"Let me get this straight. I send you on a Herb-gathering quest and you somehow ended up fighting an Elf?"
"Yes."
Miranda pinches her brow, "Just which star were you even born under?"
"How would I remember something that happened before I could even form proper memory?"
The clerk snaps, "That's not what I meant! I sent you on a simple Herb Gathering Request and you get into a fight with an elf!?"
I shrug, "Pretty much."
"You know what, you can go on your Slime Hunts again, I honestly don't care at this point. More importantly..." Miranda turns her attention to my Elven friend, whose been receiving glances every so often from the men nearby, including the male clerks.
The pointy-eared beauty herself doesn't pay any mind to the gazes directed at her. Instead, her focus is on the clerk about to speak to her.
"Are you sure you want to be in the same party as this guy?"
The Elf gives a cute tilt with an un-cute sour expression reminding one of a Karen waiting in along line, "Yes, is there a problem?"
Miranda "Not really, it's just he's quite a handful to deal with."
"How am I handful@?" I interject.
Miranda turns her head and shoots me a glare, "Who exactly gave me a thousand Slime Cores to process, making me work overtime without sleep straight into the next day?"
"My apologies."
"
"I'm sorry, I'm afraid unless you intend on having him as a baggage handler, Adventurers can only form groups with a one rank difference in order to keep parties are stable and ensure all members play a part."
"Ah, that's not a problem, I'm not registered as an Adventurer."
...
"Very well, I won't question it, I still have a lot of Slime Cores to process thanks to a certain someone. I have no time to quibble over such a small matter. I'll fill out the papers for you, and here's a Status Tablet."
As Miranda gives my 'friend' the Tablet. I examine and contrast her attitude. Normally when dealing with me, she acts like a by-the-book office lady with a no nonsense attitude, but when it comes to dealing with authority figures, she's a total bootlicker. I couldn't help but ask, "Just like that? We're officially a party?"
The clerk gives me another glare, it's becoming her trademark at this rate. She speaks through gritted teeth, "What did you expect me to do!?! Do you seriously expect me to get in the way of someone who looks like an aristocrat!"
I think I can see a fuse about to light off if I continue talking to her any longer.
I turn and ask the Elf, "Do you mind if I take a look at your stats?"
"Only, if I can take a look at yours."
"Deal."
We swap tablets. My eyes twitch with jealousy beneath my mask.
Class: Elven Blade Dancer
Level 93
Status:
Strength: 550
Agility: 1800
Constitution: 750
Endurance: 1100
Intelligence: 2500
Luck: 100
What the heck? How the hell did I survive against this monster!?! Not a single on of my stats is in the double digits! And her Agility is over a thousand!?!
Is there such a broken NPC in this game!?!
"Hunh, you're extremely under-levelled. I'm surprised you managed to last a minute against me."
Hold on, something doesn't match up. Players get ten Stat points per level up. This elf here is only Level 93. The maximum combined total Stat Points she should have is a thousand-ish at most give-or-take. How did she earn so many stat points!?
"There's ways to gain Status Points besides leveling up."
"Do you mind sharing?"
"Not at all, there are several ways people commonly use to gain additional Status Points aside from leveling up.
The first method is to use Elixirs. Elixirs are incredibly expensive as they require various rare and hard to obtain ingredients. Even the lowest quality Elixir which can only give you ten Status Points costs fifty gold coins. The effectiveness of the Elixir also lessens after each one you take.
The second method is to have a Special Class. For example, my Class, Blade Dancer, let's quintuples my Agility stat for every Stat Point I invest into it.
The third is through the bonus effects of Artefacts. Some
Finally, the most basic method of all, and the most surefire way to gain Stat Points without leveling up, training."
"You mean like lifting weights and stuff?"
She nods, "Essentially, yes. However, it's more than that. It's about overcoming the limits the world places upon each individual. However, it should be noted that the only Stat you cannot train is Luck. No one knows why, some people try frequently placing themselves in risky situations or high stake gambles, but they usually wind up dead, in debtor's prison, etc."
It reminds of martial art masters. To strengthen their fists and blows, they'd purposefully break their bones against metal plates so the bone would break and become stronger after healing.
"Is it possible for you to train me?"
The Elf scoffs, "Why would I give a tiger cub meat? This is basically an Imp trying to tell a Dragon to sell its soul for free to him."
"Hmm, would you train me if I offer something of interest?"
