[Urgent Hiring]
[Urgently seeking three temporary newspaper editors. Requirements: Ability to write gripping, popular news with excellent prose. Preferential treatment for outstanding writers.]
Yu Yu stood before the posting, chin in hand, pondering. She was curious—if she submitted an article and it was accepted, would it count as a quest?
If so, how much experience?
Why not try?
With that, Yu Yu glanced around. Moments later, she settled in a noisy tavern, starting to write. Silver Moon didn't even have a coffee shop. Opening a cat café here could make a lot of money.
Noted—when she had more gold, she'd buy a storefront, open a cat café, and have Shu Tu send Banban to work.
Maybe sign a deal with rangers to bring their cats too. Yu Yu dodged drunken, burly men, hiding in a corner with a Candlelight, scribbling furiously.
#Mysterious Woman Flies Over Half of Silver Moon, She's Actually#
Elegant Allen script flowed onto the paper, quill scratching as Yu Yu's ideas poured out.
Self-roast!
Soon, her short article was done. She blew on the paper, admiring her handwriting. Despite her language passive, her writing was usually terrible.
But thanks to her translation post…
If she didn't update daily, a horde of quirky old folks would nag, turning her into a relentless copying bot.
Cycle: log in, read books, log out, transcribe, repeat for demand, forget, reread, transcribe…
Her Allen script improved daily—plain but pleasing.
"Pfft, what sourpuss came to the tavern to show off?"
A voice nearby, laced with faint booze and foul body odor, made Yu Yu grimace and turn away. Adjusting her Candlelight, she looked over..
A table of men in armor were drinking and having fun, with their chests and backs exposed and their faces flushed from drinking. These words were said by one of them.
Yu Yu was speechless. She couldn't fathom why Silver Moon had no writing spots beyond taverns. No coffee shops, tea houses, or even diners. She didn't want this chaotic place, but there was nowhere else.
Done.
Yu Yu rolled her eyes, packed her paper and ink, and left. Borrowing the table, she'd ordered the cheapest ale—20 copper a mug. She didn't touch it, tossing a silver coin on the table, thinking: Poor Fuyu and them. They often met for quests here?
Smelly, noisy.
Add players' chatter, and it'd drive anyone mad.
"Tch, coward."
Yu Yu, half out the door, stopped. The man hadn't expected her to stay, sneering. "Talking about you, what?"
Yu Yu raised her staff, Frost Breath.
Instantly, their table's hot ale and dishes froze. One man, mid-sip, found his drink a block of ice, stunned. Yu Yu tilted her chin, scoffed, and strode out. The tavern quieted briefly, then roared back to life. The men glared at their chilled food, grumbling at their loudmouth friend.
"Why mess with a spellcaster?"
Yu Yu forgot the tavern's stench, racing to submit her article, eyes gleaming.
"How's it look?"
The editor had finished. Yu Yu hadn't written much—under 100 Xia characters. Facing her eager gaze, the editor was troubled. Yu Yu's piece was… uneven.
The headline was gripping—she'd wanted to read on. The content?
Who wrote this? Step up for a beating!
Compared to the title, it was bland, all fluff. She hesitated to accept.
The editor demurred, "I heard she's a Magic Circle spellcaster, maybe your senior. Writing this…"
"Yup, it's me!"
Editor: "…"
She studied Yu Yu. Young spellcaster, fair and delicate, with strikingly pretty eyes, instantly likable. Seeing her unmasked anticipation, the editor confirmed.
A young spellcaster. Older ones obsessed over decorum, spoke primly, demanded the best food and lodging, rivaling nobles' fussiness.
Rejection softened, the editor sighed. "Accepted. Xiao San, pay her."
[Submitted to Silver Moon Daily (Completed) (Repeatable)]
[Gain: Experience +500, Silver +20]
Yu Yu took the fee, feeling a new world open.
It actually worked?!
Could she keep submitting fluff—er, articles—to the Daily?
Such a deal!
500 experience, happier than fighting for her life!
Eternal Darkness's experience was famously loose—even brick-moving gave some, so no surprise.
Gaming knowledge up!
Outside, time to log off, Yu Yu logged out content. Shu Tu and Chang Yu were home. Yu Yu's carpet now hosted two sprawled figures.
Wei Zishu and Song Fuyu.
Logging off, Zi Shu was awake, rubbing her waist.
Seeing Yu Yu, she said helplessly, "Only brick-moving left. NPCs are so arrogant—classist and biased against Moonbay Town!"
Outrageous.
