Free Life Fantasy Online-Chapter 94

After lunch and such, I'll take my time checking over the new things in the square of the Imperial Capital.

In addition to «Cloth Equipment» and «Uniformed», there's nothing special to say about the passive secondaries. They give very straightforward effects.

For the Silver Key, 『Subspace Enhancement: Max.』 has become 『Space-Time Enhancement: Max.』. This is probably due to what I learned at level 1 of «Space-Time Magic»

[Space-Time Awareness]

Allows you to recognise the flow of time and the distortion of space.

The situation in regards to the flow of time and the distortion of space is currently unknown.

As a result, «Subspace Awareness Expansion» has changed to «Space-Time Awareness Expansion». …Huh? The level has gone down. …It was almost 60, but now it's 28. Because it has been lowered, I should be okay to think that each level provides a greater effect. It is the same now as it was near 60…

It seems that the appearance of subspace is displayed on the grid of my 3D map.

Moving through subspace has an image of stripping away, or tearing off, part of the grid. Just rip it off, make a hole, and go through it. It will automatically repair itself in time, or it can be repaired with an image of blocking up the hole.

It may look like warping to those who cannot see the grid or grasp subspace.

By the way, the MP cost of [Inventory Expansion] is now 10%. In the 50s, it was 30%. The effect of [Efficiency] seems to be quite large.

I might have earned SP from levelling up skills to the maximum, but it is still overall a minus due to spending it on the new skills. However, there are still more to come. There will be «Luminous Magic» and «Darkness Magic», as well as «Slender Sword» and «Book». «Serpentine Sword» is still a ways ahead.

«Space-Time Awareness Expansion» is the same as «Spatial Awareness Ability Expansion», just with the option to display more, so it is not something I need to worry about. If I had to comment, then I'm now a 『Subspace Ability User』.

It should be possible to enter and leave subspace as long as you can recognise it. However, it is not so simple to become a 『Subspace Navigator』. You need to be able to act within the subspace…it seems.

Subspace is similar enough that you could call it outer space, so a method for movement in a zero gravity state is necessary. You also need to have measures for a being in a place without oxygen. Furthermore, you need heat insulation. Specifically, [Breathing Aid], [Heat Resistance] and [Cold Resistance] are essential.

In conclusion, subspace is… a dimension that is shifted slightly from the main world, so there are no obstacles and there is no air, and where due to the lack of air resistance it is possible to move at ultra-high speeds.

However, if you make a hole you can hear sounds from the outside, and air does not flow in, so it is not completely like space. It would be more accurate to recognise it as some kind of different world.

The use of subspace…. Oh, I can use it on my first trip to unlock a portal. I don't have to do FOX4. And when I am travelling to a hunting ground. Otherwise, in my case, I can use [Short Jump] for short distances, and the key for long distances. There is also [Return] for travelling back.

Well, it seems that the Halloween campaign is already active. Since the date change on Saturday, the amount collected is increased. Shall we go back to the palace and dig into the vein that has been accumulating since Monday?

Mu….? There's something in subspace. Isn't it unusual for someone to have subspace abilities? From the way Byakhee talked about it, it seemed like a rarity.

And it's a child. Or at least short. «Identification» is not reacting, so I can't see the race or level, but the soul is white. So not a bad kid. They're dressed strangely, though. Japanese style, or rather, like a clown.

A hand comes out from behind me and tugs at me, then retracts into subspace. …Definitely a child, aren't you? Unfortunately, I can see not just behind me but also into subspace…but I'll accompany you for a bit.

I play along with it, reacting to the taps on my shoulder and tugs on my cloak.

After playing for a while, one of the nearby Residents was alarmed by it and brought over a knight patrol. It's a patrol, so a group of three.

But they don't seem to be surprised at the arm sticking out of the space. It's not a look of fear. Why the indescribable expression? Confused… or, stunned? A look that says 『You really can't help it….』. However, the knight who recognised me is showing a face like he has a stomachache.

