Chapter One-Hundred and Twenty-Three: Finding the Thing, I mean Crafter I’m looking for.


    <span style="font-weight:400">The day progressed with Drake going back and forth between the challengers, each one defeating him handily for hours until the forms and strikes were beaten into him, allowing him to slowly improve.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Eventually they would break at meal times not because Drake was particrly hungry, but because there were two certain bottomless pits,parable to the abyss that would not allow him to continue.


    <span style="font-weight:400">At lunch during the first break, he had invited the people who had participated to join him so long as they provided some food.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Most of them declined and opted to just eat their meals near the camp waiting for them to resume so they may get back to it as soon as he was ready. All of them eager to resume venting their frustrations on Drake. Not to mention they enjoyed having the old-world challenge of fighting like regr people once more.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Drake and his group began cooking and the aroma suddenly attracted the nearby people that had earlier declined. The smell of the food was all too enticing for them as they ate their jerky and essentially prison rations of poorly made soup, bread, or whatever else was being served in the camp.


    <span style="font-weight:400">This wasn’t to say no one was cooking good food inside Shigure’s camp, but it was a luxury, meaning it was also expensive to purchase. And Drake was offering to cook only if you provided the food.


    <span style="font-weight:400">He and his group quickly finished eating, sharing some time going over what he had missed during his hours of sparring. Once they finished their small talk he once again got back to the grindstone, but he needed to up the difficulty.


    <span style="font-weight:400">During their session before dinner, Drake began using magic. Not to use against his opponents, but to simply train his multitasking and skills. He cursed when he realized he couldn’t use certain skills due to them giving him a clear advantage if he did, but he quickly found a workaround.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Having several people stay within eyesight and rtive earshot, Drake was able to further push his abilities and multitasking, using his Aura of Command for his opponents and the party members when it was avable.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Drake was also somehow able to convince some bystanders to let him use his ocr skills on them. Eventually, Bjorn jumped in and asked for him to train using him as the target. Bjorn wanting to train his own skills by resisting the skill.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Progress was slow but without a doubt getting there even on the first day. Drake was able to finally start progressing on the skills he had been sorelycking due to time and inability to utilize.


    <span style="font-weight:400">This again continued until dinner. Where he was interrupted by a cranky Sherry andining Natto. Both whined incessantly about how he was not paying attention to their food dilemma. That dilemma being that there wasn’t constant food being prepared for them.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Dinner was a bigger event this time around, as now all of the people who had declined before happily brought ingredients, wanting to have a good warm meal for dinner.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Drake and his party prepared the meals for everyone. They honestly felt slightly nostalgic having to cook for more people after weeks of having to cook for hundreds. They chatted andughed while serving the food reminiscing about how just a few days ago they would spend their time doing the same thing but for several times the amount.