"Depends on what it is. Just so you know, many sought to be tutored under my wing. They offered mountains of gold, national treasures, secret knowledge that could elevate my status to a God. I rejected every single one of their offers, so you'll need to put some thought into what you want to place on the bargaining table."
"Got it."
I already have a good grasp of her character. Haughty, powerful, long-lived and bot impressed by the allure of wealth. Almighty and nigh-immortal beings like her have different values compared to the average man who lives barely a century.
It's quite clear to anyone what she seeks is not treasures, but irreplaceable momentary pleasures. Something along the lines of trying out ice cream for the first time or being awoken to the magical wonders of M and M.
"What are you staring at." interrupts the elf, glaring at me with eyes full of suspicion.
Having grown used to her "Nothing, just figuring out what I ought to bring to the negotiating table."
Before she could reply, Miranda interrupts, "Are you two done chatting? If so, please leave, I need to see to other Adventurers."
Sure enough, a small line is building up behind us.
We take our leave and head out
"Where exactly is your hideout, cultist?"
"Secret hideout? I'm going to the inn I'm staying at, Explorer's Bounty. Also, do not call me a cultist."
"Explorer's Bounty you say? Is it run by a burly man whose choice of weapon is an axe?"
"How did you know?"
"The owner of the establishment is rumored to be former S-rank adventurer. A legend just below the Seven Heroes. Never met him in person, but the feats he achieved in his prime are nothing to scoff at."
"Really? He looks like a capitalistic lumberman."
"Can't argue with that, some of his exploits did revolve a lot around money. Heard he wrestled a dragon while he was drunk and buck-naked just to get the lizard's gold."
"Wow."
We made it back to the inn right in time for dinner. The owner, as usual, sat at the counter. Coincidentally, he catches sight of me next to my Elf friend and gives a friendly grin, I walk over and greet him.
"Hello, Mr. Innkeeper, business thriving as usual.
The old man nods, "Yup, remember what I said kid, keep it down.
"Look here, Mr. Innkeeper, our relationship isn't like that."
"It's not? Don't worry, I'm rooting for ya, kid! Don't worry, I'll keep an eye on the blokes who try to get close to her."
My Elf friend scoffs, "Hell may take over the world and pigs may fly the next day, but there is no chance whatsoever I'm dating this cultist."
Ignoring the my sharp-tongued friends heart-shattering remarks, I ask the innkeeper, "Why are you treating me so normally?"
"Let's say I have a soft spot for underdogs, here why don't you try out my latest menu. Spaghetti and Minotaur meatballs, borrowed this recipe from a good pal of mine."
"Much appreciated, but-"
Without waiting for an answer, the owner plops a large steaming plate of spaghetti with appealing red sauce and succulent meatballs.
"I guess I'll-"
Again, before I can utter a single word, the pasta disappears. All that's left is large empty plate with a few red tomato sauce stains that marked the pasta even existed on the plate.
Looking at the elf next to me, I see her dabbing her lips with a napkin and uttering thank you to the innkeep.
Seriously, these superhumans move at a speed inconceivable to my lowly existence.
Despite the pasta being gobbled up by the elf, I must say the innkeeper was quite nice to offer us a free meal.
His next words make me take my compliments back.
"It's customary for the gentleman to pay for the lady's meals is it not?"
Never mind, he's a conniving capitalist just as I thought.
"Bwhahaha!" The innkeeper places a thick muscular arm around my shoulders, "What's with the dead silence? I'm just messing around with you!"
"A shame, it would've been entertaining seeing him squirm."
"By the way, I never asked you for your name earlier."
"Now you realize that? I'm taking off points for that."
"There's a point system!?"
"Just created it."
"Okay, do you mind telling me your name?"
"That's another penalty."
"What!?"
"First, you didn't bother asking me for my name. We had two hours during the walk, yet you said nothing."
"You nearly killed me! Who in their right minds would get buddy-buddy with someone who tried to kill them bare minutes ago!"
Ignoring my complaint, the Elf, Diana, continues talking.
"Secondly, you didn't even bother to apologize after making such an
"Another point deducted! This ties in with the third-"
Not bothering to hear the rest of her scolding, I hastily walk upstairs and enter my room. Shutting the door behind me, I take a moment to rub my head to clear it of the migraine I caused by Diana's pompous speech.
Jeez, I can't believe people would go crazy for elves.
Listening to her talk made me more tired than the actual fight. I need to lie down for a bit.