Maybe they're famous for being a mischievous child? ….What a waste of ability, if so. But the soul is the colour it is because of that waste. It's a great ability for thieves. This subspace ability.

"Nemeseia-sama. My apologies. Despite the mischief, they're not a bad kid, so please."

"Don't worry. I'm not angry."

So it's like that after all. A habitual offender.

It's not me that was being messed with, but the knights.

"Hey, Al! At least make a better choice of target!"

The face is neutral, but Al seems to be a nickname. So probably a boy.

It's about time to go. A tentacle twines around the the arm that pokes out for a bit, and he is pulled out of the subspace.

"Uee!? Uwaa!?"

"I'm also an Outer One, and I can recognise subspace."

While showing off another two tentacles that swell out from by my feet, the one that caught the boy pokes at his cheek.

It's not harassment mode, so it's smooth, and we're in a town, so the abnormal conditions are off.

"Mu… there was a similar atmosphere, but it was a talented person."

"No, not mu. Choose your opponent. It's not like you can't, right?"

"Didn't I choose properly? We're both Stellura-sama followers."

"Ah…well…hm..then stop the pranks in the first place?"

"No!"

While this child and the knight were talking, I had continued with my poking…

Anyway….this is a new species to me.

"I've never seen your race before. What's your name?"

"I'm Arkady Proa!"

Arkady Proa Lv48

A distortion devil. An advanced devil. One of the few races on the surface with subspace capabilities.

At the top among the distortion devils, the Proa family.

The Proa family are followers of the Stellura religion, and often dress as clowns.

Attributes: - Weaknesses: - Resistances: –

Class: Devil Order: Humanoid

Family: Imp Genus: Distortion Devil

Species: Distortion Devil

Condition: Normal

Distortion devil, or warping devil. I think it's spatial magic.

"I'm Anastasia Atropos Nemeseia. It's nice to meet you."

"Yeah, nice to meet you!"

After saying so with a smiling face, he grabbed hold of the tentacle that was gripping him and climbed on it like a horizontal bar… It would be easier to describe as looking like a whole roast pig. Well, he started to play.

And he is twirling round and round with very fast movements.

"He wants to play, does he. And what amazing physical abilities."

"""Why do you waste your abilities so much…"""

"Fun!"

"Ah, okay…"

"The Proa family, they naturally have high ability…."

"But I'd rather see them put to use in a meaningful way…."

A child from a famous house, with good looks and high ability. However, a mischievous child and a prankster.

In terms of age, he seems to be just a child, so that's not unusual.

"Meaningful, for example….like the heavily armed Calestia territory?"

"""Eh…"""

"What is the Calestia territory?"

"It's the territory of the Mage Count, southwest of here."

Mage Count! That's a fantasy title. Well, it's probably that the Count is familiar with magic.

But it doesn't explain why it is heavily armed. The weight of the information has the knights in a daze.

"Are they assembling a private army?"

"A private army and…. an unfamiliar flag, so maybe adventurers?"

"The Calestia territory… is something going on in the Crystal Forest?"

"I wonder? They seemed to be on the defensive. The three of us saw it."

From the knight's words, it's reasonable to assume that the territory is adjacent to the Crystal Forest, and that they are gathering forces for defence because something happened in the forest…?

"It was something to report to the top."

""Right.""

"Do you remember how the flag you did not recognise looked?"

"Hmm….what was it? Maybe a sun….with two humanoid silhouettes."

"Yeah, I don't remember."

The three knights don't seem to remember too well, but a sun and two humanoid silhouettes? I think Cecil-san's Order of the Dawn had such an emblem…

Oh, it was that. He said it was the image of a knight taking his vows as dawn broke. It's a silhouette because the light is coming from behind.

"Were the silhouettes of a standing person and kneeling one?"

"Ah, maybe one seemed smaller?"

"If it's a match, it's a guild I know. I heard they were asked to guard a territory."

"Outsider adventurers?"

"That's right."

