Ch.105 Late Arrival! Title Acquisition Window! 21 Consecutive X Marks

"It would have been great if I could have taken some home."

Patting my stomach in satisfaction, I left <Kumahachi Inn>

In the end, I couldn't figure out the conditions for triggering the event quest. It might not be something that's triggered by talking to the staff, but rather something that's triggered by obtaining a specific item inside the shop.

Oh well, forgetting it probably means it wasn't something I wanted to get over that badly. That's what I decided to think.

If it's something important, I'll remember it eventually, and that's something I'll think about at that time. Since it's not particularly important at this point, I decided to stop thinking further.

In the first place, and this is something I've thought about before, I'm not even sure if NPCs can issue quests to other NPCs.

As mentioned earlier, I tried talking to Cern-san and the other staff to see if a quest would appear, but this is the current situation. I have no way of knowing, or rather, no way of checking, whether the quest isn't appearing because I'm an NPC, or because my affinity level isn't high enough.

If Takemaru-san and the others could help, we could probably find out right away, but it's not like it's something I'm in a hurry to know, and it's something I'd be happy to find out someday. Even though I'm curious, that's about the extent of my feelings.

However, as a prerequisite before any quests even begin, this game, "Mystery of Life", was created with the aim of realism in mind. It's not like a quest will just pop up with a simple "How are you doing lately? Anything unusual?" kind of casual conversation . In fact, you'll often find that you can't even talk to someone unless you've had some interaction with them

It's obvious without even thinking about it, but the question is, would you really confide your problems to someone you've just met?

In a desperate or life-or-death situations, you might confide in someone you've just met, but not many people would think a stranger who suddenly approaches them and starts talking is a kind and helpful person and confide in them. This is something that happens in modern times, where direct interaction with others has decreased, and it's something that can happen even in this world, reflecting that trend.

Well, I'm a beginner at playing as an NPC (obviously), so I'm sure I'll continue to learn more and more things, but I've decided that any new information that isn't related to things that endanger my or my companions' lives, or things that hinder my slow life, will be considered important (worth investigating), but not top priority (things to investigate as quickly as possible).

I'm not the type to immediately look things up because I hate leaving things I don't understand unresolved and it leaves me feeling uneasy. So, I'm fine with looking things up only when the timing is right. Ideally, I'd like to be lucky enough to stumble upon an opportunity to learn about it, but more realistically, I'd like to make a detour and look things up while I'm out running errands.

Either is fine, or rather, one is better than the other. I'm not the type of fairt who has an overflowing thirst for knowledge and is constantly gathering information, so I don't like a hectic, rushed way of life. This isn't my first life either, so I'm aiming for a slow life.

...Oh, by the way, I had a loco moco bowl for lunch.

The menu included a variety of dishes besides tropical cuisine, but seeing the tropical-themed interior of the restaurant made me want to eat something that fit the theme, so I ordered a loco moco bowl. Not only did it look great, but it tasted fantastic and perfectly matched the restaurant's atmosphere.

The rich, deep reddish-brown sauce and the juices that burst forth the moment I cut into it stimulated my appetite with both sight and smell. The slightly thick hamburger patty naturally encouraged me to take more bites, allowing the delicious flavor to spread throughout my mouth. It gives me a real sense of eating meat, a feeling of satisfaction and fulfillment.

The fried egg on top is perfectly runny. Breaking the yolk and eating it together adds a creamy richness, changing the already strong flavor that pairs well with rice, making it hard to stop the chopsticks from moving.

Of course, I mustn't forget the vegetables that complement the main dish. The accompanying tomatoes refreshed my palate, and the lettuce added a crisp crunch, providing a different texture.

This allowed me to easily finish even a fairly large loco moco bowl. I was able to enjoy it deliciously without feeling tired of it.

It was so delicious that I thought about buying some as a souvenir for Nabla-kun, but it seems they don't offer takeout, so I gave up on that idea. I decided to buy something else as a souvenir.

"Hmm... maybe I could just buy the ingredients and cooking utensils and make it myself."

Making the hamburger patties is the only troublesome part; the rest is just vegetables and a fried egg. ...Although I'm starting to think it's not just that, my desire to cook has been triggered, so I'll stop by a shop on my way home.

"So, what should I do now...?"

