Young and Rich #3

 

There is a concept of food in this game.

Yes, even a warrior who can kill a dragon like a lizard needs to eat to survive.

So it’s no wonder that when your hunger or thirst levels drop, your abilities suffer penalties.

So far this system has never been a big problem for me.

There are endless ways to obtain food in this game, even if it means eating human corpses.

This means that unless you’re in a dungeon with a tricky special gimmick, you’re unlikely to starve to death.

So maybe I was letting my guard down too?

I never imagined that I would face the crisis of starvation and famine.

“Is there anyone⋯!”

I shouted weakly.

I don’t really know why it’s a historical drama style.

“I’m thirsty. Honey water… Give me honey water!”

A lich who prides himself on being the ruler of death. He’d only ask for food and water, and his subordinates would immediately gather it for him…

ah.

It suddenly occurred to me.

There will be no one else in this mansion but me, Estelle Frostwind.

Because Michael and his party of companions had already taken care of all the other subordinates.

Even the loyal maid who served Richie, the bone dragon, and even the single skeleton soldier were all thoroughly destroyed.

“That fucking thing⋯.”

I regret my past tenacity, but there is no other way.

I desperately left the room, dragging my trembling knees.

I need to find something to quench my hunger and thirst.

Even though it has the characteristic of “immortality”,

Just because you die and come back to life doesn’t mean your stomach will automatically be full.

“I’m hungry, I’m thirsty.”

My vision is blurry.

A thud.

As I fell to the floor, the cold stone floor touched my cheek.

But we can’t stop like this. Because once we stop, it seems like we’ll never be able to move again.

I crawled forward little by little, trying my best.

I hope there’s something left in the mansion.

Even the mushy eggplant salad that I usually hate is okay.

Even a Hawaiian pizza topped with mint chocolate doesn’t matter. Right now, I’m ready and willing to eat anything.

Please, anything⋯!

“Uh, uh⋯ uh!”

My eyes lit up.

The ceiling was shattered and the frame was exposed, like a house hit by a bomb during the war.

Rainwater was pooling on the floor along the hole made there.

It’s only a small amount, not even a sip, but water is water.

I crawled and licked the rainwater.

Lick lick—

It tasted heavenly.

Sweet, sweet. No fragrant wine in the world can compare to this dirty rainwater I’m tasting right now.

Lick lick lick—

I drank water until I could see the bottom, my tongue flicking absentmindedly.

“My thirst has been quenched.”

Next is rice.

I explored the mansion again, wriggling like a caterpillar.

There was nothing on the third floor, and while looking for the second floor⋯

“Unidentified mushroom

—Category: Food ingredients

“A mushroom growing alone in a damp, shady corner. It may be poisonous, so it’s best not to eat it.”

I found a mushroom sprouting between the wooden planks.

poison?

What do you know? I look like I’m starving to death.

I just ripped it off and ate it.

The mushrooms weren’t particularly tasty. They had a texture like wet tissue paper and a bitter, unpleasant aftertaste.

But where did you put anything in your stomach?

“phew.”

Having barely satisfied my hunger, I rested for a moment and then stood up.

First, I need to take a good look around the mansion.

I wish there was anything left.

I walked around the mansion thinking that way.

“Rotten Michael.”

The mansion was absolutely ransacked.

Yeah, I kind of expected it.

Because I was the one playing as Michael, and no one else. It was impossible for me to just pass by without seeing the item.

That being said, I have a question.

This mansion wasn’t originally this shabby, was it?

Not only is there a lot of holes in the ceiling, but the walls and floor are all old and torn.

There are wild mushrooms growing on the floor.

‘Well, realistically speaking, that would be the case.’

In the game, there are certain items that can be farmed.

For example, while it is possible to rummage through a dresser drawer and take a necklace, it is usually impossible to steal the dresser itself.

The fancy chandelier and the carpet on the floor must be quite expensive, but I can’t take them.

It’s just a decorative element that can’t be collected. It’s like a pie in the sky.

But if the world of “Nine Stars” became reality, it would be a different story.

The landlord has disappeared, and the ruined mansion has lost its defenses.

Hyena-like predators wouldn’t just leave it at that. It would be common sense to take everything of value.

Should we interpret this to mean that a certain degree of realism has been added to the original game?

As a gamer, I felt a little intrigued and continued to search the mansion.

“A lump of dust

—Category: Other Items

“Small dust particles gather together to form large clumps. If you start seeing this in your home, it’s time to clean.”

Broken wooden plank

—Category: Material Items

“A split, broken wooden plank. It looks like it could be used as firewood.”

I searched for a long time, but all I found was useless trash.

There’s no use in collecting these things.

I kicked the tissue box that was rolling around with a bitter smile.

It’s all trash. There’s nothing left to see.

But at that moment.

Kwajik!

I felt a heavy impact, like being hit with an uppercut to the forehead.

“Huh-!”

I let out a shrill scream and bent over like a paralyzed …

It hurts so bad!

What is it? What attacked me?

I didn’t do anything. I just kicked the tissue box…

Wait, no way.

I have a bad feeling about this.

I hugged my throbbing chest and picked up the tissue box with trembling hands.

