Defense specialization and resource gathering.

The day after the first event. Maple stood before the bulletin board, jotting notes.

Recording every damage-reduction skill whose acquisition conditions were now known, along with their names, in preparation to re-enter the process of selecting damage-reduction abilities.

NewWorld Online had been released exactly three months ago. Tomorrow, a major update would go live. Additions of new skills and items had stirred the network, but the centerpiece was not these.

The centerpiece was that whoever defeated the boss in the dungeon at the northernmost edge of the current map would gain access to a newly added map in the update.

Parties or solo attempts were both acceptable.

Simply put, clearing one layer would allow passage to the next.

Maple intended to go there once she had acquired the necessary skills.

"Today... I'll master 【Great Defense】!"

Maple resolved with determination, but one issue emerged. Yamiyo no Shu consumed anything it touched—a malicious skill. Thus, 【Great Defense】, which required absorbing attacks as its condition, could not be acquired. The attack vanished before it could be absorbed.

"Umm... but if I have this great shield, I might not need it... no, but still... I want to have many skills..."

Lost in thought, Maple eventually stood and began walking.

"Will this work?"

She headed toward Izu's shop, the one Crom had taken her to before.

"Oh! Welcome. You've become quite the celebrity now... Back when you came here, you were still using your starting gear."

"Thank you! Actually... I have something to discuss... It's okay if it's impossible..."

Maple begins speaking after this preamble. Iz listens to the end, then repeats Maple’s words back as confirmation.

Performance matters not. I wish for a full set of equipment—pure white, focused solely on appearance. That would make the cost… well. If materials are brought in, perhaps a million gold for the full set. Performance may improve somewhat depending on the materials supplied.

The Darknight Shield is not suited for skill training—combat-only.

So Maple decided to acquire another shield for skill training. Yet she wishes to maintain her appearance. She would not consider buying a plain, unimpressive shield. Now that she draws attention, she wishes to care for her style.

Thus, she seeks a complete set.

Next after the black gear—pure white.

Maple hums a quiet laugh. Her mind already holds the image of herself wrapped in that gear.

Understood! I’ll return with money and materials!

She bursts from the shop.

To learn where the materials for her desired gear can be found, Maple returns to the information board.

First, a material of sufficient hardness, pure white in hue. From the board, she selects two options meeting the criteria.

One is white crystal. Yet she learns it cannot be mined by her—her DEX is 0.

She turns to the second option.

The location is a vast underground lake south of the Town. Rumors speak of secrets there, but nothing suspicious has been found yet.

The target is a fish with scales as white and hard as snow, swimming in a school. One of them is elongated, its color resembling blue that dissolves into water.

"Remember hearing something like this in elementary school! Nostalgic!"

Maple, eager and energetic, set off toward the underground lake with new fishing gear in hand.

"Right then... time to begin fishing!"

The splash marked the start. Then silence. Waiting for the catch.

After twenty minutes.

"I— I got one!"

Maple pulled hard on the rod. The sound of splashing echoed through the quiet lake.

Finally, a fish of pure white rose from the water, flapping on the ground behind Maple.

After some time, it left behind a single scale, about five centimeters long, before vanishing into light.

The scale was smaller than natural, but acceptable—Maple tucked it away in her inventory, resigned to the game’s mechanics. There were still more to catch, but Maple would have to stop tomorrow. She had school.

Impossible… this much time… gugug… only two more, then she must pull them in…

Fishing required DEX and AGI, so Maple’s efficiency was at its lowest. A player with high production stats could catch one in a minute.

There was nothing to do but end it. Maple disconnected.

She could not neglect reality for the sake of the game.

Phew… that’s enough for today. Must prepare for tomorrow.

Maple set the device down, stuffed tomorrow’s schedule into her bag.

Then… good night.

Lying in bed, she began to breathe deeply within minutes.

She would surely dream well.