It's supposed to be a rather important story, but when the tentacles he was playing with disappeared over time, Al was disappointed, and when I brought them back out he started playing again. He's energetic.

"Hmm… If something happened in the forest, the castle should have been contacted. I think the knights will move to aid in defence. …Have you heard anything?"

""No, nothing.""

I'd better check with Cecil-san. Outsiders have the handy ‘whisper' function. The game systems are great.

『Yes, yes. I'm busy right now, so please be quick.』

"Then briefly. Is the request for your guild in the Calestia territory?"

『Oh, yes. How did you know?』

"I heard from someone else. Is it an anomaly in the Crystal Forest?"

『Huh? The forest? No, no, that's wrong. Hm…a trap? Oh, well. Team one, go in. Team two, attack late. Three to six, spread out and wait. Seven through ten, from the back. We're not gonna miss our reward.』

Looks like they're in the middle of a quest.

The forest seems irrelevant. Are they trying to catch something? It's already being treated as a reward.

『So what was it?』

"It's not an abnormality in the forest then?"

『No, it's not. It's a big roundup of criminals.』

"Oh, I see. If there was something wrong with the forest we would have to contact the castle and the knights, so I wanted to check."

『Right, right. The lord asked me to survey the territory, so after working on it for a while it's secure now. This will be the last one, so it should settle down.』

"If it's just criminals they won't have to mobilise the knights. I understand."

『The Chronicle is what worries me. From the information we've gathered, they're criminals, but they seem to be wanted, so the Lord is quite determined to kill them.』

"So it's a bit of a mess. The castle will be informed, so let them know if anything happens."

『All right, thanks.』

"No, good luck with that."

I'll tell the knights about the conversation with Cecil-san.

"Right. It's safe, not a stampede from the forest…"

"Thank you. I'll tell the captain as soon as I can."

"The guild is Order of the Dawn. The guildmaster is Cecil."

"Understood. Thank you for the information."

After telling Al 『keep the mischief in moderation』, the knights head towards the castle.

But that Al seems rather displeased, muttering 『You don't praise me when I'm doing something right…』.

Let's give him a pat. Don't be so down. I can only have a bad feeling about a subspace ability user who falls into darkness.

Have something sweet to fill your belly…

"It's hard being part of a famous house…. Especially with an older brother."

"So you have a brother?"

"I have a brother and a sister. My brother is smart, and my sister is good at gathering information!"

Hm? From the look on his face, they don't seem to be on bad terms. He seems rather proud. You wouldn't look like that if you didn't like each other. I don't hear any dislike in his voice.

"… It's good to work hard for my family. It's tough while studying, but otherwise they're kind. My father plays with me and my mother pats me a lot. My brother and sister teach me a lot. But, you know? Other people don't give me anything and don't praise me. I'll decide how to use my powers. Is that wrong?"

… I see. A child in the middle of a gifted education….

Because it's a famous family, he couldn't just be a child…laughing and crying. As a result of his education, he thinks too much because he is smart. From the way he moved when playing with the tentacles, he must have a very high level of ability.

But he's still a child. He wants to be seen. He wants to be praised. When I was little, I would go to my parents to show them what I had done. I wanted them to praise me, and I wanted them to be happy.

….What a setting for a child…. I'm still a kid myself!?

"I'm also a minor in my original world… I can't give you an answer because I'm a child, but I decide for myself how to use my power. I think that's a good thing. But you have to take responsibility for your actions."

"Responsibility for your actions…."

"Fun is justice, but what is fun for you is not necessarily fun for others. It's fun for the prankster, but not necessarily for the prankee."

"Mu…"

"Mm. I'll tell you something my mother told me."

"Your mother?"

"Yes, it's a bit long. But when you're little, you'll remember more than you would think if someone speaks to you with a serious voice."

You can't be liked by everyone. So value the people who like you. Spend your time on the people who like you.

People who say they dislike you are just being mean, so there is no need to deal with them or listen to their words. The opposite of like is not dislike, but indifference. If you are not interested or do not care, you would not talk to them in the first place.

