ALL NOVEL The Strongest Solo Gamer with Terrible Social Skills Reincarnates as a Hated NPC in a VRMMO Chapter 90
90: Magic Research Department Head, Doumouji Kusako
A magic tool shop is a store that synthesizes resource items using the skills “Refining”, “Compounding”, and “Creation”, producing a wide variety of items that are hard to obtain normally. For explorers, it’s an essential shop.
So, what do you do in this shop? The primary goal is to obtain a job change item. Job change refers to the act of upgrading one’s job level to ★3, which is like a rank-up.
You select the attribute you want to develop from the four options presented, and it’s randomly determined based on individual attributes.
The key point is that it’s based on individual attributes. For example, 1-C’s class leader, Tsutenkaku Saisuke, has a fixed job called “Charisma”, but that’s not because he chose it. It’s because his innate qualities led him to that job, and there was no other choice.
I’m currently thinking about “Shi Ruo Xiang Zhen”.
Unlike Tsutenkaku, I don’t think he has a fixed job prepared for him, but if I choose poorly, I might end up with a weak job.
I don’t remember what job the original Shi Ruo Xiang Zhen had, but it’s likely to be something mediocre.
That’s why I need the “Relief” job change item, which can only be obtained through “Refining”. This item allows me to change jobs regardless of my innate qualities.
Well… saying I want to change jobs is easy, but I’m starting from scratch, so I’ll aim for an intermediate job first. There are two chances to change jobs, and the basic progression is from beginner to intermediate to advanced.
I have other things I want to create, but that’s a secret for now. Let’s just say it’s something to look forward to――
Anyway, I’m currently walking through the back alleys of the commercial district in the exploration zone.
The main street is crowded with people, but this area is eerily quiet. Maybe it’s because of the bad security? The shops here sell limited and rare items, most of which are illegal goods. The merchants probably get their supplies from explorers with connections, and the high exchange rate makes it attractive to explorers who are short on gold.
…If you bring resources back from the ABYSS, you’re required to report them. It’s like a customs process. If you have dangerous items, they’ll be confiscated and exchanged for gold. Of course, I did that too after clearing the 11th floor. However, there are many loopholes, and if you get caught, you’ll lose your explorer’s license and might even get a criminal record. Resource management is that important.
The merchants who want to sell and the special agents who don’t want to let them sell engage in a cat-and-mouse game, which is why the security in this area is terrible.
It’s only natural that it’s deserted――?
“Is this the place…?”
I carefully make my way through the narrow space, discovering a magic tool shop. The building is made of old, weathered wood, and the entrance window is covered in dust, hiding the interior. It’s just dirty, not mysterious.
At first glance, the shop looks uninviting, but I steeled myself and opened the door.
“Hello? Is anyone there?”
There’s no response. The curtains are closed, and the room is dimly lit.
――Maybe they’re not in? That’s a bummer…
I thought to myself as I stepped inside the shop. I didn’t have the luxury of taking my time, and I wanted to get my business done today. I walked in, and about halfway through, I tripped over something on the floor.
“What the――?! What is this?!”
As I got up, I saw a figure lying on the floor.
It wasn’t moving at all.
“…What? Is this…?”
I cautiously approached the figure. It was a female student’s body. She had long, three-braided brown hair and was wearing a thick cardigan and a skirt that was slightly lifted, revealing her panties.
I didn’t feel any excitement or joy at this lucky pervert moment.
Because her eyes were open.
There were no signs of struggle or injury.
Not a single drop of blood was spilled.
But――the girl in front of me was definitely dead.
She wasn’t breathing.
Even someone as dense as me could tell the difference between life and death.
“What is this…? What happened…?”
I swallowed my saliva in tension, and at that moment――
“……What? Customer?”
“Fooo――!!?”
A student who looked identical to the fallen girl appeared from the back of the store.――I was shocked!
She looked at me, who was stunned, and the fallen girl’s body on the bed, then snapped her fingers with a “pon” sound.
“I forgot to clean up…”
“Huh?”
She muttered to herself and tried to drag the fallen girl’s body somewhere.
Wait, is she trying to hide a corpse?
Am I witnessing something crazy?
As I was terrified in my heart――
“……Heavy. No good. Can you help me?”
“No, no, no, no…”
She was saying something unbelievable.
Her reaction was unexpected, and she showed a surprised expression. This wasn’t going anywhere. I had no choice but to ask a question.
“First, what are you doing? Who is that girl? Is she your sister or something?”
“Not my sister. This is me. I created her. She’s a Homunculus, a copy of my body…”
“What, Homu――?”
Is that a artificial life form that appears in RPGs? Does “copy” mean clone?
“What’s with that thing…”
“I was trying to double my work efficiency. The result was a failure, as you can see. Since she didn’t have a soul, I was going to process her into a love doll…”
“Huh?”
“It’s my own creation. I’m sure it’ll sell well.”
This guy is hopeless.
Her screws are loose.
I thought I wouldn’t get any meaningful information if I continued the conversation, so I forcibly changed the subject.
“……You’re saying you’re in this store, which means you’re Doumyouji Kusako, the head of the Magic Research Department?”
“……Am I a famous person?”
Well, in a sense, yes.
Third-year student, Class C, Student Number 1, Doumyouji Kusako, was a student who was allowed to enter the Academy’s research department due to her high latent abilities and exceptional skills. She was rumored to have advanced Japan’s ABYSS research by 100 steps――a genius.
However, that was in the past.
Her problematic personality led to conflicts with the research department’s staff, and she was eventually banned from entering the department. Her monthly research funding was also cut off, and now she’s the head of her own strange department, “Magic Research”, with only herself as a member.
By the way, this department is actually just a personal activity, and the reality is that it’s a small, insignificant club. That’s why it’s rare for people to visit this place.……Well, in the game, this is the only place where you can get certain items, so it’s always crowded, but that’s beside the point.
“Actually, I have an item I want you to make for me――”