oristo 62: The Crafters’ Trials

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Chapter 62: The Crafters’ Trials

BANG! BANG!

“Damn, it won’t budge!”

“N-N-naru, h-h-hurry up!”

“I’m friggin’ working on it!”

Not surprisingly, the further we went up the mountain, the colder it got.

At first the snow kept getting deeper and deeper until it piled up to our thighs, but the going wasn’t too bad, with me and Zeke cutting a path in front so the others could get through without wasting too much stamina.

Once we were past any sort of vegetation, though, the snow didn’t seem to stick around all that much, and the path became just a solid sheet of ice.

With everyone’s stamina already being sapped, the going just became tougher.

The guys with high DEX were able to manage alright, but Ane-chan had a hard time maneuvering on the ice with just her STR stat, and the mages had to be carried.

Luckily the mages were the chuuni twins and Hisui; the twins are light, after all.

As for Hisui… why did I have to carry him?

…Nah, I get why, but … anyway, Punchie and Zeke took the twins.

Chie?

She’s technically a mage, I guess, but she’s got an abnormally high DEX.

Basically, it was already a gigantic pain in the ass to come up all this way, and just when even I was starting to feel that the cold was intolerable through Chie’s coat, a surprisingly solid little cabin appeared, nestled in the rocks.

With its iron door completely iced shut.

So, we’re lucky we found this cabin before even my END got destroyed by the ever-increasing cold debuffs, but … it’s iced shut.

We’ve been able to keep going by combating the debuffs with food and drink, thanks to all the Raid bonuses and (leftover) event candy, but high up on the mountain, battling the wind and ice, there’s no way that’s enough.

Plus, if there’s food or drink that can combat the cold directly, we don’t gots any.

The feeling of coldness won’t go away with regular food, and it’s impossible to build a fire in these high winds.

So really, finding this cabin was a godsend.

If. Only. It. Would. Open!

BANG!

“Hey, whoa!”

“D-don’t just s-s-stand in the d-d-oorway!”

“Move, Naru, jeez!”

With a final kick I bust through the ice, leaving a pretty sizeable dent on the door, and we all fell into the cabin as everyone forced their way in behind me.

The door slams shut behind us with another bang under the weight of the ice that was still on it.

“… I would appreciate it if you didn’t kick the door open. What are we going to do about that dent?”

“ “ “Eh?” “ “

Oya?

This homey little cabin had an NPC in it?

I guess that makes sense, since there’s a fire lit in the fireplace and the cabin’s nicely lit and warm, but why does it look like she’s a receptionist sitting at an information desk?

Where are we?

Well first off…

“Ahahaha, sorry beautiful. The door was iced shut, so desperate times and all.”

“Did you not think about melting the ice first? Surely you didn’t come all this way without someone who can use fire magic.”

Cheh. Sweet-talking her isn’t going to work, is it?

But come to think of it…

I looked over at the Chuuni Twins, huddled around the fireplace.

“… Hey, Blue. Why didn’t you think of melting the ice?”

Blue blinked, then looked the other way.

“I-it’s not my fault that Narunaru likes to brute force things…”

“…Oi.”

“Hehehehe!”

Pink is just giggling in the corner at her sister’s I’m-so-innocent look.

Not gonna lie, I think we all forgot Blue can use fire magic, even Blue herself.

Fire magic would have definitely made the trek up the mountain easier.

Geez.

The first rule of VR combat is to never forget what skills you have.

This is why melee builds are superior to mage builds; you’ll never forget you can punch someone in the face-!

Haa… Even though it’s not the Twins’ first VRMMO, they made such a rookie mistake.

As I stare at the iron door, that doesn’t quite close flush to the doorframe anymore (thanks to the dent), I decided to fully blame the twins and just laugh sheepishly at the NPC’s disapproving stare.

As if tired of dealing with us, the blonde NPC tossed her head and sighed.

“… Anyway, what have all of you come here for? This isn’t a place that many people pass by.”

Ain’t that the truth.

Even though equipment already have some sort of passive environmental mitigation, without getting equipment specifically designed for environmental mitigation most of us would have frozen to death already.

And just saying, Chie had to get to Tailor Lv50 before she could directly manipulate environmental mitigation, however that works.

I dunno, I’m not a crafter, I’m just a supplier.

When I feel like it.

Anyway, Miss NPC is right.

This isn’t some place that people, NPCs or players, can get to on a whim.

While I was considering whether or not I could have made the trek from the northern beginner’s village on my own, Chie stepped forward.

“My name is Cherisse, and I’m someone who’s ‘seeking the way of the Tailor.’”

