internally, I chuckle and move on to what I’m going to do by opening the pyers market.
Hmmm... think I’ll skim off a bit from what I sell. Instead of 99 stacks, I’ll sell 90 and keep the 9 in Guild Inventory.
After all, the GvG event has not been formally announced. Pyers only leaked ‘what’ it is about but not ‘when’ it’s going to unch...
By accumuting slowly the potions, poisons, and bombs in the Guild Inventory. It will be a big stash of them sometimes in the future.
Although... I think I need to put a limit on how many items members can pull because it can be abused easily.
(“Hmmm... recruits can take 2 of everything, captains can take 5, and vice guild master can take 10? Yeah, that would be perfect. Since the cool downs to take again are per day in-game, they can just wait an hour before getting more.”)
In the meantime, I raise Deeva and Mr. Ryo's rank to captain. Haaaa... it is unfortunate that the guild system only allows 2 vice guild masters and 4 captains.
Since I do re-craft and re-sell twice IRL day, there’ll be 18 of them. I’m sure Guild inventory will be filled up in no time!
(“Uwaaa... It’s so smooth.”)
I stroked Gaia’s neck idling away and enjoying the atmosphere of my home. A nice recharge before going to my next task...
...
...
...
(“Alright, that’s enough dawdling, if I kept going, I would use up the entire session spoiling him.”)
Sensing me standing up, Gaia raises his head, and in doing so, the antlers rustle as leaves sway from his movement.
Some flower petals and leaves fall gracefully to the ground, but before they make contact, they seamlessly fade.
A part of his visual animation, I guess...
“Master?” -Gaia-
He asked, sounding confused, tilting his head to the side, and the leaves of his antlers shook even more, increasing the amount of fallen petals.
“Well, Gaia... I’m going to go somewhere, so protect the house, okay?”
Understanding what I said, Gaia’s eyes brightened like emeralds.
“I will.” -Gaia-
I smiled and quickly tapped the teleport button as my view instantly changed.
-Frontera, Residential District-
Arriving in the city, I have a pn in mind for trying to sniff out quests. That is why I am in the Residential District of this city, where the majority of the NPCs are...
A simple premise really... be helpful to NPCs, which in turn raises their ‘favourability’ meter and hope that they give out a Unique Quest.
That meter is unfortunately invisible, so it’s a guessing game...
(“Huh...”)
My curiosity piqued upon seeing the NPCs running back and forth. Being pretty busy & lively as they set up decorations on their houses and streets.
There are all lined up with red and green, a familiar colour in the winter season of this world and real life too.
*JINGLE* *JINGLE*
“Haha! Too slow!” -Kid NPC-
“Not fair! You use the corner.” -Kid NPC-
I also hear a faint jingling noise coming from ughing kids running in the neighbourhood wearing small bells somewhere on their attire.
(“A tradition of this world?”)
They all look so puffed up, gosh, the baby looks so cute! There’s a blue slime onesie that a family uses for their baby in their pram.
Come to think of it, all NPCs here are wearing winter clothing.
(“Is it that cold? I am immune to environmental effects due to my {Trait}, so I didn’t feel a thing.”)
“Come on, slowpokes! We need to get some presents for the winter’s crest festival.” -Kid NPC-
“W-wait! Big brother, you’re too fast!” -Kid NPC-
“Slow down, everyone! The stalls won’t go anywhere.” -Woman NPC-
Hearing their short interaction, it seems ‘Christmas’ in this game is called Winter’s Crest. How interesting...
I can see some makeshift shops are being set up, and some are already done. They are selling interesting trinkets and snacks. Fancy-looking decorative bells that can be put in clothing or hair, hairpin version.
Hmmm~ the smell of snacks permeates through the streets and these trinkets?
It doesn’t hurt to buy some bells, right? Might as well enjoy the festivities as I bought a little bell fashioned into a hairpin.
Upon purchase, I received the item, and it is in the costume slot or the overall slot. I thought it would be a miscelneous item kind of thing, not the wearable one...
“I want more snacks.” -Pyer-
“Then! Let’s try the spicy sausage. I heard they taste good.” -Pyer-
“Hehe~ I can eat and TASTE anything without getting fat. This is the dream.” -Pyer-
(“Hooooo??”)
I see some pyers wandering around, too, enjoying the atmosphere...and couples as well having a bit of a date out.
“How much is this?”
“1000 Zenis each.” -Trader NPC-
“Here you go...”
In nimble movement, he snagged some snacks, packaging them and filling out a cup simultaneously before giving them to me.
