《Hidden Class: Handyman [Crafting, Coming of Age, Slice of Life LitRPG] - BOOK 1 STUBBED》 Prologue Jack glanced over his shoulder, ensuring his supervisor was nowhere in sight. His heart raced, his palms clammy as he pulled out his phone and hit record. ¡°Yo, tubers! This is Jack of Spades. What¡¯s up? I¡¯m about to show you how to quit your job like a boss. Watch this!¡± He grabbed the gooseneck mic at the register and switched it on. ¡°One, two, one, two. Is this thing on?¡± The store¡¯s hum quieted. Customers stopped mid-shopping, their carts stalling in the aisles. Jack cleared his throat. ¡°Hey, folks. My name is Jack, and this is my last day working at Cheap Mart. Every single minute working in this joint has been hell. We¡¯re all underpaid and overworked, and corporate treats us like animals. I QUIT!¡± The speakers shrieked, and a few customers winced, covering their ears. Turning back to the camera, he delivered his grand finale. ¡°Don¡¯t forget to like and subscribe. Share this epic moment with everyone you know. This is Jack of Spades, signing off. Peace!¡± He turned the camera off and, taking off Cheap Mart¡¯s forest green vest, dropped it on the floor next to his register. Stanley, one of his co-workers, flashed him a thumbs-up. ¡°Hey, Jack! Killer speech!¡± ¡°Thanks, man! Make sure you check out the video later,¡± Jack replied, barely pausing to acknowledge the compliment. He was riding high, ignoring the stares from the other employees and customers. His heart pounded¡ªpart nerves, part adrenaline. He needed to get out before anyone could call security. The last thing he needed was to get dragged out of here like some kid causing trouble. Once outside, he breathed a sigh of relief. Freedom. Finally. He wouldn¡¯t miss this place. It sucked the life out of its workers. The last thing he wanted was to end up like his colleague Stanley¡ªin his mid-thirties, stuck in retail. Jack was meant for more. He wasn¡¯t going to waste his life away like that. He pulled out his phone and rewatched the video. Everything looked perfect, right down to the dramatic exit. If this didn''t help his channel finally take off, he didn''t know what would. He hit upload, imagining the views and comments pouring in. Hopefully, the channel would finally blow up and attract sponsors and he would never need a crappy job again. Checking the time, he realized he could surprise Lydia during her lunch break if he hurried. Jack picked up the pace, heading across the parking lot toward the bus stop. Spotting the hover bus approaching, he broke into a jog. Even though it was a short distance, he still ran out of breath. I really need to work out, he thought. If only his dad had bought him that hoverbike like he¡¯d asked. But no. His dad always told him to figure things out independently as if he were supposed to be learning some big life lesson. The only thing he had learned so far was that buying a hoverbike with the terrible pay he got from these dead-end jobs was impossible. He signaled the bus, and the driver coasted over. On the side of the bus, an ad for a new video game was playing. A hero in shiny armor faced a dinosaur. The giant beast tried stomping the hero, but he brandished his sword, sending it flying. Buy your new VRX Helmet now and receive a 20% discount on your New Earth monthly subscription. There were ads like this everywhere these days. He would have purchased a VRX helmet if he could, but those things weren¡¯t cheap. He had asked his father for one, but he kept giving him the same answer, the one he also used for the hoverbike: Jack had to buy it himself. He stared at the screen as the family in the ad shared a group hug, all wearing VRX helmets and smiling happily. Jack shook his head. If only real life were that easy. The bus was nearly empty, just a couple of people on their way to work. He should¡¯ve been at work too, but now... now he was free. Thank goodness it was over. He let the air conditioning cool him, content that he had regained control of his life. As the bus neared Lydia¡¯s workplace, he stood and signaled for the stop. His gaze flicked to another VRX helmet ad flashing on a screen in the bus, but he ignored it and hopped off. Lydia¡¯s cafe had large, inviting windows and an outdoor seating area on the sidewalk, furnished with iron tables and chairs for patrons to enjoy their coffee and fresh air. Seeing his girlfriend, Jack felt his pulse quicken. She looked great as always¡ªhair tied into a neat ponytail, with a few stray strands framing her face. Her blue eyes matched her apron, and she was busy taking an order from an elderly couple. He waved at her, and she glanced up, her eyes widening in surprise. She returned to the couple, finishing their order before excusing herself and approaching him. ¡°Hey, beautiful!¡± Jack greeted her. ¡°Jack? What are you doing here?¡± Lydia whispered sharply. ¡°Aren¡¯t you supposed to be at work?¡±Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site. Her reaction caught Jack off guard. He¡¯d expected more excitement from her. ¡°I quit,¡± he announced, trying to sound triumphant. Lydia¡¯s face fell. ¡°You quit? Jack, seriously?¡± ¡°Come on, Lydia. You know I hated that place. Besides, I made an awesome video of it! It¡¯s gonna be huge. This could be the break I¡¯ve been waiting for¡ªwanna see it?¡± Lydia bit her lip and looked away. Jack¡¯s excitement faltered, but he pressed on. ¡°You¡¯re on your lunch break, right? Let¡¯s go grab a bite or something.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t. We¡¯re short-staffed today, so I¡¯m helping out my boss.¡± ¡°Blow her off,¡± Jack said dismissively. ¡°It¡¯s not like she pays you overtime. Let¡¯s just ditch this place for the afternoon.¡± ¡°You can¡¯t be serious, Jack. I can¡¯t just leave in the middle of my shift! It doesn¡¯t work that way. I need to notify my boss well in advance before I take time off.¡± ¡°Come on, babe,¡± he said, pulling her close. ¡°I came all the way here to surprise you. Are you just going to turn me down like that?¡± Lydia shook her head. ¡°No, Jack. I can¡¯t do that to Mrs. Jill.¡± ¡°Come on. You were supposed to be on your lunch break.¡± ¡°I really can¡¯t, Jack.¡± ¡°Pfft. I can''t believe it. Your boss is the worst!¡± ¡°Jack, don¡¯t say that. Mrs. Jill¡¯s been nothing but good to me.¡± ¡°Good to you? She¡¯s got you working extra hours instead of letting you take your rightful break. How is that good?¡± Jack¡¯s voice became more pointed. ¡°Where is she? I¡¯ll talk to her. She can¡¯t take your breaks away from you like this. You deserve time to rest!¡± Lydia frowned, glancing between him and the cafe. After a moment, she let out a deep sigh. ¡°You know what? We need to talk. Wait here.¡± For a moment, Jack thought she might be mad, but when he saw her approach her manager and gesture toward him, he relaxed. Maybe she was just asking for her break. He watched as Lydia talked to Mrs. Jill, who nodded, and Jack felt a surge of satisfaction when Lydia took off her apron and left the cafe. ¡°Awesome! So, where do you wanna go? My treat.¡± Jack offered. Lydia didn¡¯t return the smile. ¡°There¡¯s a bench over there. Let¡¯s sit and talk for a moment.¡± Jack blinked. ¡°Uh, okay.¡± He couldn¡¯t shake the feeling something was off. Lydia hadn¡¯t smiled once since he got there. They walked to a nearby bench under an oak tree. Jack brushed off some debris before they sat down. ¡°Thanks,¡± Lydia muttered. ¡°What¡¯s up with you today?¡± Jack asked. ¡°You look so serious.¡± Lydia let out a long breath, and when she finally spoke, her voice was softer. ¡°Jack, I love you.¡± Jack felt a small rush of relief. Hearing her say it always made his heart skip a beat. ¡°I love you too.¡± She smiled, but it was a sad smile that twisted something in Jack¡¯s stomach. ¡°We¡¯ve talked about the future before, haven¡¯t we? You know how much I want to get married, settle down, and start a family.¡± Jack shifted uncomfortably. ¡°Is this about me not proposing yet? You know I want to marry you, too. I just... haven¡¯t caught my break yet. But this video could change things!¡± Lydia bit her lip so hard it turned white. Jack felt a sinking feeling in his chest. Something wasn¡¯t right. ¡°Jack, you¡¯re funny, smart, romantic, and sweet, but... I need someone I can rely on. Someone responsible.¡± Her voice wavered, and she cleared her throat. ¡°I¡¯ve tried to be patient. I¡¯ve given you so many chances. But I don¡¯t think you¡¯re that person.¡± A tear rolled down her face. Her words cut through him like a knife. ¡°Lydia, what are you saying?¡± ¡°You can¡¯t hold a job, Jack.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not my fault!¡± Jack shot back, his voice rising. ¡°You know how tough it is out there. These corporations work us like slaves and pay us nothing. I¡¯m trying!¡± ¡°No, Jack. You¡¯re not,¡± Lydia said, her voice firm but calm. ¡°You show up late, fool around, and keep arguing with your employers. You were ready just a few minutes earlier to get into a fight with Mrs. Jill! If you were your own boss, would you keep an employee like that?¡± Jack opened his mouth to argue, but her sad eyes stopped him cold. He clenched his fists in his lap, staring at the ground. ¡°Was it really that difficult at Cheap Mart? Just now, you said you quit because you wanted views on your stupid videos! Which one is it? Did you quit because it was hard? Or was it just a silly way of trying to make easy money online?¡± Lydia¡¯s volume grew as the conversation escalated, drawing the judgmental looks of passersby. Jack¡¯s head hung lower. He couldn¡¯t meet her eyes. ¡°For goodness sake, Jack,¡± she said, her voice trembling. ¡°You¡¯re twenty-five, but sometimes... you act like a kid.¡± Jack¡¯s face flushed with anger and fear. ¡°And you think all of this is fair? You want to call off our future because I quit some dead-end job?¡± ¡°You just don¡¯t see it,¡± she said, throwing her hands up in the air. ¡°It¡¯s not your work situation. It¡¯s your attitude.¡± Jack blinked. ¡°My attitude?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not just how you keep quitting jobs. You aren¡¯t even trying to find your place! You just keep borrowing money from your mom and mooching off your dad. What if we get married? Is that how you¡¯ll treat me?¡± Her words hit him hard. Jack tried to argue, but fear had crushed his voice. Lydia was serious. ¡°I love you,¡± he blurted out, desperate. Lydia shook her head, her expression full of regret. ¡°You say you love me, Jack, but those are just words. Do you have a plan? Do you even know when you¡¯re going to get your own place? Or when we¡¯ll actually get married?¡± Jack¡¯s heart sank further with every word. She was right. He hadn¡¯t thought about any of that. ¡°Tell me, Jack. Be honest.¡± Something about her tone told him this would be the question that would make or break things. ¡°Did you think about me when you quit your job?¡± ¡°I-.¡± Jack looked down, ashamed. He hadn¡¯t. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Jack. I wish it didn¡¯t go this way, but we need to stop seeing each other,¡± she stood up and walked away. Jack tried standing up and following her. He told himself to run and kneel before her and promise her he would change and be the man she needed. He tried but couldn¡¯t. Her words had cut deep because, deep down, he knew they were true. Ch. 1 - Rough Day When Jack reached his house, he couldn¡¯t remember how he''d gotten there. While his mind struggled to process the shock of his breakup, his legs had worked on autopilot, bringing him back home. Each of Lydia¡¯s remarks echoed in his head, torturing him, suffocating him. Were they really not together anymore? Was he that immature? He trudged toward the door, and the motion sensor turned on the front door lights, making it easier to find his keys. ¡°I¡¯m home,¡± he muttered as he entered. Hushed voices were coming from the kitchen. What was going on? Why wasn¡¯t anyone answering? ¡°Hello? Mom? Dad?¡± he called as he headed toward them. The closer he got, the clearer the voices became. They were speaking in Portuguese. Even though they had immigrated more than three decades ago, his parents still spoke their native tongue to each other. Jack had avoided speaking it himself because his cousins made fun of his accent, but he understood it perfectly. "Do you blame him? That producer broke his heart." ¡°That was two years ago! We can''t keep excusing his behavior because of one disappointment. I need you to back me up on this,¡± his father said. ¡°But, honey. Things are different from when we were young,¡± his mother replied, sitting down with flushed cheeks, probably from cooking. ¡°I don¡¯t want to put him through what we suffered. Wasn¡¯t that why we came here? To give him a better life? If we''re patient, all will fall into place.¡± ¡°Hey,¡± Jack greeted. ¡°Is everything OK?¡± Both turned toward him. His mom looked down, and his father stood up, eyes blazing. Jack knew that look. He was in trouble. His father, a short man who barely reached Jack''s chest, wore brown overalls and had tanned skin from working under the sun. His dark skin accentuated the hard lines and wrinkles on his face. Even though his English was clear, his Portuguese accent was still strong. ¡°You can explain this?¡± ¡°Yo, tubers! This is Jack of Spades. What¡¯s up? I¡¯m about to show you how to quit your job like a boss. Watch this!¡± Jack had completely forgotten about the video and hadn¡¯t even checked its performance. The video brought back the painful memory of his conversation with Lydia. After several hours online, it only had 18 views, reinforcing Lydia¡¯s accusations. Seeing his father playing the video and glaring at him, Jack knew where some of those views had come from. He felt he was on trial, with his father as the prosecutor. Lydia was the first witness, and now he was being shown exhibit A, the sorry video he had posted earlier today. What had seemed like an epic moment at Cheap Mart now looked like childish bravado. Finally, the video ended. His father waited silently. Jack knew the routine. His father would keep staring until he said something. ¡°I was going to tell you I quit, Dad, but you didn¡¯t even give me a chance.¡± ¡°Son! This has to stop. What I tell you? Never close a door. Always leave with style. Why you don''t listen to me?¡± His father wasn¡¯t shouting or angry; he was sad and disappointed, which was worse. ¡°When you told your mom you wanted to drop out of college to try your music thing, I didn¡¯t agree, but I supported you. Then you moped for weeks on end. Sitting around and watching TV.¡± ¡°Not this again,¡± Jack muttered under his breath. ¡°Jos¨¦¡­¡± his mother began, but his father continued, ignoring both. ¡°I had to find jobs for you and beg you to go. Then you quit. Then I found more jobs. But you keep quitting. ¡®It¡¯s too gross,¡¯ ¡®they pay too little,¡¯ ¡®it''s not for me.¡¯ How many jobs have I found for you, son? You know?¡± Jack felt the weight of the day crashing down on him. He had never expected to come home to this. ¡°No, Dad.¡± ¡°I do. Thirteen. The longest you lasted was three months. Your record for the shortest time is one day,¡± he said, shaking his head. ¡°I hated my job at Cheap Mart. I couldn¡¯t take it anymore.¡± ¡°You always blame the work and the boss, but the guilty man is in front of me,¡± he countered, pointing at Jack. Jack felt dizzy. This had to be the worst day of his life. ¡°Listen, Dad, I¡¯ve had a long day and need to go to bed. We¡¯ll talk more in the morning, OK?¡± ¡°No! We talk now!¡± his father demanded. "When your mom and I left Portugal and came here, we worked hard. Two jobs, sometimes three. Do you know how we made it? Do you know how we bought this house?¡± ¡°By doing the work no one else wanted to do,¡± Jack recited. ¡°Yes! Dirty work. Hard work. Honest work. Why you don¡¯t want to work? What¡¯s wrong, son? Explain to me.¡± ¡°All these little jobs aren¡¯t for me, Dad. I want to do something great. I want a good job.¡± ¡°Good job? What is a good job?¡±The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. ¡°I don¡¯t know. Something that pays well without requiring all this hard, dirty work. No offense, but you guys are the immigrants, not me. I should be able to do better for myself.¡± His father narrowed his eyes. ¡°Something like this?¡± He shook his phone at Jack. ¡°An internet star?¡± Before today, Jack would have responded confidently, but Lydia¡¯s words had shaken him. ¡°I don¡¯t know. Maybe.¡± His father turned to his mother and said in Portuguese, ¡°See what I was talking about?¡± His mother looked down again, almost as if she were the one on trial. ¡°Listen, Jack. Things are going to change around here.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°From now on, you¡¯ll pay rent.¡± ¡°Dad? Come on.¡± ¡°No! You will pay rent. 500 credits.¡± ¡°What? Dad, wait. I-¡± ¡°It¡¯s reasonable. It helps with the mortgage, utilities, and internet. It¡¯s the least you can do, son. If you don¡¯t want to pay, feel free to find somewhere else to live.¡± ¡°Oh, my goodness. You¡¯re serious.¡± Jack was in shock. ¡°Mom,¡± he said, looking for support, ¡°please, talk to Dad.¡± ¡°Jos¨¦, maybe we can find another way to make your point.¡± ¡°No! He will pay rent, Maria. He only works at all because we¡¯ve stopped giving him money, and I¡¯m always on top of him. We won¡¯t be around forever. He has to learn.¡± ¡°Jos¨¦, come on. We-¡± ¡°Maria, this is for his own good.¡± Turning to Jack, he continued, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, son. We can¡¯t enable you anymore. You have one month from today to pay the first rent.¡± Jack clenched his fists. He turned away and stormed off to his room. As he lay on his bed, he thought about his lousy day. First Lydia, and now Dad too? * Knock, knock. ¡°Come in,¡± Jack called out, glancing at the clock. It was 8:30 pm. He had spent the last few hours lying on his bed, staring blankly at the ceiling. His mother entered the room in her work uniform. ¡°I just wanted to check on you before I leave for work,¡± she said, approaching the bed and sitting down beside him. ¡°How are you holding up?¡± ¡°Rough day,¡± Jack muttered, rubbing his face. His jaw tightened as he thought about his dad¡¯s earlier lecture. ¡°Mom... is Dad serious? About me paying rent?¡± His mother nodded, her expression soft but serious. Jack let out a long breath, frustration gnawing at him. ¡°Can¡¯t you talk to him? I mean, 500 credits is a lot.¡± ¡°I tried, honey, but you know how your father is. Once he makes up his mind, there¡¯s no changing it,¡± she said, giving him a sympathetic smile. After a quick glance toward the door, she lowered her voice. ¡°I can pitch in 100 credits, help ease the load. So you¡¯ll just need to come up with the rest.¡± She gave him a wink, but Jack¡¯s face remained tight. 400 was still more than he could manage. Even after Cheap Mart''s paycheck, with his credit card payments looming, he¡¯d barely have enough left over. ¡°Thanks, Mom.¡± ¡°Anything for my baby,¡± she whispered, kissing his forehead. ¡°I better get to work. Take care of yourself tonight, okay?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± As the door clicked shut behind her, Jack considered what to do. The day''s conversations played on a loop in his head, like a bad movie he couldn''t switch off. He checked his phone¡ª18 views on his Cheap Mart video. It had been stuck there all day. He felt a mix of anger and shame inside him. For a moment, he considered deleting his channel altogether. But he didn''t. What he wanted to delete was this day. Too bad that was impossible. Jack sat up, grabbed his keys, and left his room. He needed to get out and clear his head. * After walking aimlessly for what felt like hours, Jack found himself standing outside Roberto¡¯s building. His legs had apparently gone on auto-pilot again. He knew his cousin wouldn¡¯t be asleep yet¡ªit was only around 10 pm¡ªso he rang the bell and waited. A moment later, the door swung open. ¡°Jack? What¡¯s up?¡± Roberto¡¯s usually neat hair was a mess, and he was wearing sweatpants and a white sleeveless shirt. ¡°Hey, Rob. Mind if I come in?¡± ¡°Sure thing,¡± Roberto said, stepping aside. Jack followed him in and closed the door behind him. Unlike Jack, Roberto was born in sector 3, what used to be called Portugal, Spain, and France. He had immigrated a few years back and found a one-bedroom apartment near Jack¡¯s house. They had the same thick eyebrows, dark Latin eyes, and round faces. Many people who saw them together asked them if they were brothers, but they were, in reality, cousins. ¡°What¡¯s up, cousin?¡± Rob asked as he sat on his sofa. ¡°I was just about to have dinner.¡± Jack smiled, hearing it. Typical Portuguese. Having dinner super late and going to bed almost at midnight. ¡°Are you OK? You look upset.¡± Jack hesitated for a second, then sat down across from him. ¡°Not really. It¡¯s been a rough day.¡± ¡°How come? You looked like you were on top of the world when you quit your job.¡± Jack''s eyes widened, hearing that Rob had seen the video. From those 18 views on his video, how many didn''t belong to his cousin or his dad? ¡°Yeah¡­ that didn¡¯t pan out exactly as I thought.¡± Roberto chuckled. ¡°You¡¯re nuts, man. But that¡¯s why I love you.¡± Jack forced a smile. ¡°Yeah, well, the day kinda spiraled after that. I was out clearing my head and figured I¡¯d drop by since I was nearby.¡± His eyes flicked toward the giant screen covering most of the wall. ¡°New TV?¡± he asked, unable to hide his curiosity. ¡°Yep,¡± Roberto said, grabbing the remote and turning it on. Jack¡¯s jaw dropped as the display came to life. ¡°Oh my goodness, that 3D rendering is insane!¡± Roberto grinned. ¡°It¡¯s pretty sweet, huh?¡± As Jack glanced around the apartment, he noticed more new stuff. There was a sleek, top-of-the-line coffee machine sitting on the counter, which looked even fancier than the ones at Lydia¡¯s caf¨¦. In the kitchen, he spotted a cleaning droid charging in the corner. ¡°You¡¯ve picked up some nice new toys since I was here last.¡± ¡°What can I say? I¡¯ve been doing pretty well lately,¡± Roberto said with a shrug, though the pride in his voice was evident. Jack¡¯s stomach twisted. He hadn¡¯t realized how much he¡¯d been grinding his teeth until now. ¡°Yeah, I can see that,¡± he muttered. Then, before he could stop himself, he added, ¡°I¡¯m jealous.¡± ¡°Construction is hard work, but it pays good money.¡± Jack frowned. ¡°You¡¯re telling me you bought this TV with what you make at the construction site?¡± ¡°Well, I do have a new gig, too.¡± ¡°What¡¯s that? Did you get a second job?¡± asked Jack, secretly hoping that the answer was no. He didn¡¯t need another living case of success to make him feel bad about himself. ¡°Kind of.¡± ¡°What do you mean, kind of?¡± ¡°Have you heard of New Earth?¡± Ch. 2 - New Earth Hearing his cousin talk about ¡®New Earth,'' Jack remembered the ads he¡¯d seen all over town. ¡°New Earth, as in the game?¡± ¡°Yeah. I¡¯ve been playing it every night for the past few months. You can sell in-game items for real-life money. See the TV? Sold a rare gem at an auction online, and BOOM!¡± he shouted, ¡°New TV!¡± ¡°Wait, you¡¯re actually making money from playing the game? That¡¯s pretty wild.¡± ¡°It¡¯s awesome. That way, even when I¡¯m sleeping, I¡¯m making money. You know you can play it while sleeping, right?¡± Jack had read online about how more and more people were making a living through gaming. Auctioning in-game items for IRL money and making gameplay videos and guides was a market that kept growing year after year. ¡°I¡¯d love to try it, but those helmets are crazy expensive.¡± ¡°Yeap. 1000 credits only gets you the worst model.¡± Jack grimaced. That was too much. ¡°However, if you¡¯re short on cash, some companies rent a helmet for 50 credits a week.¡± ¡°Really?¡± ¡°Oh yeah. It''s a big business. If I had the money to invest, I¡¯d open a helmet rental business myself. Lots of people can¡¯t afford to buy helmets, or they want to try the system out first.¡± ¡°What about New Earth? How much does it cost?¡± He remembered that the bus ad mentioned a monthly fee. ¡°It¡¯s 100 credits a month,¡± he answered. ¡°That¡¯s steep. I don¡¯t know if I can swing that at the moment.¡± ¡°I know. And it¡¯s still the most played game right now, which shows you how good it is. They do offer you the first month free if you get a referral from an existing player. I can hook you up if you want.¡± Jack thought about the money he''d receive from Cheap Mart and the rent he had to pay. ¡°How much money do you make on New Earth a month?¡± ¡°Depends. In my worst month, I only got 300 credits. In my best month, which was when I found that rare gem¡­ 900?¡± he said after some thought. ¡°But I only play at night. Some people make much more.¡± Jack thought about his day. He had no choice but to find a way to come up with 400 credits. He got all his jobs through his father¡¯s friends and connections, but that would probably not work this time. When he compared the hassle of sending CVs and going to interviews to lying in bed playing a game, the choice seemed obvious. Sure, it wasn¡¯t guaranteed money, but neither were his job prospects. At least this way, he¡¯d enjoy himself. ¡°I think I¡¯ll want that referral, cous.¡± ¡°You got it!¡± Jack grabbed his phone and checked his balance. Cheap Mart hadn¡¯t paid him yet. ¡°By the way, Rob.¡± ¡°Yeah?¡± "Could I borrow 50 credits? I¡¯ll pay you back next week." * Jack carefully entered the house and removed his shoes. After being scolded by his father earlier today, the last thing he needed was to be told off for being out this late at night. He climbed up the stairs on his tiptoes and gently turned the doorknob of his room, careful not to make it creak. He stepped into his room and shut the door behind him. Relieved to have accomplished his stealth mission, Jack opened the box he''d been carrying. He hesitated as he picked up the VRX helmet. The dents and scratches didn¡¯t inspire much confidence, but the clerk swore it worked fine. The only one available at the store was pink, which was far from Jack''s favorite color. He just hoped that the investment was worth it and that the money-making method that worked so well for his cousin would also work for him. As he put on the helmet, his first impression was how heavy it was. No wonder people played with these while lying in bed; otherwise, they would sprain their necks. He looked for a button on the side of the helmet and, finding it, pressed it. A blue window appeared in front of him. "Wow!" This is your first time wearing this helmet. The system will now synchronize with your nervous system. Please look up. He obeyed. Please look down. He followed each command the machine gave him. He raised his arms one at a time, then his legs. He walked around the room, and finally, the synchronization was complete. He created a username, but the helmet didn¡¯t ask for a password. It would probably scan his retina or something. He could operate the system in the helmet just by willing it. He opened the VRX store and immediately found what he was looking for. The logo for New Earth, with the image from the ads of a warrior in shiny armor battling a dinosaur, was the first thing to appear in the store. He took his phone out of his pocket, checked the message Rob had sent him earlier that night, and read it aloud.Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit. ¡°J-N-R-H-1-2-7-1.¡± We¡¯ve activated the referral code you¡¯ve received from Roberto Sousa. Congratulations! You can play New Earth on trial mode for the next 30 days. The game is now installing. A progress bar started loading. The internet at his parent¡¯s house wasn¡¯t the fastest, but it had a decent download speed. Even so, the game download and installation would last several minutes. He wished the bar would finish loading already, but he decided to use the time and check some things his cousin had told him about earlier. He set the helmet aside and started researching the game. The first thing he checked was the auction site. A series of colorful flashing windows competed for his attention. Seeing some of the prices being asked for in-game items, he couldn¡¯t help but gasp. At the center of the website, there was a picture of a sword. The pommel was made of dark metal, and the blade was green. It seemed to be dripping acid, which sizzled as it fell off the sword and hit the border of the window. ¡°Sword of the Slime King,¡± he read aloud, ¡°2000 credits? What?!¡± This was four months of rent! Five, if his mom¡¯s help turned out to be an every-month thing. He scrolled down and saw many other items sold for equally exorbitant prices. He found a section with gems and remembered his cousin Robert''s story. Sure enough, some gems were for sale at 900 credits and more. Why weren''t people talking more about this? This was a fantastic money-making opportunity. Visiting Roberto was the best thing he could have done today. Maybe this was his ticket out of his predicament. If he could make good money, he could prove to Lydia he was planning for the future and pay his father his cursed rent. He peeked into the helmet and found that the progress bar was still loading. ¡°How to make money on New Earth,¡± he wrote on the search engine, and thousands of results popped up. He scrolled down, looking through the different guides, but quickly lost patience and randomly selected one. New Earth, Money Making Guide I¡¯m DoomBringer, and I¡¯m a level 38 warrior. Today, I¡¯ll tell you how I quit my day job to become a full-time gamer. I used to work at the court as a clerk and hated it there. Then, I found New Earth and discovered that many people bought in-game currency in exchange for real money. As I researched, I discovered a whole economy attached to the game and started to explore and experiment. Three months after I started the game, I quit my job at the court, and I¡¯m the happiest I¡¯ve ever been. ¡°(Yawn) Blah, blah, blah,¡± yammered Jack. He didn''t remember ever feeling this tired. He felt as if he''d taken a beating. Thinking of Lydia and his dad, maybe, in a sense, he had. He forced himself to refocus on the guide, scrolled down, and found a question-and-answer section that summarized the main points. Q: How much money do you make a month? A: These days, I can obtain 4000 credits a month easily. Jack let out a whistle. Now, he was getting somewhere. Q: How do you make money in the game? A: I might disappoint some of you here because I won¡¯t reveal how I make money. If I told you what I do, many of you would try the same method, saturate the market, and force me to find something else to do. Q: OK. But really. How? A: In a nutshell, you have to find your niche. It all boils down to focusing on something that gets you items other people want to buy. Some people focus on hunting, others on exploring, and others on gathering or crafting. Those are all great ways to get good items. Q: Which is best? A: The wealthiest players in the game are all craftsmen. However¡­¡± ¡°(Yawn) We get it. Crafting¡¯s the best.¡± Jack was eager to get the helmet on, go to bed, and start sleeping while playing the game. Hopefully, he would know how to make money in New Earth when he woke up. Ding! The game had finally finished installing. He put on his pajamas, went to bed, and put the helmet on. Synchronization complete. Would you like to start New Earth? [Y/N] ¡°Yes.¡± Warning! While inside the game, all your nervous commands will be intercepted, and you¡¯ll be only able to move your avatar in the game. Make sure you¡¯re in a safe, comfortable environment. Warning! Don¡¯t spend more than 10 hours at a time in full dive. Pause the game frequently to hydrate and stretch. Full dive in 3, 2, 1¡­ The room around Jack disappeared, replaced by never-ending whiteness. ¡°Welcome to New Earth!¡± he heard someone say. It was a masculine, deep voice. Choose your avatar¡¯s name. ¡°JackOfSpades,¡± he said. Error, JackOfSpades has been taken. ¡°What? It¡¯s taken?¡± He deleted spades and, after some thought, wrote something else. Are you sure you want to be called JackOfDiamonds? He was in this game to make money. It seemed appropriate that he changed his tag from spades to diamonds. Today was hopefully the start of a gaming career that would make him rich and allow him to buy all those cool things he had seen at his cousin¡¯s house. More importantly, it would allow him to settle down with Lydia if she was willing to take him back. As he thought of Lydia, all the excitement of buying this helmet withered. Whenever Jack paused for a second, the things Lydia and his dad said crept back in. Sure, maybe they had a point, but he wasn¡¯t about to let himself dwell on that. He didn¡¯t want to think about it¡ªnot now. He had to move forward, had to prove he wasn¡¯t stuck. Please select your appearance. Jack selected the option to randomize his appearance, and the system scrambled his looks. He studied the avatar on the screen and saw his bushy brown eyebrows were intact, but his eyes were now hazel. His hair had become even shorter, and his avatar had become clean-shaven. Satisfied with the result, he finalized the customization, and epic music started playing. ¡°In a world¡­¡± ¡°Skip!¡± he called. Do you want to skip the opening cutscene? [Y/N] "Skip. No time for cutscenes when there¡¯s money to be made," Jack muttered, even though he knew he¡¯d probably end up watching it online later. There''d be time for the cool stuff¡ªjust not now. The cinematic ended before it began, and the scene around him changed. He was atop a green hill with one lone old tree. He heard chatter and, looking around, found many people wearing similar clothes: a gray linen shirt and loose gray pants. He held up his hands and, catching sight of his sleeves, he noticed he was wearing the same outfit. He experimented with moving his fingers one at a time and then took a few steps. Emboldened, he tried jumping, sprinting, and even threw a few punches in the air. ¡°Awesome,¡± he said giddily. ¡°It feels real.¡± Feeling more accustomed to the new landscape, he looked out into the distance and found a tall wall. It looked far away but close at the same time. The wall had to be huge. What was hidden on the other side of the wall? As he kept looking around, he saw another wall. Two opposing cities? He walked around the tree and soon discovered he was looking at it incorrectly. Wherever he looked, there was the same white tall wall. They were inside it. Why was there such a large construct? Was it designed to keep people in? Or to keep something out? Ch. 3 - Tutor Ezekiel Unsure of what the large looming wall meant, Jack looked for the nearest NPC to show him the ropes. That was easy enough. He just had to find the highest concentration of players. Hidden behind a cluster of noobs in gray, an old man sat under the tree. He had a thick mustache, a long beard hiding his mouth, and a huge pointy hat hiding his eyes. Over him, he found a name tag identifying him as ¡®Tutor Ezekiel.¡¯ ¡°Hello, Tutor Ezekiel,¡± greeted Jack, following basic gaming protocol. ¡°Well, well, well. Looks like we have another adventurer to help out.¡± Every word had an inflection he had only heard in famous old actors or grandfathers with a knack for storytelling. ¡°That¡¯s why I¡¯m here,¡± said Jack, trying to play along. ¡°Oh, fledgling¡­ There¡¯s so much to learn but so little time. The wall has served us well for eons, but the cracks are spreading, and it won¡¯t last forever. Time is of the essence. You have to learn how to survive the dangers of this world while there¡¯s still time. What would you like to learn?¡± A series of options appeared in front of him. The world within the wall The world outside the wall Fighting Crafting & Gathering Dungeoneering Attributes Even though the first two options caught his interest, he decided to start with where the money was. ¡°I want to learn about crafting.¡± ¡°Fine choice, young man! Crafting then. Let¡¯s see. Where to begin?¡± The man paused as if this was his first time teaching someone about this topic. ¡°Shall we start with how our wall would have long fallen if our warriors had to fight bare-handed? Think about that: without craftsmen, there would be no wall to begin with, and we would all be history. Crafting. Yes. Crafting. ¡°The key to crafting is single-minded devotion. Absolute concentration. That¡¯s why you are allowed to choose only one major profession and one minor profession.¡± ¡°Uh? Major? Minor?¡± His cousin hadn¡¯t told him about this. Now that he thought about it, he had been in such a rush to rent a helmet that he didn¡¯t know whether his cousin crafted, hunted, or did something else. ¡°Yes. I¡¯d encourage you to choose your major first. Find your calling. That will help you to choose the minor profession that best complements it.¡± Jack bit the inside of his cheek. That sounded complicated. ¡°How many majors are there?¡± ¡°I can tell you about five major professions. However, I¡¯m just an old man from a small outer town. In the wall within the wall, you may find more knowledgeable folk who know of finer crafts.¡± That means that there are other major professions. ¡°What about minors?¡± ¡°Oh, there are many! Even in my little town, there are far too many to count.¡± ¡°Can you give me some examples?¡± Jack pressed. ¡°Sure. For example, consider one of the most common and important majors: [Smithing]. Smiths can work metal and craft sturdy armor and sharp swords. Some smiths choose to mine their own ore and learn the minor: [Mining]. Others who don¡¯t like leaving the comfort of towns take other minors, such as [Recycling]. Some particularly talented smiths have a knack for precise work and end up taking [Tinkering].¡± ¡°I see. And imagine that I wanted to take [Mining] and [Recycling]. Could I do that?¡± The man paused thoughtfully. ¡°I suppose that¡¯s a possibility. But most choose to have a major. It opens the door to more opportunities.¡± ¡°Good. In that case, I think I''ll check these majors out. You were talking about [Smithing]. Let¡¯s go with that.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you want to hear more about the other majors first? To make an informed decision?¡± ¡°No need, thank you. Where can I become a smith?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll give you the address.¡± Tutor Ezekiel has marked a location on your map. Jack turned his back on the tutor and ran downhill, past the many other beginners. Several of them held wooden swords or quarterstaves and clumsily swung them around. It was probably part of the tutorial for fighting. As he raced down the hill, he saw many others wielding their wooden weapons more confidently and fighting the numerous rabbits hopping around. Jack kept his eyes glued to the map and kept going. He had to climb another hill with a similar lone tree and another old man sitting under it. From there, he saw where he was headed. It was a small town.A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation. The town¡¯s buildings were built of dark stone, covered with crimson roofs and smoking chimneys. Jack could see something big at the town¡¯s center from the crest of the hill, but it was too far to make out any details. He guessed it was a fountain because it shimmered under the sunlight. Six roads radiated from the statue, like spokes on a wagon wheel. Jack hurried down the hill and entered the town¡¯s dirt roads. Sniffing the air, Jack¡¯s eyes widened. Smoke. He could smell it now. He closed his eyes, focused on his skin, and felt a breeze caress his cheeks. It felt so real! The developers had gone out of their way to create a realistic experience. Now, inside the town, he could see how the buildings were only one storey-high. It wasn''t a large town, but it was big enough to accommodate the many beginners walking around. Buildings lined both sides of the roads. He saw a few shops with large windows that allowed a view of different wares. From the start of the road to the fountain at its center, there were at most ten buildings. Players chatted with NPCs while pursuing their different quests. Although many still wore the same gray drabs and simple wooden swords and quarterstaves he¡¯d seen earlier, some already had leather helmets, wooden shields, rusty daggers, and ragged capes. Now that he was closer, he could better appreciate the fountain. A sculpted couple stood back to back. The man wielded a hammer, and the woman a drawn bow. The fountain''s edge was shaped like the battlements of the great wall he had seen from the crest of Ezekiel¡¯s hill. He wondered what the statues meant. Maybe the woman represented players focused on fighting, and the man represented those focused on crafting. But what was on the other side of the wall? What were they trying to keep out? Shrugging, Jack turned left at the fountain, following the map marker to a building with a large sign featuring an anvil. The flashy bronze letters spelled out ¡®Blacksmith,¡¯ and smoke puffed steadily from the chimney. The door gave way easily as Jack pushed it open. The first thing that hit him was the sweltering heat. The forge¡¯s fire blazed on the far end, where a bald man in a thick apron and cumbersome gloves oversaw several beginners hammering red-hot metal. Their faces gleamed with sweat, and Jack¡¯s eyes widened at how drenched they looked. He watched them work, imagining himself in their shoes¡ªhammering away for hours, his arms aching, the heat sucking the life out of him. Crafting might be profitable, sure, but living in a furnace? No way. This place is like one long, torturous sauna session. The master smith, noticing Jack, barked a few tips at his apprentices before approaching. He gave a hoarse chuckle. ¡°Look what we have here. Could it be that you¡¯re a smith in the making?¡± ¡°Well, I¡ª¡± Jack hesitated, glancing over at a nearby player who groaned as he hefted a glowing piece of metal with tongs. The poor guy¡¯s face was redder than the forge fire. How do people do this without melting? The blacksmith leaned in with a grin. ¡°Are you here to tame fire, to shape metal, and to bend steel?¡± Jack felt the sweat start to bead on his own forehead, and he bit his lip. Tame fire? Shape metal? I mean, I¡¯m all for crafting, but signing up for a slow roast every day? He quickly came to a decision. ¡°I think I¡¯ll pass.¡± The blacksmith blinked, thrown off by Jack¡¯s casual rejection. ¡°Uh? But didn¡¯t Ezekiel send you here to try smithing?¡± He looked genuinely disappointed, as though his epic speech had fallen flat. ¡°Yeah, well, I didn¡¯t sign up to become roast beef,¡± Jack muttered, wiping the sweat from his brow. Without another word, Jack stepped outside, breathing in the cool air. I¡¯ve gotta hand it to the developers. They nailed the realism, but no way I¡¯m signing up for that level of discomfort. He headed back and climbed the hill closest to town, trying to approach the tutor sitting there. His clothes were of a slightly different color from Ezekiel¡¯s, and instead of a bushy beard, he only had a long mustache. Jack checked his name and tried asking for information on the next major. ¡°Excuse me, Tutor Joel! Do you think that you can give me some information about crafting?¡± The man studied Jack from top to bottom and shook his head. ¡°Didn¡¯t I see you a little earlier coming from the direction of Ezekiel¡¯s hill?¡± ¡°Uh¡­ yeah.¡± ¡°I¡¯d suggest you keep talking to him then.¡± Looking back and forth between the hill and the town, Jack scratched his head. ¡°But it¡¯s much closer to come here.¡± Tutor Joel frowned and stood up, assessing the difference in distances. ¡°Isn¡¯t it just a small walk?¡± he asked, bewildered. ¡°Fine,¡± Jack answered, waving the NPC off and rushing toward Ezekiel¡¯s hill. It had been worth the try. He could have saved himself a couple of minutes if he could have talked to Tutor Joel instead. He could swear that none of the faces he¡¯d seen near Ezekiel 30 minutes earlier were the same. In the time he was gone, his fellow noobs had completed the tutorial, and a new batch had arrived. The game had been out for several months now. Was there such a big number of beginners still joining New Earth? He guessed that was good for him. The more players there were, the more potential clients would buy items he auctioned. ¡°Hi, Ezekiel.¡± ¡°Uh? Back so soon?¡± Ezekiel said, instantly recognizing him. ¡°Did you have any problems finding the local smith?¡± ¡°Yeah, I found it, but honestly, it was a bit overwhelming. The heat in there was just too much for me,¡± Jack admitted. ¡°Hot?!¡± Ezekiel laughed. ¡°Of course, it¡¯s hot. You can¡¯t work metal while it''s cold!¡± ¡°I get that, but I¡¯m not sure I¡¯m ready to handle that kind of environment just yet. Maybe something else would suit me better. What other options do you have?¡± ¡°Well, if heat isn¡¯t your thing, you could try carpentry, leatherworking, or tailoring-¡± ¡°Carpentry sounds like it might be a good fit,¡± Jack interjected, eager to find a more suitable option. He didn¡¯t care about what major he got as long as he could start making some money. ¡°Good! I like that decisiveness!¡± Ezekiel praised. ¡°In that case, you¡¯ll want to go see Master Sawyer. Here''s her address.¡± Seeing the new directions, Jack raced back to the small town. He didn''t linger, hesitate, or do any sightseeing this time, thus shaving some minutes off the trip. As he reached the fountain, he turned right and ran past a few houses and shops until he found the workshop Ezekiel had pinned on the map for him. The workshop¡¯s architecture was incredibly similar to the smith¡¯s forge. The only exceptions were that there was no smoke from the chimney here, and the sign reading ¡®Woodworking Workshop¡¯ was made of wood. Entering, he could instantly feel an improvement over the forge. There was no sweltering heat or smoke here, just the fragrance of wood and varnish. He didn¡¯t mind these smells. Maybe this would be his major after all. A woman with an athletic build and callused hands came to meet him at once. She wore a dirty mask and dusty goggles that couldn¡¯t hide her pretty green eyes. She patted her hands on her apron, causing puffs of sawdust to burst out of her clothes. She stretched out her hand, offering a handshake. ¡°Greetings adventurer, Master Sawyer at your service. Are you here to join the ranks of the carpenters?¡± Ch. 4 - Dusty ¡°Nice to meet you. Cough! Cough! Is it always this dusty here?¡± Jack asked as he covered his mouth with the sleeve of his shirt. Master Sawyer chuckled, pulling off her dusty goggles and wiping her face with her sleeve. ¡°Dust is part of the job, adventurer. We work with wood all day¡ªsanding, sawing¡ªit creates quite a mess. We sweep the floors two or three times a day.¡± Jack glanced at a player in the corner who was vigorously sweeping up a pile of sawdust while others strained to saw through a log. "And I¡¯d be sweeping floors too, I guess?" Sawyer smiled knowingly. ¡°Of course. We all do. Keeping the workshop clean is just as important as the woodworking itself. A clean workspace means less clutter and fewer accidents. Everyone starts out learning the basics, including cleaning up.¡± Jack¡¯s face twisted into a frown. He imagined spending hours each day pushing a broom instead of crafting something valuable. ¡°Well¡­ thanks for the info, but I think I¡¯ll explore other options.¡± ¡°But don''t you want to try it at least? I haven¡¯t even given you a tour of our workshop,¡± she offered. ¡°Thanks, but I think I¡¯ll explore other options,¡± Jack replied. Jack shook his head and waved as he stepped out, savoring the fresh air. Without a second thought, he was already making his way back to Tutor Ezekiel. He¡¯d had enough jobs where cleaning and dusting were part of the grind. He was not about to pay the game developers for the ''privilege'' of being a virtual janitor. Becoming a cleaner in-game? Yeah, no thanks. Having taken less time to complete the roundtrip, he recognized a few beginners this time. If he had taken a little longer, they would probably have moved from the hills with bunnies and come to town, too. He wiggled through the crowd surrounding Ezekiel and talked to him again. ¡°Hey there!¡± ¡°You¡¯re back already! Did you not find Master Sawyer¡¯s workshop to your liking? Let me tell you, she''s one of the finest carpenters in the land.¡± ¡°Carpentry just isn¡¯t the right fit for me. Is there something else that¡¯s less dusty and doesn¡¯t involve cleaning?¡± ¡°Well¡­ I suppose that leatherworking isn¡¯t hot or dusty. Maybe that would work?¡± ¡°Great, where can I find it?¡± A new pin appeared on his map. ¡°Thank you! I''ll give that a go.¡± ¡°Okay, I hope this will be your calling, my friend. Don''t forget to give it a try first. Who knows, maybe only after you feel the touch of the leather and experience the joy of creating your first piece of equipment, the craftsman in you will awaken and-¡± ¡°Thank you, bye.¡± Jack left a slack-jawed Ezekiel behind him and ran back toward the city. He wasn¡¯t trying to be rude, but he was supposed to find something that would work for him and let him start making some money. Each round-trip from the hill to the town took 30 minutes. He had been playing this game for over one hour and had nothing to show for it. Additionally, whenever he stopped for a single second, memories of Lydia and his father¡¯s earlier sermon crept in. He couldn¡¯t stop; he had to stay on the move. * ¡°Did you like leatherworking?¡± Ezekiel asked, seeing Jack was back. ¡°Not really. The place had a really strong smell,¡± Jack said, wrinkling his nose. ¡°Oh, yes. Curing hides and working leather does involve using strong chemicals. However, it isn¡¯t hot or dusty,¡± he explained. ¡°Let¡¯s try the next one. What else do you have?¡± ¡°Well, I suppose you could try tailoring.¡± ¡°Awesome. Please show me where to go.¡± * Ezekiel didn¡¯t look surprised this time around, seeing Jack was back so soon. ¡°What¡¯s the verdict this time?¡± ¡°I have needle phobia. I forgot how tailoring could trigger it.¡± ¡°I see,¡± Ezekiel said drily. ¡°Is there anything else?¡± Ezekiel sighed. ¡°There¡¯s only one more major they teach in town. Let¡¯s hope this is the right one for you.¡± ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°Chemistry.¡± A new set of coordinates appeared on Jack¡¯s map, and he set off back toward the town. This time, the road he had to take required him to move straight ahead after the fountain. Jack entered the chemist¡¯s building. There were glass vials of different shapes and sizes filled with liquids of all colors. Many plants and flowers in vases and pots were scattered throughout the workshop. Even though some chemicals were kept boiling over a small flame, the temperature in the shop was pleasant. The place was clean, and there were no needles in sight. Best of all, the master chemist was a beautiful young lady. ¡°Hi,¡± she squeaked in a high pitch. ¡°My name is Cassandra, and I¡¯m the chief chemist. Are you here to learn the craft?¡± ¡°Maybe,¡± Jack answered, unsure. He looked around and found nothing that threw him off. It looked like he would become a chemist after all.The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation. Just as he was about to ask Cassandra to learn more, the chemist caught sight of an apprentice making a mistake and rushed toward her. ¡°No, dear. You don¡¯t want the frog''s spleen. You want its liver. That¡¯s what can help you with the recipe I taught you earlier.¡± Jack stretched his neck, stood on his tippy toes, and saw a girl dissecting a red frog. ¡°Urgh.¡± Noticing Jack''s discomfort, Cassandra tried to encourage him. ¡°You get used to it, dear. But some of the ingredients we use are harvested from beasts. I¡¯m sure you can appreciate how doing this work can save lives.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but I don¡¯t think this is for me,¡± he said, trying not to gag. ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°I¡¯m out. I don¡¯t want to become a chemist. Thank you for your time." Jack left the chemist grossed out and disappointed. He had been almost sure this was it. It looked like the major meant for him couldn¡¯t be learned in this small town. Or, perhaps crafting just wasn¡¯t for him. Sighing, he decided to return to Ezekiel and complete the rest of the tutorial. He¡¯d been rushing to start making money, but maybe it had been wishful thinking. Despite hating to study, he would spend some time reading up on the game to find out what he would do. For the fifth time today, he approached Ezekiel. ¡°Hi, Ezekiel.¡± ¡°Chemistry didn¡¯t work for you either?!¡± the tutor asked, exasperated. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. Dissecting things is too much for my stomach.¡± ¡°I was chatting with the masters I referred you to,¡± he said, leaving Jack confused. How had he talked to them? Had Ezekiel left the hill and come to town while he wasn¡¯t looking? ¡°They tell me you didn¡¯t even try crafting anything. You gave up before they could tell you anything about the majors. Is this true?¡± Jack felt his face redden. ¡°Y-Yes.¡± ¡°My, my. This is not good, my friend. Crafting requires patience; you¡¯re the most impatient adventurer I¡¯ve ever seen.¡± What a day. Even the game¡¯s NPCs were criticizing him. Ezekiel continued. ¡°However, this might indicate that you¡¯re meant for a different path. Maybe you¡¯re supposed to become a jack of all trades and a master of none,¡± he said thoughtfully. ¡°There¡¯s one last place you could try.¡± You¡¯ve received a new quest: [Jack of All Trades]. Jack of All Trades (Rare) Despite Ezekiel¡¯s best efforts, none of the majors available in town seem to suit you. He suggests you visit Mr. Kevin. He might be able to point you toward a better path. Coordinates added to your world map. Requirements: It was his very first quest on New Earth! He might not have much experience with full-dive games, but he had played plenty of games on his phone, and quests were a good way to get precious items. Jack noticed the NPC he would visit was not named ¡®Master Kevin,¡¯ but ¡®Mister Kevin.¡¯ What did that mean? And weren''t the requirements to unlock this quest a little weird? ¡°Thank you, Tutor Ezekiel." ¡°Just try it. OK? ¡°Excuse me?¡± ¡°At least try this one. Please. Remember, impatience isn¡¯t good for a craftsman!¡± ¡°I-I will,¡± stammered Jack. He left the hill in a daze. Was it his impression, or was the game criticizing his attitude? Lydia had accused him of not trying hard enough and not having a plan. His father had scolded him for being irresponsible. And now, even Tutor Ezekiel sounded exasperated and had criticized him for his impatience. Even though Jack felt the impulse to run off and complete his quest, he forced himself to sit down and stop for a few moments. First came the gnawing memories of guilt and embarrassment from being dumped by Lydia and scolded by his father. He held himself down, letting the pain and negative emotions pass through him. Was he really that unreasonable? It sure didn''t feel that way. A part of him wanted to believe that everyone else was demanding too much of him, that it was they who didn''t understand. But what were the chances that he was right while everyone else was wrong? He wanted to hold on to the thought that he was trying his best, and the world just kept getting in his way. But after everything that had happened today, it sounded hollow and unconvincing, even to him. Jack reviewed his moves in the game today. He had skimmed through one article on the internet and came running to the game unprepared, skipping every dialogue and rushing to become a craftsman without any prior research. He felt his ears getting hot and his cheeks flush. Not trying? Check. Not having a plan? Check. Irresponsible? Maybe. Inconsequential? Strong possibility. Impatient? Definitely. Jack dug his face into his hands. ¡°Could it be that they''re right? Am I¡ª¡± It was hard to form the words and say them aloud, but he made himself say them anyway: ¡°Am I lazy?¡± Just like his legs had brought him from Lydia¡¯s cafe to his house on auto-pilot, his lazy self had taken the wheel from the moment he arrived in the game. Even how he rudely parted with each NPC was like what he did to his bosses in the real world. Getting a quest despite his carelessness had been sheer luck! He slapped his face a few times. ¡°Enough fooling around, Jack! You¡¯re going to finish this quest, no matter what. You¡¯re better than this. Come on. You have to win Lydia back.¡± With newfound determination, Jack marched toward the destination marked on his map. * Jack studied the old, run-down shack Ezekiel had directed him to. It was the last house at the end of one of the stretches. Whereas all other houses in town were made of black stone and had red roofs, this shack was a mismatch of construction materials. He supposed it was impressive that someone could glue and nail together tin sheets, mud, stone, brick, and wood into a house like this. What kind of major could he learn here? This was the first locked door he found in the game, and Jack knocked carefully, afraid that it would bring the whole shack down. He did so gently the first few times and then more vigorously, seeing that the structure didn¡¯t budge. ¡°Who?!¡± came the voice from the other side. "Hello, Mr. Kevin. Tutor Ezekiel told me to come here and that you might help me find my path.¡± ¡°Hmmm¡­¡± came the pensive sound from the other side. ¡°What can you do?¡± ¡°Excuse me?¡± ¡°If Ezekiel sent you here, you want to become a craftsman. Yes?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± ¡°What can you do?¡± ¡°I have no major,¡± Jack explained, guessing this was what the man on the other side wanted to know. Why wasn¡¯t he opening the door? ¡°No, no, no! I¡¯m asking about minors. Do you have any minors yet?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t have those either,¡± Jack said. ¡°Come back after you learn [Pottery].¡± [Jack of All Trades] has been updated. Jack of All Trades (Rare) Mr. Kevin has shown himself willing to guide you and show you a path that might suit you. He asks you to return after learning [Pottery]. Visit Mr. Kevin. {completed} Learn [Pottery]. {ongoing} ¡°Where do I do that?¡± asked Jack, seeing that no coordinates appeared on the map. The man issued a few complaints, and his voice became fainter as if he had disappeared into the back of a big house. What in the world? Jack circled the building in a few steps. Where had the man gone to if the shack was this small? He knocked on the door again. ¡°Mr. Kevin! Where can I learn [Pottery]?¡± Hearing no response, Jack took a few steps back and considered what to do. Why had the man not given him the coordinates for this task? Was it a fluke? Maybe he meant to make his job harder. And why did Mr. Kevin want him to learn [Pottery]? Hadn¡¯t Ezekiel told him it was better to obtain a major first? Jack felt a surge of frustration, but he shook it off. This was a rare quest. That meant that it was worth something. Hadn¡¯t he just decided to see it through to the end? This time, he decided to take a different approach. Ch. 56 - Blessing or Curse? ¡°So¡­¡± Jack asked, hopefully. ¡°I''m thinking,¡± Rob said. ¡°Give me some time, man.¡± ¡°Right. Right. Sorry. Take your time.¡± Jack paced back and forth, running his hand through his hair. He threw nervous glances at Rob, who meticulously studied all the windows on the TV screen as if he were a surgeon looking at CAT scans and X-rays, deciding whether to give his patient good or devasting news. What was taking him so long? Was it that hard to evaluate whether he had landed a good class? Jack''s avatar, attributes, skills, recipes, and titles were all thoroughly discriminated against on the large screen. Had Jack tried to go through this information on his phone, he would have had to scroll through multiple tabs and down a never-ending series of windows until he could sort through all this information. But Rob''s TV was that big. Everything fit. It was possible to take all the progress that Jack had made over the past few days in one look. CHARACTER INFORMATION Name: JackofDiamonds Level: 10 Fame: 6 Class: Handyman Minors: [Bushcraft], lvl. 10 [Pottery], lvl. 10 Titles: [Consistent Quality], [Junior Craftsman]; [Museum Donor], [Novice Explorer]; [Novice Firekeeper]; [Uniqueness] ATTRIBUTES Hit points: 100/120 Stamina points: 87/125 Movement Speed: 101% Attack: 0 Strength: 5 Constitution: 5 Agility: 16 Intellect: 6 Luck: 5 RESISTANCES: Defense: 0 Block: 0 Fire: 2 EQUIPMENT Right-Hand: [Empty] Off-Hand: [Empty] Head: [Empty] Torso: [Simple Shirt] Pants: [Beginner Slacks] Gloves: [Empty] Shoes: [Empty] Cape: [Empty] SKILLS: Fighting: [Blocking Stance], [Dash], [Heavy Strike], [Minor Synergy], [Unbound Knowledge] Bushcraft: [Bush Immunity], [Camping], [First Aid], [Forage], [Kindle], [Rope Weaving], [Survival Cooking] Pottery: [Clay Drying], [Clay Gathering], [Clay Molding], [Clay Tempering]; [Pot Firing], [Pottery Glazing]; [Touch of the Potter] It was humbling to see how all those hours of grinding translated to a few words and numbers on the screen. Seeing the projection of his avatar in drabs, his cheeks flushed. He hadn¡¯t expected to feel so embarrassed about wearing no equipment. But what could he do? Once he accepted the handyman class, all his gear automatically came out. Zooming out from his character information, Jack again appreciated the screen''s size. He couldn¡¯t help but feel bitter at not owning a TV like this. He had hoped that completing the [Jack of All Trades] quest would have been his ticket to getting one, but he could see he was way off the mark. ¡°All right. I think I¡¯m ready to share my opinion. Are you sure you''re the first to get this class?¡± ¡°Yeah! Check this title out.¡± Jack crossed the room in a few steps and zoomed in on the details of his legendary title. ¡°Oh wow. Legendary?! I missed that. You are the first one.¡± Rob scratched his chin, staring intently at the screen, measuring his words. ¡°Okay, I think I have bad news and good news for you, Jack.¡± Heart racing and palms sweaty, Jack gulped. ¡°What is the bad news?¡± ¡°The first part of the bad news is that I want to hit you.¡± ¡°What?!¡± ¡°You have only been playing the game for a few days and already have more fame than me! You have a legendary title! You unlocked a hidden class! You¡¯re the very first one in the game to get it!¡± The words were positive, but his cousin¡¯s tone was accusatory. ¡°And from what you told me, the story of how you got it is downright shady. You were rewarded for being lazy? Come on! Of course, I want to hit you.¡± You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story. Jack looked away, embarrassed. ¡°I wouldn''t say I was rewarded. Have you taken a look at the restrictions that my class has?¡± Rob chuckled. ¡°Yeah, true. I''ve never seen a class or a profession with so many.¡± Rob brought up the details of his class at the center of the screen. Handyman (Hidden Class) Description: You are a jack of all trades but a master of none. You can change the world with some glue, hammer, and nails! Class restrictions: ¡°Not being able to deal damage will severely limit your progress in the game. Well, you can still gain XP through quests, mazes, and dungeons. But the best way to level up in the game is to go on hunts! This is terrible, Jack.¡± Hearing his cousin¡¯s prophecy of doom, Jack¡¯s mouth felt dry. ¡°I know.¡± ¡°Unless you find a way to make yourself valuable to a party without dealing any damage, you¡¯re kind of screwed. Even healers have some DPS, and I see no healing skills that came with the class.¡± Jack clenched his fists. ¡°That¡¯s why I told you. This class isn¡¯t exactly a blessing.¡± Rob continued without pulling his punches. ¡°Not being able to do any damage is not even the worst part. The worst part is that you can only wear things you have made. And you cannot even learn a major!¡± Rob said, baffled. ¡°What¡¯s up with that? How are you going to find equipment?¡± On the one hand, Jack felt happy to see someone else other than him freaking out over the details of his class. On the other, seeing his cousin so frustrated over his class didn''t bode well for him. ¡°I mean, what are you going to wear? No plate armor, no leather armor, no cloth armor,¡± he said, counting on his fingers. ¡°That all requires majors. From what I can see in the list of recipes, all you can wear is a few pieces of moss tied together. Well, not that you could hunt anyway, so I guess it makes no difference, eh? What do you need stats for if you can¡¯t deal damage regardless?¡± ¡°Thank you for the pep talk, Rob.¡± ¡°Calm down; it''s not all lost,¡± Rob said reassuringly. Rob stood up and approached the screen, pointing at the list of unique recipes he had unlocked after obtaining this class. ¡°This is worth something, Jack.¡± Jack perked up upon hearing some good news. ¡°So far, no one has discovered any synergies with pottery, right? You''re the very first player to do so. That means that only you can make this stuff in the entire game.¡± ¡°I know. I still don''t know how much these skills will affect the value of items I make, but I think there''s some potential here,¡± Jack agreed. ¡°This isn¡¯t all. You can also learn more minors in the future. The sky''s the limit as far as this class¡¯ potential goes. If you can find the right combinations of minors, you can make up for your class''s deficiencies. I mean, for the restrictions to be this severe, there''s some broken potential here, and the game developers had to limit your growth somehow.¡± Jack took in Rob¡¯s words. He had figured out as much, but it was good to hear someone else reach the same conclusions. ¡°Do you think I should keep investing in this character then? Or should I just reset?¡± This was the question that was plaguing Jack¡¯s thoughts. On the one hand, this class seemed to offer unique benefits. On the other hand, he was blazing a new trail. He¡¯d have to put in a lot of work and count on some luck to make it work. If he reset his account now, he might still have enough time to create a new avatar and find another class. Or maybe he should just give up on his gaming career entirely. Rob stared at the screen for a while and ended up shrugging. ¡°I think it would be dumb to give up at this point without at least trying to see where it goes. I mean, at the very least, see what synergies you unlock with the two new minor slots you''ve unlocked. Have you thought about what minors to get next?¡± ¡°I don''t know. On the one hand, I need to find a minor that allows me to make equipment. It would also be awesome if I could find a minor that makes me useful in a hunting party,¡± Jack reasoned. ¡°That sounds like a solid plan, cousin. There are not many minors that allow you to craft equipment. And there are few which can be used in combat. That should narrow your search down.¡± ¡°Any suggestions?¡± ¡°Oh no. You choose, Jack. If I choose the wrong minor for you and you don''t like it, I know how you are. You''re going to come here tomorrow, crying and complaining.¡± Jack playfully punched his cousin in the shoulder, eliciting a chuckle out of him. ¡°Fair enough. I¡¯ll find a way to make this work,¡± Jack said. ¡°Have you made any money in the game yet?¡± Rob asked curiously. ¡°I was hoping this rare quest would help. But instead of giving me something I can sell, it just gave me this infuriating class.¡± ¡°I don''t think you''re giving the class enough credit. You''ve also only been playing for a few days. You have to give yourself some time. You''ll only start to see real profit toward the end of the month.¡± ¡°Right. There¡¯s something else I need to talk to you about. I kind of did something I really shouldn''t have,¡± Jack said, reddening. ¡°What?¡± ¡°I kind of lied to Mom and Dad today.¡± ¡°What do you mean? How can someone kind of lie?¡± ¡°I told you how my dad gave me an ultimatum, asking me to come up with rent.