I've forgotten why I came here, and I could just go home now, but it's still lunchtime. The sun is still high in the sky.

This is my first time in the city of Canadil. Just searching for <Kumahachi Inn> and eating there would be a little bit sad.

I also need to choose a souvenir for Nabla-kun... Hmm, since I've come all this way, it wouldn't hurt to look around at various things.

"Okay, if that's settled then."

Let's quickly review the map to get a general idea of ​​where each shop is located. As I reach inside my bag to take it out, I heard a familiar sound.

[You have earned the title: "Welcome to Maratos!"]

[You have earned the title: "First Shopping Trip"]

[You have earned the title: "First Magic Skill Learned"]

[You have earned the title: "First Monster Defeated"]

[You have earned the title "First Level Up"]

[You have earned the title: "First-Time Guild Member"]

[You have obtained the title: "The Journey of a Novice Wizard"]

[You have earned the title: "Welcome to Nemor!"]

[You have earned the title: "First Quest Created"]

[You have earned the title: "First Cash-Out"]

[You have earned the title: "First Friend"]

"What?!... Oh, are those titles?"

The sound of tinkling continues, and windows announcing that I have earned a title appear one after another before my eyes.

[You have earned the title "Gifted Neutral Talent"]

[You have earned the title "Gifted Water Talent"]

[You have earned the title: "First Time Cooking"]

[You have earned the title: "The Journey of a Novice Chef"]

[You have earned the title: "Exciting and Thrilling Message Exchange"]

[You have earned the title: "First Time Fishing"]

[You have obtained the title: "Skin, Skiiiiin!"]

[You have earned the title: "Forming Your First Party"]

[You have earned the title: "Taking a Rest at an Inn"]

[You have earned the title: "Respawn Memorial Day"]

"...Is this the end? I have gotten quite a bit of them, huh?"

I'm not sure which window appeared before the sound stopped playing. I suddenly got the title.

I was wondering why they weren't coming even though I met all the requirements, but I never expected them to all come at once.

The timing of title acquisition notifications in this game is all over the place. The window for appraisals pops up immediately, but the title notifications are always delayed. You really never know when you're going to get them.

If things were the same as before, the number of players should only increase, and the AI can't handle it fast enough. It's not unreasonable to imagine that, or rather, it's likely that, due to the priority of displaying windows, things that don't need to be shown immediately are being put on the back burner. At this point, it's practically a feature.

When we defeated Heavy Demon Turtle Votilica , the area boss of Area 1, I immediately received a related title, but... I guess that's a separate matter.

Ultimately, as long as the conditions are met, you are guaranteed to acquire it, so for me, it doesn't matter whether it's early or late. However, for others, it will be a serious problem and a source of frustration. After all, some titles grant stats and other effects when they're equipped.

Anyway, I'm glad I was able to successfully obtain these titles. There's also title I saw for the first time called "First Quest Created," so I'll check that out later.

The more equipment you equip, the more slots you'll have on your status screen, but for some reason, you can only set one title at a time. That's why I'm having trouble deciding what title to set, and I want to think about it carefully in the Fairy Forest.

I close the windows by clicking the "X" in the upper left corner.

The "brutal and cruel victory" Title I currently have equipped is good in combat, but there's no situation where I'd want to use its effect normally. Or rather, I don't want to use it.

It might be necessary if there's a possibility of fighting inside the city, but such opportunities don't come along very often. Villages, towns, and cities always have walls or high ground so monsters and demons can't get in, and even if they came in from the sky, soldiers, NPC explorers, or idle players would quickly take care of them.

I rarely attack people unless absolutely necessary, and I would prefer not to, so it's better to have a separate set for everyday use.

"19, 20, 21... Ah, there's over 20 of them..."

"This is going to be a pain to check..." I thought to myself, feeling a little sorry for my future self, as I closed the last window. Just as I was about to take out the map and unfold it to finally check the store, I noticed that footsteps and voices were getting closer from behind.

As usual, I stand on the side of the road so as not to get in anyone's way while I spread out my map, but that doesn't mean other people will never pass by.

Just because there aren't many people walking here doesn't mean that everyone isn't waiting for someone, leaning against the wall of a shop, resting because the shop roof provides shade and keeps it cool, or walking here because they don't want to get sunburned.

