Chương 68: War crimes? Me?! Never!

Me?! Never!

While Luna and Rumi went to explore and level up their skills, I looked through my inventory and the materials they had brought me. Mm… There's quite a bit? The materials in the game were identical to ones I could find in real life. It's so interesting because if I had these in front of me right now in person, I could think of dozens of different recipes and potions to create. But… Looking at the synthesis options, I was limited. Now, don't get me wrong, the number of options is not low whatsoever, but…

This just feels bad. With a click of a button, the [Jovic Ore] in my inventory was crushed and automatically processed, leaving me with 2 offshoot materials: [Jovic Ore Dust], and [Jovic Ore Fragments]. Ugh… Why is it just a click of the button? Where is the manual application? This feels disgusting. Maybe it's just me being a alchemy supremacist… But, they've made this way too easy. After processing a few more materials, I was left with many more recipes I could create.

Because of my [Explosion Specialist] skill, various 'explosive' recipes were in my synthesis menu. Meaning, with just a click of the button, I could create multiple bombs. There's no excitement… There's no risk—Where's the feeling I get where if I make one mistake I could explode! Where's the feeling that processing materials could get me different grade offshoots! I want to create uneven fragments that the efficiency mister would yell at me for!

After creating a few potions(bombs), I ran out of materials and sighed. With my remaining materials, there were a few buff potions available for creation. But… It's just not exciting. This could easily be a brain teaser—What materials could I use to create the potion? Do I have enough materials? What materials can I swap? It could be a fun challenge, but…

"Ugh…" I groaned. [Bin? What's wrong?] Rumi asked, [Is someone near you?]"No," I sighed, "Just… Alchemy in this game is a bit boring." [Huh? Really? But there's so many different options and it's pretty complex.]"… Complex?" My brow furrowed. [Ahem!] Luna interrupted just as I was about to go on a rant, [What Bin means is that it's not challenging. Everything happens in a click of a button, so, she's probably quite bored.]"Oh? Master, you know me so well!" [… How long are you going to keep calling me 'Master'?]"Guess!" [I see,] Rumi said, [Basically, it's like you're playing a children's game! How's my deduction?]"That's one way to put it I guess. Haah, why can't I manually adjust ratios or pick out specific properties to use…" [Um… Are you trying to play a game or do actually alchemy. Hahaha!] Rumi laughed at my misery. [Yeah, to be honest, Bin, no game is going to be similar to that alchemy lab you used. This game is probably the closest you'll get to complex alchemy. Why don't you look a bit more into it before making a judgment.] Luna said.

"Alright, we'll see." I said. Looking at one the explosive potions I made, [Shwarmic Potion], I was surprised to see that there was still stuff I could do with it. Although I couldn't modify the base recipe itself, I could add materials to the finished product and the effects might change. There was no recipe menu for this. Could this be what they meant by 'complex'? Looking through my materials, I found one that should cause a simple power boost to the potion. Combine [Shwarmic Potion] and [Glowshroom Powder]?

'Yes'"Oh?" I let out as I saw a +1 option appear next to the item name. A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation. Did I just strengthen it? What if I use a material that has no effect on the potion? Combine [Shwarmic Potion] and [Fairy Dust]?

'Yes' The item didn't change whatsoever, still maintaining that +1 in the title.

"Interesting…" Now what if I use a material that would ruin the potion? Combine [Shwarmic Potion] and [Jovic Ore Dust]?

'Yes' [Shwarmic Potion +1] has been destroyed in the creation process!

"Oho!" I let out, slightly more excited. Now what if I use things that would change the effect of the potion? Combine [Small Speed Potion] with [Fairy Dust], [Magicia Powder], [Fantasia Shard], and [Mossborne Branch]?

'Yes' [Small Speed Potion] has become [Limited Invisibility Potion].

"Oh! Oh! Oh!" I let out excitedly, my previous bad mood completely vanishing. - Bin sounds excited? - Did Bin find something interesting? [Something happen?] Rumi asked.

"Hehe, I found a way." [Found a way…?] Instead of answering, I posed my own question,"How far are you guys from depoting materials?" [After we clear this village, we'll be returning.] Luna said, [Have you made potions for us?]"Yes~" I cheerfully said, "Alright, I'm gonna go explore!" [Okay, stay safe. If you see anyone let us know immediately.] Luna said like a concerned mother. - Mouse's voice just got so soft? - I just got vibes of a wife sending her husband off to war, anyone else? - Cuteeee - Ehehehe…

[Yeah! If you see anyone, we'll immediately rush over!] Rumi said cheerfully. - Ah… - Go away, streamer! - Moment ruined. Looking at chat, I internally giggled. Why're these guys so funny? [I did not ruin any moment!] Rumi shouted at chat. Hehe. I held my tongue, quickly upgrading a few potions before putting everything in my inventory and leaving the village to explore. We weren't on the plains of the first floor, rather, we were in some type of forest. Plants and herbs were abundant.

Slowly, I gathered materials and tossed them in my inventory. I was surprised to see some materials glowing—making them a bit more obvious—but I quickly figured out that was due to my [Explosion Specialist] skill. After a little bit of searching, my backpack was nearly full. Just as I was about to head back to base, I paused. An idea came to mind. Combine [Shwarmic Potion +5] with [Motion Detector]?

'Yes' Hehe…Hehehehe. I placed the potion underneath a material. The material covered the entire potion, hiding it from sight. Hm…I'll just place a few more around the area. …

"Found tracks." The ranger said to his two teammates.