¡± ¡°Go on.¡± ¡°Well, today at breakfast, he asked me about what I¡¯ve been doing, and before I knew it, I told him that I had found a job as a handyman.¡± Rob''s eyes widened. ¡°A handyman?!¡± Rob threw a glance at the screen and burst out laughing. ¡°Why didn''t you just tell your Dad the truth?¡± ¡°Come on, Rob. After giving me such a hard time demanding I find a serious job, I don''t think my parents will take it well if I tell them I¡¯m trying my luck at gaming. It''s not exactly a traditional job, is it?¡± ¡°It''s better than lying. You''re just digging your own grave. They will find out soon.¡± ¡°It''s not entirely a lie,¡± Jack said in his defense. ¡°If I can make this class work, in a sense, I''ll be a handyman. Which brings me to a favor I want to ask you.¡± ¡°What?¡± Rob asked suspiciously. ¡°I''m not going to lie to Anty and Uncle. Not even for you, Jacky.¡± ¡°I know, I know. That''s not what I have in mind. I was hoping you''d let me come here on weekdays so my parents can see that I''m doing something out of the house, and they''ll give me an easy time.¡± His cousin¡¯s brow creased in hard lines, and he took a step back, crossing his arms. ¡°I don¡¯t know. Why don¡¯t you just talk to your mom and dad?¡± ¡°It¡¯s just¡­ I don''t want to disappoint them. You should have seen them at breakfast today, Rob. They were so happy when I told them I had found a job. I just can¡¯t break their hearts,¡± Jack said, massaging his temples. Hearing no response from his cousin, he turned toward him to find him staring. ¡°What?¡± ¡°No, it''s just that you¡­¡± he didn¡¯t finish the sentence, but his frown broke into a grin. ¡°Okay. You can come here during the week.¡± ¡°Really?¡± ¡°Yeah. But you have to promise me that you will tell your parents the truth as soon as possible.¡± ¡°Deal. As soon as I get the first rent to pay my dad, I will tell them that this gig is online and explain it to them.¡± Rob nodded. ¡°Okay, then. Just wait a minute.¡± He disappeared into his room and returned after a short while. He threw Jack a key. ¡°Here''s the spare key. When you come, you can just play over there on the couch.¡± ¡°Thanks, Rob. It means a lot.¡± Rob waved Jack¡¯s thanks off. ¡°Just make sure you do your research this time. The whole way you got started in the game was too impulsive. You have to keep your head on your shoulders if you want to make this class work.¡± ¡°I know. You''re right. I''m working on being more patient.¡± Hearing his cousin going silent again, Jack caught him staring again. He had a dropped jaw and wide eyes as if he was looking at Bigfoot or a unicorn. ¡°Why are you looking at me like that?¡± ¡°Nothing. It''s just that you''re a little different.¡± ¡°Different? What do you mean?¡± ¡°Never mind. So, it''s the weekend,¡± Rob said, rubbing his hands. ¡°That means that we have more time to play. I promised my guild I would do a quest with them, and they''re waiting for me. But maybe I can come over to Embersgate and meet you later.¡± Jack opened the duffel bag he had set on the couch, revealing his pink helmet. ¡°I already told my parents I would spend the weekend with you.¡± ¡°Awesome. I''m going to go to my room and play there. You can just lay here on the couch. See you soon in the game.¡± Ch. 57 - Reel When Jack''s figure reappeared in Master Kevin''s cavern, he immediately located the NPC. He was looking under a microscope, mumbling complaints. Jack was unsure what Master Kevin was using the gadget for, but he was happy that the NPC was distracted. That gave him enough time to figure out his next move. Before he even got to explore the details of the handyman class, there was a more pressing decision to make: should he keep pretending he was a hunchback? When they had first met, he had pretended to be a hunchback for fear that Master Kevin would hold on to the rewards if he suspected he¡¯d been peeking through the keyhole. However, he had already received the reward for the quest. What was the worst thing that could happen? He had nothing to lose now. He stood up straight and walked over to Master Kevin with confident steps. ¡°Mr. Kevin! Mr. Kevin! It''s a miracle. I''m healed!¡± ¡°Uh?! What?¡± Master Kevin looked at Jack from top to bottom, jumping from the squeaky stool he¡¯d been sitting on and circling him a few times. ¡°Healed? I thought being a hunchback was a severe condition. How can you be healed?¡± ¡°I don''t know, Master Kevin. Since I became a handyman, I feel strangely powerful.¡± Jack said as he looked at the palms of his hands, closing them and opening them again. ¡°This is the highest path Master Kevin. I feel so strong!¡± The short, stocky NPC was thrown aback by Jack''s claims. ¡°Really? Healed? Because you became a handyman?¡± Jack nodded furiously, hoping that the NPC would buy it. After a few more inspection rounds, Master Kevin seemed to finally accept the explanation. ¡°Well, the truth is that handymen are the best. And I do like the sound of that word. Master. Well, I''m glad that you¡¯re healed!¡± Jack let out a relieved sigh. At least he could walk straight in front of this NPC from now on. Since Master Kevin was the one who gave him his class, chances were that he would have to keep coming back here. Seeing that the NPC was about to return to his microscope, Jack stepped forward and put a hand on his shoulder. ¡°Excuse me, master. When you helped me take my first steps in this highest of paths, you asked me to learn pottery and bushcraft.¡± Hearing how Master Kevin had appreciated being called master, he kept buttering him up. ¡°Yes. So?¡± Mr. Kevin said, shrugging, trying to hide how happy he was to be addressed with such respect. ¡°I was wondering. Was there a reason for those two, master?¡± ¡°I just chose them at random. Ha!¡± The NPC laughed at his remark as if it was a funny joke he had heard for the first time. Jack blinked his eyes a few times, nostrils flaring. ¡°At random?¡± ¡°Yes! I could have just as easily told you to learn fishing and skinning. I just wanted to see you sweat. Pottery and bushcraft were the funniest combinations I could think of.¡± For a moment, Jack imagined a giant cave like this, hidden under every beginner village with obnoxious stocky NPCs choosing minors at random and handing quests out to noobs, making their lives miserable. He¡¯d been working hard over the past few days because of an NPC¡¯s thoughtless whim?! Seeing how calloused this NPC was, he hesitated. Should he ask him? Biting his lip, he decided he had nothing to lose. ¡°Do you have any suggestions for the next two minors I should learn?¡± Master Kevin¡¯s eyes were leaning against the contraption of lenses. Up close, Jack saw he was using two small metal needles to fix a small device. It was precise, detailed work. Was this the tinkering minor? Or engineering? After moments of silent concentration, he pulled his eyes away from the microscope and stared at Jack squarely. ¡°Nope. No suggestions. It''s up to you. Law of demand and supply, my boy. Just find what people need and offer them your services. That''s how we, handymen, stay in business. Those specializing in only one craft are at the mercy of the tides. However, we can adapt. We can evolve. We are not bound by a small clientele. You can do everything you want! Now, I need to go back to work.¡± Jack¡¯s shoulders slumped, and he dragged himself back to the armchair in the cave. Since Master Kevin wasn¡¯t in a helping mood, he would at least use his comfortable armchair while researching the different minors available. Jack activated the web browser. ¡°Guides. Minors,¡± he mumbled. He found a website with a comprehensive list of minors in a neat chart. Instead of sorting them alphabetically, Jack sorted them by type. The list was shuffled into different sections. There was one group devoted to gathering professions. It included mining, fishing, lumberjacking, herbalism, skinning, beekeeping, etc¡­ Jack immediately skipped over it. He could already gather many resources with the [Forage] skill. That wasn¡¯t what he needed most right now. He needed to make himself an asset in a hunt and to be able to craft equipment. He headed to the next group on the list: craft minors. There were tinkerers, glassblowers, potters, florists, and¡­ beekeepers? Seeing beekeeping again, Jack frowned. Wasn¡¯t that on the list of gathering professions? He circled back, and sure enough, it was. Was this a mistake? Had they tagged the profession twice by accident? Shrugging, he scrolled to the next section of the guide.The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation. There was a group of specialized minors tagged under miscellany. He spotted Rob¡¯s minor there: [Locksmithing]. There were also appraisers, bushcrafters, recyclers, and others. Finally, he landed on the section that interested him most: combat minors. He found a couple of names he recognized. There were the trapper and poisoner professions. Horace had used [Trapper] to capture beasts, while Marie used [Poisoner]¡¯s soporifics to keep them asleep. It was a powerful combo! Should he choose one of them? He looked through the other options and gasped. ¡°Beekeeping again? Uh?¡± Curious about why beekeeping would be featured in so many different sections, he couldn¡¯t hold his curiosity. Beekeeping Do you like kingdom management games? Do you enjoy sitting back and seeing someone do the hard work for you? Do you want a profession that lets you do a bit of gathering and crafting and can supplement your DPS to boot? Then look no further! Welcome to the world of beekeeping! A beekeeper has to manage one or more colonies of bees. This involves checking in on them daily. If you ignore your colony often, you risk them getting sick and dying off, but once you get the hang of it, it can be done reasonably quickly, and bees will generally care for themselves. Beekeepers can produce honey, beeswax, and other specialty products and breed queens to sell to other aspiring beekeepers. As you keep progressing in the profession, the yield of your colonies will increase, and you¡¯ll be able to generate more profit. Once you reach the beekeeper journeyman level, you can start making candles, which are a great way to heal and buff your hunting partners, and at journeyman level 10, you can even command the bees to attack enemies with the [Swarm] Skill. It¡¯s limited to the area where your colony is, though, and has severe limitations. Even so, with the right planning, you can have an army of bees under your command. For the first few months of the game, the secrets to unlock this minor were kept under wraps, and honey and queen bees were sold at a premium in auctions. As more players unlocked it, and the secret to unlock the minor came out, the number of beekeepers increased, and therefore, the demand for the items in auctions plummeted. Even so, there¡¯s always a demand for beekeepers'' products, and you can guarantee a steady profit in the marketplace. Keep in mind that a colony needs a place to be in. You can¡¯t carry it around with you all the time. Therefore, factor in the rental or purchase of a lot of land or house into the profit margin before you commit to it. To learn more about this minor, visit the entomology section at the local zoo and stare at the bee exhibit for 10 hours. That will prompt a dialogue with an NPC, triggering the quest that grants you this profession. Pros: Cons: Rank: B Jack finally understood why this profession was featured in so many sections. It was similar to bushcraft: it let him do a little of everything. Even though the part about swarming enemies sounded cool, something else caught his eye. He could buff allies with candles. He looked for an example of a recipe and promptly found one. Spicy Candle (Uncommon) Description: A candle made with hot peppers and beeswax. Infuses the people around it with strength and energy. Effects: Burn it to increase the damage of allies by 10%. There were many other options. Candles that boosted defense, life recovery, stamina, etc.¡­ He envisioned Horace charging a dinosaur, followed by Amari and Marie, while Jack sat in the back burning candles and waving a fan to get the perfume over to his allies. It sounded useful, safe, and different. Maybe this was it! Maybe this was how he would make himself a relevant hunting party member. Regardless, Jack closed the window, saved [Beekeeping] in his favorites, and scrolled through the other options, looking for more. Ultimately, nothing else among the combat-oriented minors caught his eye like beekeeping. ¡°So, imagining that I learned this minor, what else should I learn to synergize with it?¡± he asked himself. Suddenly, sharp, playful tones echoed across the cavern, and Jack jolted upright. ¡°A flute?¡± The pigs running amok in the cave and the birds nesting in the nooks and crevices stampeded toward the source of the sound. Jack couldn¡¯t help but join them. Kevin daftly moved his fingers as he played a mellow tune. The pigs settled around him, swaying with the melody, while the birds perched on nearby nooks, chirping along to the music. That brutish NPC looked completely different behind that flute. He looked so refined and gentle. Jack¡¯s hand fidgeted. How long had it been since he played? It had been months. Years. He hadn¡¯t picked a guitar since he was turned down. Every time he thought of music, all he felt was empty bitterness. All those hours of practice. All that effort. For what? Despite the rush of sad memories, music was still in his mind. He couldn¡¯t help but identify the key Kevin was playing and think of arpeggios and riffs that would go well with the tune. He quieted all of that down and tried to focus solely on the melody. It was a beautiful tune. For a real flute player to play this well, it would take them at least five years, three if they practiced hard. Why was Master Kevin playing? Could this be one of his professions? Jack respectfully waited for the melody to end. Nothing was more irritating than being interrupted by a thoughtless remark when playing. He knew. That¡¯s what happened that day. Seeing Kevin putting the flute down, Jack approached. ¡°Master Kevin! That was a beautiful tune.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± ¡°Why were you playing, if I may ask?¡± ¡°The animals spend a lot of time in this cave. Keeping them happy goes a long way to keep them well-behaved.¡± Jack gulped as his mind raced. This looked like a profession to him! He quickly opened the library of minors, looking for anything related to music. There was nothing. However, that didn¡¯t mean it didn¡¯t exist. Didn¡¯t he have a hidden class? What guarantee did he have that there wasn¡¯t a hidden minor? ¡°Could you teach me how to play?¡± Kevin¡¯s eyebrow raised. ¡°Do you like music?¡± Jack recalled all those hours of writing, recording, and editing. The call that had filled him with hope and then the devastating remarks that had shattered his dreams. ¡°Y-yes.¡± ¡°Good! Come here. I''ll play. You can sing.¡± ¡°W-what?¡± Jack asked, embarrassed, but Kevin had already begun playing. From the way he accented the bar''s first and third beats and the even, fast beats, it sounded like an Irish reel. Not exactly the kind of music Jack was used to. There was a part A where the melody went up and a part B where it went down. Jack heard the whole thing, trying to think of words that went with the melody. It¡¯s been a long time since I last sang. He thought to himself. Clearing his throat, Jack joined in. Ch. 58 - Performance Jack realized that one of his old originals could be crammed into a reel. All he had to do was slightly change the melody and stretch a few syllables. As soon as Kevin came to the end of the bar and was about to go for another round, Jack joined in. There was a man from a distant land, Who dreamed a dream bright and grand, He gazed upon the stars in the sky, His dream was to reach them and shine. He reached and stretched with all his might, To pluck a star from the endless night, But far away they seemed to be, No one told him ''bout gravity. He tried once, he tried twice, He paid his dues and rolled the dice, But in the end, what''s the point in trying, When the stars are so defying. The best musicians play their tunes, Underneath the silver moon, But in a world that runs on fame, It''s hard to find a lasting name. For a moment, Jack felt like he had left his body and become one of the spectators. He wasn¡¯t thinking. He was just hearing himself singing. The pigs swayed happily together with the song''s beat, and the birds watching from above chirped and trilled, joining in. It had been a while since he sang this song, one of the last ones he wrote. He kept expecting to hear himself trip over a word or forget a line, but he was surprised by how well he could still recall all the lyrics. It had been a while since he sang at all. The last time was when he had serenaded Lydia. He met Lydia on a windy Autumn day, just as leaves started changing colors. He was on one lunch break from one of his dead-end jobs, having had enough of the rancid coffee from the store¡¯s old, rusty coffee machine. As the proper Portuguese man, he had decided to go for some real coffee. He had sat outside, looking out the street, when Lydia appeared beside his table with a beaming smile, her short black hair rustled by the wind and piercing sky-blue eyes contrasting against the reds and browns of Fall. From then on, Jack made sure he stopped at the cafe every day. The job at that hardware store had been the one he¡¯d hung on to the longest. It wasn¡¯t because he cared for it but because he cared about the coffee and seeing that gorgeous waitress one more time. She turned him down flatly when he finally mustered the courage to ask her out. The second time, she did so even more vehemently. But he hadn¡¯t given up. He wrote her a song, appeared at her workplace one day, and sang it for her in front of all the customers and colleagues. That¡¯s how he convinced her to go on their first date. All these memories flashed through Jack¡¯s mind as his lungs, diaphragm, throat, and cords worked automatically, singing an Irish reel in an underground lab for an audience of animals and a cranky handyman. Mr. Kevin finished with a quick scale that culminated in a glissando, and Jack was confident that if pigs and birds could clap, they would have. ¡°You have a good rhythm and a mellow voice!¡± Jack had never seen Master Kevin this excited. He had never sung a song with just a flute, but it worked! ¡°T-thanks, Master Kevin. I wasn¡¯t expecting you to ask me to sing like that. I thought you would teach me how to play the flute.¡± Master Kevin smirked. He had done it on purpose! ¡°You don¡¯t need me to teach you how to become a musician.¡± He clasped his shoulder. ¡°From what I heard just now, you already are one.¡± Congratulations! You¡¯ve become a [Novice Bard]. You¡¯ve learned [Major Scale]. You¡¯ve learned [Self-Taught]. Synergy detected between [Novice Bard] and [Journeyman Potter]. You¡¯ve learned a new pottery recipe: [Earthenware Ocarina]. Jack¡¯s jaw dropped. That was it? He just sang a song, and, bippity boppity boo, he had learned a new minor? Just like that? Becoming a potter and a bushcrafter required completing a series of little tasks, but becoming a bard was surprisingly easy. All it took was for him to sing a tune, and he was immediately rewarded with the profession. Jack hurriedly opened the details of the new minor. Bard (Minor) Description: The singer of songs and teller of tales. As a bard, you spread joy and folly as you pour your soul into your performances and move the hearts of your listeners. That was just too generic. He checked the two bard skills, hoping to find more clues for what this minor did. Self Taught, Lvl. 1 Description: Practice makes perfect. You can learn to play any instrument by spending a little time on it.This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon. Effects: Do 100 major scales in an instrument to unlock its mastery and instrument-specific skills. Major Scale Description: C, D, E, F, G, A, B, C, B, A, G, F, E, D, C. ¡°That¡¯s it? This doesn¡¯t explain anything!¡± After many disappointments, he wasn¡¯t too hopeful about the recipe generated by the synergy between his two minors. He had never played flute instruments, just the guitar and the bass, and he had certainly never made a musical instrument. The idea of making a clay ocarina was surprisingly appealing. Earthenware Ocarina Ingredients: 4x[Earthenware Clay] Recipe: Shape and hollow out two matching clay halves, then join them, ensuring they are airtight. Add a mouthpiece and create a windway, then puncture finger holes and a sound hole on the body. Let the ocarina dry completely, and tune it by adjusting the finger holes. Clay Molding, Lvl. 3 Self-Taught, lvl 1. Handyman, lvl. 10. It turned out to be the most descriptive of the bunch, but it still didn¡¯t answer any of his questions. What was the point of this minor? To make pigs dance? How could he progress in it? What was the point?! Jack reread the windows and tried to understand this minor that had fallen on his lap. Here he was, trying to be rational and come to the best choice of a minor to synergize his current assortment of professions. Suddenly, he was given a minor that hadn¡¯t been featured in any of the lists he¡¯d read online. Did he want to become a bard? Did he want to dive back into music? All those hours of practice and effort had gotten him nowhere in the past. He had promised himself he¡¯d never get wrapped up in music again. At the same time, wasn¡¯t music how he had won over Lydia¡¯s heart? He thought back to the relief he¡¯d felt after singing. It was as if he had purged his soul, and a weight had come off his shoulders. Music filled a little of the void that Lydia had left. It hurt and soothed him at the same time. Looking inward, he found that putting it in the balance did more good than bad. Maybe it was time to give music one more chance. Master Kevin had already moved on to attend to another task. He headed toward a large pot, checked for enough fuel in the stove underneath, and grabbed a massive wooden spoon. It was so large that Jack wouldn¡¯t be surprised if he could also be used as a weapon. Sighing, he headed back to Master Kevin¡¯s armchair and went online. ¡°Bard. New Earth.¡± There were few hits. One was a link to a video. In it, a large bear, as tall as a tree, roared and slashed with his claws at the group of players surrounding him. It was hectic, but there was another sound underneath all the roars, grunts, and clanging metal. It wasn¡¯t a guitar, but it was a string instrument. The pluck of strings was accompanied by someone singing: a girl with a smooth contralto. The camera passed by it, and Jack paused the video, rewound it, and replayed it. ¡°She¡¯s playing.¡± Her hand movements were precise. From how her fingers moved, she was playing the instrument, not just moving her hands around while the system did the playing. The song sounded epic. It told the story of a prince slaying a dragon. As she kept singing, the group of players fighting glowed red, and the damage values grew significantly. The giant bear, feeling overwhelmed, tried to run away. The music increased in tempo; this time, a blue glow shone on the party, and they chased the bear at an incredible speed. The girl holding a mandolin or a lute was the last to give chase, always playing and singing atop her horse. ¡°Hmm¡­ So it¡¯s a buffer profession. You play and sing, and your party gets bonuses¡­¡± He had seen this kind of musician class in other games before. He did want to make himself useful in party hunts, but he had never imagined going about it this way. Even if beekeepers had the potential to deal some damage in hunts, that seemed a skill that could only be unlocked at later levels. Perhaps it wasn¡¯t a bad idea to stick to the [Bard] minor. He scrolled down to the comments section. DandyMandy: Woah! Is that a bard? I¡¯d never seen one in the game! How can I become one? DannyUli: Hi there! I noticed that a player was singing and playing. Does anyone have information on that? PeterPig: I¡¯m willing to negotiate IRL payment for information on how to become a musician. Please PM me. That was why there was not much information available online. Players who had learned the profession hadn¡¯t bothered to share it with others. Jack scrolled through the loose posts mentioning musicians in New Earth and confirmed his suspicion. Knowledge about this minor was kept under tight wraps. In that case, he had just struck gold. He gave Master Kevin an appreciative look. He had underestimated this NPC and all the shenanigans he was up to while down here. He kept rotating between tasks. Was this the way the developers had come up with to show new handymen some of the potential of their class? He should try to come here once in a while, but for now, he wanted to make his first ocarina and become a beekeeper. ¡°Master Kevin, I¡¯m heading out!¡± The NPC just waved him off without even bothering to look at him. He only had eyes for whatever was cooking inside that pot. Jack climbed up the ladder and left the little shack with a smile on his face. He had gone into this shack without a class and level seven. Now, he was level 10, had a hidden class, and a rare minor to boot! Things were starting to look up for him. Jack walked over to the coach station and found something different about the town. He couldn¡¯t put his finger on what it was, so shrugging, he walked over to the coach station and was lucky enough to find a wagon with three players already. The moment he boarded, the coach driver announced their departure. Looking over his traveling companions, he realized why he¡¯d felt things had changed around town. The other three passengers had shields, spears, helmets, or random pieces of equipment received from completing quests. Jack, however, was only wearing simple gray clothes. He had looked like a total pro when he came, but after learning the handyman class, all that equipment had become incompatible. The coach driver shook the reins, the horses neighed, and the wagon took off. Jack saw Bright Hill become smaller, and his eyelids grew heavy. Instead of fighting the drowsiness, he closed his eyes and let the wagon rock him to sleep. Jack thought of an astronaut going into cryogenic sleep before their spaceships took off space. He wondered if that was where the developers had come up with their idea for traveling in the game. Then, just as he reached the final step between being awake and dreaming, he remembered Lydia¡¯s blue eyes, beaming smile, and soft hands. He remembered her giggle on their first date and her tears when she broke up with him. He missed her. As Jack and the other passengers fell asleep, the wagon lost all pretenses of realism and became a streak of light heading toward Embersgate. Ch. 59 - Dont Sir Me ¡°Any doubts about your contract?¡± ¡°I couldn''t help but notice that IronIre has a slightly different way of handling internal disputes.¡± Kevin looked at his notes, reminding himself of the exact wording, ¡°Here. What does it mean to handle disputes courteously?¡± Wilson from IronIre nodded his head knowingly. It looked like Kevin wasn¡¯t the first to ask this question. ¡°Like every other guild, sometimes there are divergences between guild members. IronIre takes no responsibility for internal disputes. If you have any squabble with a fellow merc, you are expected to handle it between yourselves.¡± ¡°So that means no fines? No penalties for, say, fighting a fellow guildsman?¡± Wilson confirmed it with a nod. ¡°I see. Thank you for explaining that, sir.¡± Even though Wilson was a high school student, Kevin adhered to online etiquette and showed him the proper respect. Numbers such as the balance in the bank account or age didn''t matter in this world. The only figures that mattered were levels and attributes. College was expensive, and Kevin¡¯s parents already worked two jobs each to get him through it. He wasn¡¯t the best gamer in the world, but he wasn¡¯t the worst. He had managed to bring his pheromoner to level 56. Once he heard that IronIre was hiring and that they paid generously in real-life currency, he applied immediately. The salary was very generous, and there seemed to be room for progress. IronIre was one of the most known merc guilds out there. Even the Krakens were known to hire their services occasionally. The only thing that left Kevin on the fence was this funky clause. Guilds usually devoted a large section of their statutes to promoting peace between guild members. There were heavy fines if a player killed someone from the same guild; in some cases, even expulsion. Why did IronIre clearly state they didn¡¯t get involved in internal disputes? On the other hand, IronIre had a never-ending list of clauses that listed punishment for attacking customers or other guilds that hired them for the duration of their contract. It was almost as if they didn¡¯t care about their own, only about whoever was paying. Wilson kept walking through the base of operations of IronIre and explaining how the guild worked. ¡°Raids are Wednesdays and Saturdays. You can access that board for ongoing hunts and quests. You¡¯re a pheromoner, right?¡± ¡°Yes, sir.¡± ¡°You should have no trouble finding people to hunt with. Pheromoners are highly sought after in IronIre.¡± Wilson looked left and right, and finding nothing left to say, he turned toward Kevin. ¡°That brings us to the end of our tour. What did you think? Cool?¡± ¡°IronIre is impressive,¡± Kevin said. ¡°Ready to sign?¡± Kevin scratched his head and considered everything that he¡¯d seen. The way they took no responsibility for internal disputes bugged him a little, but the pay was good, and IronIre was a rising star. This was the best time to join. Even if there were jerks in the guild, as a grenadier specialized in buffing others, he was never short of friends or people trying to curry favor with him. He would likely be able to form his group of friends within the guild soon. That should be enough protection. ¡°I¡¯m in!¡± ¡°That¡¯s fantastic. Please sign here.¡± Are you sure you want to become a [Staff Member] of IronIre? Please be advised: The contract is partly enforced by the system. Failure to respect the contract can result in severe penalties. Kevin dismissed the standard message with every contract that paid money in the real world and signed. ¡°Well done! Welcome to IronIre!¡± Wilson shook Kevin¡¯s hand heartily. ¡°Thank you for showing me the ropes, sir.¡± ¡°No problem, no problem.¡± Kevin was ready to go to the board and look for quests but froze, raising an eyebrow. He had assumed the tour was over, but Wilson held his ground as if he had something to say. ¡°By the way, about our guild leader. He¡¯s a real character. We go to school together. He¡¯s pure talent. He can wreak chaos on the battlefield and just won¡¯t die.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve heard of him,¡± Kevin said. ¡°I admire the Slayer. Forming his merc guild instead of joining a top guild shows real guts!¡± Kevin spouted a little of the praise he¡¯d prepared for this job interview. ¡°Good. Good. Here¡¯s the thing. He can be a bit sensitive sometimes.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°Well¡­ he¡¯s a cool guy, most of the time. But if you say the wrong thing next to him, he flips and enters berserker mode. Hahaha.¡± Kevin forced a laugh, although it didn¡¯t sound all that funny. ¡°If you ever bump into him, here are a few things you should remember. Always address him as Slayer. Nothing else. Slayer. Only. Got that?¡± ¡°Yes, sir.¡± ¡°While hunting with him, don¡¯t tell him what to do. Don¡¯t scold him. Don¡¯t complain. Just let him do his own thing. It always works out. Got it?¡±This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience. ¡°O-OK.¡± ¡°Also, don¡¯t goof around. He doesn¡¯t have a sense of humor. He takes himself way too seriously. Just don¡¯t joke when you¡¯re around him. Keep it strictly professional.¡± ¡°That sounds reasonable,¡± Kevin agreed. ¡°Good. You¡¯re all set, then. Go check the board if you want to choose your first quest.¡± Kevin nodded and walked away from Wilson. What was up with all these recommendations? Successful guild leaders weren¡¯t usually ordinary people and were known to have quirks. This one, in particular, just sounded a little serious. Maybe it was a good thing and why the famed Slayer was so successful. Approaching the board, Kevin started looking over the guild¡¯s activities. There were several requests from other guilds. Some he knew, some he didn¡¯t. He noticed that the Krakens had placed several orders for rare materials. He checked one at random. Order: Shadow T-Rex¡¯s Jawbone Customer: Krakens Description: One in every ten shadow t-rexes drops the [Shadow Jawbone], an important crafting material. We¡¯re willing to pay 5,000 gold for the item or 20,000 credits. Suggested party size: 10 Suggested party level: 65 Commission: 50%, i.e., 10,000 credits or 2,500 gold. ¡°Woah! 10,000 credits split by ten players. That would be 1000 credits?¡± If he could get that kind of money, his parents could live carefree lives and drop their second jobs. However, T-Rexes were among the hardest dinosaurs to hunt in the game. There was no way he could join this kind of quest. Even so, seeing the Krakens come to IronIre for this request spoke well for the guild. After perusing several other quests and checking what other guilds hired IronIre¡¯s services, Kevin studied the raid schedule and other guild events. As he went through the board, he stumbled upon another section of the board. Hit List This is a list of people who have wronged IronIre. Copy the list into the autoID function of the game and let management know immediately if you spot any of them. Only management can add names to this list. AmariRanger ArthoriusKnight AzirianSky AvianRider ¡­ ¡±Oh, my goodness. Just how many players have they blacklisted?¡± he gasped. Sometimes, guilds kept a list of high-priority targets. But he¡¯d never heard of one this long before. He ignored it. He¡¯d leave this kind of work to rogues. His class was tailored to group hunts, and he didn¡¯t care for PVPing. He looked for parties specifically requesting a pheromoner. There were several, meaning he wouldn¡¯t be short of things to do. So far, joining IronIre seemed like the right decision. ¡°Move.¡± The voice was deep and rumbling, like thunder. Kevin turned to find a bare-chested giant with a wolf pelt covering his shoulders. He was one of the tallest people Kevin had ever met. Even though he looked younger than him, Kevin¡¯s head only reached his chest. Had this giant been a little taller, he would have had to hunch to walk around the room. He certainly had to lower his head to go through doors as he was. Unlike other tall people he knew, this wasn¡¯t a bony, thin, tall man. No. He was muscled and had broad shoulders. He had never met him in person, but once he landed his eyes on him, Kevin somehow knew he was standing before his guild leader. No wonder that he could steamroll through battlefields. This man was a beast. The giant grunted, signaling his annoyance, and focused his primal gaze on Kevin until he finally stepped aside. Usually, he would have complained that multiple people could access the board simultaneously and that he didn¡¯t have to move. But given the man¡¯s size, he obeyed promptly. ¡°Trash. Trash. Trash. Good. This one.¡± He looked over at Kevin and studied him from head to toe. ¡°You¡¯re the new pheromoner, right?¡± ¡°Yes, sir.¡± The man raised his hand and brought it up to Kevin¡¯s face. It was the largest hand he¡¯d ever seen, one as large as a frying pan. He slapped him gently three times on his cheek. It was a threatening gesture but not meant to cause harm. Even so, the Slayer¡¯s hand was so heavy and callused that he felt like his head was banging against a wall. ¡°Don¡¯t. sir. me. Slayer. Just Slayer. Got it?¡± ¡°Yes, s¡­ Slayer.¡± IronIreSlayer is inviting you to join a party. Do you wish to accept? [Y/N]. Kevin didn¡¯t dare to decline the invitation. IronIreSlayer has taken on the quest [Shadow T-Rex¡¯s Jawbone]. ¡°Come with me. We¡¯re going to hunt a few rexies together. You¡¯ll show me what kind of stuff you¡¯re made of.¡± ¡°T-Rexes? Aren¡¯t they level 70?¡± ¡°So? Any problem with that, greenie?!¡± the Slayer asked, annoyed. Kevin gulped. He was terrified of this man. He looked like a pressure cooker, ready to explode. All those giant hands needed to crush his skull was an excuse. ¡°Not at all, Slayer. Let¡¯s do it.¡± ¡°Good. You aren¡¯t a coward.¡± Kevin followed after the giant. He thought only the Krakens could hunt T-Rexes. Was this all bravado? Was he going to put together such a large guild operation on a whim? The Slayer kept walking. Kevin had to take two steps for every step the Slayer took, which meant he was running after him. ¡°Wilson!¡± the Slayer roared as he caught sight of Kevin¡¯s mentor. ¡°What¡¯s up, Slayer? Oh! I see you¡¯re hazing the new guy. Wonderful.¡± ¡°Yeah. Need to know if he¡¯s reliable,¡± the Slayer said as if Kevin wasn¡¯t there. ¡°Have the Gorgons paid us for the raid yet?¡± ¡°Not yet, Slayer. It hasn¡¯t been one hour, though.¡± ¡°Send them a message. We really should start collecting upfront, Wilson.¡± Upfront? For raids? How can someone get paid upfront without first knowing the results of the raid? Kevin screamed in his mind. Wilson shrugged. ¡°It¡¯s something to think about.¡± The Slayer grunted. ¡°Any news on the whereabouts of Klaz?¡± ¡°Not yet.¡± ¡°Amari?¡± ¡°Not either, sir.¡± The Slayer punched the wall, and the whole building seemed to shake, causing puffs of dust to rain from the wooden rafters. ¡°That bozo dares make a spectacle on his little channel. I want to kill him a few more times. He¡¯s bound to have started a new account. If he doesn¡¯t show up within a week, hire Loki to track him down. He always finds them.¡± ¡°Sure thing, boss.¡± Slayer turned his back on Wilson and walked away. ¡°Greenie. Follow.¡± Before Kevin chased after the Slayer, he exchanged a look with Wilson. It was just a look, but it said plenty. Tried to warn you, pal, Wilson¡¯s eyes seemed to say. Sighing, Kevin ran after his guild leader. Every time they crossed paths with other members of IronIre, Kevin expected the Slayer to stop and enlist more help for the hunt. However, he kept walking. Kevin gulped once the Slayer left the building and headed toward the Pearl Gate. Does he want to hunt a T-Rex with just the two of us? Should I speak up? He thought of Wilson¡¯s recommendations, remembered the Slayer¡¯s giant hands, and decided to keep quiet. He was starting to connect the dots. The funky clauses. The reason why the Slayer had started his guild instead of joining an existing one and all of Wilson¡¯s warnings. It was all because of this guy¡¯s temper! No wonder that they didn¡¯t take responsibility for internal disputes. This guild leader seemed involved in most of them! And what guild would want to hire this beast of a man? He could be very talented, but no one wished for someone this difficult running amok among their ranks. As he saw the Slayer leave through the gate without even having a meal, Kevin considered whether joining this guild was the right decision. He thought back to the reward for this quest. 10,000 credits. If there were just two of them, he would get 5000 credits if they succeeded. He¡¯d join him in this hunt and see how he did against a T-Rex. Maybe, just maybe, his talent was large enough to overshadow his temper. Ch. 60 - A Light at the End of the Tunnel Jack zigzagged through the squeaky wooden wagon wheels and the clapping horses¡¯ hooves escaping the hustle and bustle of the dusty coach station. There was a lot to do and little time, so Jack felt compelled to do something he wasn¡¯t used to: planning. On the one hand, he was now level 10 on both pottery and bushcraft. These professions were as profitable as they would ever be. He could just go into the Pottery Association and start making ceramics or go out into the woods and set up a campsite to sell food to adventurers. He still had to experiment with the new synergistic recipes unlocked by his hidden class. He had no idea of their market value and needed to know how much a clay bomb or a mudhouse sold for. He still had yet to see any cash in the real world for his efforts, and the pressure was mounting. Finding out how marketable his hidden class was was probably the most responsible decision. Furthermore, he also had to become a beekeeper and explore the potential of the bard profession. Becoming a beekeeper required him to stare at a glass case for 10 hours, so he wasn¡¯t looking forward to it. Perhaps he could kill two birds with one stone and make an ocarina first. Then, he could practice playing it while he watched the bees. This way, he wouldn¡¯t die of boredom and could make his time count. Once he became a beekeeper, he could immediately check what new synergies it unlocked. The question was: which one should he do next? As he scratched his head, looking left and right, he caught sight of a marketplace. Didn¡¯t he have several pieces of equipment he couldn¡¯t wear anymore? Perhaps he should start by dumping all these in the market and figure things out from there. Due to its proximity to the coach station, this marketplace was packed. Several players from beginner villages or other gate towns dumped their loot on the market before setting out on new adventures or exploring different cities. Jack found an empty spot close to the wall and called up the marketplace window. He dragged the [Pinewood Buckler], [Pigskin Swimming Cap], [Rusty Pitchfork], [Worn Sandals], [Worn Gloves] and [Simple Shirt] into the market window. The price pre-determined by the system was only four silver and 57 coppers. It wasn¡¯t much, but it was better than nothing. Just as Jack was about to seal the deal, he remembered the flying boots, the poisonous walls, and the underwater maze, and his hand froze. It was hard to part with these trash items. He¡¯d been through many challenges to get these. He¡¯d earned them. Come on, Jack. It¡¯s just trash. Just click sell. And he did. He only held on to two pieces of equipment: the [Junior Bugkeeper Gloves] and the boots. Amari told him that the complete set sold for 3k gold. Since the boots and gloves made up one-third of the set, he should be able to get at least 1k gold for these! He shouldn¡¯t just dump them into the marketplace willy-nilly. He had to figure out how to sell them for maximum value. He walked out of the market, sat on a nearby bench, and activated the web browser. He typed, ¡°How to auction items in New Earth?¡± Several posts appeared. He knew the gist of it, but he had been burned for not double-checking things before, and these two items were potentially worth the money he needed to pay his father¡¯s rent. He selected one post from a website he¡¯d been consulting often. An Introduction to Auctions in New Earth As we¡¯ve seen in previous posts, marketplaces in New Earth function a little like a scrapyard or a pawn shop. You dump your items, the system offers you a pre-determined value, and you get your money immediately. It¡¯s simple, quick, and reliable. However, it¡¯s not always the best way to get top value for your items, especially rarer ones. Let¡¯s discuss three ways to get more money for your items. I know I¡¯m leaving out direct trading, but I¡¯ve written a whole post about this, which you can check in this link. So, without any further adieu, let¡¯s see the three best ways to get top credit for your loot! Every gate town has a fleamarket in the slums. You can set up a stall and sell your items there. In return, you must pay a fee for a 24-hour vendor¡¯s license to the city. It¡¯s one gold, so make sure you have enough to sell and make a profit! Pros: Cons: . Every week, on Sundays, an auction is held in the capital. The entry fee is 100 gold per item, so only the best and rarest items are sold there. Top guilds visit the auction like clockwork and come with full pockets. The bidding war can help you sell prices for incredible value. Pros: Cons: IRL cash-in websites are among the best resources for professional gamers or people short on cash. There are several platforms out there offering this service, but I recommend using only these two. (Click here for option one and here for option 2) This method of trading offers many advantages but also significant setbacks. One of the biggest perks is that you can sell it in any marketplace. Additionally, if you still don¡¯t have a streaming audience or sponsors, this can be a good way for you to pay your bills. However, whenever you sell an in-game item for IRL cash, you essentially sell the goose instead of keeping it for yourself. In-game currency can continually be reinvested to generate even more wealth. Only do this if you need cash. Pros: Cons: Jack reviewed each option, considering which would be best for selling these two pieces of equipment. The auction house in Eternia was out of the question. He didn¡¯t have 100 gold and wasn¡¯t about to travel all the way to the capital just to sell these two beginner items. The fleamarket seemed interesting, but he didn¡¯t have much stuff to sell there. Perhaps if he crafted several pots and other items and then went to the fleamarket, that would make more sense, but for now, he would check the final option. He would find out how many credits these items were worth. He opened one of the suggested IRL cash-in websites and checked the prices for the two pieces of equipment. Some pairs of gloves sold for 20 to 180 credits, and the pairs of boots sold for 30 to 250 credits. There was something off here. What explained this price discrepancy? Jack checked the description of each listing and found that it was partly due to the items¡¯ durability. ¡°OK. Players buy these, hunt with them, and before they break, they sell them here for cheap. Makes sense.¡± However, there were listings with the same durability and different prices. One pair of boots with 23 durability was on sale for 250 credits and another for 180. Why such a massive difference? Also, wasn¡¯t the whole set supposed to sell for 3k gold? The last time he checked the conversion rate, 3k gold was worth roughly 2000 credits. He had expected each piece of equipment to sell 500 gold each, that is, 330 credits. The prices didn¡¯t add up! What was he missing? He kept looking through the listing and found a complete set on sale for 1900 credits. Finally, a light bulb lit in his mind. ¡°Ah! The whole set sells for 3k, but mismatched pieces aren¡¯t worth that much.¡± Satisfied with having solved part of the mystery, Jack dug deeper to discover why items with the same durability were on sale for different prices. He pulled up the price history for boots and found a graph showing how much they had sold for throughout the month. The prices spiked here and plummeted there. He compared it with the price history of the gloves. There was a similar-looking chart, but the spikes and plummets occurred on different days. ¡°OK. I get it now. If everyone has jackets on sale but no boots, then the cost of boots skyrockets.¡± Time equaled money. If he was willing to wait and surf these waves, he might make more money than if he was in a hurry. He checked if he could get a better price for selling the shoes and the gloves together. He couldn¡¯t. People sold individual pieces, bundles of three pieces, which granted the first set¡¯s buff, and complete six-piece sets, which granted the set¡¯s full buffs. He would list them individually then. It probably wasn¡¯t enough to pay rent yet, but if he sold both items for maximum value, he could pay off the VR helmet rental for the whole month and have some money left over. Besides, Jack had already received the payment for his last job and had paid Rob back his 50 credits. He could sit tight for a few days, waiting for these spikes. He marched back into the marketplace, found the option to list the items at the relevant cash-in website, and put the gloves for sale for 180 credits and the boots for sale for 250. If he managed to sell these for their top price, he would make over 400 credits! He doubted getting the maximum price for the items was easy, though. Spikes that high were rare. The last one happened more than three weeks ago. If a customer were patient enough, they would just wait out the spikes, waiting for the prices to come back down before purchasing. He tried to imagine a rich, spoiled brat in an ivory tower somewhere, checking the cash-in website and feeling too impatient to wait, thus buying the item at the maximum price. But just how many spoiled rich kids would be shopping for this set in the near future? For now, he would just wait and see. Having listed the items, Jack left the marketplace. The sky seemed bluer than before. His step was lighter, and his neck and shoulders felt loose. He hadn¡¯t yet received money for those items, but they were on sale. It would sell eventually! He was about to get his first ¡®paycheck¡¯ in the game. ¡°This gaming thing may work out,¡± he told himself. True, he wouldn¡¯t get his hands on this kind of item every day. He had been lucky enough to be invited into this quest by veterans who had carried him. He¡¯d also been working around the clock like never before, playing for no less than 20 hours every day. If he had worked this much anywhere else, he would have had enough to pay the rent by now. However, seeing some light at the end of the tunnel still felt good. He was just level 10! He was just getting started. If he kept progressing like this, all he needed was a couple of weeks, and he would have more than enough to pay his dad and make a living. Maybe even buying a house and winning Lydia back. Even though he wanted to stare at the listing on the auction website like a hawk, waiting for the money to pour into his account, he decided to use his time more wisely. He headed toward the Pottery Association. It was time to make an ocarina. Ch. 61 - XP Store Behind the counter of the Pottery Association stood a short, young NPC. He had a chipped tooth and spoke with a lisp. ¡°Will you be renting a private workshop? Or use the communal one? Both are well equipped, but some of our more experienced potters prefer to keep their privacy.¡± Looking at the higher price of a private workshop, Jack twisted his mouth. Even though he owned several gold coins, he didn¡¯t dare call himself rich. He¡¯d seen how fast gold could fly out of his wallet. Also, Felix had told him it was best to work in view of other potters so that he could learn from them. ¡°I¡¯ll just use the communal space. Thank you.¡± ¡°Very well. Right that way, sir.¡± Jack left the counter, went through the red-bricked hallway, and ignored the cases of glass protecting elaborate vases and porcelain sculptures. [Pig Skin Swimming Cap] has been sold for two silver and 33 coppers. Jack clicked his tongue. This was the third notification for the items he had listed at the marketplace, but he had yet to receive news about the two pieces of the junior bugkeeper set on the cash website. Hopefully, he would receive good news sooner rather than later. The Pottery Association smelled of fire and earth, and it was as deserted as he remembered it, especially after coming straight here from the bustling coach station. A potter was off to the corner, with her hair tied by a bandana, keeping it away from her eyes. She was making bowls out of stoneware. Jack smiled, thinking about how that had been him not long ago. Looking around, Jack spotted the workstation he¡¯d used last time. As he walked toward it, a workstation hidden by the kilns came into view, and Jack spotted old Felix. A pile of plates, bowls, cups, and cooking pots stood behind him on the table. Some of them were of a beautiful marbled green and white, while others were of a ruby red with black veins. Their glossy finish was stunning. However, Felix was done with that project and was focused on something else. White clay figurines of a bear were strewn about the table, organized by different stages of completion: some were at the very beginning, only featuring a simple clay disk that served as the base. Others only had the bear¡¯s hind legs. In the next stage of the process, Felix added a headless torso until he finally added the head and forelimbs. The figurine Felix was currently working on was almost completed. With wrinkled hands, the potter scored the piece with his triceratops horn, adding finer details such as the bear¡¯s fur, sharp claws, and menacing teeth. It took Jack a few seconds to understand why the old man worked this way. He had set up an assembly line to let the clay set. This logic was similar to the coiling method, but instead of adding coil by coil, the old man added bits to the statue, letting the clay dry before incorporating more details. Jack couldn''t help but wonder how the old man kept track of so much different work happening at various stages. And why didn¡¯t he need a torch like Jack? Did he have a skill Jack wasn¡¯t aware of? Under Jack¡¯s gaze, the old man finished scoring the piece''s details, set it aside for a little more drying, and picked up an armless bear. He rolled a clay tube, folding, kneading, and shaping it into a fore limb. Seeing the white, plastic-like clay, Jack couldn¡¯t help but ask aloud. ¡°Porcelain?¡± The old man looked up from work, adjusted his glasses with a muddied hand, and grinned. Felix¡¯s weathered voice echoed in the empty hall. ¡°Look who it is! The impatient potter. Yes, son. It¡¯s porcelain. Did you come here for another round of crafting?" "That¡¯s the idea," Jack said happily. ¡°I love the figurines. They¡¯re incredible,¡± Jack praised, returning the attention to Felix¡¯s work. "Yes, porcelain lets you create very delicate work, but the truth is, you only know if you did a good job when it goes into the oven. Half of these will crack," the old man explained. Hearing how the old man had already accepted that half of the sculptures would go to the bin, Jack gasped. ¡°Half of them? Even though you are making them?¡± Felix just shrugged, moving on to rolling a ball and shaping it like a bear¡¯s head. ¡°It¡¯s what it is.¡± ¡°How much do good ones sell for?¡± asked Jack, curious. "The most I got from a bear figurine was 250 gold," the old man replied. "Woah! That¡¯s serious money.¡± The old potter laughed. "Retirement doesn''t pay for all my bills, you know? An old man has to make a living somehow." Seeing how many bears were on the table, Jack couldn''t help but feel jealous of the old man. Even if half of these statuettes of bears broke, the table had more than enough bears to cover for a whole year of rent. ¡°Did you get a recipe from a quest?¡± The old man looked up, frowning. Fearing he had upset him, Jack waved his hands apologetically, ¡°I don¡¯t mean to pry or anything. I¡¯m just curious. You don¡¯t have to give me any details.¡±Love what you''re reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on. "I¡¯m not upset. Just surprised. What do you mean by quest? I bought this recipe from the XP store." "XP store?" Jack asked, blinking a few times. ¡°Are you level 10 yet?¡± Jack stood a little straighter. ¡°Yes, sir! Just reached it yesterday.¡± ¡°And you didn¡¯t see the XP store yet?¡± ¡°N-no,¡± Jack admitted. Felix pointed toward the direction Jack had just come from. "Over there, where you buy recipes. Didn¡¯t you see it when paying the fee to work at the workshop?" ¡°No. I-I¡¯ll go check it now.¡± Curious, Jack left Felix working and ran over to the NPC. ¡°Can I see what you have for sale?¡± Jack asked. A window appeared, and Jack scrolled through it. There was a never-ending list with several recipes and glazes. Now that he was level 10 in pottery, there was no level cap to overcome anymore. It was all up for grabs. Jack scrolled through it. ¡°Statue of the fish, statue of the horse, cooking pot, large cauldron,¡± Jack read aloud, and then, through the blur of different names, one stood out. ¡°Clay warrior? Aren¡¯t those the statues I saw for sale at the marketplace for 100 gold a piece?¡± Jack¡¯s eyes widened. So that¡¯s where he could buy it! He checked how much it cost and frowned. The recipe wasn¡¯t on sale for gold. It cost one million pottery XP! Jack scrolled through the other recipes and found that this wasn¡¯t the only one on sale for this new currency. 80% of the recipes, glazes, and techniques could only be purchased using experience points. "So that''s the end game," Jack exclaimed. He had wondered how the game motivated players who reached the maximum level in a profession to stick with it instead of just switching to a new one. Without unlocking new levels, recipes, and such, motivation tended to drop in games like these, and their solution was quite ingenious: they turned pottery XP into a currency. For example, he would have to craft around the clock for several days, maybe weeks, to accumulate enough XP to purchase the [Clay Warrior] recipe. No wonder old Felix stayed cooped up here for days on end. The list of things to unlock was never-ending. Enlightened, Jack scrolled back up and read the list carefully. Among the different glazes, Jack found the [Turmeric Yellow Glaze] he received from Professor Alan Grant. It cost 20,000 pottery XP. There was at least one glaze that cost ten times as much. It didn¡¯t matter, though. Jack had no XP to spend right now. None of the pottery XP gained to reach level 10 counted. Jack patiently went through the list, ignoring all the different recipes for sale. Droplets of sweat formed on his forehead while he patiently scrolled through the list. Once he reached the end, he smirked. The Pottery Association sold no recipes for [Clay Ocarinas]. He couldn¡¯t find [Mud Hut] or [Clay Bombs] either. He was the only one who could make them! If he had been eager to begin crafting his ocarina before, he was on fire now. Not only did he have the monopoly over clay ocarinas, but the XP he would make here would count toward buying neat stuff later. Better than that, he could immediately start crafting a rare item without grinding for pottery XP. Walking back to his workstation, he waved at Felix. ¡°Neat, right?¡± Felix asked. "Yes, sir. Fascinating stuff." "I know. It will keep you busy for a couple of years." Is he willing to spend years buying everything on that list? "How long have you been level 10 in pottery?" Jack asked, curious. "Well, I started playing the game as soon as it came out. It was a gift from my son. As you young people say, he''s in a big guild." The old man looked up as he counted fingers and rummaged through his memories. "So, I guess I¡¯ve been at level 10 in Pottery for about four months now." "Four months?!" "Oh yes.¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t you tired of it?¡± ¡°Are you kidding me? I haven''t bought even 10% of the recipes and glazes available. There''s still a lot of experimenting left to do." Jack couldn''t help but look at old Felix with renewed appreciation. To be able to stick with a profession for this long without wavering showed a lot of character. He doubted he could have pulled it off. ¡°Good work, sir. I¡¯ll be working over here.¡± ¡°By all means!¡± Jack spared Felix¡¯s work one last glance. Instead of staring at the old man¡¯s fortune, Jack decided it was time to make his own. He opened the ocarina recipe to jog his memory. Earthenware Ocarina Ingredients: 4x[Earthenware Clay]. Recipe: Shape and hollow out two matching clay halves, then join them, ensuring they are airtight. Add a mouthpiece and create a windway, then puncture finger holes and a sound hole on the body. Let the ocarina dry completely, and tune it by adjusting the finger holes. Clay Molding, Lvl. 3 Self-Taught, lvl 1. Handyman, lvl. 10. The recipe offered no details. It didn¡¯t specify the appropriate size of the ocarina¡¯s body, the length and thickness of the mouthpiece, or even how many holes it should have. The only thing that Jack could deduce based on his knowledge of music was that the smaller the body, the higher-pitched the ocarina would be. Violins were much smaller and high-pitched than a cello, for example. Did he want an ocarina with a higher pitch or one with more bass? Did it matter? How many holes should the ocarina have? What scale should he make it in? Sighing, Jack took a seat and opened the web browser. Before finding out how to make this thing, he should listen to what it sounded like. He found the video of someone playing the ocarina. Jack squinted, trying to judge its size, and found it was roughly as large as a potato. The musician brought the mouthpiece to their lips and began to play. Jack was immediately struck by the purity of the notes. Each note was crisp and distinct. The melody was both haunting and beautiful. It reminded him of a flute but had a unique, almost ethereal tone. Pleasantly surprised with how much he liked the instrument''s sound, he focused next on how many holes it had. At first, it seemed only to have eight holes on the top, but after a minute, Jack caught how the ocarinist also moved his thumbs. There was at least one more hole in the bottom. The musician''s fingers danced across the ocarina''s surface, sometimes covering multiple holes at once, other times rapidly shifting positions to play complex sequences of notes. As the song''s final notes faded away, Jack sat back, letting out a breath he hadn''t realized he was holding. He hadn¡¯t expected to like it so much. He turned the video off and researched more details about the instrument. He couldn¡¯t wait to try playing the ocarina, too. Ch. 62 - Pointers Jack double-checked his notes, making sure he had everything he needed. There was a diagram of an ocarina, a fingering chart showing how to play all the notes, and a series of observations he¡¯d made when watching videos and reading about the instrument''s history. On the one hand, Jack felt exhausted from researching this. However, his eagerness to make his first musical instrument surpassed his tiredness. Jack grabbed a lump of clay and kneaded it. Judging the amount insufficient, he kept adding more until he had made a lump the size of a potato. Jack grabbed the ¡®potato¡¯ with his left hand, bringing it up toward his face, and then he brought his right hand over the top in a reverse grip. Even though it was Jack''s first time holding anything remotely similar to an ocarina, this grip felt right for some reason. He wondered why. After some thought, he understood the reason and smiled. He used the same grip when playing the guitar. True, when playing the guitar, the right hand would be beside his belly strumming or pulling the strings, and the left hand would be away from his body making the chords, on the guitar¡¯s neck, but the grip was the same: left hand with the pulse facing him, and right hand with the wrist facing him. The only difference when playing ocarina was that both hands were much closer together. Amused by the similarity of the two very different instruments, Jack felt the potato in his hand. Judging one side too clunky, Jack shaved off a little clay and held the potato again. He repeated the process until the ¡®potato¡¯ was shaped like a tear, with one larger round side and a thinner, pointy one. He smoothed it with a small sponge and left it to dry. Sadly, no notification rang. The system didn¡¯t recognize this shape as fitting any of his recipes. Jack didn¡¯t lose hope, and once the potato was bone dry, Jack brought it to the kiln and bisque-fired it. He didn¡¯t receive any XP for this piece but hadn¡¯t expected to. This wasn¡¯t an ocarina; it was just a mold to make one. After the ¡®potato¡¯ left the kiln, Jack let it cool. Once it was at room temperature, Jack pressed fresh clay onto it, ensuring it filled every surface. Grabbing the one torch he had left, Jack held it up against the covered mold, hoping the clay would dry enough. Once the clay became slightly lighter, Jack used a knife and scored a line around the whole thing to pry it away from the mold. Jack shook the mold gently, hoping that the halves of the ocarina would drop, but they didn¡¯t budge. He tried tapping gently with his hand on one of the sides, but it didn¡¯t move that way either. He stuck the knife into the line he¡¯d cut and tried to put a little pressure to make one of the halves pop out, but the whole thing just fell apart in Jack¡¯s hands. ¡°Why isn¡¯t it coming out?¡± ¡°You didn¡¯t put anything between the mold and the fresh clay.¡± Jack raised his head and found that Felix had grabbed a seat and admired Jack¡¯s work from a distance. He¡¯d been so focused on his experiment that he hadn¡¯t realized he was being watched by the old potter. ¡°N-no. It¡¯s my first attempt at doing things this way.¡± ¡°What are you trying to make?¡± That explains why such a pro potter would even bother watching me work. He¡¯s curious! ¡°An ocarina. Do you know what it is?¡± Felix raised both eyebrows. ¡°It¡¯s a kind of flute. Yes?¡± ¡°That¡¯s correct.¡± Interest flashed in Felix¡¯s eyes, and he approached the workstation. ¡°An ocarina. How fascinating. Your problem here was that the fresh clay got glued to the mold. To avoid it sticking, try to create a barrier. Cornstarch or flour works nicely. Here. Have some.¡± You¡¯ve been traded a stack of cornstarch by Felix. ¡°How much do I owe you?¡± Jack asked, uncertain. ¡°It¡¯s just a little flour, my boy. Don¡¯t worry.¡± ¡°Thanks.¡± Jack waited for Felix to return to his workstation or to the little stool he had set up, but instead, he stood beside Jack¡¯s workstation, curious to see what he would do next. Jack couldn¡¯t help but feel a little nervous. Felix was the best potter he knew in the game. It was kind of awkward to have him watch him work. However, it wasn¡¯t as if he could kick him out. Hadn¡¯t he let Jack watch him work, too? Hands shaking, Jack peeled the layer of fresh clay from the mold, cleaned it up, and then covered it with cornstarch. The fine, white flour stuck to the hard surface. Once the mold was fully covered by the powder, Jack repeated the process and pressed fresh clay against the mold. He brought the torch against the clay again and scored a line around the whole ocarina, and this time, as he tapped the mold, the halves came out cleanly! Jack turned to Felix, holding both halves up, excited. ¡°It worked!¡± ¡°Well done, boy!¡± At first, Jack felt nervous to have such an experienced potter inspect his work. However, all the nervousness disappeared after seeing how well his suggestion worked. Felix¡¯s pointers were priceless. In one split-second, the old man helped Jack fix a problem he wouldn¡¯t have known how to correct alone.This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it Jack grabbed a small needle and scored the rims of the two halves, creating a rough texture that would help the pieces bond. Then he dove his fingers into the nearby bowl with slip and wetted the rims. He brought them together, gluing them. Just as he was about to press harder, Felix stepped in again. ¡°Easy. Don¡¯t smoosh them together, or you¡¯ll warp it. Patience. Let the water do the gluing for you.¡± Jack obeyed and eased the pressure. After a few moments, the piece was glued. Jack grabbed more slip, smeared it on the joint, and reinforced it, making it seamless. It''s too bad he couldn¡¯t get inside the piece and do the same thing on the inside. Hopefully, that wouldn¡¯t affect the sound of the ocarina. Jack stepped back and admired his work¡ªa hollow clay tear. You¡¯ve molded Earthenware Ocarina. +100 Pottery XP The notification confirmed it. He was on the right track! Now, he had to wait for the progress bar to fill, getting the piece from the wet to the leather-dry stage. ¡°What is he doing?¡± The potter, who¡¯d been working off in the corner and had come over to the kiln to fire bowls, caught sight of Jack¡¯s piece, and decided to stop. ¡°An ocarina,¡± Felix answered before Jack could say anything. ¡°Can potters make musical instruments? That¡¯s the first I hear of it.