Bab 7: Chapter 6: Buying Skills
"It's getting really boring killing low-leveled monsters in this place... but I can't really leave since Maple is still here..."
Hiroto muttered while biting into a bread that he just bought from a store. Looking around the town before his eyes landed on top of a skill shop. Making him swallow the bread inside his mouth before a smile appeared on his face.
"System... How many G do I have now?"
[810,000, if we counted the recent grinding of low-leveled monsters that you did before you came into the town]
The system answered. Making Hiroto walk towards the direction of the shop. Pushing its door open as the scent of old paper entered his nose.
"... Should I buy skills for Maple? I have plenty of G to spare so I guess it's fine if I spent a few hundred thousand on her..."
He muttered, causing the system to look at him strangely like it was looking at a simp. Making Hiroto unconsciously frown as he felt like the system was insulting him from behind.
"You-"
[It's just your imagination, host]
"I haven't even said anything yet"
Hiroto said while looking at the floating translucent screen with a frown on his face. Entering the shop before an old man wearing wizard's clothes greeted him from the counter.
"Welcome"
The old man greeted, causing Hiroto to nod his head towards his direction before passing through him. Entering the large shelves filled with scrolls containing different skills from different classes.
"System, can you scan the entire place? I don't want to waste too much time searching for skills"
[3 system po-]
"Are you really charging me for that?"
[... Fine, I'll do it for free]
The system said before scanning the entire shop as a holographic net spread through the shelves. Collecting all information about the skills present in this place before showing it in front of Hiroto in a bullet list. Making Hiroto look at it in awe as he saw the large number of skills written in the translucent screen in front of him.
"... That's a lot... Can you narrow it down to skills that a mage or a tank can use?"
He said, causing the list in front of him to immediately shorten into a few skills. Making him skim through the list before his eyes landed on certain skill, costing almost 50K G.
[Staff Mastery III]
"... What does this skill do actually?"
He asked as he pressed the more info button, causing the information about the skill to appear in front of him.
[Staff Mastery III - Increases magic damage dealt by 3% when a staff is equipped]
"... System, where is this scroll located?"
He asked as a map of the shop appeared in front of him with a single orb shining in one of the shelves. Making him follow the orb, causing him to arrive in front of a shelf before he reached out his hand took out a scroll from the shelf.
"Show me the list again"
He said, causing the list to appear once again in front of him. Searching through the list and narrowing it down to defensive skills that can help him and Maple, since he didn't really need any offensive skills thanks to his [Earth Magic] and [Fire Magic] skills.
[Evasion - Reduction of damage recieved by 1%]
[Parry - Reduction of damage recieved by 1%]
[Mp Strengthening (Large) - +200 Mp]
[Hp Strengthening (Large) - +200 Hp]
[Cover - Cover an adjacent party member from attacks. When used, VIT is increase by 10%]
[Pierce Guard - An activated skill that nullifies the effects of piercing attacks you receive with your shield]
[Cover Move I - Ignoring the AGI stat, move to a party member within a 5-meter radius. After being used, the damage receive is doubled for 30 seconds]
"This should be enough..."
He muttered while carrying 12 skill scrolls in his arm and brought it to the old man. Paying a total of 300K G for the 12 skills, causing the old man to smile from his large purchase.
"Please come back again, dear customer!!"
The old man shouted while waving his hand at Hiroto who left the shop and started to use the scrolls that were deemed useful to him. Using one of the two scrolls that he bought for Parry, Evasion, Hp Strengthening, and Mp Strengthening, along with the Staff Mastery skill that he bought, causing a series of notifications to appear in front of him.
[You have acquired [Staff Mastery III]]
[You have acquired [Parry]]
[You have acquired [Evasion]]
[You have acquired [Hp Strengthening (Large)]]
[You have acquired [Mp Strengthening (Large)]]
[Are you planning on giving the girl the rest of the skills you bought?]
The system asked, causing Hiroto to smile at his direction. Giving him a thumbs up as he walked towards the spawn area of the 1st floor.
"Yep, since Maple right now doesn't really have enough money to buy anything"
He said before he saw Maple looking around while standing in front of the large fountain. Making him wave his hand at her, causing her to look towards his direction.
"Hiroto-san!"
She called as she ran towards Hiroto at an extremely slow speed. Making Hiroto's mouth to twitch, seeing her run so slow.
"Hiroto-san, were you waiting for me?"
She asked as she arrived in front of Hiroto before her eyes glanced at the new equipment he was wearing. Making her look up at him with slight envy in her eyes.
"So I'm really the only one in my starter gear. Where did you get your equipment, Hiroto-san?"
She asked, causing Hiroto to smile before patting her head. Taking out 7 skill scrolls that he bought and gave it to Maple. Making her widen her eyes before taking the scrolls in his hand.
"T-This..."
"This is for you, use it since I'm sure you'll need it"
"C-Can I really have this? It looks rare..."
"It's not that rare, I just bought it from a skill shop. It's my gift for you so use it"
He said, causing Maple to smile brightly before sitting down on the edge of the fountain. Looking at the skill scrolls with sparkling eyes, reading the effects of the skills before using it without hesitation.
