Ch.1313 – Collector’s Paradise

<13 – Collector’s Paradise>

There were two transportation options: carriage and ship.

So naturally, I was thinking of one of those two.

But the butler’s competence was too impressive.

“What is this?”

“It’s an airship.”

An unfamiliar transportation option appeared.

“I heard the news. You’re going to take the entrance exam with the young lady.”

“The maid is quite diligent. That’s how it turned out.”

“Unfortunately, airship tickets are limited in quantity. The ones I acquired were the last available.”

Jona proudly pulled out three tickets from his chest.

A hint of mockery gleamed in his fierce eyes.

“If you don’t want to be late, you should find a carriage or merchant ship now.”

The butler wore a satisfied expression, pleased to have gotten rid of a man he disliked.

Despite his triumphant smile, when we arrived at the airport, an elderly gentleman approached Giselle.

“Here are the boarding passes.”

“Thank you. I’ll pay you the agreed amount right away.”

Giselle purchased one ticket for the price of two.

Seeing butler Jona’s sour expression, she gave him a subtle smirk.

“You wouldn’t go so far as to prevent fellow ticket exam candidates from enjoying a trip on the same airship, would you?”

“I don’t know what you mean. I was merely looking after transportation arrangements as the young lady’s butler, ensuring her acquaintance wouldn’t be inconvenienced.”

“You’re not very good at playing innocent. You should study acting more.”

Jona’s expression crumpled.

Leaf, who was following behind with a snack basket, came to his aid with a remark.

“Don’t be too relieved. Airships have frequent accidents. We’re accompanying the young lady to protect her, but you’ve sent away all your guards, Giselle.”

“How kind of you both. The butler and maid are so considerate toward the young lady’s acquaintance.”

Despite Leaf’s cold eyes that seemed to say “Don’t act cocky when you’re powerless,” “If you want help, grovel a bit more,” and “Let’s see if you can read the room and crawl,” Giselle maintained her composed expression.

“Ah, have I not introduced you yet?”

“…?”

“Since our routes have changed, I’ve hired a new guard to accompany me.”

When Giselle gestured toward someone, a familiar face approached.

“Oh, it’s that little mouse from before.”

“Ugh, it’s that hairy hulk.”

A monkey beastkin.

The man who had successfully completed the 4th tier material collection request approached.

As if to drive the point home to the skeptical maid, the monkey beastkin pulled out a ticket from his chest and spoke.

“They said they’d pay for my airship ticket if I just acted as a guard. This employer is quite generous.”

A one-way ticket to the entrance exam site costs 10 gold coins.

That’s the same price as a Silver Ticket for the entrance exam.

Poor players who are strapped for cash can’t even dream of such transportation.

NPCs are in the same financial boat.

Those pursuing dreams of glory can barely afford ticket prices.

Since the ticket cost would be covered, it made sense for the monkey beastkin to gladly accept the guard duty.

“……”

“……”

Thanks to this, Jona and Leaf, who disliked Giselle, looked extremely displeased.

“That’s not right!”

I put my hands on my hips and scolded Jona and Leaf.

“With Uncle Bard before and now again, you two are being too rude to people who try to get close to me.”

“You misunderstand. We’re just eliminating risk factors for the young lady’s safe journey…”

Tug, tug.

When I pulled his sleeve, Jona stopped mid-sentence and bent his knee with a “what now?” expression.

I brought my finger to his lips as he lowered himself.

“Shh!”

Jona froze in surprise.

I pressed my finger against his cold lips with a bit of mischief.

“Uncle Giselle is not a risk factor. He’s a mature student who hasn’t given up on his academic dreams despite his late age and isn’t afraid of learning!”

“Look here, little miss. When you say it like that, you make me sound too old.”

“Why be embarrassed when you talk like someone who’d drink red ginseng candy? Uncle Giselle is indeed old. Don’t be ashamed of being a mature student!”

Life should be lived boldly.

“There’s no shame in enduring embarrassment to become stronger. It’s an act of courage!”

Jona’s sharp atmosphere softened considerably.

Even Leaf’s cold face showed a hint of amusement.

Perhaps they all felt more generous after hearing about Giselle’s dedication to studies at an advanced age.

“I really want to give her a knuckle tap on the head.”

“Hahaha! For a little kid, you’ve got quite the silver tongue.”

I unintentionally caused some trouble.

Giselle became the monkey beastkin’s laughingstock until we boarded the airship.

* *

<Transportation Event>

The end of long training is real combat!

You who have honed your skills for the Academy entrance exam.

Now it’s time to reap the rewards.

Choose your transportation to the Academy and head to the exam site!

The main event following the Random Papa event and the Ticket exam.

The Transportation event.

Though I accidentally lucked out because Jona secured airship tickets, this is definitely not a common occurrence.

“Jona, airships are so expensive.”

“Don’t worry. The master was very pleased after receiving reports of your achievements. You may consider this airship as a reward from the master.”