People can't convey their feelings unless they say them clearly. If someone is not a good fit with you, it's fine. Once you have discovered that, you can stop being involved. You don't have to be happy with each other, but you don't need to be mean about it either. It is just a waste of time. Keeping your distance is not escaping.

If you have no choice but to work with someone, it's okay to do the bare minimum. There is no need to go deep.

Not all painful words come from an enemy, so try to be a good judge of character. Your likes and dislikes will show in words and actions.

"…it's difficult."

"Yes, it is. It's difficult when you are in a high position, but I think it's a good attitude."

"Mu…."

"Oh, you can also use your position in reverse, right?"

"Reverse?"

"It's good if you can't be ignored. In a good way, of course. If they will be in trouble if they lose you, you'll naturally be treated politely. Well, the responsibility for your actions will be heavier though…."

He is thinking about it.

"I think it's a good idea to be brave and talk to your mother and father. You love each other right?"

He looks up as if he has collected his thoughts and moves away from me.

Has his face changed a little?

"…Anastasia-sama. Thank you. I'll go home and talk to my father."

"No, it's a priest's job to guide a lost lamb. It's something you won't understand unless you talk about it. Do your best, Arkady."

"Yes. Then goodbye!"

And with that, he has disappeared into subspace.

I think he'll still have a long way to go, but he's a child who can do it if he tries.

Rather, leave this to the parents. Don't expect someone who's still a student inside to handle it.

It would be nice if some helpful words point him in the right direction. …If this child were to go to the dark, I'm sure I would fall to my knees.

Hopefully there will be an event to confirm it later on.

Well, let's do some crafting while looking forward to change in the Residents….

Teleport to the palace and dig up the ore vein behind the building. Summon a worker, take out a pickaxe and let's go.

Kan….kan….kan…..poro poro poro.

Three have come rolling out, so that's one more. Delicious, delicious. Now I'll dig up a week's worth.

Worker type #1 is very useful, as he picks up the things that have rolled away. The work of digging and picking up is troublesome. With a worker, I only have to dig.

My inventory of mithril has increased. I'll ask Ertz-san to process it for me.

I'll also ask him to make equipment for #1 and Lizzy. The event is coming, so it's time for new equipment.

As the mining is finished, let's move to the kitchen and throw the tea leaves into the fully automatic tea making machine.

What should I do about food? I don't need to worry about making money at the moment, so alchemy is the priority. However, I have already finished my daily crafting routine… Then magic clay or talismans? Considering skill experience and sales, it is better to make resurrection potions than talismans.

I'll make magic clay and resurrection potions while the tea leaves are processing. As soon as I'm done, I'll go to Ertz-san's place.

Charge, blacksmith! I already checked on my friend list that Ertz-san is online.

"Yo, Princess."

"I want you to make me some ingots, but is now okay?"

"All good."

I make a request of Ertz-san to process mithril, magic iron, haltium and lytium into ingots and hand over the various ores. And the wreckage of the armoured types too, which will become magic iron.

"Right. Princess."

"Yes."

"Is it possible to prepare attribute metals with mithril?"

"Oh, I haven't tried that yet. I'll try it when the mithril ingots are ready. I'm sure I can, but the problem is the quality."

"I'll buy them if you can. And do you have any use for regular gold and silver?"

"Alright. I have been holding onto gold and silver. It's the sort of expensive thing you might expect of a princess, while normal people have little connection to it. So it's possible."

"You have it on you now? You can exchange it for money here. Though I'll take a margin. I get experience out of it, so I'll do it for free if it's just smelting to bars."

"Then I might ask that of you. It's too much of a waste to do it with «Alchemy», so it's still ore. I'm not in trouble for money at the moment, so I think I'll save it as bars."

"Alright".

I'll also hand over the gold and silver ore I've accumulated.

