Capítulo 17: Copper Necklaces

In addition to the Mining Imps who've made this cave their home, there's another peculiar creature lurking in the shadows - the slimes. Now, I won't bore you with an in-depth explanation of what slime is, because I'm pretty sure most gamers have crossed paths with these gooey guys in their gaming adventures.

However, these slimes in the Alternate World are a bit of a rarity compared to their mundane counterparts in most games. While they may be a dime a dozen in this cave, spotting one elsewhere is akin to stumbling upon a shiny Pokémon or a jackpot at a casino. Yep, that's right; these little buggers are either carrying some sweet loot or holding elite status. Of course, finding one boils down to sheer luck, so don't hold your breath.

At the moment, the slimes here are like the neighborhood pests. They're your everyday mobs, swarming the place in droves. But there's one thing that makes them a hot commodity, especially for folks who are low on funds. And if Lady Luck happens to be on your side, you might just score some extra goodies along with the cash.

So, after taking care of most of those pesky Mining Imps, I ventured deeper into the cave, and what did I stumble upon? A bunch of slimes slithering around like they own the joint. These critters are pretty chill unless you get too close or tick 'em off. To check if they were the real deal, I checked their name and what the status panel can show on them.

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[Blob Slime]

Level 7

HP: 1000/1000

Attribute: Slime

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I'm a tad disappointed, but hey, they're still just slimes. Blob slimes aren't exactly rolling in treasure. But hey, beggars can't be choosers, right? They might not be the rarest type, but they still cough up some decent cash when you off 'em. I snap my fingers, flames dancing to life before I send a magic attack their way to see how much pain I can dish out.

"[Basic Fireball]!"

FWOOSH!

- You just laid down 1,102 damage.

Not bad, a one-hit wonder. Now, let's see how they handle the other flavors of magic.

"[Shocking Lightning]!"

BZZZT!

- You just fried 'em for 2,012 damage.

That's a bit juicier. Could it be 'cause they're all wet? Water might be why the damage is higher, you know?

Now, for the grand finale.

"[Ice Prison]!"

CRACK! CRACK! BOOM!

The slime gets frozen solid and then goes kaboom!

- You just gave 'em a chilly 1,045 damage.

It's the lowest of the bunch, but it still gets the job done in one shot. Electric vibes seem to really jive with these guys. Maybe if I'd used that [Lightning Sword] back in the day, I could've cashed in on these critters big time. But hey, no use dwelling on the past; I've got work to do.

Alright, time to get my farm on.

...

-Blob Slime successfully killed.

-Got 1000 Exp(Title Effects activated, 1000 Exp Acquired)

-1 copper coin gained.

-Got a Copper Necklace x1

-Got Slime Residue x2

-Blob Slime...

----

The loot dropped by those slimy critters, the [Copper Necklace], is basically the starting gear for broke adventurers and magic enthusiasts. If you're all about wizardry and packing a hefty INT stat, this thing might tickle your fancy, at least in the early game. But let's not kid ourselves, it won't take long before you're itching to swap it out for something fancier.

I've been grinding these slimes for a hot minute, and they're practically raining copper coins on me. Fast spawns make for a fat wallet. I'm pretty confident that if I ever bothered to convert these coppers into silvers, I'd have a minimum of two shiny ones. And let me tell you, for rookie players, two silvers in your pocket feels like striking gold – especially in your first week when most are still scraping for pennies just to beef up their characters.

So, there I am, busy farming away, when I decide to take a peek at my inventory. Lo and behold, I spot a necklace that's got a different vibe from the others. Curiosity piqued, I take a look at the regular necklace first to see if there's any noticeable difference.

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[Copper Necklace]

Type: Necklace Equipment

Tier: Normal Tier

Equippable at level 6

Equippable by: All Classes

Stats:

INT: 11

Info: Think of this copper necklace as the embodiment of "style over substance." It might look like a poor man's choice, but trust me, it's got character. It's so heavy around your neck that it's practically training you for a neck workout. Honestly, it's better suited as a bag decoration than for its intended purpose.

Note: This necklace is so shabby that even jewelers wouldn't give it a second glance. But hey, only a select few dare to sport it - fashion rebels, that's who!

Durability:200/200

----

Remember, when life gives you a shabby copper necklace, make it a fashion statement and wear it with pride! Who needs those fancy jewels anyway, right? Anyways, back to the matter at hand. This thing is normal and nothing fancy on it except that it gives a raise of 11 on the INT stat. But that's nothing compared to others.

Now let's see the one that caught my eye.

