Hacking the Game Didn't Go as Intended [Part One]

CHAPTER 81: Observation & Planning

But as the echoes of its demise faded, the ominous presence of its brethren emerged from the shadows, their predatory instincts keen and their thirst for vengeance palpable.

"That's right," Daisuke mused as he threw himself into the fray. "Come at me, you confusing bastards! Are kobolds lizards or dogs—which is it?!"

From observing Osten and the others during the guild expeditions, I've learned that when players kill monsters, they dematerialize almost instantly, and their drops are automatically added to the player's inventory. Normally, players can't interact with monster corpses unless a quest specifically requires it.

However, in my case, I not only receive the drops in my inventory but I can also salvage the corpse, which sticks around for a longer period of time after being killed. This allows me to collect double the rewards compared to an average player. I suppose it's one of the perks of being part NPC.

DING!

[Your inventory has reached its maximum capacity for storing monster corpses.]

Sitting atop a heap of lifeless kobold bodies, Daisuke rubbed his chin in contemplation as he stared down at the notification window. It was essentially a slap in the face for being too greedy.

That settles it, he thought with a hint of disappointment. Regardless of the species, I can only store twenty-five corpses at a time. My next experiment will be to attempt adding a live mob to my inventory. The fact that I can store anything beyond mere materials is pretty surprising. Is this another byproduct of Jupiter?

RAWRR!

Using his powerful jaws, Zephyr strenuously dragged the limp body of a Kobold Sprite towards Daisuke. The creature, almost twice as large as the canine, was the juvenile stage of a Kobold. It bore the traits of a quadrupedal wolf.

Whenever the sprite became lodged between rocks or tangled in tufts of grass, Zephyr would clamp down on it fiercely and vigorously shake his head in a display of anger and frustration.

"It's okay, buddy," Daisuke called out. "I can't fit anymore in my inventory, but I appreciate the hard work."

"Arf!"

As the pup ascended the mound of lifeless bodies to join him, Daisuke's gaze shifted from its bloodied fur to the lifeless bodies of the sprites strewn across the forest floor.

In a clash of fangs and claws, especially against a larger foe, it's no surprise he didn't come out unscathed, Daisuke admitted with a hint of guilt.

With a mental command, he summoned a handful of Vitaberries in his hand and fed them to the weary pup. "I forbade you from using Emberstorm because I'm worried about setting the forest ablaze, but it seems you're having a tough time as a result. Are you sure you wouldn't rather sit this one out? Sure you wouldn't gain as much EXP, but at least you wouldn't risk getting hurt either."

"Grrr," the canine gave a low growl, a clear sign of refusal.

Daisuke raised his hands in surrender. "Well, alright... but the dirtier you get, the longer you'll need to spend in the bath later."

Zephyr's eyes widened, and his ears and tail drooped in response.

Daisuke chuckled. "You're such a weirdo! Where I'm from, dogs love water—yet here you are, acting like a cat. Weren't dogs supposed to be direct descendants of wolves?"

"Ahrrr~" the pup emitted a displeased murmur, and Daisuke playfully tousled his fur.

It would be great if Zephyr could learn a projectile-type skill with pinpoint accuracy and perfect control. "Now that I think about it," Daisuke pondered, capturing the pup's attention, "is it possible for you to learn new abilities from a skill book?"

"Rawrwu," Zephyr responded, tilting his small head in confusion.

"I need to remember to test that theory. But while we're on the subject of acquiring new skills," Daisuke muttered, casting a glance at the Volturax's materials, "I need to become stronger myself. It's hard to forget how much I struggled, both inside the dungeon and against those golems."

[Volturax Fang]

[The sharp canine teeth extracted from the Volturax. Handling them requires utmost care due to their lethal sharpness. Suitable for forging into equipment or trading with merchants.]

[Volturax Tail]

[The tail harvested from the Volturax. Its weight is primarily concentrated in the mace-like tip. While robust, its flexibility renders it a potent weapon for the monster. Ideal for crafting specialized equipment or trade with merchants.]

Once I'm back in Wonderelle, it's crucial that I find a skilled blacksmith who can forge these materials into powerful weapons, Daisuke strategized, his thoughts racing ahead. I'll need new equipment too. Pretty sure everything will cost an arm and a leg, but that's precisely why I'm farming materials as I make my way back to town.

Even as Daisuke organized his thoughts, his fingers instinctively moved across the interface, leading him to the skill window. There, his gaze lingered on two specific abilities. While he didn't dwell too long on the one that was bugged, his mind gravitated toward the other, contemplating its potential significance.

[Alchemy]

[Rank: Unique

Classification: Active Skill

Lvl: 1

Proficiency: 0%

An ancient and arcane fusion between science and magic, carefully honed to perfection over time by the greatest chemists. Centuries ago, following its completion, the art was sealed away out of fear that its power would fall into the wrong hands.

Skill Effect:

▪︎ By using mana as a catalyst to tap into the Aether Field, Alchemy allows the user to endlessly harness the secrets of nature to transmute, combine, and manipulate matter.

Mana Cost: N/A

Skill Cooldown: N/A]

Daisuke sighed.