100\% DROP RATE : Why is My Inventory Always so Full? Chapter 3 - Honey

Lucien held back from charging forward.

Positioned at the dungeon entrance, he recognized the danger of advancing without proper readiness. Especially in this situation. If his doubts held truth, stakes far exceeded simple monsters.

A traitor had to lurk in their lands. What other explanation fit for so many disasters striking in rapid succession.

Without warning.

Without trace.

Yes, the mine held value. But the dungeon? Utterly invaluable.

Its monsters offered endless mana cores. Essential for boosting power, activating artifacts, and energizing magical devices.

Though the dungeon sparked it all, Lucien sensed deeper schemes. The timing felt orchestrated. As though someone plotted this ages before the mine morphed into a dungeon.

He retreated from the cavern mouth and hauled out the enormous boulder stored previously, blocking the entrance once more.

He arrived back at the manor right on time for the midday meal.

Their lunch stayed simple.

With the territory suffering hardships, extravagances were impossible. Yet their devoted chef, who stuck around through troubles, ensured it tasted delicious.

During the meal at the table, Vivian shifted uneasily in her chair. She left early, citing the need to pack her belongings.

Post-lunch, Lucien addressed Sebas.

"Sebastian. Do you know where the beehive is?"

"It’s Sebas, young master... And yes, there’s one in the garden."

Lucien arched an eyebrow. "Since when? I thought Father had all the flowers removed. Why are there still bees?"

"When the Baron ordered crops to be planted, the gardener kept a third of the garden for flowers. He said honey could help fill empty stomachs."

"I see..." Lucien mused in silence. Something felt off, but he set it aside temporarily.

He made his way to the garden.

No grand scheme in mind. Merely a modest farewell gift for Vivian ahead of her Academy journey.

After a search, he located the hive.

Numerous methods existed for harvesting honey, many requiring bee slaughter. Yet Lucien sought preservation. He aimed for ongoing yield.

Maintaining equilibrium promised perpetual honey and coin flow.

He focused on Forager Bees alone, avoiding hive panic. With a jar, he snagged nine and added a lit coal from the kitchen.

A cloud of smoke billowed.

The bees perished.

"I’m sorry, little ones. The world isn’t fair," he whispered, a twinge of remorse hitting him.

The system's chime rang in his head, drops forming instantly.

Of the nine rewards, eight glowed faint gray as expected. One radiated green.

<Drops are deposited in the Inventory>

<You killed 9 Bees. You gained 9 copper coins>

***

INVENTORY

Assets:

• 1 silver coin (1 silver coin = 10 copper coins)

Inventory Slots (10):

• High-Quality Honey x9

• Nectar Crystal X1

***

Lucien's eyes bulged. Just like in games, his loot featured rarities.

"Gray means common. Green... uncommon, perhaps?"

Guessing from this, uncommon drops hit about 10%... at least with bees.

But picking them off singly proved too slow.

’Need a fresh strategy.’

He mixed sugar water as bait for more Forager Bees.

Success struck.

Soon, hundreds buzzed in.

He trapped over 300 bees and... wiped them out at once.

From the 300+ drops, Lucien spotted three standout hues anew. Three cubes blazed vivid blue, distinct from gray or green. Its luster suggested Rare quality.

***

INVENTORY

Assets:

• 3 gold coins (1 gold coin = 10 silver coins/100 copper coins)

• 0 silver coin (1 silver coin = 10 copper coins)

• 3 copper coin

Inventory Slots (10):

• High-Quality Honey x99

• High-Quality Honey x99

• High-Quality Honey x75

• Nectar Crystal X27

• Royal Jelly x3

***

Lucien beamed. True to games, stacks capped at 99. The next filled a new slot.

Only now did Lucien spot a major flaw. Inventory limited to 10 slots. Expansion unknown.

Until clarified, he'd handle slots like prime land.

Strangely, slaying hundreds yielded no levels.

"Does leveling rely on effort over kills? Or some other factor?"

Anyway, he halted. No sense tempting fate with bee genocide.

Then the system pinged, displaying a panel.

***

<Achievement: Sweet Tooth, Sour Heart>

<Caused 100 non-hostile creatures to drop something>

<Reward: Title: "Menace to Society">

***

"What the hell?! That’s not a title I want!"

He selected the title for details.

***

<Menace to Society>

<Description: Weak and non-hostile creatures will be overwhelmed by your presence.>

***

"Damn it!" he grumbled. "Couldn’t you give a title like... ’Efficient Harvester’ or something?"

•••

That night, Lucien rapped softly on Vivian’s door.

"Sister? Are you inside?"

"Brother? Come in." Her tone was gentle. "About earlier... I’m sorry for slapping you. I was just... surprised."

Lucien hadn't come for that topic.

He settled next to her on the bed. "Sister... We won’t see each other for a while."

Vivian swallowed, gazing at him expectantly.

"I want you to take these."

