Chapter 2.3

The first-ever held gathering event of the 7th Alliance finally ended at around 3:00 PM. Some important bidding words were offered by the sponsor as thanks, and the event concluded without any incidents.

There were some guildmasters who quickly hit it off and remained by the hallway to discuss. But most of us immediately left the adventurer's guild building.

I messaged Reina, and it seemed like she was at the public market. I headed there. Of course, I went alone. I didn’t have a favorable fate with my incredulous introduction earlier.

"My, what an unpleasant face you're making."

Arriving at the meeting place she sent, I saw her again in her adventurer leather armor, a contrast to the business attire she had worn earlier.

"Why did you leave? I was counting on you to make connections."

"I thought so. Ryuujin, you've always sucked at socializing."

"Wow, thanks for reopening that wound. Anyway, did you meet them?" I asked.

"Yes, just a few old guildmates. They agreed to help us. I’m still contacting the others."

Reina used to run one of the front-runner guilds before in the PC version of SOLA PC Online. They participated raids in taking down various supreme bosses and completing dungeon raids. Though she retired when I married her, they’re still friends and in contact. Luckily, her friends continued playing here in SOLA VR Online.

"I thought you’d make a fuss over your pride—that it’s embarrassing to ask for help from a guild and friends you left behind."

"Well, that depends on who they’re really angry with. As far as I know, they’re mad at you for snatching me away," she replied.

She rolled her eyes, as if to say: 'they’re not mad at me—they’re mad at you, Ryuujin, idiot'. With that face, she started walking down the alleyway of the bustling public market. There were lot of players left and right.

"Well, enough of that. Let’s talk about what happened after I left. I was surprised you stayed for the introductions," she said. "Since when did you aspire to join a circle of friends?"

"Hmmm." I mumbled. "I was just reflecting that I don’t have any social skills or network. I thought that if I worked on my flaws, maybe I could have found a doctor easier and quicker to treat Ayaka. So, I tried socializing with other guildmasters because I thought it might help with our contract."

I also saw that quite a few guildmasters had added each other through the friend system. I wanted to join, but again, I couldn’t find the right moment to jump into their chatter. If Reina had been there, she probably would’ve become popular. What a waste.

"There are other reasons I left," she replied. "First of all, I already have you. Secondly, if I had given an introduction, I might’ve agitated the others, depending on how I delivered my message. I’m sorry, but I can’t control my emotions 100% right now. So, doing nothing was probably the best choice. Am I wrong?"

"Yes. You’re right," I conceded. Wives are always right. "And we’ll probably have other opportunities to expand our network as per our timeline."

"Somehow it feels like you’re just agreeing with me because I make sense and you’re thinking of something else. Well, whatever. So, how’s the full-dive experience so far? Can you uphold our contract?" she asked, cutting short our petty couple’s spat.

"Ugh..."

Reina looked at me.

That was a hard question. The fact that we hadn’t fought monsters or ventured outside the city yet was because we were still testing the waters of this full-dive setting. Moving your avatar felt natural, as if controlling your own body. But fighting? Was this the extent of my physical abilities here?

"Don’t tell me you can’t do it?" she asked. "Wait, it’s not a matter of whether you can or can’t. You *have* to do it. Ayaka is fighting her own battle. We will fight ours here. I’ve been following the plan. What about you? Do you need another reason for me to spell out?"

I didn’t want Reina getting mad. She always spoke the truth, and she was right. As usual.

"It’s not that," I said. "I was just thinking about how the stat attributes will affect this avatar’s body. Right now, at level one, we only have one point for each stat. For example, with max strength points in the PC version, our characters could pull a whale out of the sea. I wonder if it’s the same here."

"Actually I was also wondering about that and I asked my friends the same thing. They said that with the right stats, we could leap over mountains or run like the wind. Guess we’ll find out when we level up."

"I see. In that case, it all comes down to how skillfully we can control our characters here. I’m good with controllers and keyboard-and-mouse setups, but this is my first full dive. We’ll encounter challenges different from what we’re used to."

Considering I started during the PC version’s beta release, I could call myself a veteran. But that was limited to screen-based gameplay. I wasn’t particularly athletic, but I had confidence in the physical skills I honed at work.

We wandered around the public market, browsing items. The difference between a public market and a world trading hall was that the public market was run not just by players but also by local NPCs.

The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

"Hey! Look, look! They’re having a sale at that weapon stall! I heard they have an amazing selection of weapons! And at cheaper prices too. It’s super convenient."

Three lively players stood in front of the weapon stall. They were checking out the swords and daggers on display. It was strange to see them bulk-buying common daggers and then heading to the shop’s NPC merchant to pay. Why do players buy cheap, easily breakable gear instead of investing in high-quality weapons?

But my thoughts was washed away when I saw a rare weapon. As expected of Covewood City, a city beside the sea.

"Look, harpoons. They’ve got a bunch of different kinds," I said, eyeing the harpoon spears and harpoon guns on display.

These were definitely one of the reasons that we went here. We need decent weapons.

"So, you are really going with the dual mode harpoon." Reina said.

"Yep, why?"

"Don't you consider being an archer? You know, just like the legendary archer of the Sola Empire Guild in our old days."

I looked at her twirling her long black hair. As I remember, the reason she pursued me is because she fell in love with my archer character skills in professional gameplay. Not that I'm boasting but we were once together under the strongest alliance of the SOLA PC Online before.

"Why? You don't like my merchant build?" I asked.

"Ugh... It's not like that. It's just hard to believe, okay? You know, that urban legend and all that Ishigawa is saying."

"Hahaha, that's because you are always busy selling fish I caught. Ask Ayaka, I even brought her sometimes on my supreme boss raids."