¡± ¡°Me too.¡± The potter shrugged and carried the tray with bowls to her workstation to glaze. Every so often, she threw a sneaky look at Jack¡¯s workstation. Jack ignored the attention and focused on creating a clay tube to serve as the ocarina''s mouthpiece. He rolled out a small cylinder, smoothing its surface and hollowing it out with a thick needle. Meanwhile, the ocarina¡¯s body finished drying, and Jack brought it close to his mouth, assessing where the mouthpiece would go. He put it down and checked his notes. ¡°A little off to the left,¡± he mumbled. He grabbed the same slender, thick needle and pierced the hollow clay on the fatter end of the tear. Then, he scored the area around the hole, applied the clay and water mixture, and pressed the mouthpiece into place. He didn¡¯t push this time and just waited for the water to do the work. Once it stuck, he carefully smoothed the joint with his fingers and a sponge, ensuring a seamless connection. ¡°The shape is done,¡± he told Felix and himself. ¡°Now, the only thing left is to drill the holes.¡± Jack set the ocarina aside, letting it reach the bone-dry stage. This way, the clay would be more stable and less prone to warping. Once the progress bar had finished filling, Jack turned the hollow shape around and grabbed a small blade. He scored a little square close to the mouthpiece. This was called the voicing, the hole through which an ocarina¡¯s sound came out. This is it. He brought the mouthpiece to his mouth and blew into it. A sharp note came out of the voicing hole, eliciting cheers from Felix and a curious look from the other potter. The sound hadn¡¯t been nearly as pleasant as what he had heard on the video. There was something not quite right. Maybe he needed to finish the other holes first. From what Jack read online, the location of the holes in the ocarina didn¡¯t make much difference in its tuning. The most important thing was the cross-section or how wide each hole was. The only difference that placement made was how comfortable playing the instrument was. Jack looked at all the tools on the counter, and his eyes landed on the flour. He put all ten fingers in the flour and moved them around, trying to get as much of it as possible. Then he grabbed the ocarina again, just as if he were about to play it. The flour stuck where his fingers would go. ¡°Ingenious!¡± Felix praised from the side, causing Jack to blush. He had to focus, though. This was the most crucial part. He consulted a fingering chart, which told him how to make each note in the ocarina. ¡°The first note will be C,¡± he told himself. With steady hands, Jack used the needle tool to pierce the clay over the second fingerprint of his right hand. He blew into the mouthpiece again. Jack could tell that the note that came out was too low. He had to make it higher. He tried to expand the hole by digging the needle deeper into it, but it became even lower. Jack kicked the table. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Felix asked. ¡°I made the hole too big. Now I can¡¯t tune it. I should have started with a thinner hole and then enlarged it as it grew. I have to start from scratch.¡± ¡°From scratch? Why don¡¯t you cover it with clay and do it again?¡± Jack slapped his forehead. ¡°Right!¡± ¡°Frustration is an artisan¡¯s enemy, young man. It clouds our judgment. Calm down! You don¡¯t have to succeed on the first try. This is just a prototype. Right?¡± ¡°Thank you, m-sir.¡± Jack had almost called Felix ¡®master¡¯! Felix nodded and kept watching the process with interest. The old man was fascinated by a piece of ceramic that wasn¡¯t just meant to be seen and handled but heard. It brought pottery to a whole new level of sensory complexity. Jack was grateful for the interest. The old man¡¯s hints were helpful. Following Felix¡¯s suggestion, Jack covered the hole with clay, waited for it to dry a little, and, this time, drilled a hole with a thinner needle. As he blew into the mouthpiece again, the note came a little too sharp this time, almost a C#. He widened the hole ever so slightly and finally got a C. The sound still came out a little too shrill, though. He wondered if that had to do with how the ocarina hadn¡¯t been fired yet or how he hadn¡¯t been able to smooth the joint inside the ocarina. After firing, he would have to keep pushing and see what it sounded like. He punctured the center of the fourth print of the right hand and a similar hole right over it. An almost perfect D note came out. Jack enlarged one of the holes, and the sound improved. Jack followed the chart he¡¯d downloaded online and drilled each hole one by one. Jack was trying to make an ocarina that could play the C scale, the one scale he had learned once he became a bard. He had to drill 12 holes in the ocarina, excluding the mouthpiece and the voicing. After several adjustments, enlarging a few holes and tightening others, Jack had finished tuning the ocarina. With small, hesitant steps, Jack headed over to the kiln, set the bone-dry ocarina in the tray, and put it into the kiln, waiting for the progress bar to fill. The bar was taking longer than usual. Had he succeeded? Had he successfully finished his first clay ocarina? Ch. 63 - Filing Once the bar became full and flashed, Jack pulled the tray with the ocarina out of the oven. You''ve bisque-fired [Earthenware Ocarina]. +500 pottery XP. ¡°Success!¡± The system recognized this was a proper ocarina. Jack waited for the ocarina to cool down and picked it up. Even though the inside was still hot, he experimented by blowing into it, hoping that the shrillness had softened. Instead of the melodious, mellow sound he was hoping for, he got a shrill, tortured whistle. Jack had expected a honey-like C note and instead got a sound that could have been made by a broken dentist''s drill. Worse, the ocarina was off-tune again! Hadn¡¯t he just tuned it? ¡°What now?¡± Jack asked, careful not to sound too frustrated and get scolded by the attentive Felix. ¡°What''s wrong?¡± Felix asked, approaching him. ¡°The tone of the ocarina is off.¡± ¡°It sounded quite musical to me.¡± Jack looked over at the old potter with wide-eyes. He meant what he said! What was he talking about?! The ocarina sounded horrible. Felix kind of reminded him of his mother. She was a sweetheart, God bless her heart, but she sang terribly, and had zero talent for music. He remembered that when he first started playing guitar, regardless of how off-tune the guitar was, or how badly he sang, his mother said he sounded like an angel. Maybe this old man was tone-deaf like his mother. Jack was starting to appreciate how the developers had hidden the bard class from most players. If Felix thought this sounded nice, he would hate to be in a hunting party where he was responsible for the background music. ¡°The tone should be smoother, softer. Instead it¡¯s raspy and shrill. Something¡¯s wrong,¡± Jack explained. ¡°Any ideas on what¡¯s causing it?¡± Jack stared at the ocarina on the table, weighing his options. ¡°It could be just missing a coat of glaze. However, to be honest with you, I was expecting that firing it would have helped and it only made it worse.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t blame you for trying. However, usually, if there¡¯s a problem with your piece, it has to be fixed early on. If you keep going through the process without addressing the issue, it will just keep getting worse.¡± ¡°Are you saying that glazing won¡¯t fix the problem?¡± The old man shrugged. ¡°All I¡¯m saying is that it¡¯s unlikely it will. Any other solutions?¡± ¡°My only other guess is that it¡¯s due to the joint. When I split the ocarina into two to remove it from the mold, and then glued it together again, I was only able to smooth the outside.¡± Jack theorized. ¡°Hmmm¡­ I hear you, but the joint shouldn¡¯t be too rugged, even if you didn¡¯t smooth it.¡± Felix stretched his hands invitingly. ¡°May I?¡± ¡°Of course,¡± Jack said, handing the ocarina over to him. Felix turned the ocarina over, holding it against the light, feeling the holes with his fingers, inspecting every inch of Jack''s craftsmanship. ¡°Do you see any issues?¡± Jack asked hopefully. ¡°Well, my boy, I don''t know how to make musical instruments. All I know about is what I''ve learned in the game.¡± ¡°Really? I just assumed you were a potter in real life too.¡± Felix laughed. ¡°Not at all. I used to be a bus driver. Anyway, what I''m noticing here is that some of the holes you''ve made in the ocarina feel rough.¡± Now that Felix pointed it out, Jack spotted a few ragged edges on the holes. None of them looked streamlined or even. ¡°You might be right. That would explain why it sounded shrill.¡± ¡°My suggestion would be for you to sand it. Maybe it''s messing with the sound,¡± said Felix. ¡°I can do that. But that still doesn''t explain why the ocarina got off-tune.¡± He paused, considering possible explanations. After a few moments, Jack gasped. ¡°Don''t ceramics shrink when fired?¡± ¡°Yes, they do. Although for such a small item, the change in size should be almost negligible.¡± ¡°But still, it might explain why the ocarina went a little off tune. The holes became slightly smaller! If I glaze it, will it shrink again?¡± ¡°Oh yes. Even more than when you bisque-fire it.¡± ¡°In that case, I¡¯ll need to tune it after glaze-firing it. However, we can already test your theory, and see if it¡¯s because of the rough edges that it sounds unpleasant. How can I sand this? I¡¯ve never done it before.¡± Felix pointed to the workstation. ¡°You have some basic files over there. They come in different widths and shapes, but I believe there is at least one that is circular.¡± The old potter walked toward Jack¡¯s workstation, sorting through the files, until he found the right one. It was a thin cylinder made of rugged metal, with a wooden handle. Happy that it fit even the smallest of holes, Jack gently polished the side of one of the holes and blew the dust away. Bringing the ocarina to his mouth, he tried playing the ocarina again. It was still off-key, and the sound was too piercing, but the note had softened somewhat. ¡°Did it sound better?¡± Felix asked, confirming Jack¡¯s suspicions that he didn¡¯t have an ear for music.This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience. Jack nodded. ¡°Yes. A little bit. I¡¯ll try sanding the other ones.¡± Jack proceeded to file every other hole in the ocarina. With each action, the sound improved a little. Having worked the 10 holes on the top, Jack turned the ocarina over, and did the two holes where his thumbs went. ¡°Can I have a flat file? For the voicing hole?¡± Jack asked. Felix, reached for it and handed it over to Jack. This was the only squared hole in the ocarina. He sanded all four sides of the voicing, making them perfectly even. When he blew into the ocarina again, the difference in sound was like night and day. Even Felix noticed it. ¡°I think we found the problem! The voicing hole not being sanded makes a huge difference. That''s much better, thank you,¡± Jack noted. Knowing that the ocarina would shrink again, and that he would need to tune it only after it was finished, Jack decided it was time to glaze it. Jack had already prepared a mix of turmeric yellow glaze and slip in a bowl. He grabbed a brush. ¡°What are you doing?¡± Felix asked, scowling. ¡°I''m going to glaze it,¡± Jack said. ¡°But the way you''re doing it, you''re only going to glaze the outside, right?¡± ¡°Yes. It¡¯s not like I can get a brush in it.¡± ¡°Why don''t you just dip it into the glaze? That way you can cover the inside as well.¡± Jack¡¯s jaw dropped. ¡°Can I do that?¡± ¡°Yes. This method requires you to prepare more of the glaze, but at least you¡¯ll get the coating spread all over, inside and out. Here.¡± Felix ran over to his counter, grabbed a pot at random, and set it on Jack¡¯s table. The pot was wide enough to fit the whole ocarina but not so large that it required too much glaze. The pot was so beautiful that Jack felt bad about using it for mixing glaze, but he still took turmeric from his inventory, and threw it into the pot. He added two pieces of clay, water, and mixed the whole thing together with his bare hands. The clay resisted mixing with the water for a while, but he kept pressing it between his fingers, letting the minerals dissolve in the water, and making the whole mix silky and thick. ¡°Now you just dip the ocarina into it,¡± Felix instructed. Jack nodded and put the ocarina into the pot. He push the ocarina through the liquid, getting it to cover every inch, and just as he was about to pull it out by hand, Felix handed him a pair of tongs. ¡°Use these instead. Otherwise, you¡¯ll leave fingerprints on the ocarina.¡± ¡°Thanks, sir.¡± ¡°Also, try to pick it through the holes. That way, you won''t ruin the glaze.¡± Jack followed the instructions. The polished ocarina emerged with silky yellow glaze draining from it through its different holes. Jack moved it around, trying to remove any excess liquid from the inside. Once he was satisfied, he took it out of the pot. Jack placed the ocarina on a tray, inserted it in the kiln and closed it. Through the glass door, Jack kept track of the progress as the tongues of flames licked the ocarina, hardening the clay and crystallizing the minerals of the glaze. After a few patient minutes, Jack pulled the tray out, and received a series of notifications. You''ve glaze-fired [Earthenware Ocarina]. Congratulations! You''ve crafted [Earthenware Ocarina]. Crafting grade: D+. Description: A turmeric yellow-glazed alto C clay ocarina, handcrafted for a rich, mellow tone and smooth finish. Durability: 16 Artistry: 7 Crafting grade debuff: The B note will sometimes not count toward a melody. Yellow turmeric glaze bonus: Happy songs are +10% more powerful. You''ve unlocked a new title: [Pride of the Innovator]. Pride of the Innovator (Rare) Description: Instead of conforming to the feats and achievements of others who came before you, you dare to brave new ground and are not afraid of experimenting. Title effects: +3 Fame 50% chance of the system adjusting a minus grade to a full grade. Conditions to unlock [Pride of the Innovator]: Be the first in the game to craft one specific item. Jack threw his arms up in celebration. ¡°Yes!¡± ¡°Good, good. You must have unlocked a new title. Was it [Pride of the Innovator]?¡± Felix asked. Jack stared wide-eyed at the old man. ¡°Y-yes.¡± ¡°I have it too. Neat little title. It has helped me turn more than a few S-minuses to full Ss.¡± Jack was stunned for a few moments. ¡°How did you know?¡± The old man shrugged. ¡°I''ve never seen or heard of anyone crafting an ocarina before. I am quite up to date with what other top potters do. I''m friends with some of them. Seeing how happy you looked and the item you¡¯d made, it was just a matter of putting two and two together.¡± Jack shook his head. This man was a monster. He could deduce so much from so little. ¡°So, aren''t you going to play it for us?¡± Felix asked. Jack nodded. He nervously brought the ocarina to his mouth, holding it with his left hand and bringing his right hand over in a reverse grip on its thinner, pointier side. It felt smooth and polished. The ocarina was slightly smaller, but he could still hold it comfortably. He made a mental note to make the holes slightly more apart next time he made an ocarina. He placed his fingers to play a C. The sound that came out from the ocarina was soulful and ethereal. However, the notes were even more off-key. He looked up, trying to remember the fingering for a D note, and clumsily adjusted his fingers to play it. He then reverted back to the C note. It was the simplest of riffs, but it was special. It came from an instrument Jack had made with his own hands. ¡°Wow, sounds great,¡± the old man said. ¡°It¡¯s still off-key, though. Give me a moment.¡± Jack repeated the process of tuning the ocarina, playing one note at the time, and filing the hole, slightly enlarging it as needed. After 10 minutes of adjustments, he was finally done. ¡°It¡¯s tuned now,¡± Jack said triumphantly. He played the same basic riff again: C, D, C. It was even more satisfying this time. ¡°It does sound better.¡± ¡°I guess I¡¯m done! Thank you so much for your help.¡± ¡°Aren''t you going to glaze it again?¡± Felix asked, surprised. ¡°Uh? I just did that.¡± ¡°But look at the holes. You¡¯ve sanded them. You can see the clay again. If you glaze it again, the finish will look perfect.¡± ¡°I thought I could only glaze once.¡± ¡°No. You can glaze something more than once. First sand the area around the holes, and then use a thin brush to glaze the bits you¡¯ve sanded.¡± Jack followed Felix¡¯s suggestions. ¡°That¡¯s right. Use the thin brush. Good.¡± After covering all the holes with glaze again, Jack received a new notification. Ocarina¡¯s durability has slightly decreased. +1000 pottery xp. [Earthenware Ocarina]¡¯s grade has improved: D+?B Earthenware Ocarina (Rare) Crafting grade: B. Description: A turmeric yellow-glazed alto C clay ocarina, handcrafted for a rich, mellow tone and smooth finish. Durability: 24 (-2) Artistry: 10 Crafting grade bonus: +10 durability; +3 artistry. Yellow turmeric glaze bonus: Happy songs are +10% more powerful. ¡°Whoah! It¡¯s so much better now!¡± ¡°Haha. It''s the little things that make a difference. But I¡¯m thinking that we can do even better.¡± We? thought Jack. When did they become a team? ¡°Have you thought about throwing the ocarina instead of using a mold?¡± ¡°How would I? It''s a perfectly hollow shape. How can I get my hands in it while I¡¯m throwing?¡± Felix chuckled. ¡°Here, come to the wheel. Let me show you.¡± Jack shrugged and followed Felix. If the veteran was willing to help him craft an even better ocarina, who was he to say no? Ch. 64 - Practicing Scales Jack couldn''t resist taking another look at the one piece of equipment that set him apart from the average noob. He held a fiery red ocarina. Its glossy glaze gleamed beautifully. A couple of passersby couldn''t help but give Jack a second look, curious about the item. After several tries and with Felix''s guidance, he made this A+ grade ocarina. Earthenware Ocarina (Rare) Crafting grade: A+ Description: An iron red-glazed alto C clay ocarina handcrafted for a rich, mellow tone and smooth finish. Durability: 36+20 Artistry: 15+5 Crafting grade bonus: +20 durability; +5 artistry. Iron red glaze bonus: Epic songs are +15% more powerful. In his first few ocarinas, Jack used turmeric yellow. It was the best glaze he knew. However, after making five instruments, he accumulated enough pottery experience points to buy a new kind of glaze. Out of curiosity and enticed by Felix, Jack ran to the counter where the pottery association¡¯s NPC worked and exchanged 20,000 pottery XP for red glaze. To make it, he needed iron oxide, or in other words, rust. Felix gladly shared some of his supplies with him to see what would happen if they crafted ocarinas in a different color. Their conclusion was mindblowing: the color of the glaze affected the type of song boosted by the instrument! Yellow glazes boosted happy songs, while red glazes boosted epic songs. Following this logic, a blue ocarina probably boosted sad-sounding songs, a green ocarina, peaceful songs, etc. There was plenty of experimenting, and had he not told Felix he had somewhere else to be, the old man would have probably crafted a clay cage and kept Jack there as a guinea pig. He had never seen Felix bored with pottery, but he had never seen him this excited either. If Jack had let him, Felix would have spent the rest of the day crafting ocarinas. In the end, they made ten ocarinas together before Jack left. Making ocarinas left and right felt unwise without even knowing their commercial value. Jack didn¡¯t know how many he needed to level up his bard profession. What if these things were practically disposable, going bad after a few scales? It felt more prudent to keep these ten ocarinas and decide what to do with them after more experimenting. It had been a few hours since he logged in. "Hey, cousin, how are you doing?" he messaged. Jack tapped his foot nervously, waiting for his cousin¡¯s response. He used the time to check if any of the pieces of the bugkeeper set had sold yet and to research beekeeping. After a couple of minutes, Rob¡¯s response finally came through. "We''ll take some hours. I''ll call you when I''m done." If his cousin had told him he would only take one hour, Jack would have gone into the woods and crafted a moss suit, the only clothing equipment he knew how to make and, therefore, the only equipment he could wear. However, since he would take some hours, it seemed the right time to become a beekeeper. Jack retraced his steps to the entomology department of the zoo. It was easy. He had been here only a few hours ago with Amari, Horace, and Marie. He confidently marched past the guards at the gate and headed toward the entomology department. The different bug-keeper NPCs walked to and fro, ignoring him. Jack treated them in kind and ignored them back. Moving past a habitat with two scorpions as giant as cats fighting each other, one with a papery nest with buzzing wasps, and yet another with a small pond and a few dragonflies, he finally found his destination. The bee''s habitat was encased in glass. It was filled with as many flowers as the habitat could hold, and, not proving to be enough to satisfy the bees, there were two feeders around which bees buzzed. The hive was a box at the back to provide the bees with some privacy and peace. The glass muffled much of the sound, but the persistent buzz carried through. Prehistoric bees, like other insects, were larger than Jack was used to, but not by much. Jack¡¯s experience with bees was sparse, but he¡¯d seen bumblebees, the droning giant male bees whose flight sounded like a power drill. In New Earth, it was as if the smallest bee was the same as a bumblebee. That begged the question of just how large prehistoric bumblebees were. Perhaps they had a similar size to the bee queen Amari captured. The sleeping monarch had been curled into a ball, but her wingspan was probably the same as Jack¡¯s hand. That thing was huge. Jack wasn''t the only one trying to become a beekeeper. He spotted a girl in a simple linen dress, visibly tailored for a beginner, studying the exhibits. Her face almost practically touched the glass of the habitat. Jack wondered whether he should play the instrument or talk to the girl first.This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there. Sighing, he walked over to the girl. "Excuse me." The girl didn''t look away from the glass. "Excuse me," Jack said, tapping her shoulder. She shrieked, sending Jack a few steps back. "What?" she answered without looking away from the glass. "I''m sorry. I didn¡¯t mean to scare you. I will watch the bees for a few hours, and since I''m also a bard, I''ll be practicing my instrument. Does it bother you if I play?" Jack asked. Hearing that Jack was just being polite, the girl¡¯s tense expression softened, and she smiled. "Oh, don''t mind me. My avatar looks at the glass, but I''m doing something else online. I won¡¯t even be able to hear you." "Oh, okay. Cool." Jack double-checked that no other players were nearby and sat on one of the many benches before the habitats, where visitors could admire the insects. He brought one of the yellow ocarinas to his mouth without taking his eyes off the glass. Jack made a C note while looking at a worker bee landing on a flower. Due to the many glass surfaces in the entomology department, the acoustics weren¡¯t the best, and the room sounded a little echoey, but the ocarina still retained a pleasant tone. Emboldened, Jack moved to the D note. Instead of carrying on, he practiced the transition between the two notes. C. D. C. D. He did so slowly at first, trying to understand the fastest way to get his fingers from one position to the other, and then tried faster. C, D, C, D, C, D. Once he felt confident, he moved on to the following note and practiced the transition between D and E. D. E. D. E. D, E, D, E. Scales were a crucial building block in music. Every song on the planet resorted to this progression, in whole or at least in parts. If he knew how to transition quickly between the notes of a scale, he would have taken an essential step in mastering the instrument and playing anything he fancied. He kept practicing, and once he had spent time with each pair of notes, he tried playing a full scale. His fingers betrayed him more than once, but he managed to make the whole thing in the end. It sounded almost serviceable. C, D, E, D (Oops! I meant F.) F, G, A, B, C, B, A, E (Argh, that should have been a G!) G, F, E, D, C. You¡¯ve played [Major Scale]. Success rate: D. +2 Bard XP. So that¡¯s how you progress in the bard profession. By playing. Just like in real life. Trying not to get carried away with such a slight boost to XP, Jack repeated the scale slowly. Even though he could summon the image of where his fingers should go, his muscles didn¡¯t respond to his commands, and the whole thing sounded forced and staggered. After a few minutes, Jack felt it was time to push it to the next step. He tapped his foot and made himself play one note per second. The extra pressure made him miss more times, but it was essential to play with a beat. Otherwise, he would be all over the place as he started playing more complicated things. While looking at the bees, Jack played the scale again from the top. * The scale went up and down several times, and after a while, one of the bugkeepers approached the girl who had been watching the bees. They chatted for a bit, but Jack was so immersed in the scale that he couldn¡¯t make out any of the words. He didn¡¯t need to, though. After a few moments, the NPC disappeared, and the girl jumped in triumph, celebrating. She threw a quick thumbs-up at Jack and ran off. She must have unlocked the beekeeper profession. Jack didn¡¯t care. He was happily busy. By now, Jack could play a scale at two notes per second. Forcing himself not to look at the instrument was good practice. It helped him focus only on the sound. He felt that other than his speed, his rhythm was getting better, and with that, he was gaining more experience. You¡¯ve played [Major Scale]. Success rate: B. +5 Bard XP. After he had played 100 times the major scale, his [Self-Taught] skill kicked in, and he unlocked the ocarina as an instrument. Self Taught, Lvl. 1 Description: Practice makes perfect. You can learn to play any instrument by spending a little time on it. Effects: Do 100 major scales in an instrument to unlock its mastery and instrument-specific skills. Major Scale Description: C, D, E, F, G, A, B, C, B, A, G, F, E, D, C. [Self Taught] has activated. You¡¯ve learned [Ocarina Mastery, Lvl. 1]. Ocarina Mastery (Rare) Description: You¡¯ve become proficient in the art of ocarina-playing. You can use the clay flute to bring life to a party or tears to someone¡¯s eyes. Effects: You can play all level 1 ocarina melodies. The effect was pretty simple, but the sad thing was that he didn¡¯t know any melodies yet! Perhaps he had to grind a few levels in the bard profession first, or he had to buy a musical sheet somewhere. How could someone learn a song in this game? Did he have to write his own? Shrugging, Jack kept playing the scale again and again and again. As he repeated the sequence of movements, his muscle memory began doing the heavy lifting for him, freeing his mind to think. How many years has it been since I did this on the guitar? Just how many hours did I spend playing scales and riffs back then? Just how many hundreds of hours?! C, D, E, F, G, A, B, C, B, A, G, F, E, D, C What was the point? What did it get me? Only disappointment. I can¡¯t believe I¡¯m doing all this again in the game. Why would things go differently this time? C, D, E, F, G, A, B, C, B, A, G, F, E, D, C Music has gotten me nothing. Well, it did gain me my first date with Lydia. Maybe playing her song will help me win her back. Who am I kidding? Music can¡¯t fix what drove us apart. She needs me to get a real job. C, D, E, F, G, A, B, C, B, A, G, F, E, D, C Look at those bees. Their life is so much simpler. It''s always the same routine. They cover their hairy legs with pollen, drop it in the hive to make honey, and leave to collect more. What about me? Is this my purpose? To become a handyman in the game? Maybe I¡¯m overthinking it. Perhaps I should be like the bees and just work. C, D, E, F, G, A, B, C, B, A, G, F, E, D, C I thought watching the buggers would be more enjoyable. The real cool stuff is happening inside the hive. How do they make honey? How did they build the hive? What¡¯s going on in there? C, D, E, F, G, A, B, C, B, A, G, F, E, D, C You''ve reached level two in [Bard]. Level two? What did I learn? Careful not to remove the bees out of his field of vision, Jack pulled up the windows with his new bard skill. Ch. 65 - Arpeggios Jack''s hopes of learning a powerful skill at bard, level 2, were shattered once he read the notification. You¡¯ve learned a new skill: [Major Arpeggio]. Major Arpeggio: C E G C G E C. Jack clicked his tongue. He didn¡¯t have anything personal against arpeggios. They were another essential building block in music. It was just that he had hoped to unlock something useful, like a skill that would help him if he was invited to join a hunting party. So far, the bard profession only gave him tools to improve his instrument mastery but nothing practical to do with the instrument. Perhaps the first melody would only come after he progressed more in the profession. Arpeggios were made up of intervals of thirds. From C, Jack had to jump to E, from E to G, and finally, finish with a fourth, landing on a higher C. The ocarina only had one octave, meaning he could only play one arpeggio before having to come back. Jack tried playing an arpeggio, but his fingers eluded him, and it came off tempo. Still, the system validated his attempt. You¡¯ve played a major arpeggio. Success rate: D +5 bard xp. Sadly, the experience of an arpeggio was no different from that of a scale. On the plus side, it required fewer notes, and Jack could finish it in half the time. If he only focused on arpeggios, he would be doubling his grinding speed. Jack rehearsed the arpeggio as he had done with scales, reviewing the fingering positions between these more distant notes. He first worked on each transition: from C to E, then from E to G, and from G to C. Improving it would take less time since there were only three intervals and one octave. Jack kept observing the bees and playing the arpeggios. Although he was slightly disappointed with the skill he¡¯d learned at level 2, it still offered some respite from playing scales. At least now, he could alternate between the two. * ¡°Look at that. I guess there¡¯s another player here trying to get the beekeeper profession.¡± The player who had arrived had a mousy voice that instantly annoyed Jack. However, he resisted the urge to look at him. He wasn¡¯t afraid of being turned into salt or stone if he looked, but he just didn''t want to ruin all his efforts until now. Guides repeatedly mentioned that one couldn''t look away from the bees or the clock would reset. He felt the bench tremble as the player sat on it. "Are you going to play all the time we¡¯re here?" the young man demanded. Jack chuckled at the thought that this young man was probably ten times more annoyed than him for the dull hours of bee-watching to follow. Although a finished song was beautiful, hearing a musician learning an instrument wasn''t. "I''m sorry, I''m practicing for one of my professions.¡± ¡°I guess I can''t stop you from playing that thing.¡± Jack took a deep breath. ¡°A girl was here looking at the habitat while browsing the Internet and doing something else. She couldn''t even hear me. Perhaps you would like to try that?" Jack suggested. "Cool, good idea. I don''t have the patience to watch the bees for hours anyway." Jack took the aspiring beekeeper¡¯s silence as a sign that even though his avatar was staring at the bees, his real attention was focused on something else online. Learning that the young man had accepted Jack¡¯s suggestion so well, he sighed in relief. It was challenging enough to spend so much time here. If he had to put up with a nagging companion, it would be even more challenging. A funny thing happened when playing scales and arpeggios for a long time. For one, the brain tuned the repetitive sound out. Then, the fingers seemed to detach themselves from the brain and become their entity. Finally, the mind digressed, thinking of nothing and everything simultaneously. First, Jack thought of what he was doing there. How on earth had someone discovered this profession? Under what circumstances would anyone come to the entomology department, sit before the bee habitat, and stare at it for hours? Also, how did they know to look at the bee habitat specifically? Were there even other insect-related professions? Could he also become a wasp charmer? Or a scorpion master? The only plausible explanation that Jack could think of was that someone had sat here by accident, had spent hours browsing the internet while happening to be facing the glass, and had returned to the game only to find they had been awarded a new profession. If so, that player was the luckiest duck ever. He then thought back to college. No matter how much he tried, he couldn¡¯t remember how he decided to follow a business major. All he remembered was being sure about his decision. But what did he know? He was just a kid! He remembered hating every minute of class and rediscovering his love for music. His friends even helped him get a few gigs at restaurants and student bars. Everyone seemed to like his music so much then. He had gone to his parents, begging to leave college so he could devote himself to a musical career. He could still see the lines on his father¡¯s stern, worried face and hear his mother¡¯s voice quiver as she pleaded his case.This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it. Then, he remembered all the hours of effort putting a demo together. He¡¯d spent hours writing songs, composing the accompanying track, mixing it, and contacting studios. The day finally came when he secured one meeting at a studio. His fingers accelerated in an erratic tempo as he recalled how the studio manager had shot him down without even hearing 10 seconds of his demo. To this day, he couldn''t shake off the disappointment. He¡¯d given his best, and it still hadn¡¯t been good enough. After taking a tour through his past aboard his ocarina, Jack refocused on reality. He had become faster again. By now, he could make four notes per second on the ocarina. Jack could complete a one-octave scale in four seconds and an arpeggio in two by playing four notes per second. You¡¯ve played [Major Scale]. Success rate: A. +10 Bard XP. You¡¯ve played [Major Arpeggio]. Success rate: B-. +6 Bard XP. He knew he could only play this fast, thanks to his prior experience with another instrument. Interestingly, the grip of the ocarina wasn''t that different from the guitar. The only difference was having to articulate his breath as he played it. Some arpeggios and scales come off better than others, but still, he was gaining levels in the bard profession at record speed. He was almost at level four. He hoped that he would learn something new to play soon. He didn¡¯t know how much longer he could take playing these boring sequences. Jack followed the XP bar of the bard profession, waiting for it to complete a level. He even resorted to making only arpeggios to accelerate his progress. Finally, the bar finished filling. You''ve reached level 4 as a [Bard]. You¡¯ve learned [Sitting Wind]. Sitting Wind (Level 1 Melody) Description: This beautiful melody brings comfort to a weary soul. Whenever you play this melody, all your allies recover stamina. Melody Type: Soothing Jack¡¯s eyes widened as he read through the description. He thought the only way to gain stamina was by eating or being close to a fire. However, after learning this song, Jack discovered he could recover stamina through music, too! How cool was this? Players had to manage their stamina well during a fight. Some skills helped gain bursts of stamina and power, but it wasn¡¯t easy to fight a giant dinosaur while keeping an eye on the stamina bar. He recalled how that allosaurus had eaten him because he ran out of stamina. This skill solved that. He could keep a hunting party fine and dandy while imparting stamina through music! Jack expanded the details of the song and found it didn''t come in the form of a recipe but in a musical sheet. When he opened it, the menu grayed out, and it was as if he were looking at a web browser and the song was playing. Jack didn¡¯t know whether it was a pre-recorded track by a hired ocarinist or if it was played by a robot. The notes were smooth and mellow, and the melody was simple. It had segments following the major scale with the odd arpeggio interval. The song wasn''t long, either, and Jack, used to learning songs by ear, soon figured out most of it. Still, he played the song a couple more times. Once done, he left the musical sheet menu and tried to reproduce what he had heard on the ocarina. He missed several notes the first time, misjudging them to be one note up or down. It was such a failure that the system didn¡¯t even register the attempt. Jack tried it again. This time, the song flowed more smoothly. It was a slow, soothing ballad, and Jack knew that he was playing it well enough this time. His stamina bar was slowly growing. You¡¯ve listened to a soothing melody. +1 stamina per second. You¡¯ve played [Major Scale]. Success rate: A. +10 bard XP. If this didn¡¯t make him popular with hunting parties, he didn¡¯t know what would. And this was only the beginning. Just as he was about to take another go at it, an NPC approached him. "Excuse me, young man. I''ve noticed you''ve been observing the bees for a while." Jack thanked the heavens! The NPC finally appeared. This dialogue led to the quest to become a beekeeper. "Yes, they are amazing creatures. Very hard-working," Jack said sincerely. Since he sat there, the bees hadn''t stopped for a second. They were constantly working and collecting nectar. "Yes, amazing creatures indeed. Without bees, the world as we know it would end. They play a huge role in our ecosystem. For instance, cattle could easily replace dinosaurs, but these tiny creatures are irreplaceable." "Really?" Jack asked. The NPC nodded knowingly. "When the ash cloud came, and the great lizards appeared, new species of bees started popping out in the wild. Their immune systems are incredible. They are much less susceptible to modern-day plagues and diseases than domestic bees. It is important to study these creatures, cross them with domestic bees, and promote healthy bloodlines." "I agree," Jack said, rubbing his hands. "If you are interested in these creatures, perhaps you could start your hive. All you have to do is find a queen bee in the wild, set up a hive, and you''re good to go." "I would love that," Jack accepted immediately. "Very well. In that case, find a queen bee. Once you have one, come back here, and I¡¯ll teach you how to start a colony." You¡¯ve received a new quest: [An Introduction to Beekeeping.] The entomology department hopes to increase the number of beekeepers using prehistoric bees in their hives. Beekeeper Jarvis suggests you find a queen to start your colony. If you do, he¡¯ll teach you more about beekeeping. Quest objectives: Capture a prehistoric queen bee. From what Jack read online, bees could be captured or bought. However, a queen bee sold for at least 500 gold, and Jack had nowhere near that money. Fortunately, he already had a way to secure the queen bee that didn¡¯t require gold. Jack messaged Amari. "Hi, Amari. How are you doing?" Unlike last time, Amari responded immediately. "Hey, Jack, what''s up? We''re hunting at the bug fields. You cool?" "Yeah, actually, I''m about to become a beekeeper. I just received a quest from the Entomology Department, asking me to capture a queen bee. I was wondering if you and the guys would be willing to help?" "Just a second." Jack bit his lip, fearing Amari hadn''t meant it when he said he owed him one. "Yeah, the rest of the gang is on board. There are quite a few wild hives here. If you join us, we''ll help you capture a queen." "Thanks! Can you send me your coordinates?" Jack asked excitedly. "Yeah, sure. Here." Jack checked the location on the map. It was just a short distance from Embersgate, about 30 minutes of travel. "I''ll come and meet you in about two hours. Is that okay?" Jack estimated based on what he wanted to do next. "Okay, see you here." Jack got up from the bench and stretched his neck and shoulders. It hadn''t been easy. No one in their right mind could stare at bees for hours without cheating a little by using a browser or practicing music. Hopefully, his choice of profession was solid and would prove worth it. Jack gave the bee habitat one last look and logged out. Ch. 66 - Marlenes Rise Jack removed the helmet and grabbed his belly. He felt like there was a hole burning in his stomach. After the VRX helmet blocked his body''s signals for hours, Jack''s ignored body retaliated with severe stomach cramps. As he marched to the kitchen, he felt his joints pop and crack, and his shoulders and neck felt stiff. ¡°If this will be my job now, I need to find a better place to play and take more breaks. Who could have guessed that lying down all day could be this painful?¡± Jack complained as he grabbed his belly with one hand and massaged his neck with the other. While Rob''s couch wasn''t uncomfortable, it was worse than his bed. Spending so many hours in a row lying on the couch wasn''t good for his back. Why did he lie to his parents and say he attended handyman school? Now, he would have to play all day in these conditions. Besides the short running session he''d done a couple of days prior, he hadn''t done anything else since then. He would have to go back to exercising. Only running wouldn¡¯t cut it. He would have to strengthen his back and shoulders; otherwise, he would feel stiff and sore all the time. Groaning, Jack opened and closed cabinet notes, looking for something edible, and a pop of bright yellow caught his eye. There was a Post-it glued to Rob¡¯s kitchen droid. You seemed busy, so I ate without you. Once you log out, ask the droid for whatever you want to eat. I recommend the bolognese pasta. It¡¯s what I had today. Jack chuckled as he saw his cousin¡¯s thoughtful, hand-written note. When was the last time he¡¯d seen something written by hand? He couldn¡¯t remember the last time he had written something by hand. Why hadn¡¯t his cousin just sent him a message in-game? Jack turned toward the droid, an unassuming box of stainless steel with beeping lights. It didn¡¯t look like it could do much, but Jack had seen these on TV. Once this thing got going, there was nothing it couldn¡¯t do in the kitchen, from baking a wedding cake to reorganizing the shelves or cleaning the fridge. It was already well past lunchtime, and Jack, too hungry and tired to think, decided to accept his cousin''s suggestion. ¡°Droid, please make me a bolognese. I like it spicy.¡± ¡°Preparing.¡± The box shifted and cracked open, revealing a series of mechanical appendages. Once unfolded, the android looked like a spider. It rushed to a cabinet for tomato sauce and flour and grabbed a couple of eggs and vegetables from the fridge. Jack observed the android as it made a little bed of flour, broke two eggs over it, and started mixing dough. These things were something else. It was making the pasta from scratch! Each strand was precisely measured to be the size of the other. Not even his mother made pasta from scratch. His family just bought it from the supermarket. Admiring the droid¡¯s technique, Jack had to wonder: how many hours would a person have to practice making pasta like this? What if it were in the game? How many hours would a chef player need to work to be able to do what this android was doing? Thinking about this soured his mood. It all felt unfair. Somewhere out there, there had to be a chef who this piece of machinery had replaced. Still, Jack couldn¡¯t take his eyes off the droid. The stainless steel spider headed over to the package of beef and threw different seasonings onto it, massaged the meat, and let it rest. It then sprayed a disinfectant on its appendages to clean the meat bacteria and headed over to the chopping board to cut vegetables into thin slices. After two tomatoes and one onion, Jack lost interest. He got a glass of tap water and stared out the window, thinking about the game. He already had found minors number three and four. Bards seemed to have potential, and he was dying to find out how the beekeeper minor would synergize with his other minors. He just hoped that it offset his weaknesses. The idea of being stuck with minors that didn¡¯t go together for ten levels made him anxious. What if these weren¡¯t the right minors for him? Was this something that could be corrected down the road? He had no idea how long it would take him to level 20, but it had to be longer than it had taken him to reach level 10. Would he be stuck with a dead minor if beekeeping didn¡¯t work? Sighing, Jack went to the bathroom. When he was back, a plate with a colorful meal was sitting next to a tall glass of water with a slice of lemon in it. Jack approached with wide eyes. It smelled amazing. ¡°Meal ready, sir,¡± the kitchen droid announced. ¡°Already? Thanks!¡± The android grabbed all the cooking utensils, rinsed them in the sink, and set them in the washing machine. Jack sat on the table and admired the steamy bowl of red pasta, drooling. It was sprinkled with cheese, oregano, and pepper. Unable to hold it anymore, Jack started eating. The pasta felt silky and smooth. The tomato sauce was acidic and sweet, and the beef was savory and spicy. It was an incredible meal, and Jack felt his grumbling stomach finally calm. Rob was right. It was good. That an android could cook better than his mother was unfair, but it tasted good. For a moment, Jack just enjoyed the moment. He focused on every bite of this reinvigorating meal while he looked out the window at the nearby trees. Once the meal was nearly over, Jack called out to the android. ¡°Can I have some coffee, please?¡±This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience. ¡°Certainly, sir.¡± Jack scraped all of the sauce from the plate and glanced at the android. It had just finished putting a pinch of salt in the coffee and was now grating cinnamon. What on earth was he doing? ¡°No sugar, droid.¡± ¡°Yes, sir.¡± Maybe the android was preparing coffee the way Rob liked it. The spider approached on three legs, set the mug before Jack, and, finding a chip in it, frowned. ¡°Wait a minute.¡± Jack cracked up. He was inspecting the ceramics as if he was still in the game. Still laughing, he brought the coffee up to his nose. He could smell the fragrant cinnamon. Jack sipped the coffee, afraid it tasted salty. On the contrary, it tasted rich, like chocolate. ¡°Wow. This is great.¡± The android bowed and took Jack¡¯s dirty plate. By the time Jack finished eating and managed to go back to the couch, only 30 minutes had passed. He still had 90 minutes left to meet Amari at the rendezvous point. Jack slapped the couch pillows a few times, looking for the most comfortable position, put on the helmet, and let his consciousness return to New Earth. * As Jack appeared on the street outside the Pottery Association, he realized that the first thing he had to do before meeting Amari was to eat again. It felt weird to do so after lunch, but he couldn¡¯t go out without an in-game meal. He raced over to Sold&Proper. Jack turned a corner and spotted the familiar black-and-white awning. Every seat but one along the mahogany counter was occupied. Instead of spotting the clean-shaven, large, tall Chef Gustaf behind the counter, there was someone else. He hardly recognized her because she was smiling. Her red hair was tucked neatly beneath a new long chef¡¯s hat, and she was handling the different pans, pouring food to the sitting customers with a beaming smile. It was the player working in the back kitchen the last time he¡¯d visited. How in the world had the bratty, rude player taken Chef Gustaf¡¯s place? Was this a promotion? Or had she taken charge of the restaurant? And what had happened to her? She looked like a different person! Jack took the only empty seat. Now closer to the chef, his surprise only grew. She seemed different than the last time that he¡¯d seen her. Instead of bickering, she greeted customers with warmth, going out of her way to make them feel welcome. Jack nodded approvingly. If his memory didn¡¯t fail him, her name was Marlene. Seeing such a brat progress and become more likable was a pleasant surprise. Perhaps there was still hope for this rude world. ¡°Hello, sir. How are you doing on this fine evening? What can we serve you today?¡± Marlene said with a polite smile. ¡°I''d like to use a meal voucher.¡± She took the item from Jack¡¯s hand. ¡°A special, uh? ONE MORE SPECIAL,¡± she roared, her voice stripped of all the courtesy she extended to customers. ¡°Coming right up!¡± a familiar roar echoed from the kitchen. Marlene left to attend to the different pans. She grabbed a clean one, poured water from a bottle, and started springing herbs and previously chopped vegetables. Shortly after, Chef Gustaf appeared. The chef, who had placed an order with the pottery association last time and given him the vouchers, handed over a plate of seared algae and fish to Marlene. ¡°Thanks, chef.¡± ¡°You¡¯re welcome, chef!¡± the tall man responded before disappearing into the kitchen. He was still working here! Chef Gustaf was probably letting Marlene have a go at the front of the restaurant. Marlene added the newly arrived algae and fish to the pan, added a few more condiments, swooshed the pan''s contents up and down, and in under a minute, there was a hot yellow bowl of fish soup before Jack. ¡°Here you go! One white finnosaurus soup. Enjoy!¡± Jack couldn''t help but feel some pride, seeing lunch in one of his creations. Somehow, seeing his bowl filled with delicious food stirred him to head back to the Pottery Association and make an improved dinnerware set. He had learned a lot since he had made these bowls. He could do better now. But there was no time for that. Not today. Jack slurped on the soup. It was salty and savory. The seared algae added a smoky, sweet flavor to the soup, and the chewy chunks of white meat were tender and melted in Jack¡¯s mouth. This girl could cook! Jack found himself torn between which tasted best: the droid-cooked pasta in the real world or the soup prepared for a human in a virtual world. Jack looked down at his bowl and found that less than half of the soup was left. Glancing at the long mahogany counter, he saw the same was true of the restaurant patrons. Half of the seats were empty. Seeing Marlene more relaxed, he shrugged, and struck a conversation with her. ¡°How long have you been working here?¡± The chef didn¡¯t look up from her pans. ¡°Only a week.¡± ¡°That¡¯s a long time.¡± ¡°It''s a good chain quest. I''ve reached novice level in the chef profession thanks to it.¡± ¡°Wow, that''s impressive. Are you going to stay here for good?¡± ¡°Oh, no. I want to get my stall by the gate. I''ll only need to serve about 50 more happy customers, and I¡¯ll be done here.¡± ¡°You seem happy here.¡± ¡°Yeah, it''s fantastic. You get to work with food all day, and you learn a lot.¡± She looked up, surprised to see a player chatting with her. ¡°Wait. Don¡¯t I recognize you from somewhere?¡± Jack held up the bowl. ¡°I made these.¡± ¡°Oh, that¡¯s right! The potter!¡± A customer interrupted the conversation. ¡°Chef, what¡¯s the menu for today?¡± ¡°Excuse me. New customers.¡± ¡°No worries. Bye.¡± Seeing Marlene leaving to prepare other delicious dishes and eating this tasty soup, Jack couldn''t help but feel slightly envious. It wasn¡¯t just about the food; no matter how much he tried to make his survival stews taste better, they always came out as a meal with no appealing color or smell. He was envious of how happy she looked. Would he ever be this happy crafting in the game? Jack looked at the empty turmeric yellow bowl before him and down at his belt, where one of his ocarinas hung. He thought for a few moments, and he smiled. He wouldn¡¯t trade his minors for hers. She wasn¡¯t the only one having fun. You¡¯ve received [White Finnosaurus Soup Buff]. Algae and aquatic plants become easier to harvest; Common and uncommon fish will struggle less. The stamina bar is increased by 150; This buff lasts two hours. The soup¡¯s buff was alright. Even though he wasn''t going to go fishing or anywhere near enough water, he was satisfied with the increase in stamina. To make it even better, the meal had cost him nothing. Jack waved goodbye to the happy red-haired chef and ran in the direction of the city¡¯s gate. It was time to meet the rest of the gang. Ch. 67 - Performance Jack stood in the line before the gate. He looked at the many different food stalls and wondered whether Marlene would be selling her own food the next time he went on an expedition. ¡°You! In gray!¡± Jack rechecked his inventory. He had one spray gun and a dung bomb for an emergency. He also had tinderboxes, lumber, and cloths for bandages. There was a brand new bamboo tent frame with the accompanying cloth, two cooking pots, and a few basic condiments. He had bought everything he needed to get to Amari¡¯s coordinates, capture the bee queen, and return in one piece. Just as he was about to message Amari, telling him he was about to leave the city, a heavy hand covered by thick leather and chainmail landed on Jack¡¯s shoulder. ¡°You! I¡¯m talking to you?¡± Jack whirled toward a guard. He hadn¡¯t been called out since his first expedition with Amari. What was he supposed to do again? His mind raced as the guard scanned him up from top to bottom. The soldier¡¯s eyes landed on the ocarina hanging from his belt and stayed there momentarily. ¡°What brings you to my gate, lad?¡± ¡°Hello, good sir. I¡¯m on a quest on behalf of the Entomology Department of the city¡¯s zoo,¡± Jack heard himself say. ¡°Uuf. Outside? That¡¯s too dangerous, young man, for you and the city. If I let you out, I have to let you in, and if you do come back, you might bring monsters in your wake.¡± ¡°I beg you, sir. All I want is the best for the city.¡± He wasn¡¯t sure if it mattered, but Jack tried to imitate Amari¡¯s respectful tone. Pointing at Jack¡¯s ocarina, the guard smiled. ¡°Tell you what, I can see you are a musician. Why don¡¯t you play us a song?¡± Jack gulped, looking left and right. Only bees had listened to him play the ocarina. Other players wanting to become beekeepers had only listened to him playing scales and arpeggios but not playing a melody. Furthermore, he knew the one song and had only practiced it a couple of times. How was he supposed to perform it in front of this crowd? Remembering that if he failed to pay the toll, the payment was one gold coin, Jack cleared his throat, whetted his lips, and reached for his ocarina. Jack closed his eyes, zoning out his surroundings, and focused on the melody. He played the opening riff and got one note wrong but kept going, calm and collected. Even famous artists made mistakes when playing live. The secret was owning those mistakes and pretending it was part of the plan. Besides, every note in the ocarina was part of the C major scale, so even off notes didn¡¯t sound too bad. As Jack focused on playing, in the back of his mind, he considered the song''s name, the Sitting Wind. The succession of slow, upward intervals evoked the memory of a breeze or wind. That was only accented by the fact that this was a wind instrument. However, he didn¡¯t get the part that the wind was sitting. How can wind sit? The basic melody wasn¡¯t long and partly repeated itself. Jack felt more confident in the second bar and quickly finished. He heard applause. Two new guards had approached the original gatekeeper, and the three were clapping enthusiastically, accompanied by a few other players. One of the guards was wiping snot from his nose and had a tear in his eye. The guards shared their thoughts on the song. ¡°What a classic.¡± ¡°The Sitting Wind. My mamma used to love that song. She hummed it to me and my brothers,¡± the crying guard said between hiccups. ¡°That was beautiful. How long has it been since I heard such a mellow flute? You can pass, my lad. Just make sure you return to play us another song when you return.¡± ¡°S-sure,¡± Jack said, with eyes widened. ¡°Here. This is a gift from the guards. Come play for us when you can.¡± You¡¯ve played [Sitting Wind]. Success rate: B. +100 bard XP. Audience bonus: +600 bard XP. +3 silver. Jack accepted the coins from the guards and passed through the door. ¡°Mister! Wait up!¡± ¡°Wait! You, with the flute,¡± he heard. Jack glanced over his shoulder and found some players pointing at him and trying to get past the gatekeepers. They were looking at Jack as if he were a legendary item. The guards stood their ground, though. ¡°Where are you going in such a hurry? Hold on right there. I¡¯ve just listened to a very emotional melody and need a laugh. Do you know how to pantomime?¡± Jack raced before bard wannabes could storm him. Outside the gate, no one paid Jack any heed. A hunting party dragging a sleeping biped dinosaur was the center of everyone¡¯s attention. Jack sprinted toward the treeline. He spotted a few curious onlookers from the shadows who had just left the gate looking for him.Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings. Satisfied with how clueless they looked, Jack disappeared into the jungle. It wasn¡¯t that he was scared of those players. He was sure no one would hit him just because he had a rare profession. However, he had an appointment to get to. Besides, it would be awkward to answer questions about how to become a bard. What was he supposed to say? Should he tell them to knock at Master Kevin¡¯s house and wait for him to play a tune for the pigs? Even if someone believed him, he doubted Master Kevin would let them in. Jack braved through the thick bush and the screens of ivies, thinking what had just happened. This incident had taught him a couple of things. Firstly, playing a melody successfully was worth more than playing scales. He hadn''t done the math yet, but even if he played scales as fast as he could, he would only have gained half as much XP in the time it took him to play Sitting Wind. Moreover, playing a melody was much more enjoyable than always playing mind-numbing scales. More importantly, the incident at the gate taught him that bards could busk! There was an audience bonus for playing songs. Moreover, the guards had paid him! This raised so many questions. He was only a level 4 bard. What would happen once he progressed to level 10? Would the amount of money he got from busking increase? What about busking on the street? Could he play on the street for NPCs passing by? What about concerts? Could he rent a venue and sell tickets? Excited by the possibilities, Jack navigated through the jungle, heading in the general direction of Amari¡¯s coordinates. It wasn¡¯t long before he heard skirmishes. Small groups of players hunted their first small dinosaurs. The secret to traveling safely this close to the gate was to stay at the proper distance from these parties. They acted as lightning rods, drawing the aggro from creatures in the area. If he ran into a porky, and there was such a party nearby, the porky would ignore Jack and run straight toward these players. As long as he stayed away from everyone''s ways and didn''t get into any altercations with players, he had a safe route for at least a mile. Jack wasn¡¯t in a hurry to leave this part of the jungle, though. He was looking for a specific location. After a few minutes, he found a place that suited his needs. It was a meadow with a large, old oak covered in moss at the edge. The meadow was filled with tall grass, and four players battled two dinosaurs on the opposite side. There was plenty of moss, grass fibers, and decoys to buy him time to start a fire. This was a good spot. Jack walked through the tall grass, yanking it to dry and revealing fallen sticks to use as fuel. After collecting enough, he grabbed a tinderbox and hit the firesteel against the flint. Before the nearby battle finished, he already had a fire going. With a safe back, he took out his bush knife and scraped moss off the tree''s trunk. He also picked up the dried tall grass. Satisfied with the abundance of raw materials, Jack checked the recipes to remind himself how much of each he needed. Moss Cape Ingredients: 10x[Moss], 10x[Cords]. Recipe: Wrap moss together into the shape of a blanket. Wear it over your shoulders as a cape if you want. Requirements: [Bushcraft], lvl. 9. Moss Suit Ingredients: 50x[Moss], 30x[Cords]. Recipe: Bundle moss together and tie it with cords to create long strips, long enough to cover your body. Then, tie the strips together to form an overall garment. Requirements: [Bushcraft], lvl. 10. ¡°60 moss and 40 cords. Yikes. So many cords.¡± Jack got on with braiding the grass fibers immediately. After becoming a handyman, Jack was forced to unequip all his equipment. Awkward as it was to appear covered in moss, it would be even more uncomfortable to appear in grey, noobish drapes. Amari and the others were veterans. Jack couldn''t afford to look too much like a noob. Jack had another reason for crafting these. The one time he ventured into the wild without Amari''s assistance, he was caught and eaten by an allosaurus. Amari said that these moss clothes would help Jack pass unnoticed by creatures. This was a great way to increase his survivability. After twenty minutes, Jack had 60 pieces of moss and 40 cords in front of him. Even though the original hunting party had moved on, a new one had arrived, keeping the local fauna entertained. He was good to go. Jack spread out ten pieces of moss in the overall shape of a blanket, a rectangle that would cover his back. He pressed the fluffy moss together, tying it with the cords and knots to ensure the whole thing wouldn¡¯t tear apart. The moss was a little unruly, but the more knots he tied, the easier it was to add more cords and bring the whole cape together. He left an opening at the top, where he could put his head, and he was done after a couple of minutes. You¡¯ve crafted [Moss Cape]. +500 bushcraft XP. Moss Cape (Common) Crafting grade: C Description: A cape made of natural materials. It¡¯s sturdier than it looks, but it won¡¯t take much abuse. Durability: 10 Defense: 2 Stealth: 5 ¡°Not bad for a first try!¡± Jack said, wiping sweat off his brow. Jack could see why Amari hadn¡¯t been enthusiastic about the stats this piece of equipment offered. However, it did add a new stat, which Jack had never seen before: stealth. He didn¡¯t know how it worked, but if it was something that would keep dinosaurs away, he was glad to have it. Satisfied with the moss cape, Jack focused on the more complex project: the moss suit. Jack made five long strips of moss and then tied them together. He used the cords to tie the moss at the joints and edges, creating a snug fit around his body. There had to be a better way of making the garment and giving it a better shape; however, his crafting attempt still counted as valid, and after a few more moments, he finished making the suit. You¡¯ve crafted [Moss Suit]. +500 bushcraft XP. Moss Suit (Common) Crafting grade: C- Description: A suit made of natural materials. It¡¯s sturdier than it looks, but it won¡¯t take much abuse. This piece of equipment occupies both the top and bottom slots. Durability: 12 Defense: 4 Stealth: 10 Jack put on the suit and the cape. The clothes made him look like a walking bush. They covered him from head to toe, leaving only his head exposed. The suit was lightweight and breathable, though it smelled strongly of earth and vegetation. Jack admired his handiwork. The moss cape and moss suit were not glamorous equipment but significantly enhanced his stealth. Fifteen of an attribute was no joke. Despite the bonuses to stealth, the suit did little else. If an allosaurus decided to bite him, the moss and cords would serve as a salad side dish, making him even tastier. Now equipped, Jack could start heading toward the rendezvous point. Ch. 68 - Rendez-Vous The landscape began to change as Jack traveled eastward past the verdant tropical jungle surrounding the gate. The ground became softer underfoot, and the bright greens of jungle foliage turned to darker, muted greens and browns. Even though the canopy thinned, a persistent, thick mist hid the moon and stars. The greatest source of light was the fireflies. Clean, babbling brooks gradually gave way to stagnant ponds, their surfaces covered in a thin film of muck. The broad leaves and sturdy trunks of the towering mahoganies and rubber trees were replaced by dense clusters of mangroves and black willows, their roots twisting and arching through the murky water. The air grew heavier. The crisp, refreshing scent of fresh, wet soil gave way to the pungent aroma of mud and decaying vegetation, tinged with the faint odor of methane. The vibrant calls of small dinosaurs, echoing through the lush foliage, were gradually overtaken by insects'' constant hum and buzz. In a patch of soft land cutting through the dark swamp, a warrior fully clad in metal followed the movements of the swarm of axe beetles. They chased after an agile player, who hopped between mangrove roots, throwing the occasional throwing star, drawing the aggro of one more creature. The thick leather gloves, the brown overalls, and the netted hat made Amari look like a zookeeper, even though his agile movements and throwing stars marked him as a ninja. The swarm had grown to 14 strong, Amari¡¯s current limit, and he shifted directions, signaling Horace he was coming. Horace braced himself. As soon as Amari reached him, he threw a smoke bomb on the ground, making himself invisible to the insects. Horace used the opportunity to draw their aggro. Warrior¡¯s Taunt! His iron hammer and shield shone brilliantly as he hit them together. The sound enraged the axe beetles, which converged on the tank. Horace tried to side-step the attacks or fend them off with a shield. Horace activated one of his most recent skills when all the insects surrounded him. Copper Skin! As the hammer-like snouts of the beetles hit Horace, there was a metallic scraping noise. Horace¡¯s skin had become a dull copper, negating 90% of physical damage for 10 seconds. Marie used this opportunity to approach and threw three projectiles toward the swarm. Acrid, yellowish-green smoke erupted, covering the insects. Now, if they suffered damage that would deal them more than 50% full HP damage, the poison would kick in and make them lose an additional 20% health. ¡°All good,¡± Marie said, giving Horace a thumbs-up. Amari reappeared and brandished his two iron claws quickly. Thanks to the [Junior Bugkeeper] set effect and Marie¡¯s poison, each strike one-shot a beetle. Before Horace¡¯s defensive skill ever wore off, all the bugs fell motionless, and light enveloped all three players. "Sweet. Level 19. This really is the best hunting ground," Horace praised, his health regeneration already working to repair the damage he suffered earlier. "True," Marie said as she helped pick the loot. "It¡¯s not bad money either. Axe beetle glands sell well." "How are you feeling about your change to the ninja class?" Horace asked Amari. "I''m getting the hang of it. I was already used to wielding a short sword when enemies got too close for me to use a bow. These claws are very similar. I just need more practice. Overall, it¡¯s a good change. I feel this class offers more tactical options." "That''s great," Horace said heartily. There was a splash and a rustle, which caused the three players to raise their heads in alarm. ¡°A stray bug?