ACT 4 Slimes Immortality Pill

Hehehe, what kind of luck it this?

The residents were all watching Ark like he was a hero. This whole show was to obtain items. But an embarrassing giggle kept on escaping from his mouth.Planting Yggdrasils seed!He honestly didnt have high expectations for that quest.He thought he would only receive experience, fame and an increase in intimacy.There was a reason Ark thought like that.In the Underground World, he had gone through all that suffering to defeated the awakened Heartsoul Bead and save Yggdrasil.At the time he had been satisfied receiving the Dark Piece but after thinking about it later, he realised that he didnt receive adequate compensation.The Dark Piece wouldve been passed to Ark anyway thanks to the ancient vow with Hero Maban.

Didnt that old tree guy manage to stealthily avoid giving me a reward?

It was a breach of trust!Therefore he hadnt been that concerned about the <Sacred Soil> quest when he received it. Furthermore, Yggdrasil who gave the quest was in the Underground World. Popo was just a seed so he couldnt give compensation. But he was rewarded in this way!Yggdrasil had been saved and he planted the seed.

Although there was a lot of time in between, this was a connected quest. And the reward he received was because of how long the quest took.It was a sacred branch with a faint light glowing along its length! The success rate of his skills would increase by 10%. Needless to say this was the best option.Compared to other games, the failure rate of skills in New World was a lot higher.This applied to passive skills and active skills like Dark Blade as well as skills like Survival Cooking. The higher the skill level the higher the failure rate would increase. Of course, if he carefully used the skill then the success rate would rise but he could still fail thanks to the system.In the case of a warrior or wizard, it might be the final blow before dying! When producing advanced materials, it might fail at the last moment! When a skill failed then the damage was incredible.Therefore the items that increased skill success when items that all users drooled over.But there was a separate option that made Ark happy.

The probability of finding magic items increases by 20%!

The item drop rate in New World wasnt that high.The reality was the one had to fight countless amounts of monsters before finding a general item. Rather than selling it in shops, they would have to use it until the performance fails. It also wasnt easy to change equipment when you have levelled up.Ark had used the equipment purchased in the beginner village until level 60~70. That was the reason why New Worlds item prices grew over time.In particular, the magic items would sell for a lot of money.Although rare and unique items would sell for a lot of money, the chances of them being sold were atrocious. It was similar to trying to win the lottery. On the other hand, magic items appeared pretty steadily.

Magic items are a stable income. If there is an extra 20% chance of finding magic items then that is a 20% increase in profit!

In addition, he could just simply put the Sacred Branch in his bag. There was no need to change his equipment and it could be used forever.

Other people might not understand but this is the best item for me.

Thank you very much. Ark-nim has brought back our faith and beliefs. Now we can live here peacefully in the future.

The raccoon clan had approached after he received the Sacred Branch. They had previously talked to him roughly but now they were using honorifics.Once he had planted Yggdrasil, his intimacy with the raccoons immediately shot up. No, aside from intimacy they also had a lot of respect for him. He possessed a branch of Yggdrasil who they served so all their doubts were gone.

You have kept your promise of friendship with Yggdrasil.

Ooh

The raccoons murmured.Ark became even more awesome in their eyes and they considered him as a friend.

Please tell us if you ever need us for anything.

We will do our best to help.

Thank you. Those words.I will never forget them.

Ark smiled as he replied.Having skilled craftsmen owe him a favour would definitely be useful.

Now shall we cut to the chase?

Ark turned around and walked towards the general store.It was time to put things in order. Even if he moved the Sacred Soil, the ones that benefited the most was Lancel Village. He made that decision to peacefully complete the quest.if Ark did the NPCs a favour then shouldnt he receive a compensation?Ark believed in words with good will and put it into practice. If he gave something then he should receive something in return. That was the first step to a bright and cheery community.

I dont know when this opportunity will come again. Its better to do it when the atmosphere is nice.

Welcome Ark!

When he entered the shop, Galen greeted him cheerfully.

You really found an enormous amount of Sacred Soil. The amount of crops planted has been doubled and we will soon be able to harvest it. It should take 2~3 days. Can you believe that? Thanks to you this coming winter.No, we wont have to worry about food for the next few years!

Im glad I was in the village to help.

Really glad. Because hell be able to extract even more!

But the compensation we were talking about the other day.

At Arks words Galen steadily became more tense.However his intimacy with Galen was the best so he quickly smiled generously.

