Chapter 38
“It’s just a slight sprain on the ankle. Thankfully, the injury isn’t serious.”
As the petals blooming from Yeriel’s hand seeped into my ankle, the pain gradually subsided.
“It’s all done. It’ll heal quickly.”
“Thank you, Yeriel.”
“No, it’s my duty to do this.”
Yeriel smiled gently, glancing back and forth between me and Xenon before voicing a question.
“Could I ask how you got hurt? Did you get injured while practicing a new skill again…?”
“Oh, no, it’s not that. It’s just…”
‘This is bad. What should I say?’
It would be best to say that I twisted my ankle while looking for Xenon on a hill.
I had already worried them by coming back late, and if they found out I was being threatened by Agatha…
‘They might lock me up forever!’
And then there was Lyria’s cold expression earlier.
She looked like she might bring out shackles to confine me at any moment…
‘Brr.’
A sudden chill ran down my spine, and I glanced toward the tent where Lyria and the others were sleeping.
‘Come to think of it, was Lyria always this type of character?’
In the original story, it only mentioned how much she liked and cared for her sister.
In the world of the story, which was solely focused on the narrative between Lyria and the male protagonist, the detailed emotional exchanges between Lyria and Wendy were never explored.
But with how much Lyria liked Wendy…
Why did Wendy in the original story dislike her so much?
I wondered briefly, but that wasn’t the important thing right now.
“I misstepped on a hill.”
“On a hill?”
Yeriel’s question was met with a slight nod from me.
“And then I coincidentally ran into Xenon, who brought me back.”
I nudged Xenon, who was sitting beside me, with my elbow.
‘Come on, play along.’
“…”
Fortunately, he seemed to understand the situation, maintaining his silence.
“I see. Well, I’m just glad you both made it back safely.”
Yeriel, ever the innocent one, accepted the story without any doubt.
“Thank you for your concern. Oh, right, I saw you carrying the laundry earlier.”
“Oh, that…”
Yeriel looked a bit troubled as he glanced at the pile of soaked laundry, his expression crestfallen.
“Because of the sudden rain, everything got soaked.”
“Oh, no.”
Now that I thought about it, there had been a heavy downpour when we came back.
“It would be easier to move if we pack it in a bag, so it looks like we’ll need to wash them again before the second mission starts.”
Seeing Yeriel’s downcast expression, an idea came to me, and I couldn’t help but grin.
“Heh heh.”
“…Wendy?”
Yeriel, looking at me with a hint of anxiety, watched as I gave him a little wink.
“I actually have a way to help.”
I had been wondering when to bring it up, but now seemed like the perfect timing.
“Yeriel, have you ever heard of the word ‘inventory’?”
“Inventory?”
Of course, it was unlikely that he’d know about inventories.
After all, he’s someone who has lived his entire life in this place.
Xenon, too, seemed interested, leaning in closer to listen.
“An inventory is often referred to as a kind of virtual space.”
I reached out my hand in front of them, drawing a rectangular shape in the air.
“You can store various items in it like a bag.”
Moving my hand as if placing an item into the air, I then mimicked taking something back out.
“And you can retrieve those items whenever you need them. Time stops for the items inside, so they won’t spoil or change.”
Yeriel tilted his head, still looking puzzled.
“But why are you telling me this all of a sudden…?”
Seeing his confused expression, I smiled brightly.
I figured it was better to show than to explain.
“I found it, an inventory!”
With that, a rectangular window suddenly appeared in the air.
<‘Wendy Porcelain’s’ Personal Inventory, 9 items can be stored.>
“What do you think?”
I looked at the two with a triumphant smile.
“This is…”
“A square window.”
Yeriel and Xenon commented in turn.
Judging by their reactions, it seemed like my inventory was visible to others as well.
“Amazing, a space where you can store anything…”
Xenon’s pupils slightly widened as he examined the floating window.
“How did you come to know about this?”
I shrugged at his question.
“Well, let’s just say it’s one of my abilities.”
Xenon looked at me for a moment, seemingly considering pushing further, but then he mumbled under his breath, as if giving up on interrogating me.