¡± whispered Marie. ¡°No. Something larger,¡± Amari suggested. The group carefully scanned their surroundings with their backs turned toward each other. There was another splash and a scraping sound, but they still couldn¡¯t see where it came from. ¡°Maybe it¡¯s a PKer,¡± Horace theorized as he clasped his hands around his war hammer. ¡°Did IronIre find us again?¡± Marie asked. After a few more tense moments, Horace caught some movement from the corner of his eyes. ¡°Over there!¡± Horace pointed to their 5 o¡¯clock. From behind a mangrove tree, a weird creature emerged. It was barely visible, given how it blended in the background. Horace frowned, trying to identify what sick swamp monster this was. It looked like a walking bush, its skin covered in droopy, green moss, and it walked on two feet. Horace blinked a few times. ¡°Wait a minute. Isn¡¯t that a player?¡± A hand popped from the side of the bush, making Horace step back. For a moment, Horace feared the player was going to draw a weapon. However, the hand just waved at them. ¡°Hey, guys!¡±Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings. The voice sounded familiar. Horace felt Amari¡¯s hand slap his back as he burst out laughing. "It''s not a monster, silly. It''s just Jack!" * Jack¡¯s trip from the gate to this map had been breezy. He loved the moss suit. More than once, he¡¯d gotten within a few steps away from a dinosaur, and even though they were looking straight at him, they couldn¡¯t see him. It was as if these clothes made him invisible. Had he known this item allowed him to travel so safely, he would have crafted it long ago. It wasn¡¯t just creatures either. Players had more than once seemed unaware of his presence. Jack began challenging himself to come closer and closer to players as the trip proceeded, and many had only spotted him when he was five steps away from them. However, as expected of a team of veterans, Amari¡¯s gang had spotted him immediately. As Jack approached them, he studied their gear. In the short time they hadn¡¯t seen each other, their equipment had experienced a complete makeover. Amari was clad in the complete junior bugkeeper set, which included a sleek, tight-fitting outfit and a netted hat covering his face. The outfit was a patchwork of earthy browns and greens. Strapped to his hands were gleaming blue combat claws. Marie donned a dark green suit. Its fabric was reinforced with the occasional armor plate. Around her waist, she wore a utility belt bristled with small, cylindrical recipients. Two more belts crisscrossed her chest in an X pattern, festooned with bottles, vials, and containers of various shapes and sizes. They held a rainbow of liquids: bright crimson, toxic yellow, sickly green, and shimmering silver. Horace was a walking fortress. His body was encased in heavy metal armor that clanged with each step. His massive shield was adorned with battle scars that told tales of countless clashes. In his other hand, he wielded a menacing war hammer, its head a brutal combination of a sharp spike and a blunt head. "Hey guys," Jack greeted, his hands barely visible through the moss suit. "Hi, Jack. I see you''re wearing the moss suit," Amari said. Jack nodded happily. "I know its attributes suck, but no one bothered me on the way here." "Yeah, the bonus to stealth will help you navigate most maps under level 25 with no problem. It''s a good piece of equipment," Amari admitted. "Right. So, how have you guys been? You seem to have progressed quite a bit since we last met." "Oh yeah, we''re almost level 20," Horace bragged. ¡°Already?!¡± Jack choked. "So you need help capturing the queen, is it?" Marie interjected. "Yes, I do. Thank you for helping me with it, guys." "Don''t worry, we owe you one. By the way, since you''re here, can''t you start a fire or something? I''m almost out of stamina,¡± said Amari. "Sure. Just add me to the party first," Jack requested. AmariNinja has invited you to his party. Would you like to accept? As soon as Jack accepted the invitation, his companions'' health and stamina bars appeared in the corner of his vision. Their health was almost full. Therefore, instead of starting a fire, Jack reached for his ocarina and played Sitting Wind. Somehow, the swamp suited the soft melody. The distant croak of amphibians and buzz of insects acted as percussion. The still water of the surrounding swamp helped carry the sound, spreading it through the wetlands. The melody sweetened the swamps while the swamps darkened the tune. When Jack finished playing, the stamina bars of his friends had recovered significantly. Just as he was about to play the tune again, Amari¡¯s hands landed on his shoulders. ¡°Jack¡­ you¡­¡± This was Jack''s first time seeing Amari speechless. Glancing over at Horace and Marie, he found they were shocked, too. Marie¡¯s jaw almost touched the ground, and Horace lifted the visor in his helmet, revealing a pale face and widened eyes. "You''re a bard." Amari finally managed. "Yeah." ¡°You lucky duck,¡± Amari said, shaking his head. Jack couldn¡¯t help but feel a little proud of prying this reaction off this group of seasoned veterans. The dots connected in Jack¡¯s mind: the comment section in videos featuring bards, the players wanting to talk to him at the gate, and how amazed Amari and the others looked¡­ the bard profession was even more valuable than he had assumed. "But I thought you were a potter and a bushcrafter. Did you delete one of them to make room for the bard profession?" Horace asked. Jack scratched his head. "Well, about that, I kind of had an accident," Jack said, unable to think of a better word to describe it. "What kind of accident?" Amari pressed. "I kind of unlocked a hidden class," Jack said. The three players exchanged unbelieving glances. ¡°But [Bard] is a profession. Not a class,¡± Marie countered. ¡°He misspoke, Marie. He meant ¡®hidden profession.¡¯ Right, Jack?¡± ¡°Uh¡­ no. I meant what I said. I have a hidden class.¡± The group¡¯s shock and disbelief shifted to a hungry curiosity. "What kind of hidden class?" Amari asked, eyes burning. "Off the record?" "Of course, of course. I won''t add it to the channel," Amari promised. Jack put his hands on his waist, puffed up his chest, and assumed a heroic pose. "I''m a handyman!¡± Horace blinked a few times. ¡°That doesn''t sound very fearsome.¡± "What does a handyman do?" Amari pressed. "Here, see for yourself," Jack replied, sharing the general details of the class in the party chat. The veterans looked like traffic lights, their expressions alternating between excitement, confusion, and befuddlement. Jack had thought long and hard about whether he should share the details of his hidden class with Amari and the others. After much thought, Jack decided to take the risk. Firstly, the information was worthless even if he explained how he had triggered the rare quest that had won him this class. Rob had explained to him that rare quests were unique. If there were other hidden quest lines that led to the handyman class, they would differ from what Jack had experienced. Secondly, he liked these three. He had genuinely enjoyed raiding the compy ruins with Amari and doing the bug-capturing quest with all three. The feeling seemed mutual, given how promptly they had agreed to help him capture a bee queen. This gesture of goodwill might cement their relationship. Finally, they were all experienced players. Rob was too, but he was more of a casual gamer. These were pros who could provide Jack with valuable insight into making the most of his class. ¡°So? What do you think?¡± Jack prompted. ¡°Its limitations are no joke,¡± Horace said. ¡°So you retained your two first professions and became a bard on top of that. I guess that ocarina is made of clay, and you crafted it. Yes?¡± Amari reasoned. ¡°That''s right.¡± ¡°And you want to become a beekeeper. I see.¡± Jack could almost see the gears turning in Amari¡¯s mind. ¡°So. What do you think of this hidden class, Amari? Does it have a future?¡± Amari remained silent for a few moments, maturing his opinion. He looked Jack in the eye, ready to voice it. Amari was the most knowledgeable player Jack knew personally in the game. His opinion mattered a lot. Jack gulped, heart racing. What would the streamer say? Ch. 69 - Amari鈥檚 Assessment All eyes were on Amari, waiting for him to voice his opinion. Horace and Marie remained quiet. The streamer collected his thoughts and began giving his assessment. ¡°Jack, your class is interesting.¡± ¡°Right, I know it''s interesting. I want to know if you think it''s a good class,¡± Jack pressed. Amari tilted his head and paused. ¡°Have you ever heard of a player called MyrrhMaker?¡± ¡°No, not really.¡± ¡°He also unlocked a hidden class. In his case, the samurai class.¡± "Samurai? That sounds dope.¡± Amari chuckled. ¡°You can look up his channel online. He shared everything that he went through, as well as the details of the samurai class. It relies on sword draws. Myrhh invested a lot of resources trying to level it up. Unfortunately, he faced several bumps along the way." "What kind of bumps?" Jack asked. "He had a tough time getting equipment. For example, he was forced to carry the same horrible katana from level 10 to level 36. The class also relied on working along a questline, and he got stuck on one of the stages for weeks. Long story short, after trying to make the class work for a couple of months, he reset his account and restarted with a mainstream class." "That sounds terrible. Are you saying that I should reset my account?" "No. Not that. I¡¯m just giving you some examples of players with hidden classes. Here is a more optimistic one. Have you heard of Kraken?" "Kraken?" Jack raised an eyebrow. The name sounded familiar. "He''s considered to be the best player in New Earth. He also has a hidden class. He hasn''t divulged its details, but is related to the sea. He''s a pirate, a captain, an admiral, or whatever. Either way, he unlocked it and started exploring the ocean. He¡¯s unmatched in naval warfare. Thanks to him, his guild is unbeatable." "So what you''re trying to tell me," Jack reasoned, trying to discern the hidden meaning in Amari''s words, "is that hidden classes can go either way." Amari nodded seriously. "That''s right. I don''t mean to scare you or rain on your parade. But with hidden classes, you either make it work and become very powerful or make mistakes, reach a dead-end, and have to reset your account.¡± ¡°High risk, high reward,¡± Marie chimed in. Amari continued. ¡°If you get the right synergies, this handyman class has great potential. Either way, I think you should experiment with it. Who knows? Maybe you''ll luck out and become powerful like Kraken did." After hearing prophecies of doom and cautionary tales, Jack was relieved to listen to some hopeful words. He hung on to those. "What do you think of my choices of minors so far?" "I''m guessing that pottery and bushcrafting weren¡¯t really your choices." "No. It was part of the quest that got me this hidden class,¡± Jack admitted. "So, the bard minor was your first move. Brilliant.¡± ¡°R-really?¡± ¡°Bards are very rare in the game,¡± Horace explained, excited. ¡°Marie here has tried to become one, but she has zero talent for music. I''d rather listen to nails on a chalkboard than hear her sing.¡± Marie stepped violently on Horace¡¯s shoes. ¡°Good try, but the tips of these boots are covered in metal.¡± Amari chuckled but kept going. ¡°I''ve only met a handful of bards in the game. Big guilds seek them out. They can bring the DPS of a party to a whole new level. How did you learn it? If you don¡¯t mind me asking.¡± Jack furrowed his brow. Should he remind Amari that this was all off the record? Remembering times when Jack had been too mistrustful or obnoxious, he reined in his doubts and gave the information. ¡°I saw an NPC playing a flute. He invited me to sing something as he played. I improvised a little melody, and I became a bard.¡± ¡°It confirms your theory, Marie,¡± Amari said, turning toward the group¡¯s grenadier. ¡°What theory?¡± Jack asked. Marie explained. ¡°That¡¯s how you become a bard in a game. Sometimes, players with free minor slots are thrown into a situation where their musical aptitude is tested. If you pass the test, you get the profession. In my previous account, I turned in a quest at an inn, and a performer asked me to join her. I tried to sing as she played the lute, but nothing happened.¡± ¡°I was there,¡± Horace said, laughing. ¡°The world should be thankful that she didn¡¯t become a bard. After her performance, the bartender had to throw all his glasses into the bin. She managed to make every single one of them crack.¡± ¡°You little¡­¡± Marie chased after Horace, as he laughed and ran away. He created a wide enough gap and put a tree between the two. Marie tried to chase him around the tree, but Horace kept a step ahead. "Your singing sounds like a cat arguing with a vacuum cleaner!" he teased.This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. ¡°Get back here, you human bulldozer!¡± ¡°Are those two always like this?¡± Jack asked, chuckling. ¡°Oh yes. But don¡¯t mind them. Going back to your choice of professions, I think you were fortunate in unlocking the bard minor. Even if nothing else about your class works, you can guarantee your future in the game just with the bard profession.¡± Hearing how much value Amari placed on his profession, even over the hidden class, Jack felt elated. Joining Master Kevin when he played a tune for the pigs in the cave had been worth it. That was sheer luck, though. His very first planned choice was the next minor on his list. ¡°What about becoming a beekeeper.¡± ¡°It''s a fascinating choice. I can see why you made it. It¡¯s one of the few minors that offers a way of dealing damage. Smart.¡± Jack sighed in relief. ¡°That¡¯s good to hear.¡± Amari''s serious face turned into a grin. "Even if this handyman class turns out to be subpar, it sure is super fun. I can''t wait to see what happens when you become a beekeeper.¡± Horace was currently dodging firecrackers and grenades thrown by Marie. Amari raised his voice to interrupt their bickering. ¡°What do you say, guys? Shall we see what happens with Jack''s class?" "Absolutely," Horace said. ¡°Fine,¡± Marie said. "Thanks, guys!¡± ¡°Let''s go find that bee queen then. Follow us. We''ll show you a good spot to catch one." The group headed in single file in the direction Jack had just come from. The first light rays shone on the horizon, hidden by the trees. The sky had changed from a pitch black to a lighter blue. It would be morning soon. "Are we leaving the swamps?" Jack asked. "The bees prefer the jungle." "How do we go about capturing one?" "Two options. One, you kill every worker and drone in a beehive until only the queen is left.¡± ¡°That¡¯s what we did in the quest we did together,¡± Horace added from the front of the formation. ¡°We might have to do that again, even though it will be much easier now that we have higher levels.¡± As a future beekeeper, the thought of slaughtering a whole beehive made Jack feel queasy. ¡°What¡¯s option two?¡± ¡°We can capture a queen bee while she¡¯s in the middle of a nuptial flight." "What is that?" Jack asked. "Whenever someone terminates a beehive, another one spawns. A queen bee will fly from another nearby hive and start her own. It¡¯s loosely similar to what happens in the real world. Let us know if you see a bee like the one we captured last time flying around. Even though, to be honest, it won''t be easy." "Then we get her in a trap," Horace said, pulling one out of his inventory. "And Marie here will put her to sleep." "Easy peasy," Amari said. Hearing how his companions had figured everything out for him, Jack felt a weight come off his shoulders. The quest felt as good as done. The group marched through the jungle. They came upon a glade filled with creatures. Giant centipedes slithered on the ground between the bushes and up the trees. Their shiny shells were bright blue and purple. Due to a lack of players nearby, they had been spawning unchecked, and the meadow was packed. ¡°Wehey. Nightmare centipedes. What do you think, Amari?¡± "I think it''s worth the trouble," Amari said. "Jack, just stay back." Seeing the three veterans standing between him and the monsters made Jack feel safer than a moss suit ever could. It was like he was inside a fortress; nothing could get to him. Battle Call! Horace screamed. It was a war cry, meant to buff himself. He ran ahead of the group, straight toward the centipedes, banging his hammer against his shield. The insects raised their long bodies like snakes poised to strike, their legs skittering in a scary display. The tank remained unafraid and relaxed, standing in the middle of the creatures. He never panicked. Even if he had to take a hit, he always positioned himself to receive the most minor damage possible. Sometimes, with one single step, he evaded several strikes. It almost looked like Horace had eyes in the back of his head. Even though Jack had spent much time with Amari, Horace, and Marie, he hadn¡¯t seen them fight much. Other than the occasional casual skirmishes with porkies, all he¡¯d seen them do was run away from animals or arrive at camp with captured ones. Seeing Horace perform this delicate dance as he held his ground against at least 20 centipedes was awe-inspiring. Off to his side, Marie grabbed two vials from her utility belts without looking. She threw one at Horace, releasing a green cloud of smoke, and then she threw one on their location, releasing a blue cloud. You¡¯re affected by [Camomile Cloud]. ¡°What did you just do?¡± Jack asked curiously. "This is an aggro dispersal cloud. It makes centipedes less likely to attack us." "And what did you throw at Horace?" "It makes everyone¡¯s attack speed a little slower." Now that she mentioned it, everyone¡¯s movements, including Horace¡¯s, had become slightly sluggish. ¡°Does it also affect Horace?" "Yes.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t that¡­ bad?¡± Marie shook her head. ¡°The trickiest thing about being a grenadier is that many of your bombs affect both ally and foe. You have to think things through before using any bomb. In this case, slowing everyone down works for us. I¡¯m buying Horace time." Jack observed Horace¡¯s movements. With the centipedes¡¯ reduced attack speed, he could easily dodge their strikes. The speed at which his health bar was decreasing also slowed down considerably. ¡°He¡¯s built up enough aggro,¡± Amari said, interrupting the explanation. "Ready when you are." Marie reached into the side pockets of her utility belts. With each hand, she grabbed four little black containers, one between her fingers. She swung her hands, throwing them in different directions, making crackling and popping sounds ring out across the battlefield. Several damage numbers appeared on the centipedes. -24 -29 -81 -45 -31 Amari approached Horace, swiping his claws left and right. With each strike, one centipede would fall. -313! Your party has hunted a midnight centipede. +200XP -412! Your party has hunted a midnight centipede. +200XP Whatever centipedes had a sliver of health left received either a hammer blow from Horace, an exploding vial from Marie, or a throwing star from Amari. After two minutes, all the centipedes were dead. The stamina bar of all three had dropped significantly, so Jack played Sitting Wind while they picked up the loot. You¡¯ve played [Sitting Wind]. Success rate: B. +100 bard XP. Audience bonus: +300 bard XP. As soon as he finished, Amari turned to him. "Well done, Jack, but next time, you can play while we are hunting them. There''s no need for you to wait until we finish. That''s the best thing about bards. You can help us recover during the fight." "Yes, and you should practice playing while you move," Horace explained. "The cloud of aggro dispersal smoke that Marie used on you won''t work for high-level mobs." The veterans¡¯ advice hit Jack like a hammer. It made perfect sense. Why wait until the battle was over? He had to make himself useful. Horace¡¯s suggestion about learning how to multi-task was also timely. Although he had experience playing the guitar in a quiet room or before a small crowd, he had never practiced playing music while running and dodging a barrage of attacks from prehistoric insects trying to kill him. "Okay, guys, I''ll try," Jack said eagerly. "Did you get good XP?" Horace asked curiously. For the first time in a while, Jack looked at his XP bar. "Oh my goodness, I''m almost level 11!" "Great! If we see more good spots like this, we''ll clear them too. Let''s keep scouring this map until we find the queen bee.¡± "Let¡¯s do this!" Jack accepted happily. Ch. 70 - Elite ¡°Whey! I just found another [Nightmare Teeth]!¡± Jack said to Horace, with a puffed-up chest. ¡°Darn it! I¡¯m now 15 to 16. Just wait! I¡¯m sure there are still more left to find.¡± RobbieRobber is calling you! ¡°Excuse me, Horace. I¡¯m getting a call from my cousin.¡± ¡°No worries. Get the call. I¡¯ll pick up the rest.¡± ¡°Hey! Pause on our competition. Whatever you pick up doesn¡¯t count while I¡¯m on this call.¡± Horace waved Jack off, and he ran to the edge of the clearing to answer his cousin¡¯s call. ¡°Hey, Rob.¡± ¡°What¡¯s up, Jackie?¡± ¡°Nothing much. Thank you for lunch. Your droid sure can cook.¡± ¡°Good. Good. Listen, I¡¯m finally done! Sorry. This raid took much longer than I was expecting.¡± ¡°Was it worth it? Did you have fun?¡± Rob¡¯s laugh on the other side of the call told Jack it¡¯d been more than a little worth it. ¡°How are things on your side?¡± Jack looked over to Amari, Marie, and Horace. They pointed in different directions, trying to decide where to go next. ¡°It¡¯s going well. I¡¯m with some friends. They¡¯re helping me out with a quest.¡± ¡°What quest?¡± Rob asked with an edgy curiosity. Knowing what Rob was thinking, it was Jack¡¯s time to laugh. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Rob. It¡¯s not a rare quest. Just a common one.¡± His cousin sighed in relief. ¡°What about your two new minors?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve made my decision: bard and beekeeper.¡± Rob burst out laughing. ¡°Sorry to laugh, cousin. It¡¯s just that you can¡¯t just become a bard because you want to. Bards are super rare.¡± Jack remained silent, wearing a wolfish grin. He would wait until he was face to face with his cousin to tell him he was a bard already. ¡°Should I come and meet you in Embersgate or not?¡± Jack scratched his head. They had been looking for a queen bee for one hour without any luck. ¡°This quest might still take a while. I¡¯ll call you when I¡¯m done. Is that alright?¡± ¡°Sure thing. Don¡¯t forget to log out to have dinner. It¡¯s 6 pm in the real world. Shall we eat at 7?¡± ¡°Of course. Will do, buddy.¡± His cousin disconnected, and Jack ran over to meet the others. ¡°Sorry, guys. Just talking to my cousin.¡± ¡°No worries. We think it¡¯s time to return to the first clearing where we fought those nightmare centipedes. What do you think?¡± Jack bit his lip. ¡°To be honest, I have no idea. I trust your judgment, guys.¡± ¡°OK. Let¡¯s go, then,¡± Amari declared. Horace let Amari lead the formation so that he could walk alongside Jack. ¡°Level 6 yet?¡± ¡°No, not yet. Just a little bit more, and I¡¯ll get there.¡± ¡°Cool, cool. I can¡¯t wait to see if you learn a new song at level 6. Something that boosts defense would be great.¡± ¡°Who needs defense? What mamma wants is something that boosts AoE damage!¡± Marie said from behind. Amari pretended to ignore the conversation, but Jack was sure he would have liked something that helped him deal extra critical damage. ¡°I¡¯ll let you know once I unlock it, guys. Promise!¡± Jack smiled, seeing the enthusiasm the rest of the group felt for him. He had enjoyed maintaining a campsite for the team, but being able to join them and being in the middle of the action was even better. He didn¡¯t feel like a deadweight anymore. Thanks to [Sitting Wind], he could keep the team¡¯s stamina topped up, allowing them to move boldly and finish fights faster. Despite much of the jungle looking the same, Jack could tell they had been here earlier. The sky had lightened, changing the colors of the pond, but he could still identify the peculiar, lone dead tree emerging from the middle of the stale pond. They had been here shortly after hunting the first group of nightmare centipedes. They kept marching until Amari raised his hand, signaling the party to stop. He called the group, including Jack, to peek into the clearing. Thirty nightmare centipedes roamed the patch of grass in the middle of the trees. There was something slightly different, though. One of them stood out. It was longer than the other centipedes, and a bright yellow line ran across its back. ¡°Sweet!¡± Marie whispered. ¡°We¡¯ve killed enough common mobs to make the big guy come out,¡± Horace exclaimed. ¡°What is that?¡± Jack hissed.If you come across this story on Amazon, it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it. ¡°An elite,¡± Amari said with a tone of respect. ¡°Oh! A boss?! This is my first time running into one,¡± Jack confessed. ¡°Its drops are much better than the common rabble¡¯s.¡± ¡°Harder to kill, too,¡± Amari added. ¡°Should we give it a go?¡± Marie suggested. Amari weighed the options, and his eyes landed on Jack. ¡°With our mighty bard pumping us with stamina, we might just pull it off. What do you say, Jack?¡± ¡°I-I¡¯ll do my best.¡± ¡°Good! I think those bushes a little earlier are a good spot.¡± ¡°Agreed,¡± Marie said. ¡°A good spot for what?¡± questioned Jack. He got no answer, though. He was talking to the wind. Amari had disappeared into the treeline, and Horace and Marie ran in the opposite direction. Jack waited for a few moments, unsure of what to do. This group had played together for a long time. Seeing how they could communicate with just one nod, a look, or a simple gesture was frustrating. These things were so ingrained in them that they didn¡¯t even fathom that Jack couldn¡¯t follow them sometimes. Horace finally whirled back and beckoned Jack to follow. They arrived at a group of thorny bushes. Horace took his stand in front of them. Marie turned to Jack. ¡°You¡¯re with me, Jack. Don¡¯t play until we tell you to.¡± The jungle was quiet. There were a few whistles, the shrieks of centipedes, and then the rustling of vegetation, which grew louder. Amari appeared through the bush with five nightmare centipedes in tow. Shield Wall! -6 -6 -6 -6 -6 Horace struck his shield on the ground, creating a shockwave that sent the centipedes a few steps back. Marie and Amari started dealing damage from the sides. The centipedes were caught in a crossfire of acid bombs, Amari¡¯s throwing stars, and the blows of Horace¡¯s hammer. In a few moments, they were all dead. Jack¡¯s jaw dropped throughout the whole ordeal. It wasn¡¯t because of the speed with which they had disposed of these monsters or how Amari had managed to pull only five centipedes from a clearing with at least 30 of them. It was how quiet the whole battle had been. They had hardly made a sound. Were they trying to prevent the other centipedes from joining the fray? Amari disappeared back into the bush toward the clearing without a word, and Marie and Horace reset their positions. Amari reappeared, this time pulling seven centipedes. The encounter went just as the first one, and Jack even gained a level off it, reaching level 13. ¡°I think we can deal with the rest now. Jack, as soon as we reach the clearing, you can play [Sitting Wind]. Let¡¯s go.¡± Gritting his teeth, Jack ran, trying to keep up. Horace had already charged into the clearing, and his skin shone a dull copper as he took hit after hit from the centipedes. -4 -4 -5 -4 Not even the elite could make a dent in his large health bar. -12 -14 Amari was finished using throwing stars and was back at using his claws. The bonus of the bug keeper set made the blades tear through the centipedes¡¯ hard shells with a satisfying, crisp, clear, tearing sound. He only needed two hits at most to finish a centipede off. -321 -314 Marie circled the battlefield, throwing bombs to alleviate some pressure on Horace or to finish up stragglers left with a sliver of health. Jack brought the ocarina to his lips and played Sitting Wind. The slow and mellow melody suited the atmosphere of a battle''s aftermath, a calm and quiet setting. Seeing the rest of the team fighting so desperately to its slow tune was a little weird. The setting certainly deserved something more heroic. After playing the song, Jack received a couple of pleasant notifications! You¡¯ve played [Sitting Wind]. Success rate: A-. +200 bard XP. Audience bonus: +400 bard XP. You¡¯ve reached Bard, level 6. You¡¯ve learned [March of the Embers]. Not only did he get an A- rate, but Jack finally leveled up his bard profession and learned his second song right in the middle of the battle. His excitement was interrupted by a loud bang. BOOM! Horace was forced to take a headbutt from the centipede elite head-on and lost a large chunk of his stamina bar. His shield, too, looked a little banged up. Jack could only imagine how much the equipment¡¯s durability must have dropped. Amari was already slashing the elite centipede across its back, making it thrash violently and chase after the ninja. There was something wrong, though. The sound of Amari¡¯s metal claws hitting the elite¡¯s shell was different from before. It sounded like metal scraping against metal. The damage values were much lower, too. -25 -43 The elite¡¯s defense couldn¡¯t be compared to a regular mob¡¯s. Horace used a skill that usually dealt significant damage, and it didn¡¯t even break the double-digits. Hammer Blow! -9! Target deals 10% less damage for 10 seconds. It wasn¡¯t just the elite¡¯s defense that was higher. It moved differently from regular centipedes. While the normal monster always coiled backward before striking, the elite attacked without notice, sometimes changing its trajectory in the middle of the attack. It could dodge many of Amari¡¯s attacks and was much more challenging to pin down. The centipede dodged Amari¡¯s slash, slithered past Horace, and spat a blob of mucus. It was brown and slimy and sizzled as it hit Horace¡¯s chest plate. -20 -20 -20 -20 -20 Several damage values appeared over his head, forcing him to drink a health potion. Jack did the only thing he could to help with the fight. He played [Sitting Wind], ensuring his companions¡¯ stamina bar was packed. With Horace out of the battle, waiting for the recovery effects to kick in, the centipede turned toward Jack, making him gulp and miss one of the notes. The centipede spat a blob of slime in his direction. Thankfully, it had done so from far away, and Jack had seen the attack before. He barely dodged it, but a little of it touched his bushy moss suit. Tzzzz! Jack played the tune to the end, got a measly D, and hurried to check the durability of his moss suit. It had dropped by 10! What a monstrous attack! Finally, Horace¡¯s health was restored, and he charged the elite. The elite centipede¡¯s health bar was still in the green zone. This battle would still take a while. As the battle progressed, Marie proved to be the star of the show. She never stopped throwing vials, crackling bombs, and concoctions non-stop, emptying her previously full utility belts. The different poisons and chemicals kept stacking, hindering the elite¡¯s movements more and more. Sharp Venom! Target loses five health per second for 30 seconds. Acidic Shower! Target loses one health per second for two minutes. Paralyzing Toxin! Target moves 10% slower for 30 seconds. The battle hit a comfortable pace thanks to Marie, and the party''s stamina expenditure was under control. The satisfaction of feeling useful that Jack had been experiencing quickly waned in this drawn-out fight. He wasn¡¯t doing anything right now. He watched the battle, trying to think of ways to help. That¡¯s when he had an idea. Jack told himself that what he was about to do wasn¡¯t stupid. However, what did he have to lose? He ensured the centipede elite¡¯s eyes weren¡¯t on him and selected his new song, [March of the Embers]. He wanted to help his friends, and maybe this song would help them finish up this powerful monster. Ch. 71 - March of the Embers The description of March of the Embers made Jack¡¯s heart race. March of the Embers (Level 1 Melody) Description: This impactful melody inspires bravery. Whenever you play this melody, all your allies deal more damage. Melody Type: Epic The melody type! he thought, excited. It was an epic tune. Jack put the yellow ocarina away. This was the second one he was using¡ªthe first one had only one durability point left. He grabbed a red ocarina from his inventory instead. Earthenware Ocarina (Rare) Crafting grade: A+ Description: An iron red-glazed alto C clay ocarina handcrafted for a rich, mellow tone and smooth finish. Durability: 36+20 Artistry: 15+5 Crafting grade bonus: +20 durability; +5 artistry. Iron red glaze bonus: Epic songs are +15% more powerful. Its description said that it boosted epic song effects by 15%. He had lucked out. This ocarina could boost March of the Embers. He glanced at his battling companions, and his eyes landed on Amari. The only team member who hadn¡¯t voiced his desire for a specific type of melody would gain the most from Jack¡¯s advancement in the bard profession. The battle scene grayed out, and Jack gulped as he was introduced to the new tune. The rhythm was quick! The ocarinist hardly stopped between the succession of fast notes rising in intensity. As he listened to the epic music, Horace¡¯s movements, Amari¡¯s slashes, and even the centipede¡¯s thrashing motions suddenly looked heroic. Now, this was a worthy soundtrack for a fierce battle. Jack heard the melody a second time. Much of the daunting succession of notes that had scared him at first turned out to be segments of scales and arpeggios that he¡¯d done many times at the same speed. All he had to do was to rearrange these building blocks and put them in the proper order. He closed his eyes, trying to imagine his fingers moving and playing each note. That¡¯s when he was hit in the face, his health bar decreasing by half. -20 -20 -20 ¡°Careful, Jack! Don¡¯t space out!¡± ¡°Sorry! Sorry! It caught me by surprise.¡± Annoyed by how the centipede had made a fool out of him, Jack hid behind a tree. He replayed the song, trying to memorize the sequence of notes and rehearsing the fingering positions mentally. Jack was out of the battle for a couple of minutes, and when he returned, the centipede¡¯s health bar was already in the yellow zone, close to the red. Everyone¡¯s stamina bars were two-thirds spent. The first thing Jack did was to play Sitting Wind to replenish their strengths. As he played the melody, he couldn¡¯t help but feel the stark contrast between its slow rhythm and the accelerated pace of March of the Embers. ¡°Thanks, Jack!¡± Amari thanked as he dodged a blob and threw two throwing stars at the centipede, dead in its eyes, creating an opening for Horace to bash its head with his hammer. They all looked relaxed, and the centipede would still die even if he didn¡¯t do anything else. Jack risked playing the new song. His first attempt came out as a jumbled mess, drawing a curious glance from Marie. Jack sighed. Playing a song well on the first try wasn''t easy, especially before an audience and in the heat of a battle. Given how badly it went, Jack decided to dream smaller. He rehearsed the first section of the song. He tried each riff slowly, ensuring he got the notes right. There was a tricky bit where he had to play nine notes in quick succession. A few intervals in this segment weren¡¯t familiar to him; they didn¡¯t match any scale, arpeggio, or bits of Sitting Wind. He still had to drill new motions into his muscle memory. Once satisfied with the first section, he tried the second one. ¡°Are you learning a new song?¡± Horace asked excitedly as he sidestepped an attack. Amari answered for him. ¡°He must have leveled up while filling our stamina, and since he¡¯s just watching the battle, he¡¯s trying to figure it out.¡± Jack bit his lip. These veterans could chat leisurely, even when fighting an elite monster. ¡°You got me,¡± Jack shouted back to them. ¡°Does it boost defense?¡± Horace tried. Jack ignored the question and went back to his rehearsal. He spent a few moments on the last section of the song. Once he could play each building block roughly, he tried bringing the whole thing together. The first few bars sounded close to the original, albeit slightly slower. He slowed down even more once he reached the middle of the song. Given how the last part had many similarities with the first part of the song, he felt more confident and accelerated a bit. He butchered the ending. Fortunately, the system still recognized his efforts.The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there. You¡¯ve played [March of the Embers]. Success Rate: D- +20XP in [Bard] Audience bonus: +50XP in [Bard] All your allies deal 10(+2%) damage for 3 seconds. The system gave him a barely passing grade. However, the exciting news was that the boost to damage from his red ocarina helped the damage go from 10% to 12%! The buff to his party lasted for a measly 3 seconds. Seeing their weapons glow red, Amari slashed the centipede. -32! -48! ¡°Cool! Thanks, Jack!¡± ¡°Let me try,¡± Horace said excitedly. Hammer Blow! -10! Target deals 10% less damage for 10 seconds. ¡°Wow! You finally broke into the double digits,¡± Amari mocked. ¡°Shut up, Amari. I¡¯m a tank! I¡¯m supposed to soak damage, not deal it. I¡¯m just picking your slack here.¡± The buff wore off quickly, but it still worked. Jack tried again. On his second try, the middle of the song didn¡¯t go as well as the first time, but conversely, the finale was much better. You¡¯ve played [March of the Embers]. Success Rate: D+ +30XP in [Bard] Audience bonus: +60XP in [Bard] All your allies deal 10(+2%) damage for 10 seconds. The moment he finished playing, he started again. The song took over 30 seconds, so he couldn¡¯t keep his allies buffed even if he played non-stop. After a few Ds, he finally got a C, which increased the buff to 15 seconds, and just as he was starting to get comfortable with the new song, the elite fell to the ground, and everyone became enveloped in light. You¡¯ve defeated the Golden-Striped Nightmare Centipede. +20,000XP Congratulations! You¡¯ve reached level 13! Congratulations! You¡¯ve reached level 14! You¡¯ve unlocked a new title: [Slayer of Monsters]. Slayer of Monsters (Common) Title description: You¡¯ve seen things and been places. Monsters that frighten little children have perished by your blade. Effects: +1 attack Conditions to unlock [Slayer of Monsters]: Slay 100 common monsters; {complete} And slay one elite monster. {complete}. ¡°Yes!¡± Jack said, raising his fist in the air. He loved his new title! The veterans didn¡¯t show as much enthusiasm and instead rushed to where the elite had died, looking for loot. Jack approached the party. ¡°Anything good?¡± ¡°Oh, yeah. Check it out!¡± Horace handed all the items over to Jack. There was a weapon, a recipe, and a skill book. Other than that, there were some coins and 12 [Nightmare Teeth], an item that the average nightmare centipede occasionally dropped. The elite alone dropped as many teeth as 100 normal centipedes would. Jack examined the more unique items. The weapon was a yellow whip, the same line that ran along the body of the elite monster. Jack could make out the small joints where the centipede segments used to connect. At the same time, the whip had the hardness and sharpness of the centipede¡¯s armor. Golden Strip Whip (Rare) Description: A flexible strip of chitin that marks all rulers of the nightmare centipedes. It can be used as a whip. Attack: 32 Block: 2 Durability: 78 Effect: 10% chance of inflicting [Bleed]. The two books showed wear and tear, their titles faded, and the covers visibly spent. They were covered in the same slime that the elite centipede had used as projectiles as if these books had been fished from its stomach. Slime Coating (Uncommon) A book containing a biologist¡¯s notes on the nightmare centipedes¡¯ saliva and how they use it to dissolve prey. It includes a recipe the biologist believed could be recreated using a combination of herbs. If these notes are correct, a blade could be coated with this slime thus improving damage. Ingredients: [Nightmare Tooth]; [Shadow Herb]; [Moon Camomile]; [Milk]. Effects: Ground the herbs into a powder, then add milk until it becomes a runny liquid. Finally, add the nightmare tooth. The chemicals in the mixture should dissolve and turn the whole mixture into an acid. Requirements: Journeyman Poisoner, lvl. 2. Prowler¡¯s Skittering Steps (Uncommon) Title description: A book containing a biologist¡¯s notes on the nightmare centipedes and how they use their many legs to sneak up on prey. The centipede has swallowed it, but the writing is still legible. Title effect: Active. +10 stealth for 1 minute. ¡°Alright, everyone. Does anyone want the whip?¡± Jack shrugged. It¡¯s not that he didn¡¯t want it, but he hadn¡¯t crafted it. He couldn¡¯t equip it. Besides, he had dealt 0 damage to the monster. He didn¡¯t deserve anything here. Everyone else passed on the gift as well. ¡°Alright, we can sell it at the market and split it between us. Sounds fair?¡± Horace and Marie nodded while Jack remained silent. ¡°Jack? Sounds fair?¡± Amari asked again. ¡°Oh, I¡¯m sorry. I also get to vote?¡± ¡°Of course! You¡¯re part of the team.¡± ¡°B-but I didn¡¯t deal any damage!¡± ¡°Nonsense, we could never have dealt with this elite if you didn¡¯t help us recover our stamina.¡± Jack felt a catch in his throat and nodded. ¡°Thanks. I¡¯m OK with it being sold, then.¡± ¡°Good, good. The poison recipe should go to Marie. She¡¯s a poisoner, after all. Do you want it, Marie?¡± Marie didn¡¯t say anything but accepted Amari''s book. She leafed through it, and it disappeared. ¡°This leaves us with the last item. The skill is quite good. Even though assassins would give it the best use, any rogue could use it. Do you mind if I take it, Jack?¡± Jack looked at the moss suit he was wearing. It¡¯s true that it boosted stealth and that it would synergize nicely with this skill, but it made more sense for Amari to have it. Wasn¡¯t he the one who scouted ahead of the team and brought monsters to the group in a more manageable number? ¡°You have it, Amari. I can have something else next time.¡± ¡°Is it my impression, or you¡¯ve become more reasonable since we first met?¡± Jack pouted. ¡°Maybe.¡± ¡°Haha. So be it, then. Thanks, Jack.¡± Horace was left to the side with a sad face. ¡°You¡¯ll get something else next time,¡± Amari said, trying to console the tank. ¡°Nah. That¡¯s not what has gotten me down. I thought that Jack¡¯s next skill would boost defense. Why did it have to help you deal even more damage?! You already have so much DPS!¡± Amari grinned. ¡°Haven¡¯t you heard that the best defense is a good offense? If you look at things that way, in a way, the song does boost defense.¡± ¡°Argh. Whatever. Where to now?¡± ¡°I guess that we need to¡­¡± ¡°Hush!¡± Marie said, silencing Amari. Everyone went quiet, and Jack followed Marie¡¯s gaze, trying to see what had gotten her so riled up. There was a dark shape in the trees, moving between the branches. Jack squinted. He thought it was a bird for a moment, but the wings moved too fast. Realizing what Marie was seeing, he widened his eyes. A queen bee! ¡°Well done spotting it!¡± Amari said in hushed tones. He quickly leafed through the book dropped by the elite, learning the skill, and faded against the background. Jack could still see his half-transparent outline since they were in the same party. Amari climbed a tree and, jumping from branch to branch, pursued the queen bee. ¡°Come on, Jack!¡± Horace said, taking off through the ground, followed by Marie. ¡°What are we doing?¡± ¡°Amari will track the queen bee. We are going to try to get ahead of her so that we can set up a trap. Got it? This is going to be quite a sprint. Get ready to juice us up.¡± Jack put the red ocarina away, grabbed a yellow one, and ran after his team. It was time to capture his queen bee! Ch. 72 - Success! Jack moved his legs rapidly, trying to jump over fallen logs, around bushes, or dodge the occasional creature lunging at them. His fingers kept steadily playing Sitting Wind. Playing a slow song while running quickly required a lot of coordination, but Jack made it work. They''d been outpacing the queen bee through the woods for over 10 minutes; his party members needed all the stamina he could give them. Had it not been for Jack¡¯s bard profession, they would have had to give up the chase by now or at least take it more slowly unless the veterans had some consumables or skills that Jack wasn''t aware of. He wouldn¡¯t be surprised if Marie could pull out a steroid bomb or something similar to give them a boost of energy. "Amari just messaged. He¡¯s 500m east of us. I think we''ve gained enough ground on it. Marie, what do you think of this tree?" ¡°It will do,¡± Marie said, jumping to the tree¡¯s trunk and climbing it. Horace joined her, using the branches to propel him upward. Once several meters above the jungle floor, he took a wooden cage from his inventory and set it carefully between two branches, plucking leaves from elsewhere in the tree and covering the cage with them. Marie climbed even higher, positioning herself in a branch over the cage. The canopy foliage was thick enough to hide her. "Heads up!" Marie said, dropping a vial toward Horace. "Thanks." Horace grabbed the container, popped open the cork, and poured its contents all over the cage. "What does that do?" Jack hissed, nervously glancing toward Amari¡¯s location. "Its scent attracts insects. Hopefully, it will lure the queen bee into the cage." "Hopefully? Do we just wait for the queen bee to go into the cage on her own? Is that it?" "Well, that''s the ideal scenario. But don''t worry. We''ll just make her get in, even if she doesn''t want to," Horace explained. "Hush, boys. Amari is almost here." Horace hopped off the branch, landing with a heavy thud, and hurried toward a bush. He had a thin string in his hand that was connected to the cage. What it did was beyond Jack. Maybe he would lasso the queen bee like a cowboy. He didn¡¯t have time to ask what they were thinking, though. Once again, they had forgotten to explain what he had to do! "What do I do?" Jack asked, unsure of what to do. "Just hide," Horace said from behind the bush. Jack looked left and right for a hiding spot and remembered that he was a walking bush. He got down, lying perfectly still. His moss suit would be enough to conceal his presence. There was a faint buzz, and Jack spotted the bird-sized insect flying toward their location. Unlike before, when the queen bee had been flying in a straight line, now it zigzagged as if it were looking for something. From Jack''s understanding, the queen was seeking a soft place to land and build a nest. It circled the tree where Marie hid and landed on the branch with the cage. It approached the cage slowly, walking over it and around it before finally going in. Horace pulled the string, and the trap door slid shut behind the queen bee. Marie dropped vials from above that rained on the cage, releasing clouds of blue smoke. The cage rattled as the queen bee tried to break through the bars. But the chemicals in Marie''s sleeping poison did their thing, and its movements began to slow down. After half a minute, the queen bee finally fell asleep. Amari appeared from the treeline. Horace appeared from behind the bushes. Marie jumped off the tree, joining the group while holding the cage with the sleeping queen bee. "Here you have it, Jack. One prehistoric queen bee." Jack accepted the cage from Marie with trembling hands. "Woah. You guys made capturing it look so easy!" The group laughed. Horace shook his head. ¡°Jack, weren¡¯t you wandering the jungle with us for hours looking for it?¡± ¡°I guess that has to be taken into consideration.¡± ¡°We could only run like crazy after her because you were topping our stamina up,¡± Amari explained. "You didn¡¯t get to see the whole hunt, either. I had to attack the queen bee a few times as she was about to settle on other locations. Herding a queen bee isn¡¯t easy." Jack studied the queen bee through the rough-hewn branches bound together with twine. The queen bee¡¯s veined wings were folded delicately over her striped, amber body. Her antennae twitched slightly as she dreamed. He finally had his queen! Remembering that these went for 500 gold or more in the market, Jack felt a sinking feeling in his stomach. He cleared his throat and spoke up to the group. "How much do I owe you?" The three veterans looked at each other and laughed. "Are you kidding?" ¡°B-but you did most of the work. All I did was run after you while playing music!¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t you just let us keep skills and recipes 30 minutes ago after we took down that centipede boss?¡± asked Marie. Jack scratched his head. He wasn¡¯t used to this. Usually, he took what he could from people, while seeing others do the same to him. This kind of exchange was different. It felt right and sweet. Jack grinned happily. ¡°Thanks! I appreciate it, everyone. Whenever you need honey, make sure you come to me!¡±Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit. "So, shall we go to the city with Jack?" Horace asked, rubbing his hands. Jack frowned. "You want to come with me?" "You can''t build all that suspense about your hidden class and leave us hanging. I¡¯m curious about what''s going to happen. I want to see how this synergizes with the crazy cocktail of minors you already have.¡± Amari chimed in. "Besides, we''ve been hunting for a while, and our inventories are filled to the brim. We need to dump our loot.¡± Jack didn¡¯t blame them. He too was dying of curiosity about how beekeeping would synergize with his other professions. ¡°Okay, let''s return to the entomology department and see what happens." * Jack tapped his foot nervously as the same entomologist who¡¯d given him the quest to become a beekeeper studied the sleeping insect. "She''s a good specimen. She''s young, a perfect queen for a new colony.¡± Jack looked back at the group and gave them a quick thumbs-up. As he turned again to the entomologist, he found that he was walking away with the cage. Where was he going with his queen?! And why hadn¡¯t the quest been marked as completed yet? Was this a scam? ¡°E-excuse me, sir. Is anything the matter with the queen?¡± ¡°No. Not at all, but we need to get this queen some workers.¡± "But I didn''t capture any worker bees. You only told me to get a queen." The entomologist laughed. "Don''t worry about it. I''ll give you some from the habitat. We¡¯ll set some workers aside and let your queen establish a relationship with them first. Please wait a moment.¡± The entomologist disappeared behind the corner. ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± Amari asked. ¡°He said something about my queen needing a group of workers and took off. I don¡¯t know yet.¡± ¡°Look, guys!¡± Marie pointed out. The entomologist emerged from the habitat fully suited up. He walked over to one of the beehives and lifted a wooden lid. Jack expected the bees to go into a frenzy and start attacking the entomologist, but they ignored him almost entirely. ¡°What is he doing?¡± Horace asked. ¡°Beats me,¡± Jack answered. The NPC had his back toward them, blocking their view. After a minute, he removed a wooden frame covered with a whitish structure. Bees were hovering over it. The entomologist disappeared back into the door and, after a few minutes, returned. Jack saw a gaping hole in the previously filled white structure supported by the wooden frame. After a few minutes, the entomologist was back. ¡°I¡¯ve set the workers close to the queen to get them used to each other.¡± ¡°How long will it take?¡± Jack asked. ¡°It won¡¯t take long¡ªa couple of hours. That will give you time to arrange a suitable location to set up your hive. I¡¯d suggest you contact a carpenter and buy a hive from them. You can also go to the agricultural bureau and rent a lot of land to settle your bees there. They give a discount to beekeepers. Speaking of which¡­¡± The man removed his glove and stretched out his hand. ¡°Welcome to the family of beekeepers, young man.¡± [An Introduction to Beekeeping] completed. Congratulations, you¡¯ve become a beekeeper! You¡¯ve learned [Hive Ownership]. You¡¯ve learned [Friendly Scent]. Hive Ownership, lvl. 1. Description: Owning a hive is an important step in beekeeping. As you progress, you might be able to expand the number of hives you can maintain. Effects: You can keep one beehive. Friendly Scent, lvl. 1 Description: You shook hands with a veteran beekeeper, and some of his scent has rubbed off on you. Bees will hesitate before attacking you. Effects: Passive. Bees are slightly less aggressive around you. [Pottery], [Bushcraft], and [Beekeeping] synergize. You¡¯ve learned a new recipe: [Pot Hive]. Jack blinked his eyes a few times. Just like that, he had become a beekeeper. He didn¡¯t have to wait long for his class to activate its synergies. He had learned a new recipe. Before he could find out what it did, he felt a looming, giant shadow behind him. Horace looked like an eager child, looking over Jack¡¯s shoulder as if he could read his system windows. ¡°What did you win? What did you win?¡± ¡°Calm down, big guy! I¡¯m still reading my notifications.¡± Pot Hive Ingredients: 20x [Clay]; 2x [Grass Ropes]; 20x [Small Sticks]. Recipe: Use the clay to mold a large, rounded pot with a secure lid. It should be about 3 feet tall and 2 feet wide. Ensure the pot has ventilation holes for the bees to breathe and holes through which to insert the sticks that will serve as structural support for the honeycomb. Use the grass ropes to create a harness for the ceramic pot. Securely tie the ropes around the top and bottom of the pot, ensuring they are tightly knotted to support the weight. Adjust the ropes to form shoulder straps. Requirements: Clay Molding, Lvl. 3; Rope Weaving, Lvl. 2; Beekeeping, Lvl. 1. Jack grinned happily. Was this what he thought it was? Was this a recipe for a portable beehive? Every guide he¡¯d read about beekeeping included long considerations and dissertations about how location was vital to making a colony thrive, as well as hints on securing the best lots of land. This recipe bypassed all of that! Furthermore, the thing that had drawn Jack the most to this minor was the possibility of having the bees deal some damage for him, thus overcoming one of his class¡¯ biggest weaknesses: he couldn¡¯t deal any damage. He had expected this to come with severe logistics problems, making him go through the hassle of carrying the beehive around hunting fields, but didn¡¯t this recipe fix all of this for him? If he could just carry his beehive around, he wouldn¡¯t have to worry about that! "Look at him; he''s got something good," Horace said excitedly. Even Marie was affected by Horace¡¯s enthusiasm. "What is it, Jack?" Jack shared the details of the recipe with them. "What? You''ll get to carry your beehive around? That''s incredible," Amari said. Jack couldn¡¯t be happier. This recipe had surpassed all his expectations. ¡°Now, all I have to do is make this thing. I¡¯m about to go visit the Pottery Association. What are you guys going to do?¡± Marie yawned. ¡°I¡¯m logging out.¡± Jack remembered his cousin''s admonition to be out by dinner time. "Shoot, I also have to get dinner. Maybe when I log in later tonight, I''ll check where you guys are hunting, and I can join you later." Horace shook his head. ¡°I¡¯m going to take a full day off. I¡¯ll sleep and then tomorrow take my motorcycle out for a spin.¡± ¡°I also need to edit some videos. I won¡¯t be online for a day or so.¡± Jack sighed, disappointed. He had thought they could go hunting together again. He had enjoyed being at a party with them. Picking up on his downcast look, Horace clasped Jack¡¯s shoulders. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Jack. We¡¯ll let you know when we¡¯re back online on Monday. Does that sound good? ¡°That sounds brilliant." Jack bid his farewells, selected the log-out button, and returned to the real world. Ch. 73 - Veggie Soup ¡°I needed this soup, Rob. Thanks.¡± ¡°The droid cooked it. Not me.¡± After having pasta for lunch and given how many hours he¡¯d spent without eating, the bowl of vegetable soup soothed Jack¡¯s empty stomach. He added some croutons to his bowl and offered his cousin the rest of them. ¡°I tell you, I need to get a capsule soon. Playing this game is killing me." "You''re not taking enough breaks," his cousin quickly responded in a fatherly tone. ¡°I get too caught up in the game. I don¡¯t know. Having a capsule just seems more practical.¡± "Do you have any idea how much a capsule costs?" "Not really, no." "I thought so. A brand-new capsule goes for two thousand. If you want the anti-atrophy add-ons, that''s at least another five hundred. Not to mention the nutrient solutions. Those things are expensive. It¡¯s ten times as expensive as having a regular meal. Why do you think I still play with a helmet?" Rob said between spoonfuls of soup. "That does sound expensive," Jack said, scratching his head and quickly dropping any ideas of buying a capsule. "I¡¯ll start taking more breaks, as you''re saying." "Good for you.¡± ¡°So, how did the guild raid go?" Jack asked his cousin. "It was good. A bigger guild hired us to join a castle raid, and we managed to breach the walls. It was good fun. The guild paid us good gold for it, and I got to do some PvPing." The concept of storming a castle beside allied troops and fighting against other players did sound epic. However, this kind of event was far beyond what Jack could manage for now. "What about you? What were you up to?" Rob asked. "Well, I already got my two new minor professions," Jack said with a wolfish grin. ¡°Oh yeah? Which ones did you get?¡± "I''m a level 5 bard." Rob¡¯s spoon fell, splashing a little soup on the white table. He immediately grabbed a cloth and cleaned up his mess, standing up to get himself a clean spoon. "I''m sorry, Jack. I think I misheard you. For a moment, I thought you had said that you had become a bard. Nonsense. You must have meant, ¡®I''m a devil fried lard.¡¯¡± Jack laughed. "I did say I became a bard. I¡¯m level 5 already.¡± "Dude, are you serious?" "Yes," Jack confirmed. His cousin sighed, massaging his temples. "Man, you¡¯re so frustrating! You''re the luckiest duck I''ve ever met. Do you have any idea how much demand there is for bards?! There''s no guild in the game that won''t want you." "Are you serious?" "Yeah. You can ask for whatever you want from most guilds." "Real money offers?" Jack tried. "I wouldn¡¯t go that far. Only top guilds pay salaries. But joining a 2nd tier or 3rd tier guild is still a sweet deal. They take you to raids and help you get your hands on better loot that you can then sell for real money." Jack considered joining a guild. There was something about the notion that repelled him. Being ordered around by a guild leader had to suck all the fun out of playing the game. He then thought of his three new friends. They were already beyond his level and knew their business. "For now, I think I''m good. I kind of made some friends, and they''ve been helping me out a lot." "Okay, but if you ever want to join my guild, just let me know. I can talk to our guild leader." "Fair enough. I''ll let you know.¡± ¡°Now, do tell me. How in the world did you get the bard profession?" "The NPC who gave me my hidden class was playing some music. He asked me to join him. I sang along as he played; before I knew it, I¡¯d become a bard. I can now make clay ocarinas, too." ¡°Have you learned any songs?¡± ¡°I know two. One boosts stamina, and the other damage.¡± "That''s great. I can''t wait to go hunting with you. I''m so excited." Jack couldn''t help but sit up straighter and puff his chest. There had been a change in how Rob looked at him. For the first time, Jack could feel that his cousin addressed him not as a noob but as a fully-fledged player standing on equal ground with him. It was a good feeling. "What about your other profession?" Rob asked.Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. "Beekeeper. I just unlocked it." "Really? How did you get a queen bee? Last I heard, they were expensive." "My friends helped me capture one." ¡°For free?¡± Rob asked. Jack nodded. "Wow. Generous guys. Maybe you¡¯ll be OK if you stick with them." Jack thought so, too. ¡°Anyway, I''ve already discovered one of the synergies beekeeping has with my other minors. You know how beekeepers usually have to rent a lot of land and keep their beehives within the vicinity?" ¡°Yes. So?¡± "Well, I can carry my beehive around." ¡°What?! How?" "I''m still not sure. I¡¯ve learned a recipe for a portable beehive, though. I still have to build it." "That''s awesome," Rob praised generously. "It seems like you''ve got everything figured out." Jack scraped the bottom of the bowl for the last bit of soup. He tore a piece of freshly baked bread and used it to scoop up the rest. "I still haven¡¯t fixed my issue with finding good equipment. I¡¯m stuck with a moss suit. But I''ll worry about that when I get to level 20." "That won''t take long, especially if you have a good team of friends supporting you. I have to say, Jack, you seem to have a real knack for gaming.¡± Jack shrugged. "I was lucky to get this quest. Without it, I wouldn¡¯t have gotten my class or the bard profession." "That¡¯s not what I meant. I think that gaming suits you." "I¡¯m not sure I follow." "I don''t know how to put it. You seem more collected. Calmer. You''ve even made some new friends." "You speak of me as if I usually live under a rock or something," Jack complained. "No, it''s not that. It''s just that since you left college, you''ve been kind of lost. Your music didn¡¯t work out. And from then on, you became sort of bitter.¡± Jack felt the tips of his ears burn up. Was his cousin having "the talk" with him? Jack waited for the wave of anger that followed these remarks, but the only thing he felt was shame. Surprisingly, having his cousin mention his current state of affairs didn''t sting as much as hearing it from his parents or Lydia. ¡°Since you''ve started playing the game, you seem more focused and driven. It''s good. I''m happy for you, man." "Thanks, I guess," Jack said, scratching his head. They ate in silence for a few moments. The kitchen droid was slicing vegetables on a chopping board with steady, rhythmic precision, preparing the next course in their meal. "Rob?" "Yeah, what''s up?" "Do you think that''s why Lydia left me? Because I was bitter or lost." His cousin remained silent for a long time and finally let out a deep breath. "Maybe, Jack.¡± Jack bit his lip. The soup that had felt so well a few moments ago now stirred in his uneasy stomach. ¡°It¡¯s OK, Jack. Life gave you some lemons, man. You''re learning how to make lemonade out of them. This first week in the game was good for you. Let¡¯s focus on that, alright?" "Thanks." "Don''t mention it. Now, what''s your plan once you get back?" The droid brought two plates of hot food and took away their bowls. Jack and Rob ate their tasty meals as they discussed their plans after logging into the game again later. * Jack logged back into the game after an invigorating dinner, a nice chat with Rob, and an enjoyable evening walk. The first thing he did was to leave the city¡¯s zoo and head toward the nearest marketplace. He, too, had collected several drops. His inventory was half-full of [Midnight Teeth] and other random drops. He dumped all the loot and set it on sale at market price. The market estimated his haul to be worth about three gold. He checked whether the Bugkeeper Set gloves and boots had sold already. Sadly, no one had bought them. On a positive note, according to the auction website, the price of the Junior Bugkeeper Gloves had risen by over 15% in the last 12 hours. Jack needed the money. After some thought, he updated the listing and reduced the asking price of each item by ten credits. As he checked his inventory, Jack realized that much of his stockpile of bushcraft supplies had remained untouched after his last outing. His bushcraft profession seemed to be losing some of its appeal. Playing tunes recovered his stamina, and his party members hardly lost any HP when fighting. Additionally, if there was a melody that helped him recover stamina, there probably would be another one down the road that would recover HP. He had only had to start a fire twice throughout their whole hunt, and his tinderboxes and cooking pots still had high durability. He still couldn¡¯t depend exclusively on music to recover himself and his friends, and the only equipment he could wear was equipment that came from bush crafting, but if things kept going like this, this minor would soon be rendered moot. After selling everything in his inventory, Jack looked at the fortune sitting in his inventory. He had 29 gold. Most of it was money he¡¯d made when hosting a camp while he waited for Amari and the others. The rest was money he¡¯d collected in this last outing. 