"Thank you, Hiroto-san! I will definitely repay you for this in the future!"
She said while clenching her fist in front of herm Looking at him with a grateful expression on her face.
"Hiroto-san, have you been online for all this time?"
She asked before she watch Hiroto walk towards the west, causing Maple to follow him from behind.
"Yeah... You could say I was a bit too excited that's why I logged in early and started playing"
He said, causing Maple to nod her head in understanding.
"You too!? I had a hard time focusing at school everytime I remember how much fun we had yesterday!"
She cheerfully said with a bright smile on her face.
"Though... It's a bit of a shame that Risa can't join us today..."
"Risa? Is that the name of your friend?"
"Mn! She's the one who invited me to play this game, I really want her to meet you. I'm sure the 3 of us will have fun playing together"
She said as they left the town, walking on the long path towards the dungeon that Hiroto cleared a few hours ago.
"Hiroto-san, where are we going?"
"You wanted new equipments, right? I bringing you to the place where I got my equipment"
He said as he lowered his pace to match her speed. Making Maple scratch her cheek. Feeling a bit shy from recieving so much of his help.
"Don't look at me like that. We're friends, right? Friends help each other out, and I did this because I wanted to... You helped me a lot yesterday, so think of this as my payment for your help"
He said before he spun his staff and hit a charging rabbit monster on the head. Sending it away from them before he fired a fireball at its direction. Killing it instantly before its body started to turn into pixels.
"Hiroto-san, what level are you now?"
"25"
He casually answered, causing Maple to widen her eyes in astonishment and surprise. Making her look at him in awe.
"You managed to raise your level that much in just a few hours!?"
She said before she ran in front of Hiroto and bowed her head. Clenching the shield in her hand while staring at him in the eyes.
"Master, please teach me your ways"
"... Please don't call me that, you can also do it if you just grind so it's not really an amazing feat. I'm also here so I'll help you match my level"
Hiroto said with a helpless smile on his face before he noticed the cave in front of them.
"We're here"
Hiroto said as they arrived in front of a dungeon. Making Maple look around in curiosity as he took out the excess stack of Hp Potions that he has and giving it to her.
"Good luck"
He said with a smile on his face, causing Maple to look at him in confusion.
"You're not coming with me?"
"Well... You only get the equipment that you want if you clear this by yourself. From my experience of entering this dungeon. I'm pretty sure you can handle it yourself. Just use the potions that I gave you if you're in a tough spot"
He said as he patted her back. Assuring her that everything will be fine, causing Maple to nod her head before running inside the cave with her shield in front of her. Leaving Hiroto who sat leaned against the trunk of a tree.
"... After this... We'll have to move to the next town... so that she can obtain the [Loving Sacrifice] skill..."
He said with a serious expression on his face. Trying to remember the specifics of the quest that helped Maple obtain the skill. He already gave up and strengthening himself further and only wanted Maple to get stronger, since he did have the system after all.
"... System... What will happen to this dimension when I leave?"
He asked as he laid down on the ground, using his own hands as his pillow while staring at the bright blue sky above him.
[The time in this dimension will be either continue or get frozen in place. That all depends on the decision of the host. You will gain full authority over the rift that you used to enter this place, and as long as it is under your authority. You can enter it as you wish as long as you pay enough system points]
[You can also sell this authority to the system, and depending on the evaluation of the system over the dimension in question. You can sell it at a price ranges from 100 - 900 system points]
"... What?"
He muttered before suddenly sitting up from the ground. Looking at the system with a trace of excitement in his eyes.
"... So I can ente-"
[Of course, you will not be able to retain your skills and abilities anymore in this dimension since that is a reward for the quest. We won't allow you to just enter and leave this dimension while retaining everything you gained in the process. That would make you overly reliant to the dimension]
The system explained, pouring cold water over his excitement. Making Hiroto sigh before laying back down on the ground.
"... There's so much restrictions... It's getting a bit frustrating..."
He muttered before he closed his eyes. Falling asleep as the cold breeze swept through his skin while waiting for Maple.
[... I'm surprised you can sleep in this kind of place, Host]
Timeskip
"Hiroto-san!!"
"Huh?"
Hiroto muttered as he suddenly woke up from his light sleep as he heard Maple's excited and loud voice from the cave, causing Hiroto to widen his eyes in shock before looking at Maple's direction. Wearing the [Black Rose Armor], [New Moon], and [Mirror of the Black Night] on her body.
"How long was I asleep..."
[3 hours...]
"Hiroto-san!! Look at my new armor! Isn't it cool!?"
She yelled while waving her hand at him. Arriving in front of him who was sitting down on the ground.
"You were right! This dungeon isn't really that hard"
She added. Making Hiroto's mouth to twitch, remembering how hard it was for him to deal with the dungeon himself.
'... She's a living manifestation of a bug in game...'
[For once... I agree with you host]
Status Power Mingguan
-- Peringkat
Power 
-- Power
stone