Brand New Life Online: Rise Of The Goddess Of Harvest Chapter 6 Researching A Bit More About The Game

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Upon logging out, I found myself alone in my house. The clock showed around 5 PM, meaning my daughter would be home soon. I needed to hurry and prepare something for her to eat!

Sitting on my bed, I let out a sigh. My body felt heavier than it did in the game… Ah, I’ll have to get accustomed to the difference in weight between reality and the virtual world.

Still, I already missed those beautiful trees and the adorable squirrel.

"They were truly so cute, weren't they?" I murmured aloud.

But no one answered.

A rueful smile touched my lips as I stretched further before stepping off the bed. I suddenly found myself missing the guide. That little orb was always there to answer any question I had. He was almost like a friend.

However, in reality, I was stuck with this peculiar, automated AI that was seriously lacking in personality.

"Ahh… I’m so hungry…"

I walked out of my room and into the kitchen, turning on the TV for some background noise. I began taking ingredients out of the freezer.

"Hmm… Minced meat, onions, garlic… How about some pepper? And rice… I’m going to make Mommy's special homemade hamburger! My dear always loved these…" I sighed.

As the TV played, I arranged the ingredients on the kitchen table and then checked my phone. I sent a message to my dearest princess.

[Elena, my love, are you out of school yet? Come home quickly so you can eat with Mommy]

[Elena is typing…]

Oh, she read it quickly!

[I told you I was going to Anna's house. Why do you always forget everything?]

Ah…

She sounded so cold… I had forgotten because I’d poured too much mental energy into the game.

Right… she was going to spend the rest of the day at her friend's house, likely staying the night too, as it was already the weekend.

I supposed I wouldn't see her until tomorrow morning…

I sighed. It seemed I would be alone again today…

I quickly sent her another text, apologizing for my forgetfulness.

[Okay… Sorry… Take care. I love you. Tell Anna I’m grateful to her and her family for welcoming you into their home. Make sure to always be polite with everyone there, okay?]

[Ok]

Ah… She always responded with just "ok"… It was so hurtful! Couldn't she have at least said "Okay, Mom"? Sigh…

And just like that, I found myself entirely alone.

I put some rice into the rice cooker and began chopping the onions, garlic, and colorful peppers into tiny pieces, which I then mixed with the minced meat.

I added some salt, black pepper, and a blend of other spices to the mixture.

"I wish Acorn could taste this hamburger…"

I continued mixing the meat until my hands were enveloped in the aroma of the spices, onion, garlic, and pepper. Afterward, I formed small patties and coated them lightly in flour.

"I suppose I can freeze some and fry them for her tomorrow… That should work! I’ll wrap them in plastic wrap first… And then put them in the freezer…"

I swiftly followed through with my plan, saving the rest of the patties. Meanwhile, the oil was already hot, so I placed three small hamburger patties into the pan, and they began to fry slowly.

They looked more like croquettes than hamburgers, but my grandmother, who was Mexican, always called them "hamburguesas" and not "croquetas"… I guess that was her unique way of preparing them, so I can't fault her; they were delicious nonetheless.

I sat down on a chair. After washing my hands, I opened my laptop and started typing, searching for basic information about New Life Online that I might have overlooked. There were many aspects I hadn't bothered researching before I started playing…

I discovered a wealth of new information as I browsed the official forums. Apparently, there was a special town where everyone teleported upon entering the game, known as Beginning Town, which was accessible through the Game's Menu. In this town, I could meet many other players right away!

But would I be able to find my daughter there? I wasn't sure…

This town served as a special hub for the game's events, such as Christmas, New Year, and Halloween celebrations. Its appearance even changed depending on the ongoing events. The forums mentioned that I could purchase interesting items in the market, where players from all over the game sold their crafted goods for gold coins.

It seemed the game lacked typical shops where players could consistently buy items from NPCs. The NPCs themselves crafted the items and did not magically produce them in infinite quantities, so one had to search diligently to find a good shop, and sometimes, they even ran out of stock.

Interesting… it possessed quite a few realistic elements.

Moreover, there were numerous Classes and Races! Standard Classes included Humans, Elves, Dwarves, Beast-kin (Wolf, Bear, Fox, Cat, Sheep, etc.), and Giants.

Even Giants had variations; they could be one of three types: Ice Giant, Fire Giant, or Mountain Giant… but each class came with its own set of advantages and disadvantages, meaning there were no true all-rounders capable of handling every situation with ease.

Within the diverse tapestry of races, there existed classifications like the Mystical Races, encompassing beings such as Spirits. As a Dryad, I fell under the category of a Forest Spirit, alongside other elemental beings like the Fire Spirits, known as Fiere, and Water Spirits, called Nymphs. It was confirmed; I was indeed a Spirit! Upon returning to the game, I resolved to examine my Skills. Beyond the Mystical Races, another significant category was the Monster Races, which boasted numerous sub-categories, with the Undead being one of the most prominent.