“Thanks for the patronage!” -Trader NPC-
I purchased a ginger cookies snack & warm chocote milk and sat on one of the avaible benches to munch on them while gazing at the streets...
My shoulder rexed as my gaze towards the neighbourhood softened, absorbing the pleasant atmosphere.
(“So peaceful...”)
...
...
...
*GALLOP* *GALLOP*
*NEIIGHHHHHHHHHH!!!!*
A thunderous gallop and rattling caught my attention and alerted me as my body stiffened.
“MOVE AWAY! THEY’RE OUT OF CONTROL!!!” -Coachman NPC-
His voice screaming in panic, trying to control the rampaged horses. That carriage zig-zags, tempting to fall over as the Coachman tries to steer.
My eyes wandered to the pyers who take notice of this commotion and look at the street where that wild carriage will go...
...
“WAIT! BROTHER!!!” -Kid NPC-
“RICHARD!!!!” -Woman NPC-
(“Hm!?”)
I remember that little kid! That carriage is heading straight to that poor little boy!!!
“KYAAAAAAA” -Crowd-
My brain is racking up any of the {Spell} I know on the top of my mind and quickly remembering the fastest one avaible...
(“[Bind]!!”)
Internally, I intently meant that keyword and pictured a chained carriage in my mind. As I can see from my point of view, only a fsh of the cast bar filling up to full and then vanishing.
In doing so...
Chains made from earth flung from the paved streets and coiled around the fast-moving carriage.
*NEIIGHHHHH*
It rattles and stretches taut against the horses, causing an emergency brake.
...
...
...
A second or two passes upon realizing that they aren’t moving further and hitting that little boy. The Coachman sighed in relief as his body turned limp, leaning against the coachman’s chair.
Pyers have already jumped into action by standing in front of that kid, trying to take the full brunt of the carriage. A knight css pyer already brandishes their shield like a hero in picture books.
Though... They didn’t expect a {Spell} to have been cast. Since casting action in Safe Zone is considered an immediate aggressive act that alerts guard NPCs and can give ‘Bounty’ to the caster, which then turned into a whole shebang of things. While unsheathing as these pyers did only gives mild suspicion from NPCs.
(“Well... As long as no one notices I cast magic.”)
That’s the benefit of being able to silently cast {Spell} I suppose... Hehe~
That kid simply tumbled to the ground before crying out, and his mother rushed forward to hug her kid whilst saying thanks to the pyers. The NPCs noticed that the act of unsheathing is used to protect someone.
“Fiuf....”
I sighed in relief and was a little gd I was able to stop an accident. I can... heal the kid with potions even if he got hit. But I don’t want to see that happening after all, prevention is much better than cure.
(“Ah shoot... I forgot, if I help silently like this there’s no way to increase my credibility meter or something...”)
Internally, I face-palmed and let out a disappointed sigh to myself for not thinking this through...
(“Oh well, there’ll be other chances.”)
...
...
...
These snacks are really good, I can smash multiple of them!
“Oh my...” -NPC-
Her croaking voice was muffled by the commotion of the previous event, but I faintly heard it. I turned my head towards the source of that voice.
An old human dy, probably in her 70s since her hair is white and wrinkly like a perm. She has a soft, round face shape and thick gsses.
She stood using her cane and her back hunched with a worried expression etched upon her face. Below her are clusters of items in the form of glimmering orbs.
It seems her little grocery cart broke down, leaving all of her stuff spilled to the ground after the commotion.
“What am I going to do?” -Old Lady NPC-
(“This is my chance!”)
“Oh! Let me help...”
...
...
...
“Thank you, dearie.” -Old Lady NPC-
Fiuf... It takes a lot of time picking them up one by one! She has a lot of stuff...
W-wait a minute, how did she fit all of this into that mini cart?
It’s impossible in terms of comparing the number of items existing and how much it’s going to fit inside that cart.
Which means that the cart is probably enchanted with magic. Is she a magic caster then?
After all... her items upon being picked up are revealed to be an assortment of alchemical ingredients, small monster cores, and groceries.
Since her bag was broken, I wonder what kind of magic she will use just so she’s able to carry them all?
“Oh, don’t worry dear. A mature dy has her tricks.” -Old Lady NPC-
Before I could voice that question, she answered it herself with a smile as if knowing what I was about to ask.
*THUD*
She lightly tapped the ground with her cane as it suddenly glinted in blue hue, clearly a {Spell} had been cast, but there was no cast bar or famous NPCs chanting mechanic.
(“That cane is a magic item.”)
I concluded...
*FWOOOOOOOOSHHH*
Before long, her stuff floats, and I can see a somewhat solid translucent ptform underneath them all.
