Chapter 55: Baby Steps (1)

'That was so awkward,' Jake recalled the girl's ashamed face, getting slightly red himself. He may have left the group with a cool excuse that made him seem like a composed or maybe even shameless player, but he was quite boiling inwardly without showing much on his face.

A moment later, he chuckled, 'I didn't think my bow would break because of my high strength and dexterity!'

After that thought, Jake returned to his old self.

He didn't particularly feel terrible because his weapon shattering into pieces actually meant that he had just miscalculated his new strength. Jake didn't think he'd also be that strong, so he was content with the development.

It was better to lose a weapon in a safe training ground environment than outside the capital in a monster's lair.

Moreover, if the group of archers was actually talented or proficient in archery, they would have noticed that Jake used too much strength for his weapon and that his bow wasn't broken in the slightest, meaning he took good care of it, and its durability points were all at its fullest.

If they were that bad, then perhaps he would learn nothing from them, and it would be him giving them too many valuable pointers instead.

That would be the worst move he could make.

Jake heard many stories of promising players in different games before the immersive virtual reality game who had lost their sharpness because they played too many casual games with their friends on a low level.

Coming from the jungle where Jake and his pets could freely fight and develop themselves without anyone cutting in, Jake had to remind himself that he couldn't become too close with players and NPCs whose goals didn't line up with his.

He would always aim for the top and to become the pioneer of archery!

Jake, however, wanted to believe in those guys.

Since he had already set his eyes on making a name for himself on the training grounds and honing himself there on much more advanced effigies, he might as well fix his reputation in the archers' circle and check their talents.

On the second floor, Jake momentarily thought he had ended up in a maze as he could only proceed forward through a narrow corridor that allowed only two people to walk side by side.

The corridors had many curtains draping the booths, where ATM-like statues allowed players to connect their game systems to the auction house and see what items were on sale.

Jake found an empty booth and stepped in. That said, he had to move quite deep into the maze to find a free booth!

[Welcome to The Last Night's Auction House!]

[Is it your first time in our humble abode?]

[Yes.]

[Please type your name and confirm it with your game system.]

[A player, Archer, has been registered To The Last Night's Auction House!]

[Would you like to see our exclusive catalog of items or our worldwide catalog created under the partnership with other friendly auction houses?]

That quite intrigued Jake.

His curiosity put its crown on his head and compelled him to see the vast catalog of items! The screen on the ATM-like statue expanded, taking over the booth.

A list of items unfolded before Jake's eyes.

He chose the weapon he wanted to see on sale and waited for it to load...

'Let's see what kind of bows are on sale!'