Of course. I already told you that I would give as much as possible.

Hmm, will it be as expected?

Hell accept anything within a certain range.In the past, such Galen had said that he would give anything in his power.In fact.the compensation for this system was the most difficult.When doing a favour for a NPC, if someone asks for an excessively extravagant item or money then of course it wouldnt be accepted.But Ark had also experienced this failure.

When he headed to Cairo from Giran, he had save an injured hunter in the forest.The hunter initially said the same thing.

You are a life saver. Ill give you whatever is possible for me to give.

Ark had asked for his bow without thinking.Even since the blind auction, Arks keen eyes were already at a considerable standard. He could estimate the value just by looking at it. The hunter didnt appear to have money. However the bow was made of considerably good materials.

It is at least a magic item!

He secretly coveted it! But at his suggestion, the hunters attitude had a 180 degree change.

I didnt realize that you were a person with no shame and decency. Are you asking me to give you an heirloom that has been passed down through generations of my family?

But didnt you say you would give anything possible?

I clearly said that I would offer compensation. I meant things like recovery potions or food, not this valuable heirloom that is worth more than my life. However you used to opportunity for absurd demands, so youre even worse than a jackal!

No, its not..

Thats enough. I feel ashamed that I owe a favour to a man like you!

Therefore the hunter gave him some recovery potions and walked away ranting.Ark had forgotten that unpleasant memory for a while but he remembered it again.New World was a huge game. And the people who lived here were NPCs..They might speak and behave like an artificial intelligence, but in the end they were just a part of the system. Just like people cant escape the physical laws, the NPCs cant escape the rules of the system.There was an upper limit of what they could give to a user.Even if it was a quest received from an aristocrat, a level 1 user couldnt receive the reward that a level 100 user could. This was one of the laws of New World, just like the physical laws in reality.

But it was fortunate that the rules werent as tight in New World as they were in reality. If the level 1 user judged the situation well, while he couldnt receive a level 100 reward he could at least be rewarded something 10 levels higher.The technology might that he could receive the maximum benefit as long as it was within the upper limit.Sometimes the reward depended on the choice of the user.That was the freedom of New World!

When Galen had offered a reward, Ark had postponed it for the moment. Once all the Sacred Soil was transferred and Galen saw how much it benefited the town, hopefully he would be willing to offer a compensation at the upper limit. However, the situation was the same as before. But the width of the upper limit would rise a little bit more than before.

I can probably request an item or money immediately.

The problem was that Lancel Village wasnt an abundant village.Also the finances had gone down in recent years thanks to all the construction! It was the worst time to ask for a reward. The compensation that he could receive in such a situation was clear.It was probably a common item with an upper limit of 100 gold. Of course, the quest occurred by chance but to only receive 100 gold.

I rescued 700 people from a food crisis just for 100 gold? As expected, something is lacking.

For Ark, receiving money right now wasnt urgent.He only had a bag of money, but once Sid returned he would receive thousands of gold.There was no reason to hang himself for 100 gold.At that time, an idea popped into Arks head.

Since I dont need money now, Ill make a long term investment!

In New World, a user could invest in a village or city. Once a certain amount was invested, the user would obtain a share of the village just like the village chief or Lord. However, there was a prerequisite first.The only way to invest was to have a real estate, guild office or rental warehouse in the village or city. While they were eligible, there was no guarantee that they would be able to invest unconditionally. The grade of the house, the market share, the users fame or intimacy with the place were all factors that could affect the investment.Therefore, Ark hadnt been too interested in investing.But now he possessed a house in Lancel Village!

He had met the minimum eligibility requirements.Thanks to the additional effects of Yggdrasil, Ark was convinced that Lancel Villages development would rapidly increase in the future.

Lancel Village is an unknown mountain town. The land value is at its lowest right now. But if it develops accordingly thanks to Yggdrasil, it will soon be registered as a formal village. Then the land price would also rise. Yes, this was the time for an investment!

It was worthy of a long term real estate investment.Finally, Arks methods of gaining money would expand to the lucrative real estate market.Whether it was hunting, fraud or real estate speculations.if he earned money then who cared what method he used? After Ark organized his thoughts, he spoke in a deliberately anxious voice.

Ive been trying to think of an appropriate reward without affecting the village too much. Hasnt the villages finances decreased in recent years due to the construction projects?

As expected, you have consideration for such things. Yes, our finances are a little tight at the moment.