The Monster Races presented an astonishing variety in form and size. Werewolves, vampires, ghouls, zombies, and skeletons were among them. Were they truly so similar to humans? The Dragon-kin were also present. Weren't these more akin to demi-humans? It appeared to be a rather mixed assortment.

Goblins, Orcs, Oni, and even Trolls and Ogres populated this world. Truly, it seemed to contain every conceivable creature! I could easily encounter a player with an unusual race and mistake them for a monster.

Then there were the Job Classes, far too numerous to list exhaustively. However, some classes struck me as particularly peculiar, such as the Machinery Engineer, the Buccaneer, and surprisingly, the Bandit! A Bandit class actually existed? What could that even entail?

Fortunately, I selected the Farmer Class, which aligned perfectly with my aspirations for the game. It provided a foundational basis for numerous Production-based Classes, and its Job advancements consistently enhanced the quality of life for the player. I envisioned establishing a home in the forest and living there, while simultaneously exploring the game world and returning home via teleportation whenever I pleased.

The prospect of raising sheep and becoming a shepherd was also quite appealing. That sounded like fun.

Frrssshhh…!

"Ah! The croquettes!"

I retrieved them swiftly, though one had ended up slightly overcooked. Regardless, I intended to eat it; wasting food was not my style. I served myself a portion of white rice, prepared some tomatoes and lettuce, and was ready to dine.

"Hmm! Food always tastes better when you are extremely hungry…" I sighed contentedly.

Within approximately ten minutes, I had consumed everything, leaving me completely satisfied.

"Hahh… I think I might have eaten a bit too rapidly…" I let out a sigh.

After visiting the bathroom, I indulged in a warm bath to unwind. I doubted I would leave my room again until dinner time. For my evening meal, I planned to have some instant noodles, as my daughter would not be home to eat.

With all that settled, I resumed my research from the comfort of my bed. I discovered the existence of a Cash Shop within the game, where players could spend real-world currency.

Ah, so it did feature monetization aspects. How unfair! This meant the affluent could acquire anything they desired, didn't it?

However, as I delved deeper into the details, my initial assumption proved incorrect. In reality, players couldn't obtain absolutely everything they wanted. The items available in the cash shop did not grant significant advantages concerning levels, stats, or other core attributes.

Most offerings consisted of aesthetic items like charming outfits, weapon skins, monster pet eggs, consumables, and various other accouterments. They even offered territories for purchase?! And it was possible to acquire a dwelling in the game within specific zones! Oh… Perhaps I could allocate some funds to acquire a plot of land? But then again, I needed to save for my daughter's college education… It would be best to maintain my status as a free-to-play player.

Yet, I recalled my friend mentioning the possibility of earning money within the game. How was that feasible?

Further research revealed that one could accumulate gold and exchange it for real currency, measured in billions for hundreds of dollars. Additionally, a more sophisticated market existed for trading rare, specialized items. These items could only be crafted using unique materials and by highly skilled artisans, alchemists, and other specialists…

Wow… I wondered if I might one day be able to create one of these legendary-looking items and sell it. The most commonly encountered and seemingly easiest items to produce were known as "Spell Traces." These were crafted by alchemists and served as components for spell scrolls, which were used to enhance items by bestowing randomized bonuses…

By combining 20 of these Spell Traces, one could forge a spell scroll capable of enhancing an item with random attributes… I see… that possesses a certain degree of "randomness"… I'm not particularly fond of it. Yet, they sold extremely well.

Well, if I ever managed to learn the craft, I would certainly seek a way to sell them. Perhaps that could provide some supplementary income? It wouldn't be an unwelcome outcome.

The information then shifted to topics concerning a "metagame" or similar concepts. This primarily involved discussions among highly dedicated players regarding Player versus Player (PvP) combat. "Bossing," a practice involving the daily pursuit of defeating boss monsters to acquire loot and accumulate wealth for continuous character improvement, was also mentioned.

None of these activities particularly captured my interest. The game struck me as far too realistic to become preoccupied with such matters. Frankly, I found satisfaction in interacting with NPCs and assisting them. How could these players disregard all these individuals and the entirety of this world? Their sole obsession seemed to be inflicting millions of damage upon a Boss monster…

…Despite which, they had not yet managed to defeat the new World Boss.

Nevertheless, sufficient research has been conducted for the day. I swiftly donned the VR headset and plunged back into the game, after confirming that all was well in the real world.

…

Upon regaining consciousness, I discovered myself within the Elder's abode. Acorn was seated in a chair, engrossed in a book that appeared to be about alchemy.

"Ah! Lady Planta, you have returned! That was swift; you were gone for only an hour, just as you said," Acorn remarked. "Have you eaten?"

"Yes, I have, and now I feel perfectly fine… Let us commence the item search! Which location is nearest to us?" I inquired, hoping fervently it wouldn't involve battling Dark Beasts.

"Oh, fear not, Dark Beasts are dispersed widely, so we will need some time to locate them… However, I am aware of the mushrooms' whereabouts. Please, follow me!" Acorn exclaimed.