Chapter 21 — Materials Gathering [1]
"Honey beef sandwich, right?"
"Yes, that's right. Thank you."
A café located inside Lysquare Academy.
I ordered a sandwich there and took it with me.
'Let's just eat something light and get going.'
Originally, I had planned to fill my stomach at the academy's dining hall before heading out.
But when I thought about it again—
I was on my way to hunt monsters for weapon enhancement materials.
It was far better to go light than to move with a heavy stomach.
So instead of eating a full meal, I decided to just curb my hunger a bit.
'To think I'd actually get to taste this honey beef sandwich myself.'
The name of this café was Hunter's Inn, located inside the academy.
In the game, it was simply a shop that sold recovery-type items.
And according to the setting, the most popular dish here was this honey beef sandwich.
"…It's pretty good."
The blend of sweetness and saltiness was perfectly balanced.
No wonder it was their best-selling menu item.
'Feels like I'll be coming here often from now on.'
Once I officially entered the Disciplinary Committee Route, I probably wouldn't even have time to eat properly.
So this place might end up being where I'd grab quick meals.
'Well, there's no point thinking that far ahead yet.'
That assumption was based on me actually entering the Disciplinary Committee Route in earnest.
To fulfill that assumption, I first needed to focus on the immediate goal.
"Alright, let's go."
After finishing the sandwich, I stood up from my seat.
I roughly knew the location of the monster I had to hunt.
'A valley located east of the academy. The rocky mountain deep inside that valley.'
The academy's main gate closed at 11 p.m.
Which meant I absolutely had to return before then.
If I didn't make it back in time, I'd have to sleep outside or spend the night at an inn beyond the academy walls.
'Busy from the very first day after transmigrating, huh.'
I hadn't known I could live this diligently.
In my old world, I would've just taken things slowly, putting off anything I could until the very end.
But in this world, if I stayed weak, I could really die.
No matter how much money I had right now, without power, my future would be uncertain.
Knowing that made me fear this world— and pushed me to move more earnestly than I ever had before.
'Besides, honestly… it's kind of fun, too.'
I had truly loved this game, Valiant's Legacy.
So being inside it, growing stronger like a character, was… in its own way, enjoyable.
'Of course, it's reality now—one death means it's all over.'
Just like the saying: one coin, one life.
I needed to grow stronger if I wanted to stay alive.
It was fun, sure, but it also demanded constant tension.
'I'll have to get used to the pain, too. If I'm fighting on the front lines with a sword, I should be prepared to take some hits.'
With those thoughts, I headed toward the academy's main gate.
I had explored the academy during the day, so now I planned to explore its surroundings by evening.
"I think it was around here…"
About thirty minutes after leaving the academy.
I climbed up a rocky mountain, scanning my surroundings.
"Damn, they really made the terrain here a pain in the ass."
I grumbled as I struggled my way up the rocks.
Back in the game, I had always used a Warp Scroll to come here.
The reason I'd wasted such a precious item every time was simply because walking up here was an absolute nightmare.
'It was awful even in the game, but actually climbing it in person? It's even worse.'
If possible, I would've chosen another method, but unfortunately, when it came to weapon enhancement, I didn't have that luxury.
To enhance my Mistcatcher, I absolutely had to hunt the monsters that lived on this mountain.
'The Mistcatcher can only be enhanced using Rock Lizard bones. But wait… can I even take down a Rock Lizard right now?'
Rock Lizards had notoriously high defense.
And I, too, had high defense—but pitiful attack power.
At least, that's how my character had been in the game.
Even then, hunting Rock Lizards had always been a struggle.
'They probably can't kill me, but I might not be able to kill them either.'
A sudden wave of concern hit me.
After going through all this trouble to get here, it'd be frustrating to come back empty-handed…
"…Hm?"
While I paused to rest on the mountain, a red dot suddenly appeared on my back.
No— appeared wasn't quite right.
Since it was behind me, I obviously couldn't see it.
But somehow, instinctively, I knew there was a red dot on my back.
Cheng—!
I swiftly drew my sword and brought it behind me.
I managed to block the strike of the creature that had snuck up from behind.
"…Came right to me, huh."
When I turned around, I saw a lizard about two meters tall, standing upright.
Its skin was covered in brown, rock-like scales.
"Whew…"
After deflecting the Rock Lizard's ambush, I quickly backed away to create distance.
'Stay calm and think.'
I locked eyes with the monster in front of me.
It might have been a common mob, but for someone like me who had invested everything in defensive swordsmanship, it wasn't going to be easy.
Especially since, with my unenhanced sword and lack of gear, I couldn't pierce through its rocky hide.
'I'll have to aim for the eyes or mouth. Those were its weak points in the lore.'
Recalling the Rock Lizard's background settings, I raised my sword.
And then—I waited.
[ To be Continue ]