    <span style="font-weight:400">The meal progressed normally but Drake didn’t fail to notice some prating gazesing from the forests as well as Shigure’s outpost. His thoughts turned to how tonight might be more bothersome than thest, or that he might have to make an example out of people tomorrow during their sparring.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Thankfully after dinner and into the night there were no incidents outside of Sherry wandering into his tent grumbling about food, or Chelsea trying to sneak in only to be pulled back by a chastising mother hen named Megan.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Drake was now practicing in his bed, looking at the canvas above him as his hand twirled and melded magic to the side.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“I’m getting pretty good at this, I kinda feel like a Grand Mage at this point….” Drake mused smiling to himself.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Please, you are still only F-Rank, while you are progressing well, do not allow it to go to your head. The higher-ranked pure mage sses will still be able to outperform you in Mana Maniption for the time being. We must remember that your skills, while strong, are still meant for general use. Hopefully, we are able to get an Epic Sub-tree stone from this wretched Goblin’s hoard or we will be forced to wait until the tutorial shop,” Natto exined from the bed at his side, her eyes still closed as she breathed softly.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“It would be nice not having to spend everything on just stones at the end. But I’m curious what else is in the store… I don’t particrly need anything desperately outside of stones, but it’s always nice to have shiny new equipment,” Drake thought aloud, his wanting to upgrade equipmenting through.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Drake may not be ying games any more thanks to the tutorial, but his habit of wanting the next big upgrade for the nice pretty high damage numbers was ever-present.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“There are several categories within the shop. Cultivation Pills, like the ones that you used for increasing your stats. There is certainly exquisite equipment to be found I am sure, since we have all but decided this tutorial is sponsored by the Dragons of the multiverse. There are also essories, skill stones, maps, quests, system sanctioned buildings. You will most likely even find other constructs such as myself there,” Natto said, pausing a bit.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Hmm…. that’s quite the selection, but I think I’ll pass on the other constructs,” Drake said, taking her pause as a hint for her nervous insecurity, “I only need one pesky little glutton by my side right now,” he smiled.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“What do you mean pesky?!” Natto huffed, “And what is ‘only now’ supposed to mean might I ask!” she continued to jab in faux offense, raising her hands into the air, but stillying down with her eyes closed.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Drake chuckled letting the back and forth die. He continued to look upward, training his spells as he thought about the day, going over the fights he had had trying to fix his mistakes in his head one after the other.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Throughout the night this continued. Drake gave himself no rest as he diligently increased his skills until morning.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Finally, the light began to pierce through the canvas bit by bit as the sun outside rose. Giving Drake a passing thought.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“I wonder exactly where we are. I thought about it before, but there aren’t any stars but we have a sun. Is the sun fake? Natto mentioned it before… but I wish I had some way to confirm it,” he asked aloud.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Drake looked over surprised that he didn’t hear a reply from Natto, only to see her snoring sound asleep, her mouth slightly open and a line of drooling from her mouth.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“I don’t know what is more surprising, her drooling like an old man after a drunk night out, or her actually needing sleep. She’s usually awake and asking for food by now, not to mention she’s a construct…” he chuckled, rising from his bed.


    <span style="font-weight:400">He quietly stepped out of the tent stretching as he did, the morning light and dew reminding him of his father''s home out far from the city.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Man, I really miss this type of scenery in the morning. Only thing missing are singing birds,”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“You called?” Bjorn said, pping Drake on the shoulder, a big grin on his face.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“What the fuck kind of bird would you be? And I asked for singing, not ear-shattering chalkboard scratching,” Drakeughed back, pretending his back was not stinging.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Bjorn gasped in faux offense.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“I used to be the best singer atpany karaoke,” Bjorn said, his face filled with confidence.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Bjorn,” Drakeughed, “You were the CEO of yourpany at apany event,” Drake said, his eyebrow raised.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Bjorn’s confidence deted quickly as he got the message but still asked.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Yeah so what bro?”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“You don’t think they just said you were good because they were afraid to get fired?” Drakeughed again, beginning to step out behind his tent, summoning a ball of water as he did.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“What are you trying to say? I’m a bad singer? And do you really see me as someone who would fire an employee over saying that?”


    <span style="font-weight:400">Drake pursed his lips, taking a minute to reply.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Drake, bro, really?” Bjorn said.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“I’m kidding, no I don’t take you as a tyrannical corporate leader from a techpany in California,” Drake said, making sure his voice was as sarcastic as possible.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“That one stung man, I’m a good singer,” Bjorn said defensively.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Wait, you''re not going to say you wouldn’t fire people for that? But instead of getting mad about me insulting your vocal expertise?” Drake asked aghast.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Bjorn shrugged.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Drake shook his head, not sure if he shouldugh or sigh at the man admitting to being a terror at the office.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Out of view of most of the camp behind his tent, Drake ced a majority of his belongings into his inventory, spilling the lukewarm water over himself.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Ahhh! I’ve said it before, I’ll say it again. My kingdom for a bar of soap…” Drake sighed.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Here,” Bjorn said offering up just that.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“What?! Where did you get it?” Drake eximed.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Guy inside makes it, they have a good amount of craftsmen in the camp ya know?” Bjorn said nonchntly.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Why didn’t you tell me this shit sooner man?!” Drake yelled as he dripped from head to toe.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“I unno,” Bjorn said, shrugging once more, a grin on his face, “Also you should cover up bro, there''s some wandering eyes,” Bjorn said, pointing with his chin.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Drake was already aware from his Aura sense but decided to joke around.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Ahhh! Perverts!” he screamed in fake embarrassment, as he quickly summoned his robe to cover himself, recoiling in disgust.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“W-what?! I was just looking since I was passing by!” Megan shouted, peeking out from behind the tent, “Besides…. I’ve already seen it all…” she mumbled, surprisingly blushing.