"Isn't that her?"

"Just a moment... Hmm... Yes, that's right. It's that girl."

The conversation, which had been muffled due to the distance, was now clearly audible. From the content, it seemed that the person they were looking for had been found.

In situations like this, it's generally expected that the person approaching should move out of the way, rather than the person already there, but common sense often varies from person to person.

Common sense is something decided arbitrarily by someone who doesn't know anything about it , so there's no reason to follow it, and we also have the freedom to create our own. Well, common sense exists because there's a reason behind it, I suppose.

I have no idea what kind of common sense the owners of those stomping footsteps have. I don't want to get into a fight where they'll just charge at me and tell me to dodge, so I'm going to move to a different spot.

"Hey, can I talk to you for a moment?"

It has nothing to do with me. That's what I thought, and I started to move, but the voice coming from directly behind me made me feel like it was specifically targeting me.

"...?"

I thought there might be a chance, and since I'd be embarrassed if I was wrong, I checked behind me without making a sound. When I turned around , I saw two female players walking towards me, looking at me. And to top it off, when our eyes met, they smiled and waved.

There's no doubt about it. They're talking to me.

"Excuse me, but would it be alright if we took some pictures too?"

The lenses of the smartphone-like device they hold gleam in the sunlight.

"...Yes?"

I blinked in surprise. I didn't understand what they were saying.

What does "too" mean? In this life, I have never taken a photograph, nor have I ever had one taken of me, nor have I ever allowed anyone to take one of me.

I don't really like having my picture taken in the first place, so even if someone asks me to, I'll refuse. If it's a friend asking, I might be open to it, and I might agree to take just one picture, but that's about it.

"Excuse me, but I don't really like having my picture taken, so could you please refrain from doing so?"

"What? You mean you can just reject it?!"

"Of course, NPCs have the right to choose too."

That's right, Hanapipi-san with the silver ponytail. Even NPCs are living beings.

From the dev's perspective, we're nothing more than a collection of data in the form of a VRMMORPG, created by the people involved in its development and AI. But for the NPCs , this is a real world, no different from the real world you live in.

I've really come to realize this since being reincarnated as an NPC.

"But, but, she let other people take her picture, didn't she? And yet she says she doesn't like being photographed... Oh, I see. Maybe we don't have enough affinity."

"Probably so."

No, affinity is irrelevant.

"Hmm... Oh, is there anything you need help with? Is there anything?"

My only plan for the rest of the day is to wander around town looking for souvenirs. So, if I had to mention any problems, it would be asking what kind of things are sold and what are the trends.

But that's the same as giving up the joy of discovering things for myself...

"Nothing in particular."

"It seems like there's no way to get through to her. Oh well, should we give up?"

Or rather, what does it mean that I let other people take pictures?

Are there people taking pictures of me without permission? Or are you perhaps mistaking me for someone else?

"Hmm... sigh... too bad. I'll come again, so make sure you have a problem ready by then!"

"H-haa..."

I replied, wondering, "What does it mean to prepare for problems in advance...?"

Myanchi-san, with long ash gray hair. It might end up being a forced, insignificant thing that I just thought would be nice if it could be resolved, but is that okay?

"That's an unreasonable request. I'm sorry."

"Oh, no... By the way, the one who took my picture "See you later! Bye-bye!" earlier-"

"See you later!"

"Oh... They're gone."

I wanted to ask about the photos, but the voices overlapped and they couldn't hear me, or perhaps they left before I could ask.

"So high-spirited..."

They're high-spirited from beginning to end. I can clearly feel that they're an extrovert.

Well, I guess I can just ask my friends about the things I couldn't ask.

Actually, I had received a message from Sakidori Midori-san with the meeting place and time written in it. Perhaps it was because of the tinkling sound of the numerous titles that had arrived, but it had somehow arrived without me noticing.

I replied with an acknowledgment and a question, assuming that if they were a player, they might be able to see the message board and know something.

Hoping that things wouldn't get complicated, I unfolded the map for the third time.

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〘Titles that Vester Should have Originally Earned ③〙

〘Title: Gifted Neutral Talent〙

A title bestowed upon those with an aptitude for non-elemental magic or sorcery. It is earned when it is confirmed that the magic or sorcery can be properly activated and performed.

