Ch.163163 – On the Way to Loot Modified Items

# 163 – On the Way to Loot Modified Items

I successfully managed to trap the ghost in the ring.

<Titosoga’s Friendship Ring (Bound)>

Grade – Unique Level 5

Description – A gift from Ghost Papa commemorating Titosoga’s unwavering friendship. If the current ring wearer is unwilling, other individuals cannot gain effects from wearing the ring.

Effect 1 – Check Life Gauge

Effect 2 – Transfer Life Force

Effect 3 – When within 20m of another ring owner, all stats increase

Effect 4 – Instead of activating Effect 1, stores the ghost cluster (fake Lin) in the ring.

Appraisal Value – 220 gold coins, 22,000 points

The fake Lin entered the ring of her own accord, lured by the life force inside as food.

For now, she’s behaving quietly with no signs of coming out, but who knows what might happen as time passes.

“How are you going to get tools to prevent Lin from escaping?”

“In the second semester, I’ll take a curse-related lecture to bind her properly, but before that, I’ll find temporary tools for a temporary seal!”

“What about threatening other seniors with a knife?”

“I can’t guarantee they’ll keep the secret until the end!”

“I see. Tell me if there’s anything I can help with. For my sister’s safety, I’ll cooperate unconditionally when it comes to gathering materials.”

Sing shows such devotion even to a fake sister.

While I thought his efforts were pitiful, I also thought he was quite an admirable man.

Even at the risk of turning the world against him to carry out his revenge, he puts that revenge aside and strives to save a ghost, deceiving himself in the process.

Though I think it’s a futile effort, it’s a touching and wonderful story.

‘Being able to devote yourself to something like that is admirable. Most people just live aimlessly because they don’t have something like that to pursue.’

Of course, this doesn’t apply to veteran players.

Dreaming of becoming the strongest human, or rather the strongest creature on earth, meticulously managing every stat and buff—where’s the leisure to live life carelessly?

[You haven’t forgotten about my existence, have you?]

“You’ll keep it a secret, right?”

I heard the sound of someone scratching their head in annoyance through the short-range magic communication device near my ear.

[Well, fine. You’re a promising undergraduate student, and that fake ghost might behave a bit better with you around.]

“Yay!”

[But if the ghost escapes the ring and causes trouble on its own, I’ll exorcise it immediately.]

“Hehe. Don’t worry. I’ll take responsibility and make sure it doesn’t wander around at night or bite people!”

[Is it a dog? Anyone listening would think you’re raising a pet dog.]

Professor Destroyer’s substitute lecture ended safely.

Now I need to get temporary chains and hooks.

On my way to use the regular carriage pass to collect materials.

For some reason, I felt many eyes on me.

I usually attract attention, but today the frequency and persistence were worse than usual.

“Hmm.”

I glanced at nearby bushes, then dashed around the corner of a building.

Ta-da-dat!

The sound of someone hurriedly following in confusion.

“Tsk… where did she go?”

“I’m above your head!”

“Oh, I see. Above my head… Eek!”

Dorothy fell backward in surprise.

I had been hanging from the building railing, then jumped down, landing gracefully in front of her, toes first.

“Why were you following me?”

“I heard a strange rumor…”

“A strange rumor? That I’m the Dark Princess?”

“Not that one.”

“That I was caught sneaking into the food storage at midnight to collect items for my catalog?”

“That’s so like you, Oknodie… but no, not that either.”

“Perhaps a rumor spread that I scammed people with blood stones?”

“I don’t know what that is, but not that either.”

“Don’t tell me they already found out I took cultivation fluid again to feed the baby mandrakes?!”

“…You did that too?”

“Phew. If it’s not that either, then it’s nothing important. So what’s this about?”

Dorothy, looking a bit dumbfounded, explained the rumor she had heard.

“The rumor that Oknodie hired Sing as her personal assassin!”

“Huh? That’s not true!”

“Phew. Right? It was just a misunderstanding?”

“Sing only agreed to do me one favor!”

“…Just one?”

“Yes. Just once!”

“That’s not a misunderstanding at all! He’s still an assassin, even if only for one-time use!”

“Geez. You’re hurting my ears.”

Why is she making such a fuss?

“Even forest keepers shoot arrows and throw daggers at people who trespass into the forest, don’t they?”

“That’s true… but I’m just an apprentice forest keeper. I only shoot warning arrows.”

“Hmm. You still have a long way to go, huh?”

“W-what’s that? Acting all high and mighty.”

“It’s nothing. Dorothy, just keep growing up to be a good person.”

But just as Dorothy had something she was curious about, I also had something I was curious about regarding Dorothy.

“By the way, why did you pretend you heard the rumor from someone else?”

“Eeek! You, you knew?!”

“Yes.”

“Why did you play along… it’s embarrassing.”

“Because I’m considerate? To go along with your rhythm?”

“If you were going to do that, you should have gone all the way…”

Though grumbling, Dorothy answered honestly.

“Forest keepers can communicate with forest animals through gestures and sounds, you know?”

“Mm-hmm.”

“And then you make forest friends and such.”

