Chương 120: Luna's Gate Preparations

[ElectricTypeMouse, we have found a spot for you in a party for a C- ranked gate. Details…] Gate Details — Gate Rank - C- Gate Type - Land. Gate Terrain - Mountainous, few areas of cover. Stony ground. No water. Known Monster Type - Avian, Terrestrial. Known Monster Characteristics - Tough Skin, Ambush Predators, Pack Hunters. Known Monsters - Rockbelly Eagle, Toxic Spitting Goat. Boss Monster - Stoneskinned Eagle.

Known Boss Characteristics - Tough Skin, Ambush Predator, Large Size, Ranged Attacks, Strong Wind Affinity, Strong Earth Affinity, Pack Leader. Known Boss Weaknesses - Blunt Attacks, Strong Magic Attacks.

Party Details — Current Party [Flowers123] Jean Muller - Fencer (Leader) (Melee DPS) [GogglesWarrior] Martin Windrest - Shieldbearer (Tank) [Venwinter] Larry Almond - Brawler (Tank/DPS) [PhantomDiver] Mary Watkins - Swordswoman (Melee DPS) [RealRealRealArcher] Amelia River - Crystal Archer (Ranged DPS) [Searching The World] Robert Hand - Explorer (Utility) [Faithful Priestess] Pearl Dane - Priestess (Support) [Raindancer] Kaela Rain - Cleric (Support) Undecided [ElectricTypeMouse] Luna Britemill - Mage (Magic DPS) [Water Princess] - Mage (Magic DPS) …

After reading through the details, I looked at Luna,"This is all the information you get?" I asked.

"Yeah, it's just the bare basics." Luna nodded, "We'll have a more in depth meeting before entering the gate."

"Hm…Interesting. How do they get all of this info?"

"Scouting classes, there's tons of information classes out there that can find out this info." She said, "The association has people who do this stuff before offering it to a party."

"Wow, the association has a whole ecosystem built in, huh?"

"It does offer opportunities to every class out there." Luna nodded.

"That's nice of them." I said before turning my attention to the party, "There's only 10 people listed here including the undecided?"

"It's a standard party size for low to low-mid tier gates. Of course it's not set in stone, we can change it however we wish. But, if we want to make a good amount of money while being safe, this is a good sized party."

"You mention these tiers a lot," I said, "What even are the tiers?"

"Pfft, as expected as the clueless Bin." Luna chuckled.

"If you know it then stop stalling and tell me!" I bumped my shoulder against hers.

"Tiers are just the general level of things. Rather than saying something specific like I'm a C+ rank mage, it's easier to say that I'm a mid-tier mage and it's less…How do you word it? It makes people feel less self-conscious?"

"Right, right, I get it." I nodded. This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

"Plus, it's a little more reliable than saying specific ranks." Luna said, "Strength isn't black and white, so, take ranks as a general understanding."

"Mhm," I nodded, "So, what are the ranges? Like the cut-off for low-tier, mid-tier and high-tier?" I asked.

"Low tier is D+ rank and anything below. Mid tier is C- rank to B, and High tier is B+ and above." She said.

"Interesting." I nodded, so, that meant the highest grade potion I had was just at the top of mid-grade. Hm…? I'm pretty awesome, aren't I? I could create high mid-tier potions almost as soon as I awakened? No one else is doing it like me! Bahahaha!

"Could you explain the party details?" I asked.

"Of course," Luna nodded, "As you can see it starts off with the alias in brackets. After that comes the awakener's real name, if they have it available; If you look, this Water Princess person doesn't share that, so it only shows their alias. After that is their class, which will always show and then their position in the party composition. You see how Water Princess and I are undecided?

That's because neither of us have accepted or denied the offer, this is the time when we'd be checking the awakener's database for information about our party members. If there's no problems anywhere and I accept, I'd be moved into the 'Current Party' details. If I reject it, then the party spot will be offered to another awakener. There's also a little button to make it so that it doesn't search for a new party member if the undecided people were to reject it."

"Interesting. So, are you going to accept it?" I asked.

"Well, I wanted to talk to you about it first before I decide anything. If you don't want me to, then, I'll reject it immediately."

"Oh! I love you so much! Hehe!" I giggled, "Mwah!"

"I love you too…Mwah." She returned the kiss.

"Well, if you don't see any problems with it, then I think we just inform Ashley and if she doesn't find any problems, you accept it?" I said.

"That's what I was thinking." She nodded and opened the messages app. There's a massive difference between fighting monsters in theory and in practice; The only thing I can do is throw dynokali potions at the enemies and hope they die. Luna would know much better than me when it comes to these things. As they always say, leave the matters to professionals! Now, if she was deciding things about alchemy? I could input so much! Speaking of…

"Say, if you do end up taking this job, how does the materials from the monsters get split?" I asked.

"After the gate is cleared, the association sends people to harvest and collect the materials. After which, we'll all get a list to see if anyone wants to reserve materials. If not, everything gets sold to the association and split between everyone in the party. Why? Is there a material you've taken interest in?"

"Honestly, I could use all of them for potions, but, if I had to pick only one, the toxic spitting goat's venom would be nice. Its poison is effective at breaking down rocky surfaces. I could use that to make you a poison that you could use."

"Well, I'll definitely reserve it for you then."

"Hehe, thanks! Mwah!"

