[Starvation: Level 4]
Argh!
No way!!!!!
My level dropped after eating one late-night snack?!!!!
Before going to sleep at night, I checked my skill level and was horrified to find that the skill [Starvation] had dropped another level.
"..." Fortunately, Mrs. Kikyo can't see my skill level.
It should be fine if the level of [Starvation] is a little lower, right? It shouldn't happen that Kikyo said, "When you go out to work in the future, if you see snacks on the table at your destination, will you choose to eat one immediately?"
I'm not a starved ghost reborn, it should be fine, I'll resist.
Yes, I can!
The game backpack function was finally unlocked, and I couldn't wait to wander around the Zoldyck territory, trying to find game items that could be collected into my backpack.
Shiba warned me not to let anyone discover my abilities. Alas, even if he didn't say it, I would be very careful. I also didn't want to expose my "gamer" identity in front of NPCs and cause unforeseen accidents.
Thanks to Milluki's birth, Kikyo, who needed to look after three children simultaneously, had her attention significantly divided. I could take advantage of the free time without cultural classes or training, pretend to be out for a walk, and look for shiny game items.
The places I could go within the Zoldyck territory, accumulated over intermittent periods, allowed me to explore almost everywhere. Except for some locked areas I couldn't enter, I was just short of rushing into Illumi's room to search. Oh, right, I didn't enter the private rooms of other Zoldyck family members either. I didn't dare to disturb them casually. Only Milluki's and Kikyo's rooms were places I could knock and enter freely.
After more than a month of persistent exploration, I don't know if it's because the game backpack function is not fully unlocked yet, or because of the limitations of the backpack itself, but currently I can only put items with a glow into the game backpack.
Come on, let's see what I've collected in total.
[Shiny Cabbage x73], [Shiny Potato x59], [Shiny Onion x21], [Shiny Carrot x38], [Shiny Daikon Radish x14], [Poisonous Mushroom x6], [Unripe Tree Fruit x12], [Fowl Egg x9], [Butterfly Wing x3], [Lizard Tail x2], [Insect Pupa x1], [New Orleans (Roasted Wings) Feather x7]
"..." It seems like all useless stuff.
These items have very low rarity. The Zoldyck kitchen refreshes a batch of shiny random ingredients every twenty-four hours.
Mushrooms, tree fruits, fowl eggs, butterfly wings, lizard tails, and insect pupae can be obtained in the Zoldyck's backyard.
New Orleans (Roasted Wings) feathers, well, it's the eagle I'm raising now, and I can get a feather from it every seven days.
I wonder if the mission dungeons Shiba goes to will have higher-level items for me to pick up?
Most likely not. My level is too low. Most games control the level of dropped items according to the player's level. Even if I follow a big shot into a high-level dungeon, it's useless.
Alas, I am too weak, and more importantly, my brain is not working well. There are too many insidious characters in this world, and they will use their various strange Nen abilities to set traps. Character level does not represent everything; it is common for the weak to defeat the strong.
Unless...
Unless my level is high enough to crush the opponent.
I really wish my Nen type was Enhancer, then I wouldn't need such high intelligence.
The characteristic of the Enhancer type is that their attack and defense are higher than other types. If you increase the speed a little and focus on martial arts, as the saying goes, "One force overcomes ten skills." No matter what strange abilities the enemy has, as long as you can instantly kill the enemy before they can use their abilities, you don't need to bother figuring out the weaknesses of the enemy's abilities.
For example, like Netero, the chairman of the Hunter Association in this world, at his level, his speed and strength are unmatched. He can instantly kill most humans upon meeting them.
Yes, in the game, if you can kill instantly, you don't need to care about what skills the Boss has or how to deal with them.
But one drawback of the Enhancer type is that it requires sufficient physical training. The toughness of the body greatly affects the level of attack and defense. Almost all Enhancer characters I remember in the original work were muscular.
Oh, and Emission and some Transmutation types. Absolute violence and muscles are always inseparable.
Too frustrating.
If you want to operate without relying on muscles, Manipulation and Conjuration are the preferred choices. Specialty type cannot be chosen. The original setting is entirely based on talent and luck.
No, actually, I don't need to choose. When the time comes, I'll test it with "Water Divination," and whatever type it shows, I'll have to train in that type. The original work clearly states that only by training in a type that suits you can you have a future, otherwise it is a waste of time and effort.
Okay, then I won't worry about the type anymore. I'll just lie down obediently and wait for the Zoldyck family to arrange my Nen type test.
