Fantasy Star Online's
8. Business Partners And Friends
"Yes!"
Sreth...! Crick.. Clang...!
"{Level Up!}"
———
Name: Ryzen
Level: 6
Guild: —
SP: 18
STR 5, AGI 5, INT 8, VIT 4, LUCK 5
Karma: 1
———
My name is Ryuei—no, Ryzen! A top player is also the best Spearsman, at least in the old games. Now I'm hunting a low-level monster in Greenfields using my new weapon, a sword I got from a Blacksmith named Laiten.
It's been a day since I started my hunt, and it's been a day since Laiten asked me to be his partner, I think it refers to something like pa-pa-pair! I-it's a loh, like-as-a-kind of a date! Huh... I was thinking too much about such a special relationship, but it turned out that what he meant was a work partner or business partner....
Yesterday, he asked me to be his business partner, where I would work for him as a producer material collector that he would use to make equipment. And now here I am, fighting in Greenfields is aiming to raise my level and also gather materials for him.
In the vast green field, the sun will soon set, therefore, the sky turns orange. At that time, a player armed with a short sword, still continues to hunt low-level monsters, and that player is none other than Ryzen.
Clang...!
The sound of broken glass coming from the mangled remains of the monster into pieces of polygon and disappearing into the air, had become the last bell for Ryzen to end his hunt.
"Fuh, tired of it.., but, hence my level has now reached level 7."
Ryzen, managed to raise one more level. He kept his short sword in the inventory and gave Laiten a message. After that, he rushed back towards the city.
"Oh, yes.., I think I got some Achievement I haven't received yet."
Achievement, is a system of achievement or achievement, which if players have qualified in an Achievement, then they will be rewarded with something such as money, goods, or sometimes also a title.
"I'll check it out later."
Ryzen continued his journey to the city. Arriving there, he went straight to the small blacksmith's house and met Laiten to give him the item he wanted. But Laiten was not there.
"Ah, young man. Are you looking for Laiten's son?"
The voice came from an old man who did not have a cursor over his head—which means an NPC. Ryzen looked at the NPC and nodded slowly.
"Yes. Do you know where he is?" ask Ryzen.
The NPC shook his head slowly, he walked towards the iron smelting place, with a shiny white metal rod in his hand.
'What is silver in his hand?' ryzen's inner self when she realized it.
The NPC placed the white metal bar on a wooden table near the smelting site, but Ryzen thought the NPC was going to smel it. Then, the NPC looked towards Ryzen standing up.
"Son Laiten, she's a diligent girl. Her talent was really great at forging, to be honest I was envious myself, because when I was young, I couldn't do as well as that girl did...."
Ryzen tilted his head at the NPC's sudden words, which would likely be a story if not stopped immediately.
'W-why suddenly talk like that? perhaps, this is a storyline commonly found before the start of a Quest?!' ryzen thought he was panicking.
It was true, at first, Ryzen wanted a story Quest he wanted to do, but that was when he didn't know what to do. Now, after knowing what he had to do, Ryzen already did not need any more of his name Quest—but well, it did not mean that he would completely reject an NPC Quest.
In the end, Ryzen becomes a good listener when the NPC tells him at length about his past and the life of a blacksmith.
The NPC named Logus, since childhood he always saw his father who was also a blacksmith, he said, making equipment for adventurers—call for people who dedicate their lives to exploring the world while killing the monsters, na, even though most of them are players.
"... So, son! Are you interested in becoming a Blacksmith?!"
'I thought it would be like this!!' inner Ryzen screamed.
In the zero point conspiracy of a second, Ryzen makes his brain work hard and gets the answer. Ryzen cleared his throat, then sighed.
"I know a Blacksmith it's a fun job...."
"CORRECT, RIGHT?!" sidelines that NPC with the spirit of a youngster.
"BUT..!!"
Ryzen pointed his finger upwards, making the NPC pause for a moment. Then, Ryzen smiled widely and patted his chest.
"Become the strongest far leb—waaa?!"