“Thank you, dearie, I’ll keep silent on what you did to save that child. Here is a cookie for a good child like you.” -Old Lady NPC-
“Oh! Thanks, Granny.”
I took the rge chocote chip cookie that the old dy handed out.
...
...
...
Huh?
(“Wait, hold on.”)
I turned my head to the old dy once again but...
She wasn’t there, her figure had disappeared into thin air as questions began to fill my brain...
(“How did she know!?”)
*PINGGGG*
“!!!!!!”
I jumped, startled by the sudden notification and began to read what it said...
-System-
[Quest: Mysterious Old Lady]
Objective: Find the old dy (00:59:18)
Accept: Yes / No
This quest can only be done solo
-System-
“That’s... something I guess.”
A common quest, which means they’re easy to get and complete. I cannot say that I’m not curious since she detected me casting magic.
I haven’t encountered NPCs that detected me silently casting {Spell}, so of course my interest is piqued!
(“Hmmm... since it’s common. I might get some hints from Pochi’s forum.”)
“System!”
Calling upon it, a panel appears before me as I navigate through its many tabs towards the one titled ‘Browse’, where it dispys a simir search engine to one I use in real life.
(“Heh... Since I went to Pochi’s website a lot, I memorized what I’m going to type.”)
Now, I’m browsing the forum and filtering it towards my quest.
OH... There are several discussion groups for this quest! Nice~
Let’s see here...
Hmm~ Hmmm~ Hmmmmmmm~
(“Okay!”)
*CLAP*
I cpped my hands in understanding and decided to move away from public eyes by retreating to the alleyways.
(“Based on what I surmised from a myriad of pyers receiving this Quest...”)
First, the Mystery Granny location is randomly chosen within Frontera. She’ll never spawn outside of Frontera in the nearby Areas. Which is good to know as it narrows down my search.
Second, she cannot be discovered by {Spell} as many pyers have tried, particurly Celestial Mages like me who have a lot of ‘Divination’ type of magic in their arsenal. They mentioned that these magic fails to activate or do nothing...
(“That’s an interesting one...”)
Third, Pyers specute that the Granny’s rewards are based on how much time has passed when pyers find her again. The lesser the time passed, the higher the rewards, and the current on record is half an hour, and they get a Boss’ Core of their choosing.
(“That’s a good reward.”)
In the meantime, while thinking of this, I set up a little hideout by silently casting [Mirage Field] and [Inhibition Field] in this alley since I have an idea in mind.
Now, if {Spell} does not work and a majority of pyers rely on manual search entire Frontera...
(“Then... would it be possible to use this?”)
I lean to my left hand...
Upon confirming that no one’s here, the ‘eye’ on my POV screen is closed. I finally unsheathed my weapon, revealing an ancient-looking sphere like a knot ball. It then begins to unfurl, revealing faint silver light to its surroundings and turning that ball into an armilry sphere.
Each of the rings starts to rotate and encircle the Astral Orb in the centre. On the ring’s surfaces, numerous consteltions like runes were etched and highlighted by the shimmer of silver glow.
The act of unsheathing will be determined to be cautionary if NPCs catch what I’m doing...
But I’m in my ‘Hidey’ bubble, so I doubt they will notice!
Now...
I focused my mind and pictured the image of that mystery granny before muttering the activation words...
“[All There is To See].”
*CLICK* *CLACK* *CLICK*
The rings that rotate around my weapon restructure themselves into a round tablet where the astral sphere is in its centre.
A simir shape is used when I wanted to access the [Universal Archive] ability of my Artifact, but in this case, the consteltion-like runes dim their light while that gss orb shines brighter.
Then... like a fortune teller crystal ball in movies, it slowly reveals a silhouette hidden amidst strange mist, and it slowly mimics a figure of humanoid origin.
A bit hunched and carrying a cane, as I look at it even closer.
...
...
...
I then squint harder, and the shapes solidified, showing what I fully recognize as the mystery granny...
Although she’s currently perusing some merchandise of a random stall somewhere in Frontera without a care in the world.
*Tch*
(“How do I know her precise location...”)
!?
While I thought of that in my mind, as if knowing what I’m thinking. The image within that crystal orb zooms out, changing the view into a bird’s eye view, and her entire figure is being highlighted in silvery light. Making her easily spotted even at this distance of a sight...
(“Huh... Neat, now I have a quest marker.”)
That’s all I can think regarding simirities to other games I pyed, and by cross-matching it with the system’s map. I know the location of that granny easily.
I grin happily with the thought of getting that delicious reward.
(“Boss Monster Cores~ here I come!”)