There are probably not many dungeons suitable for Level 1 beginners to tackle, so Shiba hasn't taken me to any more dungeons. After all, the businesses the Zoldycks take are priced in the hundreds of millions. Their daily work will not be that simple.
Clients who make requests are not fools. There are not only Zoldycks in the world of assassins. They must have considered cost-effectiveness beforehand.
Besides, I am mute and cannot "speak" to communicate at any time, which is a bit troublesome. It's normal for them not to take me along casually.
A few days ago, Shiba took Illumi to a dungeon. I knew about it because when I took a test the next day, Illumi was writing with his left hand. I found out later from Kikyo that Illumi had injured his right arm in the dungeon. httpδ:/m.kuAisugg.nět
Although I am a bit annoyed by Kikyo's monitor attribute, I can ask Kikyo directly about most things at home. She knows almost everything, which is the greatest benefit of a monitor.
Can a Boss have teammates who get injured?
I don't know if the dungeon was too dangerous to cover all aspects, or if Shiba deliberately let Illumi train by himself?
I don't know. Anyway, after finishing my daily classes, I focused on collecting game items. Maybe I'll get some special game rewards when a certain item collection reaches 999?
When the butler came to inform me that I had to see Shiba, I was a little hopeful that there would finally be a suitable dungeon for me to tackle.
At this stage, Shiba's room has a Japanese-style decoration, which is quite spacious and bright. According to the scenes in the original work, this place will be redecorated in the future to be a room where metal, skeletons, skulls, and ferocious beasts gather. The only light source will be blue cold light emitted from the floor, creating an atmosphere that is exactly like a Boss room.
Hmm, I have a strong premonition that I will face the final battle in this game in such an atmosphere.
Shiba, Boss, Strong.
On a side note, Shiba's room has no collectible items, which is a pity.
"..." I tried my best to maintain a calm exterior and knelt down on the tatami floor, finding a soft cushion. Imagining the fierce scene of the final boss battle, my heart was surging with excitement.
"Have you had any gains recently?" This question could have multiple answers, so Shiba added, "I mean, those items that have a glow in your eyes."
"..." He knows I've been collecting things everywhere recently?! Even Kikyo hasn't become suspicious of me!
I underestimated Shiba. Not only does Kikyo have a monitor attribute, but Shiba, who often goes out to work, is also fully aware of the situation at home.
No, this might be him trying to trick me?
Is it necessary?
"Could it be..." I asked with lip-reading, "Does everyone already know? I've been really careful not to be discovered."
Alright, come to think of it, my frequent scavenging of the Zoldyck family's kitchen, which refreshed ingredients every twenty-four hours, was indeed a bit too much. Even though the Zoldycks are a wealthy class and wouldn't notice the loss of a few carrots, potatoes, cabbage, and onions that ordinary people wouldn't even steal, my behavior of "passing by" at least once a day was not very natural.
"No, it doesn't seem like it for now," Shiba said.
Then I confessed everything, where I went and what I collected. As for the point that "collecting up to 999 might result in game rewards," I didn't say it. Saying it would not only be of no benefit but would also be considered crazy.
"..." Shiba looked at all my collected items spread on the floor, listening to my explanations about these items, and was lost in thought for a moment.
"I should be able to collect more other things," I indicated with lip-reading. "If you let me go out and visit different places."
"No, Merle, this can only be your hobby," Shiba said. "Don't get too obsessed."
"But..."
You don't understand, Shiba. I am trying my best to explore the functions of the game system. The more I understand the system, the more likely I am to utilize the system's functions and do things that ordinary NPCs cannot do.
I just... want to become a useful person.
"Moreover, if this continues, it's only a matter of time before others discover your ability," Shiba's tone softened slightly. "As you know, these things can be collected anytime, anywhere, without specific locations or times, so there's no rush. Take your time, Merle, you should focus on training now."
Objectively, what he said was indeed correct. The things I collected were worthless trash in the eyes of NPCs, similar to the childish behavior of ordinary children collecting marbles, bottle caps, and trading cards. His remarks were already quite polite.
I reached out and touched the collected items one by one, feeling ashamed as I put them back into the game backpack.
"Next month."
"..." I looked up.
"Calculated, it will be your third '(Hunter) Game' with Illumi," Shiba said. "Don't fall behind, I will look forward to your performance."
"..." I nodded.
Shiba has never been a man of many words. After saying what he needed to say, he let me leave.
Next month?
Is there still time to speed up leveling up?