A Gamer Into Trails

As always, Giliath demands your power stones!

*****

Despite being so young, Tio managed to successfully kill her first monsters. I couldn't be more proud of her.

I received another urge to head pat Tio again. But seeing where we presently were, I retracted that urge. Are these urges getting worse and

Rean was a serial head-patter, and it looks like I'm no worse than he is. Does it run in the family? Haha!

Joking aside, there was no immediate threat with the two Mottled Killers now gone. To my surprise, they really went poof, and disappeared into thin air. Normally on the outside when I killed monsters in the past, they would drop onto the ground, oozing blood and grime and all that dirty stuff. Cleaning up monsters was a big hassle. It involved a lot of burning or burying if they were deemed of no use. Some dead monsters did provide unique materials that could be used in crafting and cooking, just like how you would see it in video games.

But most served no purpose.

Here in the Instance Dungeon, on the other hand, it looks like we won't have to deal with that messy business. Instead, monsters will just vanish into thin air. I'm guessing every so often, they might give Drop Items, perhaps Loot Chests, depending on the Monster.

There was one additional item to point out, apart from receiving the flurry of notifications about our gained experience point and Tio leveling up.

I had actually received a new function of the Gamer System!

[Ding! A new function is now online for Gamer Naoto. Gamer Naoto can now obtain refined Septium from monster drops, or Sepith for short. Gamer Naoto can also exchange unwanted or unused Quartz back into Sepith. Various rates will apply, depending on the Quartz. Gamer Naoto can now exchange Quartz for Quartz Fragments, and can be sold for Mira.]

[Ding! The Quartz Exchange Shop is now online.]

[Ding! Gamer Naoto can now exchange owned Sepith for various Quartz.]

[Ding! Most Quartz exchanged inside the Exchange Shop will be their base versions. Enhance Option is now applicable to Quartz. If Gamer Naoto spends the time to go to Orbal Workshops, rates will be lowered. Orbal Workshops can also strengthen Quartz. This option awarded to Gamer Naoto is only an added bonus, and will not deter what Orbal Workshops presently do.]

'A Quartz Exchange Shop, huh? How convenient. But at the same time, it is warning me that this won't replace Orbal workshops. But this is very much like the games. Looks like I'll have the ability to start piling up Sepith dropped from monsters now! I didn't see any drop from the first battle Tio had. Perhaps that was the trigger to unlocking this function?', I wondered to myself.

'Either way, this is definitely a boon. This should help me organize my Quartz better. I had a quick look, and my status window definitely has a new area added to it. Two areas, in fact. One that had a Sepith window, which showed all of the various Sepith I owned. Each slot was presently at zero, so from here on, those Sepith counts should increase. I also saw the shop function further down on my status window.

I'll have to explore the shop at a later time. But if anything, it should behave similarly to how exchange shops worked in the games. 

I didn't expect such a nice surprise from this Instance Dungeon. I'll have something else to look forward to grinding now, apart from my status.

Seeing me remain quiet for a good moment, Lechter glanced his eyes my way.

"Is something up, Young Master? You got quiet again. Considering this ability of yours, it's starting to make sense why you become quiet during random periods. Did something happen?", Lechter said, wondering about the unexpected gain I received. Lechter really is a sharp fellow, isn't he?

"Sure did. I got an unexpected reward out of this first battle. You know how mined Septium can be further refined into Sepith, which can be used to build Quartz at orbal workshops, right?", I said to the two.

"Mmm. Not many Quartz can be refined at the moment though, because the current generation is only the fourth model. Most common Quartz are more used in everyday appliances and such.", Tio nodded, providing a short explanation.

"Right? Well my ability awarded me with a rather...unique function. I can now earn that refined Sepith from monster drops. The only thing I don't know right now is whether this applies to the outside world. Outside of Instance Dungeons is what I mean...", I explained.