“…You do have a lot of abilities.”
“Everyone has one, so try calling it out. Ah, Yeriel, if you say ‘Inventory,’ it should appear.”
“For me too?”
Yeriel hesitated for a moment, then immediately summoned his inventory.
“It’s true.”
He looked at the floating window above him with a bewildered expression.
“This is amazing. I never imagined such a thing existed.”
“Right? This isn’t a skill; it’s more of a standard feature, so… huh?”
As I enthusiastically explained, I noticed something odd and paused.
<‘Yeriel’s’ Personal Inventory, can store up to 50 items.>
Sure, my inventory had one slot occupied by the dress I put in earlier.
‘But why does he have so many slots!?’
Could it be that the maximum number of items depends on a person’s abilities or their mana capacity?
To find out, I tapped Xenon on the shoulder.
“Xenon, you try calling yours out too.”
“Alright.”
He seemed curious as well and, without any questions, nodded and summoned his inventory.
And soon, my jaw dropped.
<‘Xenon’s’ Personal Inventory, can store up to 100 items.>
“One hundred…?”
Xenon approached, looking at his inventory with an expressionless face.
“Is that a small number?”
“…”
This guy.
Talking like that in front of someone who only has ten slots.
— Jjyyu(heexxx): Wendy being Wendy again.
— Juhui(juuxxx): Even Wendy’s inventory is small and precious.
ㄴfriedfishcake(pe4xxx): Showing off her insignificance whenever we might forget.
It’s bad enough that I had to start with a weaker physical condition than others, but now even the number of inventory slots is different?
“What could be the reason? Mana? Stamina?”
Or is it something fundamentally flawed in my very nature!?
But still, how could the gap be this big?
As I mumbled with a serious expression, one of the constellations sent me a message indirectly.
[The constellation, ‘Versatile Junior,’ says that your constellation is extremely stingy.]
“…Stingy?”
The response came quickly, as if my immediate reaction was quite amusing.
[The constellation, ‘Versatile Junior,’ says that ‘the avatar’s abilities’ can only be increased through support from constellations and experience gained from dungeons.]
[The constellation, ‘Versatile Junior,’ says your constellation has no intention of helping you grow.]
So, all this time, the reason my stats have been so pitiful…
And why I spent twice as long in the Forest of Spirits compared to others…
It’s all because our readers haven’t given me enough support?
‘But I’ve been receiving support properly…?’
Of course, the way my constellation provides support is quite different from the usual.
Unlike most constellations that use resources or abilities to strengthen their avatars, my readers give me a resource called ‘Favor’ based on my actions.
In other words, my fate hinges on every little thing I do.
[The constellation, ‘Versatile Junior,’ feels sorry for you.]
To Hermes, who didn’t understand this, I must have looked like a pitiful character chosen by a miserly constellation.
‘What should I do?’
It’s not like I didn’t try at all, though.
I did jumping jacks whenever I had some spare time.
Or came out secretly while others slept to do sit-ups.
I even openly asked for material rewards once.
But every time I did, the readers would respond like this:
— dawn(977xxx): Author, this page seems to have a bug.
— PresidentoftheRomanceFantasyAssociation (romxxx): Can’t see anything. Please fix it.
…And so on.
From that, I learned a few simple facts.
I can’t communicate directly with the readers.
And I can’t receive ‘any form of resource other than Favor.’
Also, the ‘Favor’ I earn can only be used in the ‘Magic Cart.’
“…Sigh.”
That shop.
In the end, everything seems to revolve around the shop.
So where on earth am I supposed to increase my stats?
Do I have to stay weak forever!?
As I was about to tear at my hair in frustration, a sudden realization hit me.
‘…Wait a minute.’
If the only place I can use Favor is the shop, then maybe…
<Magic Cart>
[Accumulated Favor: 52]
[Total available items: 34]
I hurriedly opened the Magic Cart.
…But then.
“Huh?”
Where did the Magic Cart go…?
[Upgrading… 68%]
‘What’s with that spinning gear icon in the left corner?!’
—
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