Galen let out a deep sigh.Then Ark quickly said.

But declining your sincerity would be rude. Therefore I came to a conclusion about my worries. I want to help restore the village.

Restore?

Yes, instead of receiving a reward how about I receive a stake in the village?

A stake in the village?

I have a house in Lancel Village so dont I qualify for a stake?

Certainly but.

Even if it was a low value pioneering village, they couldnt just give a share of the village so easily. However, words have different meanings just like Ah was different from Eh.If he just asked for a stake in the village then Galen may have felt discomfort. But Ark used the word Restore. The difference was surprisingly large. He gave the impression that it wasnt for a profit but was instead for the village.Galen thought for a while and nodded.

I see. While Lancel Village normally wouldnt transfer a share to a foreigner, we owe a great debt to you. If you dont want a reward then well give you a share. 2% should be a suitable compensation for your efforts. How about it?

700 people lived in the village yet he received a compensation of 2%. If Lancel Village grew as expected, then it wouldnt be easy to obtain even 0.1% percent of a share.

It is a case where having high intimacy with a NPC increased the upper limit. If I become greedier then I might not receive any compensation. But.

An opportunity to receive shares wasnt that common. It would take a lot of money just to meet the minimum requirements. So if there was an opportunity to increase it by even 0.1% more than shouldnt he take it?

Okay, its all or nothing! Ill try it.

Can you wait a minute? My stomach is a little sore.

Ark made an excuse and left the store. Then he pulled something out of his bag and drank it.It was the Drink of Bewitchment that Roco used to seduce the unicorn!It was a drink that increased his charm by 300%. Aside from users, even the unicorn was affected by the drink that Ark made.If the effect was so powerful then he might be able to use it to increase his reward.Ark entered the general store again.

Cant you make it 3%?

3, 3%? Arent you being a little greedy? Dont you know how amazing the shares of the village are? Even though it is a pioneering village, 2% isnt a small amount.

That was Galens immediate reaction.However he had already expected that reaction.

.Of course I know. Ajusshi has presented the shares with sincerity, but.to be called greedy.

A tear dropped from Arks eyes while he made a sad expression.

As you know, Im a foreigner. Ever since we were born our destiny was to wander around, never settling in one place. And I had accepted that fate until a little while ago. But my heart has ended up shaken. Galen is a great leader of the village and is like an uncle to me. Yes, I thought that I wouldnt mind spending the rest of my life in this place.

Um

But I had to leave Lancel Village. Thats because it is the fate of the foreigners. While I wandered around and met lots of people, I sent some of them back here and my heart was shaken again. Then I returned to Lancel and realized clearly. Yes, although I was born with a wandering fate, my home was here. It is my shelter and my hometown!

Ark seemed to express all his emotions.

Im not interested in things like the land. I never thought about being greedy. But my greed has emerged due to my affection for Lancel Village. I love this village and would like to have a bit more of the land. I suppose Im cheeky for wanting more. So that even if my body is away from Lancel Village, I will always feel like Im a part of the residents. That was how I became greedy. But..I suppose my greed became too excessive.

Ark sighed heavily.Galen silently watched until his eyes became red and teary.

.Im sorry. I misunderstood you. I had no idea you felt that way. I am ashamed of myself. I shouldve known that you werent a person who would request something without a reason.I forgot about all the work youve done so far.

It has a large effect!

Ark inwardly cheered.If the NPC showed these reactions then he was already halfway successful.But he had to stay vigilant until the end.Ark said with a lighter expression.

No. My greed was too excessive. Im flattered that you would give a wanderer like me 2%.

Please dont say that. I apologize.

Galen eventually gave in.

I understand your sentiment. But 3% is impossible. I cant even increase it to 2.5%. Instead I will give you the right to extend your house, and once the enlargement ends then you can invest 5%. How about that?

Thank you.

Ark grabbed Galens hands.Dududung, with the sound effect a new information window popped up.

<Relevant Investment Information Window>

You have obtained a share of Lancel Village.

A player who owns a house can earn the right to obtain a share of the village. The value of the share will rise as the village grows. When the village earns a big profit, it is possible to apply for a special dividend. Conversely, you can be charged money for anything that threatens the village such as famine, being attacked by monsters and so on.

The upper limit of the share that 1 player can obtain from the village is 2%. However, if you manage to upgrade your house then that upper limit will increase.

Currently owned shares in Lancel Village (Owned/Upper Limit): 2.5/2.5%