Chapter 13: Triorne

Sorry that it took a while.

Since someone had requested it, I have added the name of the speaker in the dialogues for those that can't follow who says what really well. I believe that all the characters so far have defined ways of talking but hope it helps.

Feel free to give your opinion about this change.

Anyway, enjoy the chapter.

「With that being said, I have finished making...」(Hind)

「Making?」(Riizu)

「Our defensive gear」 (Hind)

「That was fast. Didn't that take you less than five minutes?」 (Riizu)

Compared to Yumir's leather equipment, ours was made of cloth so it was far easier to make.

The materials used for it were the common drop from the monsters in this area 「Cotton cloth」 and the drop from caterpillars 「Caterpillar's thread」.

Mine was a 「Good quality priest clothes +9」, and since Riizu's job was mage, I made her a 「Good quality mage clothes +10」.

As expected, since that one, there were no more 「First-rate」 items.

Even though I had more confidence in this than in leather crafting...it seems like there might be a criteria I'm overlooking.

Since Yumir looked like she had time to spare, I made her look for other first-rate gear in the trading BBS.

Then, procuring a weapon for Riizu.

Since the weapon is just for until she catches up in level, I made her buy a normal 「Wooden rod」 from the shop.

Riizu stayed behind to help me out.

「...Yumir-san is late. Though it'd be fine if she didn't come back」 (Riizu)

「Don't say something so cruel without any hesitation. Well, it's true that she's late though. Since we are already here, should I make another piece of gear? For you」 (Hind)

「For me?」 (Riizu)

「It'll be a standard tricorne. Since I don't have a blueprint for it, it'll be my first time making a personally arranged defensive gear」 (Hind)

Actually, I had been wanting to give it a try.

For the time being, we have finished making our gear so we won't have to worry about materials for a while.

Even if I fail here, there won't be any risks put on ourselves.

Unlike crafting full-body equipment, I doubt just making a hat will prove to be that difficult.

「Nii-san...first...」 (Riizu)

「That's right? Wait, don't call me nii-san. Even though it's fine since there's no one around us」 (Hind)

「...Please do so. I'll be taking nii-san's first time then」 (Riizu)

「I-I see. Though I think the way you worded that was weird?」 (Hind)

「It must be your imagination. Well then, before that hindrance...I mean, Yumir-san comes back」 (Riizu)

Even if you try to correct yourself, it doesn't really change the fact that you already said she was a hindrance.

As for the materials...「Wool felt」,「Caterpillar thread」 and 「Gromwell root fine powder」, these three.

First off, I'll sprinkle the 「Gromwell root fine powder」 onto the 「Wool felt」.

If we are talking about the color of a witch's hat, it has to be black.

The mage clothes are black after all, I have to make them match.

「Just by sprinkling some powder on it, why did the cloth turn into such a fine dark color?」 (Riizu)

「Because it's a game, that's the only thing I can say. Yumir already told you so, right? If it was the same as real life, it would lose the meaning of being a game right?」 (Hind)

「That's also true but...」 (Riizu)

「Then, how about this? They simplified it so it would be convenient for those players that don't have much time to play」 (Hind)

「I can accept that reasoning」 (Riizu)

「You are for the most part, as argumentative as me, huh...」 (Hind)

In reality, if crafting was the same as real life, I'd be unable to make other things they request me to do.

That wouldn't be fun, right?

To begin with, crafting is just one small part of TB.

Besides, the simplified parts feel like you are using magic, and that feels good.

「Look, let me your head for a moment. With this, I'll sew the tricorne and finish it...」 (Hind)

A tricorne wasn't too difficult to make.

The portions that need sewing are not many, once you make the shape, the small details can be done by hand.

I cut a thin piece of linen, and sprinkled 「Crimson flower fine powder」 to dye it into a red ribbon, then coiled it around the tricorne.

More importantly...

