Chapter Nine
Disclaimer
I don't own Mabinogi nor any NPC's connected. Either Devcat or Nexon does.
A/N
In the last chapter, we discovered one reason for the glitched creatures. Is that the only reason though? Maybe there is another reason they are coming thru.
I was hurrying in my preparations. I had finally convinced Nao to put aside some time in her busy schedule, which is not up to her, so she can visit me on my homestead today. We agreed upon a time for around noon, Lunchtime.
For weeks prior, I was upping my homestead level and was getting some fancy stuff from the homestead creation menu. What I had created was very beautiful. I wanted to show Nao I had a sensitive side by filling my homestead with cherry blossom trees. My homestead was at level 18 now and was huge. I decided to put the house (style 3), a multi-floored building with high ceilings and a loft, on it. I also had a fishing pond to one side. On one another side of the homestead was my herb plants. I have four plants of the different individual plants: Bloody, Mana, Sunlight, Golden, and Base herb plants. My personal belief is that a homestead should be functional as well as a beautiful place to hang out in.
Dan has been to my homestead twice in all his gaming time, both just recently. He helped organize it since his looks spectacular. He claims mine sprouted to huge proportions overnight. The time variance had something to do with it. To him it was overnight but to me it has taken months of hard work. I am really beginning to enjoy the time difference between us. Because of it we worked out a system where he would get me Nexon dollars and I would use the time difference to do things for him whom he would 'claim' was done instantly.
Oh well. It was because of him, I got all these blossom trees, as they were premium items on the menu needing Pons.
When Nao appeared on my homestead, she was wearing the blue summer dress I got for her when I was playing as Junipers. Somehow, that dress seemed appropriate for today. Don't get me wrong, I still liked the explorer outfit better. Today, however, was a special occasion. It felt like Nao and I was on a date of sorts.
"Hi Jack. My, this place has changed. You got a proper house now instead of that disgusting tent. Are these cherry blossom trees? I have never seen one before."
I blushed, "That makes two of us, outside of pictures and the game environment. I could not tell Dan this when we selected them but I can now smell them as well. This world is very much real to me as the old one. The only difference here is I have the company of a beautiful woman from time to time."
Now it was Nao's turn to blush, "Jack, even though I am here I may need to leave periodically just for a minute or so and come right back. It's just to fulfill my duties to the other militants. Thank goodness none are able to rebirth today."
"Oh! I thought the system allows free daily rebirths up to level 3000 nowadays."
"While that is true, on Earth today is the first day of school. Many are busy with those activities as it affects a great deal of people. Even you did not log in for you found yourself busy that week although you thought your work was secluded from those activities. The ones that are logging in are above level 3000 accumulative thus no longer eligible for free rebirth."
I thought for a moment, "So the reason you might have to leave is if one of these players dies unexpectedly and need you to resurrect them."
"That is correct however sometimes I feel like I should not because I can plainly see what will happen when I do. I mean why resurrect them when the fomors will kill them right away anyways," she stated with a sad face.
"Nao, that is for us to deal with. You have done your part in resurrecting us when we ask and you may not know if we might have a plan on how to deal with the fomor after you resurrect us. I know from my experience I don't ever ask you for resurrection unless I can dispatch the fomor you leave."
Nao did something very out of character then, she giggled, "I have a small confession to make. I know you do and I know you always do it to put on a show for me so I hesitate longer than I should whenever I resurrect you. It's just so cute how much of a production you went thru just so I will be impressed even though you know I was just an NPC at that time."
Red faced, I stuttered, "I don't know what you mean."
She giggled again, "Oh come on! Even I know the real reason you find ways of going thru G1 repeatedly. It's because it's the only storyline I am featured prominently in."
I decided to change the subject, "Hmm I am hungry. Do you still eat? I really don't know that much about how much Morrighan changed you."
Nao giggled, "That's understandable, and I still eat but not as much as I used to. I am interested in what foods you can prepare now that you can cook like you did back on Earth."