After seeing off Ertz-san to his workshop, I go to take a look in the store… though by browsing through the list, rather than searching the sales floor. In the filter settings, select «Throwing»…. Hm. It's true that throwing knives are cheap. Axes are more expensive, but they are the best value for money when basing it on the premise of using [Ephemeral Radiance].

Wouldn't it be more damaging to throw a normal one-handed or two-handed axe? I'll check the BBS. I expect it has been tested.

«Throwing» is a skill which gives a correction to the act of throwing, but its hit rate is easily affected by the object thrown.

Throwing weapons fly in a very straightforward manner, and do consistent damage. Comparatively, the hit rate of other weapons is not so good, and even if they do hit, it is hard to make it a perfect hit. If the blade does not hit, it is not effective. The ease of throwing is spear > axe > sword.

In other words, there is not much point in throwing them, but it could serve as a distraction or interruption. But if you want to use it like that, you could just use a pebble. It is too costly to use a normal weapon in such a way.

In that sense, the best weapon is actually the chakram. It is very easy to use, because it is shaped like a doughnut, and the outer edge is a blade. Because it works like a boomerang, it comes back to you, so you don't have to go and pick it up.

However! The problem is that it will also bare its fangs at you. Rather, it can't be helped because it's a weapon that is basically a spinning blade. This is the biggest problem with chakrams.

So, the overall recommendation is spear throwing. The atlatl is good for spear throwing, right? You don't have to think too hard about it! Just throw it and it will stick in!

Now you're a caveman. Hyaha!

Use a bow? Why would you say that!

As for the difference between «Bow» and «Throwing». The bow relies on dexterity, whereas throwing uses strength. That's why muscle lovers come to this side. In the first place, you are here because you are interested in using «Throwing» out of that diverse selection of skills. Don't worry about difficult things like using your brain, just come here.

It's a rather eager solicitation. Very eager. It's definitely trying to drag people in. Though the information itself is very nice. But I'm not taking it.

Considering the skill composition of Lizzy, an axe is the way to go. She also has the third tier of «Throwing», so I don't think there is a problem if it's a bit difficult to throw… I don't intend to romanticise it, so I should just buy one for throwing.

So, the problem is #1. It is currently haltium and an attribute weapon. Above this is airil or mithril. This time we have mithril… not too much, but enough that it's okay to use for servant equipment…

For servants, airil, which is an alloy of magic iron and magic silver, or pure mithril….which is better? Being a magic creature they should be clad in magic power, which would make pure mithril fine. Pure mithril is good if you have a magic skill. For embodying with [Ephemeral Radiance], mithril should be best.

Even if I put so much thought into it, in the end it is best to actually try it for myself.

Ertz-san's place has a facility for testing things out, so I will borrow it.

I summon Lizzy and #1 and have them do some trials, checking with the user and observing the damage to see which is better. As a result, pure mithril for Lizzy, and airil is preferred for #1.

Lizzy has «Dark Magic», so she has a magic skill. #1 does not though.

[Ephemeral Radiance] requires the actual product, so I cannot test it through that here. It is a testing ground for our own equipment or products. To use it through [Ephemeral Radiance] I would need to put the item into [Coffin of Dreams]. In other words, I would need the cooperation of Ertz-san.

I'll give #1 a magic skill and resummon him to try it.

"What are you doing?"

"I was trying to find out whether airil or mithril is better for servants."

"Oh. What's the result?"

"Which one is it #1?"

He is pointing to the pure mithril.

"I guess the criteria is to have a magic skill."

"The same goes for summoners. The users say that the skill level of the magic skill might have an effect on the decrease in durability."

"I see, that's it. So it doesn't affect attack power?"

"No, it doesn't. The only thing that affects the attack is «Magic Equipment»."

"A magic sword, was it."

"Yeah."

It's a good time, so I borrow the actual airil and mithril equipment from Ertz-san, to check them with [Ephemeral Radiance].

As a result, the magic skill no longer has any influence. In other words, the presence or absence is irrelevant. And the MP cost for using [Ephemeral Radiance] is lower for mithril. This means that the MP cost increases or decreases depending on the magic aptitude.