「As expected the end won't bend! This is a part I can't give up on!」 (Hind)

「Is that...so?」 (Riizu)

「As expected of you, Hind! If we are talking about mages, the pointy hats must bend. This is a must! This is the right way to do it! Riizu, to think you wouldn't even know this...」 (Yumir)

「!?」 (Riizu)

「Oh, Yumir. Aren't you late?」 (Hind)

「Fumu, the weapon shop was crowded so I got delayed. Is that an original made by you, Hind? I don't think I've seen any players wearing that」 (Yumir)

After appearing from behind Riizu, Yumir threw the 「Wooden rod」 towards Riizu and proceeded to sit in front of me.

Being in disarray, Riizu's expression turned bitter.

Before it turns into another fight, I'll try to advance the conversation in a loud voice.

「That's right. Even though it should have been something common at launch, there's not a blueprint for it...since you were late in coming back, I decided to make it. So, how was it on your end?」 (Hind)

「Oh, you mean the trading BBS? As expected, there was no defensive gear with the first-rate name on them. Besides that, good quality +5~10 items are quite rare.」 (Yumir)

「I see...well, once they make more progress on full walkthrough sites, more evidence should come up. Let's leave this mystery aside for now」 (Hind)

「Hind-san, can I put on this hat already...?」 (Riizu)

「Oh, wait for a bit. For original equipment, the system will asses its performance once you give them a name, they'll be available for use after that. Let's see...tri...cor...ne...and verification」 (Hind)

I inputted the name in the menu console and pressed the verification button.

Like with the Al-Miraj armor, it was wrapped in light and then fell down.

Then I touched the hat and checked its performance.

「...It appeared again, first-rate. Even though I just said we should leave it aside for now. Ah, I'm getting confused!」 (Hind)

「It did!? How precise was your work this time?」 (Yumir)

「Well, even though it wasn't really hard, I made it to the best of my own ability. That being said, there was nothing in the process that was skipped...」 (Hind)

「The mystery deepens」 (Yumir)

「You are right. As far as I could see, Hind-san's sewing accuracy was pretty standard. That being said, there must be something that we are overlooking that has an effect on the end result」 (Riizu)

「...Fuu, let's stop here. Even if we think about it, there's stuff we don't understand. More importantly, let's continue playing the game? I have to go and hear the content of Claris-san's quest today」 (Hind)

The date is going to change soon after all.

I put my completed 「First-rate tricorne +1」 on top of Riizu's head.

The way it's treated is as one of the 2 accessory slots.

Its defense was +7, luckily, as a bonus, it also increases magic attack by 5.

Since there's nothing I can compare it to, I don't know if this item is good or not.

However, since Riizu thanked me in a delighted way, that doesn't matter.

It's cute how she looks like a witch after all.

A tricorne and a black robe...it has to be like this.

I closed the sewing set, stood up and started stretching.

Ah, even though it's inside a VR game, my shoulders are stiff...I want to fight.

「That being said, Hind-san. Who is this Claris-san you speak of?」 (Riizu)

「Ah, Claris-san is...wait, why are you swinging your staff like that? Image training?」 (Hind)

「Please, don't mind me」 (Riizu)

Unexpectedly, even though she shouldn't be that skilled at it, a good sound came from Riizu's swings.

At this rate, it wouldn't be so weird if she could beat her enemies to death.

Though, the fact that she had a strange blank look on her face was quite scary.

「Seems like she's the NPC of the second-hand shop. The first woman he hooked in the village」 (Yumir)

「...Guilty」 (Riizu)

「Don't say things that will have a bad effect on someone's reputation! I only helped her when she fell down!」 (Hind)

「That's right. There's no way that Hind-san would have asked a woman out on his own...that evil woman must have...」 (Riizu)

「Hey, I don't think she was designed that way? If I had to say, it felt like I was talking with another human」 (Hind)

「What do you mean, Hind? Are NPCs able to execute such advanced decisions?」 (Yumir)

「Well, you'll see once you meet her. If it goes the same way as I expect it to」 (Hind)

I headed to the second-hand shop while question marks appeared on top of their heads.