Chie said something that sounded very chuuni.

The NPC’s eyes glinted as she looked up, looking Chie over.

“Is that so… allow me to confirm your Tailor Level with this Appraisal Orb.”

The NPC gestured to a round crystal ball sitting near her on the desk.

It’s not a completely foreign item to us; several other NPC offices had similar items that could show a player’s titles and highest leveled Talents.

I wonder what would happen if Chie had 5 other Talents that were higher leveled than Tailor.

Would she just not qualify to be able to do this quest?

I don’t really know what this quest is; not like I forgot to ask her about it or anything.

When Chie placed her hand on the orb, a transparent screen similar to our players’ HUDs popped up, showing Chie’s 5 highest leveled Talents.

If you’re curious, they’re [Tailor], [Weaver], [Bolstered Dexterity], [Embroidery], and [Alchemy]

… Chie, you’re really going in all crafting, aren’t you?

I think you should have taken Water Magic, but somehow, 4 out of 5 of your highest leveled Talents are completely crafting.

“…I think it should be impossible to get any Talent to level 50 without doing combat, but am I wrong?”

“I think Chie’s loadout proves you to be wrong…”

“I suppose Chie-chan is just proof that you can play without having to do too much fighting.”

Punchie, Dark, and Hisui discuss Chie’s ridiculousness in the corner.

Like, sure, people say I’m ridiculous, but at least I’m still within the gamers’ sense of logic; the more risks you take the easier it is to pull of ridiculous things.

With Chie …

It’s not common sense to raise your abilities easily without going hunting or doing quests.

She can’t seriously just have been sitting around doing nothing but crafting for players… right?

Actually, I don’t know how Chie’s been passing her time in the game.

There’s no way she got Tailor to Level 50 without picking up some sort of quest, especially when you consider that right now, she’s the player with the highest leveled Talent in the game.

“I have confirmed your abilities. Welcome to the Crafters’ Trials. You are the first person within the Cradle to reach the Trial Entrance. Would you like an explanation of our services?”

“…Yes please.”

Looks like Chie doesn’t know what’s going on 100% either.

“Here at the Crafters’ Trials, there are dungeons were Faerkin Master Crafters have left their legacies and inheritances for future crafters. Here, crafters with over level 45 crafting Talents can take on a Master Crafter’s Trial. As for which Master Crafter’s Trial you will take, that will be based on your Talents and your Origin Story. While there are multiple Master Crafters’ Legacies held at this Crafters’ Trials location, only the first to pass each legacy’s trial will be able to obtain the full inheritance.”

Chie blinked, frowning a little.

“That is to say… there may be a few Tailor Trials, but the full reward only goes to the first person to pass a trial? So if there are 3 Tailor Trials, then only 3 Tailors could get a full reward?”

“That’s correct.”

“Then, what if I fail a trial?”

“You will receive rewards according to your achievements within the Trial, but naturally, you will not be able to receive what could be considered an inheritance.”

“Will I be able to attempt it again if I fail?”

“That’s…”

The NPC receptionist hesitated for a moment.

“I can’t say you will have unlimited attempts at a Trial. It depends on whose Trial you trigger, but it’s possible for subsequent attempts to become more difficult, or you might not be able to attempt a Trial more than a specified number of times. I will say you will definitely be able to attempt a Trial at least a second time, should you fail.”

Chie turned a little pale – well, paler than her normally light-lavender skin color.

Behind her,

“Holy Shit, it’s on a first come, first serve basis.”

“With limited attempts, even.”

Jo and Ane-chan were muttering to each other, serious looks on their faces.

These two were mainly crafters too, after all, so it’s only natural that they’re trying to prepare themselves for their own attempts.

“Is there… is there a lot of combat involved?”

Chie asked.

“Naturally there will be some. Is there anyone who can raise their abilities by merely sitting around in town?”

There’s one right in front of you …

“Wh,what about friends? Can I bring friends into a trial with me?”

As you’d expect, Chie’s starting to feel a little panicked.

Her Talents are like THAT, after all.

“I’m sorry. Ineligible parties are not permitted to enter a Crafter Trial.”

“… I see.”

Ah… Chie looks like she’s going to cry.

Even the NPCs are expecting her to have some degree of ability to fight, huh?

I really wonder how she was able to raise her Talents so much just by hanging out in town, but this isn’t the time to ask her about it.

Rather, I thought Kanata-san said …

“Hey now, we’re her hired escorts. Surely even the Master Tailors had escorts with them on their adventures too.”

I said, leaning onto the desk next to Chie.

“Hired escorts? Can I see the contract?”

“Uh…”

Don’t look at me, Chie.