"How many?" The warrior asked.

"Looks like just one person." The ranger replied, "Could be a scout or explorer returning to their team. Tracks are about 10 minutes old."

"Let's follow them then. Hopefully, we can get an ambush on them." The warrior said. His two teammates nodded. As they went to follow the tracks, the ranger crouched down and went to harvest the [Jango Mushroom] under the tree. BOOM! [BinLover has eliminated StealthArcherKing] [BinLover has eliminated IwantTrueLove] [BinLover has eliminated LoveFeet] Similar scenes played around the map. Those who survived the first explosion were hit with two explosions after that.

And those who were lucky enough to survive all that, soon found out that they were poisoned and died shortly after. … Seeing these notifications appear in the top right of the screen, both Luna and Rumi's characters froze. Just as they were about to ask what Bin was doing, a loud explosion rang out from just a few hundred meters away from them. [BinLover has eliminated…] [BinLover has eliminated…] [BinLover has eliminated…] What in the heck is that girl doing? Luna thought. …

"Oh?" I paused my trapping and watched the notifications pop up with glee. Hehe, looks like some fools fell for my trap. That'll teach them not to be greedy! How dare they try to harvest materials in the forest! [Achievement Unlocked: Traps R Us] A small notification appeared at the bottom of my screen, confirming my accomplishments. Good! Very good! I like it, the achievement system can confirm my greatness(cuteness)! [Um…Bin?] Rumi's hesitant voice came through the comms.

"Yes~?" I innocently replied. [Where are you right now?]"Ah, I got lost, so I couldn't find my way back to the village." I replied. [You got lost…?] Rumi said, she paused for a moment before replying, [You're on the other side of the map!!?] Being a game, naturally, there was a mini-map and full map that showed the icons of the team. But! I can't read! So, it wasn't very useful to me. Hehe.

"Yeah, I took a few wrong turns and ended up here somehow." [And the real reason?] Luna cut in and asked.

"Hehe, I was placing-" [BinLover has eliminated…]"Traps around the map." [How!?! You're not even a trapper class!? I know you have explosion related skills, but why are they all dying?!] Rumi was in disbelief.

"Oh, I just made the potions a little more powerful." [A little!?] - She set up landmines around the map??? - What the hell??? - This has to be a war crime…

"I also figured out that my [Poison Imbue] skill works! So, do you know how radiation works? My explosions are kind of like that now! Anyone who survives the explosions will be poisoned!" I cheerfully explained. This game really is fun! I was disparaging it way too soon. - Definitely a war crime. - I'm scared… - Mouse and Streamer, please run… - Chemical warfare???? - I wonder how meta this could be in pro games. [U-Um… Mouse, i-is Bin always…] Rumi hesitantly said with a hint of fear in her voice.

[Always like this? Um… Yes…]"Oh! By the way, I left buff potions in the base for you guys before I left. They should be quite useful." [O-okay! W-we're entering the village now…] Rumi said.

"Ah! Wait!" [Yes!?] She practically screamed.

"Don't enter any houses except for the main one! There's traps set at the entrance of a few of them." - Mouse, blink if you need help… [Blink…] Luna mumbled.

"I'm on my way back now~" I said, sneakily moving throughout the forest. … Soon, the three of us met up at the base.

"We finally reunite!" I said, my character moving right up to Luna's. [Indeed.] Luna replied, crouching down. [We've brought you so much materials!] Rumi cheerfully said. And that she did. All the grayed out recipes in my menu had lit up, signifying my eligibility to craft them. Hehe…More explosives…No! I mean, this'll be useful. I can create more potions for Luna and Rumi to use.

"Great!" … It didn't take long to craft some potions for them to use. After all, it was just the click of a button… Damned game. I gave them all the buff potions and a few utility potions. I kept the explosive potions for self-defense. The three of us set off in a random direction. Soon, we stumbled upon what looked like player tracks. At least, that's what Luna and Rumi claimed. I could only nod, since I have no idea what I'm supposed to be seeing.

After a bit more walking, Luna suddenly had us crouch and hide behind some bushes. [Enemies in the village.] She said. I peeked over and spotted 3 people kitted out in full equipment walking around. They were heading into a big building that looked like a church. [They entered the church.] Luna said. [Can we take them?] Rumi asked. [I think so. If we drink the buffs and invisibility potions Bin made, we should have the sneak attack.] The two of them discussed some more strategy and I'm gonna be honest, I totally zoned out. [What if we…] As Luna was about to continue, I promptly cut in,"Hey," [Yes?]"Why don't we just bomb it?" -? -?? -?????? [??] [???]"They're in a building. Let's just toss in some of my potions. If they survive, they'll be poisoned anyways, then you two can just finish them off." - This… Has to be a war crime.

"No! This is strategy! I'd never commit a war crime!!" I shouted at chat. - Chemical warfare?

"What's that last message say? I can't read." I commented before turning my attention back to Luna, "So? Will it work?" […Yes. Likely.] Luna replied. [T-That's a church, Bin! We can't bomb a church!] Rumi tried to play the angel on my shoulder.

"…It's okay, as the Goddess of Alchemy, we're going on a crusade." I mean, if the developers didn't want us to use explosions, they wouldn't have put skills related to them in the game in the first place! What's the difference between a bomb and a fireball? The name! I'm not in the wrong! I'm not the bad guy! BOOM! [Achievement Unlocked: Highest Level Blasphemy]