Power Leveling Party

Going to the pleasure district would be for another day. With Alto guiding us, we dashed all the way to Wantos.

No time passed. Well, checking Penpen's menu showed that one day had elapsed, but Alto and I didn't feel any of it.

This really is game-like… right? I panicked, thinking maybe a whole day had been skipped while I was unconscious, and turned off VR display — but my precious day off still had plenty of time to spare.

Yep, this part is definitely game-like.

"It took a whole real-life day when I came here yo… I'm not lying yo, it's legit yo."

"Well, I guess fast travel unlocks around Lv 30 too?"

"Days do pass though, so I wouldn't overuse it."

Well, if Penpen says so while not in VR… Penpen isn't Lv 30 yet, right? Then fast travel probably unlocks a bit earlier.

"Alright then, I wanna hit Lv 30 soon too, so let's get it done quick. Where can we level up, Alto?"

"I'll guide you yo! I found a perfect hunting ground while doing requests on my way yo. With Tria's help, you'll level up super fast yo… Oh, do you have ranged weapons yo?"

"I can whip up a bow and arrows on the spot. Heave-ho… Done!"

Penpen obtained a Wooden Bow and Arrows!

She really made them right there on the spot with her incredible handiwork. Production classes are amazing.

"Penpen, you have attack magic."

"Oh right, I had that too! I barely ever fight so I tend to forget."

"Huh? Ah, right, the system's merciful enough to let you level just by crafting yo. Then maybe you didn't need it yo…"

"Oh, but I had something I needed to do nearby, so this works out."

"Business?"

"The boss from my starting point. The Great Turtle — I haven't beaten it. I want to go back for revenge."

"Yo yo yo. Then let's go after Penpen hits Lv 30 yo. I'll help yo."

"I'll lend my strength too!"

"No, Penpen, you stay behind. It's seriously dangerous — losing you would be no joke."

For now, we moved to Alto's recommended hunting ground. Along the way, there were holes in the ground… What's this? Some kind of footprints?

"Ah, those are my movement tracks yo."

"What does that mean?"

"Like, I shoot my gun backwards and accelerate from the recoil yo."

BOOM! She fired a round ball wrapped in pale blue flames backward, and Alto's body went flying. No wait, it looked like she flew, but she must've dash-jumped in sync with the recoil.

Afterward, only the ball burned away and left behind the same marks we'd seen along the way.

"Then I just repeat that for high-speed movement yo. See how the trail continues all the way to Tsudon yo?"

"So that's how you were moving… I've got enhanced legs so I could keep up, but Penpen, how'd you manage?"

"Tria was carrying me. The loading screen showed that… Alto was flying backwards on my screen, so that's what that movement was."

Alto flying backwards in voxel display… I kinda wanna see that.

 

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The hunting ground had giant boars. Not as big as the Great Turtle — about car-sized.

"That's a Great Boar yo. Now, come over here yo."

"Oh, a cliff."

"Come to think of it, you mentioned fall damage earlier. So we knock them off from here?"

We were standing at a cliff.

… I see. So my role in helping is…

"Carry, shoot, dodge, fall yo!"

"Think we can collect the materials after they fall? Great Boar meat is an ingredient for 'Boar Steak', and I could probably get experience from cooking that too."

"Definitely collecting it, Tria yo!"

"Yeah! I should just barely be able to slide down a cliff this size… Actually, I'd like a rope just in case."

"Penpen will make that yo! Meat, meat, meat!!"

"… You two were stuffed and sluggish just earlier… You're already hungry for more?"

Obviously! It's meat, meat!!

"… Wait!? Come to think of it, I'm not full anymore at all! If we combine this with fast travel, can't we eat infinitely!?"

"Seriously, Tria yo!? For real yo! Hehe, we've completed a perpetual motion machine yo…!"

"One boar's probably enough for a full meal of steak at that size."

How much meat could we get from one that size?

Those plates piled high with meat at the table earlier — how many servings was that? If three or four steaks is a good portion per meal, how many meals could we get…? gulp

"We're hunting them all yo! Every last one yo! Boar party yooo!!"

"Wait! If we over-hunt in this game, they stop respawning, so let's leave some!"

"Whaaat!? What a pitfall yo! Meat not spawning anymore is a terrible trap yo!"

"We're the ones using pitfalls — well, cliffs — to hunt the boars though. Anyway, I'll borrow your back, Tria. Alright, time for Thunderbolt to breathe fire!"

Which tastes better — Lizardmen or these!? We'll eat and find out!!

Ah, Penpen safely reached Lv 30. Welcome to VR display.

Let's eat meat together!!

"I'm really inside the game world!? How does this even work!? There's no way this is legal technology!? Military tech leak!? What even is this, the air tastes good!?"

"Now now, calm down a sec yo. Here, the Boar Steak you just made yo. Say ahh yo."

"Eat up, eat up… You're gonna ascend. You ready for this?"

"N-no, wait, something like digital drugs… Mmph…!? D-d-d-delicious!? I'm maxing out my cooking skill!!!"

"Yo yo yo, Penpen, are you a god yo? We'll offer tribute in meat, so make ours too yo!"

"Let's stay good friends, Penpen! We hunt, Penpen cooks. Everyone eats! Win-win!! Oh, but this is absolutely secret from the wiki."

"Roger!!"

And by the end of the day, Penpen reached Lv 31.

… We might have hunted a bit too much meat.