[VRMMO] Dead One

"Hey! Look alive you all! We are arriving to the Red Sand City." – said the merchant.

The merchant caravan that the party was riding on was slowly getting closer to the Red Sand City.

"…Huh. Let me guess, this place is something like a fortress as well?" – asked Oron.

"You have guess correctly sir. However, unlike the previous city, this place wasn't meant for defending against enemy kingdom, but instead against monsters." – said merchant.

"?"

"Monsters? But so far, we didn't saw any monsters while traveling." – said Shri.

"You are correctly. In the past this area was filled to the brim with monsters to the point where even if you had an elite escort, it wasn't known if you would be able to safely get to the other side." – said the merchant.

"The Red Sand city was originally construed way back when there was still kingdom of the Umil. This place was built in order to suppress the monsters living in this area."

"After the Adernul kingdom took over this land, they continue doing the Umil kingdom work of suppressing those monsters and in the end, they manage to deal with the monster to the point of their total extinction in this area. Thanks to that, merchants like me can easily travel between the two cities." – said the merchant.

(So that is the reason why it was so safe around here. Well, there is a good chance that the story the merchant told us could been made up by the people of Adernul kingdom since they already covered up the story that they were the ones who started the war between Adernul and Umil kingdoms.) – though ClownFrog.

The party soon after arrived to the Red Sand city alongside the merchant.

"Okay. That's conclude our deal." – said the merchant.

"Thanks. Oh, by the way. Do you know where we can buy those sand running lizards we talked about before?" – asked ClownFrog.

"I think….Yea. It's this way. You just have to go this way and there will be a giant sight on top of the store. You won't miss it no matter what." – said the merchant while pointing with his finger the direction.

"Got it! Thanks for everything." – said ClownFrog.

"No problem. Maybe we will meet up again." – said the merchant before ridding off with his caravan.

"…"

"So, you want to buy those lizards?" -asked Shri.

"Well, it would be a good thing. But you heard how pricy the proper one is and we would need at least 3 of them so all of us could ride on them." – said ClownFrog.

"True. But I think it's worth a price. Having a proper means of transport would allow us to not waste too much time on traveling. So even if we have to spend few thousands gold coins to get it, I can definitely say it would be worth it." – said GreyHunt.

"I agree as well. As of right now I have a rare class that I got from maxing out a tamer class, the insect tamer. I've been wondering about getting a second tamer related class, so maybe I should get a lizard tamer. It would work well since I have already a serpent wolf and all." – said Shri.

"But are you fine with that?" – asked Rampage.

"Yea. I know that to maximize the use of the lizard and insect tamer would be to use the insects and lizard monsters, but it shouldn't bother me too much. If anything, I think I can safely specialize in 3 different category of the monsters without much trouble at the same time."

"In any case. This place is a dessert, right? Then we should be able to find some things like a cobra or maybe a scorpion monsters or something like that."

"I also been wanting on taming new monsters, but so far, I couldn't find anything interesting. Maybe there will be something in here that will catch my attention or something?" – said Shri.

"But for now, I want to get those lizards and tame them, since we would finally be able to travel somewhat."

"Hm… Well, if you say so." – said Rampage.

"But just to make sure. Is everybody on board with that? We will probably spend most of our money if not everything we have on us." – said ClownFrog.

"Em… I think it's a bad idea…" – said Blueberry.

"?"

"I-I'm sorry!" – said Blueberry.

"N-no! Everything is alright. Just say what you want to say mate." – said ClownFrog.

"…"

"W-well. All of us were using our equipment for a long time, r-right? We need to change replace our current equipment if we want to be as effective in monster hunting as possible." - said Blueberry.

"However, there are several problems. The first we couldn't get any good materials that we could use for crafting equipment. The monsters we hunted around that city had mostly dropped weapons or armor type items."

"I can make a proper equipment for all of you, but I need to rent a smith and even get my hands on the proper materials. It may end up having gathering materials bit difficult as of right now, so I would have no choice but to buy materials from the merchants."

"…"

"That is what I think…"

"Hm… This is…. A very good idea. Okay. We will first try to get ourselves an proper equipment and then we will try buying those lizards." – said ClownFrog.

"Even if we have proper means of transport, it would mean shit if we were to run into something powerful. Anybody against?" – asked ClownFrog.

"…Nope. She did made a solid good point." – said Oron.

"I agree as well. If we have a proper equipment, we can earn back money necessary to buy those lizards in no time. I'm with Blueberry." – said GreyHunt.

"…Thanks for trusting me." – said Blueberry.

"Hey! There is no reason for you to thank us! Its opposite! We should be the ones thanking you. So, thank you for looking out for us." – said Shri.

"She is right. Thanks." – said ClownFrog.

"I-I…"

Blueberry quickly hid behind Rampage.