Calling her barbarian, then bumpkin. Infuriating.
If not for fear of breaking laws and exile from Silver Moon, she'd show them barbarian. The more she thought, the angrier. Zi Shu shook Fuyu awake.
Fuyu, groggy: "Why shake me?"
Zi Shu pointed at her leg, showing red marks. "Someone used me as a pillow last night."
"Not me, it was Yu Yu!"
Yu Yu, mid-water: "?"
Fuyu pivoted, "I got a job!"
"What job?"
Fuyu was very proud: "A noble hired me to tail her daughter—thinks she's in love…"
"She's generous. This'll work."
Yu Yu shared, "If you're bored, submit to Silver Moon Daily. 500 experience per piece, plus 20 silver."
Zi Shu's eyes lit up. "Such a deal? Word limits? Other rules?"
Yu Yu thought, "None, I think? My random scribble passed."
Fuyu, thrilled: "My time to shine! No gossip escapes me—everyone loves my scoops!!!"
Zi Shu: "…"
Yu Yu: "Think big—anything's possible."
Confidently, "When I'm rich, I'll buy a city shop and open a cat café."
"What's a cat café?"
Shu Tu went upstairs and opened the door. "You are awake but why don't you come downstairs? Breakfast is ready. Go wash up."
Yu Yu: "Lend me Banban to serve trays at the café."
Big Cat trailed Shu Tu, entering Yu Yu's bedroom for the first time. Yu Yu had never let it come up before. It sniffed left and right out of curiosity.
Yu Yu's heart sank, and she drank the water in the glass in one gulp. "Got it, we're coming."
Big Cat eyed her mouse.
Yu Yu: "!!! Zi Shu!"
Wei Zishu was startled by her shouting. Reflexively, she grabbed Big Cat's tail.
Big Cat chomped—missed.
Chomped again—missed.
It turned, annoyed, "Rawr…"
Zi Shu had come to her senses, half-forced a hug, lifting it off the ground. "Er'er, be good, let's go downstairs."
Er'er was shocked. It was the first time that he was held by someone since he grew up. After Zi Shu picked it up, she couldn't help but tilt her head and said, "It feels similar to a cat, just a little bigger."
Trio: O
Zi Shu belatedly coughed and carried Big Cat downstairs.
Yu Yu was gleeful: "I Knew Zi Shu could do it!"
Her mouse was saved.
Shu Tu was also speechless for a while "Didn't think of that."
She'd never considered lifting Big Cat.
Big Cat, huge, was like a kitten in Zi Shu's hands—pulled, petted, no resistance.
Unlike Yu Yu's cautious petting.
Zi Shu? Mad, she'd slap Big Cat's face crooked, another slap if it growled, taming it completely. They'd fed Big Cat, but Shu Tu mostly coaxed it, no control. It caused trouble, and they accepted it. Now, Zi Shu was here. Big Cat's good days were over.
Fuyu: "Rawr, I wanna ride the cat!"
"Yu Yu rode it, I've wanted to try!"
Shu Tu chased to stop her.
Yu Yu facepalmed. Another chaotic day began.
After breakfast, watering the fields and feeding the pigs. Yu Yu planned to cast Thorn Wall around the complex. Fuyu and Zi Shu prepped to move.
If their dorm still stood. If not, they'd buy anew at a high price, which is pretty miserable to think about.
Fuyu needed to withdraw from school. Although it is already summer vacation, it is not certain whether the school will be completed after the summer vacation. It is better to finish it now. She felt school was unsafe, not just hating it.
Shu Tu inherited Yu Yu's farming videos, learning chicken and duck care, planning lunch.
Chang Yu was frail and had no tasks, curling beside Shu Tu like a kitten, claiming to learn farming but dozing off, soon napping on the floor with Big Cat.
Human and cat slept in harmony.
Shu Tu resigned herself and kept watching. Five people, one cat—their farm plan had to get serious, or they'd starve. The day passed. Yu Yu, half-dead, said, "Tomorrow, the other half. For the gate, I'll check online for good Magic Devices or spells. A flimsy iron gate feels unsafe."
Zi Shu and Fuyu were also tired after a day of work, so they moved the remaining things from the dormitory and temporarily moved into the chosen room.
Difference: they still shared a building.
Fuyu chuckling: "Habit. We don't have much, and one building alone's too big."
"Plus, two's safer. If something happens, we can brainstorm. Alone, I'd panic like a headless fly."
Zi Shu nodded sagely. "True."
Chang Yu eyed Yu Yu. "Right, let's live together too?"