29 gold was worth about 19 credits. It was pitifully low, but it was already some improvement over when he¡¯d first started playing. After tidying up his inventory, Jack headed toward the city gate. He stored the ocarina in his inventory before he got in line to leave the city. Last time, the interaction with the guards had been too eye-catching. He could do without nosy players bothering him. Because of his precautions or because of the stealth bonus granted by his moss suit, this time, Jack went unnoticed by the guards. The crowd of players outside the gate consisted mainly of adventurers arriving at the city. Players leaving the town usually rushed to their objectives, trying to make the most of their buffs. They ignored Jack, and he ignored them back as he set out to do what had brought him here. There was tall grass and sticks everywhere around the clearing. Jack plucked grass, leaving it to dry under the sunlight. The morning sun heated the green fibers, turning them into a darker brown. Meanwhile, Jack kept searching for sticks that were as straight as possible. Once he had six stacks of dry grass and six stacks of basic sticks, he returned to the city and ran toward the pottery association, eager to experiment with his new recipe. Jack headed toward the NPC at the counter of the pottery association, and his eyes widened. If there was a pottery association, there had to be an equivalent for bushcraft! There had to be a place where he could exchange bushcraft XP for new recipes. The question was: where was it? Jack made a mental note to check this out after he was done with making a [Pot Hive]. The communal workshop was emptier than usual, even though it was Sunday. Felix was offline, so there were no other potters working. It made him think of the quiet streets and the empty food market. The city was a little emptier than usual. He had assumed that Sunday would be when the game was at its busiest, but he stood corrected. Jack cracked his neck, loosened his shoulders, and rolled up his sleeves. It was time to get crafting. Jack selected a random workstation, picked all the dry grass he¡¯d collected, and weaved it into cords. By now, Jack was so used to twisting fibers that he could do the process with his eyes closed. He kept crafting until he got two A-grade grass ropes. Then, Jack placed all the sticks he¡¯d collected on the table, sorting them neatly by size. Finally, Jack grabbed stoneware clay and started wedging it and rolling clay cylinders. A vase big enough to host a bee colony would be huge, so he had no choice but to go with the coiling technique. It was time to make a home for his bee colony. Ch. 74 - Tempered Clay The only time Jack used the coiling method was when he was waiting for Amari, Horace, and Marie to return from their bug hunt. Back then, he had to come up with all sorts of techniques to create an even surface and then fire such a large pot. The process was much more straightforward in the comfort of the pottery association. The floor was perfectly leveled, and every workstation contained a tray set on metal cylinders that could be rolled into the kilns, with large doors through which large ceramics could go through. Had Jack been required to start an assembly line, having to put only one pot into the kiln at the time would have been horrible, but thankfully, he didn¡¯t need to make many [Pot Hives], at least just yet. In case this item was as broken as it sounded, Jack imagined that there wasn¡¯t a single beekeeper in the game who wouldn¡¯t want to have one of these. There was still a lot of testing before starting to sell these. Firstly, could normal beekeepers use a pot hive, or did the item have some restrictions? He could determine the [Pot Hive¡¯s] commercial value only after making a prototype. Jack started by wedging a large piece of stoneware clay, ensuring it was free of air bubbles and evenly textured. With it, he formed the base of the pot, shaping it into a perfect circle. Next, Jack grabbed a mix of water and clay and smeared it along the contact point where the coil would meet the base. This slip would act as a glue, ensuring a strong bond between the pieces. He carefully placed the first coil of clay onto the base, then kneaded the edges, blending them seamlessly with his hands and a sculpting tool to ensure no weak spots. With the first coil set, Jack grabbed a torch. He always carried a stack of torches in case he ended up on a dark map or needed it for crafting. It was a little frustrating that he had to buy these torches, even though he had the skills to make them himself, but that didn¡¯t really matter now. Using the torch, he gently applied heat to the coil, causing it to firm up slightly and become a lighter shade. Jack moved on to the second coil once the first one was set and slightly hardened. He repeated the process, applying slip, placing coils, and blending the edges. He worked methodically, ensuring each new coil was securely attached and smoothly integrated with the previous ones. As he built up the walls of the pot, the shape began to take form, growing taller and more defined. Jack continued this process, coil after coil, each one bringing him closer to completing the large stoneware pot. He paid close attention to the symmetry and thickness of the walls, making sure the pot was even and balanced. He didn¡¯t want to make a vase that tilted to either side. Finally, after an hour of careful work, the pot stood tall and sturdy before him. You¡¯ve molded a Stoneware Pot Hive. +5000 Pottery XP ¡°Good XP!¡± Jack exclaimed. He stepped back to admire his creation. Having the right setting and better tools for crafting made a difference. This pot looked much better than the tall coiled vases he¡¯d made in the woods. He set the pot aside to let it dry. While the progress bar was filled, Jack decided to use the time to make a lid for the pot. He began by rolling out another piece of clay, this time shaping it into a flat, circular slab. He applied the heat of the torch to it, ensuring it wouldn¡¯t deform, and placed it over the top. It had come out too wide. He marked with a sharp tool where the lid was coming out of the rim of the pot, and brought the lid to the table, trimming any excess clay. Jack then created a small lip around the edge of the slab, which would help the lid sit securely on the pot. He used a combination of slip and gentle pressure to attach a coil to the outer edge of the lid, blending it smoothly with the surface. To add a handle, Jack formed a small, rounded piece of clay and positioned it in the center of the lid. He used a slip to attach it, blending the edges to ensure it was securely fastened. With a few final touches to smooth out any imperfections, the lid was ready. You¡¯ve molded a Stoneware Pot Hive Lid. +200 Pottery XP In the time it took him to make the lid, the pot had reached the bone-dry stage. Jack grabbed a ruler and scored marks at specific intervals of the pot. The description of the [Pot Hive] mentioned that the pot needed holes. These would serve as a place to mount the sticks, create air circulation in the hive, and serve as doors into and out of the colony. Jack had spent countless hours looking at bees, and he¡¯d seen how each wooden box used as a hive had a series of gates at its bottom. The last thing he wanted was for his colony to deal with traffic jams or a stuffy colony. In the end, Jack decided to score the vase on four sides. He made ten holes on each face of the vase, totaling 40. It was much less stressful to drill holes in a pot hive where it didn¡¯t make much difference where they went, as opposed to when making ocarinas. Now that Jack thought about it, the [Pot Hive] resembled a huge ocarina. A giant with large enough fingers and a good pair of lungs could blow into this pot and create music. The giant would probably get his tongue stung if he did so while the pot was full of bees. Jack inserted the first stick through a hole and guided it through the pot and into a hole on the other side. Just as he was about to place the second one, he slapped his forehead. ¡°Stupid! If you fire the pot with sticks in them, they will be burnt to a crisp!¡± Shaking his head at the obvious mistake, Jack removed the stick and rolled the tray to the kiln. He had to push with all his strength. This thing was really heavy! Was he supposed to carry it on his back? Maybe it was the wheels of the tray that needed greasing. Jack opened the kiln, feeling the blistering heat hit him on the face, and pushed the tray into the flames. He watched through the glass as the fire licked the pot, removing the remaining moisture, helping the minerals align, and hardening the stoneware clay.This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it You¡¯ve bisque-fired a Stoneware Pot Hive. +500 Pottery XP Once the firing cycle was complete, Jack opened the kiln, and carefully removed the tray, bringing it back to his workstation. The pot was now a dull gray. It was time to glaze it. Given how much surface area this pot had, Jack prepared a whole bucket of turmeric slip. Using a brush, he began to smear the pot, making sure to cover it evenly. You¡¯ve glazed a Stoneware Pot Hive. +500 Pottery XP With the pot fully covered in yellow glaze, Jack rolled the tray back to the kiln. Closing the door, he set the kiln to the appropriate temperature for glaze-firing. Jack watched through the glass as the kiln heated up, the glaze melting and forming a glass-like surface on the pot. You¡¯ve glazed-fired a Stoneware Pot Hive. +500 Pottery XP Once the glaze-firing was complete, Jack retrieved the pot, admiring the glossy, vibrant surface as it cooled. The item wasn¡¯t yet marked as completed. He grabbed the sticks and ran them through the pot. These would serve as rafters and pillars for the bees to build on, serving as the structural support for their honeycombs. After putting the last stick through, Jack finally received a notification marking his work as done. You¡¯ve crafted a Stoneware Pot Hive. +4200 Pottery XP [Pride of the Innovator] kicks in and improves the rating of your creation. D- £¾D Congratulations! You''ve crafted [Stoneware Pot Hive]. Crafting grade: D Description: A heavy, large stoneware-lidded pot that can house a honey bee colony. Durability: 41 Artistry: 2 Debuff: -30% movement speed Crafting grade debuff: -50% movement speed The grade was disappointing. Jack had thought he would get a better result. Jack circled it, trying to determine why the rating of the barrel-sized pot was so low. He tried putting the lid on and off, and it fit just fine. The glaze covered the pot evenly, and the coils blended seamlessly. Where had he gone wrong? Jack decided to wear this heavy backpack to test its practicality. He grabbed the ropes, looking for a place to tie them, and frowned. Mistake number one. He had forgotten to add something to tie the ropes to. ¡°No biggie. I¡¯ll just use four of the holes.¡± Jack ran each rope through two holes and tied the knot inside, fastening the ropes and creating shoulder straps. He put his arms through them and tried lifting the pot. ¡°Aaaargh!¡± Jack groaned as he raised the pot with his back. He tried walking, but his speed was painstakingly slow. ¡°Oh my goodness! This thing makes me slower than a snail! How am I supposed to move around with this thing?¡± He decided to put the backpack down. As he did so, two sticks dislodged from their mounting holes and fell inside the pot. Jack¡¯s movements had set the sticks loose. Too much weight and loose sticks were problems number 2 and 3 in an ever-increasing list of bugs. Jack also noticed that ten holes were next to useless for ventilation or an entry or exit point for the bees since his back covered them. That wasn¡¯t all. Now that he thought about it, painting the pot yellow wasn¡¯t smart. Wasn¡¯t his moss suit built for stealth? How would he stay stealthy if he wore something bright yellow tied around his back? It was the same thing as wearing a target on his back! Dinosaurs would see him from a mile away. This [Pot Hive] had several problems that needed fixing. Sighing, Jack set his first experiment aside. It was time to try again. * ¡°[Pot Hive], take two!¡± After collecting more materials and making some preparations, Jack began the process from scratch. To address the weight problem, Jack resorted to a skill he hadn¡¯t experimented with yet. Clay Tempering Description: You add non-plastic material to clay to prevent it from cracking when it dries, making it stronger and lighter. Effects: You can mix clay and dry grass. Increases the durability of crafted items. The skill description mentioned that this technique helped make the final piece lighter. Jack grabbed bits of dry grass, and as he made new coils for his second pot hive, he generously added it to the clay, kneading the fibers with the minerals. This would reduce the amount of clay needed for the coils. You¡¯ve molded a Stoneware Pot Hive. +5000 Pottery XP Jack recreated a lid while he waited for the pot to become bone-dry. The lid had turned out perfect the first time, so he didn¡¯t see the need to change anything in this part of the process. Once the pot was dry, Jack grabbed a small drill and started making holes. He drilled four columns of ten holes like before and then four other holes in between those columns. The latter would serve as mounting points to tie the ropes later. By putting them at this angle, the four columns of holes would stay in contact with air and allow for better ventilation and accessibility. As Jack dragged the tall pot into the kiln, he immediately noticed a difference in the effort required to push the tray. It was much easier! Jack pushed the tray into the kiln. You¡¯ve bisque-fired a Stoneware Pot Hive. +500 Pottery XP Jack grabbed a bucket with forest green glaze. To make this glaze, one needed copper oxide, a by-product of mining and smithing activities. Forest Green Glaze Ingredients: [Slip], [Cuprite], [Ash]. Recipe: Use a pestle and mortar to grind a few pieces of cuprite together. The smaller the grains, the better. Add the ash and the slip and mix them. Jack bought it from the XP store at the entrance of the pottery association. Hopefully, this color would help him blend in with the surrounding environment more easily and help him avoid the attention of predators. After coating the pot with the new glaze, he fired it again. It was Jack¡¯s first time seeing this color in pottery, and it looked beautiful. The glaze had a dark, vibrant green that transmitted a sense of peace. Hopefully, the bees would like it, too. To conclude the hive, Jack ran sticks through the holes, and to avoid them becoming wobbly or dislodged from the holes, he covered the contact points with resin he¡¯d bought from the market and let them dry. The system finished calculating the crafting grade and he received much better marks this time. You¡¯ve crafted a Stoneware Pot Hive. +8600 Pottery XP Congratulations! You''ve crafted [Stoneware Pot Hive]. Crafting grade: B-. Description: A heavy, large stoneware-lidded pot that can house a honey bee colony. Durability: 73 Artistry: 2 Debuff: -30% +10% movement speed B grade buff: Speed debuff is slightly alleviated. The durability was off the charts! Was it because he tempered the clay? Jack put his arms through the shoulder straps and tried walking. He could move much more comfortably. Even though his speed was still reduced, it was much more manageable than his first attempt. Now, all he needed was inhabitants for the hive. With the giant green pot on his back and the moss suit covering the rest of his body, Jack headed toward the entomology department at the zoo. It was time to go get his bee colony. Ch. 75 - Gaining Control The queen bee slowly became aware of her surroundings. It was dark. A scent lingered in the air¡ªworkers nearby. These weren¡¯t her mother¡¯s workers, though. They smelled strangely. Who were these? Why did they smell of an unfamiliar queen? The last thing the young queen recalled was looking for a place to build a nest when she became trapped. After that, there was smoke, and she lost her senses. How had she been transported into this new hive? She needed to find answers and fast. She picked herself up. Her stomach growled, and she felt too dizzy and weak to fly, but she could stand up just fine. She walked and felt cold bars with her legs and antennae. She turned back and felt more of the same. Wherever she looked, thin, cold bars prevented her from moving. Who dared trap her like this? She called out to the workers she¡¯d smelled earlier. Perhaps they could help¡ªworkers always do. She pressed her thorax and activated the muscles of her wings without spreading them, creating a series of short, sharp sounds. Peep! Peep! Peep! The sound that only queens like her could make would let the workers know that a queen was nearby. Then, they could come to feed her and get this place ready for her to start laying her eggs. Another bee arrived. A worker bee arrived. It was smaller and more robust than the queen, its body built for labor, with strong legs for gathering pollen and a short, stocky abdomen. The queen bee approached the worker, hoping to be fed, but instead, the bee tried to bite her through the bars. The queen bee backed up, startled by such aggression. A sweet, mature scent, similar to a banana, followed the attack. It was the alarm pheromone! Why did these workers see her as an intruder? More workers arrived, drawn by the alarm. They swarmed the cage, trying desperately to bite and sting the queen. These bees were in a frenzy, squirming and stretching to get to her. They wanted to kill her! She had no choice but to back up against the wall, far from her kin. She was a queen! She had the potential to lay thousands of eggs. Why were these workers trying to kill her instead of nurturing her? The queen again tried to pipe in case they hadn¡¯t realized they were in the presence of royalty. Peep! Peep! Peep! The sound only seemed to enrage the workers further. They kept acting aggressively without responding to her entreaties. The queen¡¯s instincts kicked in. She and the workers smelled differently. These workers were loyal to another queen. They saw her as an alien, as an enemy. The queen bee piped as loud as she could, trying to determine whether this enemy queen was nearby. Peep! Peep! Peep! Except for the buzz of the workers trying to kill her, there was no piping sound coming from nearby. There was no other queen nearby wanting to challenge her. These workers were far from their colony and queenless. There would still be hope as long as she could persuade these workers to serve her. What she needed most was time, and this cage gave her that. Its metal meshed cage was strong enough to keep these workers at bay. The young queen focused on her mandibular glands, which started to secrete a special pheromone. This was a considerable expenditure of her energy. Pheromones required complex amino acids and proteins, and she was starving. However, her survival depended on these chemicals, so she squeezed every ounce of energy she could toward making them. Once she had enough, she opened the ducts in her mandible and began grooming herself. First, she used her mandibles to clean the rest of her head, carefully smoothing her antennae and face. Then, she covered a pair of her legs with the pheromone. Rubbing her legs together, she covered every joint and segment. She scattered more of the chemical from her legs to all over her body, using her legs to spread the substance across her thorax, wings, and abdomen. The queen''s scent was a delicate mix of floral and citrus notes with a hint of musk, like freshly turned soil. This was her signature, her scent, a unique blend that marked her as a queen and would mark her future hive, too. The bees were incensed, still trying to get to her, but the queen patiently continued. She moved around as she groomed, trying to spread her scent all over the cage that wasn¡¯t designed to keep her in but to keep everyone else out. * The worker bees were calmer now. The change in their behavior was subtle at first. The initial frenzy of aggression gave way to cautious movements. They were still wary of the queen, who dared not approach the cage bars for fear of being attacked. However, they had stopped attacking so desperately. Instead of pure aggression, there was now an intense curiosity. The smell of their old queen was starting to fade, while the powerful perfume of the new queen was beginning to become familiar to them. The workers communicated through brief antennal touches and subtle shifts in their pheromone signals, discussing the presence of this lone queen in the silent language of scents. This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. The queen¡¯s perfume told the workers that she wasn¡¯t barren. She was filled with eggs and was ready to start laying them. To a worker with no work prospects, stuck far away from their ruler, being near a young queen brimming with vitality was enticing. However, a lifetime of loyalty cannot be easily ignored. The air was still tense as the workers moved around her, their antennae twitching uncertainly. The queen bee kept walking around the cage, signaling she was healthy and active and spreading her scent as much as she safely could. Suddenly, a small worker bee approached the bars. Her antennae waved back and forth, not with uncertainty or aggression but with gentleness. The young worker, a little smaller than her older colleagues, could comfortably squeeze her head through the iron mesh and beckoned the queen to approach. The queen hesitated, but her stomach was empty, and she desperately needed food. She stepped forward and observed the worker, who regarded her calmly. She approached even further until she was within reach of her mandibles. If she bit, the queen would retreat immediately, but instead, the worker pressed her mouthparts against the queen''s mandibles, offering a droplet of rich, nourishing nectar. The queen felt the weight of this moment. This wasn¡¯t a mere act of kindness but one of allegiance. In this strange, new place where all these bees had been trying to kill her, this was the first glimmer of a hopeful future. The queen devoured the sweet meal, feeling strength returning to her body. The worker offered a little more, and the queen accepted. As she ate droplet after droplet, the queen brushed her antennae against the worker, leaving her scent. As she ate the nectar, a soothing smell spread. It blended the queen''s pheromones and nectar, the smell produced by the so-familiar task of tending to a rightful queen. A queen had a stomach larger than one lone small worker bee could carry in one serving. Her first subject left, off to find more food for her. As she flew, she spread the queen''s scent through the hive. As the kind worker bee fled, two more bees arrived. The recent smell of nectar mixed with pheromones had finally convinced them to approach. The queen approached the two workers more confidently this time. She could sense the turning tides. One of the newcomers took position near the queen¡¯s head, gently using her legs and mandibles to clean the delicate segments of the queen¡¯s thorax. Despite the queen¡¯s best efforts, some spots were too complex to reach alone. Having two other bees help was priceless. The other bee worked on the queen¡¯s sides, carefully removing any remnants of debris while ensuring her scent was evenly distributed. As the workers groomed her, they also became covered in her pheromones. One more aggressive bee tried to approach with evil intent but was pushed away by the two workers grooming her. The aggressive worker moved around, confused. She had picked up a little of the queen¡¯s scent in the short encounter. Instead of being sent into a frenzy, the other workers stayed their distance, wary of this unfamiliar queen. A third worker arrived and offered food to the queen. As the queen interacted with these workers, she would spread her mark throughout the hive, and soon enough, no worker could resist her. * The queen bee had a larger group of followers now. As time passed and an increasing number of workers began carrying her scent, more joined the line to feed and groom her. Even those who were still unconvinced had relaxed. It had been a while since she¡¯d experienced any kind of aggression or that one of her subjects had to step in to push attackers away. A queen needed only so much grooming and feeding, so some of her unoccupied, newer subjects had turned their attention to expanding the honeycomb in preparation for her to lay eggs. The only honeycomb in this massive space was a small chunk of wax with a few intact hexagonal spaces. They could more appropriately call it the ruins of a honeycomb than a proper functional one. It was almost as if someone had torn a piece of a honeycomb and thrown it in here. The young queen watched from the safety of her cage as they busily worked to repair the combs they could and went on to shape more wax to build more. Even though she applauded the workers'' efforts, and she did want to start laying eggs, there was only one problem. How could she get down there? Just like the workers couldn¡¯t break in, she couldn¡¯t break out. Should she ask her newly formed posse to abandon the ruins below and build a honeycomb from scratch around her cage? It was less than ideal, but it might be her only option. Suddenly, there was a blinding light, and a giant thing descended into the hive. The queen froze, uncertain whether to sound the alarm. She spared a glance at all the other workers. They looked calm, even happy. She decided against calling them to arms. A tentacled thing that smelled of honey gently opened the cage. Then, just as fast as it had appeared, it withdrew. The queen waited for a few moments. A worker entered through the gate, and into the cage, and then another. Soon, she was surrounded. There was a moment of uncertainty and tension. Would they attack, or would they care for her? Workers loyal to her came to her rescue. They wormed their way through the crowd surrounding her. Emboldened by their presence, the queen piped, announcing to all bees in earshot that there was a fertile queen in this colony! Escorted by her retinue, the queen strolled through the gate and flew down to the honeycomb. These bees¡¯ antennae constantly touched the queen, absorbing the pheromone and spreading it further through the hive. She met no aggression. That didn¡¯t mean that every single worker had already accepted her, no. There was still some loyalty to her predecessor. However, she was safe to move around and reaffirm her position further, and she knew just what to do to seal the deal. The young queen moved deliberately across the freshly expanded comb. It was time to lay her first eggs, a momentous task that would cement her role as the matriarch of this colony. She paused over a polished cell, her antennae delicately probing its interior to ensure it was suitable for her offspring. Satisfied, she positioned herself over the cell, her abdomen curving down to deposit the tiny, pearl-white egg. With each egg she laid, her body released a subtle yet powerful blend of pheromones. This pheromone carried a distinct message, one of fertility and dominance. As it spread through the hive, it seemed to come alive. Subjects already loyal to her buzzed with renewed energy, their movements becoming more purposeful and coordinated. Workers sitting on the fence couldn¡¯t resist anymore. There was the smell of eggs! That meant that brood was on the way! There was foraging and building to do! Everyone began to perform their duties with increased vigor. The queen laid more eggs, while workers carefully inspected and tended to each one, or cleaned cells in preparation for more. Others set out to produce food, anticipating the needs of the soon-to-hatch larvae. The workers were now reminded of their roles and surrendered to the vision of the new queen: a thriving, growing colony. Her colony. Ch. 76 - Velvety Broth ¡°Is this your hive?¡± the NPC from the entomology asked, raising his eyebrow. Jack looked over his shoulder at the massive lidded pot. ¡°Yes. Anything the matter with it?¡± ¡°No. Not at all. It¡¯s just that¡­ Well¡­ I have never seen one like it before.¡± Jack shrugged. Walking around dressed like a bush already drew too much attention. Now that he had a giant green pot strapped to his back, few were the people who didn¡¯t stop to stare at him. Bashful him would have to learn how to grow a thick skin. ¡°I like to keep the bees close to me.¡± ¡°I guess that makes sense.¡± ¡°So, where is the queen I brought you?¡± ¡°Right, right. Please follow me.¡± The NPC took Jack toward the bee habitat, and Jack spotted three players staring at the glass as if they were mindless zombies. Jack waved at them as he passed, and one of them looked away from the habitat to wave back. As soon as he did, he murmured bitterly. Because of Jack¡¯s catchy appearance, he had taken his eyes off the ball and now had to reset the clock to trigger the quest to become a beekeeper. The NPC led him through a small corridor into a small room. In it, there was a small box from which he could hear the faint buzz of bees. ¡°I got your queen settled in with some workers. They¡¯ve accepted her as the queen, and she has started laying eggs. Can you open your¡­¡± the NPC trailed off, trying to think of what to call Jack¡¯s pot. ¡°Pot hive,¡± Jack prompted. ¡°Yes. Of course. Your pot hive.¡± Jack sat down, carefully making the pot land softly on the ground. He removed the shoulder straps, stood up, and lifted the lid. The NPC looked in, curious. ¡°It¡¯s more spacious than I imagined. There are plenty of entry points and ventilation, and I can see you¡¯ve set some structural support. Well done.¡± ¡°Thanks!¡± The NPC turned to the box where the queen and the rest of the bees were. The buzz grew louder as he lifted the box lid, and a sweet scent flooded the room. It smelled of candles and sugar. ¡°Here you go. Careful. Easy. Yes, little ones, yes. Let¡¯s get you settled into your new home.¡± There was a soft crack, and the NPC removed a golden chunk of wax filled with hexagons and bees from the pot. He walked steadily toward the pot hive and wedged it between one of the sticks and the pot''s wall. ¡°I think I¡¯ve wedged it pretty well. It should hold even if you move around.¡± The NPC returned to the bee box and grunted as he pulled something else out. It was a glass container with little metal hooks attached. The hooks were rusted, and the glass itself was filled with bubbles and imperfections. It looked fragile. The NPC walked over to the pot hive and gently put the container hooks on the pot''s rim before closing the lid. ¡°What¡¯s that?¡± Jack asked curiously. ¡°A feeder. You can keep this one. Consider it a gift. I¡¯ve filled it with sugary water, but you must monitor it. If there is no pollen to collect nearby, the bees will need the feeder to survive. You can close it now.¡± Jack obeyed. The NPC left some parting words of wisdom. ¡°Here you go. You have your first colony. In the beginning, you just have to make sure that they have access to food and water, and they will do the rest of the work for you. Don¡¯t forget to check the feeder if you¡¯re away from flowers for too long.¡± ¡°Got it. Thanks.¡± Congratulations! You¡¯ve got your first colony started. Jerry, the Entomologist, has settled your queen in with a group of workers. +500 beekeeper XP. Jerry, the Entomologist, has helped you set up your colony in a hive. +1000 beekeeper XP. You¡¯ve reached beekeeper level, 2. You¡¯ve learned a new skill: Nectar Harvesting, lvl. 1. Bard lvl. 5, synergizes with Nectar Harvesting, lvl. 1. You¡¯ve learned a new song: [A Morning of Spring]. Nectar Harvesting, lvl. 1 Description: Your bees have a place to call home and a hungry queen to feed. They venture outside to collect nectar. Effects: Passive. Your bees will collect nectar from the surrounding flora. The more flowers there are nearby, the quicker they will collect it. Jack had mixed feelings about this new beekeeping skill. Beekeeping had been the slowest minor so far. On level one, he only got [Hive Ownership] and [Friendly Scent], two passive skills that allowed him to own a hive and that made bees less aggressive. That hardly did anything for him. This new skill just ensured that bees had food and would allow his colony to begin growing. He was just a little disappointed that after making the hive, he had nothing to do but wait for the bees to work. Couldn¡¯t he help them somehow? Sighing, he opened up the new song he had obtained. A Morning of Spring (Level 1 Melody) Description: This melody allows you to become one with nature and to elicit a happy, peaceful mood in your listeners. Bees become more productive as you play this tune.This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source. Melody Type: Happy Jack studied the last notification with a wide smile! He took all his previous words back. Beekeeping was proving to be an excellent choice! This early on, it was already synergizing with the bard profession. Moreover, the melody was incredible! Not only would it synergize with his yellow ocarinas, but it would also allow him to help his colony grow faster. He could finally do something more than just wait. Jack put his backpack back on, now more mindful of the precious cargo within. He smiled at the faint buzz that would accompany him from now on. The bees were starting to explore the pot hive, and one worker hovered around him, inspecting him curiously, before retreating into the pot. Jack passed the three beekeepers staring at the habitat on his way out. Even though he didn¡¯t wave this time, all three looked with their jaws dropped as they spotted bees hovering around Jack, entering and leaving the pot. Jack rushed out as he heard them all expressing frustration about their timers'' resetting. The last thing he needed was to be beaten up by these aspiring beekeepers if they blamed him for wasting hours of their time. * Now outside of the zoo, Jack considered his next moves. Jack had his minors sorted out for him up to level 20. There was only one thing left to do before he focused on grinding his new professions while trying to find a way to make money to pay his dad''s rent. He had to see just where the bushcraft XP store was. He opened the browser and looked up its location. The result was a little different from what he¡¯d been expecting. Bushcraft XP Store What¡¯s up, fellow bushcrafters? I¡¯ve just hit level 10 in the profession. (Humble bow). I haven¡¯t seen any bushcraft association or anything of the sort. Where can I purchase more recipes and stuff? AdrianHill: First of all, congrats! Bushcraft XP stores are special. You must find hermits living around town from whom to buy the recipes. There¡¯s usually a lake, a river, or something close to every gate town, and you can always find a bushcrafter NPC living in a shack or a cabin on its shores. KleinNur: I made a post some time ago listing all the coordinates for these NPCs. Just click this link. JimmyJones: Thanks, guys! I appreciate it. ¡°It¡¯s outside town,¡± Jack exclaimed. He looked in the direction of the tall white walls. Before, the thought of going out on his own would have terrified him. However, after finding his way alone to the swamps and hunting with Amari¡¯s gang, he felt much more confident about adventuring solo. He clicked the link in the post and found a list of coordinates for XP stores. The one closest to Embersgate was on the shores of the Red Lake, about two clicks north from the city¡¯s gate. It didn¡¯t sound so bad. Shrugging, Jack headed toward the museum. He would get himself buffed up, grab a bite, and head out. * This time, any onlooker in the museum would think that Jack knew what he was doing. He marched decisively around the Taxidermy section of the museum and read through different animal descriptions, looking for the buff that best suited him. After walking around for a few minutes, he finally found something that would work well with his current setup. Species: Shadowfoot Velociraptor Diet: Carnivore Level: 20 Wild: A small, agile predator known for its unparalleled speed and stealth in the dense forests of the Cretaceous period. The Shadowfoot Velociraptor primarily hunts small mammals and birds, relying on its acute senses and swift, silent movements to ambush prey. It is nocturnal, using the cover of darkness to remain undetected by prey and larger predators. The velociraptor''s dark coloration allows it to blend seamlessly into the forest underbrush, making it nearly invisible to the untrained eye. The Shadowfoot Velociraptor¡¯s hunting technique involves a combination of rapid, silent strides and sudden, deadly pounces. Observers have noted that it can move so quietly that even the rustle of leaves underfoot is barely perceptible. It has been reported that those who spend too much time studying the Shadowfoot Velociraptor in the wild often grow paranoid, convinced unseen eyes are watching them. This buff increased stealth and movement speed, the two things he needed the most to make it to the lake safe and sound. The moss suit and cape had held up just fine in his previous expedition, but he had no idea what kind of creatures there could be lurking around the Red Lake. The movement speed would be nice to offset the slow debuff generated by his pot hive. You¡¯ve learned more about Shadowfoot Velociraptor. You¡¯ve received a buff, [Velociraptor¡¯s Cunning], for 24 hours. [Museum Donor] title effects are applied. [Velociraptor¡¯s Cunning] is empowered. Even though shadow Velociraptors were quite higher-leveled, it must have been quite common, given how the local taxidermists had donated enough of them to the museum to help reduce the players'' level requirement to benefit from their buff. Happy with the buff, Jack marched as quickly as the heavy pot hive allowed him toward the Sold&Proper restaurant. He had one last meal voucher to spend, and he wasn¡¯t about to let it go to waste. Thanks to the museum buff, he felt like he was moving as fast as if he weren¡¯t carrying anything on his back. He found Chef Gustav under the black-and-white awning manning the counter. Looking left and right, he failed to see Margaret, the player who had served him last time. ¡°If it isn¡¯t our potter!¡± Chef Gustav greeted Jack amicably. ¡°Hello, chef. Isn¡¯t Margaret here today?¡± ¡°Maggie? No, no. She has left the nest, off somewhere to start her business,¡± the chef said with a hint of pride in his voice. ¡°Anyway, what can I do for you, sir?¡± ¡°Can I get the special?¡± Jack said, offering the voucher. The chef didn''t seem the least bit disappointed about being paid with a voucher instead of cash. With a nod, he accepted the piece of golden paper from Jack''s hand and then set to work, his hands moving deftly as he added to a bubbling cauldron chunks of something white, which Jack couldn¡¯t recognize, herbs and vegetables. The aromas wafting from the pot made Jack''s mouth water. ¡°One [Stegodon Bone Broth] for our friend, the potter.¡± ¡°Thanks!¡± Jack said, lifting the bowl. Despite it not being one of the turmeric yellow bowls Jack had crafted, the warmth seeping through it and the enticing aroma overrode any disappointment he felt. Jack brought it close. He could smell wild herbs with a hint of smokiness. He took a careful sip, feeling the hot liquid slide down his throat, instantly warming him from the inside out. The broth was thick and velvety. The root vegetables, soft from hours of simmering, added a gentle sweetness that rounded out the dish. He wished he could teach Rob¡¯s cooking droid this recipe. It was much better than the last soup it had made for them. When the bowl was finally empty, Jack set it down with a contented sigh. You¡¯ve received [Stegodon¡¯s Fortitude]. The strength of the stegodons warms you. The health bar is increased by 50; The stamina bar is increased by 75; 5% increased resistance to physical attacks; 5% chance to resist cold damage; Increases the chance of finding rare materials in forested areas. Buff Duration: 2.5 hours. ¡°Wow, chef. This has been the best dish I¡¯ve had here so far.¡± ¡°I¡¯m glad you liked it,¡± the chef said, smiling. He caught the arrival of two new customers off the corner of his eye and dashed toward them, leaving Jack alone. ¡°Hello, gentlemen. What can I get you today?¡± Jack started heading toward the gate. He gave Sold&Proper one parting glance. Despite the delicious meals here, he had only kept coming back because he had vouchers. Perhaps next time, he would just search the food market close to the gate. Hopefully, Margaret had learned this recipe from Chef Gustav and served it at her place. He wanted to have it again. Ch. 77 - Honeybaked Jack Standing in line, waiting for the guards to let him out, reminded Jack of his school days when he had to stand in line every day to get lunch. Of course, back then, there was no risk of being called on by the lunch ladies to perform a party trick in front of the whole school to be served food. As the line moved along, Jack¡¯s mind still lingered on his stop at a nearby market on his way here. His main reason for visiting the market was to check the value the market assigned to his unique items. The market priced his ocarinas at one gold and his pot hive at two. It was disappointing, to say the least. Wasn¡¯t he the only player worldwide who could make these items? He had expected at least 50 gold for each ocarina and four times as much for each pot hive. Despite the underwhelming market offer, these ceramics were still the most valuable items Jack could make, and the raw materials required were dirt cheap. Theoretically, he could lock himself up in the pottery association and make 300 pots or 600 ocarinas. After converting the gold for the sales for credits and selling the bugkeeper set, he¡¯d have enough to cover one month of the helmet rental plus the rent to his father. However, something about this option felt wasteful to him. Firstly, staying in a workshop for hours on end, making hundreds of items, wouldn¡¯t be exactly a breeze. Additionally, how many beekeepers were out there who were interested in carrying their hives on their backs? What about bards? Wasn¡¯t that a rare profession? Chances were that whatever bards were out there, they had better instruments than his. There had to be a better way to approach this. One option would be to apply for a license to sell at Embersgate¡¯s flea market. Another one was to travel to the capital and participate in the auction there, even though the entry fee was 100 gold. Or, perhaps, it was as simple as listing a few ocarinas and pot hives on the auction website and seeing how much they sold for in credits. The line before the gate moved steadily as Jack considered the best course of action. "Excuse me, sir," a player clad in metal plates behind him in line said, interrupting his money-making plans. "I couldn''t help but notice your peculiar setup." Jack didn''t know what level this player was at, but one thing was sure¡ªhe was much higher than him. "Uh¡­ thanks?¡± The player tried to keep the conversation going. ¡°The moss suit and cape, I recognize, but what''s up with that pot? Does it have bees in it?" "Yes," Jack answered. "Cool. So it''s a portable hive.¡± ¡°That¡¯s correct,¡± Jack said, fidgeting uncomfortably. "Really? And you can carry it around everywhere?" "I can, yes. There¡¯s a price to pay, though. It comes with a slight speed debuff," Jack explained, hoping to get this conversation over with and get back to figuring out how to make money. ¡°Where did you get it?" the man asked directly. Had this been a reward for a super secret quest, Jack would seal his lips about now. However, he was an artisan with pride in his work. He decided he had nothing to hide here. "I made it," Jack declared with a puffed-up chest. The player nodded approvingly as he inspected the pot from top to bottom. "Good craftsmanship. Tell you what, I have a friend who''s a beekeeper. I''m sure she''d be interested in getting one of these. Do you accept orders?" Jack''s mind raced furiously. This was the first time something like this has happened. Sure, others had approached him when he was cooking survival stew, but this was different. He had made something unique and valuable enough to make this veteran come out and ask about it for a friend of all things. Jack scratched his head, trying to hide how happy he was. "I accept orders, although my waiting list is getting pretty long." "I''m sure my friend would be willing to make it worth your while. Can I get your contact information and share it with her? Jack shrugged. It wasn''t like he had anything to lose. "Sure, why not? My tag is JackofDiamonds.¡± ¡°My friend¡¯s name is BeeLoverBeeatrice. She¡¯ll contact you.¡± ¡°Very well, then.¡± The player stepped back into line, signaling Jack he wouldn¡¯t bother him further, and waved his hands around, operating the game¡¯s interface. Jack returned to waiting in line, trying to contain his smile. Seeing such a high-level player going out of his way to ask about his items was just the boost of confidence he needed. He started thinking of how much he could charge Beatrice for a pot hive. 50 gold? 100 gold? Perhaps she¡¯d be willing to pay in credits instead of gold, actually. ¡°Move along,¡± a guard said to him dismissively. Thanks to the bonuses to his stealth from his moss suit and the way he hid the ocarina in his inventory, none of the guards stopped him. The one who caught the short straw was the warrior who''d asked him about his hive. Jack waited by the door, curious to see what the guards would have him do, but the warrior just yawned and handed over a gold coin. The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation. It was the first time Jack saw someone preferring to spend money over entertaining the guards. It made Jack excited. Spending one gold coin like that without flinching meant the warrior was wealthy. Maybe his beekeeper friend was too! Perhaps he should ask her for 500 credits off the bat! Jack left through the gates without causing a commotion. He stood at the clearing, eyes darting between the city and the North. Should he just go back to the city and focus on crafting a few pot hives and putting them for sale at the auction? Or should he explore the potential of his bushcraft profession? In the end, Jack followed his original plan for the day. He wasn¡¯t even at the end of his first week in the game. He still had three weeks left to come up with the money, and knowing what additional items were available to a bushcrafter could be relevant. He was also going to see how much this Beatrice was willing to offer for the pot hive. That would give him a better idea of its market value among beekeepers. Jack fixed his eyes on his destination: Red Lake. Higher-level players kept arriving at or leaving the clearing using the one road that led into the city. The road was spacious and clear of vegetation, promising an easy, comfortable trip, free of mosquitos, malaria, and other jungle hassles. The way the arrivals laughed, seemingly unscathed, only made the path seem more alluring. If Jack were to take it, he could arrive at the lake in 30 minutes. However, he knew that with the seeming ease of travel came danger. Following Amari¡¯s advice, Jack avoided the road. It might seem like a more straightforward path, but Amari had warned him that large predators often camped by the road. If he were to travel on it, he was pretty sure he wouldn¡¯t make it to the lake. The pot hive on his back was practically begging for attention from any nearby dinosaurs. If he were a dinosaur and saw a human covered in moss and honey, he wouldn¡¯t hesitate to eat him. It would be like finding a juicy piece of meat garnished with its side salad drizzled with honey. Jack shuddered at the thought of an Allosaurus eyeing him as the day¡¯s special. Jack sighed, thinking of what kind of sick programming team would think of making such a cruel trap, and trudged into the jungle with his bush suit and green pot setup. So far, the moss suit had been enough to conceal him from most creatures. With his current setup, he felt confident he could evade the notice of a lone compy, for example. The only unknown was how the pot hive would affect his stealth. He didn¡¯t even know if dinosaurs were like bears and were drawn to a hive or if they couldn¡¯t care less about honey. A few steps into the bush, the buzz behind him grew louder. The bees, detecting the jungle¡¯s rich flowers, had begun to leave the pot hive, searching for nectar. Jack kept walking, letting the bees do their thing. The jungle around him was alive with sounds¡ªthe nearby buzz of bees, the distant calls of strange creatures, metal clashing as players hunted beasts, the rustle of leaves as small animals scurried about, and the occasional snap of a twig beneath his feet. This part of the journey was easy. There were many players hunting dinosaurs here, and all that Jack had to do was to stay out of everyone¡¯s way as he headed north toward the lake. After a few minutes, bees with legs heavy with pollen began returning to the colony, each return earning Jack some experience. A bee returns with pollen. +10 beekeeping XP. A bee returns with pollen. +10 beekeeping XP. All Jack had to do was keep walking, and his beekeeping profession would progress by itself. It wasn¡¯t a bad feeling. Had he not been trying to maintain discretion, he would have grabbed his ocarina and played his new song to help the bees grow faster. Having a giant pot smelling of honey was already risky enough. He dared not call more attention to him by playing music. He suddenly heard snorting and leaves rustling behind him. From experience, he recognized the sounds as a pack of porkies. This pack however, wasn¡¯t fighting any player. If they spotted him, they would probably attack. The porkies passed a few meters away from him but ignored him. Jack sighed in relief. His moss suit had provided enough stealth to avoid their notice, and neither the pot nor the bees had attracted their attention. The vegetation thickened as he moved farther from the city. The air grew humid, clinging to his skin and making breathing harder. His heart pounded in his chest every time he heard something significant moving in the distance, but so far, luck was on his side. Suddenly, there was a roar. It cut through the hustle and bustle of the jungle and was followed by silence as if the jungle itself had held its breath. Jack gulped. He knew this sound. It was an allosaurus. After a while, the jungle recovered its liveliness and returned to the usual cacophony of sounds. ¡°Hopefully, it is far from here,¡± Jack said quietly. As he kept walking, he almost fell into a hole in the ground. Looking down, he found tracks in the soft earth¡ªlarge, clawed footprints leading into the direction he needed to go. He had zero experience as a tracker. For all he knew, these could have been done hours ago or seconds ago. Judging from its shape, this footprint could very well belong to an allosaurus. He swallowed hard, debating whether to continue. The walls were far from view, and he was closer to Red Lake than to the city. Gathering his courage, Jack decided to press on. He moved quickly but cautiously, keeping a close watch on his surroundings. Jack had barely walked a hundred meters when the jungle went eerily quiet again. The air felt heavy, and a chill ran down his spine. He froze, listening intently. Then, through the dense foliage, he saw it¡ªa massive, red-scaled Allosaurus moving slowly through the trees, its head low as it sniffed the air. The beast''s scales shimmered in the filtered sunlight, and its eyes gleamed with a predatory intelligence. Jack dropped to a crouch, trying to make himself as small as possible. Beads of sweat formed on his head. The allosaurus was sniffing the air. Was it smelling him? He felt the direction of the wind on his wet forehead and found that it was blowing from the allosaurus toward him. He was downwind. He was safe¡ªprobably. The Allosaurus stopped, raising its head as if it had sensed something. Jack¡¯s heart pounded as the beast scanned the area, its massive jaws opening slightly as it released a low, rumbling growl. After an eternity, the Allosaurus took off in the opposite direction. A few moments later, there were screams. There had been another group of players nearby. Jack took off running at full speed, away from the sounds of battle. His entire body trembled from the close encounter. He didn¡¯t know if it had been thanks to his moss suit, being downwind, or sheer luck, but he had survived the encounter. Jack kept running, constantly looking over his shoulder, afraid that the allosaurus was after him. Finally, the vegetation opened up, and he stood on the edge of a vast, serene lake. He¡¯d made it. He had arrived at Red Lake. Ch. 78 - Red Lake When Jack¡¯s eyes fell on Red Lake, he immediately understood why it was called that. The water was so still it mirrored the crimson mountains beyond, painting the lake in hues of scarlet. But even though the waters were tranquil, its shores were anything but peaceful. Players clashed with dinosaurs all around, the sounds of battle echoing across the water. Jack was drawn to a nearby skirmish just ten meters away. About twenty players were locked in combat with four large dinosaurs, about four meters tall, their bony ridges shaped like tomahawks. The dinosaurs thrashed their tails and headbutted their attackers, trying to fend off the relentless assault, but the players pressed on, steadily whittling down their health. The air was filled with the shouts of commands and weapons clanging. ¡°Frontliners, hold the line! Archers, focus fire on the left one!¡± Jack sat down to watch. After playing alongside Horace, Marie, and Amari, he could identify some of the skills and strategies used in the hunt. He noticed a group of warriors, much like Horace, holding the front line, pinning down the ornithopods to keep them away from the squishier members of the party. Like Amari, other players darted in and out of the fray, delivering swift, precise strikes before retreating to the backline, waiting for the next opportunity to attack. Grenadiers like Marie threw vials and bombs from a distance, boosting allies, debuffing the dinosaurs, or unleashing explosive damage. That was just what he could recognize. The more he watched the battle, the more new things he found. Among the large group, he began to recognize new classes. For instance, unlike Horace, who was fully clad in metal armor and wielded a shield and war hammer, some of the frontline warriors attacked the dinosaurs with twin swords. Their pelt-clad bodies emphasized speed and damage over defense. From what Jack had heard from Rob, these were probably berserkers. Three other warriors fought from horseback. They broke formation, gained distance, and charged the dinosaurs with lances and spears, retreating after each assault to regroup for another charge. These had to be knights. Not all the players darting in and out of combat were ninjas like Amari. Some wielded daggers instead of metal claws, marking them as assassins. One player used a small shield and a thin sword¡ªlikely a swashbuckler. The grenadiers looked all the same to Jack, even though Marie had explained the different variations of her class. Archers and crossbowmen launched volleys from the backline, chipping away at the dinosaurs¡¯ health. Occasionally, an arrow streaked through the air leaving a trail of green smoke behind it and restoring the health of the frontliners. Other animals fought alongside the players¡ªlarge dogs, wolves, bears, and hawks, likely the companions of beastmasters in the party. Overall, it was mesmerizing to watch the different classes work together in harmony. After several minutes of coordinated attacks, the first dinosaur fell. The remaining ornithopods fought desperately, but they, too, were eventually overwhelmed. The hunting party swarmed the fallen creatures, eager to claim their loot. As the party was still collecting their spoils, another pack of dinosaurs emerged from the forest nearby, heading toward the lake to drink. The lake was a watering hole, drawing dinosaurs from the surrounding hunting grounds. No wonder so many players were hunting nearby. This was the perfect place to ambush these creatures. Seeing that the hunting party was already pointing at the new group of dinosaurs, Jack walked away from the new battle that was about to begin. As he made his way, he saw a small camp nestled between a cluster of trees near the water¡¯s edge. Jack¡¯s jaw dropped. It was a bushcrafter! The camp was simple but efficient. A lone bushcrafter was busy at work, tending to a makeshift workbench under a large, weathered tarp. The woman, dressed in a mix of leather and furs, looked up as Jack passed and gave him a nod of recognition before returning to her tasks. She kept a fire with skewered meat over it. Jack gulped. He didn¡¯t recognize the workbench, the tarp, or how she skewered meat over the fire. These were all recipes he didn¡¯t know! This bushcrafter was leagues ahead of him. A party arrived and sat around the fire, passing over a handful of coins to the girl who began serving them food. Jack realized that this bushcrafter had already established herself among the hunting parties. Feeling a mix of admiration and a twinge of competition, Jack continued, eager to learn new recipes from Erwind. He soon spotted a rocky outcrop, free of dinosaurs but crowded with players holding fishing poles. A grin spread across his face¡ªfishermen. He climbed the rocks, making his way to the other side. As he hopped from rock to rock, he almost fell over, startled by a loud shout of one of the nearby fishermen. Their fishing rod was bending almost to the breaking point. The other fishermen quickly gathered around, their faces lit with excitement. ¡°Keep that line steady!¡± ¡°Pull, man, pull!¡± The fisherman, a burly figure with a scruffy beard and tattered hat, gritted his teeth as he fought to reel in his catch. His muscles strained against the weight of whatever was on the other end of the line. The others cheered him on.The author''s tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. Instead of a fish, a large creature surfaced¡ªa long-necked, finned beast the size of a large dog. Its sleek, scaly body shimmered in the sunlight as it thrashed, trying to escape. Far from being frightened, the fishermen were thrilled. ¡°Don¡¯t let it slip away!¡± After a few intense moments, the fisherman finally managed to pull the creature out of the water, his triumphant shouts echoing across the lake. The burly fisherman held up his catch, grinning from ear to ear as the others clapped him on the back, celebrating their success. Even as Jack stopped and admired the fishermen¡¯s happiness, his bees kept returning, carrying nectar, and he received a pleasant notification. You''ve reached beekeeping, level 3! You¡¯ve learned a new skill: Brood Breeding, Lvl. 1. Brood Breeding, lvl. 1 Description: The colony''s queen is busy laying eggs, and the workers can¡¯t wait to feed the young. Effects: Passive. Your colony will spawn new bees every day. Scales with intelligence. Requires enough nectar. Current rate: 10 bees per day. Jack joined the nearby fishermen in their celebration for a different reason. With [Brood Breeding], he could expand his colony exponentially! The more bees he had, the more experience he could gain. If all went well, his progress in beekeeping would snowball. Now that the novelty of the landscape had passed, it was time to locate Erwind, the Hermit. According to the coordinates he¡¯d found online, Erwind lived on the opposite side of the lake. Jack began making his way through the battles scattered along the shore. A large dinosaur emerged from the forest and reached the water in just a few steps. Jack froze, his path suddenly blocked by a large ornithopod. The creature was hunched over the water, sipping calmly, while Jack held his breath. After a few moments, the dinosaur lifted its head and locked eyes with him. The ornithopod''s massive body, towering over him, reminded him of just how small and vulnerable he was. His heart pounded in his chest as the dinosaur breathed, its nostrils flaring and his hot, moist breath passing through him. Jack took a cautious step back, his muscles tensing, ready to sprint if the creature showed any signs of aggression. Instead of charging, the ornithopod snorted and returned to drinking from the lake, seemingly uninterested. Jack exhaled the breath he didn¡¯t realize he was holding and proceeded cautiously, giving the creature a wide berth. His mind raced, recalling how even the most peaceful-looking dinosaurs could turn deadly instantly. He couldn¡¯t afford to let his guard down. As he continued along the shore, Jack noticed more signs of bushcrafter¡¯s activity¡ªsmall clusters of smoke rising above the treeline further down the shore. They had set up camps in intervals, each one marked by neatly arranged tents, organized fire pits, and racks of smoked meat. A few of them were busy preparing food or tending to the needs of the passing hunting parties. One bushcrafter was expertly carving a piece of wood into a sturdy tool while another stirred a pot of stew over a roaring fire. Jack continued, feeling uneasy. If he wanted to carve out his niche here, he¡¯d have to step up his game. Still, this also presented an opportunity to learn from others and maybe even collaborate. For now, though, he needed to reach Erwind and see what he could glean from the hermit. After a few minutes of walking, he passed a group of players on the brink of finishing off a pack of ornithopods when something massive crashed through the tree line. An Allosaurus¡ªlarger and more terrifying than Jack remembered¡ªcharged toward the weakened dinosaurs. It was the first time that Jack could see an allosaurus under the daylight, without the cover of trees. It had scales in shades of dark green and brown, and its muscular frame rippled with every movement. Its powerful jaws, lined with razor-sharp teeth, opened wide as it let out a thunderous roar that shook the ground. The memory of being devoured by this very creature flashed in Jack¡¯s mind. He crouched, hoping to go unnoticed, and dismissed as a bush. Jack had expected the players to take off running from the allosaurus, but instead of panicking, they responded with unexpected enthusiasm. ¡°An Allosaurus! Finally!¡± ¡°Beastmasters! Tanks! Pin him down. Grenadiers, smoke him out! Knights, charge!¡± The party leader quickly reorganized the group. Rather than defending their current prey, they welcomed the Allosaurus¡¯s charge, rallying to attack the beast with renewed vigor. Jack was stunned¡ªwas this Allosaurus the local boss of the lake? Its drops had to be incredible for the players to throw themselves at it zealously. Jack seized the opportunity as the battle erupted. Keeping low and using the chaos to his advantage, he circled wide around the fight. The creature¡¯s thunderous roars and the clash of weapons filled the air, but Jack focused on putting as much distance between himself and the battle as possible. Jack finally spotted his destination. The first thing he noticed was the fire. It was barely visible from the shore, but the coordinates he¡¯d found on the forums hadn¡¯t failed him. The flames flickered through the dense foliage. As he drew closer, he saw the fire more clearly. Rocks circled a fire pit containing flames that roared with an intensity Jack had never seen before. The fire seemed almost alive. A thrill of excitement bubbled up in Jack''s chest¡ªthis had to be one of the advanced recipes he could learn from the NPC. Sitting by the fire was Erwind, the Hermit, casually roasting an animal¡ªperhaps a rabbit¡ªskewered on a stick. He slowly rotated the spit, ensuring the meat was cooked evenly. The juices sizzled as they dripped into the fire releasing a delicious smell. Jack had expected to find someone rugged and stern, like Saul, his bushcraft instructor. But instead of a military-type survivalist, Erwind looked relaxed, almost leisurely, as if he were simply enjoying a long holiday in the wilderness. Dressed in well-tailored animal pelts, he seemed more at ease than Jack had imagined, exuding the air of someone who thrived in this environment rather than merely survived. Beyond the flames, the shimmering air, and the NPC, was a shack¡ªor at least something that could pass for one. The structure was crude but functional, blending into its natural surroundings. Sturdy trees and a large rock formed half of its walls, and ivy and straw filled the remaining gaps, creating a small enclosure. The roof was a patchwork of huge leaves and straw. Inside, Jack could make out a few rudimentary pieces of furniture: a thatched bed, a small table, and various tools scattered about. Jack rubbed his hands happily. He¡¯d finally found the hermit. It was time to take a look at the recipes from the bushcraft XP store. Ch. 79 - Bushcraft 2.0 As Jack approached the bush crafter¡¯s shack, the NPC lifted his head, a warm, welcoming smile spreading across his weathered face. ¡°Oh? A guest?¡± "Hello, Mr. Erwind. My name is Jack, and I''m a bushcrafter too." "Welcome, fellow bushcrafter. What brings you to this beautiful lake? Here to take in the view?" "Actually," Jack replied, "I was hoping to learn some things from you. I¡¯ve heard that you¡¯re a very experienced bushcrafter." Erwind waved his hand, dismissing the compliment. "I wouldn¡¯t go so far as to claim I¡¯m very experienced. But I¡¯m more than happy to oblige. What can I teach you, friend?" A system window appeared, and Jack hungrily went through the listings. After seeing several bushcrafters and their fancy camps on his way here, he was sure there was a lot to obtain from here, and he wasn¡¯t wrong. One of the first listings was an upgraded version of a skill he already owned: [Kindle]. Kindle, lvl. 2 Skill description: You''ve mastered fire-making to the point where you can create mid-temperature fires by optimizing the environment around your fire. Skill effects: You can craft medium-temperature fires; Fires last 25% longer and can withstand light rain. Low-temperature fires empowered by his [Camping] skill had been enough to make his camps safe. However, this time around, he wasn¡¯t just trying to fend off insects, porkies, and compies. There were giant dinosaurs all around the lake. Mid-temperature fires had to be what allowed the bushcrafters around the lake to look so carefree and unworried about the ornithopods and allosauruses. This was just the first of many skills and recipes, though. The list went on and on. The more he read, the more excited he felt. There were recipes here to make better medicine, to make camps safer, or to improve the quality of food he made. The good thing about bushcrafters was that they could do a little of everything. But knowing that more recipes would close the gap somewhat left Jack excited. However, that wasn¡¯t all. Jack¡¯s eyes landed on a skill that made him drool. Sticksmithing, Lvl. 1 Skill description: You''ve developed the knack for turning simple sticks into rudimentary weapons, armor, and tools. With basic techniques, you can fashion essential items for survival and defense. Skill effects: Unlocks the ability to craft weapons, armor, and tools using sticks. It sounded similar to rope weaving in that it unlocked several crafting techniques. It mentioned that it would allow him to craft weapons, armor, and tools. Wasn¡¯t this what he sought to offset his handyman class¡¯ deficiencies? A profession that allowed him to make stuff he could wear? His only pieces of equipment (apart from the pot hive and the ocarina) were his moss suit and cape. That was it. That was all he could craft and wear. Even though he was somewhat limited in his choice of items, he loved the moss suit and its bonuses to stealth. That¡¯s how he¡¯d made it to Red Lake unescorted. But there was more? He could also make armor and weapons. He just had to have this skill! Jack considered what to buy first. He only had 20,000 bushcraft XP, and [Sticksmithing] cost 100,000. After some thought, Jack returned to the top of the list and purchased the upgrade to [Kindle]. He would hang out around the lake to grind for bushcraft XP and buy more skills and recipes. Without a more powerful fire, there would be no way of keeping the large dinosaurs at bay. You¡¯ve learned a new recipe: [Mid-Temperature Fire]. Sure! Here''s the recipe for the Mid-Temperature Fire (Uncommon): Mid-Temperature Fire (Uncommon) Ingredients: 10x[Sticks], 1x[Log], 10x[Small Rocks] Recipe: Arrange the sticks over the log in a cabin structure and light the fire. Surround the wood structure with small rocks to help retain and concentrate heat. Gradually add more logs to maintain a steady fire. Requirements: [Kindle], lvl. 2. Jack couldn¡¯t wait to start a fire as glorious as the one Erwind kept before his shack. Jack stood up and got ready to leave. ¡°Leaving already, fellow bushcrafter?¡± Erwind asked as he took a skewer from over the fire and prodded the meat with his finger. Judging it not cooked enough, he put it back over the fire. ¡°Yes, Mr. Erwind. I need to gain more experience before I can learn more from you.