Hacking the Game Didn't Go as Intended

CHAPTER 82: Dinkidoo? The Honeywasp Orc!

When Daisuke initially unlocked the alchemy skill, he genuinely had no interest in it because of the horrors that took place at Percival's mansion. Or to be more specific, it reminded him of Sheba and Ruth and how miserably he had failed at protecting them.

But that was only partly the reason.

The other half stemmed from the frustratingly vague and complicated description of the skill. What is the Aether Field? And how exactly does one tap into it using mana? Despite perusing texts on transmutation circles and diagrams in Reginald's library, putting them together to make any kind of sense required extraordinary understanding of the formula, which was akin to deciphering a complex programming language.

"It was clearly stated that Cedric left nothing but breadcrumbs behind," Daisuke pondered aloud, frustration evident in his tone, "so how exactly am I supposed to figure this out? And the last time I checked, Reginald's manor was engulfed in flames so there may be no significant information about alchemy left." He shook his head in resignation. "No matter how I look at it, the alchemy skill just seems like a lost cause."

"Rawrwu," Zephyr gave a soft whine as he tenderly head-butted his distressed friend in the stomach.

"You're right," Daisuke murmured, his hand gently stroking the canine's head. "Frying my brain about this won't yield any results. Alright, I think we've rested enough," he declared as he leaped from his perch and conjured a map. "Come to think of it, I never did take a closer look at this."

As he unfurled the parchment, a holographic window materialized before him, displaying the game's integrated map. Typically in MMORPGs, players enjoyed the luxury of effortlessly viewing the entire world's topography. This simplified planning, navigation, and monster hunting. Unfortunately, Sehreneti Online wasn't so charitable.

Apart from the few locations Daisuke had personally visited, a staggering 99.99% of the map lay disappointingly blank. In a bid to once again emulate reality, the game's creators imposed a daunting challenge: players had to either meticulously explore and map the terrain themselves or pay a hefty sum to acquire maps from those who had. But the fact still remained that people were tasked with mapping the expansive world themselves, and it was no easy feat as no other game in history boasted a map as vast and diverse as Sehreneti's.

DING!

[New geographical information has been acquired. Your map has been updated!]

Following the notification window, the details on the physical map momentarily blurred before seamlessly transferring to its digital counterpart, which promptly became more populated with newfound information.

Daisuke's eyes widened in astonishment. "Did it just copy over the information?"

"Kyuu?" Zephyr tilted his head.

Setting aside the now redundant physical map, Daisuke directed his full attention to the digital screen, immersing himself in the detailed topography of the region.

Within the vast expanse of the Arcanium Kingdom, he observed numerous small settlements and villages under its jurisdiction, yet only one substantial town stood as its tributary.

Unlike the numerous towns, cities, and thousands of smaller settlements found within other kingdoms on the continent, Arcanium was a fledgling nation, still in its infancy.

Using his finger as a guide, Daisuke traced a route from the Fleecia Forest to Dusthaven in the west, then to Wonderelle in the northeast. Finally, he shifted his attention to his own location, marked by a small arrow indicating the direction he faced.

"Looks like we're only a few hours outside of town," Daisuke observed, a hint of relief evident in his voice. "It's a good thing, really. After practically emptying the inventory for Elmridge Village, we're left with just your fur and the shirt on my back. Supplies are running dangerously low."