Estelle’s Reliquary

—Unique items

—Durability: 3/6

—A reliquary containing the soul of Lich Estelle Frostwind. If this reliquary is destroyed, the Lich can no longer be resurrected.

“A small paper box, once used to store toilet paper. It’s easily damaged by strong impact, water, and fire.”

hey.

Is this my reliquary?

Well, it was kind of strange.

The source of Lich’s immortality is the phylactery. In the game, destroying the phylactery was the final step in the strategy to prevent Lich from constantly resurrecting.

So there had to be a reliquary somewhere in this mansion.

But a tissue box? This is a bit off.

Wasn’t it originally a pure white jar decorated with jewels?

I was so touched that I unconsciously tightened my grip on the box.

“Huhgege⋯!”

Again, a pain that shakes me to the bone strikes me.

It seems that the impact applied to the relic box also affects me, the main body.

“under.”

Was it because I was in pain or because I was sad? A tear welled up.

I carefully put the tissue box in my bosom and left the mansion.

***

Caw, caw—

Somewhere in the shady forest where the sun never shines, a crow cawed ominously.

First, it would be best to go to the nearest town. The mansion has no future.

I walked diligently.

It’s not my original body, but the body of a very weak girl, so I can’t move as quickly as I want.

Richie, you two years old, you don’t even go for a walk.

I had to walk for about ten minutes and stop for a moment to rest or I would get out of breath and have a hard time walking.

Fortunately, I know the quickest way to the village.

It would have been really hard to wander around the forest all night without knowing the way.

‘Immortal… It’s definitely a unique trait.’

Sitting on a tree stump, I took a moment to rest and contemplate the direction in which I would grow in the future.

I’ve raised all kinds of characters, but this is my first time raising a Richie.

Although I lost all my abilities, I’m still very thankful that I have the special ability “Immortal”.

In a game where death is the end, being able to be revived multiple times is an incomparable advantage.

‘But that doesn’t mean I’m invincible.’

But you must never let your guard down.

This game is not a sloppy game that can be cleared by relying on just one cheating trait.

There will certainly be situations that cannot be overcome even with “immortality.”

‘Let’s call it a bad ending, so to speak.’

As I experienced before, the activation of “immortality” is entirely dependent on my will.

Bad ending number 1 would be when I no longer want to be revived.

If I had to name it, I would call it the ‘Broken Heart Richie’ ending.

For example, let’s say you’re at the bottom of a deep ocean and your foot gets caught in the wreckage of a shipwreck.

Even if I revive dozens or hundreds of times, there is no answer.

Let’s say you fall into the deep lava of a volcano and get burned.

Even if you come back to life, you will immediately turn into a fried lychee.

If I were in such a desperate situation, I would probably give up on “immortality.”

This isn’t the only bad ending.

‘It’s also dangerous if the reliquary is destroyed.’

Bad Ending #2: “What if I break it?”

This old tissue box I hold dearly in my arms. If it rips, it’s over for me. Game over.

‘And… there’s another, scariest situation.’

Bad Ending #3: “Please, kill me.”

What if I lose a fight and my opponent doesn’t have any intention of killing me? That’s also extremely dangerous.

The horrible days of torture and vivisection, with only my life left, continue endlessly.

Just imagining it gave me goosebumps.

‘And besides, the fact that I happened to be possessed by a girl is also a problem.’

There are also darker scenarios that are possible because she is a girl.

I don’t want to think too deeply about this.

I just hope that nothing like what I’m worried about will ever happen to me.

I have no choice but to become stronger as soon as possible so that I can protect my body.

⋯I rested enough.

It would be good to move diligently before the night gets dark.

If it’s the town closest to Richie’s mansion, it’s the Garden Western Frontier.

Fortunately, it’s a distance I can quickly get to on foot.

I wish I could arrive today.

As I was walking with that thought in mind.

Pussuk—

A bush moved nearby.

At the same time, the unique smell of wild animals hits you.

Phew— phew—

The sound of the beast’s breathing continues.

‘There’s something.’

My heart was pounding.

The world of “Nine Stars” is by no means a peaceful world for travelers.

It is naive to believe that there are only crows or squirrels in the forest.

I quickly looked around and picked up a thick branch that looked somewhat useful.

“Tree branches

—Weapons, material items

—Durability 3/4

—Attack power 1 to 3

“A basic, blunt weapon found in nature. It has little value as a weapon. At best, it’s better than being empty-handed.”

“Get out. If you come near, I will attack you.”

He lifted the branch and swung it around a few times.

In the forest, mainly beast-type monsters appear.

These guys have low intelligence and are very cautious.

The decision to just turn your back and run away is a bad one. Instead, you need to show them that you’re a formidable opponent.

Right now I’m just a piece of shit, but the only way to survive is to show off as much as possible.

‘Please get out.’

I repeat this earnestly to myself.

“Just go away. Please, just go away.”

I felt eyes watching me from within the bushes.

A tense silence followed…

rustle—

Leaves fell like rain, and a huge figure walked out from between the trees.

Four legs with twitching muscles. Shining fur.

And if you raise your head and look upwards, you will see golden horns shaped like lightning.

“Encountered the field boss Golden Horn.”

Risk Level: High

A sigh escaped me.

Oh, really.

Why did this fawn come out here of all places?