The horse-drawn carriage continued along the road toward the Kingdom of Monotiz.
The tension caused by the appearance of the Giant Mud Slime had finally begun to fade. The afternoon breeze drifted gently across the vast grasslands.
However, there was still one thing bothering Izumi.
"By the way," she suddenly said.
Tom, who was holding the reins, turned toward her.
"Hm?"
"What's the difference between an artifact and an item?"
Tom seemed to think for a moment before answering.
"If we're talking about their class, they're basically the same thing."
"The same?"
"Yeah. The difference is that artifacts are permanent, while most items can only be used once."
Izumi slowly nodded.
"For example?"
"Magic Scrolls."
"Magic Scrolls?"
Tom smiled.
"Those are very commonly used items. There are many different types."
"Like what?"
"There are scrolls for attacking, defending, escaping, and even some used for everyday life."
Izumi's eyes immediately sparkled.
"Everyday life?"
"Yes."
"For example?"
Tom chuckled.
"Scroll of Cleaning."
"Hm?"
"That scroll can clean clothes without needing to wash them manually."
"Waaah..."
Izumi genuinely looked impressed.
"That's incredibly convenient."
Tom smiled and opened his merchant's bag.
"Then let me show you some of my merchandise."
[2x] Scroll of Cleaning [Normal]
[1x] Scroll of Wind [Normal]
[1x] Scroll of Truth [Rare]
[2x] Healing Potion [Rare]
[8x] Apple Pie [No Class]
[10x] Brown Dust [Rare]
[10x] Catapill [Normal]
[200x] Red Rose [Normal]
[150x] Violet Rose [Normal]
[14x] Dark Red Rose [Rare]
Izumi examined everything with great interest.
"Hm..."
"It's not much," Tom said with an embarrassed laugh. "But it's enough to support our daily lives."
Izumi pointed at one of the items.
"How do you see the class of an item or artifact?"
Tom looked confused.
"Hm?"
"The class."
"Oh."
Tom laughed softly.
"Of course, you use a detection device."
"A detection device?"
"Yes. They're fairly cheap."
Izumi nodded.
"But if you're a Player, you don't need one."
"Why?"
"Because the System automatically displays item information."
"Ooh..."
Izumi was beginning to understand.
"Then can you identify my artifact?"
This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author's consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.
Tom laughed awkwardly.
"That... probably won't be possible."
"Why?"
"Because my detector can only identify items up to Epic Class."
"I see."
"Yeah."
Izumi fell silent for a moment.
Then an idea appeared in her mind.
Casually, she activated her Creation Skill.
A flash of light appeared.
A moment later, a transparent blue pudding materialized in her hand.
A sweet aroma immediately filled the air.
Izumi stared at the pudding.
Mom's pudding...
It's been such a long time since I last ate it.
However, what interested her even more was something else.
Did food count as an item too?
Tom and Darius immediately widened their eyes.
"Waaah..."
Tom was practically speechless.
"Miss Rumi..."
"Hm?"
"Are you really not a Player?"
Izumi frowned.
"Why?"
"What you just did."
Tom pointed at the pudding that had appeared.
"Was that an Item Box?"
"Item Box?"
Izumi tilted her head.
"What's that?"
Tom nearly grabbed his forehead.
She really knew nothing...
Seriously...
"An Item Box is an unlimited storage space usually possessed only by Players."
"Hm."
"But that thing just appeared out of nowhere."
"That wasn't an Item Box."
"It wasn't?"
"That's my skill."
Tom froze.
"A skill?"
"Yeah."
Tom no longer knew what to say.
Meanwhile, Izumi held out the pudding.
"Oh, right."
"Hm?"
"Can you identify this food?"
Tom blinked.
"Food?"
Inside, he thought:
So it's food...
I thought it was a slime.
Nevertheless, he took out his detection device.
"Actually, food with a class is extremely rare."
"And?"
"But if you're curious, let's take a look."
Tom activated the device.
Immediately, a golden light appeared.
Shining brightly.
Then—
Flick.
The light vanished.
Izumi tilted her head.
"Hm?"
"What does that mean?"
Tom swallowed nervously.
"I-Impossible..."
"Hah?"
"I already told you my detector only works up to Epic Class."
Tom's heartbeat grew faster.
"Which means..."
He stared at the pudding in Izumi's hand.
"This food..."
"Is at least Unique Class."
Darius immediately gasped.
"Really, Father?!"
Tom nodded.
"If this food had no class, the detector wouldn't have reacted at all."
"But earlier, a golden light appeared."
"That means its class exceeds the limits of my detector."
Tom still couldn't believe it.
As though everything happening was just a dream.
Meanwhile, Izumi looked completely calm.
"Why do you look so excited?"
Tom immediately answered.
"Miss Rumi."
"Hm?"
"Do you know how much Unique-Class food is worth?"
"No."
Tom remained silent for a few moments.
Then let out a long sigh.
"Even Epic-Class food can be exchanged for a house in the city."