"Well to be honest with you, I can't exactly cook like I did back home. For starters, everything here is cooked over an open flame. There aren't any electrical appliances. However, I consider that a good thing. To create electricity, you have to do stuff that wrecks havoc with the environment. I like how pristine Erinn is. Anyways, I have everything set up around a campfire over there among the blossom trees."
We took two steps before Nao stopped. "Oh my, not him again. I have to be right back, Jack."
After she left, I decided to put everything away for today. Something about the way she said the last sentence told me it won't 'right back' like she said. She was gone for 2 of my days meaning 40 minutes for the militants time frame.
When she got back, Nao was very despondent. I asked her what was wrong. After some consoling on my part Nao opened up and told me what was wrong. What she told me astounded me.
To put it simply, a perverted player comes on about once a month with a ton of Nao stones in his inventory. The number one thing he does is die repeatedly so that Nao has to revive him repeatedly. What makes matters worse is that he supplied Nao with the skimpiest of her outfits. He does it just to get his perverted jollies off. She finds the entire episode very degrading and I cannot blame her. It is very degrading.
I decided to take her mind off this episode, "I still have everything for our picnic if you are interested in trying what I consider good food."
She chuckled, "This is the one thing that really kept me going thru that trying ordeal."
When we sat down, I produced the two plates of freshly prepared food. I had found out that after I prepare the food I can keep it in my inventory for two weeks and it stays as fresh as I had prepared it just a few minutes ago. I thought that was neat.
She looked at what I put in front of her, "What is this, Jack?"
"It's called a BLT sandwich. I toasted the bread. I think it taste much better on toast. I took me about three weeks of experimenting to learn how to make it properly here in Erinn with the tools I have. Back on Earth, there are things called toasters that makes perfect toast. However, a toaster is an electrical appliance hence not available here in Erinn. You should have seen my earlier attempts at making toast here. Let's just say they became cinders quickly. I would not mind if they put toast on the automatic food list of food I can prepare the Mabinogi way. Then I can use a combination of both methods to get the food I want."
Nao giggled, "Wow you really went into an all out explanation on the breading but failed to tell me what the inner is. I bet it's bacon, lettuce and tomato. Am I correct?"
I smiled, "Yep. Have you never had a sandwich before Nao?"
She looked at me, "You know that Mabinogi is a game based out of Korea back on Earth. Hence, the food is what you may expect in that region. While good, there is certain food not available. What you call a BLT is really an American based food. While the developers try to incorporate other foods from other regions into the game, certain foods are not available like your BLT sandwich. I have been dying to try it."
As she took a bite of food, I thought about what she had just said. If I understand it correctly, this world did not exist before the game developers created it. Since then, however, the game took on a life on its own the developers are not aware of yet or if they are, they have not shared the fact with the other players. I bet it is a closely guarded secret the GM's are keeping hence the tight security of the GM's. I have been curious why they are so many safeguards against hackers in place for this one game more than any other in the world. I bet this is the reason.
"Mmmm, Jack this is delicious," exclaimed Nao.
"Glad you like it. Here you go." I passed her a glass of pink lemonade.
"Thanks," replied Nao.
It was now getting dark, so I proceeded with the last surprise I had for Nao. It's also a surprise for me too. In a recent anniversary event, players got fireworks. Most players just dropped the fireworks on the ground or used them. I had the foresight to save them, for what I do not know but I did. However, I saved them on another character so I was surprised when I found them in my bank slot when I checked it. I surprised since they can only be stored on the particular characters inventory that earned them.
I was glad I had them for this occasion though. We sat down at we watched the firework show I prepared. During the firework show, Nao and I gazed into each other eyes, I lost myself in her beautiful blue eyes. We drew closer to each other until our breathes mixed together. Just before we were to kiss, though, we were or rather I was interrupted by a frantic Danster.
"JACK, you've got to come quickly!"
"I am busy at the moment Dan. Can this wait?"
"No it can't. I have been escorting a new player thru their G1 final when we got face to face with a Glitched Glas!"
A/N
Needless to say next chapter will be very interesting. One note though, I have never personally defeated Glas myself fore there was so many powerful players that could do it for me. The one in G10 was a nightmare compared to the one in G1 I might add.