When he was proud, suddenly someone broke down the door behind him, making him hit and fell to the floor.
Bruk!
The one who opened the door was Laiten, who, unlike usual, was wearing a shiny set of complete armor made of silver metal, and carrying a shield on his back.
"Well, Ryuzen! You okay?!" laiten asked when she realized Ryzen had fallen to the floor.
Ryzen stroked his back while trying to stand up, "Yes, I'm fine."
Then, came the red HP bar and the blue MP he had already lost when he was about to undergo the Laiten quest, right in front of his sight. Ryzen saw that his red HP bar was reduced by a few millimeters.
"H-HAAAA?!!!"
Ryzen shouted in surprise that his HP would be reduced despite being caused by some trivial things like getting hit by a door and then falling.
"Why-to-why is my HP reduced."
Laiten could only hold back her little laugh, she closed the door of the little blacksmith's house and walked in front of Ryzen.
"Well, this game looks like the real world. When you fall like before in the real world, your skin will definitely leave a wound and will feel pain even a little. So also here, in exchange for those wounds and pains, your HP will be reduced, well even if it is only one or two points anyway."
Laiten faces Ryzen who is still on the floor looking at her. Laiten bowed her body and stretched out her hand to give her help while smiling happily.
"Well, come. You don't have to be surprised at a little thing like that, Ryuzen," Laiten said.
Ryzen sighed as well and gave a small smile for a moment, he grabbed Laiten's hand then he was helped to stand by her. Ryzen tilted his head, and looked at Laiten in confusion.
"Why did you choose me?" ask Ryzen.
"Hmm?" Laiten tilted her head, "What do you mean?"
"I mean, why did you choose me to be a partner for your business. Aren't there still many other players whose levels are even already high?" ask Ryzen again.
Laiten stared at Ryzen for quite a while. He had expected to get such a question, but to get it from a person who looked like he would receive anything as long as there was a reward, he was quite surprised.
"Because I believe you," said Laiten, smiling as she slapped Ryzen on her left chest.
"You must be hode...!"
"What did you say?! you must have known that this game does not allow players to change their gender, right?!" laiten said in a high tone.
"That's true, but...."
Ryzen held onto his chin as he looked at Laiten, observing him from top to bottom with eyes full of suspicion.
"Still not believing?! In that case, I'll tell you my contacts to make you believe!" chirp Laiten.
Hearing the sentence, Ryzen's ears received it clearly. His irises moved to the corner of his eyes, then looked at Laiten sharply while putting on a triumphant face that looked cunning.
"REally?!"
In the end, Laiten gives his contact to Ryzen because he feels he has lost, meaning he lost in a fight. They talk a little about the business partner, Ryzen gives all the items his partner asks for, then logout.
Time in the real world was almost late at night, Ryuei was sitting on the living room sofa while looking at his smartphone tensely. He continued to stare at the flaming screen while his hands continued to tremble and sweat continued to pour out.
"Wa-wa-even though I was so happy when I got the contact! ta-ta-but, why am I even gu-gu-gugup now?!" Ryuei muttered.
Ryuei was nervous not without cause. It's all because of the contents of the smartphone screen. He was looking at the contents of his chat with his new friend, and it was his first experience to chat with a woman in the real world, after 2 years of confining himself.
———
L: I really want to meet you!
R: Don't we always meet in games?
L: I want to see your real face! Send me your selfie, Ryuzen!
R: Uh.... Not ah, anyway my name is Ryzen not Ryuzen. Na, in the game anyway.
L: Oh! Also true! My real name is Laila! Now, tell me your real name too!
R: Uh?! You can't just tell a stranger your name, you know!
L: Hmm, but you are my friend!
———
Looking at the sentence, Ryuei's eyes immediately opened wide as well as his mouth. His expression could no longer be explained in words, but to be sure, it was his happy expression.
"Friends, huh," muttered Ryuei with a small smile.
Ryuei instantly moved his fingers to reply to the message.
My name is Ryuei, make sure you remember it well!