"Hoh."
"That's because the buffs they provide are permanent."
"Permanent?"
"Yes."
"And they can stack."
Izumi's eyes widened slightly.
"That's interesting."
"That's why people of every race hunt for Epic-Class food."
Tom looked at the pudding again.
"As for your food..."
"It's very likely above Epic."
"Or perhaps even..."
Tom swallowed.
"Legendary."
Then he immediately shook his head.
"No..."
"Impossible."
"Legendary food is consumed only by the upper races."
"The price is beyond imagination."
But while Tom continued speaking at length—
Izumi had already taken a spoonful of pudding.
"Hmm..."
"Is that so?"
Tom and Darius instantly froze.
"..."
"..."
"Why are you two so quiet?"
Izumi asked while chewing.
Tom felt as if his heart had stopped.
"Why..."
"Why are you eating something that expensive so casually...?"
Izumi swallowed the last spoonful.
"Relax."
"Hm?"
"I still have plenty."
Another flash of light appeared.
Two identical puddings materialized in her hands.
"Here."
Izumi handed them to Tom and Darius.
"For you."
Tom nearly dropped his pudding.
"M-Miss Rumi..."
"Yeah?"
"Are you serious?"
"Yeah."
"Giving away high-class food like this for free?"
Izumi casually nodded.
"Of course."
"I still have plenty."
Tom felt like his worldview was collapsing.
Still have plenty...
Food above Epic Class...
Plenty...
Was she some kind of goddess?
"Please eat it quickly."
"Huh?"
"If you don't, I'll eat it myself."
The moment they heard that threat, Tom and Darius immediately started eating.
Their eyes widened at once.
"This..."
Tom could hardly believe it.
"It tastes incredibly refreshing."
Darius nodded rapidly.
"I like it!"
"It's not too sweet!"
"But it's really delicious!"
Tom laughed.
"The texture is like slime."
"But it's incredibly soft."
They finished the pudding in no time.
Then—
Their bodies were suddenly filled with energy.
Tom immediately stood up.
"What is this?!"
Darius even jumped from his seat.
"Father!"
"I feel really strong!"
"So much energy!"
Izumi smiled faintly.
So it really works.
The buff affects other people too.
"It's a buff."
Tom stared at her with trembling eyes.
"A buff..."
"Permanent..."
"Miss..."
"You're truly a goddess..."
"Yeah, yeah."
Izumi lazily waved her hand.
"Whatever."
She still wasn't used to being called "Miss," let alone "Goddess."
Tom clenched his fists.
"I feel like I can run incredibly fast right now."
Darius nodded enthusiastically.
"Me too!"
"I feel like I can jump all the way to the top of a tree!"
Tom laughed.
"That's an exaggeration."
"But Father!"
"I'm serious!"
Meanwhile...
Deep within the Kingdom of Monotiz.
A much darker atmosphere was unfolding.
Inside the royal meeting chamber.
Zak stood before his king.
"Please, Your Majesty."
"That girl is a threat."
"The two knights I personally trained were killed in a single attack."
A mocking laugh echoed from one corner of the room.
"HAHAHAHAHA!"
"That's because they were weak."
The man sitting casually in his chair looked at Zak with a condescending smile.
"And the funniest part..."
"They were killed by a girl."
"Hahaha!"
Zak gritted his teeth.
That man was Yorn.
The Kingdom of Monotiz's only Player.
1 Star.
Level 48.
"Lord Yorn."
Zak restrained his anger.
"Everything I have said is the truth."
"So please take this matter seriously."
Yorn sighed.
"You think I'm not taking it seriously?"
A killing intent slowly filled the room.
Zak and Yorn stared at one another.
Neither was willing to back down.
Until a loud voice echoed throughout the chamber.
"Enough!"
The royal advisor, Fazer, stood up.
"Have you forgotten that you're standing before the king?!"
"Where are your manners?!"
Yorn raised both hands.
"Don't drag me into this."
"He's the one who started it."
"Yorn."
Fazer rubbed his temples.
"I know you're strong."
"But watch your attitude."
Yorn clicked his tongue.
"Yeah, yeah."
"Whatever."
After a lengthy discussion.
A decision was finally made.
King Rosev Monotiz granted Zak permission.
The entire knight order.
And Yorn as well.
Would be mobilized.
Their objective was simple.
Kill the girl named Rumi.
And the operation would be conducted in complete secrecy.
No one was allowed to learn of it.
A few minutes later.
Fazer approached the king.
"Your Majesty..."
"Hm?"
"Why did you make that decision?"
"We don't even know what kind of artifact that girl is using."
Rosev stared out the palace window.
In a quiet voice, he replied.
"I've already seen it."
Fazer fell silent.
"Through their memories."
Rosev narrowed his eyes.
"That girl is dangerous."
"And she must be stopped."
Fazer looked at his king.
"So you agree that she should be killed?"
Rosev did not answer.
He simply remained silent.