"What?! You are bringing our daughter in raids?!"

"Eh? Is there something wrong? She enjoys cooking fresh material drops while I'm fighting. How can I say no?"

"You are bringing our daughter in supreme boss raids and she is cooking on the battlefield?! Oh my gosh..."

"I think she inherited it from you. So if we are blaming someone... I think it's your gene's fault."

As I debated with that reasoning, Reina looked back at me, her eyes widening. It is as if she is saying: "Did you really just say that?"

I quickly inspected and lifted one of the harpoons before the ghost of the hollow abyss appeared.

"Anyways, what do you think about the prices? Is it high or low?"

She also inspected what I was holding and held the price tag. It says 5,000 kipo coins.

"Hmm. I'm not sure but if we compare it to the one being sold at the trading hall, this is a little cheaper."

"Is that so? Thanks."

We continued checking the stall and the prices of the npc were reasonable. Given that the player can earn at least 1000 kipo coins a day if they are semi-active in hunting monsters, they can get a fully equipped armor in one to two weeks.

Since we are given a tremendous amount of allowance from the 7th Alliance sponsorship, I could probably buy the whole stall now. But I just bought a decently full armor equipment set. Since I'm a merchant, the armor consists of an upper tunic, lower trousers and shoes.

"Isn't this harpoon gun a bit enormous? As expected of it being called as Giga Harpoon?"

Well, we can call it G-Harpoon right? I mean, size 'G' stands for being big anyways. On an unrelated note, Reina's chest size was neither small nor big. That's why she's perfect because she has the perfect size.

"Ouch?!"

My vision went dark and the health bar at the top left side of my vision has gone down 20%! Reina has poked my eyes!

"Ryuujin. You are not taking this seriously and thinking of something perverted just now, aren't you?" she asked, glaring.

"No, Reina. Its name is really G-Harpoon. Err rather Giga Harpoon!" I showed her the name tag.

"I felt you were thinking something stupid just now."

One of the 7 wonders I have of this world is how Reina developed the skill to read my mind.

"I was just wondering whether I would buy this also or not. I have already bought two sets of harpoon guns. What do you think?"

"Oh. Well, I think it's fine because you have a really big allowance of kipo coins since you're a solo guild member only."

Ah. Right. Reina will also think of balancing her budget with her friends that will now work with her in her guild. Unlike me, I can still use all the budget of 500,000 kipo coins all to myself.

"Anyways, should you really buy that much harpoon spears?" she asked looking at the five barrels of harpoon spears I bought. "You will specialize as a blacksmith later on and craft more spears on your own, right? Wouldn't that be a waste?"

"Nah, I think I will need this much before I can hit the specialization job advancement level."

Reina didn't argue further and just nodded. Her attention wandered at the brewing set essentials. She carefully inspected all of the features of the brewing set displayed.

"If you're looking for something that will be efficient, how about this five-in-one burner? Ayaka loves using this when we are doing supreme bosses. I bet this will do the job."

" 5-in-1 Potion Brewing Set. Ability: Can brew five mixtures at the same time. 'Cooking Success Rate: -50%'". Hmm, yeah it will be really efficient"

She looked at me like I was dirt.

"Look, Ryuujin," she said pinching her nose bridge. "Alchemy is not about speed but about the success rate and concentration level. Yes I brew fast but it will produce only low level potions. Would you like that when you're one HP away from dying before a boss?"

I mumbled hesitantly, trying to make a point. But how can I argue with a master alchemist in front of me? It looked like I'm a bit lacking with my knowledge regarding the process of brewing.

"Though I have to say, I admire your ability to be caught by useless stuff" she smirked looking at the giga harpoon I was holding.

"Well, it wouldn't be fun if we played the game too seriously. That is what Ayaka said to me. This harpoon is what she also asked me to buy when I was in this phase of game before. It was fun anyways, looking at how long your character takes aim shot because of how heavy this is, hahaha."

".... Is that so?... Well, if it is coming from our daughter..." Reina hesitantly reached for the five-in-one crappy brewing set. "Maybe I'll try it from time to time. I mean I will be burned out sooner if I don't take time to relax..."

Looking at how sentimental she gazed at the brewing potion, it shut me quiet. Thinking about it, Reina has been working too seriously since this morning while I just keep thinking about our daughter and reminiscing about things. The more responsible, dependent Reina. This is what I liked about her no matter how much she rebuked me always.

After that, Reina bought the most expensive brewing set. It was a big golden pot and a portable burner. Thinking how efficient it would be at camping and inside dungeons makes me feel elated.

But it costs too much! Maybe I can try asking for a discount for her.

"Umm... Don't you think that this is a bit overpriced?" I faced the npc merchant.

"Hey, that's unnecessary." Reina cut me off.

"Well, but--"

"I already said it's okay, didn't I?" she looked at me as if her eyes will pop out.

"Yes..."

I gently backed away as she glared at me. I thought I could help her but by the way she reacted, it seems like that brewing set is already at the lowest price.

"That is why researching first for other market prices is important. You're terrible at business money as always, Ryuujin. This is why I don't want to leave the shop to you because you always give discounts to customers."

"Well, if it's coming from you, our shop front cashier, I accept my mistake." I grumbled.

"Normally I would want to give you more lecture about the importance of this part of life but I will put a painful level of tolerance of effort on you."

I'd had plans to work solo as a guild master, but now I'm doubting if I can really manage it. No, no, I have managed before if it is this game. With that, I remained quiet as she checked for dimensional storage backpacks for us. It was a really strange feeling sitting on one corner and watching her do shopping.

Reina really is cute.