"...What?", Tio uttered. I could see visible shock appear in her eyes, despite her expression remaining unchanged. It was a weird look again, but that was what made Tio, Tio. She could express emotions through her words and thoughts, but visibly, she still had a hard time doing so. That was one of the bad side-effects Gnosis had, specifically on Tio.

"I've seen monsters dropped Septium before, but that isn't anywhere near being Sepith. Isn't that like, super crazy?", Lechter also responded in shock.

"It is. I hope it only applies in Instance Dungeons. It would do no good if it applied in the outside world...", I wondered after weighing the pros and the cons. If monsters suddenly started dropping refined Sepith all around the continent, that would cause a big influx of Quartz refinement. It could very well break the balance of the current system in place.

And I didn't want that. If it does work in the outside world, hopefully it only applies to me.

"It will be a wait and see then. I can see why you are worried about refined Sepith appearing in various places. Having such an ability could start stressing out the Foundation too.", Tio responded with a nod of her head.

"Haha, you know me so well already, Tio. It's good that you are quick-witted on this. Hopefully my worries will amount to nothing. It's never good being this anxious. ", I replied.

"Oh, and on top of that, it will now let me create Quartz with the refined Sepith I get from monster drops here.", I continued. 'I'll ignore Quartz receiving the ability to get enhanced. Quartz is still relatively new to people and the fourth generation orbment is the result of that. It can only cast basic Arts. It was a feat that Enigma II could even be created this early. If they know that Quartz can be upgraded further...', I said to myself. I shook that thought aside.

To give an example, let's take the Domination Quartz. You wouldn't see this Quartz until the cold steel games, but later on it can upgrade into True Domination. You'll see this a lot later down the road.

I can probably create basic Quartz with the Exchange Shop, but the more advanced ones likely aren't ready yet. In my opinion, this is much more broken than having the ability to receive Sepith drops from monsters.

The Epstein Foundation is going to be busy enough with researching Master Quartz. If they learn that I could do this now...

I shook my head again, getting rid of that thought.

"You can even make Quartz with this...?", Tio uttered in shock again.

"That's stupid. Like really stupid. Don't go sharing this with others, Young Master. The less people know about this, the better.", Lechter warned me. It was a surprise to see Lechter this serious, but I'm guessing his gut was at play here. Of course, I nodded my head at his warning. I would be a fool to disclose this information to anyone else. Just bringing it up to Tio and Lechter alone was enough. 

I wouldn't have likely done so if they weren't a part of this Instance Dungeon.

Once the Vermillion Trials come, I'll get everyone properly equipped with Quartz and all that jazz, but I won't tell them where those Quartz came from. Just like how I refrained from telling my sources of my Master Quartz to Professor Schmidt.

"I know. But thanks for the warning, Lechter. I take it you two will be tight-lipped on this? It is much more secretive than me being able to create dungeons.", I warned the two.

"Mum's the word!", Lechter replied with a confident nod.

"Mmm.", Tio nodded. "Your secret is safe with Tio.", Tio said too.

"Good. I'd hate to initiate an oath to be bound by the Goddess. If it ever goes too far, I won't hesitate to do that, however.", I said with a serious nod to myself. Seeing how serious I looked, Tio and Lechter nodded again. My Gamer System is such a foreign concept to others. I can do several things with it, but the less people know about it, the better. I will only bring it up if situations like this occur. It's better than leaving Tio and Lechter to remain in the shadows.

I just won't explain the entire thing. The only one who will remain knowing is Roselia. But even she won't know about these new functions, unless I tell her.

With that resolute thought, I glanced at Tio again.

"Apart from what I gained, you gained newfound power yourself, right Tio?", I asked.

"I did. It's a weird feeling, but I do feel stronger. I can see my 'Status' updated. Will it do that with each battle I do from now on?", Tio asked, wondering.

"Only while you're in a Party with me. It doesn't say whether you can view it on your own yet. That could happen down the line, but for now I'll keep you two in the Party so you can see your stats.", I explained.