Deciding to ignore the player who came out of the lab in a hurry, I moved to meet Cecil inside—

"Huh, what is it this time? What do you want?!"

'Twice now!'

I got combo-ed by surprise before I could even process what happened! A girl had run out earlier when I tried to open the door, and now some brat was yelling at me! And you know what I did? Smiling out of reflex! But inside, uh, how annoying all these! If this whole encounter dragged out too long, I might as well abandon the Quest.

But, for now, I didn't want to get lost in all this randomness; I tried to calm myself down.

Judging from this "brat's" appearance—a white coat, beige hair, and neon-pink eyes—she seemed to be an NPC as all looked simple. Most likely, Cecil. I didn't want to take the wrong step since she looked aggressive. And with her short body not even reaching my chest... for some reason, I imagined she could suddenly leap up, tearing me apart when she clung to my back.

'Oh, me and my wild imagination.'

I ended up standing by the door, waiting.

When I gave her some downtime, her initial aggression seemed to soften as she observed me from head to toe. Her eyes still narrowed, showing that although she was calm, she was still cautious.

"You are here for the task, aren't you?"

Her gaze aimed at the device on my wrist, likely recognizing the standard equipment issued to all players. Or rather, this was Helios. Remember why I set up Helios first before entering the game? It was to get it integrated into the game like this—as a medium for players to check body condition outside, in addition to other personal needs.

"Yes. I was informed that you needed help for gathering materials."

Hearing that, she relaxed a bit more and motioned for me to enter the lab. "Right, right. Sorry for the rude welcome. Just tired of dealing with incompetent kids. No one else wants to help—"

"That is why I am here."

As soon as I said those words (hoping to speed things up), I noticed a change in Cecil's demeanor.

Her eyes dropped slightly, a subtle one that someone who wasn't paying close attention might not have noticed. Because as quickly as it came, it also left. Now she folded her arms and lifted her chin, even turning her face away slightly from me.

Vaguely, I could also hear her audible, "Hmpt!"

Her reaction was quite interesting as she gave specific body language. But I wasn't sure her personality warranted any deep reading on my part; after completing this Quest, I might not see her again. Even though I knew the NPC in front was Cecil, her status bar didn't appear since she didn't introduce herself, making it even more difficult for me to determine the issue with her—whether she was a key NPC or not.

'Unless she eventually shows something worth it.'

So, for now, I decided to just listen.

"Young people these days show no respect for their seniors! Just go and do the task. You know what to do, right? [Enchanted Water] is sold at various shops in the Dragonic Department. Oh, by the way, if you want to buy medicines, we have them in good quality! But check the stock first, as some are limited and only appear on certain days."

'Up she goes, explaining a topic in the middle of a different topic.'

Now I wondered... why she hadn't just asked another researcher to buy it? Were the others busy with critical tasks, too? Or did some policy limit who could make purchases? Somehow, it felt typical of how RPG games make their players run errands for the NPCs' needs only for the sake of "plot." Only, one thing was advantageous in this situation.

I know it was a contradiction; I wanted this over fast, but Cecil's mention of limited items caught my attention. If I played this right, I could finish the task with more than just checked-off Quest objectives.

"The trickiest part is finding [Solvent Flower]. You can search for it in nearby forests, but remember, you must find one with long stems! About this length." Cecil demonstrated by folding her fingers to leave only her pinky and thumb extended; compared to my fingers, it seemed they weren't that long? "Search in open areas! They thrive in sunlight."

Ding!

Side Quest updated! Side Quest - The Essence of Research Progressed! Subtask: Purchase 5 bottles of Enchanted Water Location: 23m Subtask: Collect 2 Solvent Flower stems Location: 23m

Alright. The best players knew how to switch strategies mid-game. This wasn't about indecision; it was about "seizing opportunity." And I would take that opportunity by saying, "The previous one... what was the limited stock items you mentioned?"

Cecil raised her eyebrows, seemingly suspecting my question. Or perhaps, wondering why I was being this engaging when I had previously pressed her to hurry up and get to the point. Ah, she might not buy it. But if she did, it could make future interactions easier. Worth a shot.

And glad she did as she answered me. "[Neurosync Dew]. Pretty popular with students; we stock 100 weekly. But this kid will buy them all and resell them at high prices! So long as she doesn't cross the line, what can I do?"

Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

Ah, the infamous practice of "flipping"—players buying high-demand items in bulk, then selling them for profit. Clever, though not strictly ethical.

It seemed the game allowed this sort of tactic without strict rules. Well, that sucked; over time, this game could be dying... but this also seemed to be exaggerating? World: The Origin was a dying game, I meant.

Factors like poor gameplay, server issues, lack of content, or toxic player environments were often to blame for a game dying, while flipping was almost universal, even in real life. I hadn't even noticed any significant complaints about flipping on the forums. Did it only affect specific items, or were there enough alternatives?

