Sophie weighed the coins in her hand and breathed a sigh of relief after confirming she hadn't drawn any unwanted attention from the people around her.
Her Charisma was simply too toxic; anyone who didn't already have a favorable impression of her would have to pass a Sanity check just to look at her face.
However, there was an unexpected surprise from the experience just now.
She shifted her gaze to the system logs that had just popped up.
【Log: You have completed the achievement [First Trade]. You have gained 2 Free Attribute Points.】
【Log: Due to your unique insight into the causal relationship between physical brain trauma and memory extraction, you have learned the new skill [Great Memory Erasure Technique]. Would you like to spend 1 attribute point to learn it?】
Learn it.
Sophie gave the mental command.
【Great Memory Erasure Technique (Inverted) Lv.1: When performing a non-lethal weapon attack, you have a 10% chance to cause the target to recall a memory.】
〈“A well-placed blow from a blunt instrument can not only make someone see stars but occasionally awaken sleeping brain cells as well.”〉
What a useless skill.
The 10% chance to make someone forget before the inversion might have been useful, but what good was restoring memories?
Was she supposed to go around doing charity work for amnesiacs?
Sophie curled her lip.
There was no concept of levels in Red Moon. One of the main ways for players to grow stronger was by using attribute points gained from completing quests or achievements to increase stats and learn skills.
As a next-gen masterpiece, skills in Red Moon weren't fixed; they were acquired through adventuring experiences. Aside from special skills that were learned automatically, most skills required Free Attribute Points to learn.
Of course, players could also actively grind for specific skills.
For instance, if someone kept stealing plates, they might eventually unlock a skill like [Theft Master].
Or if a vampire player kept basking in the sun, they might eventually unlock a skill like [Vampire Weakness Overcoming].
Although she currently needed many skills, her base attributes were too weak to meet the requirements for most of them.
If only she could get her hands on some high-tier equipment like the “Ogre Power Gauntlets: Your Strength becomes 19 while wearing these gauntlets.”
She needed to boost her attributes.
Should she look for a high-end magic item shop? Or would it be faster to craft something herself?
Sophie planned her route as she walked.
She eventually stopped in front of a tailor shop.
Before worrying about the future, the primary issue she had to resolve was her current outfit.
Beneath her oversized grayish-brown linen cloak, she was still wearing the prison garb she had brought from the dungeon, which was stained with dark red, dried blood.
It was quite provocative, but she didn't need that kind of provocation right now.
Ideally, she wanted a better mask—one that wouldn't look strange to wear in public.
Sophie pushed open the wide wooden doors, which were large enough for two cows to walk through side-by-side, and was greeted by the scent of lavender incense.
“Welcome—”
The proprietress sitting behind the wide counter looked up, her scissors having just snipped a thread. She was a plump, middle-aged woman whose brow furrowed immediately upon seeing Sophie enter.
The reason was simple: Sophie had walked in alone.
In Solitude, while acting alone during the day wasn't exactly illegal, it definitely invited heavy suspicion.
A person not being led by a rope or a leather belt was either an unlucky soul who had just lost their companion or a degenerate with malicious intent.
The proprietress's sharp gaze swept over Sophie's crude wooden mask, which covered most of her face, and her tattered cloak.
“Are you looking for Companion Attire for nighttime use, dear? Why didn't your Night Companion come in with you to be measured?” The proprietress inconspicuously reached for a brass bell beneath the counter.
“She went to save the world,” Sophie replied with a hint of petty resentment.
“I don't need Companion Attire. Just give me a set of ordinary women's clothing. Inner layers, a skirt, and boots—the most common styles will do.”
“I have money.” Sophie made sure to show the Silver Moon in her hand.
“Individual garments?” The proprietress looked at the matching sets in her shop. If she broke them up, they would be hard to sell.
“There are some older styles from the southern caravans on the back racks. You can look for yourself.”
Sophie walked to the back and began picking through the items.
Her Strength was too low. Any slightly heavy chainmail or studded leather armor would be like a mountain to her, far exceeding her carrying capacity, so she could only wear lightweight clothing.
Ultimately, she chose a dark blue skirt paired with a pure white, waist-cinching silk blouse and a pair of soft deerhide boots.
“These will do.” Sophie placed three Silver Moons on the counter.
“The dressing room is over there. Help yourself.” The proprietress’s tone softened slightly after receiving the money.
The dressing room here was also absurdly large, even featuring a bed.
Sophie pulled the heavy velvet curtain shut and stood before the polished brass full-length mirror in the center.
She pulled off the ridiculous wooden mask and tossed it aside.
Next, she untied her cloak and stripped off the foul-smelling prison clothes.
Subconsciously, Sophie stored the garment in her player inventory.
【Item: Sophie's Prison Garb | Prison clothes carrying Sophie's scent. Can be given as a gift or sold for a high price.】
Sophie: “...”
Who would buy this stuff?
Her snow-white skin was exposed to the dim air.
Standing before the brass mirror, this was the first time since her reincarnation that Sophie had such a direct and comprehensive look at this vampire body.
With silver hair cascading down like a waterfall to her waist and skin so fair and delicate it looked like it could bruise at a touch, the girl in the mirror possessed a breathtaking beauty that made it impossible to look away.
Sophie looked down.
She couldn't see her own feet.
Her stats were truly something else.
She easily crushed the Hero girl in this department.
A total win!
However, the accumulated fat seemed like it might hinder her sword-drawing speed in battle.
Sophie practiced a few dodging movements and found it was indeed somewhat inconvenient.
“Quite a burden.”
Sophie sighed and began wrapping a white cloth around her chest, layer after layer.
Maybe she should have used a Succubus template? That way, she could have gained the [Less is More] skill where defense increases the less you wear.
But the materials needed for a Succubus... were a bit disgusting.
After finishing the chest binding, Sophie began putting on the silk blouse.
This was her first time wearing women's clothing.
What was with this inexplicable sense of excitement?
The fabric felt smooth against her skin, but then the problems started.
“Why are there so many straps?”
Sophie clumsily studied the ties on the side of the skirt.
“Why tie so many straps around the waist? Is it to give someone more time to struggle during a forced encounter?”
“And these boots... they don't even have a pull tab. Do I just have to force my feet in?”
“Why do the inner ties have to go through so many holes? This doesn't even make sense topologically!”
“Good thing beautiful girls don't need to use the bathroom, otherwise I can't imagine how much of a hassle it would be.”
In the end, Sophie simply shoved the clothes into her inventory and clicked the “Equip” button.
She put her mask back on and walked out with a expressionless face.
Rate on N.U.