From his Item Box, he produced 175 honey bottles, 20 Nectar Crystals, and 2 Royal Jellies.

Drops conveniently came in ideal containers from the system.

The golden liquid's gleam made Vivian swallow hard.

Containers' origins barely registered. Her focus locked on the astonishing bounty.

"This!... Item Box!? Brother, have you unlocked the Item Box skill? And it seems like it’s quite big!"

Skills' origins puzzled this world. Some gained via luck, others through grind. Bloodlines passed a few; faiths deemed them godly gifts.

Unlike structured magic learnable by affinity via study and practice.

Rare skills included Item Box, tied to Space Magic affinity. Small wonder Vivian reeled.

Revealing it at academy would've earned Lucien prestige.

"Yes, Sister. That’s why you don’t have to worry about me or the territory. Focus on your studies at the academy. I’ll take care of everything here." He paused, smiling warmly. "And... this Item Box isn’t the only skill I have. I’ll tell you more next time. So make sure to come back safe, alright?"

Easing her concerns ranked among reasons for his visit.

"Mm-hmm!" Vivian bobbed her head, eyes tearing up as she embraced him fiercely. No further questions. Full trust in Lucien.

Eyeing the orderly vials, she gasped. "This is... honey, right? No wonder Sebas said you were kil—playing with bees." Blinking in awe. "But this is way too much for me. We should share it with the people."

"You don’t need to worry. I have plenty. Besides..." Lucien grinned. "I heard honey’s great for your skin."

Midway, Vivian clutched the honey like gold, eyes alight.

Lucien chuckled inwardly. ’Even sister chases beauty.’

As she packed, Lucien detailed the goods:

<High-Quality Honey>

Type: Consumable

Rarity: Common

Description: Improves health and stamina (Continuous consumption will yield long-term benefits)

<Nectar Crystal>

Type: Consumable

Rarity: Uncommon

Description: Boosts mana and energy recovery. (Can relieve strain caused by skill usage)

<Royal Jelly>

Type: Consumable

Rarity: Rare

Description: a delicacy known to slow aging and enhance mana control. (May awaken latent potential in females)

Royal Jelly's effects captivated Lucien most.

His sister lacked skills. Like bees turning queens via royal jelly, perhaps this could stir her hidden gifts.

He omitted full details, especially parentheticals. Knowing true worth, she might hoard or sell for others.

Lucien opposed that.

These belonged to her.

Packing done, Vivian smiled softly at him.

"Brother, it’s been a while since we slept together. Why don’t you stay with me tonight? I’ll miss you so much..."

Lucien agreed instantly. "Of course, Sis."

Another motive for his visit.

•••

He rested beside her, guarding her sleep. Her features serene, yet the world harsh for such gentleness.

Abruptly, the system echoed mentally, panel emerging.

[CONDITIONS MET]

• Stare at someone intently for an hour without being noticed. ✓

• Don’t blink for 5 minutes. ✓

• Correctly guess a person’s mood three times in a row. ✓

[Skill: SCAN Obtained]

"What the f*ck, system?! Don’t make it sound so damn creepy!"

Lucien yelped, then muffled himself, mindful of sleeping Vivian. Amused or weirded out by conditions... but free skill? No complaints.

Eager, he triggered SCAN on her.

***

Name: Vivian Lootwell ♀

Age: 15 years old

Race: Human

Job: White Mage

Level: 3

Title:

• Lootwell’s Angel

Skill:

Locked

Magic:

• Household Magic

Favouravility: 90

Status: hopeful/sleeping/fatigued

***

"Ninety?! That’s dangerously high..." Lucien whispered. ’Keep it steady. No climbing.’

Confirming her deep slumber, Lucien rose quietly to her bags.

From inventory, he drew a pouch with 30 gold coins—family treasury's remnant. Slipped it in with a prior-written note.

No second thoughts.

No necessity.

Cheat powers erased money woes.

Turning for bed, eye pain lanced sharply.

"Sh*t... Is this one of the side effects of using skills? It freaking stings!"

Lucien massaged his eyes against SCAN's bite. Skills differed from mana-fueled magic; many bore costs.

Body strain, stamina drain, bedrest, agony—all possible.

Tales existed of painless use after years, bodies adjusted.

For Lucien, vision taxed here.

He suspected growth would ease it. Drops could counter too.

Lucien grabbed a Nectar Crystal, consuming it. Relief surged quick.

’Must hoard these...’ he mused.

Wonder struck: Did Drop rate: MAX lack side effects?

Sighing softly, he slid back beside sister, day's burden fading to rest.

•••

Dawn broke.

Carriage awaited Vivian at manor gates. Final embrace tearful, she boarded.

Lucien observed motionless...

Only as it vanished did he pivot.

Face transformed.

Kindness vanished. Icy determination took hold.

"It’s time to find the mole... and fix this damned territory."

Even Sebas, behind him, shuddered at the voice's razor tone.