"Non-elemental" refers to an attribute that does not possess a specific element such as fire or water, and is a collection of unclassifiable elements that do not belong to any particular element.

Possible forms of magic and sorcery include telekinesis, gravity manipulation, etc.

Many of those with the right aptitude are from the fairy and spirit races, while there are fewer from the beastkin, dwarf, dragonkin, demon, and giant races.

〘Title: Gifted Water Talent〙

A title bestowed upon those with an aptitude for water-elemental magic and sorcery. It is earned when it is confirmed that the magic or sorcery can be properly activated and performed.

The Water attribute is an attribute that is based on water and encompasses all things related to it.

Possible magic and sorcery include mist water and foamy water.

Most of the suitable candidates are humans, beastmen, and elves, while there are fewer half-elves and dwarves.

〘Title: First Time Cooking 〙

A title given to someone who has cooked a meal for the first time.

Even if the ingredients are undercooked or burnt, if it's made with love, it should still be edible...right?

Failure is inevitable the first time around, but even those who have successfully created a delicious dish should not become complacent. Strive to improve your skills so you can create even more delicious food.

〘Title: The Journey of a Novice Chef〙

A title bestowed upon those who join the Cooking Guild and become chefs for the first time.

Even a newly hatched, apprentice chick is still a chick.

Take wobbly steps forward! To become a great chef!

Having this title equipped increases your DEX by 10.

〘Title: Exciting and Thrilling Message Exchange〙

A title given to the first person to exchange messages with a friend.

What should I write? What kind of reply will I get? Exchanging messages with friends is full of excitement and anticipation.

Let's make lots of flowers bloom by sending and receiving many messages.

〘Title: First Time Fishing〙

A title given to those who fish for the first time.

It's something you can obtain by dropping a line into the sea, lake, etc and experiencing fishing for the first time.

Was it beginner's luck for the first catch? Or did they find out and it was no beginner's luck after all?

Gain lots of experience and improve your fishing results!

[Title: Skin, Skiiiiin!]

A title bestowed upon performing skinning for the first time.

What will you be skinning? A monster? A demon? An animal? Or, surprisingly, a person?

When skinning, is it done while the animal is alive, dead, or dying?

What kind of expression did they have? What were they thinking? What kind of prey were they hunting? How did they do it?

That act is extremely dangerous; simply choosing the wrong combination of options can lead to being labeled a psychopath or a criminal.

Think carefully before proceeding with the skinning.

〘Title: Forming Your First Party〙

A title bestowed upon forming a party for the first time.

The composition of each party varies. It's important to acknowledge and respect each other's individuality and work together to accomplish tasks.

Before forming a party, make sure you understand what you can and cannot do. Knowing this will change the options you can take.

〘Title: Taking a Rest at an Inn〙

A title bestowed upon those who have rested at an inn for more than one hour.

Take a good rest and recharge your energy.

It's hard to concentrate and get things done when you're tired, isn't it?

〘Title: Respawn Memorial Day〙

A title bestowed upin dying and respawning for the first time.

Oh, what a tragedy that you're going to die. But your story doesn't end here...

You are able to revive thanks to your racial traits. That's great!

But just because you can be revived doesn't mean you should go on reckless adventures disregarding the dangers, okay? Let's cherish our lives.

〘Occupation: Apprentice Chef〙

Primary job. A job you can take on after joining the Cooking Guild.

The cooking rarity system has been unlocked, allowing you to create dishes with a rarity of 1 star or higher. However, extremely bad dishes will always receive a 0 star rating.

This effect lasts permanently, even if it's not set as the main or sub job.

When set as the main job, it provides a slight boost to DEX and LUK

Requirements for employment:

① Purchase 5 or more recipes from the recipe shop inside the guild.

② Cook a dish and prove to the guild staff that you made it.

③ Join the Cooking Guild.

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Author's note:

Did everyone enjoy their summer vacation? One day back? Three days? A week? Or are you still enjoying it?

While I was enjoying a packed schedule of vacation, I was frustrated by the reality that I couldn't find enough time to write, and I couldn't balance the enjoyment with the fun.

Anyway, although it's quite late, Chapter 105 has been updated. I hope you enjoyed it.

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