"Mm…" Luna smiled as she sent a message to the group chat. (Yesterday) [PA Ashley: Ms. Stella, all association information you requested has been registered. Currently looking into land suitable for your requirements.] [Me: Thxxxx!] (Just Now) [Luna: Ashley, I've got a party request for a gate. Can you look into the members?] Almost immediately after she sent that message, Ashley replied. [PA Ashley: Confirmed, I'll send you over the information soon.] [Me: Wow!! You answered so fast!!] [PA Ashley: It's my job.] [Me: Do you answer everything immediately? What if I just spend a whole bunch of messages?] [PA Ashley: It will delay getting you the information Ms. Luna requested.] [Me: Ah, okay! Just continue on then!] [PA Ashley: Confirmed.] Darn! She got me there! Are all professionals this hard to handle?

"Pfft," Luna chuckled.

"Tsk," I clicked my tongue, "Hm…I'll need to make you antidotes." I mumbled.

"For the toxic goat?"

"Yeah…" I nodded, "The only thing is that it's corrosive venom; It's a little annoying but nothing I can't handle."

"Thank you." Luna smiled.

"…" I looked at her, "With only words?" She flinched and took a deep breath before leaning in,"…Mwah."

"Hehe! Motivation has risen tenfold!" I cheerfully said, "Is there any other preparations you need to do?"

"Well, I'll have to research the known monsters. It's common courtesy to look into these these things before the party meeting."

"I see, I see. Oh, right, I don't see a date on here?" I commented.

"After everyone in the party clicks the button signifying they're ready, the party leader sets a meeting date and a gate clear date. It'll probably be within 3 days at most."

"Got it!" I nodded, "Anything else?"

"Hm…Not that I can think of?" Luna tilted her head.

"Okay! Oh, right, I hired drug mister to make the bottles! Wait right here! I'll show you the prototypes!" I jumped off the couch. Luna nodded and I headed to the bedroom and grabbed all three prototype bottles. When I returned, I placed two of them on the coffee table and handed her the last one.

"Look! Look!" I said with pride. The one I handed her was the raccoon and mouse bottle.

"Oh! This is really cute!" Luna said, "So, these are the bottles you'll be using in the future?"

"Yep!" I nodded, "There's three versions!" I handed her each of them and she inspected them briefly.

"I like them. The only thing is…Wouldn't people be confused on why there's a mouse? The raccoon is understandable since it's your alias, but…"

"Hehe! Doesn't matter~" I said, "I'm planning to make the duo bottle rarer! Honestly, I think at least someone will collect them! Then! They'll be put in the Raccoon museum one day!"

"Pfft, a museum? I can't wait for that day."

"Hehe, I'll dedicate an entire section to you, don't worry!"

"Just one section?" Luna asked.

"The other sections will be us together~" I said before kissing her.

"Mm…" Luna paused, "Oh, right, did you also invite him to the guild?" She asked.

"Yep! He's a perfect fit! I told him and he immediately started calling me 'Boss'!"

"Pfft!" Luna chuckled, "Big Boss Stella is becoming real then, huh?"

"Big Boss Stella has always been real!" I said, puffing out my chest.

"Right, right." Luna smiled.

"Speaking of…" I started, taking a seat next to her, "On a more serious note…" Luna adjusted herself in the seat and fully focused on me.

"I'm really sorry…I think for the next 3 weeks, I really need to lock in and have my full attention on making and selling potions."

"Right…" Luna slowly nodded, "With all the money we need right now, that makes sense…" She said solemnly, "… I also need to focus on getting funds." As unfortunate as it was, it was unavoidable. It isn't just money for the house, we also want money for the guild and need it so we can pay drug mister and panda gramps. We don't need to make everything within three weeks, but, Luna and I both know that I should capitalize off my current popularity before it dies down.

This is the prime time to sell potions and make deals."" Haah…"" Luna and I both sighed simultaneously.

"But!" I said, "There's something to look forward too, you know?" I said with a smile.

"Yeah," Luna nodded, smiling as well, "It's almost Christmas. Um…Since we're on the topic, my parents wanted to spend Christmas Eve with me…I want to introduce you to them." My eyes widened,"Of course!" I said, "Will they…Will they accept me though…?"

"They will." Luna said without a single doubt, "I promise that they'll love you like you're their own daughter." She hugged me.

"Mm, I hope so." I returned the hug. Ah! Even though it's three weeks away, I'm already nervous! What should I get them as a gift?! Ah!! Is this how Luna felt?! Haah…You know what? I'll think about it later.

"Alright," I said, "I'm going to make your antidotes."

"Thank you." She said and after I didn't reply, she leaned in and, "Mwah…"

"Hehe!" I giggled, standing up, "By the way! Do you know what else happens on Christmas?"

"Huh? Um…Gift giving?"

"Hehe, there's that too. But I'm talking about something else."

"Something else?" Luna tilted her head in confusion. I leaned in and placed my thumb under her chin, lifting it slightly so she that was looking straight at me,"Something that happens at night; That only intimate couples can do." I said. Luna took a moment to register my words, but once she did, her face turned bright red and her eyes widened. She flinched, nearly freezing in place as I gave her a peck on the lips,"Hehe!" I giggled, turning away to hide my own reddened face. Three weeks later…should be fine, right?