Or few dared attempt it? With how some NPCs (like Cecil) viewed things like this as "cheating," it could already become a punishment, right? Like... difficulty in making friends with them? Negative reputation and being frowned upon? Not to mention from other players, too.

Therefore, I called it clever; how did the player who did flipping manage to escape from its negativity?

'I became even more curious about what item was being flipped...'

"Oh, well, then I will never be able to afford it. My money..." And I started counting dramatically with all my fingers stretched before my face.

Seeing my behavior, Cecil scowled, puffing up her cheeks. "What are you doing?! Get on with your task, I said!"

Her voice was quite loud as she scolded me, to be honest, so I was left speechless. My gaze wandered somewhere before eventually looking down and rubbing my neck. "Just trying to prepare. It is my first time out of Vaughan..."

Ah, yes, then I saw that.

The fierceness in her eyes softened for a moment, her posture relaxing slightly. But it turned out to be more difficult than I expected as she returned to her fierce attitude again. "What's all this now? It is not that hard! And anyway, your task is just outside the academy."

"I know, I know, but... everyone seems so experienced, and here I am, barely knowing how to navigate the basics. I have read about the academy, the challenges, but experiencing it? Different level."

She raised an eyebrow. "Don't you have any friends to show you around?"

"Does the wind count?" I let out a short, humorless laugh. "See? I am alone."

"Look. I may have been a bit harsh; this can overwhelm newcomers. Maybe I can—HNNNG!!" All of a sudden, she clenched her hand into a fist. Wait. Was she trying to restrain herself? "You were trying to butter me up, weren't you?! Not a chance!"

"Buttering you up might have been part of the plan. But can you blame me? I am out here, trying to make sense of things, and you, Cecil, are my only lead to avoid ending up as dragon fodder."

She scoffed. "Dragon fodder? Dramatic! I am a researcher, not a guide!"

"But could you be, just for this? Isn't it noble for the experienced to guide the clueless?"

"Noble duty? Ha! I am a researcher, not a knight in shining armor! What is wrong with you?!"

"Nothing is wrong with me. Just—"

'This is wasting time!'

Enough of this; I still had a Quest to complete. If Cecil gave more leads, fine. If not? Time to go. And now was the perfect time to refocus on my former goal.

But I couldn't just chop it off.

Thus, I smiled—a weak smile, to be more precise—with both hands clasped below my stomach. "Okay. Fine. I worry too much... thinking too much... to the point of being overbearing. Tiring, right? Newcomers like me can be a pain."

Turning, I quickly left lab room 3B without looking back.

When I ventured further into the main street of the Dragonic Department, my focus wasn't on the road or the sights around me again. Instead, I was deep in thought. But if I had to explain what I was thinking... it would be long and complicated.

For starters, what I did before was just me trying to seize the opportunity to get my hands on [Neurosync Dew].

Opportunities require the right person, timing, and place to succeed. Therefore, I'd act when an opening presented itself, even if I needed to "perform" to get the desired response. That smile of mine, that look, the expressions—all of it—of course... was an act.

On the contrary, what I said was true.

Because to make a lie convincing, you require tactics. I used a "contrast effect," where my genuineness masks the pretense.

That combination took Cecil to the Social Obligation, where those in "above" see "below" with a bit of empathy. It was the same as seeing a fragile, meowing kitten and feeling pity. This approach made her more willing to help, not because of guilt but because it was the right thing to do at the right time.

Of course, even though I considered my approach, not everything would work—Cecil's resistance proved that. As I previously mentioned, opportunities succeeded if only all the variables were met.

Before I could think more, however, my steps halted, and I raised my head from my thoughts. In front of me was a shop sandwiched between two taller buildings. From the outside, with its front wall made of transparent glass, it resembled a pharmacy, with shelves upon shelves of potions and drugs.

"Oh, is it here?" Yes, I was surprised at my spontaneity in stopping precisely at the right place.

But instead of bothering it, I just went inside.

As soon as I entered, the shop was more expansive on the inside than it appeared from the outside; I was greeted by the sound of the doorbell ringing, and the air carried a mixture of scents—herbal, floral, and some I hardly recognize—that mixed together to form a strong aroma.

This store was quiet, though, unlike the bustling walkway outside. Or perhaps it was because the shops in this Dragonic Department were numerous and diverse (as Cecil mentioned)? Players and NPCs became scattered to buy at whatever store. This gave me the freedom to scan every shelf. Thus, I moved to one spot. Then to another. Until I stopped at the leftmost one.

I picked up one bottle and put it down again. Taking another, I looked at a small bottle with silver glitter in my hand. Within two seconds of focusing my eyes on the object, an interface screen appeared and displayed a description.

Enchanted Water (Common) Enhances magic potency, vital for potion crafting and enchantments. A Quest item Price: 150 Gold

I smiled, satisfied to have found what I was looking for.