¡± "Feel free to come back anytime. We bushcrafters need to stick together. You never know when you might need a helping hand out in the wild. The wild is our mistress, but she''s a cruel one."This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source. "I guess you¡¯re right. Thank you for everything," Jack replied. Leaving, he thought about Erwind¡¯s words. The wild is a cruel mistress. Thinking of how beautiful the lake looked, yet knowing how many deadly creatures lurked around it, he guessed it was true. The wild was a cruel mistress. * This wasn¡¯t Jack''s first time setting up camp, but he felt the most nervous he had ever been. Perhaps it was because he¡¯d seen what he was up against. The lake was filled with other bushcrafters who already had a rapport with the local hunters and had purchased several new skills and recipes from Erwind. They had nicer camps and could provide better services to their customers. Jack refused to accept defeat, though. The lake was crawling with players. Everywhere Jack looked, there were hunting parties battling dinosaurs. Yes, there was competition, but there were also plenty of customers to serve. He doubted that every one of them already had a bushcrafter catering to them. Additionally, since the shores of the lake had little to impede one¡¯s view, it was pretty easy to spot a camp from far away. From Jack¡¯s position, he could spot at least five or six fires across the lake, signaling the presence of his competitors. Calling new customers'' attention without trees obstructing the view was much easier. He wouldn¡¯t need to hang plates around the forest this time. Jack scouted the lake shore for a few minutes, looking for a place that wasn¡¯t too far from Erwind¡¯s cabin but not too close to any of his competitors. There was a particularly rocky stretch with no other bushcrafter nearby and relatively close to Erwind. Jack settled on a camping site, gently took his pot hive from his back, and placed it gently on the ground. The bees seemed unperturbed, constantly leaving the colony searching for fresh nectar. The first thing Jack had to do was to start a fire to ensure his and his camp¡¯s safety. Jack followed the recipe of the mid-temperature fire. He approached the lake and selected stones that would go nicely with the firepit. Then, he walked over to the tree line, picking up dry sticks. He also grabbed a log from his inventory and started following the recipe. He used the log as the structure''s foundation and then leaned the sticks one against the other, forming a little cone over the log. He proceeded to distribute the stones around the fire, and once he was satisfied with the results, he grabbed one of his tinderboxes. Before he started the fire, he glanced over at his pot hive. He wasn¡¯t sure about how bees would feel regarding fire. Therefore, he moved the pot a little farther from the fire to be at the edge of its protection while distant enough not to alarm the bees. After hitting the flint against the firesteel, a shower of sparks hit the sticks, setting them ablaze. The log followed, and the fire picked up nicely. Congratulations! You¡¯ve crafted [Mid-Temperature Fire]. +200xp in [Bushcraft] Mid Temperature Fire (Uncommon) Durability: 24 A cozy fire that will keep you warm and safe. Aura effects: +20% hp regeneration; +20% stamina regeneration; Keeps animals at bay. Jack could instantly feel a difference from the fires he was used to. The flames were taller, and the heat was more noticeable even when he stepped away from the fire. The light of the fire also encompassed a larger area, showing him that the safe zone created by the fire had an extra 5-meter radius compared with the low-temperature fire. A small ornithopod nearby, seeing it, walked a few steps away from it, showing fear, and Jack nodded. He was going to be safe for now. Jack proceeded to set up the tent. Jack glanced around the clearing, looking for the best spot within five meters of the fire. He wasn¡¯t a seasoned expert in camping yet, but this wasn¡¯t his first time either. He pulled out the bamboo frame from his inventory, handling it steadily. Bamboo Tent Frame (Common) Description: A basic structure made of bamboo that can support a tent cloth and protect you from the elements. Crafting grade: B- Durability: 18 The pieces came together smoothly in his hands¡ªhe no longer had to second-guess which part went where. He positioned the frame on level ground, five meters from the fire. The structure stood sturdy. Next, Jack retrieved the tent cloth and unfurled it over the frame. Linen Tent Cloth (Common) Description: A large linen cloth that can offer you shade. Crafting grade: C Durability: 14 The fabric settled into place without much fuss. He took a moment to ensure it was evenly spread, tugging the corners until he was satisfied with how it draped over the bamboo. The stakes were up next. He crouched down and carefully positioned the first one, driving it into the ground at the right angle with a few firm taps from a smooth stone he¡¯d picked up earlier. You nailed a stake down. +10 bushcraft xp. He repeated the process with the other three stakes, feeling quite satisfied each time one went in just right. There was still a bit of trial and error¡ªone of the stakes wobbled more than he liked, but he adjusted it until it was secure. Jack tied the ropes quickly. The knots held firm, the ropes were taut, and the tent stood steady. He stepped back to take it all in. You¡¯ve set up camp. +300 bushcraft xp. Your fire is empowered by the [Camping] skill. +300 bushcraft xp. The tent looked solid. Jack allowed himself a small, satisfied smile. Setting up the tent had taken less time, and it felt less like a chore and more like a part of his routine. With the tent in place, Jack moved on to the fire, adding a few more sticks to keep it strong. The bees in his pot hive buzzed contentedly nearby, unaffected by their proximity to the fire. Jack sighed in relief. That was good news. Bushcraft and beekeeping didn¡¯t conflict with each other. He could keep his pot hive inside his camp. Jack had just become another shiny point on the map where hunting parties could flock. He had to finish getting things ready for his patrons. He stood and started walking around the camp, looking for berries, mushrooms, and anything edible. He also filled one of his cooking pots with water from the lake and put it close to the fire so that he could cook a survival stew at a moment¡¯s notice. He cleared up the rest of the camp, picking up any leaf litter or sticks and putting them into the fire, and even dragged a nearby log, creating an area big enough to fit up to 10 people around his fire. He swept his hands, took a deep breath, and waited eagerly for his customers to arrive. He sat in the log, throwing sticks into the fire. The only sound in the camp was the crackling of wood and the buzz of arriving bees. Fifty meters away, 8 players fought against a lone ornithopod. The fight ended, and the players walked toward him. Jack stood up, put on a business smile, put the pot over the fire, and threw a few of the nearest ingredients in so the hunters could smell the delicious food. As the party approached, they looked at his camp, ignored Jack, and kept walking. Jack frowned. Didn¡¯t they need to replenish their stamina and health after the fight? He followed them with his eyes. They had gone up to another bushcrafter further ahead. Jack¡¯s expression sunk. So much for his first customers. They were already committed to one of his competitors. He sat back on the log and waited for his opportunity. Ch. 80 - Standing Out It had been two hours since Jack set up camp. He was sitting near the edge, between the fire and the pot hive, lost in the soothing notes of his ocarina. The noon sun hit the lake head-on, bathing the shores in light and creating the illusion that lunchtime was just around the corner. The smell of fire hinted at an upcoming summer barbecue, yet Jack played a tune that evoked spring. A Morning of Spring (Level 1 Melody) Description: This melody allows you to become one with nature and elicit a happy, peaceful mood in your listeners. Bees become more productive as you play this tune. Melody Type: Happy [A Morning of Spring] wasn¡¯t too fast or slow. The melody seemed to temper the sun''s heat, rewinding the summer feel of noon to a cool spring morning. The notes floated through the air, seamlessly merging the camp with the surrounding nature. As Jack played, the pot hive a few meters away buzzed with activity. The bees seemed to take on an almost frantic pace, zipping between the hive and the wildflowers, gathering nectar with an urgency that wasn¡¯t there before. A bee returns with pollen. +10 beekeeping XP. A bee returns with pollen. +10 beekeeping XP. Jack smiled, pleased with the synergy between his bard and beekeeper professions. He had already reached level 6 as a bard and level 4 in beekeeping. Not only was he gaining experience in both, but the music also enhanced his bees'' productivity, creating a positive feedback loop. His new skill, [Brood Breeding], had also kicked in. The queen bee lays an egg. +10 beekeeping XP. Brood Breeding, lvl. 1 Description: The colony''s queen is busy laying eggs, and the workers can¡¯t wait to feed the young. Effects: Passive. Your colony will spawn new bees every day. Scales with intelligence. Requires enough nectar. Current rate: 10 bees per day. The queen bee was laying eggs inspired by the steady supply of nectar. By tomorrow, ten new workers would be hard at work for the colony. Despite the serene atmosphere, Jack couldn¡¯t ignore the nagging background silence. There was no chatter, no laughter, no battle planning, and no customers. While he enjoyed progressing as a bard and beekeeper, his bushcraft efforts were hitting a slump. His attempts to attract more customers to his campsite hadn¡¯t been as successful as he¡¯d hoped. Other camps around the lake offered better services, according to the few travelers who had stopped by. Some adventurers had been drawn by his music, but it wasn¡¯t enough to keep them around for long. Most were looking for something more¡ªsomething Jack couldn¡¯t yet provide. Jack perked up as he noticed a small group of adventurers approaching his camp, drawn by the sound of his ocarina. He quickly switched to [The Sitting Wind], hoping to impress them. They listened briefly, nodding appreciatively as the gentle notes filled the air. ¡°What a beautiful tune. And look! My stamina is filling up,¡± one of them commented happily. Not everyone was as enthusiastic. ¡°Hmph¡­ no skewers or smoker.¡± ¡°Maybe we should just try the next camp?¡± ¡°Hush. Let me do the talking.¡± Their leader stepped forward and greeted Jack with a slight bow. ¡°Hello, sir. How much for the meal?¡± Jack put down the ocarina and put on his most inviting smile. ¡°Greetings, ladies and gentlemen. Welcome to my humble camp. The usual fee: 2 silver.¡± ¡°He only has the basic buff, then,¡± one of them whispered to the captain. ¡°Argh. As soon as he stopped playing, my stamina stopped recovering. There¡¯s no lasting buff.¡± ¡°We¡¯d be better off at the next camp.¡± The hunters muttered their complaints to their leader, and Jack''s smile faltered. Despite his best efforts, this group wasn¡¯t going to stay either. ¡°You know what? We¡¯re just heading back to the city. A full HP and stamina bar are all we need. Even if he has no significant buffs, it¡¯ll save us some silver.¡± The group exchanged looks and, with shrugs, began sitting around the fire. Jack started preparing ingredients and setting out the tableware he¡¯d crafted. Just as the pot began to boil, one of the customers jerked upright. ¡°Ouch!¡± ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Jimmy?¡± Another one of them swatted at the air, yelping in pain.This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source. "Ouch! Why are there bees here?" the adventurer exclaimed, backing away from the log. "I just got stung!" Jack winced. The bees! He hadn¡¯t anticipated they would attack his patrons. To be fair, this was the first time other players had come close enough to the camp. But they had never attacked Jack, who realized he had a beekeeper skill preventing stings¡ªa protection his visitors lacked. ¡°I¡¯m really sorry,¡± Jack said, lowering his ocarina. ¡°I didn¡¯t realize¡ª¡± But it was too late. ¡°Ouch! I''ve been stung, too!¡± ¡°Let''s go, guys. This camp sucks!¡± ¡°Wait. Don¡¯t go! I¡ª¡± The group was already moving away, muttering about finding another camp. Jack watched helplessly as his first potential customers in over two hours disappeared. His shoulders slumped as he stared at the hive. The bees continued their work, unaware they had just driven away his customers. How would he keep his camp running if this kept happening? Sighing, Jack grabbed the pot hive and dragged it farther from the fire. Satisfied, he returned to the fire and sat on one of the logs. It wasn¡¯t just the bees. Two hours without a single customer was too long. Jack had tried to make his campsite as appealing as possible, even using his music to draw people in. But the common complaint he¡¯d overheard was that his music made no difference. Adventurers could recover stamina just as easily by sitting near any fire or eating a decent meal. Better-grade camps offered enticing buffs that Jack couldn¡¯t compete with. Though pleasant, his camp didn¡¯t provide any significant advantage to sway customers into staying longer or returning. Should he make the trek back to a spot nearer the city? He¡¯d fared better when he was the only bushcrafter around. Jack took a deep breath and stood up, dusting off his pants. The recent failure with the bees had shaken his confidence, but he wasn¡¯t about to give up. It was time to try something different. The competition around the lake was fierce, and his usual approach wasn¡¯t cutting it. He needed something to set his camp apart¡ªsomething that would draw in weary hunters and adventurers, something they couldn¡¯t ignore. That¡¯s when he remembered the mud hut recipe. Mud Hut Ingredients: 50x[Clay], 50x[Dry Grass] Recipe: Temper the clay in a proportion of 3 parts clay to 1 part dry grass. Shape into patties and form the walls of the house. Use a torch to dry each layer before setting a new one. Use the remaining dry grass to make a thatch roof. Requirements: Clay Tempering; Clay Molding, lvl. 3; Camping; Handyman, lvl. 10. The [Mud Hut] recipe was reminiscent of how coiled vases were made. From experience, Jack knew that making large coiled ceramics outdoors took work¡ªhow much more so for a whole house! He had been reluctant to try it, considering the time and effort involved, but now seemed like the perfect time. The mud hut could provide a unique selling point, something none of the other bushcrafters around the lake could replicate. Jack stood up, determination replacing his earlier frustration, and set out to gather materials, starting with the lake shore. He moved away from the rocks, searching for a suitable spot until he found soft soil filled with footprints from passing adventurers. Kneeling by the water, he scooped up handfuls of thick, sticky clay, filling his inventory with the cool, malleable substance. You¡¯ve gathered 2x[Earthenware Clay]. +2 pottery XP. You¡¯ve gathered 2x[Earthenware Clay]. +2 pottery XP. Once he had ten stacks, he returned to camp to check on the bees and ensure the fire was still burning strong. The last thing he needed was for the fire to go out and for a herd of dinosaurs to stampede through his campsite. With the fire refueled Jack headed to the border between the shore and the forest, where tall, dry grass swayed in the breeze. You¡¯ve gathered 1x[Grass]. You¡¯ve gathered 1x[Grass]. You¡¯ve gathered 1x[Grass]. It didn¡¯t take long to gather a sufficient amount, which he bundled under one arm as he returned to camp. He lay it all neatly under the sun to dry. Back at his campsite, Jack cleared a patch of ground within the protective range of the fire. Staying within its warmth was essential¡ªnot just for his safety but also to ensure the hut¡¯s construction would proceed safely without interference from the local wildlife. He smoothed out the ground, creating a level surface to build on. Next, he prepared the clay using one of his handyman''s unique skills. Clay Tempering Description: You add non-plastic material to clay to prevent it from cracking when it dries, making it stronger and lighter. Effects: You can mix clay and dry grass; Increases the durability of crafted items. He had already tried this skill when making the pot hive, so he felt confident. Jack mixed the clay and dry grass in the correct proportions¡ªthree parts clay to one part grass. He kneaded the mixture with his hands, feeling the grass fibers blend with the cool, slick texture of the clay. With the material ready, Jack began shaping the first layer of the mud hut¡¯s walls. He started by laying out the foundation as a square, leaving an opening for the entrance. Slowly and deliberately, he pressed the clay mixture into thick, solid patties. Each patty was carefully placed on top of the other, forming the base of the wall. Once the base layer was complete, Jack grabbed one of the torches from his inventory. He held the torch over the patty for several moments but frowned. The clay wasn¡¯t changing color. He drew the torch away and felt the surface¡ªit was lukewarm. He had assumed the torch would be enough to dry the clay, but it wasn¡¯t generating nearly enough heat. The clay was too thick, too wet. It would take hours to dry the walls this way. Jack paused, considering his options. Should he try using two torches at once, one in each hand? His eyes fell on the fire pit nearby, blazing much hotter than the torch. An idea sparked in his mind¡ªhe¡¯d have to abandon his first attempt at the mud hut. Quickly dismantling the unfinished wall, Jack set the clay patties aside and cleared a new area directly adjacent to the fire. He moved the logs he¡¯d been using as benches and set them aside. He then began laying the patties around the fire. The difference was immediate¡ªthe heat from the fire radiated outward, warming the clay almost instantly. As he built up the first layer of the wall, steam rose from the clay as moisture evaporated. It was drying much faster. Encouraged, Jack continued building, stacking layer upon layer of tempered clay. Each time he completed a layer, he paused to let the fire''s heat do its work. Sometimes, he used a torch to help dry the clay on the wall¡¯s side furthest from the firepit before moving on to the next layer. The walls grew higher, forming a solid, cube-shaped structure. Though tiring, the steady progress gave Jack a sense of accomplishment. The hut began to take shape with each new layer. Thanks to the heat from the fire, the high noon sun, and not having to worry about perfectly evening the walls like with a vase, the work moved along faster than expected. As he set the last layer, Jack noticed a group of players near the water, close to his camp, looking curiously at his work. They pointed at the sturdy hut, commenting on it. Even a dinosaur drinking water by the lake regarded the hut, intrigued. Without its buffs, the mud hut was already drawing attention. Jack couldn¡¯t wait to see the further benefits it would bring to his campsite. Ch. 81 - Mud Hut Once the mud walls of the hut were high enough, Jack stepped back to admire his work. The building wasn¡¯t large by any means. It occupied roughly the same space as a tent. A group of dinosaurs drank from the lake within view. Jack imagined what would happen if one of them attacked the clay hut. It would probably not survive even one hit. Therefore, he decided to start a new fire in the camp to avoid any trouble. He was about to put out the fire he¡¯d been using to dry the hut''s walls, and he couldn¡¯t have it catch the future roof of the hut on fire. Jack collected rocks by the lake and gathered a new pile of fuel in the camp. A few sparks in, and there was another mid-temperature fire growing strong. Congratulations! You¡¯ve crafted [Mid-Temperature Fire]. +200xp in [Bushcraft] Mid Temperature Fire (Uncommon) Durability: 24 A cozy fire that will keep you warm and safe. Aura effects: +20% hp regeneration; +20% stamina regeneration; Keeps animals at bay. Once the fire was burning strong, he returned to the hut, throwing dirt into the campfire and depleting its durability. It was the first time he actively worked to put a fire out rather than make it last longer. Once the flames died, Jack collected whatever [Ash] was in the pit and used a bundle of dry grass as a broom to clear the hut''s floor from dirt and soot. Jack went to get the dry grass he¡¯d gathered and began crafting a thatch roof. Even though the recipe didn¡¯t call for it, Jack decided to go the extra mile and used some sticks he¡¯d collected, bound them with a couple of cords, and created a simple frame for the roof, weaving the dry grass tightly over the top. The grass was light but dense, perfect for keeping out rain and insulating the hut. He received a notification as soon as the last piece of grass covered the top of the cabin. You¡¯ve crafted a [Mud Hut]. Crafting Grade: C+. 5.000 pottery XP; 5.000 bushcraft XP. Fire is empowered by [Mud Hut]. ¡°Woah! That¡¯s some good XP right there!¡± he couldn¡¯t help but exclaim. Finally, the roof was in place, and the mud hut stood complete. The clay walls were solid and smooth, and the thatch roof was neatly tied. The hut was small but functional and had a rustic charm that his simple tent couldn¡¯t match. Hopefully, this would make his camp more appealing to potential customers. He inspected the hut, eager to find out what special effects the mud hut had. Mud Hut (Uncommon) Crafting Grade: C+ Description: A simple shelter fashioned after tempered clay and covered with a dry grass roof. Effects: Boosts the effects of all bushcraft structures within a 10-meter radius; Whenever you have a meal within 10 meters of the hut, it will grant a temporary XP bonus. Jack¡¯s eyes widened and almost popped out of his sockets! Was this XP buff what he thought it was? He sprinted toward the fire and threw ingredients into the pot haphazardly. He stood in front of the pot, blowing on the flames, trying to speed up the cooking time, and finally, the [Survival Stew] was done. He poured the contents into a bowl and slurped the whole thing, burning his tongue and throat in the process as soon as he¡¯d finished it. He stared at the buff of the meal with a grin from ear to ear. Congratulations! You¡¯ve crafted [Survival Stew]. [Camping] has strengthened your meal. [Mud Hut] has strengthened your meal. +100xp in [Bushcraft] Survival Stew (Common) Crafting grade: C Item description: A nutritious, tasty meal from ingredients you¡¯ve crafted in the wild. Item effects: +1 stamina per second for five minutes. +1 hp per second for five minutes. Survival buff: Prevents loss of stamina and health for 15 minutes after leaving camp. The buff wears off when entering combat; XP buff: You gain a 10% bonus XP for an hour after having the meal. You can only receive this buff once a day. Durability: 5 In addition to the survival buff that his meals received thanks to [Camping], he could now benefit from an XP buff! He¡¯d experienced firsthand how rewarding it was to craft while utilizing the XP buffs of vases. The sad thing was that when it took him to craft a vase to boost XP, he could craft another of whatever item he wished. However, to have a structure that provided a similar effect to everyone who had a meal in the vicinity was mind-blowing! He finally had what it took to make his camp successful with the local hunters. Now calmer, Jack turned his attention to the rest of the notifications. The mud hut was also boosting his fire. Jack walked over to the fire and inspected it to see if the hut was doing anything for it.A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. Mid Temperature Fire (Uncommon) Durability: 24 A cozy fire that will keep you warm and safe. Aura effects: +20(+5)% hp regeneration; +20(+5)% stamina regeneration; Keeps animals at bay. Jack nodded approvingly. Not only did the regeneration and stamina regeneration increase slightly, but the light of the fire stretched longer, encompassing a larger area. The only question he had left was whether the mud hut replaced the tent. He went over to it and removed each stake from the ground. He folded the cloth neatly and packed the structure. There was no notification that the [Camping] skill had become inactive. Just to be sure, he went over to the cooking pot and made one more survival stew. Congratulations! You¡¯ve crafted [Survival Stew]. [Camping] has strengthened your meal. [Mud Hut] has strengthened your meal. +150xp in [Bushcraft] Survival Stew (Common) Crafting grade: B Item description: A nutritious, tasty meal from ingredients you¡¯ve crafted in the wild. Item effects: +1.5 stamina per second for five minutes. +1.5 hp per second for five minutes. Survival buff: Prevents loss of stamina and health for 15 minutes after leaving camp. The buff wears off when entering combat; XP buff: You gain a 10% bonus XP for an hour after having the meal. You can only receive this buff once a day. B grade bonus effect: +0.5 to regeneration effects. Durability: 6 [Camping] had still strengthened the meal. He was all good. Now that everything was set, Jack dragged the logs he¡¯d been using as makeshift seating and carefully placed the pot hive as far away from the fire as possible. He also made sure to put it on the other side of the mud hut. After some thought, he also took the tent out of his inventory and built it at the very edge of the camp. He kept the entrance of the tent open toward the tree line and put the pot hive within it. Perhaps with this, the bees would ignore his customers. ¡°Excuse me! Anybody here?!¡± Hearing the voice of a potential patron, Jack perked up. Instead of a large group, it turned out to be three fishermen passing by. All three were older men, their faces weathered from being under the sun. The man in the lead had a silver beard and a broad grin, his calloused hands gripping a well-worn fishing rod. ¡°Hello, sir. Nice hut!¡± the silver-bearded man greeted, his voice warm. ¡°Thanks!¡± Jack replied, eyeing them curiously. These weren¡¯t the typical greenhorns who usually wandered into his camp. ¡°Can we sit? How much is the meal?¡± Another fisherman, stocky and bald with a sunburned scalp, asked as he surveyed the camp. ¡°5 silver per person,¡± Jack said, thinking of a number on the spot. The fishermen looked at each other, nodded, and sat around the fire. The number that he¡¯d mentioned at random seemed to be a reasonable price. Jack glanced over at the tent, waiting for the attack of his pet bees to come, but it never did. Sighing in relief, he threw ingredients into the pot and prepared the meal for his patrons. ¡°How much longer until level 8?¡± asked the silver-bearded man, leaning back with a sigh. ¡°Almost there,¡± replied the stocky man, rubbing his hands together as if he could already feel the level-up. ¡°If we can catch another bucket, we¡¯ll be there.¡± ¡°I still have to decide what major to choose,¡± said the group''s third member, a wiry man with a hoarse voice. ¡°Why don¡¯t you go with the chef profession like us?¡± the silver-bearded man suggested, raising an eyebrow. ¡°Nah. I like to fish, but I don¡¯t like to cook it,¡± the wiry man grumbled. ¡°You sure like to eat it, though!¡± The stocky man chuckled, poking him in the ribs. The group laughed, a hearty sound that echoed through the camp. As the first of them finished the meal, he froze. ¡°No way.¡± ¡°What is it, Charlie?¡± the stocky man asked, looking concerned. ¡°Finish the stew. Quick!¡± The silver-bearded man urged. The two others swallowed the rest of the meal, their eyes widening in surprise. ¡°An XP buff?! That¡¯s awesome!¡± the stocky man exclaimed, his sunburned face lighting up. ¡°Woah, we¡¯ve gotta tell the others about this place,¡± the wiry man said, nodding eagerly. ¡°Hey, can we add you as a friend?¡± Jack grinned. ¡°Sure. My tag¡¯s JackOfDiamonds.¡± SeaBassCharlie has added you as a friend. Jack celebrated inwardly. Finally, things had gone without a hitch. He sat on the log and watched the fishermen return to their fishing spot. He waited a few moments, but seeing no other customers coming, he threw one more log into the fire and started playing on one of his yellow ocarinas. You¡¯ve played [A Morning of Spring]. +200 bard XP. Your bees work harder! A bee returns with pollen. +10 beekeeping XP. A bee returns with pollen. +10 beekeeping XP. His experience in both beekeeping and bard skills was swiftly climbing. He would soon gain a level in beekeeping. As he was about to restart playing, the clinking of armor and voices approached the camp. It was the group that had stopped to watch him build the hut earlier. They had left to hunt and returned to find out what the hut did. ¡°Hello, bushcrafter! Got some food for us?¡± asked a young female warrior, her armor gleaming in the afternoon sun. ¡°Yes. By all means. Please take a seat,¡± Jack said, standing up and heading toward one of the gathering sites he¡¯d marked on his map. It was a log loaded with mushrooms right outside the camp. Jack caught the players looking expectant at him and the hut. He could tell they were curious. Seeing that Jack was cooking as any other ordinary bushcrafter would, they lost interest quickly and started chatting about the lake fauna and their latest hunt. ¡°How many ornithopods do we have to hunt before an allosaurus appears?¡± one of them, a tall female archer with dark hair, asked thoughtfully. ¡°There¡¯s no number. It¡¯s random!¡± retorted another, a male rogue with a sly grin. ¡°No. Hold on! I heard that if you hunt 100 dinosaurs around the lake, you unlock a title that makes it easier for the allosaurus to spawn,¡± the archer insisted. ¡°Man, the allo¡¯s drops are incredible.¡± The captain, the female warrior who had taken the initiative to approach Jack, laughed heartily and chastised her party members. ¡°Guys, we¡¯ve been through this. We need at least five more levels before standing a chance against an allosaurus. If one shows up, all you have to do is run. You hear me?¡± This was one of Jack¡¯s favorite things about keeping a camp. He learned a lot about the game from eavesdropping on these parties. Moreover, these weren¡¯t the same noobs that he had served nearer to the wall. They already knew a few more things about the game, and Jack was happy to hear them. Congratulations! You¡¯ve crafted [Survival Stew]. +150 XP in [Bushcraft] Congratulations! You¡¯ve crafted [Survival Stew]. +150 XP in [Bushcraft] Congratulations! You¡¯ve crafted [Survival Stew]. +150 XP in [Bushcraft] Congratulations! You¡¯ve crafted [Survival Stew]. +150 XP in [Bushcraft] [Camping] has strengthened your meals. [Mud Hut] has strengthened your meals. ¡°Here you go, everyone.¡± The group accepted the bowls and started having the food. The captain made use of the silence to talk to Jack. ¡°So¡­ a bard and a bushcrafter! That¡¯s an unusual combination.¡± Jack shrugged. ¡°Sometimes life takes you places.¡± One of the other patrons asked, ¡°Bards¡¯ buffs only last while you¡¯re playing, correct?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right,¡± Jack admitted. Disappointed looks went around the fire. They had their meals while looking at the hut and around the camp. Maybe they were trying to find out what was so special about the hut or what this unique camp could do for them but hadn¡¯t found anything yet. The captain was the first to finish the meal. ¡°XP buff?! Sweet!¡± she exclaimed, eyes widening. ¡°What is it, captain?¡± ¡°The bard¡¯s meals boost XP gains for an hour!¡± the captain announced, grinning. ¡°What?!¡± The rest of the group finished the meal quickly, each looking more excited than the last. ¡°This is awesome! This way, we can gain levels quicker!¡± the archer said, nodding appreciatively. ¡°I know. Cap, take his contact info,¡± the rogue suggested. The captain of the party nodded and turned to Jack. ¡°Can I add you as a friend?¡± Jack smiled and nodded. ¡°My tag is JackOfDiamonds.¡± NeuroticHuntress has added you as a friend. Even as they were saying their goodbyes to Jack, four fishermen arrived. ¡°Excuse me. Is this the place where you can get the XP buff?¡± ¡°Of course it is, you silly. What other bushcrafter has a mud hut?¡± another fisherman replied before Jack could. Jack laughed happily. His plan had worked. Finally, business was picking up! Ch. 82 - Attaaaack! Just as the queen bee had secured her dominance over the workers and the hive was beginning to rebuild, the massive creature¡ªwhose paw had first trapped her here¡ªreached in again, tearing away the newly repaired honeycomb. The queen tried to suppress her frustration. The giant¡¯s intrusion disrupted the delicate balance she had fought so hard to establish. Worse, this honeycomb had been painstakingly reconstructed with the hive¡¯s limited resources. Without it, there would be no honey, no brood, and the colony¡¯s survival was once more in jeopardy. Where was the giant taking them? As quickly as the crisis had emerged, the pressure began to lift. The giant deposited the stolen honeycomb into a cavern. The space was enormous, a definite upgrade over her last accommodation. It had plenty of rafters and pillars to support honeycombs and was very defensible. It was also well-ventilated, with several entry and exit points. Then, the entire hive began to rock. At first, the queen and the workers huddled in a corner, scared of the powerful tremors. After a few moments, they found a rhythm, like the beat of giant drums. After the hive rocked, a strange, sweet scent wafted in from outside¡ªfriendly but alien. Determined to understand this new situation, the queen sent a scout through the cavern''s openings. When the worker returned, it danced, moving in tight, figure-eight patterns and waggling its body at specific angles while vibrating and pulsing with urgency. The queen and the other bees watched the dance, absorbing the vital information. The scout conveyed the presence of a massive, moss-covered giant outside, with two trunk-like limbs and branches sticking at its ends. Its paws are just like the paw that put the honeycomb here in the first place. It was carrying their home to an unknown destination. The queen bee pondered her next move. What should she do? Send an order to attack? Command the weak colony to charge against this strange giant with limited numbers? As she considered the heavy decision, more of the floral, pleasant scent came in. Something about it was soothing and friendly, like the scent of a tree or a flower. The bee¡¯s instincts told her that this was no enemy. It was a strange part of their new home. Additionally, if this giant turned out to be an ally, it would perhaps become a guardian that defended the hive from dangers. The queen decided to wait and see where this giant led them. In the meantime, it was time to do what a bee did best: work. She marched around the colony, spreading a scent that exuded confidence and a drive to work. At her beckoning, the workers¡¯ instincts kicked in. They flew up to the well of sugary water and drank it. Their bodies started to produce soft, white flakes of wax, which they chewed until it became pliable. Using the natural cement, they began anchoring the honeycomb to the cavern walls, carefully molding it around the pillars to form a stable structure. The hive¡¯s constant swaying motion didn''t stop them. The bees quickly grew accustomed to the rhythm of the giant¡¯s movements. It was what they would have had to deal with if their hive were swinging from a tree. As the workers settled into the small honeycomb in the cavern, the queen sent scouts again. They flew off one of the holes in the cavern and returned shortly. When they returned, both danced with jerking motions and unconventional angles. They reported a bizarre and unsettling landscape: a barren desert with barely any flowers or life stretching endlessly under a blazing sun. There were also giants everywhere, walking in every direction. A flat, never-ending horizontal hive of stone and dust with no honey. With each step the giant took, new scents wafted into the cavern¡ªsome sweet, others unpleasant. Occasionally, the faint perfume of distant flowers tempted the queen, but the giant passed them by before any worker could be dispatched. The wave of optimism faded under worries of a bleak future. Was this giant really their friend? This land had no ingredients for honey. Whatever little there was, the giant was bypassing it. Should the queen revisit her plans to attack? Should she run away and organize a swarm? No. It was too dangerous. How could her small contingency of bees hope to survive a flight outside of the walls of this cavern if there were giants everywhere? Something changed after a while. As the giant traveled, a fresh scent began to filter in¡ªa smell full of life and promise¡ªthe scent of greenery, nectar, and blooming flowers. The queen recognized it instantly, although she was the only one who did. Her excitement was palpable. It was the smell of the great green¡ªher home¡ªthe place she¡¯d been before all these strange events transpired and trapped her here. She waited expectantly. With each giant''s rocking motion, the smell grew stronger. The giant was heading toward the great green. She dared not distract the workers yet. They were under her command, but a failed promise or empty talk of a paradise could spur a mutiny. She waited patiently. The giant stopped and moved. Finally, after a few rocking motions, the faint smell became much stronger. They were on the edge of a great, lush jungle rich with flowers and nectar. Here, they could thrive. Here, the colony could grow strong.You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version. She waited a little longer until the smell became overwhelming. The giant was their friend. He had brought them back into the jungle. It was time to deploy the hive. She danced frantically, releasing energizing pheromones. The workers, spurred on by the queen''s enthusiasm, began leaving the cavern. It wasn¡¯t long before one, and another started returning with full stomachs and legs laden with golden pollen. The bees eagerly shared their bounty with the hive, passing the nectar to other workers. The hive hummed with joy as the foragers danced their tales of vibrant flowers, tall trees, and a gentle breeze. * It had been a while since their home had stopped rocking. The giant stood nearby, busy with its strange hive. A worker bee emerged from one of the holes in the large glazed green clay pot and took flight. Instead of heading toward the massive body of water, it turned in the opposite direction, flying toward the jungle trees. The air was thick with the scent of flowers, and the worker bee knew where to go. After a short flight, it found a beautiful white flower nestled among the greenery, its petals wide open, revealing a heart full of nectar. The bee hovered above it briefly, then dipped down, extending its long tongue into the flower. The sweet and plentiful nectar flowed up the bee¡¯s tongue like water through a straw. With its honey stomach full, the worker bee began the journey back to the hive. The flight felt shorter this time. It re-entered the clay hive and immediately sought out another worker bee. The two bees met, their antennae brushing in greeting, and then the nectar was passed from one to the other, mouth to mouth. The receiving bee chewed on the nectar, working it in its mouth, transforming the sweet liquid. This bee, too, soon passed the nectar to another. The process repeated several times until the nectar had thickened. Once the nectar was chewed for long enough, the bees deposited it into the honeycomb. The hexagonal cells began to fill, golden and shining. Bees lined up at the cells, fanning their wings furiously over the surface of the honey, coaxing the moisture to evaporate, thickening it until it became syrupy and rich. Only a little more and the honey would be ready. In the meantime, other workers expanded the honeycomb. They kept increasing the network of little wax jars that would house more honey and their brood. A group of workers had just begun a special royal chamber to house the queen and provide her with the comfort she needed to continue laying eggs. There was also the faint smell of smoke, but not the kind that signaled danger. It was a controlled burn, a soothing scent that kept the larvae in the eggs calm and safe from the dangers of the outside world. Everything was falling into place, and the hive was on the brink of prosperity. It seemed impossible for life to get any better. They had everything they needed right here, and they were growing. That¡¯s when a new sound filled the cavern. It was a series of fluting sounds similar to a queen¡¯s call but organized into a beautiful sequence. It was unlike anything they had ever heard. Vibrations translated the joy of work, the beauty of blossoming flowers, and the sweetness of honey into music. The melody infused the workers with renewed energy, their wings buzzing faster, their mandibles chewing on the nectar with more vigor, and their legs skittering excitedly. The song was like the beating heart of the hive, synchronizing their movements and uplifting their spirits. The melody kept going for a while, and the hive worked at unprecedented speed. But then it suddenly stopped. Another sound arrived¡ªdifferent, harsh, and grating. The queen sent out scouts once more. The returning workers relayed their findings in an alarmed, quick dance. Giants were approaching, and they were dangerously close. The period of peace turned out to be the quiet before the storm. The giants were too close to their home, and their giant was too far. She had a good thing going on in here. They were well-located, and the colony was growing strong. Just a little more, and they would have their first batch of honey! The queen inspected her workers. She knew that when a bee stung, it was a death sentence for that worker. She couldn¡¯t afford to lose too many, but the threat had to be addressed. With a heavy heart, the queen selected the oldest bees in the colony¡ªones who had served their purpose but were still capable of one final, heroic act. She sent them out to confront the threat. Three bees left the colony through one of the holes and took flight. They spotted the giants around the fire and flew toward them. They circled the giants once, their senses overwhelmed by the strange scent of sweat mixed with the calming scent of smoke. The command from their queen echoed in their mind. They dove, aiming their sharp sting at the intruder''s exposed flesh. The moment their stings pierced the giants, a jolt surged through their bodies. Their stings anchored them to the giants. They felt a sharp, searing pain as their abdomens tore away, leaving part of them behind, embedded in the intruder. Their lives were slipping away, their strength fading fast, but they still managed to make themselves take flight and dodged the giant paws of the giants. They flew as fast as their leaking strength allowed. Their sacrifice was complete. The world around them grew dim, but they still managed to return to the hive, barely clinging to life. The other bees greeted them with a soft hum. The queen approached the first workers who had fought to death for her. She lay on the hive¡¯s floor, her body holding still; the scent of gratitude and sorrow filled the air. She owed them. She would stay with them until they fell asleep. Once life left the warriors, the queen sent a scout to assess the attack''s result. The invaders were driven away, and the threat was neutralized for now. Relief spread through the colony. The bees had managed to protect their home, this time at least. The queen told the workers to keep working. Maybe only three stingers wouldn¡¯t do it next time. They had to grow stronger so that they could protect their family and their honey. Ch. 83 - Tough Clientele Jack wiped the sweat from his brow as he stirred the bubbling pot, the rich aroma of the stew wafting through the air. When he glanced up, a line of hunters and fishermen stretched, each eagerly awaiting their turn. He had been cooking non-stop for hours, tirelessly feeding the growing crowd. The rumor about a bushcrafter who could whip up a stew that boosted XP for an hour had spread like wildfire, evident in the sea of expectant faces. ¡°How much longer will it take?¡± a rowdy hunter called out from somewhere in the middle of the line. ¡°I¡¯ll be right there with you!¡± Jack shouted back. He turned to the players who had finished their meals and gathered around the fire, chatting and laughing. ¡°Ladies and gentlemen, if you wish to chat, please move over to the lounge,¡± he said, gesturing to a collection of logs arranged in a U-shape around a cozy fire pit. ¡°I need to attend to my other customers.¡± If not for Jack¡¯s chuckles when he referred to the logs as a lounge, he might have thought these customers were deaf. They kept chatting and sitting down. Under Jack¡¯s stern look, one of the quieter patrons eventually moved over as requested, prompting the others to follow suit. Satisfied with this small victory, he ushered in the next group of customers. As they gathered around the pot, Jack checked his inventory with a frown. He was out of water and ingredients. ¡°I¡¯ll be right back. I need to get some ingredients.¡± The new customers didn¡¯t seem to mind, especially now that they were next in line. Jack quickly set off to replenish his supplies, darting between the familiar harvesting spots he¡¯d scouted earlier. His first stop was a fallen log nestled in the shade of a large oak tree. He knelt, brushing aside some leaves, but found the wood barren¡ªno sign of the plump, earthy mushrooms he desperately needed. Not enough time had passed for it to respawn. He moved to another spot, a moist patch beneath a thick cluster of ferns, but it, too, was empty. He checked one last spot, the shadow of a towering boulder. It was just as fruitless. Jack pushed onto the nearby berry bushes. He first approached a patch that usually bore blueberries, but the branches were stripped clean. The only movement was his bees, busy sipping nectar from nearby flowers. He moved to another bush that typically produced elderberries, but it was no different¡ªbare branches and buzzing bees were all he could find. He smiled briefly at the sight of his bees, recognizing them as his own, but the fleeting joy quickly faded as the reality of the situation set in. Back at the camp, there were still many hungry mouths to feed and no ingredients to cook with! Jack turned his gaze toward the dense jungle. He hesitated momentarily, the thought of allosauruses roaming nearby sending a shiver down his spine. But he had no choice¡ªhe needed more ingredients. Jack threw caution to the wind and plunged into the undergrowth, moving quickly but quietly. He scoured the area, sticking as close to the tree line as possible. In case an allosaurus appeared, he could run to the safety of his camp. Though he didn¡¯t frequent this part of the jungle often, he found some ingredients. You¡¯ve harvested 2x [Dandelion]. You¡¯ve harvested 1x [Jerusalem Artichoke]. He gathered what little he could. He would have to venture deeper into the jungle to get more, which could be risky. Jack retreated from the jungle and made his way to his last resort¡ªthe lake. He raced through the rocky shores under the impatient eyes of his waiting patrons. He filled his flasks with water. His eyes scanned the shoreline, and there were patches of green strands clinging to the rocks and drifting lazily in the shallows. Jack approached the rocks and began picking the algae, their tendrils clinging to his hands as he gathered them. The texture was soft and slightly slimy, with a fresh, salty scent. You¡¯ve harvested 2x [Stonewort]. You¡¯ve harvested 3x [Stonewort]. You¡¯ve harvested 2x [Stonewort]. After hearing a fisherman mention that this algae was edible, Jack had been coming here to harvest it, and it had become a staple in his [Survival Stews]. Jack gathered as much algae as he could before hurrying back to camp. Once there, he tossed the algae and the water he had collected into the pot. He added a pinch of salt and pepper, then hovered over the pot, waiting anxiously for the water to boil. Congratulations! You¡¯ve crafted [Survival Stew]. [Camping] has strengthened your meal. [Mud Hut] has strengthened your meal. +150 XP in [Bushcraft] Survival Stew (Common) Crafting grade: B Item description: A nutritious, tasty meal from ingredients you¡¯ve crafted in the wild. Item effects: +1.5 stamina per second for five minutes. +1.5 HP per second for five minutes. Survival buff: Prevents loss of stamina and health for 15 minutes after leaving camp. The buff wears off when entering combat. XP buff: You gain a 10% bonus XP for an hour after having the meal. You can only receive this buff once a day. You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version. B grade bonus effect: +0.5 to regeneration effects. Durability: 6 As the aroma of the stew began to fill the air, the mood around the fire shifted from crabbiness to contentment. However, the same could not be said for those still waiting in line. The crowd grew increasingly restless. At this pace, people might start leaving. The spawning points he knew couldn¡¯t respawn fast enough to meet the demand. He tried thinking of solutions. One idea was to ask fishermen to pay for their stews with fish rather than silver. He could also request that other patrons with ingredients do the same. It would cut into his profits but allow him to keep going. Thankfully, his yellow-and-black cavalry arrived just in time. A bee returns with pollen. +10 beekeeping XP. A bee returns with pollen. +10 beekeeping XP. You''ve reached beekeeping, level 5! You¡¯ve learned [Honey Harvesting]. Honey Harvesting, Lvl. 1 Description: Your bees have worked hard. They have enough to feed the colony¡ªand you too! Effects: Passive. The bees produce honey¡ªrate scales with intelligence. Requires: An empty container. [Honey] available for harvesting: 23. After giving the bees enough time to harvest and process nectar, they were finally ready to pull their weight. All he needed was to get his hands on some containers, and the honey would be automatically added to his inventory. This was a game-changer. If he could sneak away to make honey pots, he could finally keep up with the overwhelming demand. But what would happen if he stopped serving food, even briefly? As he glanced up, he saw a group of fishermen approach, only to shrug and leave upon seeing the long line. Jack clenched his teeth. It felt wasteful to ask patrons for ingredients when he had his army of bees to provide him with honey. Taking a break shouldn¡¯t make a difference. He was leaving the camp to forage ingredients all the time. What would a longer break do? He finished serving his current patrons before addressing the restless line. Climbing atop a log to gain height, he blew his ocarina in a sharp succession of notes to grab everyone¡¯s attention. ¡°Hi, everyone! Sorry for the wait, but I need to take a 30-minute break. I¡¯ll be back soon!¡± ¡°Come on!¡± ¡°Are you serious? I¡¯ve been waiting for 10 minutes already,¡± came the frustrated replies. Jack felt his ears burn with embarrassment, but he continued his plan. He couldn¡¯t keep up with the demand without the help of his bees. He sprinted back to the lake, searching for the clay deposit he had harvested earlier. After gathering enough clay, he collected some flint for glaze-making, then hurried back to the camp¡ªonly to stop dead in his tracks. Where there had been a bustling crowd of players just moments before, now the camp was deserted. His heart sank. Everyone had left. It was disheartening. ¡°They¡¯ll return after thirty minutes,¡± Jack reassured himself. ¡°The buff is too good to pass on.¡± He set to work making honey pots. It was oddly soothing to return to the basics, crafting pinch pots like the ones he¡¯d first learned to make. This time, though, he shaped them with narrower openings, better for storing honey. You have molded an [Earthenware Pot]. +20 XP to [Pottery]. He quickly moved from one pot to the next, leaving them to dry under the sun. Time was of the essence, so he skipped the decorative carvings and immediately bisque-fired the pots once they were dry. You¡¯ve bisque-fired [Earthenware Pot]. +30 XP in [Pottery]. The pots fired faster in the hotter fire, and within moments, they were ready. Jack then prepared the glaze, grinding the flint with a satisfying crunch in his pestle and mortar. He mixed the powdered flint with ash from his previous fires and a bit of water to create a clear glaze. You¡¯ve crafted [Clear Glaze]. +10 XP to [Pottery]. He smeared the glaze onto the pots using dry grass and then fired them again. Finally, he had a collection of honey pots. You¡¯ve glazed-fired [Clear Earthenware Pot]. +20 XP to [Pottery]. You¡¯ve crafted [Clear Earthenware Pot]. Crafting Grade: B. +100 XP to [Pottery]. Appropriate container detected. Would you like to select [Earthenware Pot] as the default container for honey? [Y/N]. Jack confirmed immediately. You¡¯ve harvested 10 [Honey]. You¡¯ve harvested 10 [Honey]. You¡¯ve harvested 3 [Honey]. Jack grinned triumphantly as the notifications popped up. He opened his inventory and selected one of the earthenware pots he had just crafted. A shimmering golden liquid filled the pot. The honey had a warm, amber hue. The pot itself, simple yet sturdy, had become a treasure trove. Unable to resist, Jack dipped a finger into the honey, scooping up a small, glistening dollop. He brought it to his lips and tasted it. The flavor was rich and complex, with a deep sweetness spread across his tongue. Jack found himself enjoying beekeeping more with each passing moment. Even though working in the game could be fun, having the bees work for him was much better. If only they could learn to make pots and cook, too! Jack looked at the clock with a proud smile. The short break had allowed the ingredients around the camp to respawn, and now, he was ready to get back to business. He had already earned a decent amount of bushcraft XP but was still far from affording everything he wanted from Erwind. He stood up, surveying the empty shoreline with a frown. He had expected customers to return after the thirty-minute break, but there was no sign of anyone. Had he lost all his customers over such a short break? He grabbed the ocarina and started playing, hoping it would draw customers. You¡¯ve played [A Morning of Spring]. +200 bard XP. Your bees work harder! A bee returns with pollen. +10 beekeeping XP. A bee returns with pollen. +10 beekeeping XP. He kept playing for several minutes, but no one came. He put the ocarina down and scowled. Really? They had all left? It felt incredibly unfair. Thirty minutes¡ªwas that too much to ask? He scratched his head in thought. His XP buff lasted one hour. Players probably figured that it wasn¡¯t worth getting it from Jack¡¯s meals if they could spend the time they were using to wait in line to hunt. His shoulders slumped. He¡¯d been so happy about the honey income, but after making just a short break, he had lost so many customers! Jack¡¯s mouth went dry as a realization struck him with the force of a truck. Lydia. She worked at a caf¨¦, and he often urged her to ditch her boss and take off with him for just thirty minutes. Her caf¨¦ was popular, but wasn¡¯t it on a street teeming with competitors? The more he thought about it, the worse he felt. He had always assumed that leaving for thirty minutes was no big deal, but now, after today, he was beginning to understand just how unforgiving the world of customer service could be. He sat there for a moment, mulling, as the sun dipped lower in the sky, casting long shadows over the lake. ¡°Excuse me, lad. Are you open again?¡± Jack snapped out of his thoughts and saw a customer standing before him. ¡°S-Sorry, I was lost in my thoughts. Yes! Can I serve you some food?¡± ¡°Please! I was on my way to the other camp, but since you¡¯re open again, I¡¯ll take advantage of that XP buff.¡± Jack quickly poured stew into a bowl for the customer, his spirits lifting as another patron arrived. Customers were trickling in again, though the rush was nothing like the first wave. He realized he needed to be more careful about taking breaks in the future. He also owed Lydia and her boss an apology. Ch. 84 - Shopping Spree Jack adjusted the straps on his shoulders, feeling the weight of the pot hive, heavy with honey. He had worried that relocating the hive after settling at the campsite might disturb the bees, but they continued working as if nothing had happened. He glanced back at the camp where he¡¯d spent the last 12 hours toiling for the local adventurers. It had been a long day, but now he had several thousand bushcraft XP burning a hole in his pocket. Hopefully, it would be enough to buy everything he wanted from Erwind. The fires had died out a little while ago, and the crowd of players had scattered¡ªsome to hunt the local dinosaurs drinking from the lake, others to fish the creatures living within it. Leaving behind a camp where he¡¯d built a hut felt different from merely packing up a tent. There was a deeper sense of attachment, even a hint of loss. That feeling didn¡¯t last long. The trees rustled, and a group of four ornithopods, as large as elephants, emerged from the jungle, trampling the campsite and smashing the hut. It was the kick in the pants Jack needed. He turned away and resumed his march. Finding Erwind was easier this time. Jack could see the blazing fire from his previous campsite, standing out like a lighthouse in the dark. When he arrived, he wasn¡¯t the only bushcrafter visiting. Two others sat by the fire, navigating the invisible system windows and making purchases to improve their bushcrafting skills. ¡°Hi. Good evening,¡± Jack greeted them. ¡°Hey,¡± one replied, while the other just ignored him. Erwind, however, was the most hospitable of the bunch. ¡°Greetings, fellow bushcrafter! Take a seat. There''s plenty of space around the fire.¡± Jack accepted the invitation, opening his menu and scrolling through the different skills and recipes. He didn¡¯t have to think much about what to get¡ªhe¡¯d already made his choices the last time he visited. Are you sure you want to purchase [Survival Cooking], lvl. 2 for 20,000 bushcraft XP? ¡°Yes!¡± [Survival Cooking] has been upgraded. Survival Cooking, Lvl. 2 Description: Allows you to craft simple dishes with ingredients foraged from nature. With experience, you¡¯ve learned to make meals that not only sustain but also taste good. [Survival Cooking] was the bushcrafting skill Jack used most often. While [Kindle] and [Camping] were useful, they were only needed once to set up camp. [Survival Cooking], however, not only kept the XP flowing but also brought customers to the camp. He had overheard a few things about his competitors while serving patrons. Their food offered powerful buffs. Jack wasn¡¯t sure how it worked yet, but he knew that unlocking those buffs required the [Survival Cooking] upgrade. He moved on to the next skill he wanted to upgrade. Are you sure you want to purchase [Forage], lvl. 2 for 10,000 bushcraft XP? [Forage] has been upgraded. Forage, lvl. 2 Skill description: You can collect the bounty of Nature more easily. Skill effects: With this upgrade, Jack would gain even more bushcraft XP from foraging ingredients, as well as access to a larger pool of materials. At 10,000 bushcraft XP, it was a cheap upgrade, so Jack didn¡¯t hesitate to purchase it. Finally, and most importantly, he bought [Stick Smithing]. Are you sure you want to purchase [Sticksmithing], lvl. 1 for 100,000 bushcraft XP? Stick Smithing, Lvl. 1 Description: You can use sticks and cords to craft rudimentary items. You¡¯ve learned a new recipe: [Wooden Spear]. You¡¯ve learned a new recipe: [Wooden Vest]. Wooden Spear Ingredients: [Long Stick]. Recipe: Sharpen the edge of a long stick with a knife. Remove any branches from the stick. Burn the edge to harden it. Effects: Allows you to create a spear. Jack sighed, disappointed. He couldn¡¯t use this weapon¡ªhis class prevented him from dealing direct damage. He looked at the other recipe. Wooden Vest Ingredients: 20 [Sticks]; 2x[Weak Ropes]; 8x[Weak Cords]. Description: Collect several sticks and tie them with ropes. Repeat the process. Make shoulder straps and put it on.This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. Jack¡¯s face twisted in frustration. From its description and the difficulty of learning stick smithing, it should offer better stats than what he was wearing. However, the moss suit was a much better fit for his playstyle¡ªhe needed stealth more than defense. Had he really worked all day for a skill that was useless? He stared at the next upgrade. Level 2 of [Stick Smithing] was priced at 200,000 bushcraft XP. Maybe he needed to double down before this skill revealed its true potential. Sometimes, the cheapest purchases turned out to be the most profitable. With a sigh, he stood and walked away. He¡¯d had enough for now. He opened the menu and logged out. * After a jog, a hearty breakfast, and a chat with his cousin, Jack decided to take the hint from Amari and the gang: it was time to take a day off from the game. He¡¯d been working non-stop over the last week. Rob had suggested going to the movies, but Jack ultimately decided to spend the day on his own. He headed to one of his favorite spots in town¡ªa cozy caf¨¦ owned by a Portuguese family known for their incredible custard tarts. As he sipped an espresso and savored the tart, he gazed out the window, lost in thought. It had been a strange week. On one hand, it felt like a month had passed since he quit his job at Cheap Mart. The sensation was only heightened by how he spent his sleeping hours awake in the game, trying out new activities and exploring new territories. He had dabbled in pottery and cooking, ventured through pyramids, battled dinosaurs, and even picked up the ocarina. Through the partial reflection on the window, he saw people passing by and caught a glimpse of himself. How many of those people played New Earth, he wondered? Had he crossed paths with any of them in the game? Suddenly, his phone buzzed. Jack reached for it, nearly dropping it as he read the notifications. You¡¯ve sold [Junior Bugkeeper Gloves] for 165 credits. Jack stared at the notification, wide-eyed, as he jolted upright, startling a passing waitress. ¡°S-Sorry.¡± ¡°What is it?¡± she asked. ¡°One more coffee and one more custard tart, please,¡± he replied, sitting back down. He had finally made some money in the game¡ªno small amount either! It was the equivalent of a week¡¯s work at Cheap Mart. He quickly opened his banking app to confirm, and sure enough, even on a Sunday, his account balance had jumped to over three hundred credits. ¡°Yes! Yes! Yes!¡± he whispered, excitedly. With this, along with what was left of his Cheap Mart salary, he had his living expenses and the helmet rental fees for the month covered. From now on, any extra earnings would go toward his dad¡¯s rent. He stared at his phone, waiting for another notification about the boots, but nothing came. He¡¯d have to keep waiting. Now that he knew the auction site worked and he¡¯d managed to sell the gloves for such a good price, he felt more confident about selling the rest of his equipment. That brought him to his next decision. He had two unique items he could make: Pot Hives and Ocarinas. The next chance he got, he would list an ocarina for 50 credits and a pot hive for 100 credits. He discovered that the website had an option to automatically update the listing to fetch the best price, which he planned to activate to find the market value. At the same time, he considered participating in the flea market in Embersgate. He opened the browser to learn more about flea markets and discovered there was one happening today. Unfortunately, it was too late to prepare. Flea markets only took place twice a week, on Wednesdays and Sundays. He¡¯d have to get ready for the next Wednesday. ¡°Here you go,¡± the waitress said, bringing him another coffee and pastry. Jack rubbed his hands together, ready to celebrate his first significant sale on the auction site. He bit into the crunchy pastry, letting the soft custard melt on his tongue, and washed it down with hot, bitter coffee. He smiled contentedly. After finishing his snack, Jack paid the bill and left the caf¨¦. The sun was shining, and the town was slowly coming to life as people emerged from their morning slumber to make the most of the weekend. Jack thought about what to do next. On Sundays, he and Lydia had always done something together¡ªgoing to the movies, getting ice cream, or taking a walk in the park. This was the first Sunday he couldn¡¯t be with her. No custard tart or coffee could fill the void in his heart. He wandered aimlessly for a while until he spotted a stationery shop. As soon as he saw it, he knew how he¡¯d spend the rest of the morning. Jack entered the shop, bought two postcards, and then headed to a garden bench. Only after sitting down did he realize he hadn¡¯t bought a pen. After a quick return trip to the shop, he was back at the bench, ready to write. The events of the day near the lake came to mind, along with the memory of his breakup. He finally understood what Lydia had meant when she said he didn¡¯t consider her boss¡¯s feelings. Sighing, he picked up the pen and started writing a card. He paused several times, searching for the right words. Finally, he placed the card in an envelope and wrote ¡°Mrs. Linda¡± on the outside. He then took out the second postcard. He stared at it for several minutes, struggling to find the right words. Eventually, he wrote a few sentences, but no matter how hard he thought, he couldn¡¯t come up with anything else that didn¡¯t sound insincere or just plain stupid. He placed that postcard in an envelope as well and sealed it. Jack walked to the other end of the block and spotted Lydia¡¯s caf¨¦. He looked inside, heart pounding, hands shaking, but didn¡¯t see Lydia. Trembling, he debated whether to go in or not. After a few minutes of wrestling with himself, he finally stepped inside. The caf¨¦ was half full. Jack glanced around and noticed a couple of Lydia¡¯s friends at a table, throwing him judgmental looks. He sighed and continued looking until he spotted the caf¨¦¡¯s owner, Mrs. Linda, standing in a blue apron behind the counter. He walked over to her. ¡°G-good m-m-morning, Mrs. Linda.¡± The lady looked up and adjusted her glasses. ¡°Jack, I believe. The serenader¡­¡± Jack gulped. ¡°I k-know you¡¯re b-b-busy, but I was h-hoping I could give t-this to you.¡± ¡°To me?¡± she asked. Jack nodded. To his surprise, she opened the envelope right then and there, reading the card in front of him. Jack felt like he wanted to disappear. This was too awkward. What was he supposed to do¡ªwait for her to finish? Leave? Mrs. Linda¡¯s eyes shifted between the postcard and Jack. As she read, her expression softened, and finally, she smiled. ¡°Thank you, dear. Apologies accepted.¡± ¡°Thank you, too, Mrs. Linda.¡± With her polite response, Jack felt a bit more confident. ¡°This one is for Lydia. Could you please give it to her?¡± Mrs. Linda accepted the envelope but didn¡¯t promise anything. Jack took the hint. ¡°Thank you. Have a great day.