I definitely have no idea how any of this works.

Chie fumbled around in her menu for a while until she brought up another screen, with the NPC receptionist making small hints on what she was looking for.

After the NPC read the screen, which was the post that Chie had placed on the Player Request Board, she said,

“I see. If they’re hired escorts who have accepted your quest, then they will be allowed in. However, I believe the rewards listed are a little underwhelming for the task at hand.”

“Ah… yes.”

Although the NPC said that the rewards Chie listed were underwhelming, she didn’t seem to insist on Chie raising them.

Staaaaare.

Ah. Ane-chan’s sensed something weird, and she’s staring daggers at me.

As Chie turns and begins discussing what she just learned with everyone else, Ane-chan sidled up to me and began a private call.

Although no one else can hear us, we do still look weird, just moving our mouths without anyone else being able to hear us.

[“Hey, Naru-san, you knew about this, didn’t you?”]

[“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”]

[“You don’t, huh~? There’s no way you didn’t. You’re the one who told Chie to use the Player Request Board, and now you’re the one who brought it up with NPC.”]

[“…”]

Ah, forget it.

Even if Ane-chan was the only one who said it, there’s no way she’s the only one who noticed.

[“… Don’t ask too much about it, because I don’t know too much about it either. Let’s just telling Chie about the Player Board thing was my penalty for pissing off the devs.”]

[“… Hm… Well, I get it, I guess.”]

Turning off the Private Chat, Ane-chan sighs and says,

“So? What are we going to do now, Chie-chan?”

Chie has a complicated look on her face.

“I don’t really know. I mean, I definitely won’t be able to do it by myself, but if I can have other people with me, then I think I’ll be fine? But we don’t really know what’s going to happen in the dungeon, so I’m a little nervous.”

Ane-chan tapped her finger on her elbow, raising a metallic sound.

“…The problem is, while you’re the only crafter who’s reached Lv45 so far, when word of these Crafters’ Trials gets out, I think there’s going to be a rush for people to try to get here. Just because you’re the only crafter who completed all the crafting quests and gained reputation in the Tailor’s Guild doesn’t mean other people don’t know how you leveled your crafting skills so quickly.”

Ah, like I thought.

This game has robust content for players who don’t enjoy combat, so Chie was able to quickly level her crafting Talents without combat ExP.

Maybe I should have been trying to do more quests and shit.

“… You guys just want to see what my trial’s like for yourselves.”

Chie puffs her cheeks out as she pouts at Jo and Ane-chan.

“Well well… let’s think about this logically.”

Since Hisui’s used to playing with PuGs, he’s quick to try to calm everyone down.

“A crafter can take a Trial solo, or with a party of 9. I think that means that, although there is combat, it must not be enough to deter most other crafters. Chie is probably a bit of an anomaly.”

You got that right.

“What I’m curious about is why we have to have taken a request from the board to join her.”

Dark said.

“I think I understand.”

Eh? Ane-chan gets it?

“It’s likely that all the drops and rewards in the dungeon are going to go to Chie. Without taking an escort quest given by Chie, there would be no reward for the other players. That’s also probably why there’s no limit on the escorts you can bring, up to the maximum the request board allows. Chie would have to give more rewards the more players she hires, so it’s a loss for her if she hires more people than she needs.”

“So instead of disallowing people from being able to join in on a quest, it’s actually trying to protect players from working for free?”

Dark asked.

“… No, wait. I think Tohru-kun mentioned something about this game being less like a normal MMO and more like a fantasy societal simulator, so … maybe we should be thinking about this logically. Like, Chie got a quest that she might have trouble finishing, so she herself made a quest to players …”

“So, that means… players can make pretty major quests to other players, even if the other players wouldn’t ordinarily be able to take quests like that … that means players can basically be quest giving NPCs?”

… Ah, I think I’m starting to see where Kanata-san and the dev team are going.

Chie, with her position as a high-leveled Tailor, has options that other, non-Tailor players wouldn’t have, but she can give out quests for other people to help her with her own quests.

Hm… I feel like I’m starting to understand, but I think it’ll need more time before we start seeing this kind of system really bloom fully.

“Well, I think we’d probably be fine, tackling it with the members we have, but … does anyone have any problems with the rewards Chie’s giving?”

Jo asked.

“Eh… well, since is the first time anyone’s done this before, it should be okay if we do it first and evaluate the rewards later, right? I mean, since we all have some degree of trust between us.”

It makes sense that Dark’s not against trying to get a little more depending on how much work we need to do.

What do I think?

I’m not really sure what Chie was going to give us as a reward in the first place.

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