“Mm-hmm.”

“When forest friends talk about other people’s bad stories, they all pretend it’s not their own story. Friends tend to resemble each other, so I guess my way of speaking has become similar!”

Weren’t forest friends a meme about those who get caught up in witch hunts based on false rumors, then quickly flee and change their stance when the truth is revealed?

Considering how Dorothy was momentarily deceived by her childhood friend during the entrance exam, she seems like a good person but with an overactive imagination that makes her easily swayed.

[Your understanding of character <Dorothy> has increased.]

━━━

Dorothy’s Understanding

Naivety (Understanding 20) – A naive person who firmly believes groundless lies and rumors.

Friend of Forest Friends (Understanding 40) – Her naivety is so extreme that she is easily influenced by the negative functions, minus stats, or status ailments of those around her.

━━━

[Character <Dorothy>’s affection has exceeded 20.]

[First special benefit <Dorothy’s Hunting Time> is now available.]

[The naive child knows many secrets of the forest. Going to the forest with Dorothy once a month increases item looting probability by 500%!]

Oh?

Isn’t this function pretty awesome…?

“Dorothy. Do you have any lectures to attend today or tomorrow?”

“I have one… but I just need to submit an assignment.”

“I’ll solve it for you. When we’re done, let’s go to the forest together!”

“The forest? What for?”

“To find a gift for a friend!”

“If the top student of the year is offering to do my assignment, I’m all for it!”

Dorothy readily accepted my proposal.

* *

Exactly 6 hours later.

In the eerie forest after sunset, Dorothy asked.

“…Oknodie. I forgot to ask earlier. What exactly is this gift we’re looking for?”

“A cursed branch from the ghost tree to bind a ghost to a ring!”

She couldn’t help but cover her face, distressed just from hearing it.

“That sounds terrifying from the name alone!! Couldn’t we at least have come during the day?!”

“But I wanted to use the 5x drop item event for as long as possible!”

“I can’t even see in front of me!”

“Hehe. It’s okay. You don’t need to worry so much. I’m taking the adventurer’s night action lecture.”

“I’m not worried about you, I’m worried about myself?!”

I’m never going to play with Oknodie again.

Dorothy made a firm resolution.

* *

[Detected the mark of the dead from the cursed forest.]

[Observation experience +1]

[Made eye contact with a ghost-possessed deer responding to the ghost in the ring.]

[Did not fall into fear.]

[Courage experience +3]

[Grabbed Dorothy’s shoulder and startled her with a “Boo!”]

[Scaring experience +1]

The forest at night really is cost-effective.

Every little action increases functional experience.

And there are more looting items.

I’ve looted 5 bundles of disease-curing herbs (20 per bundle), 2 bundles of curse-curing herbs, 1 bundle of bleeding-curing herbs, and half a bundle of paralysis-curing herbs.

[Achieved Herb Gathering Introduction Level 1 achievement.]

[Acquired title <Baby Grass Plucker>.]

[Title effect: All gathering success rates increase by 1%.]

[Received 100 points as a title achievement bonus.]

Including tree fruits and mushrooms that add flavor to food, it’s been quite a bountiful harvest.

There’s enough food to last Eva a week through winter.

“Can’t we go back now?”

“Just be patient a little longer. We’re almost there!”

“Stop lying. A squirrel living in the forest just asked me if I was an idiot!”

“Squirrels say such harsh things…?”

“When you actually understand what animals are saying, they’re no different from people. Do you know what people with limited vocabulary say a lot?”

“What?”

“Give it. Get lost. Sex. The next most common words are profanities.”

Strangely, druids tend to become mentally deteriorated and broken quickly. I’ve never played as a druid class, but today I think I understand why.

“It’s okay. Dorothy, just hold onto my collar well.”

“This is the last time. We’re going back after this, okay?”

“It’s fine. We’re almost there now.”

“Really?”

“Yes. But you absolutely must not let go of my collar!”

“Because we’ll get lost?”

“The cursed tree devours sounds around it. Even if we’re attacked, we won’t be able to notice through sound!”

Thud.

Dorothy, who had been following well, stopped in surprise.

“Come on. It’s fine, I’m here.”

“R-right? I just need to trust you, Oknodie?”

“But make sure to keep your eyes closed!”

“Why my eyes now…?”

“Sometimes ghosts attached to trees thrust their faces at you to startle you, and if you scream in surprise, the tree will pounce because it likes having sounds to devour!”

“…I want to go back after all.”

“Too late. We’re already here!”

Hiccup.

I patted the back of the clumsy Dorothy who had started hiccupping.

“It’s okay, you won’t die! From here, just don’t let go of my collar, keep your eyes tightly closed, don’t scream even if you can’t hear sounds, and follow me well—then you can get out alive!”

By the start of Chapter 4 in the second year at the Academy, it becomes a terrifying monster that gets up on its own and chases people to eat them.

But we’re still in first year, so it’s not that dangerous yet—just an easy chapter boss as long as you follow the strategy.

How can I resist stealing loot without fighting, especially with a 5x boss item looting probability?