¡± He left the caf¨¦ in a daze. The encounter had been nerve-wracking, but he felt a weight lift off his shoulders. He had apologized and done what he needed to do. Sighing, Jack headed toward the bus stop. He¡¯d had enough of reality for one day. It was time to return to the game. Ch. 85 - Beeatrice Lydia hopped off the bus, her heart racing. She had come as soon as she received Clara¡¯s message. Moments before, she¡¯d been in her pajamas, eating ice cream with chocolate chips and watching a romantic comedy to soothe the ache of her recent breakup with Jack. She really liked him despite his flaws. He could be a jerk sometimes, but he was also romantic, funny, interesting, and deeply in love with her. She saw it in the way he looked at her. He made her feel special. At first, that single-minded devotion to her had been his most charming quality. He seemed to care about nothing but her. They could be on a busy street or in a full movie theater, and he made her feel as if it were just the two of them. But over time, witnessing him disregard others and show little consideration for those around her began to chip away at their relationship. The fact that he wasn¡¯t planning to take the next step had been the final straw. She spent her days wrestling with guilt, questioning whether she had been too harsh, whether breaking up was the right decision, or if she should have given him a second chance. And she missed him. She felt alone. The silence from her phone¡ªno messages asking how she was or telling her he was thinking of her¡ªleft her feeling lost. Whenever a little voice urged Lydia to call Jack and get back together, she forced herself to remember the countless small acts of unkindness she had witnessed over the months they were together. After that, her despair often lessened, and she felt more confident in her decision. When she broke up with Jack, she had expected him to call, text, or maybe even show up at the cafe. But instead, he had gone completely silent. Then, when Clara texted her saying that Jack had appeared at the cafe and spoken to her boss, Lydia¡¯s fears were confirmed. She stormed into the cafe, slightly out of breath. She immediately spotted Clara, who caught her questioning gaze but only responded with a confused shrug. What had happened? Lydia then found Mrs. Linda behind the counter and hurried over to her. "Hello, Mrs. Linda," Lydia greeted. "Isn''t today your day off?" Mrs. Linda asked, glancing at Clara. "Ah, I see. Your friends informed you that your ex-boyfriend came by." The word "ex-boyfriend" still stung. "I was just worried that Jack might have done something stupid and caused you any trouble." "He didn¡¯t," Mrs. Linda replied, finishing her writing in a book before setting her glasses down. "So, what happened?" Lydia asked, her curiosity eating at her. "I must say, for a moment, I thought it was his twin who visited, not Jack," Mrs. Linda said. ¡°He just came to give me a card." "A card?" Lydia frowned. "Yes. Would you like to see it?¡± Lydia nodded. The card was simple, plain, and the color of cardboard¡ªobviously chosen by a man who prioritized practicality over sentiment. However, the penmanship was unmistakably Jack¡¯s. He had the most beautiful handwriting. Mrs. Linda, I owe you an apology. I used to think that you were unfair to Lydia and that my unannounced visits with my guitar or encouraging Lydia to take more breaks than she should were unimportant. But this week, I¡¯ve had to face some hard truths, one of which is that I wasn¡¯t considerate of you in the past. Lydia has told me that you¡¯ve always been a kind boss to her, and I want to thank you for that and apologize for disturbing your business more than once. Please accept my apologies. Sincerely, Jack Lydia reread the card, stunned. The handwriting was Jack¡¯s, but the thoughtfulness of the message wasn¡¯t. Was this some elaborate attempt to win her back? She was just so confused. "He also left a card for you and asked me to give it to you," Mrs. Linda added. "Where is it?" Lydia asked, trying to hide her eagerness. Her boss met Lydia¡¯s eyes. "Are you sure you want to read it?" Lydia nodded. Sighing, her boss handed over the card. "Lydia, I don¡¯t know if the boy is really changing for the better or not, but I can count on one hand the number of times I¡¯ve seen people truly change¡ªand never this quickly. Just don¡¯t get your hopes up, okay, sweetie?" "Of course. It¡¯s not like I¡¯m thinking of getting back together with him," she protested, looking away, embarrassed. "I know, sweetie. Just tread carefully." "Alright, I¡¯ll see you tomorrow," Lydia said. "See you tomorrow." Lydia walked away, Clara shooting her curious looks. She signaled that she¡¯d call her later and exited the cafe. She walked until she reached the bench where she had broken up with Jack, then opened the card.Find this and other great novels on the author''s preferred platform. Support original creators! This card, unlike the first, had a flower on the front. Lydia, On the day we broke up, you told me some things that were difficult to hear. At the time, I heard your words, but I didn¡¯t really listen. A lot has happened since then, and I can only say that you were right. I¡¯m sorry. I understand why you ended our relationship. I¡¯m sorry for disappointing you. For what it¡¯s worth, I miss you. Jack Lydia reread the card several times, then set it down, staring at the busy street. Could it be that she had actually gotten through to him during their last conversation? Was he really sincere? Was he really changing? Suddenly, she wasn¡¯t so sure about her decision to break up anymore. * Jack checked his phone one last time. No messages from Lydia. He coughed to clear the lump in his throat, knowing she probably wouldn¡¯t reach out. With a sigh, he put on the VR helmet, lay back on his cousin¡¯s couch, and logged into New Earth. He spawned near Erwind¡¯s shack, where three bushcrafters sat around a fire, busy purchasing upgrades for their professions. With no XP left to buy anything, Jack turned away from the fire and headed toward the lake, searching for a new campsite. A notification popped up: You¡¯ve received messages. Curious, Jack opened them. From: BeeLoverBeeatrice Subject: Portable Hive My friend told me you can make portable hives. Please call me as soon as possible, as I¡¯m interested in buying one. Best regards, Beeatrice Jack rubbed his hands together, a grin spreading across his face. He¡¯d almost forgotten about this potential customer. He quickly skimmed the other messages to see if anything else was important. From: Horace Subject: ¡®Sup? Hey, Jack. I saw you get online just now. What are you up to? Wanna do a quest or something? Jack chuckled at how Horace always took the initiative. He immediately called him back. ¡°Hi, Horace!¡± ¡°What¡¯s up, Jacky?¡± ¡°I thought you had big plans for the weekend. Weren¡¯t you going on a motorcycle ride?¡± Horace¡¯s expression shifted, his usual confident demeanor faltering. His brows furrowed, and he suddenly looked like a child upset over a broken toy. ¡°It didn¡¯t work out. My motorcycle isn¡¯t starting. I have to take it to the mechanic. So, here I am, back in the game.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry to hear that, man. I took the morning off, too, but after a few hours, I didn¡¯t know what to do with myself.¡± ¡°What are you up to?¡± Horace asked. ¡°I¡¯m at Red Lake.¡± Horace whistled. ¡°That¡¯s a sweet map. A little advanced for you, though.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not hunting dinosaurs or anything. Just leveling up my bushcraft.¡± ¡°Hmm¡­ Want me to check the quest board? Maybe we can find something that works for both of us and involves bushcraft. How does that sound?¡± Jack¡¯s eyes widened. He had planned to set up another camp, but the thought of going on an adventure with Horace was too tempting to pass up. He¡¯d spent hours grinding bushcraft XP¡ªsomething new would be a nice change of pace. Plus, quests involving professions had always yielded good rewards. Who knew? Maybe he¡¯d even unlock a special skill or recipe. ¡°Alright! Let¡¯s do it!¡± ¡°Sweet! I¡¯ll find us a quest and then head over to meet you.¡± ¡°Can you make it out here on your own? Will you be alright?¡± Jack asked. Horace frowned for a moment, but then he laughed. ¡°Bah! The great Horace needing help? Hahaha. You¡¯re a riot, Jack. I¡¯ll be fine. I¡¯ll let you know when I¡¯m close.¡± Horace disconnected, leaving Jack grinning. When they first met, Horace didn¡¯t seem to like him. Horace was a veteran player, and Jack was still a novice. But now, Horace had reached out to him, wanting to go on a solo adventure together. Jack had earned his respect. After feeling terrible about how he treated Mrs. Linda and Lydia, this was the boost he needed. Jack did some quick math. Between finding a quest, visiting the museum, and traveling to Red Lake, Horace would take at least two hours. He needed to make good use of his time until then. He decided to follow up with Beeatrice, so he called her. She answered immediately, and Jack was taken aback. Beeatrice was gorgeous and around his age. He couldn¡¯t help but flush. Her curly brown hair, light-brown eyes, and freckles made her look adorable. She wore a black and yellow dress, one earring with a black stone, the other with a yellow one. Behind her were several boxes with tiny dots buzzing around them. Jack gulped. She was surrounded by at least forty hives. Talk about a beekeeping enthusiast. Just as he was sizing her up, she seemed to be doing the same to him. But instead of fascination, her expression was a scowl. Jack didn¡¯t blame her. His moss suit and cape made him look like a walking bush. However, her eyes lit up when she noticed the bees around him, sparkling with excitement. ¡°Hey, I¡¯m Jack.¡± ¡°Hi, Jack. I¡¯m Beeatrice. My friends call me Bea.¡± Jack flushed an even deeper shade of red. Her voice was beautiful, sweet like honey. When she moved her hair, the locks swayed in a mesmerizing way. Jack had to stop looking, or he would start drooling. ¡°So, you¡¯re interested in one of these?¡± Jack asked, turning slightly so the camera could catch his hive. ¡°Yes, I am.¡± ¡°How many do you want?¡± Jack ventured. She frowned. ¡°From its size, you can only carry one. Correct?¡± ¡°Correct.¡± ¡°What are the item¡¯s details?¡± she asked, eyeing him suspiciously. Maybe his shabby appearance wasn¡¯t helping. Jack shared the details of the item with her. ¡°Hmm¡­ Interesting. No bonuses, though. There¡¯s even a debuff.¡± She pouted, clearly disappointed. ¡°Wait, what do you mean no buffs?¡± She looked at him, surprised. ¡°How long have you been a beekeeper?¡± ¡°Only a day. Is it that obvious?¡± She stepped aside, revealing her hives. ¡°The better the hive box, the better it is for the bees. As your hives grow, you¡¯ll have to fight against diseases, parasites, and predators. The boxes can offer bonuses to help your bees survive or increase honey yield.¡± The way she spoke reminded him of Amari¡ªlike she was teaching a class or talking to a camera. He discreetly opened a browser and typed in her game tag. Sure enough, she had several tutorial videos about beekeeping. ¡°You¡¯re a streamer!¡± he gasped. She smiled but didn¡¯t respond. ¡°Tell you what. I¡¯ll buy one.¡± Jack¡¯s heart sank at the small order. ¡°How much?¡± She paused, considering. ¡°I think a fair price would be 30 gold. What do you think?¡± Jack frowned. ¡°30 gold? That¡¯s too low for an item like this. How about 70 gold?¡± Bea raised an eyebrow, her eyes narrowing slightly. ¡°70? That¡¯s a bit steep for something with no bonuses and a debuff. How about 50 gold?¡± Jack thought for a moment, then decided to take a risk. ¡°50 gold if you agree to answer one question truthfully.¡± She frowned. ¡°Is it about beekeeping? Or are you a creep trying to get my phone number?¡± Jack waved his hands defensively. ¡°Nothing like that. I just want to gauge this item¡¯s market value. You¡¯re obviously knowledgeable. Do you think other beekeepers would be interested in buying this hive? How much would they pay?¡± Bea paused thoughtfully. Jack tapped his foot nervously. She was willing to buy his [Pot Hive] for 50 gold, which he could exchange for over 60 credits. If he could sell five or six [Pot Hives] for this price, he would have enough to pay rent. Ch. 86 - Experimentation Seeing that Jack wasn¡¯t interested in getting her number, Beeatrice relaxed. Jack felt her apprehension made no sense. Didn¡¯t he have her in-game contact information already? If he wanted to call her, he could just contact her in-game. On top of that, hadn¡¯t she been the one contacting him? He sighed. Girls¡­ What are you going to do? he thought to himself. ¡°If that¡¯s what you want to know, I don¡¯t mind giving my opinion. I don¡¯t think this item will be very popular. Most beekeepers are adventurers who like to be out adventuring and collect income from their hives when they return to the city. Having a hive that makes them slower is terrible for them. The others are hardcore beekeepers like me, managing several hives at once. But having a single hive without buffs is a liability. It makes the other hives susceptible to disease or parasites. Things can quickly spiral out of control. I only want to buy this to feature it on my channel.¡± Jack sighed, disappointed. He had hoped the item would be a hit, but Bea didn¡¯t share his optimism. ¡°Are we good? 50 gold?¡± Jack nodded. ¡°Deal.¡± ¡°Let me know the next time you¡¯re in Embersgate, and we¡¯ll close the deal.¡± ¡°Alright. Pleasure doing business with you!¡± She disconnected, leaving Jack¡¯s heart pounding. It wasn¡¯t just because of how beautiful Bea was, but because of how guilty he felt for noticing. Even though Lydia had broken up with him, she was still his girlfriend in his heart. What Bea said about the [Pot Hive] was also disappointing. If Pot Hives wouldn¡¯t make him prosperous, he had to hope that ocarinas would. He¡¯d just have to gauge the market potential once he returned to Embersgate. In the meantime, Horace was probably running around Embersgate getting buffs and finding a quest. Jack decided to make the most of his time, too. * Jack eventually decided that the best campsite to run experiments with his upgraded cooking and foraging skills was in the backyard of Erwind¡¯s shack. He found the perfect spot a few meters away. It was a quiet area surrounded by towering trees, their branches forming a natural canopy. The underbrush separating him from Erwind¡¯s shack was thick, giving him some privacy, but he was still close enough in case he needed to run to safety. He put his [Pot Hive] down gently, started a fire and set up a tent nearby to empower it. Jack¡¯s fire crackled to life. He compared its brightness with Erwind¡¯s fire. The light of the NPC¡¯s fire was strong enough to pierce through the shrubbery that separated their campsites. He could even feel some of its heat from this far away. His suspicions that Erwind¡¯s fire had something special grew stronger. Jack made a mental note to look in the XP store for the skill that empowered fire this much. He wasn¡¯t jealous, though. If anything, he felt safe. If he went to the lake, he risked being attacked by dinosaurs. Here, he was under Erwind¡¯s protection. This way, he could entirely focus on taking stock of what the upgraded versions of his skills did. There was little to no information online about the upgraded versions of [Survival Cooking] and [Forage]. Streamers were eager to share tutorials for beginners but kept the most precious secrets closer to the chest. He overheard the voices of people arriving at Erwind¡¯s camp. Maybe they knew. Bushcrafters who hung out around the lake were more experienced than him, but he doubted they would be willing to share the information that gave them the edge over their competitors. There was no way around it, he needed to figure it out by himself. He had to get cooking. Jack looked at his cooking pots. After cooking so many meals in them they were all on their last leg and needed replacing. To make new ones, however, he needed torches. He had pieces of cloth in his inventory, and he could forage for sticks, but he had no fat, the third ingredient in the torch recipe. He looked again in the direction of Erwind¡¯s camp. Even though asking other bushcrafters for the secrets of [Survival Cooking, level 2] would be a bit much, buying some fat from them should be OK. He walked through the bushes and studied the three players sitting on rough-hewn logs around the fire. The first, a burly man with a thick beard, waved his finger in long motions. His hand motions suggested he was scrolling through all the stores'' listings, looking for a specific upgrade. Beside him, a woman slightly older than Jack with braided hair read through the upgrades in her invisible system window. She did so calmly and happily as if she were window shopping. The last bushcrafter was a bald younger man, idly tossing a knife into the air, catching it with a practiced hand, perhaps a gesture made while he mulled over which bushcraft upgrade he¡¯d buy next. Jack approached the group cautiously. "Hi, guys! Can anyone sell me some fat? Or torches?" The younger man looked up, a smirk playing on his lips as he rolled his blade on his fingers. ¡°I can get you some fat. Want some?¡± ¡°Sure!¡± Jack said fearfully. The way the young man was looking at him was disturbing. It was almost as if he planned to harvest fat from Jack¡¯s body! He licked his lip and grinned. ¡°You can have it. For one gold a piece.¡± Jack¡¯s face fell. ¡°Come on, man. What a rip-off!¡± ¡°Stop being a douchebag,¡± the woman with braided hair stood up and put herself between Jack and the young man. She glared at the young man until he sat back down. ¡°How much do you need?¡± she asked Jack, her tone firm.If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. ¡°Just 2 or 3.¡± ¡°Here,¡± she said, transferring three pieces of fat to Jack¡¯s inventory. Ornithopod Fat (Common) Description: The fat of an ornithopod. It can be used in a variety of applications. Durability: 13 ¡°How much do I owe you?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t mention it. It¡¯s just a few silvers, anyway. Consider it a gift.¡± ¡°Thanks,¡± Jack said, grateful for her kindness. ¡°No worries,¡± she replied, casting a withering look at the bald young man. ¡°You should be ashamed, you jerk. Didn¡¯t your mamma teach you any manners?¡± The young bushcrafter just laughed, dismissing her words with a wave before returning to his knife tricks. Jack shook his head as he walked back to his fire, shaking his head. What was wrong with that idiot? If there was anything that creamed his corn, it was idiots like this who were greedy and rude. Jack looked over his shoulder, afraid that the crazy bushcrafter had chased after him, but nothing happened. Taking a deep breath, Jack set about crafting new torches. He scoured the surrounding area for suitable sticks, eventually finding some straight, sturdy ones from a nearby hazel bush. Their bark was smooth, and they were just the right thickness for holding a flame. He pulled some strips of cloth from his inventory and the fat, which came in a neatly packed blob. The fat was thick and greasy, a deep yellow color with a pungent smell that clung to his fingers. Grossed out, Jack smeared it on a cloth. He then carefully wrapped the fatty cloth around the top of each stick, layering it tightly so that it would burn steadily once lit. Satisfied with his work, he tested one of the torches, holding it to the flame until it caught fire. The cloth burned slowly, the fat fueling the flames with a steady, bright light. You¡¯ve crafted [Torch]. +120 bushcraft XP. With his new torches ready, Jack turned his attention to crafting new cooking pots. He grabbed the last of his earthenware clay and kneaded in some dry grass for added strength. He rolled the clay into cylinders, using his fingers to create long, even coils. He made a flat base and deposited the coils one by one, heating them with the torch to harden the clay. The warmth spread through the material, making it more firm. He did this layer by layer. Once the pot was shaped, he smoothed out imperfections before letting the pots dry and solidify. After applying a glaze and firing them, he finally had the cookware he needed for his experiments. You¡¯ve crafted [Clay Pot]. +370 pottery XP Now, it was time to test his new skills. Jack poured water into one of the freshly made pots and set it over the fire. He scanned the area for ingredients, and his eyes caught sight of some mushrooms growing in the shadow of a large oak tree. He knelt down to examine them more closely. You¡¯ve picked up [White Mushroom]. White Mushroom (Common) Description: Its mild, earthy flavor makes it a versatile ingredient in many dishes. Durability: 5 +5 bushcraft XP White mushrooms, with their smooth round caps, were one of the easiest ones to find. Jack loved them because they spawned in clusters and respawned quickly. He could easily get a stack of them at every spawn point. He¡¯d also gained XP from harvesting the mushrooms! Jack grinned, seeing that he could now get at least some points from foraging, thanks to the upgraded version of [Forage]. Jack harvested three of them; the experience points making the action a little more thrilling. He tossed the mushrooms into the pot, watching as they sizzled and began to soften in the boiling water. He added a pinch of salt and pepper, and once the stew was ready, the usual notification appeared. Congratulations! You¡¯ve crafted [Survival Stew]. [Camping] has strengthened your meal. +120 bushcraft XP Survival Stew (Common) Crafting grade: C Ingredients: [White Mushroom], [White Mushroom], [White Mushroom]. Item description: A nutritious, tasty meal from ingredients you¡¯ve crafted in the wild. Item effects: +1.5 stamina per second for five minutes. +1.5 HP per second for five minutes. Survival buff: Prevents loss of stamina and health for 15 minutes after leaving camp. The buff wears off when entering combat. Durability: 3 The stew was no better than what he usually made. The only difference after upgrading [Survival Cooking] was that its ingredients were now listed. ¡°What does this mean? Do ingredients make a difference now?¡± he muttered. Determined to explore further, he searched for other types of mushrooms. He soon found them. Morel Mushroom (Common) Description: Morels grow in the underbrush of dense forests, often found near decaying trees. They add a deep, savory note to any dish and are particularly favored in broths and stews. Durability: 7 +7 bushcraft XP Oyster Mushroom (Common) Description: Named for its resemblance to a cluster of oysters. Oyster mushrooms have a delicate, slightly sweet flavor with a hint of anise, making them versatile for a variety of dishes. Durability: 4 +5 bushcraft XP Morels were dark brown and had a honeycomb-like cap. They were spongy but firm. Even though they were also of the standard grade, they were more challenging to find. Oyster mushrooms were creamy white and had broad, fan-shaped caps. Jack picked up another [White Mushroom] and combined it with the other two types of mushrooms in the pot, eager to see what would happen. As the stew bubbled, an earthy, inviting scent wafted from the pot. Jack was sure he¡¯d tried this combination before, but it had never smelled this good. Congratulations! You¡¯ve crafted [Survival Stew]. [Camping] has strengthened your meal. +300 bushcraft XP Survival Stew (Common) Crafting grade: B Ingredients: [White Mushroom], [Morel Mushroom], [Oyster Mushroom]. Item description: A nutritious, tasty meal from ingredients you¡¯ve crafted in the wild. Item effects: +1.5 stamina per second for five minutes. +1.5 HP per second for five minutes. Survival buff: Prevents loss of stamina and health for 15 minutes after leaving camp. The buff wears off when entering combat. Mushroom buff: Increases resistance against disease and poisons for 1 hour. B grade bonus effect: +0.5 to regeneration effects. Durability: 5 ¡°Woah! There¡¯s a whole new buff!¡± The ingredients hadn¡¯t made a difference until now. Whatever he threw into the pot, all he got was [Survival Stew]. The upgraded version of the skill turned out to be more sophisticated and powerful than he¡¯d imagined. If he got the right combinations, he could unlock new buffs. This one, in particular, unlocked a buff that increased resistance against diseases and poisons. This was a game-changer. The possibilities raced through his mind; he could create meals with specific buffs tailored to different challenges. Jack glanced at the clock and then around him. He still had roughly 90 minutes before Horace was due to arrive. There were countless ingredients yet to be explored, and he was eager to experiment with as many as possible. Ch. 87 - Recipes Jack returned to the camp, noticing a few bees arriving just as he did. He chuckled at the thought that he and his bees were not that different. They were canvassing the area around the camp looking for nectar while he did the same with other ingredients. He''d become a busy bee. Jack grabbed the ingredients he had just foraged and placed them near the pot. He separated them by type. There were mushrooms of different sizes, wild berries, fruits, algae, and herbs. He also dug up roots with his knife and filled pots with honey. His upgraded [Forage] skill was already proving its worth. Many of the ingredients before him were new to him. Had he had this skill before, he could have kept his diner going non-stop. The good thing about uncommon ingredients was its durability. They lasted much longer than common ones. He picked one of the new ingredients he could harvest. It was a fungus that grew on the side of a tree trunk. It was thick and hard, with a dark brown color and a texture resembling hardened leather. Bear Bread (Uncommon) Description: A fungus that grows off the trunks of some trees. Durability: 12 Even though he''d harvested it 20 minutes ago, its durability was still in the double digits. Now that he had several ingredients to work with, he considered what experiment he should run next. In his notes stood one lone recipe. Looking over at the uncommon mushroom he foraged, he couldn''t help but get curious about what would happen if he included it in his previous recipe instead of a common mushroom. Would it create a new mushroom buff? Or would it just strengthen the previous one? Jack replaced one of the white mushrooms in his recipe with [Bear Bread], carefully stirring it into the simmering pot. The stew bubbled as the earthy, robust aroma of the [Bear Bread] filled the air. The usual notification popped up: Congratulations! You¡¯ve crafted [Survival Stew]. [Camping] has strengthened your meal. +280XP bushcraft XP Survival Stew (Common) Crafting grade: B+ Ingredients: [Bear Bread], [Morel Mushroom], [Oyster Mushroom]. Earthy Buff: +20HP for thirty minutes. Mushroom buff: Increased resistance against diseases and poisons for 1 hour. Jack studied the new effect¡ªa longer HP bar. It seemed the Bear Bread had lent its resilience to the dish. He made a quick note of the changes. It was an interesting discovery but not really a game-changer. Jack tried something riskier. He replaced one of the mushrooms with a handful of algae he¡¯d gathered earlier. He stirred the pot, waiting for the familiar pop-up. The broth darkened slightly, taking on the sheen of the algae. However, when the notification appeared, it was less thrilling than he¡¯d hoped. Congratulations! You¡¯ve crafted [Survival Stew]. [Camping] has strengthened your meal. +280XP bushcraft XP Ingredients: [White Mushroom], [River Kelp], [Morel Mushroom]. Item effects: +1.5 stamina per second for five minutes. +1.5 HP per second for five minutes. Jack sighed, disappointed. The dish had reverted to a standard [Survival Stew], offering no new buffs. It seemed the algae had diluted the mushroom synergy rather than enhancing it. Still, he took a note¡ªthis was part of the learning process. Algae, at least in this combination, wasn¡¯t the right fit. Jack leaned back, rubbing his chin. What would complement the earthy richness of mushrooms? His thoughts drifted to the roots he¡¯d harvested. He usually avoided those as they ate away at the durability of his knife. However, they had deep, grounding flavors that might elevate the dish. Perhaps a root vegetable was the missing piece. He grabbed a [Mudroot]. Mudroot (Uncommon) Description: A root that requires loose, flooded soil to thrive. It packs a lot of nutrients. Durability: 14 It was yet another ingredient that he¡¯d spotted when harvesting clay but that he¡¯d been unable to pick up. He tossed it into the pot along with his mushrooms. As he thought about a good third ingredient, his eyes landed on a green vegetable he¡¯d found earlier, [Hot Pepper]. He chopped the [Mudroot] and the [Hot Pepper], adding them to the simmering pot. The stew''s fragrance became bolder, the spicy heat of the [Hot Pepper] mixing with the earthy depth of the [Mudroot]. Congratulations! You¡¯ve crafted [Survival Stew]. [Camping] has strengthened your meal. +240XP bushcraft XP Survival Stew (Common) Crafting grade: C-Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site. Ingredients: [White Mushroom], [Mudroot], [Hot Pepper]. Item effects: Fiery Fists: +10% damage Jack grinned. He had just unlocked another new buff¡ªthis one granting damage. The combination of the root and the fiery herb had created a dish with an offensive edge. Jack rubbed his hands together happily. At first, he had found success by harmonizing different types of mushrooms; now, by blending earthy and spicy elements, he had unlocked yet another buff. He made sure to note everything down. Even though he hated taking notes, it was far better than having to repeat every experiment. But what about something sweeter? Honey was sitting right there, untouched, and survival stews didn¡¯t always need to be savory. He thought about what ingredients he had that could match the sweetness of honey. His eyes settled on a couple of berries he had gathered earlier. Jack threw a berry and a fruit into the pot. He added a dollop of honey, mixing it thoroughly with the other ingredients. As the concoction bubbled, a golden hue spread through the stew. When the pop-up arrived, Jack could tell he¡¯d been successful. Congratulations! You¡¯ve crafted [Survival Stew]. [Camping] has strengthened your meal. +250XP bushcraft XP Survival Stew (Common) Crafting grade: B- Ingredients: [Honey], [Blue Berry], [Sunfruit]. Item effects: Sweet Tooth: +2 intelligence for 30 minutes. The sweetness of the honey and the tang of the berries created a balanced, rejuvenating dish. Jack felt a deep sense of satisfaction. He had not only crafted something delicious but something that actually improved stats! He returned to the fire, opened his notepad, and updated his notes. There was so much potential here, so much to explore. This was only the beginning. * Jack knelt beside the fire, studying the ingredients laid out before him. He held a piece of algae in one hand and a pot of honey in the other, trying to decide what would make the perfect third addition to his next dish. He was having trouble finding an ingredient that could bring the dish together. A bee returned with pollen. +10 beekeeping XP. A new bee was born. +10 beekeeping XP. You''ve reached beekeeping level 6! After several hours with the bees in the wild, they had leveled up again. Unfortunately, no new skills were unlocked, but it was always satisfying to see his profession progressing. Snap. A twig broke behind him. Jack froze, his back stiffening as he glanced around the campfire, feeling the hairs on his neck rise. Was he being watched? He forced a chuckle, brushing the thought aside. "No big deal," he muttered under his breath. "Erwind¡¯s fire will keep predators away... even an allosaurus." Still, the eerie feeling lingered. Slowly, Jack stood, eyes scanning the shadows beyond the flickering firelight. The prehistoric jungle surrounding Red Lake was thick and wild, and he couldn¡¯t shake the sensation that something was lurking just out of sight. The fact that the day was nearly spent didn¡¯t help. Another twig snapped. His heart skipped a beat. Jack quickly pulled up his inventory, desperate for something¡ªanything¡ªto defend himself with. The best he could find was a torch. ¡°Great,¡± Jack muttered, pulling it out and gripping it like some medieval knight preparing to face a dragon with a stick. He cursed under his breath. Even if he hit something, his class prevented him from dealing any direct damage. "Why didn¡¯t I craft [Clay Bombs] earlier?" He glanced over his shoulder toward Erwind¡¯s camp. A clay bomb that created a smokescreen would¡¯ve been perfect right now, but he¡¯d have to do without. He started retreating, moving slowly back toward his camp. He had no idea if the NPC could fend off an allosaurus if it came to that. As he backed up, his eyes fell on his [Pot Hive]. What about his bees? Should he just leave them behind and run for it? He tried stepping away, but he couldn¡¯t. Instead, he found himself stepping forward toward the bees. He couldn¡¯t just abandon them. They were his responsibility. Just as he was about to reach the hive, something lunged at him from the bushes. Jack yelped, swinging the torch wildly in defense. He stumbled back, ready to scream for backup. His torch flailed through the air as Horace burst out of the shadows, laughing and clutching his sides. ¡°I got you so bad! I¡¯m so glad I filmed that. You should¡¯ve seen your face!¡± ¡°H-Horace?!¡± Jack¡¯s heart pounded as he glared at his friend. He lowered the torch, feeling both embarrassed and annoyed. ¡°I thought I was about to get eaten by a freaking allosaurus, and it¡¯s just you?!¡± Horace grinned, his heavy war hammer slung across his shoulder and his shield dangling from his back. ¡°Just me? What do you mean? Are you saying I¡¯m less dangerous than an allosaurus?¡± Jack groaned, putting the torch away. ¡°Don¡¯t do that again.¡± Horace, still chuckling, plopped down next to the fire. ¡°You should¡¯ve seen how ready you were to fight off an allosaurus with a torch. Classic!¡± Jack shook his head, his nerves still rattled. "I¡¯ll get you back for this, I swear." Before Jack could even plan his revenge, Horace yelped. ¡°Ouch! Why is there a bee here?¡± Jack ran over, deciding Horace was easier to move than his pot hive. ¡°Those are my bees. Go stand over there, far away from the hive.¡± Instead, Horace curiously approached the hive. ¡°Whoa! Is that your hive?¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± Jack said, a bit of pride creeping into his voice. ¡°Man, that¡¯s so cool. Ouch! I get it. I¡¯m walking away,¡± Horace muttered, retreating. Jack couldn¡¯t help but feel a little smug. His bees had gotten revenge for him. With a wide grin, Horace surveyed the camp. "What are you up to anyway?" ¡°Trying new recipes,¡± Jack replied, still recovering from the prank. ¡°But I can¡¯t focus with you scaring the life out of me.¡± Horace¡¯s eyes lit up. He tossed his gear down and snatched a jar of honey, dipping his hand right in. ¡°So, where are these dishes you¡¯re trying?¡± Jack rolled his eyes but couldn¡¯t help grinning. ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll make you my best.¡± He quickly gathered [Bear Bread], [Mudroot], and honey. The stew began to bubble as the three ingredients blended, creating a rich, golden broth with an earthy sweetness. The smell was intoxicating. Congratulations! You¡¯ve crafted [Survival Stew]. [Camping] has strengthened your meal. +250 bushcraft XP Survival Stew (Common) Crafting grade: C+ Ingredients: [Bear Bread], [Mudroot], [Honey]. Aftertaste: Increases the duration of current meal buffs for 30 minutes. Horace dug into the meal, practically inhaling it. ¡°Mmm! This is amazing, Jackie! You¡¯ve outdone yourself.¡± Jack grabbed his own portion, grinning. They ate in silence for a while, savoring the hearty meal. Jack enjoyed the satisfaction of creating something new, and Horace, no doubt, enjoyed eating it. ¡°Did you come here just to eat?¡± Jack asked, wiping his mouth. ¡°What about the quest?¡± Horace, his mouth still full, nodded. ¡°Oh, right! We¡¯ve got a job from the Trapper¡¯s Association. They want me to pick up a... tricky target.¡± Jack raised an eyebrow. ¡°What¡¯s the target?¡± ¡°A baby allosaurus.¡± Jack blinked, his face turning pale. ¡°Say what now?!¡± ¡°Yup. They build their nests near the lake. We just have to nab one of the little pests and make a run for it. Your ocarina is gonna be crucial. As we run, I¡¯ll need you to top me off with stamina.¡± Jack rubbed his forehead, already feeling the weight of the impending disaster. ¡°Wasn¡¯t there an easier quest?¡± Horace shook his head with a grin. ¡°Easier? Nah, man. I picked this one because it sounded fun.¡± Jack¡¯s jaw dropped. ¡°Fun?! That¡¯s your reasoning?!¡± Horace slapped him on the back. ¡°C¡¯mon, imagine the rewards! Two blokes like us wrangling a baby allosaurus. Amari will turn green with envy, and Marie? She¡¯ll lose her mind when she hears about it.¡± Jack scowled. The adventure was borderline insane. ¡°And you¡¯re confident we can pull it off on our own?¡± Horace snorted, offended. ¡°Of course!¡± Jack tapped his foot. On the one hand, this quest could easily turn into a disaster. On the other, the rewards for completing it would be insane. ¡°Fine. Share the quest. Let¡¯s go catch a baby allosaurus.¡± Horace pumped his fist. ¡°That¡¯s the spirit! Let¡¯s make some history!¡± Ch. 88 - Horace鈥檚 Plan ¡°So, what''s the plan? How do we catch a baby allosaurus?¡± Jack asked. His heart raced just thinking about it. He knew this would be the most dangerous quest he¡¯d tackled. ¡°It will take a lot of preparation. I already have the trap for the infant ready. We must find a nest, scout the surroundings, and look for a place to build a trap for the parents.¡± Jack gulped. ¡°Can those things even be trapped?¡± ¡°It won¡¯t be easy. If we choose the right location and make them come to us, there¡¯s a chance we can trap them, at least temporarily.¡± Horace''s eyes lit up as he explained, clearly excited to show off his leadership. Jack noticed the shift¡ªusually, Amari took charge. It seemed Horace was eager to prove he wasn¡¯t just a follower but a capable leader, too. ¡°Okay, so we lure the adults away from the nest, grab the baby, and then what? We just... run?¡± ¡°Exactly,¡± Horace replied, grinning like it was the most obvious thing in the world. Jack blinked. ¡°Wait... that¡¯s it? That¡¯s the whole plan?¡± ¡°The beauty of simplicity,¡± Horace said with a shrug. Jack hesitated. He had expected something more... sophisticated. ¡°But the baby is going to make noise, right? Won¡¯t it call the parents?¡± Horace¡¯s grin widened. ¡°We¡¯ll be long gone before that happens. And we¡¯ve got a secret weapon anyway.¡± Jack perked up. Finally. Something practical, like a trap or a gadget. ¡°What secret weapon?¡± Horace paused, building suspense. ¡°Your bard profession.¡± Jack¡¯s face fell. I''m the secret weapon? We''re so screwed. ¡°You¡¯ll be playing that ¡®Running Wind¡¯ melody while we sprint away. That way you can keep our stamina up so we can outrun any trouble.¡± Jack groaned inwardly. ¡°It¡¯s called ¡®Sitting Wind,¡¯ but sure...¡± Horace shrugged. ¡°Whatever, same thing. Hey, maybe you should think about renaming it.¡± Jack snorted, shaking his head. Yeah, he could see why Amari was the one in charge most of the time. Jack couldn¡¯t help but feel a knot tighten in his stomach. At the same time, a simple plan wasn¡¯t necessarily bad. ¡°OK! Sounds like a solid plan. And what exactly do we need a bushcrafter for in all this?¡± ¡°Prepping takes time. I¡¯ll need you to weave ropes and set up traps. Plus, without you, I¡¯d be stuck buying overpriced meals from the nearest camp. Your cooking buffs will help, too. Especially if you can make us something that boosts our speed and stamina.¡± Jack sighed. At least he wasn¡¯t completely useless. Jack¡¯s stomach flipped with excitement. He was actually about to hunt an allosaurus¡ªa baby one, but still, it counted. He thought back to his first solo attempts at a quest and how an allosaurus had chewed him to death and felt a shiver go down his spine. ¡°Okay, so let¡¯s imagine an allosaurus does catch up to us...¡± Jack suggested. ¡°I¡¯ve got us these,¡± he said, grabbing an item that Jack knew well. It was a [Dung Bomb]. Jack grimaced. When he and Amari invaded the compies¡¯ nest to retrieve pottery shards. Back then, the bomb was barely enough to contain the little pests once he and Amari got closer to their nest. ¡°Horace, what if the parents get so mad that this bomb doesn''t work?¡± ¡°We¡¯re toast,¡± Horace replied, looking at the bomb in his hand, still grinning. ¡°But hey, I¡¯ll try to buy you enough time to escape.¡± ¡°Now that I think about it, there''s this item I can craft that might come in handy during the quest.¡± ¡°Which one?¡± ¡°[Smoke Bomb],¡± Jack answered. Horace frowned. ¡°Right¡­ now that you mention it, you told us about it when you shared the details of your hidden class. Are they good?¡± ¡°I''m not sure. I haven''t made any yet.¡± ¡°Okay, what do you need?¡± Jack sighed. ¡°Clay, sugar, and bat poop.¡± ¡°Come again? What was that last one?¡± ¡°Bat poop.¡± ¡°I beg your pardon. I don¡¯t think I heard you right.¡± Jack let out an exasperated sigh. ¡°Bat droppings. Bat feces. Feces dropped by bats,¡± Jack repeated. Horace burst out laughing. ¡°Man, being a bushcrafter is gross.¡±Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website. Jack sighed, shaking his head. ¡°But you¡¯re right, Jackie. Smoke bombs could give us an edge in distracting the allosauruses. If it doesn¡¯t work, I can use these bombs, but each cost ten gold, so I¡¯d prefer to avoid using them. If I¡¯m not mistaken, there are some caves not too far from here. We can harvest it there.¡± ¡°Where are the caves, exactly?¡± Jack ventured. ¡°Don¡¯t know. But we¡¯ll find one. We just need to look for a rocky terrain. When you start finding more rocks in the jungle, that¡¯s how you know there¡¯s a cave nearby. Before I forget, join the quest and my party.¡± Baby Allosaurus Hunt (Uncommon) A master tamer residing in Embersgate has developed a new taming method and would like to experiment on an allosaurus infant. Mission objectives: - Capture a baby allosaurus. - Make it back in one piece. Restrictions: Trapper. Recommended players: 10+ Recommended level: 25 Quest issuer: Leon, the Master Tamer. Jack scanned the details. This quest was obviously way beyond their capability. They were severely understaffed and under-leveled. But seeing Horace¡¯s unwavering confidence, Jack couldn¡¯t help but believe they might just pull it off. He packed his pot hive and signaled Horace that he was ready. * Horace pressed deeper into the jungle, where the first hints of dawn painted the sky in shades of pink and orange. The jungle itself was unusually quiet¡ªnocturnal creatures retreating to sleep while the daytime animals hadn''t stirred yet. It was an odd in-between moment, making the place feel more like a sleeping giant than a jungle. As they walked, Jack¡¯s mind buzzed with thoughts about the quest. "What if the parents leave while we¡¯re prepping?" "That¡¯d be ideal," Horace replied. "Then we wouldn¡¯t have to worry about the big guys anymore." Jack chewed on that. "Then why not bring in one of the lake''s hunting parties to deal with the parents for us? We grab the baby after." Horace chuckled. "Because no one¡¯s that stupid, Jackie. Allosauruses near a nest get frenzy bonuses¡ªthey go berserk. It''s chaos. Hunting parties prefer to hunt them at the lake shores. See that bigger boulder up ahead? Good sign. Let¡¯s head that way." ¡°By the way, how does it work with nests?¡± He¡¯d only ever seen fully grown allosauruses charging through the jungle, and they always seemed to come out of nowhere. The idea of them having nests and young... it seemed too real for a game. ¡°I see what you¡¯re thinking,¡± Horace said, reading Jack¡¯s face. ¡°It¡¯s kinda like reality, but way more sped up. Two parents lay an egg; one usually sticks around until the baby¡¯s grown enough, while the other goes hunting. Then, the baby grows up and leaves, only for the parents to repeat the cycle.¡± ¡°What if you clear a nest? You know¡­ slay both parents and baby.¡± ¡°Then, the system spawns a new one somewhere else, baby and all.¡± Jack scratched his head. ¡°Do the nests move every time?¡± ¡°If all allosauruses in it have been killed, yes. It happens more often than you think. Many players come to this map precisely to do quests similar to ours.¡± They trekked deeper, Horace steering them from rock to rock as if following some invisible map only he could see. ¡°We¡¯re getting close,¡± Horace said. ¡°By the way, how are you getting sugar?¡± ¡°I¡¯m sure someone near the lake can sell me some.¡± ¡°Good enough.¡± Overhead, a flock of creatures flew by, their wings fluttering erratically. Jack squinted. "Are those bats?" "Yup." "For a second, I thought they were oversized birds. They¡¯re huge!" Horace laughed. "You haven¡¯t seen anything yet." As the sky brightened, they finally spotted the cave entrance. Jack had expected a massive, ominous opening into the earth¡ªsomething fit for a dragon¡¯s lair. Instead, it was a small, discreet hole, more like a rabbit¡¯s burrow. But as they descended, it revealed a surprisingly large, if cramped, cavern. "Okay, let''s go over the plan," Jack suggested. "There¡¯s no plan!" Horace declared cheerfully. "We go in, the bats are asleep, we scoop up your gross bomb materials, and we''re out." "And if we wake them?" "We fight. You buff me with stamina and damage, and I¡¯ll handle it." "You¡¯re going solo? You sure you can handle all that?" Horace grinned. "Guess we¡¯ll find out." Jack was about to protest, but Horace was already heading toward the cave with a torch. Jack shook his head, grabbed one, too, and entered the cave after him. The cave¡¯s entrance was barely wide enough for two people to walk side by side. The air inside was thick and musty, laden with the smell of damp earth and the faint tang of something rotting. The walls glistened in places where moisture collected, and faint echoes of dripping water created a slow, rhythmic pulse. Every footstep Jack and Horace took seemed to magnify, as if the cave was listening, amplifying their presence. The cavern opened up just beyond the entrance, its ceiling stretching higher than Jack had anticipated, jagged and uneven. As their torches flickered, the soft glow revealed clusters of bats clinging to the roof¡ªmotionless, but packed so densely together they resembled a thick, black velvet cloth. Jack¡¯s heart skipped a beat. They were massive, easily twice the size of normal bats, with leathery wings folded tightly against their bodies. The light glinted off their slick, glossy fur, and from their mouths, Jack could just make out the gleam of tiny, razor-sharp teeth. The bats skittered occasionally, rustling in their sleep, but none of them stirred fully. ¡°Are you sure it¡¯s okay to have the torch on like this?¡± Jack whispered. ¡°Of course. Bats are blind! They can¡¯t see whether you have a light or not. What matters is staying quiet. Their hearing is very sensitive.¡± ¡°Fine, fine. I get it.¡± Horace remained on guard, watching for any unusual activity among the bats. He was trying to look vigilant, but Jack could see right through the act. He pretended to look busy so that Jack wouldn¡¯t recruit his assistance in scooping up the bat dung from the ground. With a sigh, Jack knelt, his boots squelching into the filth. He could already tell there were spots deep enough to swallow his feet. You¡¯ve gathered 2x[Bat Guano]. +30 bushcraft XP. Jack grimaced. He remembered when his dad worked as a plumber, fixing sewers in some rich man¡¯s mansion. No matter how much his dad scrubbed, he¡¯d come home reeking of waste. The smell clung to him. His mom had been so frustrated back then, battling that stench every day. Now, here he was¡ªscraping the bottom of the barrel. Worse than his dad ever had it. You¡¯ve gathered [Bat Guano]. +15 bushcraft XP. At least the XP made up for it. He noticed that despite the guano being a common material, it earned him more XP than usual. Perhaps this was the game wanting to reward people willing to get their hands dirty. Just as Jack was about to scoop more guano into his pouch, there was a yelp from his side, shattering the fragile silence. Jack froze, his heart leaping into his throat. He turned toward Horace, who, while moving around, had fallen into a pit of guano. He stood completely still, waist-deep into bat poop, wide-eyed, a guilty look plastered across his face as he studied the ceiling. The noise reverberated through the cavern, bouncing off the walls, and for a moment, the bats above them remained motionless. Then, slowly, like a wave rippling through the ceiling, the bats began to stir. Ch. 89 - Batnami ¡°We should... probably run,¡± Jack muttered, his voice barely audible over the rising sound of bats flapping. Horace¡¯s voice cut through the noise, calm but commanding. ¡°I think we¡¯ll manage. Head for the entrance¡ªwe can¡¯t survive in the open against this swarm.¡± Jack obeyed, scrambling after him as the bats stirred violently. By the time they reached the narrow cave entrance, the entire swarm was awake and furious. Horace planted himself in the cramped space, shield raised and war hammer poised, while Jack stood behind him, knees trembling. Horace banged his war hammer against his shield. Copper Skin! His skin shimmered with an amber glow. For the next 10 seconds, he''d be immune against 90% of all damage. One of the enormous black bats swooped down, razor-sharp wings cutting the air. Jack¡¯s heart lurched. The sight of hundreds of bats aiming for their heads was terrifying. As the bats tried to bite Horace or attack him with their wings, the attacks landed with a dry thud as if they were hitting metal. Horace stood his ground, deflecting each attack with a calm, practiced ease. Jack''s panic began to subside. The swarm was intimidating, but the cave''s tight confines worked to their advantage¡ªonly two bats could attack at once, giving Horace the upper hand. ¡°Anytime you want to start playing that flute, Jackie, you can do so,¡± Horace said, his voice still maddeningly relaxed as he batted away another screeching bat. Jack blinked. ¡°Sure thing, captain,¡± he said, fumbling for his ocarina. He pressed the instrument to his lips and started playing [Sitting Wind]. The soothing melody echoed through the cave, its gentle tones in stark contrast to the chaos of flapping wings and screeching bats. As the notes filled the air, the bats started to falter, bumping into each other and the cave walls, disoriented. The ones attacking Horace veered off course, swiping at the stone instead of him. You¡¯ve played [Sitting Wind]. Success rate: B +140 bard XP Audience bonus: +318 bard XP ¡°What¡¯s that skill?¡± Horace asked, his eyes gleaming with excitement as he deflected another erratic bat. ¡°I-It¡¯s not a skill! It¡¯s just [Sitting Wind]! I don¡¯t know why they¡¯re¡ª¡± Jack¡¯s voice trailed off in disbelief. As soon as Jack paused the melody, the bats snapped back into their frenzy, resuming their furious assault. ¡°Quick, Jack! Play again!¡± Horace barked. Without hesitation, Jack switched tunes, launching into [March of the Embers]. The fast-paced, fiery melody thrummed through the air, more fitting for battle. Once again, the bats began colliding with one another, their movements clumsy and confused. You¡¯ve played [March of the Embers]. Success rate: B-. +130 bard XP. Audience bonus: +318 bard XP. All your allies deal 10(+2%) damage for 10 seconds. ¡°Your ocarina! It¡¯s messing with their sonar! Oh man, this is awesome! Don¡¯t stop playing!¡± Horace¡¯s excitement was palpable as he stashed his shield and grabbed a second war hammer. Hammer Blow! With both weapons in hand, Horace started smashing through the disoriented bats, their movements sluggish and confused. Your party has slain a Blind Bat. +200 XP. One by one, the bats fell, unable to recover from the sonic disruption. Jack kept playing, the rhythm of the ocarina driving the battle forward. His heart raced, not from fear anymore, but from exhilaration as XP notifications poured in, stacking in his peripheral vision. Your party has slain a Blind Bat. +200 XP Your party has slain a Blind Bat. +200 XP The bats were at level 15, precisely their level, and there were hundreds of them. The only frustrating thing was that Horace was a tank. Even after ditching his shield in exchange for a second weapon, it would take a long time to clear the helpless mobs. * Hammer Blow! The war hammer hit the only bat left, shaving his last hit points. With this, the lord of the bat cave had collapsed, and the battle was over. Jack couldn¡¯t believe they had cleared the dungeon with just the two of them. Jack felt his lips dry, and his throat parched. He¡¯d been playing for two hours straight. Two of his ocarinas were at breaking point. Horace¡¯s equipment, however, looked even worse. He only had one war hammer left; the other was broken beyond repair. What impressed Jack the most was how relaxed his tank friend looked. He hadn¡¯t stopped swinging those hammers for a second, but he seemed daisy fresh as if he had just awoken from a nap. ¡°I¡¯m level 17 now. You?¡± Horace asked. ¡°16,¡± Jack said with a smile. Although the climb in levels was great, that wasn¡¯t what he was happiest about. He had gained two levels in the bard profession, and with it, he had learned a new melody.This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. You¡¯ve reached bard, lvl. 8. You¡¯ve learned [Angry Void]. Angry Void (Level 1 Melody) Description: The sharp intervals and shrill notes will irritate animals within earshot and make them attack you. Melody Type: Dissonant It was the bard equivalent of a taunting skill. Horace had one, too. Jack wasn¡¯t sure how he felt about luring enemies to attack him, but he was sure the skill would be helpful in some scenarios. Horace was crouched by the corpse of the elite bat they had just taken down. ¡°Too bad that we don¡¯t have the skinner profession. There are so many bats here. All this leather is going to waste. Oh well. Keep harvesting their poop while I go through the loot.¡± Jack scowled at the suggestion. Why was he cleaning up the bats¡¯ mess while Horace got the good stuff? Jack allowed himself a devilish smile. At least he could keep harvesting guano, knowing that whatever item Horace picked up would be dirty with it, too. Without having to care for staying silent, Jack moved more boldly. He was a harvesting machine, putting poop in his pocket left and right. You¡¯ve gathered [Bat Guano]. +15 bushcraft XP. You¡¯ve gathered [Bat Guano]. +15 bushcraft XP. Soon, his inventory was completely full of it. Picking up guano granted bushcraft XP, and he still had many upgrades he wanted to buy from Erwind. Therefore, whenever his inventory became full, he would discard all the items he¡¯d picked up and start over. By the time Horace had finished collecting the loot, most of the cave guano had been picked up and discarded again. ¡°So? What have we got? Anything good?¡± Jack asked. ¡°Well, they dropped roughly four gold.¡± Jack whistled. It was good money, considering they''d been hunting. ¡°We also got 10 bat capes!¡± Bat Cape (Common) Description: A piece of clothing made from a bat''s wing, which you wear on your back as if it were a cape. Effects: +5 stealth; +3 agility. Defense: 5 Block: 5 Restrictions: Lvl. 15. The attributes seemed alright. It even offered stealth, too! It was just too bad that Jack couldn''t wear it. ¡°Are these expensive?¡± Horace paused thoughtfully. ¡°Maybe 80 silver a piece? It¡¯s not too bad.¡± Jack pouted, disappointed. That meant it was another eight gold split by two. 4 gold wasn''t much for so many items. ¡°Don¡¯t look sad like that just yet. The elite dropped some really good stuff.¡± ¡°Really? What?¡± ¡°Check it out,¡± Horace said happily. One of the items was a weapon. It was a dark, gnarly wood bat with two sharp metal wings on the top. Bat Bat (Uncommon) Description: A wooden bat that makes for a powerful weapon on the battlefield. Attack: 14 Attack speed: 10 Block: 4 Other than that, there was a book and a loose bunch of sheets. Sonar (Uncommon) Description: By practicing your hearing, you can mimic the skills of the bats and use this skill to locate enemies in the nearby area. Restrictions: Lvl. 15. Sonic Valley (Level 1 Melody) Description: A music sheet written by a composer inspired by the bats¡¯ sounds. It can make creatures confused and disoriented. Melody Type: Dissonant Restrictions: Bard Jack¡¯s jaw dropped as he read the details of the last one. ¡°No way! This is perfect for me,¡± Jack exclaimed. Horace laughed. ¡°Oh yes! Sometimes, elites drop things suited to individual players. It¡¯s pretty rare, though. Congratulations, Jack!¡± Horace said while handing the sheets over to him. Do you want to learn [Sonic Valley]? [Y/N] Jack selected yes without hesitation. With this melody, he could buff his allies and debuff their enemies. He would become much more helpful at a hunting party from now on. ¡°So, I can keep the bat since you got the sheets. What should we do with the [Sonar] skill?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know. Do you want to learn it?¡± Horace scratched his head. ¡°Nah. I don''t need it. I thought we could sell it on an auction website and split the money.¡± Jack frowned. ¡°Come again? You want to auction it off?¡± Horace nodded. ¡°Yeah. That¡¯s how I make a living. I sell items and live off the sales.¡± Jack''s eyes almost popped out of his sockets! ¡°Dude, why didn¡¯t you tell me that sooner?!¡± ¡°You never asked,¡± Horace said. Jack had just hit the jackpot. If Horace could share his experience of making a living in the game, he could also improve his income! Looking over his shoulder at all the guano and the poop-filled cavern, Jack decided this wasn''t the best place to exchange pointers in auctioning. He pointed toward the exit. ¡°What do you say we leave? I can set up camp and prepare a meal. Then I can make those smoke bombs, and we can get on with our quest.¡± ¡°Sounds good to me,¡± Horace said. The pair left the empty cave, chatting about the epic battle they had just been through. * Yet another chunk of the castle walls crumbled, scattering dust and debris over the bodies of the fallen defenders. The place was practically in ruins now, the battlefield littered with broken armor and shattered weapons. An injured dinosaur groaned where it lay, struggling to move but failing. IronIre members swiftly dealt with the last flickers of resistance in the city, wiping out the remaining defenders with ruthless efficiency. The elites of the defending guild had cooped up within the citadel. Rather than sending a team, IronIre¡¯s one-man wrecking crew wreaked havoc on his own. His muscles flexed as he brandished his swords in a graceful dance. Even so, the occasional arrow or dagger landed a hit, shaving some of his health. He roared like a wounded beast, and his whole body glowed red. Berserker¡¯s Anger! This skill granted one attack and one defense for each percentage of health missing. Given how 90% of his health was missing, the Slayer became an unstoppable juggernaut. His Berserker¡¯s Anger made him stronger with every injury. The more damage he took, the harder he hit, and the less anyone could slow him down. The warriors guarding the enemy guild leader were no match. One swing of the Slayer¡¯s blades sent them flying, their bodies ragdolling through the air. His eyes locked on his real target, the guild leader standing near the ruined throne, gripping a giant crossbow. ¡°So, you¡¯re the famous Slayer?¡± the guild leader called, his voice steady despite the chaos around him. ¡°Who hired you? Was it GigaLot?¡± The Slayer shrugged. ¡°So what if it was?¡± ¡°Whatever they paid you, I¡¯ll double it if you go after them instead.¡± The Slayer didn¡¯t hesitate. His sword spun lazily in the air as he tossed it up and picked it up again. ¡°I''ll gladly take you up on that offer. However, I always finish my contracts. You''re going down.¡± The guild leader¡¯s face hardened. ¡°Get him!¡± The remaining players unleashed their attacks, desperately trying to protect their leader. Skills flared, arrows flew, but the Slayer evaded them all. He moved like the wind¡ªdodging, weaving, always one step ahead. His movements weren¡¯t flashy, just brutally efficient, every slash and parry perfectly timed. Blade Flurry! -612 -324 The numbers floated up over the defenders¡¯ heads as they fell, collapsing into piles of loot. The Slayer didn¡¯t even flinch as he searched through the drops. Nothing good. He let out a quiet sigh. With the guild leader down, the system declared the fortress taken. IronIre had won the skirmish, but for the Slayer, the victory felt hollow. The fight had been too easy. He walked away from the ruins of the castle, bored. Where was the thrill? Where was the challenge? Was there anything left in this game that could push him? The last time he felt challenged was when he battled the ranger, the tank, and the grenadier. As he turned to head back to his guild¡¯s headquarters, a message flashed before him. ¡°Slayer, check this out,¡± Xana¡¯s messages. A video from Amari¡¯s channel played. The Slayer chuckled. ¡°So you restarted your account, huh? Good. That should teach you some manners.¡± He typed a message to Xana. ¡°Where¡¯s he starting?¡± ¡°Embersgate,¡± Xana replied. ¡°Send one of our assassins to track him down,¡± the Slayer said, his lips twitching into a smirk. ¡°Let me know when they find him.¡± ¡°You''ve got it.¡± The Slayer¡¯s mood soured even further. If Amari''s account had reset, he was not his match. Maybe there was something interesting on the guild¡¯s billboard, a quest worth his time. Something¡ªanything¡ªto break the monotony. He needed a challenge, something real, to test himself. The last fight had only made him more aware of the simmering anger inside, still waiting for a real release. Ch. 90 - Spying Jack and Horace were back at the lake shore. Jack¡¯s tent was up, and a fire surrounded by stones shone brightly, keeping wildlife at bay. A pack of ornithopods passed by but steered clear of the bright beacon. Bellies full and safe within the camp, Jack set to work crafting [Clay Smoke Bombs]. He¡¯d lucked out with some sugar from the second camp he¡¯d visited and now focused on the recipe before him. Clay Smoke Bomb Ingredients: 2x [Clay], 1x [Sugar], 1x [Bat Poop]. Recipe: Mold two small bowls of clay and set some clay aside. Fill one bowl with sugar and the other with bat droppings. Then, create a thin sheet of clay and bring the two bowls together. Let it dry, but don¡¯t fire it. Requirements: Clay Molding, Lvl. 3 Forage, Lvl. 1 Handyman, Lvl. 10 Jack squished the extra water out of the clay, his hands moving automatically as he prepared it for molding. Horace sat nearby, legs stretched out, watching him with mild amusement. "It''s funny to see you work," Horace said, smirking. Jack glanced up. "Why''s that?" "I don''t know. It¡¯s like you turn into a different person when you¡¯re crafting." ¡°A different person?¡± ¡°Yeah¡­ I don¡¯t know. You look older.¡± Older? Jack thought, frowning as he continued kneading the clay. Does crafting make me look tired or something? He raised an eyebrow but stayed silent. Horace chuckled, shaking his head. "Truth be told when I first met you, I thought you were kind of a stuck-up jerk. Not that you aren¡¯t sometimes," he added with a teasing grin, ¡°but your good qualities sort of balance out the rest." Jack bit back a retort. He resisted the sudden urge to send a swarm of bees Horace¡¯s way, instead focusing on shaping the clay into two smooth half-spheres. "So," he said, changing the subject, "how long have you known Amari?" "Since high school," Horace said casually. "We¡¯ve been friends for ages. Later on, he went full pro with gaming, and I joined him¡ªthough I¡¯m more into auctioning items than streaming." The topic had come up naturally, and Jack realized this was his chance. His pulse quickened slightly. On one hand, he didn¡¯t want to mess up the friendship. On the other, time was running out, and he needed to make more money from the game. He cleared his throat. "Here¡¯s the thing. I¡¯m trying to make a living off this game, too." "Oh? How¡¯s that working out for you?" Horace asked, leaning back on his hands, genuinely curious. "I¡¯ve listed a couple of pieces from the [Junior Bugkeeper Set] on an auction site," Jack replied, setting one of the clay bowls aside to dry before starting on the next. ¡°Which site?¡± ¡°New World Market.¡± Horace nodded, impressed. ¡°Good choice. I use that one, too.¡± Jack couldn''t help but smile a little. ¡°Just made my first sale. The bugkeeper gloves sold for 165 credits.¡± ¡°Nice! That¡¯s excellent value,¡± Horace said, clearly impressed. ¡°Well done.¡± Jack shrugged, glancing at the green pot where his bees buzzed lazily. ¡°I thought my [Pot Hive] would sell better, though. But beekeepers don¡¯t seem that interested.¡± ¡°No one¡¯s buying them?¡± Horace asked, raising an eyebrow. ¡°Well¡­ I haven¡¯t exactly listed them yet. But I did get one sale¡ªa beekeeper streamer placed an order with me.¡± Horace laughed. ¡°So why not list it?¡± Jack rubbed the back of his neck, feeling a bit foolish. ¡°I asked her if there was a market for the hives, and she said most beekeepers wouldn¡¯t be interested.¡± Horace stared at him, then burst out laughing. ¡°And you just took her word for it?¡± Jack flushed. ¡°Yeah... shouldn¡¯t I have?¡± Horace shook his head, his eyes twinkling. ¡°Come on, Jack. You¡¯re the only player who can make those pot hives. Do you know how many players are in New Earth? Millions! That¡¯s like a whole country¡¯s worth of buyers and sellers. You¡¯ve got an edge. If one person was interested, others definitely will be.¡± Jack pondered that as he put on his gloves, moving to place the bowls in the fire. ¡°Maybe I should list it anyway, then. Just to see.¡± Horace slapped him on the back, nearly knocking him off balance. ¡°Now you¡¯re talking!¡± Jack chuckled but then hesitated. ¡°How much do you make per month auctioning items?¡± Horace paused, his smile fading slightly. ¡°Enough to get by.¡± Jack sensed his reluctance and quickly changed the subject. ¡°I¡¯m aiming for 700 credits this month. That¡¯ll cover my rent and helmet rental.¡± ¡°That¡¯s doable,¡± Horace said, regaining his casual tone. ¡°Especially with your unique class.¡±Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions. Jack blushed. ¡°Next month, though¡­ I¡¯ll need more. I¡¯m hoping to eventually earn enough to get my own place. Maybe start a family, even.¡± Horace nodded thoughtfully. ¡°It¡¯s possible. Between selling items I craft and find, I do alright even on bad months.¡± Jack perked up at that. ¡°You craft too?¡± ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m a carpenter. I make shields.¡± ¡°Shields?¡± Jack blinked in surprise. He hadn¡¯t imagined Horace as the crafting type. ¡°A good shield¡¯s usually a warrior¡¯s priciest gear,¡± Horace said. ¡°They sell for a lot, especially at higher levels.¡± Jack noted the brief flicker of regret in Horace¡¯s expression. Resetting his account must¡¯ve hit him hard, he thought. He couldn¡¯t help but feel a twinge of sympathy. ¡°Is this all you do for a living?¡± Jack asked, as he debated glazing the bombs. They¡¯re supposed to be fragile, right? he thought. Would glazing them make them too sturdy? Deciding against it, he began filling one of the bowls with sugar and the other with guano. Horace stretched, shaking off the moment of melancholy. ¡°For now, yeah. But I used to work at a nursing home.¡± Jack blinked, taken aback. ¡°A nursing home?¡± ¡°Yep,¡± Horace said, his voice softer now. ¡°Used to keep the old folks company. Not the most glamorous job, but I enjoyed it.