“A reward?”

This is an incredibly generous reward that a rural noble wouldn’t even dare to consider.

Oknodie’s character’s father must not be an ordinary noble but an immensely wealthy one.

“What was Father’s name again?”

“You’ll find out when the time comes.”

I tried pretending I’d forgotten to avoid being asked how a daughter could not know her father’s name, but instead of being scolded, the response suggested it was natural for me not to know.

What’s going on?

Is Oknodie set up as a noble’s illegitimate child?

That would make sense.

It would explain why she lives apart from her great noble father and only received a letter and a whistle.

“Wow! Look at this. The place written in the letter matches the place on the ticket.”

I happened to check the letter and was surprised.

Can nobles know the entrance exam location in advance?

More than a month before the ticket exam even begins?

“Shh.”

A gloved hand covered my excited lips.

“Please don’t speak so loudly.”

“Why? Is it not airship etiquette?”

“You might be disqualified from the entrance exam for cheating.”

“!!”

What? Give me back my entrance exam.

In a game about graduating from the Academy, would there be an idiot who gets disqualified for cheating before even entering?

That’s absolutely unacceptable.

Such a cruel future must not exist!

Though I shut my mouth in fear, somehow the hand pressing my lips wouldn’t move away.

…Could he still be upset about earlier?

“Master Jona.”

“Oh my.”

Only after Leaf’s admonishment did Jona realize his rudeness and remove his hand.

As I glared at him with tightly sealed lips, he apologized promptly, which was typical of the usual butler.

He’s surprisingly gentle despite his appearance.

“Young lady, since we’re on an airship journey, how about touring the facilities to avoid boredom on the way?”

The butler seemed to want to change the atmosphere with his suggestion.

Of course, there’s only one place I want to go.

“I want to go to the restaurant!”

“Besides restaurants, the airship has an observation room for viewing scenery, a sky garden capturing natural landscapes, a theater with a dedicated orchestra, tanning spots, and more.”

“I want to go to the restaurant!”

“At night, some facilities change their purpose, becoming lounge bars or gambling halls.”

“Restaurant!”

“…Very well. Let’s go to the restaurant first.”

Yay, collection time!

I’m excited!

“The young lady really loves eating, doesn’t she.”

You poor souls who don’t understand the importance of the cooking compendium.

The cooking compendium has the ultimate growth cost-effectiveness.

The collection effect has increased significantly thanks to the past month and a half.

If I were to see the list, it would look something like this:

[Currently Collected Dishes – 102 types]

[Collection Effects]

All Dishes Collection 10 types – Item Drop Rate 1% increase.

All Dishes Collection 20 types – Item Drop Rate 1% increase.

……

All Dishes Collection 50 types – Item Drop Rate 1% increase. Health 1 increase.

All Dishes Collection 90 types – Item Drop Rate 1% increase.

All Dishes Collection 100 types – Item Drop Rate 1% increase. Health 1 increase.

Vegetarian Dishes Collection 10 types – Plant Additional Damage 1% increase.

Vegetarian Dishes Collection 20 types – Plant Additional Damage 1% increase.

Meat (Land) Dishes Collection 10 types – Beast Additional Damage 1% increase.

Meat (Air) Dishes Collection 10 types – Aerial Additional Damage 1% increase.

Seafood Dishes Collection 10 types – Underwater Additional Damage 1% increase.

Dessert Collection 10 types – <Sweet Smile> Function Acquired.

Dessert Collection 20 types – <Sweet Breath> Function Acquired.

……

Rare Dishes Collection 10 types – Rare Item Drop Rate 1% increase.

Rare Dishes Collection 20 types – Rare Item Drop Rate 1% increase.

Rare Dishes Collection 30 types – Rare Item Drop Rate 1% increase.

Rare Dish [Snow Flower Shaved Ice] Collection – Ice Affinity 1% increase.

Rare Dish [Three-Color Apple Juice] Collection – Nature Affinity 1% increase.

……

Rare Dish [Sinjungsan Raw Fish Rice Bowl] Collection – Underwater Breathing 1 minute increase.

It’s too much information to remember everything.

That’s why I pestered Jona to buy me a notebook where I’ve densely written down all the foods I’ve eaten and their expected effects.

All in Korean.

Korean is an unfamiliar language to those who use the alphabet.

Even if someone discovers it, they won’t be able to read the contents.

In a world where writing “I think my ice resistance will increase 1% if I eat shaved ice” might get you locked up in a monastery for mental illness concerns.

“My goodness! This is heaven!”

“Are you that pleased?”

Unlike the wealthy daughters we met on the way who headed to the auction house with determined steps, or the noble young ladies who gracefully made their way to the theater.

My steps, obsessed with collecting cooking compendium entries, headed to the restaurant, and that choice proved to be the right one.

[Airship Sky Buffet]

[5 courses with 20 dishes each, totaling 100 menu items]

This is paradise.