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[Copper Necklace]

Type: Necklace Equipment

Tier: Rare Tier

Equippable at level 6

Equippable by: All Classes

Stats:

AGI: 3

INT: 16

Special Effect: Light Feet - Swiftly increase the movement speed to twice the amount of your speed.

Note: This necklace is so shabby that even jewelers wouldn't give it a second glance. But hey, only a select few dare to sport it - fashion rebels, that's who!

Durability:200/200

-----

Oh, an extra perk, huh? Well, that's a nice little bonus. It's got some extra stats and a +3 boost to AGI, so it's not too shabby. Until I get my hands on a new necklace, this one's gonna have to do. As for the rest of these, they'll probably end up at the blacksmith's, not much use to me. And I must agree that this one feels heavy to wear. I needed to look for a replacement on this before my neck would feel the pain later.

So, I kept at it, farming those cave-dwelling monsters. Mainly, I was after those pesky slimes, but if any imps decided to crash the party, I'd take 'em out too. Their EXP rewards were barely worth counting, so I didn't bother keeping track of my earnings. I spent a solid hour in that cave, slashing and bashing, before I decided it was time to call it quits. Checking my inventory, I had amassed a whopping 124 Copper Necklaces, but they were all just your run-of-the-mill Normal Quality ones. No sign of those Rare Necklaces like the one I lucked out on earlier. Guess I used up my luck for the day.

Back in town, the bazaar was still bustling with activity. Players and NPCs were milling about, eyeing the goods at the stalls. Me? I made a beeline for the blacksmith's shop. Pushing open the door, I found the blacksmith busy behind the counter, inspecting some gear a player had brought in. Judging by the guy's katana and that kimono getup, he was probably rocking a Samurai class. Looked like he was trying to sell off a Normal Tier Crude Bastard Sword, the kind you'd usually find dropped by level 5 Rat Pests.

"Hmm, the quality's not exactly top-notch, but it's not terrible either. I could probably fetch a few coins for it but don't expect a bidding war. If you try selling this to others, I wouldn't bet on anyone taking the bait. At best, I might use it for smelting or mixing. It's not gonna make me rich. I'd say 200 copper each, and that's my final offer," the blacksmith stated matter-of-factly.

"200 copper? Can't we push it a bit higher, maybe squeeze out a few more coppers?" the samurai inquired.

"Sorry, but this weapon's nothing more than a glorified paperweight. I can't jack up the price just for you. I'd end up taking a hit if I did that. It's either you take it or leave it," the blacksmith declared firmly, ending the negotiation there.

The samurai mulled it over for a moment, then reluctantly accepted the blacksmith's terms, allowing the transaction to proceed. There were four Crude Bastard Swords on the counter, which meant he walked away with 800 coppers. With a heavy sigh, the samurai exited the blacksmith's shop, leaving the blacksmith with a stern, unwavering gaze.

"What's your business here, kid?" the blacksmith inquired, his gruff voice cutting through the workshop's clatter.

I strolled up to the counter, nonchalantly plunking down a bag brimming with [Copper Necklaces].

"Mind if I offload these to you?" I asked.

The blacksmith peered into the bag, extracting one of the necklaces for a closer look.

"Copper Necklaces, huh? Seems like your timing's spot-on. You could call it your lucky day for choosing me as your buyer."

My brow furrowed in puzzlement. Was there some sudden craze for copper necklaces I'd missed? Well, I figured I'd hear him out.

"I'm running low on copper," he explained. "What with all the adventurers swarming in, my stock of Copper Arrows disappeared faster than a rabbit in a wolf's den. My copper supplier's gone AWOL, leaving me stuck with dwindling supplies. With these trinkets, though, I can whip up some emergency material and craft Bronze Arrows instead. I'll buy these off you, and I'll pay double the usual rate. Deal?"

I raised an eyebrow, skepticism creeping in. "Are you sure about this? Won't you take a hit on your profits, doubling the price like that?"

The blacksmith flashed a confident grin. "Nah, I'll still turn a profit. Even if the Bronze Arrow trend fizzles out, I'll make a little extra. So, what do you say?"

To be honest, I hadn't expected much. I'd already pocketed a decent haul of copper coins, enough to snag something nice at the bazaar. Selling these seemingly worthless trinkets had been more of an afterthought. But they say one man's trash is another man's treasure.

The blacksmith handed over 10 copper coins per necklace for my stash of [Copper Necklaces], a generous sum considering they typically went for 5 each. Who would've thought I'd walk away with a hefty 1,240 coppers? I couldn't help but kick myself for not gathering more of those necklaces.

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