In other words, everything else is the same, so the best choice is pure mithril.

I return the items to Ertz-san and receive the ingots.

152 silver, 132 gold, 57 magic iron, 123 haltium, 79 lytium and 63 mithril.

I'll use them to do the material strengthening straight away.

"The number of required materials is increasing….."

"Well, I felt like 20 wasn't enough."

"20 for the whole body… maybe that is a little too nice."

30 magic iron to upgrade from steel. 40 haltium to go from magic iron. 40 lytium from haltium.

"50 mithril…"

"You do have more than 50 now."

"I'd also like a weapon for #1… How many ingots does a tomahawk require?"

"A tomahawk is… 2 ingots."

For #1 I want one-handed sword, one-handed mace, two-handed sword, two-handed mace, small shield and large shield. A throwing axe for Lizzy. Converted to ingots, that's 3, 3, 5, 5, 4, 8, 2, so it's 30 ingots.

I have 63 mithril ingots at the moment, so 50 to strengthen Lizzy leaves only 13. It's not enough, but I'm not in a hurry.

Or, rather…

"I'll buy the finished products and change the rest of the mithril into attribute metal…"

"That would be better than bringing in the materials. I'd be happy with that too."

"There's also a new gemstone, but I'm not sure how to turn it into an attribute metal…"

"The sunstones, right?"

"Yes. To make it into metal it needs to be medium size, or larger, so [Synthesis] will be needed."

"The rate of [Synthesis] is 3:1, I believe."

"I'll give it a try when I get back…"

"Sure."

The new gems were sunstone, aquamarine, citrine, peridot, selenite, and morion.

For the time being, I'll do my shopping at Ertz-san's store.

I need a complete set of mithril products. Tomahawk, one-handed sword, one-handed mace, two-handed sword, two-handed mace, small shield, large shield. …1.5M, is it? Well, that can't be helped. The haltium is too weak, so I need to change it.

And sell the one-handed sword, one-handed mace, two-handed mace, magic gold iron one-handed sword, small shield and large shield that I was using previously. And also sell the magic red iron one-handed mace.

"Attributed mithril is coming, so will you be needing less attributed magic iron?"

"I can't deny that attributed magic iron is no longer strong enough for the people at the top, so it might be time to cut back on it."

"I expect most of the first and second batch have already bought it."

Well, even if you need less of it, I'll have you buy what I've already made, because it's a hindrance.

After all, the reduced sales must still be within a margin of error. Even though they have dropped, there is still a need for attributed weapons. Attribute weapons go for a good price…

"Then I will head back and craft."

"Thanks for the business!"

After strengthening the equipment of #1 and Lizzy, it is time to return to the palace. Then summon them for a mock battle. It is possible for the servants to fight each other. It seems to have some effect.

And I will go to the alchemy room.

Combining three small sunstones with [Synthesis] will cause them to become a slightly bigger medium sunstone.

And then by using [Synthesis] to combine a mithril ingot, sunstone and magic stone, a sunstone mithril ingot is completed.

I can also combine a large almandine with a mithril ingot to make an almandine mithril ingot.

Mithril attribute metal…. is beautiful. The slightly blue silver of mithril is mixed with a faint colour from the gem.

The problem is the performance. Between the large almandine and the medium sunstone…. I think I should use the large almandine. If both were the same size, it would be the sunstone, but the size makes a big difference.

So… I have 13 mithril. I'll make 11 almandine mithril and 2 sunstone mithril. It would be a problem if I sold just one ingot of the sunstone. It can be made into a smaller weapon like a dagger, if there are two.

Should I buy not just the medium magic stones but also the large ones? They are an essential item for «Alchemy».

Because I take in the corpses with «Necromantic Secrets», I can't expect to get them as drops myself…

I'll continue to craft like this today…. I also want to get «Alchemy» to its third tier.

Before going to bed, I'll bring the attribute metal to Ertz-san, and put the resurrection potions on consignment.