Yu Yu sipped fish soup, and pretended not to hear.
"Next few days, any plans?"
Fuyu: "Monday, school for withdrawal. Then, free."
Zi Shu: "Same."
If time allowed, she'd try graduating early, but… likely not.
Yu Yu: "Then it's the complex's farming and security plans."
"Speak up—what to prep, what to do, list it, we'll tackle it bit by bit."
Shu Tu: "Check that wild forest. I'm uneasy."
Chang Yu, scribe: "Noted!"
Yu Yu: "I'll dig an ice cellar, buy more pigs."
Zi Shu: "We'll use our money for seeds, chickens, ducks, fish, geese—go shopping."
Outside school, options abounded. She was confident.
Fuyu: "Listen to her."
Yu Yu: "Also, a root cellar."
Shu Tu reminded, "And a canal—you mentioned a small one for fish."
"Right, canal."
Chang Yu: "Got it."
Zi Shu: "Not just an ice cellar. If we stockpile, we'll need a warehouse."
"Warehouse!"
Chang Yu chimed, "Buy a truck?"
She scribbled, "Get several. Only Shu Tu has a car—if she's out, we're stuck."
Zi Shu: "…"
No response.
Fuyu: "…" Sorry, I don't even have a bike, embarrassing!
Yu Yu: "I have an e-scooter."
Chang Yu: "Too small. My friend's family sells cars—they're not selling now, heh, leave it to me."
"Oh, my drone arrived—can do aerial shots. Wanna play?"
Zi Shu's eyes lit up. "Drones? There are agricultural and military ones…"
"Wait, I'll show you."
They talked all night, reluctant to stop, then logged in.
Today, more quest hunting.
Yu Yu, in high spirits, roamed.
Soon, she found quests. Deliver a letter.
[Experience +500]
Rescue a cat from a tree.
Using her self-made flight—Feather Fall + Gust—she saved the cat easily.
[Experience +500, Earned a child's adoring gaze]
Sweep the street.
Her Gust was slick, despite a minor hiccup, and she completed it.
[Experience +500]
As she prepped for the next quest, the final 500 experience for her level, someone called.
"What spellcaster's this embarrassing?" they said. "Sweeping streets?"
Yu Yu turned. "What's wrong with sweeping? Bother you? Mind your business!"
She realized she'd wandered into a fancier street.
The person scoffed, "You're shaming spellcasters."
"Not your shame, so what's it to you?"
Yu Yu snapped back, adding, "Got a quest?"
Person: "…?"
"There is one. Can you read?"
Yu Yu: "?"
"Guess you can, since you sweep. Copy books for me, 50 silver per job. In?"
Yu Yu eyed them, noting silver-white dog ears. "Sure."
A cute kid with dog ears, male.
She started copying.
Meanwhile, her street-sweeping news spread.
Outrageous—a spellcaster sweeping streets, unbelievable!
Yu Yu underestimated her spellcaster status. As she followed the dog-eared kid inside, her story exploded.
Rumor: Spellcaster, destitute, sweeps streets!
Rumor: Spellcaster, exiled, sweeps streets!
Rumor: Spellcaster, in debt, forced to sweep streets!
…
The gossip reached Silver Moon's City Guard.
Unlike Moonbay Town, Silver Moon's guard was a juggernaut.
And their top officer? A spellcaster.
High-tier.
"Whose little spellcaster? No Magic Circle quests?" she wondered.
"No idea who. Should I check?"
"Go ask."
"You copied well, come back anytime!"
The dog-eared kid waved excitedly. "Remember the address—Silver Orchid Street. I'm Earl Silver Orchid."
Yu Yu glanced at his small frame, assuming he meant the Earl's son.
Time-consuming task, but fine.
She'd recommend it to Zi Shu and Fuyu—they'd love it.
With payment, she got her final 500 experience.
[Congratulations, you reached Level 6.]
[Gain: Base Attribute Point *1, Skill Point *1, Passive Scroll Transcription, Passive Point *1]
Yu Yu pondered her passive choice when someone called again.
"Miss Yu, my lord requests you."
Yu Yu, confused: "I didn't break the law!"
"No crime, just my lord's invitation."
The figure wore silver-white armor, like yesterday's chasers.
Yu Yu, reluctant, stepped forward. "Fine, but I'm saying—I didn't break anything."
The guard wiped sweat, thinking: You're city-famous. A few more days, who knows what'll happen.
Yu Yu was brought to the orange building again.
"You're the street-sweeping spellcaster?"
Yu Yu: "???"
What's with the nickname?