    <em><span style="font-weight:400">Fuck is it another one? Damn it’s hard being me sometimes.</em><span style="font-weight:400"> Drakeughed to himself jokingly.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“I know I’m only kidding. Do you need anything Megan or are you just hungry like the rest of the vultures?” Drake asked, blow-drying himself with his magic.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“I.. um, I wanted to ask if I was able to join your sparring sessions?” she asked pensively, “After everything I realized I’m not able to really defend myself as a healer but also just in general I feel very vulnerable. So I thought learning a bit might help.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">Drake mulled it over briefly, looking to Bjorn behind him who shrugged with his eyes.


    <em><span style="font-weight:400">He’s so very very helpful….</em><span style="font-weight:400"> Drake sighed internally.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“I don’t see why not, just make sure to not overdo it, and don’t let people know what ss you are,” Drake reminded.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Why’s that?” she asked back.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Because I don’t want anyone getting any ideas about taking advantage of you or any of our other support sses. Your stats and skills are oriented for nonbat support just like ire and Amir. So you wouldn’tst long in a fight, but sparring I don’t see it being a problem. But if they know you are a vulnerable ss, I don’t know what they would do and frankly based on what''s been going on I don’t trust most of them. So let’s just say I want to cover all my bases and stay on the safe side. Don’t want to have to save you three times in one tutorial after all,” Drake exined smiling.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Megan silently nodded before adding to her question.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Also most of the others in the group were talking about joining. A lot of us were watching and feeling like we weren’t doing enough, so I’ll ry the message if that’s alright?” Megan asked.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Yeah, that would be very helpful, thank you. Wow, look at you, being part of the team already after one day!” Drake said sarcastically.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Megan braced a bit from the jab but nodded all the same, and went back in the other direction towards her own tent.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Drake raised his brows, honestly surprised that she didn''t snap back at him.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Is it just me or are all the women that hated me starting to… naw, couldn’t be. This isn’t some romance novel or anime….” Drake mumbled.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Brother,” Bjorn chuckled, “You are in for some trouble in the future. I can already tell.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">Drakeughed wryly, “I don’t know what you’re talking about. I’m just a naive innocent young man. Just looking at the opposite sex makes me feel all itchy.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">Bjorn shook his head, then changed the conversation, not wanting to be kept in Drake’s pace any longer.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“So you seemed interested in those craftsmen, any reason for that?”


    <span style="font-weight:400">Drake paused and remembered one of his major goals he hadn’t been able to really voice.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Yeah. I needed someone who can make essories, specifically jewelry if possible, rings would be perfect,” Drake exined.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Oh? Trying to fill out your professions while you’re here?” Bjorn asked.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Yup, exactly. I’m thinking of making a status concealment item. I’ve seen it enough times with the PKers but I haven’t been able to get my hands on the item itself…” Drake sighed, digressing, “So I want to make one myself if the profession will allow me, not to mention with my item sets and fighting style, explosive stat switching is a must. And I need to snag some different stat multipliers if I want to continue that.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Hmm. I think I know a guy. Well, thing. Actually, yeah, guy works,” Bjorn smiled.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Drake gave a questioning re.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Am I not going to like this?”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Don’t worry about it, bro. Long as you don’t look him in the face, it will be fine. Probably,” Bjornughed, pping Drake’s naked back.