Infinite Cosmic Cafeteria Chapter 21: Curio Shop

Translator: Stellar Novels Editor: Stellar Novels

Ma Lu stepped out from the cool, air-conditioned living room into the scorching desert heat.

Looking around, it was the same desolate and monotonous landscape as always.

However, his previous experiences had taught Ma Lu that this place was not as lifeless as it appeared on the surface.

He glanced around and didn’t see Bocchi anywhere, which didn’t surprise him much; the desert was inherently difficult to navigate, and last time, he had given Bocchi two possible locations.

Even Ma Lu himself didn’t know where the Insect Egg had transported him. All he could do now was wait for Bocchi to find him.

Climbing a nearby sand dune, Ma Lu found a prominent spot to sit cross-legged, but soon he stood up again, unable to bear the burning sand beneath him.

To distract himself from the relentless heat, he checked the character status panel on his wristband.

The blessings he had accumulated last time were all reset when he left, and now the panel was completely empty.

However, the good news was that the effects granted by 【Fate's Gift】 were still active. It seemed that as long as he returned to this realm, the Roguelike mode would automatically engage.

Ma Lu also received a notification, something akin to a completion summary.

It listed all the blessings he had obtained last time—85 in total: 71 white blessings, 13 blue blessings, and 1 purple blessing.

These blessings were then converted into corresponding points. The white blessings were worth the least, with only 1 point each; the blue blessings were worth 10 points each; and the purple blessing was the most valuable, worth 100 points.

Adding them all up gave Ma Lu a final score of 301 for the last session.

After the score calculation, a new feature was unlocked—the Curio Shop.

The Curio Shop listed six Curios each period, which could be purchased with points.

Unlike blessings, Curios were not reset and could remain in effect indefinitely. For example, Ma Lu had just spent 300 points to purchase a Curio called 【Sticky Web】.

(Translator's Note: This is looking more like a certain gacha game I play…)

Its effect was straightforward: it allowed him to retrieve one blessing from the previous session that had been reset (limited to purple or lower quality).

Without hesitation, Ma Lu retrieved the only purple blessing from the last session.

【My Companions Are Few: The fewer members in the team, the higher the attribute bonuses for each individual member. Strength, speed, stamina, and reflexes increase by 50%. For each additional person, the effect decreases by 10%. If there are more than five members, the blessing becomes ineffective】.

Currently, Ma Lu was the only one in the team, so he could enjoy the full bonus. This made the two suns overhead feel less scorching.

Ma Lu then activated detection mode and began searching for his old friend, the Flame Gecko.

Even the smallest prey was still meat, and besides meat, there were extra blessings to be gained.

Ma Lu didn’t have to wait long; about twenty minutes later, he saw a motorcycle approaching and eventually stopping right in front of him.

The rider pulled down his face covering, revealing none other than Bocchi.

“You don’t even have a vehicle. How do you get around in this desert?”

“It’s a long story,” Ma Lu said. “You can think of it as one of my abilities, but I can’t just go wherever I want. If you didn’t come to pick me up, I’d still be here baking under the sun.”

Bocchi frowned but didn’t press further. He took a package from the motorcycle and handed it to Ma Lu.

Ma Lu opened the package to find the hunting outfit he had worn before. Underneath the outfit was a document.

“Didn’t you say you wanted to start a new hunting group with me? But after our last hunt, you disappeared, so I had to register at the guild alone,” Bocchi said. “I’ve completed most of the formalities; all that’s left is your signature.”

Ma Lu quickly glanced through the document, signed his name on the last page, and eagerly began changing into his hunting outfit.

Bocchi immediately turned his back.

“We’re both men; is there really any need to be so nervous?” Ma Lu said as he changed.

Bocchi pursed his lips, not saying anything, but after Ma Lu finished changing, he handed him a brooch.

“This is your hunting group's insignia. I’m giving it to you in advance.”

Ma Lu took the brooch and found it to be a copper flower. He recalled that the document from earlier mentioned that the new hunting group was named Double Sunflower.

“If you’re not satisfied with the name, you can change it when we get back to The Giant Screen.”

“No, Double Sunflower is fine.” Ma Lu pinned the brooch to his chest, then extended his hand, “Come on, join the team.”

This time, Bocchi didn’t hesitate and firmly grasped Ma Lu’s hand.

With the addition of another team member, the basic attribute bonuses for both of them changed to 40%.

Bocchi felt an extraordinary surge of power course through his body, easily breaking past his usual limits.

Even though it wasn’t his first time experiencing this feeling, it still left him amazed.

“There are Horn-Bellied Black Speed Snakes, Jumping Mice, and Short-Eared Link Hedgehogs nearby.” Ma Lu pointed in two directions, both of which he had scanned earlier.

The Horn-Bellied Black Speed Snake and Jumping Mouse were both one-star ingredients he’d seen before, but the Short-Eared Link Hedgehog was a new find, comparable to the Two-Headed Jackal and also a two-star ingredient.

When Ma Lu first detected it, he was startled, but the Short-Eared Link Hedgehog wasn’t as aggressive as the Two-Headed Jackal.

Even as Ma Lu left the area, he hadn’t encountered any attacks.

Bocchi’s eyes lit up at the mention. “A Short-Eared Link Hedgehog? That’s a rare find. One can sell for 200 energy units in the market, and if it’s alive, it can go for 280, but it requires special capture tools.”

While speaking, Bocchi rummaged through the storage box under his bike seat and finally pulled out a slender steel tube, resembling a blowgun used by Native Americans but with an electric air compressor attached to the end.

Bocchi loaded a tranquilizer dart into the steel tube and cautiously headed in the direction of the Short-Eared Link Hedgehog.

This equipment was new, purchased with the money earned from their last hunt, and it was already proving useful.

“The Short-Eared Link Hedgehog is gentle by nature and rarely initiates attacks. However, if it senses danger, it quickly curls into a ball and shoots its quills.

“Don’t underestimate those quills; they can easily pierce through 2mm steel plates. And the Short-Eared Link Hedgehog usually doesn’t shoot just one quill—there are at least a dozen, so if you face it head-on and aren’t quick enough, you could easily get hit.”

Bocchi whispered to Ma Lu, explaining. He didn’t know where this mysterious guy had come from, but it was obvious that Ma Lu hadn’t attended any hunter school and knew little about the desert and the creatures living there.

In the past, it wouldn’t have mattered, but now Ma Lu was a registered hunter and the vice-captain of the Double Sunflower Hunting Group. He needed to know these basics.

Initially, Bocchi worried that Ma Lu wouldn’t have the patience for this.

Generally, those with strong Psychic Ability tend to be less interested in rote memorization of tedious facts.

After all, large hunting groups often work in teams, with designated commanders who direct the actions, while the rest simply follow orders and fight.

Fortunately, Ma Lu showed no signs of impatience. He listened attentively and even asked questions from time to time.

The two of them soon located the Short-Eared Link Hedgehog, approaching the target from the downwind side, keeping low and lying on the sand.

Bocchi aimed the slender metal tube and, as soon as the wind paused, fired the tranquilizer dart inside!

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