"…"

(She is so cute. I kind of want to bully her.) – though Shri.

(But I kind of don't also want to end up on her bad side since I think I will get blown up.) – though Shri.

"Anyway. The merchant said that there are no monsters in this area or anything. So, we can't just go around and monsters for their materials. Do we have no choice but to head to the different settlement from the get go?" – said Oron.

"!"

"I-I think we should first take a look around. This place is filled with the merchants and all, so there is a good chance that one of them would be selling some proper materials that I can use for crafting." – said Blueberry.

"…Well, it's worth trying. However, when it comes to the materials, we don't know with one is good or bad for crafting. We can somehow guess from the item description but that is all. We are not experts or anything." – said Oron.

"N-no problem! Just look around and if you find any material selling merchant just give me their location and I will take a look later." – said Blueberry

"Understand. You heard her. Get to it." – said ClownFrog.

After our discussion was over, all of us split and began looking for any of the merchants that may.

However I pretty much instantly realized that it would way harder as it may seem as soon as I splitted off from the others.

(Holy fuking shit. How many different merchants are there?! There is even more even these compare to the Emerald city?!) – though ClownFrog.

ClownFrog found himself in the busy street where no matter where he looked, there was merchants everywhere as well as many different shops and stalls.

"Ambush Rattlesnake skewers! Buy four get one free!"

"Come and take a look! These are an exclusive wares that you can only get here!"

(There is way too many people selling this for crying out loud! Jezus!) – though ClownFrog.

(I can tell this will be bit annoying. How long it will take for me to find the merchant that sells materials?)

(Does the others also have this kind of problems? I think I should ask them.)

"Chocolate! Refreshing chocolate drink!"

"?"

ClownFrog looked towards one of the stalls nearby.

(Chocolate drink? Huh.)

"…"

"Excuse me. But what kind of chocolate drink are you selling?" – asked ClownFrog after walking to the stall.

"Ah. Its cold chocolate drink called prum." – said the stall owner.

"Prum?"

"Yea. It's a cold drink. Would like to buy one?"

"…"

"Meh. Screw it. Give me one."

"You want the one with the milk or the sour one? Or just normal one?"

"Milk."

"Understand."

The stall owner handed over a cup of the chocolate drink to the ClownFrog.

"…"

(Huh. It's cold.) – though ClownFrog.

"…"

"Huh. Its taste quite good?"

(It is bit similar to a chocolate milk, but also a coffer as well as something else?)

(I got to say, I wasn't expecting to taste something like that in the game.)

(I heard that there are chef class that helps you in cooking. Is it possible for the players to maybe create an unknown dishes with the taste that does not exist in our world?)

"…"

(Maybe I should tell others about this? This does taste quiet good.)

"Hey! Stop slacking off and get back to work!" – shouted a male voice.

"?"

After hearing some man shouting in broad daylight, ClownFrog instantly turned around in order to see what was going on.

After turning around, ClownFrog saw a massive muscular man with a whip and the young boy with tanned skin.

"Tch. Those slaves making the mess again?" – said the stall owner just sold chocolate drink to the ClownFrog.

"Slaves? Slavery is legal in this country?" – asked ClownFrog.

"Yea, didn't you knew that?" – asked the stall owner.

"No. I've been traveling in this country for quiet long time and today is my first day in the dessert."

"Huh. Make sense. Mostly the slaves are used in this part of the kingdom. Working here can be quite hard for many reason, but thanks to the slaves, everybody is able to profit a lot."

"…"

"Say. What kind of slaves are they? Are they something like debt slaves? Or maybe an criminals?"

"Oh. No, no, no. These guys are the descenders of the Umil kingdom."

"For the sins of their queen, the people of the Umil kingdom are now forced to live as our slaves for the rest of their live! Sucks to be them, HA!" – said the stall owner.

"…"

"Are you fine with that? I mean using slaves? I mean I get that it benefits the people and all, but some people may not enjoy having a slave."

"…"

"Pfffff. HAHAHA! I was wondering on what are you going to ask, but this?!"

"Don't worry. Nobody is bothered by the presence of the slave."

"They are just a tools we just use and if one breaks, we just take a new one take their place. Simple and cost effective!" – said the stall owner.

"…"

(Ah… I get it.)

(These guys are total trashes.)

(Not only this guy, but all of them. Some of them enjoy looking at that guy suffering while others even laugh.)

(For crying out loud. Just how fucked up this kingdom is?)

(Honestly, now I'm kind of even more motivated to completely destroy this kingdom and make those fat merchants become slaves themselves.)

(However, the situation isn't all that bad. If anything, we may be able to gain some new allies.) – though ClownFrog while looking at the slave on the ground.

(The time will come, but for now you will have to endure.)

(I will give you the revenge you want and you as well as your brethren will become my weapons!)