¡± Jack studied him for a moment, surprised by this new side of Horace. The more they talked, the more layers Jack saw. It made him wonder¡ªwas this what Horace had meant earlier? Did people see something different in him when he crafted? Maybe they saw things even he wasn¡¯t aware of. After gluing the two spheres using the thin clay sheet as a wall to avoid mixing the guano and sugar together, Jack received a notification. You¡¯ve crafted [Clay Smoke Bomb]. +400 pottery XP +400 bushcrafting XP Crafting grade: D Effects: Creates a smokescreen that will hide your presence and confuse your enemies. Grade debuff: Radius slightly reduced. Durability: 1 The anticipation buzzed between them. Jack felt a surge of pride for having pulled it off on his first try. "Alright, time to see what this baby can do. Here goes nothing." Horace was already on his feet, eyes gleaming with excitement. Jack wound up and threw the bomb, but with his pitiful strength, it barely sailed more than three meters away. The bomb hit the ground with a dull thud, the fragile ceramic shell shattering on impact. For a moment, nothing happened. Then, smoke began to waft from the broken pieces. It wasn¡¯t the dramatic explosion Jack had envisioned¡ªno blinding flash, no burst of instant smoke like something out of a ninja film. Instead, it was a slow burn, more like a flare intended to signal a plane for landing. The smoke thickened gradually, swirling until a dense cloud enveloped them both. Jack coughed, his eyes stinging slightly as he waved his hand through the haze. "Is this... good?" "Oh yeah!" Horace grinned, taking in a deep breath. "You smell that? This stuff will mask our scent, too. Perfect for sneaking." The smoke screen lingered for about two minutes before it started to dissipate, leaving a faint trace of charred sweetness in the air. "Not bad," Jack remarked, mentally noting the duration. "Two minutes, give or take." Horace gave him an enthusiastic thumbs-up. "Make as many as you can! We¡¯ll need them." Jack smiled and reached for more clay, rolling it between his hands. "Alright, while I work... got any auctioning tips you wanna share?" * After a crash course in auctioning, a round of clay bomb crafting, and an hour of practicing new ocarina songs, Jack felt ready to face whatever dinosaur crossed their path. Horace was practically drooling as he looked over at the pile of clay spheres on a neat pile. ¡°Here you go,¡± Jack said as he transferred one stack of clay bombs over to Horace. ¡°Thanks. I think that with this, we¡¯re finally ready.¡± ¡°What''s our next move?¡± Since seeing Horace fighting all those bats heroically, Jack doesn''t question his decisions anymore. He had grown to respect his leadership. ¡°We ask around for recent sightings of allosauruses. Anything older than two hours is going to be useless. You go that way, and I go that way. First to find out something contacts the other. Deal?¡± Jack stretched his hand out. ¡°Deal.¡± Horace and Jack went their separate ways. Jack marched with his [Pot Hive] on his back. The bees kept steadily working and would probably break through to the next level soon. Jack''s only company now was the buzzing of his bees. From experience, Jack knew that the best way to gather intel was to linger near a campfire while people ate. Conversations flowed more freely with full bellies and warm flames. He headed to the first bushcrafting camp he spotted, noting that while there wasn¡¯t a line, most of the seats around the fire were taken. The bushcrafter running this camp wasn¡¯t familiar. She was a short woman with bangs, her hair pulled back in a practical ponytail. Something in the practiced efficiency with which she served food and how she tuned out the surrounding chatter made Jack think she was a mom. She seemed the type who played New Earth as an escape. Maybe, while her kids slept, she could indulge in this virtual world, cooking not out of necessity but for the pure enjoyment of it. He took in the details of her camp. Two tents, side by side, were pitched in a clearing, their fabric resembling the tanned hide of the local ornithopods. Stones circled the bonfire, a sign she¡¯d leveled her [Kindle] skill to at least rank two. Besides the usual cooking pot, she had skewers, and over the fire, frogs roasted to a golden crisp, their fat sizzling as it dripped onto the flames, releasing a mouth-watering aroma. ¡°Hello, sir. Welcome to my humble campsite,¡± the woman greeted, her voice warm but no-nonsense. ¡°Are you here for a meal?¡± Jack nodded. ¡°Yes, please.¡± ¡°The usual fee.¡± Jack handed over five silver coins and sat by the fire. As she prepared his meal, Jack watched her closely. She worked with practiced ease, tossing in a root and an herb he recognized from his own recipes. Then, with a flick of her wrist, she grabbed one of the skewered frogs and added it to the pot as the third ingredient. Jack¡¯s eyes widened. She¡¯s combining skills, he realized. A grin tugged at his lips. The leveled-up version of [Survival Cooking] opened a whole new world of possibilities, but finding the recipes himself wasn¡¯t easy. After two hours of experimentation, he had only picked up about five recipes. How hadn¡¯t he thought of spying on the competition? He mumbled the recipe to himself to note down later. Still, he doubted he could replicate this particular stew. He didn¡¯t have the [Trapper] profession, so hunting and dealing damage were out of the question for him. How was he going to kill frogs to put them on the skewers? What a shame. His only hope was that his bees would offer a workaround to the limitations of his handyman class. As Jack ate, enjoying the rich flavor of roasted frog, he tuned into the nearby conversation. ¡°I think we¡¯re messing up the timing on the skills,¡± one of the hunting party leaders was saying. ¡°Jameson, you¡¯ve got to work on those dispersal grenades. Your timing is throwing off the whole group¡ªit¡¯s affecting both us and the dinos. You need to find a balance between the area-of-effect damage and the buffs.¡± ¡°Sorry, I¡¯m still getting the hang of it,¡± Jameson replied sheepishly. Jack wasn¡¯t interested in their technical discussion, so he decided to cut to the chase. ¡°Hey, guys. Sorry to interrupt, but have you seen any allosaurus around today?¡± The group exchanged glances, their captain chuckling. ¡°Brother, I don¡¯t think you¡¯ll be hunting one of those solo.¡± A few curious looks landed on the pot hive strapped to Jack¡¯s back. The bees stayed calm, uninterested in the players. Jack¡¯s theory was that the hive felt calmer with the hive pressed against his back, where his scent was strongest, and his [Friendly Scent] skill had maximum efficiency. He made a mental note to experiment with that later. ¡°Seen any allosaurus in the last couple of hours?¡± Jack asked again. ¡°Nothing on these parts,¡± the captain said. ¡°Thanks anyway,¡± Jack replied. Jack finished his stew, enjoying the satisfying crunch of roasted frog meat. He stood and dusted off his hands. Visiting competitors¡¯ campsites had turned out to be more fun than he¡¯d expected. He packed up and set off toward the next one, eager for more insights. Ch. 91 - Ariadne This was the fourth campsite Jack had visited, and it left the others in the dust. It was surrounded by a palisade of sharpened stakes jutting outward and a wide, carefully dug moat. The camp looked more like a fortress than a typical bushcrafting campsite. For a moment, Jack wondered if he had stumbled into an NPC structure, but as he stepped through the gate, he confirmed it was indeed a player-built bushcrafter¡¯s camp. Inside the palisade, the setup was even more impressive. It was wide and luxurious, like something that belonged in a sultan¡¯s court, with a high ceiling that opened at the top to vent the smoke from the pits of fire burning at each corner. Each fire pit supported its elaborate setup¡ªiron cauldrons bubbling with fragrant stews, skewers sizzling with choice meats, and smoking racks lined with expertly prepared cuts of exotic creatures. The smell alone was intoxicating. There were racks of tools that were no less impressive: polished iron tongs, expertly crafted knives, and several pots and pans. The camp bustled with activity, not just from players but also from a gibbon. The monkey, about waist-high, moved gracefully between the stations, handling tasks with surprising agility. With long, nimble fingers, it tended to the fires, using small bellows to stoke the flames, throwing more ingredients into the cauldrons, or pouring meals for the guests. Jack blinked, amazed at how effortlessly the creature assisted. Was the gibbon the bushcrafter in charge of the camp? The primate, dressed in a tiny leather apron, moved to a large pot, carefully stirring its contents. It then picked up a stack of neatly folded herbs and brought them to a nearby shelf, its movements precise and practiced. Jack couldn¡¯t help but stare. He¡¯d never seen an animal working like this. If it was the bushcrafter running this camp, that was weirdly cool. However, if it was just helping the bushcrafter, he desperately wanted one for himself. It wasn¡¯t just the gibbon that stood out in the tent. Other than the usual hunting parties Jack had grown accustomed to seeing around Red Lake, some customers were high-end clientele. A group of players in gleaming, ornamented plate armor sat around their own fire, their weapons casually propped against the logs. Jack¡¯s eyes widened in awe. They had to be level 30 or even 40. He felt small, insignificant. This bushcrafter was leagues beyond him. Everything here was on another level¡ªthe camp, the equipment, the clientele, and even the help. ¡°Hello, traveler. Can I help you?¡± Jack¡¯s gaze landed on the woman who had sneaked up on him, the master of the camp, and his surprise only grew. He knew this person! It was the same woman with braided hair who had once helped him by giving him fat for torches. But now, seeing her in her camp, it was clear that she wasn¡¯t just another bushcrafter¡ªshe was leagues beyond his level, perhaps even beyond Erwind himself. She glanced at him expectantly with professional courtesy, not recognizing him, as if she had helped so many players that individual faces blurred together. ¡°Five silvers for a regular meal,¡± she said, her voice calm and practiced. ¡°For fifty silvers, I can prepare a meal that grants a buff suited to your needs. If you¡¯re looking to repair your equipment or restock consumables for your next adventure, we can handle that, too. Two gold for the full package. Which will it be?¡± Jack blinked. Two gold? That was a fortune¡ªhe¡¯d have to serve fifty meals just to make that kind of money. "W-what consumables do you have?" he stammered. Without a word, she led him to a neatly arranged shelf lined with containers. Inside were carefully labeled jars and bottles filled with items Jack had only seen in Erwind¡¯s XP store: repellents, potent medicines, stealth boosters, and even specialized bombs like dung grenades and flash charges. ¡°Oh my goodness! You know so many recipes!¡± he let out. "Oh, are you a bushcrafter too?" she asked. "Wait a moment, aren¡¯t you the lad I gave some fat to?" "Yeah, thanks for that again," Jack said. "No worries. That bald kid is a bully. He hangs around the lake, and I¡¯ve had more than a few unpleasant encounters with him. He¡¯s good at what he does, but he lets it go to his head." Jack considered everything the lady had done for him and decided it was time to repay her kindness. He hesitated for a second before grabbing a pot filled with honey and handing it to her. It felt pitifully little, but after seeing all that she could do, it was all he had to offer. He felt a strange mix of pride and embarrassment as he held it out. "For me? Why?" she asked, her smile widening as she accepted the honey. "Well, I didn¡¯t get to give you anything when you shared the fat with me. Honey is really good when you¡¯re camping¡ªit never spoils, so if you¡¯re ever short on ingredients, it really helps. Also," Jack admitted, "it¡¯s a nice ingredient for cooking." The lady smiled warmly. "You¡¯re one of the good ones. That¡¯s why I enjoy helping people, you know. I find that when you help someone, it always comes back around."Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit. Jack looked away. "Yeah, that really hasn¡¯t been my experience in life." The lady nodded. "Well, why don¡¯t I prove you wrong? Tell me a little about how your bushcrafting is going." "Have you been a bushcrafter for long?" Jack asked. "Yes, since the game came out." "Really? And how have you stuck with it for so long?" Jack asked, trying to wrap his head around it. "Well... I¡¯ve been an office worker all my life. Whenever I had a holiday, I¡¯d go into the mountains to trek or hike. When I found out I could do that while I slept, I decided I¡¯d stick with it." ¡°But doesn¡¯t it get old after a while?¡± Jack asked. ¡°Bushcrafting has something special about it," she said, her gaze distant for a moment. "Even though we¡¯re not as strong as cooks, with enough knowledge, we can rival them in some aspects. The same goes for carpenters, trappers, and other professions. You just have to stick with it. There¡¯s still much I don¡¯t know, but I believe that if I persist in this minor, I¡¯ll unlock something special. Let me warn you, though. More advanced upgrades are going to be quite costly." "Tell me about it," Jack complained. "I just purchased stick-smithing level one, and now I¡¯m saving up to make it to level two. Same with cooking¡ªI just bought survival cooking level two, but I¡¯m curious to see what happens at level three." "Oh, so you¡¯re at that stage. Very exciting! I guess you¡¯ve started to try out new recipes?" she teased. "Yeah, actually, yes." "Which ones have you got?" she asked. Jack hesitated. Should he tell her his secrets? After spying on three other camps, his recipe count had climbed from seven to nine. Yet, judging by her impressive campsite, she likely knew all of them already. Jack swallowed, nerves bubbling in his chest as he took a deep breath and sent her his notes. What if she laughed at them? What if they were too simple? But once it was done, all he could do was wait, heart pounding in his throat. The moment he did, he felt his cheeks flush. Maybe he had been too impulsive¡ªit felt wrong to share something like this for free. "Oh, you weren¡¯t lying about honey being a versatile ingredient, eh? It works just as well as maple syrup," she remarked. "Maple syrup?" Jack asked. "Yeah, one of the ingredients you¡¯ll be able to harvest in time. Okay, let me see... how many of these did I know? One, two, three, four¡ªall the ones with honey. So I guess it¡¯s my turn to pay you back," she said, smiling. "Here, boy, I have five new recipes that people usually like. You can start your own menu next time you set up camp." She shared the recipes, and Jack stared wide-eyed. "Really? You¡¯re just giving these to me?" "Yeah, why not? I have hundreds of them. Just help yourself." "But why?" Jack asked, still processing the generosity. "To prove to you that being generous is worth it. Consider it a gift." Jack looked over at the fire where several parties were gathered, eating. It felt like he was in a fancy Michelin-star restaurant. It didn¡¯t feel right to ask the patrons if they had seen allosauruses¡ªnot this time. "Listen, have you seen any allosauruses in the last couple of hours?" "No, not on this side," she replied. "Well, anyway, thank you. By the way, I¡¯m Jack. What can I call you?" "Ariadne," she said, smiling. "Tell you what, Jack, whenever you find a new recipe, why don¡¯t you send it my way? If it¡¯s one I don¡¯t know, I¡¯ll be glad to make a trade with you." Jack smiled. "Cool, thanks." "And if you need help choosing upgrades, let me know." Jack walked away from the campsite, feeling lighter, but a twinge of uncertainty lingered. Ariadne¡¯s words stuck with him. He was so captivated by their conversation that he didn¡¯t even check the new recipes. "Jacky, I think I¡¯ve got something." Horace''s message snapped him out of his thoughts. Jack glanced down at the message and paused for a second before responding. "Where are you?" he inquired, trying to shake the nagging feelings in the back of his mind. A moment later, he received a set of coordinates. Horace had apparently lucked out and found information about allosauruses. Jack wondered how he¡¯d done it¡ªhad he used the same strategy as him, asking questions at different campsites? Or had he simply sighted an allosaurus himself by chance? As Jack marked the location on his map and set off, his thoughts drifted back to his earlier conversation with Ariadne. The way she spoke about bushcrafting¡ªit was like the profession wasn¡¯t just something she did, but something she was. It reminded him of Felix, who spent hours perfecting pottery, pouring himself into every detail. Maybe these two players had been drawn to these professions because they fit, the craft mirroring the craftsman. He wondered whether that was true for him and his class. His handyman class took him in many different directions at once. There was pottery, bushcrafting, beekeeping, and music, all pulling at him from various directions. Jack was thankful for it. He could alternate between his different professions, keeping himself busy and engaged. He had always had trouble sticking to one thing and often gave up quickly after trying something for a while. He¡¯d dropped college and all the jobs he found since then. The only things he¡¯d ever devoted himself to were his relationship with Lydia and his music¡ªand both had crashed and burned spectacularly. Yet, there was something about the way Ariadne and Felix devoted themselves to one thing that gnawed at him. Was there a kind of fulfillment in sticking to a single path, something he was missing? The thought made him uneasy. In his experience, everything ended the same way¡ªwhy bother trying? He¡¯d always believed that those at the top clawed their way there, trampling others in the process. But Ariadne and Felix... they shared their skills freely. Jack had seen generosity as a weakness, but maybe he was the one who¡¯d misunderstood. Could sharing actually be a form of strength, even if it didn¡¯t offer immediate rewards? He mentally replayed his time in the game. How much of his progress had been due to his own efforts? And how much had come from the help of people like Ariadne, Felix, Amari, Horace, and Marie? Maybe there was more to this idea of sticking with something¡ªor someone¡ªthan he¡¯d thought. Maybe generosity was the path to success. The weight of those thoughts hit him harder than expected. Could he ever become like Ariadne or Felix? Was that why Horace had joked that he didn¡¯t seem like a jerk when he was crafting? Jack mused over the thoughts and soon made it to the coordinates. He spotted Horace¡¯s massive figure waving from the top of a rock where a few fishermen sat, casually chatting and casting lines into the lake. Of course¡­ Horace had probably struck up a conversation and picked their brains without a second thought. That was Horace¡¯s way¡ªbold and direct. Jack admired it, even if he¡¯d never admit it out loud. He approached, eager to hear what Horace had discovered. Ch. 92 - The Nest Horace was deep in conversation with a fisherman Jack recognized from the lakeside. He had been one of his first customers when he set up camp nearby. ¡°Yo, Jackie! I was just talking to this fine gentleman. Go ahead, tell him what you told me.¡± The fisherman nodded. ¡°Well, here I was, fishing as usual, when the ground starts shaking. Next thing I see, those folks over there,¡± he pointed to a group fighting an ornithopod, ¡°were fighting off an allosaurus. You can still see where it came out of the jungle.¡± ¡°How long ago was this?¡± Jack asked. ¡°¡¯Bout 40 minutes, I¡¯d reckon.¡± Horace grinned, tossing the fisherman a silver coin. ¡°Thanks, old man.¡± ¡°Much appreciated,¡± the fisherman said, pocketing the coin. Without missing a beat, Horace turned and started toward the broken trees the fisherman had pointed out. Jack followed, the dense green gradually swallowing them as they entered the area the allosaurus had rampaged through. The air felt heavier here. Shattered branches and deep footprints littered the ground, while fresh sap oozed from the gouges in the trees. The terrain ahead had started to reset. It was healing unnaturally fast¡ªnew growth already sprouted where the allosaurus had stormed through, but the process was slow enough that traces of the creature¡¯s wrath still lingered. ¡°Give it a few more minutes, and even these footprints will be gone,¡± Jack muttered, watching as small shoots of greenery crept over the ruined path. ¡°Then we¡¯d better move fast. We need to figure out where the allosaurus is headed.¡± Horace stepped forward, eyes scanning the scattered debris. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± As they pressed deeper into the forest, the remnants of the fight began to fade, swallowed by the jungle. The path was filled with a tense silence, broken only by the soft crunch of leaves underfoot and the occasional creak of a branch. Jack¡¯s eyes darted around the shifting shadows. ¡°So, what now?¡± ¡°There are a few possible scenarios. One, Papa Allosaurus was out hunting, leaving the baby with Mama Allosaurus. If that¡¯s the case, we¡¯ll have to lure her out before we can get anywhere near the nest.¡± ¡°Great,¡± Jack muttered. ¡°And the other scenarios?¡± ¡°We might get lucky and find only the baby, but we¡¯ll have to hope it hasn¡¯t grown too big to handle.¡± Jack swallowed hard, realizing how thin their plan was. Horace chuckled darkly. ¡°It¡¯s the beauty of New World quests, Jack. You never know what you¡¯re gonna get. We¡¯ll adapt on the fly.¡± Jack nodded, silently hoping Horace¡¯s confidence was more than just bravado. ¡°How¡¯d you even look for leads?¡± Jack asked, trying to distract himself from the gnawing unease. ¡°Easy,¡± Horace shrugged. ¡°Walked around, shouting I¡¯d pay one silver for anyone who saw the beast. You?¡± ¡°I visited a few campsites looking for¡ª¡± Horace abruptly slapped a hand over Jack¡¯s mouth, cutting him off mid-sentence. His other hand pointed toward the darkening tree line ahead. Jack¡¯s pulse quickened. He couldn¡¯t see anything, but Horace¡¯s tense posture said it all. Horace motioned for Jack to duck down and crawl forward. ¡°Nest¡¯s close. You smell that?¡± At first, Jack couldn¡¯t tell, but then it hit him¡ªa faint, sickly odor of rot, carried on the breeze. His stomach twisted. The smell was getting stronger. ¡°What do we do?¡± Jack whispered, his voice barely audible. ¡°You check it out,¡± Horace whispered back. Jack¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°Me?¡± ¡°You¡¯re practically a walking bush in that getup,¡± Horace pointed at Jack¡¯s earthy camouflage. ¡°Besides, you¡¯re quieter. You¡¯re perfect for the job.¡± Jack grimaced. Horace, with his broad frame and clanking armor, would be about as subtle as a boulder crashing through the underbrush. Jack, on the other hand, was lighter, quieter¡ªbut still far from thrilled about sneaking up on an allosaurus nest. ¡°Fine,¡± Jack muttered, slumping his shoulders in defeat. Horace flashed him a grin. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll get back in one piece.¡± But there was a tremble in Horace¡¯s voice that betrayed his nerves, and Jack shot him a glare. Part of him wanted to call out, make enough noise to draw the beast¡¯s attention and give Horace a taste of fear. But instead, he sighed and accepted his fate. He felt a little ridiculous carrying out the stealth mission with the pot hive strapped to his back. It was almost as large as he was. He put it down under a nearby tree before setting out. Creeping forward, Jack felt every muscle tense with each step. The sickly sweet smell of decay grew thicker, almost tangible in the air now, clinging to the back of his throat. His heart pounded in his ears as the nest came into view, a massive crater-like clearing in the forest floor, surrounded by broken trees and scattered bones. He dropped to his belly, crawling the last few feet, careful to stay low as he peered over a fallen log.The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. The nest was little more than a deep hole in the ground, surrounded by trampled vegetation. Inside, a small allosaurus was hunched over the carcass of an ornithopod. It tore into the carcass, pulling strips of meat with its sharp teeth while its mother watched protectively from nearby. Jack blinked, finding it hard to reconcile the sight before him with the brutal, relentless predators he¡¯d seen battling players countless times. There was something disarming about how the parent allosaurus watched over her young. So, it¡¯s the first scenario¡ªa baby and its mother. Jack scanned the surrounding terrain, making mental notes about the layout: the steep ridges, the dense foliage, the potential hiding spots. But before he could get too caught up in his thoughts, he silently cursed himself for not thinking of it sooner¡ªhe could just record the scene. He quickly started a video, focusing on the terrain surrounding the nest. Suddenly, the allosaurus pup lifted its head, sniffing the air. Jack froze, his heart skipping a beat. Maybe it had caught his scent. The baby¡¯s nostrils flared, its gaze sweeping the area, but the mother didn¡¯t seem to react. Still, Jack knew this was his cue to leave, before he ended up as dessert. He crawled back toward his pot hive, keeping low, his pulse racing with every rustle of leaves. His eyes darted constantly over his shoulder, half expecting the mother allosaurus to charge out of the trees at any moment. But to his relief, the only sounds were the distant tremors of her moving away. Maybe she had gone hunting, or perhaps simply wandering off to do whatever it is allosaurs do when they¡¯re not guarding their nests. When Jack returned to where he¡¯d parted with Horace, he found him trying to hide. In the short time he¡¯d been gone, Horace had managed to arm himself with a couple of small branches, holding them awkwardly in front of him like some sort of makeshift camouflage. Jack couldn¡¯t help but smirk. Jack wondered whether the branches provided a placebo crutch or whether they actually boosted Horace¡¯s stealth. ¡°So, how¡¯d it go?¡± Horace asked, keeping his voice low but eager. ¡°There¡¯s one adult in the nest¡ªprobably the mother¡ªand she¡¯s feeding her young,¡± Jack said, handing over his video feed. ¡°I got footage of the whole thing.¡± Horace watched the clip, nodding. ¡°Yep, that¡¯s the mother. Good news for us¡ªtwo parents would¡¯ve been a nightmare. This way, we only need to deal with one. One of us will distract her, and the other grabs the infant.¡± Jack arched an eyebrow. ¡°How are you so sure that¡¯s the mother?¡± Horace shrugged, clearly uninterested in explaining his reasoning. ¡°It¡¯s just a guess, but a good one. Now, let¡¯s talk next steps. We need to find some good terrain to lay a trap, preferably downwind.¡± Jack¡¯s suspicion grew. ¡°And who¡¯s going to be the distraction?¡± Horace gave him a sly grin but didn¡¯t answer directly. ¡°We¡¯ll see when the time comes, buddy. Right now, focus on the preparations. You set up camp and make sure we¡¯ve got all the buffs we need. Once that¡¯s done, we¡¯ll figure out the rest.¡± Jack could tell that Horace had already made up his mind, even if he wasn¡¯t saying it. He sighed, trailing behind as Horace marched off, shovel in hand. Whatever the plan was, Jack knew exactly who¡¯d be the bait. * You¡¯ve played [Angry Void] Success rate: B +100 bard XP Audience bonus: +50 bard XP Two wolves snarled at the edge of the fire''s glow. They¡¯d been drawn by Jack¡¯s new song, Angry Void. Their glowing eyes shifted between Jack¡¯s ocarina and the fire that kept them at bay. With two test subjects right in front of him, Jack started playing [Sonic Valley]. The tune spiraled through a series of eerie, dissonant arpeggios. The wolves, as though caught in the song¡¯s pull, swayed slightly, their snarls fading as their movements became sluggish. As Jack neared the midpoint of the song, he stumbled, hitting several wrong notes. The wolves snapped out of their confusion, startled by the sound. With a growl of panic, they turned and bolted. Jack groaned, lowering the ocarina. "Oh man, I keep messing up this part." Shaking his head, he began to slowly practice the tricky section. The hardest part of [Sonic Valley], like [Angry Void], lay in its strange intervals. It wasn¡¯t a melody that came naturally¡ªit was designed to throw the listener off, requiring precise fingering on the ocarina. For one note that was half-a-step sharp, Jack had to cover a hole only partially, which took immense control. One little movement and the whole song fell apart. A rustling in a nearby bush sent a jolt of tension through Jack. He straightened up, thinking that the wolves had returned. The tension ebbed away when Horace emerged, muddy and disheveled, with a shovel slung over his shoulder. With a grunt, Horace collapsed next to the fire. Jack moved toward the pot, already filled with water. "You look half-dead," Jack said, smirking. ¡°Feels like it,¡± Horace muttered, stretching out with a sigh. "The trap¡¯s set, at least. What about you?" Jack gestured toward a small pile of clay spheres set carefully away from the fire, along with the ingredients he¡¯d gathered for their next meal. "I¡¯m all set too." Horace stared into the flames, his expression tight, eyes far off. ¡°Good. We¡¯ll need every advantage we can get." Nodding, Jack set about preparing the stew. He grabbed the [Grass Fruit], [Snow Dandelion], and [Sparkberry] and hesitated. It had taken him hours to locate the ingredients in Ariadne¡¯s recipe. Each and every one of them was uncommon. Still, they needed the buff, so he threw them into the boiling water. The smell was fresh but slightly tangy. Congratulations! You¡¯ve crafted [Survival Stew]. [Camping] has strengthened your meal. +430 bushcraft XP Survival Stew (Common) Crafting grade: B Ingredients: [Grass Fruit], [Snow Dandelion], [Sparkberry] Item description: A nutritious, tasty meal crafted from wild ingredients. Item effects: +3 stamina per second for 10 minutes. +3 HP per second for 10 minutes. Survival buff: Prevents stamina and health loss for 15 minutes after leaving camp. Buff wears off upon entering combat. Spark of Stamina: +50 stamina for 1 hour. Breezy Step: +10% movement speed for 20 minutes. Durability: 3 The stew was perfect for their needs¡ªnothing fancy, but it would help him run faster and longer. Jack filled two bowls, handing one to Horace. ¡°Here. I also whipped up these.¡± Jack tossed a set of cloth patches to Horace. ¡°Ran over to Erwind and used all my bushcraft XP to learn the recipe. They¡¯ll give you a bit of a speed boost. It¡¯s not much, but better than nothing." Horace accepted them, though his usual bravado seemed lacking. ¡°Thanks, Jack.¡± Jack didn¡¯t miss the hesitation in his friend¡¯s voice. Normally, Horace would be cracking jokes or bragging about their chances. Instead, his words felt hollow, as though he was trying to convince himself. Jack raised an eyebrow. ¡°You scared?¡± Horace straightened up defensively. ¡°What? No! I¡¯m just¡­ trembling with excitement! Thinking about all the loot we¡¯re about to get from this quest.¡± He forced a laugh, but it didn¡¯t quite reach his eyes. Jack chuckled and held out his hand. ¡°Right. Loot. Well, let¡¯s get this over with.¡± Horace grabbed his hand, shaking it firmly. ¡°Yeah, let¡¯s go, Jack. We¡¯ve got this.¡± Ch. 93 - Trapped While Horace moved toward the nest, Jack quickly prepared. He scattered dirt over the fire, snuffing it out, and packed his tent. He hid [Pot Hive] beneath the gnarled roots of a nearby tree. The last thing he needed right now was its 20% speed debuff. With a final glance at his setup, he sprinted toward the trap¡¯s location. It felt unnerving to walk without the familiar buzz of bees. The hive had become a comforting presence. Without it, the silence pressed down on him like a weight. But Jack pushed through, running hard to the spot Horace had marked on the map. He located the patch of ground covered with twigs and jungle litter and spotted the rope tied to one of the trunks of the tree. "I''m here," Jack messaged as soon as he arrived. "Same," Horace replied. Jack''s fingers trembled as he brought the ocarina to his lips. A fleeting thought crossed his mind¡ªwhat if this was all a ploy? What if Horace was using him as bait for the allosaurus while he ran off with the real prize? But Jack shook the suspicion away. They''d been through too much together for that. Horace had even reset his account for Amari¡ªbetrayal didn¡¯t fit. He exhaled and played ¡®Sitting Wind,¡¯ trying to calm his nerves and recover the little stamina he''d lost on the way. His fingers slipped, and a few notes came out wrong. You¡¯ve played [Sitting Wind]. Success rate: C +100XP in [Bard] "She''s not reacting," came Horace''s message. Jack swallowed hard. "Okay," he muttered to himself, inching closer to the nest before trying again. You¡¯ve played [Sitting Wind]. Success rate: C+ +110XP in [Bard] "Still nothing," Horace messaged again. "You need to get closer." Jack crept closer than he was comfortable with, moving farther from the safety of the trap. He had no choice¡ªthe allosaurus had to hear him for their plan to work. This time, he played more confidently. The soft, soothing notes of ¡®Sitting Wind¡¯ drifted through the jungle. You¡¯ve played [Sitting Wind]. Success rate: B+ +170XP in [Bard] ¡°There! She¡¯s heard you. But she¡¯s not moving.¡± Jack took a deep breath¡ªit was time to change the tune. He began playing ¡®Angry Void,¡¯ the trills sharp and grating, designed to irritate. Mechanically, it was fun to play, but the dissonance was jarring. You¡¯ve played [Angry Void]. Success rate: C +120XP in [Bard] Seconds passed. Then came the message from Horace: ¡°RUN!¡± Jack didn¡¯t hesitate. He bolted, the distant sound of trees behind him crashing as the mother allosaurus tore through the forest in hot pursuit. Her thunderous footsteps pounded closer as Jack raced toward the trap. He heard the twigs creak under his weight and felt slightly safer. He stuffed the ocarina into his inventory and grabbed two clay bombs. The tremors grew louder¡ªthen stopped. Jack froze. She¡¯s already here, he realized. The allosaurus was stalking him. Without wasting a second, Jack hurled two bombs into the clearing, followed by two more. The clay smashed open, and as the sugar and guano mixed, a thick, chemical fog began to rise, cloaking the area in a mist. His heart pounded. The smoke would help obscure the trap¡ªbut it also turned the clearing into a terrifying, murky battlefield. Seconds stretched into eternity. Then, from the right, the attack came. The allosaurus burst through the trees, jaws wide open to swallow Jack whole. Sprint! Jack activated [Sprint] and surged in the opposite direction in a desperate dash. He pulled away, the beast still raging behind him, hell-bent on destroying the intruder who dared challenge its domain. Then came a loud creak, and the ground beneath the dinosaur gave way. The allosaurus tumbled into the deep pit Horace had dug. It wasn¡¯t deep enough to fully trap her, but she was still stuck. Jack took out his bush knife and ran toward the tree where the ropes were. He cut through it desperately, and another trap triggered. Vines tied with rocks dropped from above, wrapping around the dinosaur¡¯s limbs as she thrashed, anchoring her further. Wooden pieces fell, clattering and rattling, disorienting the creature. "Nice!" he gasped, watching the trap spring into action. Jack tossed another clay bomb into the chaos and ran. Without wasting a moment, he dashed back to retrieve the [Pot Hive], then made a beeline for the allosaurus nest. By the time Jack reached the nest, Horace was finishing up, securing the baby allosaurus with ropes around its legs, tail, and snout. The creature squirmed in his grip, but Horace heaved it over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes.Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation. "Did it work?" Horace gasped, disheveled and out of breath. He hadn¡¯t had an easy time here either. "Yeah!" Jack confirmed, still catching his breath. "Well done," Horace said, already turning toward Embersgate. Jack quickly followed, stealing a glance back toward the jungle. As they sprinted, Jack finally asked, "How long will the trap hold the mother?" "Not long. That trap¡¯s only meant for creatures around level 20. Even with the stacked layers, it won¡¯t hold her for more than a few minutes." They picked up the pace. Whenever the skills came off cooldown, Horace activated [Heroic Charge], surging ahead in short bursts, while Jack kept up with [Sprint]. All the while, Jack played ¡®Sitting Wind¡¯ on his ocarina, topping up their stamina so that they could keep up the frantic pace. The baby allosaurus had stopped struggling against the ropes and instead focused his energy on barking¡ªsharp, piercing cries that made Jack wince. His gut told him those calls would reach its mother. When they finally reached the road, Jack felt a brief flicker of hope. It was a straight shot now, far faster than navigating the thick jungle, avoiding roots, trees, and hunting parties. But the road had dangers of its own. "You sure taking the road was a good idea?" Jack asked nervously. "It¡¯s the fastest way to the city," Horace replied, focused on the path ahead. Suddenly, Horace''s voice cut through the air. "Watch out!" From the tree line, a pack of green, wolf-like creatures with oversized fangs lunged toward them. Jack''s stomach dropped. The helpless cries of the baby allosaurus, combined with his ocarina¡¯s tunes, had drawn the predators. The sight of bound prey was too tempting to resist. Heroic Charge! Horace became a blur of brilliant yellow light, bulldozing through the pack and sending them flying. Jack, quick to react, hurled a clay bomb into their midst. The wolves scattered in confusion as Horace and Jack sprinted away. "Use a patch!" Jack called as he pulled out a cloth strip coated with a vibrant green paste. Guarana Patch (Common) Description: A cloth patch infused with guarana, known for its energy-boosting properties. Effect: +5% movement speed for 1 minute. Jack pressed the patch against his arm, feeling the familiar warmth of the guarana spread through his muscles as his pace quickened. He could feel the slight burst of speed almost immediately. Horace did the same. They both knew these patches wouldn''t last long, and guarana was tough to come by. Jack had only managed to craft four for each of them with the scarce guarana he''d found since buying the recipe from Erwind. It was enough. The wolves hadn¡¯t chased after them. "Man, I¡¯m glad you made these items," Horace panted. Jack laughed weakly, though the relentless barks of the baby allosaurus were fraying his nerves. "Think the mother¡¯s already after us?" "Yes," Horace said, not slowing down. Jack glanced back, anxiety gnawing at him. How close could she be? ¡°We¡¯ll be fine,¡± Horace reassured. ¡°Allosauruses are tough, but they drop valuable loot. Hunting parties won¡¯t miss the chance to go after one if they spot her. We just need to make it to the city. The further we travel on the road, the greater the chances of her running into other players who¡¯ll get rid of her for us.¡± They pressed on. They came across a lone player and two other players walking back to the city. They glanced curiously at the baby dinosaur but didn¡¯t do anything. After several minutes, they came across the largest group of players they¡¯d seen on the road yet. They were heading in the opposite direction. Jack sighed in relief. Horace had really thought this through. If more hunting parties like that showed up, at least one might take a shot at the mother allosaurus. What had seemed like an impossible mission was turning out to be quite straightforward. Just as Jack started to believe they might actually make it, a scream pierced the air behind them, followed by the unmistakable rumble of the ground. "Oh no..." Jack muttered. The hunting party had run straight into the allosaurus. ¡°They¡¯re too low-leveled to survive this! Run like the wind, Jack!¡± Horace shouted. As they widened the gap, the sounds of battle quickly faded behind them, but Jack¡¯s brief relief was shattered when a notification popped up: [Breezy Step] expired. Their speed dropped by 10%. They quickly applied another [Guarana Patch], but it was little comfort¡ªthe tremors were getting louder, and the baby, sensing its mother¡¯s approach, started shrieking louder and thrashing harder. At this rate, they wouldn¡¯t make it. Just as the situation seemed hopeless, the battlements of the city came into view. ¡°We¡¯re almost there, Jack! It¡¯s the final stretch!¡± ROAR! The mother allosaurus was closing in, furious and desperate, her thundering footsteps shaking the ground beneath them. Jack¡¯s eyes met Horace¡¯s, and at that moment, he realized it¡ªHorace didn¡¯t believe they would make it. His chest tightened. Then, Jack made a decision. He skidded to a stop. ¡°Jack? What are you doing?!¡± Horace shouted, panic in his voice. ¡°Just go! Get the baby to the city. I¡¯ll be right behind you.¡± Horace hesitated, torn between staying with Jack and finishing the mission. ¡°Argh!¡± he cursed, before he bolted toward the city gates, leaving Jack behind. Jack¡¯s heart pounded in his ears as he watched Horace disappear into the distance. He knew it was the right choice¡ªcarrying the pot hive and the baby would¡¯ve slowed him too much. It had to be Horace. It had to be this way. He spotted the allosaurus. With trembling hands, Jack pulled out his last few clay bombs, throwing them in rapid succession to create a dense smokescreen. The stomping grew louder, more ominous, as the fog thickened around him. Jack couldn¡¯t see the allosaurus anymore¡ªbut that meant she couldn¡¯t see him either. The footsteps stopped. She¡¯s close, Jack thought. Too close. His hand went to his ocarina. It was his only option. He had no other way to fight this monster. Here goes nothing. The dissonant, complex arpeggios of ¡®Sonic Valley¡¯ filled the air, cutting through the thick smoke. The reaction was immediate¡ªa frustrated growl reverberated through the fog. Jack kept playing, forcing himself to focus on the intricate melody, ignoring the growing fear clawing at his mind. The half-step intervals required precision. He wasn¡¯t playing to survive anymore. He had accepted that he was already dead. This was just to give Horace enough time to make it to the gates. Once he embraced that, the pressure lifted, and Jack¡¯s focus sharpened. The notification came as he finished the final note: You¡¯ve played [Sonic Valley]. Success rate: B. +150XP in [Bard] Audience Bonus: +300XP in [Bard] Jack lowered the ocarina, his breath ragged. The ground trembled again, but this time, the stomps were moving away from him. The disorienting notes of ¡®Sonic Valley¡¯ had confused the allosaurus, causing her to lose her sense of direction. Jack¡¯s heart leapt¡ªhe still had a chance. He bolted toward the nearest bush, running into the jungle, trying to put as much distance between himself and the monster as possible. About 15 seconds later, a furious roar split the air. The allosaurus had regained her bearings and realized she had been duped. The ground shook as she charged down the road once more, but it was too late. A message from Horace flashed across Jack¡¯s HUD: "At the clearing. We¡¯ve made it." The enraged cries of the allosaurus faded into the distance, replaced by the unmistakable clash of steel against claws. A hunting party had decided to fight the allosaurus. Jack slumped against a tree, his body aching, his mind still spinning from the close call. ¡°I can¡¯t believe it,¡± he gasped, a tired grin spreading across his face. ¡°We actually made it.¡± But as the sounds of battle continued, a pang of guilt settled in his chest. Now that the mission was over, the pained roars of the allosaurus echoed through the jungle, and Jack couldn''t help but feel sorry for her. She had only been protecting her young. The roars grew louder, more desperate¡ªthen suddenly, silence. The mother had fallen just outside Embersgate. Ch. 94 - Master Leon Jack met Horace at the foot of the statue, a well-known gathering spot for players in Embersgate. It was located at a bustling crossroads near the food market but far enough from its chaos. Jack studied the statue. It was carved from dark granite and depicted Embergate¡¯s soldiers locked in a fierce battle with dinosaurs. Each soldier bore a courageous expression as they fought off the large invaders, with their stone scales glistening in the sunlight. Jack couldn¡¯t help but feel that he and Horace had just emerged from a battle just as heroic. Horace finally approached, still with the baby allosaurus slung over his shoulder. The creature had calmed considerably after its mother''s roars faded in the distance. Surrounded by the tall walls and the hustle of players passing by, the young dinosaur had resigned to its fate. "So," Jack said, a note of triumph in his voice, "I think we did it." "I can¡¯t believe we actually pulled it off," Horace said, grinning. "You can¡¯t believe it?" Jack shot back. "You kept saying you were sure we''d make it!" "Yeah, but I thought we were finished when the mother started closing in. I mean, if it wasn¡¯t for you, we wouldn¡¯t have had a chance." "It was a team effort," he replied. "I can¡¯t wait to see Amari¡¯s and Marie¡¯s faces when we tell them we finished this quest at only level 15!" Horace laughed, clearly enjoying the thought. "They¡¯re going to flip." Though the idea of watching Amari and Marie¡¯s jealous expressions was satisfying, Jack was more interested in the reward. This was the most dangerous quest he had tackled so far, and with any luck, the payout would cover the last of his rent. ¡°Shall we go?¡± ¡°Of course. Follow me.¡± They navigated the bustling streets until they reached the Taming Arena. It resembled a circus tent from the outside, though it lacked the colorful stripes and festive feel. Instead, its faded canvas walls and towering structure made it look rugged and utilitarian. With each step toward it, the sounds grew louder¡ªroars, screeches, howls¡ªinterspersed with the shouts of NPC tamers. The arena was divided into several large pits, each dug deep into the ground and reinforced with sturdy wooden barriers. In one pit, Jack saw a group of players trying to calm a panicked ornithopod like the ones he¡¯d seen hunted at the lake. The creature stamped its feet, its wide eyes darting around, clearly overwhelmed by the noise and commotion. In another, deeper pit, a creature resembling a tiger with no stripes and oversized teeth jutting out beyond its lips leaped gracefully through a flaming hoop. The tamer tossed it a plump chicken, feathers flying as the beast devoured its reward. In whatever pit he looked in, tamer players and NPCs worked tirelessly to train the animals, some using clickers and treats, others wielding whips. Chickens seemed to be the prize of choice, their scent mixing with the arena''s earthy aroma. ¡°Wow, this place is packed!¡± Jack exclaimed, eyes wide. ¡°It¡¯s one of the most popular majors,¡± Horace replied. Jack watched as a nearby tamer coaxed a small theropod into performing tricks. ¡°How does it all work exactly?¡± ¡°Well, you either hunt or breed creatures, tame them, and then sell them to players. A lot of the tamers who prefer hunting combine it with the [Trapper] profession,¡± Horace explained. Unfortunately, taming wasn¡¯t a minor; otherwise, he might have been tempted to take it up. Commanding an army of bees and dinosaurs would have been epic. They wove through the arena¡¯s winding paths, carefully stepping along the pits'' edges until they reached the NPC who had issued the quest. The man¡¯s chest was covered in scars, and his light gray hair hung in a wild mane, giving him a lion-like presence. As soon as he spotted the baby allosaurus on Horace¡¯s shoulder¡ªshrieking and protesting ¡ªhe broke into a grin and stepped forward. The baby dino went still as if recognizing a greater predator in the tamer. ¡°I can¡¯t believe it! You actually pulled it off!¡± the tamer exclaimed. ¡°Master Leon!¡± ¡°Well done, lad. Put it down right over there,¡± he told Horace. Master Leon clapped Horace on the shoulder, then turned his sharp gaze to Jack. ¡°And this must be your friend, the bushcrafter you mentioned.¡± ¡°Couldn¡¯t have done it without him,¡± Horace said, gesturing to Jack. ¡°He¡¯s the reason we managed to capture the beast.¡± Jack gave a humble nod. ¡°Nice to meet you, Master Leon.¡± The tamer returned the greeting with a nod of approval. ¡°Well, you both did excellent work. Here are the rewards for your quest.¡± [Baby Allosaurus Hunt] has been completed. Completion rate: S-. Calculating rewards. You¡¯ve received 50 gold. +200,000 XP You¡¯ve reached level 16. You¡¯ve reached level 17.Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation. You¡¯ve reached level 18. You¡¯ve reached level 19. +200,000XP in [Bushcraft] You¡¯ve received [Ride Coupon]. You¡¯ve received a new title: [Overreacher]. You¡¯ve received a new title: [S-Grade Adventurer]. You¡¯ve received a new title: [Embersgate Civil Servant]. Jack stood there, stunned as the flood of rewards poured in. He¡¯d just got almost 50 credits in gold and shot from level 16 to level 19 in an instant¡ªleaving him only a single step away from unlocking two more minor skill slots just days after receiving his class. He also gained enough [Bushcraft] XP to buy [Sticksmithing], lvl. 2. And the titles! He went through their descriptions grinning from ear to ear. Overreacher (Uncommon) Description: It¡¯s hard to tell whether you¡¯re just plain crazy or if you¡¯re a hero. You¡¯ve bitten more than you could chew, and still, you were able to gobble the rewards whole. Effects: +1 strength; +10HP; +1 fame. Conditions to unlock: [Overreacher]: Complete a quest intended for ten levels above you; Complete a quest with less than half of the recommended players. S-Grade Adventurer (Rare) Description: You excel at any tasks you are given, making the impossible happen. Minstrels sing songs about your achievements! Effects: Quest-givers will give you better grades; +1 free stat point; +1 fame. Embersgate Civil Servant (Common) Description: You¡¯ve become well-known among the ruling institutions of Embersgate and are known to be a helpful, responsible citizen. Effects: +1 fame; 5% discount from stores in Embersgate. Bronze Ride Coupon Description: A gift from a staff member of the Taming Association. You can exchange it for any ride available for sale below level 25. Bound to JackOfDiamonds. They were nothing short of incredible. The [Overreacher] title gave him a bonus for both strength and HP, while the [S-Grade Adventurer] title gave him better rewards from quests. The [Embersgate Civil Servant] title would save him money in town too. But what intrigued him most was the [Bronze Ride Coupon]. ¡°Hey, Horace! Disappointed?¡± Jack asked, noticing his friend looking just as happy as he was. Horace flashed a huge thumbs-up. ¡°Am I? I¡¯m over the moon! Did you get a [Bronze Ride Coupon] too?¡± ¡°Yeah. How do we redeem it?¡± ¡°Follow me, I¡¯ll show you,¡± Horace replied. Turning back to Master Leon, he bowed respectfully. ¡°Thank you, Master.¡± Jack followed suit, but Master Leon, already busy untying the baby allosaurus, paid them little attention. The young creature growled in protest and stood up, ready to fight. The tamer remained unfazed, his calm and fearless demeanor making it clear he was in control. As much as Jack was curious to see how it played out, his excitement over the ride coupon took priority. ¡°So, how do rides work?¡± Jack asked as they entered a tunnel branching off from the arena. ¡°It¡¯s pretty straightforward,¡± Horace explained. ¡°Unless you''re a knight, you can¡¯t fight from a mount until you hit level 50¡ªand even then, you¡¯re limited. Knights are the only ones who really get the full benefits of a mount in combat.¡± ¡°Then how does it work for the rest of us?¡± Jack pressed. ¡°Well, some rides are built for speed, and others can expand your inventory by offering more slots.¡± Jack¡¯s interest piqued. He¡¯d hit his inventory limit more than once and missed out on loot that could¡¯ve increased his earnings. ¡°Is there any mount that can do both?¡± Horace chuckled. ¡°Yeah, but not to the same degree. You¡¯ll have to choose what¡¯s more important to you.¡± Jack glanced down at the coupon in his hand. ¡°It says it¡¯s for rides level 25 and below. Is that even good?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t let the level fool you, Jack. Plenty of players at level 30 or higher still use level 25 mounts. Rides are expensive.¡± Jack thought back to all the times he¡¯d roamed the streets of Embersgate¡ªhe hadn¡¯t seen many players with mounts. ¡°How much do you think this coupon would sell for if we put it up for auction?¡± ¡°It¡¯s non-transferable,¡± Horace said without hesitation. ¡°I know, but humor me. I want to get a sense of its value.¡± Horace paused, considering. ¡°The best ride at level 25? Probably worth about 300 gold.¡± Jack whistled softly. That was about 250 credits¡ªhalf his rent. This reward might just be the most valuable thing he¡¯d earned in New Earth so far. They reached a quieter part of the taming grounds, a space outside the tent but still under cover. Corrals stretched, holding various beasts either in pairs, solo, or small groups. Light filtered through the open walls, giving the place an inviting, rustic atmosphere. Passersby glanced at the beasts with longing, but most walked away, unable to afford them. The more creatures Jack saw, the more excited he became. Horses, ponies, donkeys, and even an enormous cow with horns as wide as his arm span were all on display. Horace quickly found a vendor and beckoned Jack to join him. ¡°Show us the best level 25 rides you¡¯ve got,¡± Horace said. The vendor was a wiry man with sharp features. His keen eyes scanned them like a seasoned merchant sizing up a deal. His voice carried the confidence of someone who had spent years matching adventurers with their perfect mounts. Jack had the impression that he was talking to a car salesman. "What kind of budget are we working with, gentlemen?" Jack and Horace handed over their coupons at the same time. The vendor¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°Ah, a rare sight indeed. The masters only hand these out for great services rendered. Please, follow me.¡± They trailed behind him, weaving through paddocks and cages until they reached a larger clearing. ¡°At level 25, we have the Highland horse,¡± the vendor said, gesturing toward a paddock where several tall horses munched on straw. Their thick white manes flowed down their black necks. Their dark eyes held a calm intelligence, watching Jack with the same curiosity with which he studied them. ¡°Fast, tough, and able to traverse any terrain. They¡¯re strong enough to carry a decent load too¡ªone of our best sellers. Raised and bred right here, within the prairies beyond Embersgate.¡± ¡°How much do they usually go for?¡± Horace asked. ¡°280 gold,¡± the vendor replied. Horace nodded approvingly, clearly weighing his options. ¡°Now, if you''re after something more exotic,¡± the vendor continued, ¡°we have the Megaloceros.¡± Jack¡¯s eyes lit up at the name. Robert had mentioned hunting these beasts on a quest. The Megaloceros were taller than even Horace, their massive antlers branching out like the limbs of a tree. Each one moved with a calm, powerful grace, their size making them impossible to ignore. ¡°They excel in speed, especially on rough terrain, and their powerful jump can help you escape tricky situations. Not the best at carrying heavy loads, though,¡± the vendor explained. Then came the final offering. ¡°And last, but not least, we have the Megalonyx.¡± Jack''s attention snapped to the paddock. The name alone sounded promising. Inside, he saw two massive creatures. At first glance, they resembled bears, but their longer limbs and fluid movements marked them as something else. One of them rose up on its hind legs to snatch food from a high shelf, standing nearly three meters tall. ¡°They belong to the ground sloth family,¡± the vendor explained. ¡°Incredibly docile, obedient, and capable of carrying quite a bit of weight.¡± ¡°How much do the Megaloceros and Megalonyx usually cost?¡± Jack asked. ¡°290 gold each,¡± the vendor said. ¡°So, what¡¯s it going to be?¡± Jack pondered his choices. Should he go for the Highland horse, a reliable option with speed and strength? Or the Megaloceros, a swift and agile mount, perfect for difficult terrain? The Megalonyx was tempting, too¡ªwith its excellent carrying capacity. Which should he choose? Ch. 95 - Snowy Horace was the first one to step forward. "I think I''m going to get the horse, mister." Jack glanced over at Horace, shaking his head. After seeing the impressive giant-sized deer and the big ground sloth, he had trouble understanding why Horace would settle for a horse, but he respected his decision. There was something ancestral about human warriors riding horses. "Very well, take your pick from the horses in the paddock," the vendor said. Jack approached Horace. "Are you sure that''s the animal you''ll take?" Horace nodded. "I know of a quest that requires me to own a horse." Catching Jack''s twinkle of interest, Horace quickly added, "With your class restrictions, it¡¯s impossible for you to do it. Sorry, Jack." He wondered what kind of quest Horace had in mind. From what Horace told him, he was planning on being a tank, and they usually fought on foot. Only knights battled from atop their steeds. Actually, saying that Horace was a tank was still a stretch. He was only a warrior. The first class specialization would only come at level 30, and Horace still had more than ten levels to grind until he got there. Horace jumped over the fence, studying the different horses running around until he approached one horse that seemed particularly tall¡ªa stallion. The stallion neighed valiantly, rearing up on its hind legs, and Horace puffed up his chest. The two seemed to hit it off. Horace had made his choice. "What about you, friend?" the vendor prompted. "Speed or weight-carrying capacity?" Jack muttered to himself. The persistent buzz around him answered for him. He was already carrying a pot hive, and chances were that as his profession progressed, he would need more and more inventory slots to accommodate tools and crafting materials. The tent alone occupied several slots. He¡¯d found himself out of inventory space more than once. One more level, and he would learn two more minor professions. Who knew how many tools those would require? "I''m going to go with the megalonyx," Jack said. "Please, take your pick," the vendor encouraged. Jack hopped the fence like Horace. Up close, the megalonyx was even more imposing than he had anticipated. The giant furry beasts ignored him, unfazed by his presence. He approached and patted one on the back. Its thick fur was a deep chestnut brown with streaks of black. Each coarse strand felt like aged straw. Despite its massive size, the sloth exuded a calm, slow energy¡ªlike a mountain amidst a storm, immovable and unbothered by the world around it. Its large eyes blinked lazily at him, still munching on straw. Jack marveled at the size of its claws, each as long as his forearm. He wondered if they could be used in a fight. The two megalonyxes seemed about the same, but as one stood up to get more straw, Jack noticed a distinctive patch of white on its shoulders, which instantly made him think of a snowflake. "I¡¯m going to take him," Jack declared. "It¡¯s her, actually," the vendor quickly corrected. "Both of them are." "My bad." "So be it," the vendor said. You have a new mount. Would you like to name it? Jack thought of the patch of white fur that looked like a snowflake. ¡°Snowy.¡± Snowy likes the name you picked for her. +5 affection. Snowy, the Megalonyx Gender: Female Weight: 3213Kg Satiation: 50/100 Affection: 15/100 Speed: +10% Inventory: 5x5 Skills: [Homing], [Largeness], [Stubborn Slowness] Homing (Common) Using its fine memory, this beast can find its way. Skill effects: Active. Your ride can transport you to a place while you¡¯re offline. You must have visited it before. Cost: 20 affection; 50 satiation Skill requirements: 80 affection Largeness (Common) This beast¡¯s sheer size gives pause to predators who prefer to hunt something easier to kill. Skill effects: Passive. Predators that weigh less than your mount won¡¯t take the initiative to attack unless provoked.This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. Skill requirements: 20 affection; 20 satiation. Stubborn Slowness (Uncommon) There¡¯s no point in telling a sloth how fast to move. It will move when it wants to move, and that¡¯s it. Skill effects: Passive. This animal can¡¯t be slowed. Skill requirements: 50 satiation Snowy had her own inventory, a five-by-five grid, which doubled the amount of things Jack could carry! But the best thing about Snowy was her inherent skills. If he understood this right, pet skills required Snowy¡¯s belly to be full and for them to share a close bond. The higher Snowy¡¯s satiation and affection were, the more abilities she¡¯d unlock. The [Homing] skill was extraordinary! Having her do the traveling for him while he was offline was great. The [Largeness] skill would make them immune to smaller predators like compies or wolves, but sadly, not against allosauruses. Finally, the [Stubborn Slowness] was fascinating¡ªas long as she was satiated enough, speed debuffs didn¡¯t apply when riding Snowy. Wait! Does that mean the [Pot Hive] slow debuff won¡¯t apply either? If so, that would give him an extra 20% movement speed just for riding her! The downside was that Snowy barely increased Jack¡¯s movement speed¡ªshe could only move at 110% of his speed. He didn¡¯t mind, though. Thanks to her [Stubborn Slowness] skill she was actually adding 30% to his overall movement speed. It seemed like he¡¯d made the right choice. The vendor quickly added, "We have some things to help you make the most of your mount. Saddles, medicine, food¡ª" "We¡¯ll be okay," Horace said, interrupting the vendor mid-sentence. The NPC kept his bright smile, unfazed by Horace¡¯s interruption. "Shall we go?" Horace asked from atop his new horse. "Let¡¯s go," Jack said, hopping onto Snowy. Riding the megalonyx was unlike anything Jack had ever experienced. Her massive body swayed slowly with each lumbering step, and Jack felt like he was on a slow-moving ship, gently rocking with the rhythm of the sea. Her fur radiated warmth beneath him, like settling into a living, breathing couch. There was a quiet power in how she moved¡ªconfidence from knowing nothing could rush her. Despite her slow pace, there was a reassuring steadiness in her movements. The world would have to adjust to Snowy¡¯s pace, not the other way around. Together, they left the paddock¡ªJack on his giant sloth and Horace on his tall horse. "So, what are you going to do next?" Horace asked. Jack pondered the question. He¡¯d been playing for most of the afternoon. "I think I¡¯m going to take a break, maybe get some exercise, eat, and then come back at sleep time." "Sounds good. I¡¯ll start on that quest I told you about¡ªthe one that requires me to have a horse." Jack sighed. That was the good thing about having a capsule. Horace could just have nutrients fed to him via IV, while it cleaned his body and kept him from needing to use the bathroom. "What¡¯ll you get out of the quest?" Jack asked. "Everything the vendor offered to boost this ride," Horace explained. "Sweet," Jack said. After the rush of the quest with the allosaurus, Jack was eager to get some air. "I guess I¡¯ll see you soon then, Horace." "See you." Jack opened the menu and logged out. * Jack got out of bed. Lately, he¡¯d been more mindful of taking breaks during long gaming sessions. His helmet rang an alarm every two hours, prompting him to pause the game for a few minutes. Even during the intense Red Lake bushcrafting grind or right before the quest, he had logged out for bathroom breaks and snacks. So this time, when he stood up, he only felt slightly sore¡ªnothing too bad. Still at his cousin''s place, Jack read a message from him saying he¡¯d be out with friends until late. It was almost 7 p.m., so Jack decided it was a good time to get some exercise in. He started by stretching out his muscles, focusing on his shoulders and lower back, which were stiff from hours of lying down. After pushing the armchair aside, moving a lamp, and rolling up the rug to clear some space, he got to work. With his headphones on and music pumping, he dove into the old exercises from P.E. class: scissor jumps, squats, sit-ups, and push-ups. His push-ups were still rough. After only two shaky reps, he dropped to his knees, which made it easier, but it still left him gasping for breath. Each movement was a struggle, yet he did a few more than last time. In just 20 minutes, Jack was drenched in sweat, his heart pounding, and his muscles burning. The tension that had built up from hours of gaming slowly melted away. Despite how grueling it felt, he knew he was making progress. When he was done, he showered, changed clothes, and poured himself a glass of water. Sitting on his cousin¡¯s couch, he watched the last rays of the sunset filter through the window. In the quiet of Rob''s apartment, Jack sighed. It felt just like the time he hid the pot hive before drawing the allosaurus into an ambush. He had missed the comforting buzz of the bees then, and now, after hours spent with Horace and in a busy virtual world, the room''s emptiness became stifling. He glanced at the robot, which could cook him any meal as long as the pantry was stocked. But instead of using it, he grabbed his phone, thinking about calling his parents. It was a strange thought, but he missed talking to them. As he unlocked his phone, he saw three unread messages. One was from his bank, reminding him that a credit card bill was due soon. Another was from the auction website, confirming he¡¯d sold the last piece of the bugkeeper set. After ten days of gaming, he¡¯d managed to ride a wave of inflation and had made half of what he needed for the month¡¯s rent. But unlike last time, Jack didn¡¯t care. The message barely registered. All he could see was the name above the last message. ¡°Lydia,¡± he said her name aloud, his hand trembling as he held the phone. She must have received the card he¡¯d left at her boss¡¯s caf¨¦. Had she hated it and was now telling him off? Or did she like it and miss him as much as he missed her? The answer was just a tap away, but he hesitated. After a few deep breaths, Jack finally opened the message. Jack, My boss gave me the card you left for me. It was kind of you. Thank you. What you wrote for her was also lovely. I hope you¡¯re OK. Lydia Jack re-read the message several times¡ªsometimes aloud, sometimes in silence¡ªtrying to grasp its meaning. It wasn¡¯t warm, but it wasn¡¯t cold either. One thing was clear: she didn¡¯t hate him. That was a good sign. But the tone was far more neutral than when they¡¯d been together. There were no questions in her message, no invitation to respond. But still, she¡¯d reached out. That had to be something, right? He stared at his phone for a few more minutes before closing the message and texting his mom. After a quick response from her, he grabbed the spare key and headed out the door. As he walked to his parents, Lydia¡¯s message kept replaying in his mind, word for word. He had wished every day since they broke up that she¡¯d message him, but now that she had, he felt even lonelier. It wasn¡¯t long before Jack arrived at his parents'' house. "Hello." "Hey, baby," his mother greeted him with a bright smile as she came to the door, gently caressing his face. "How¡¯s it going?" "I''m doing well, thank you," Jack replied. "How are the preparations for handyman school?" she asked excitedly. Right. I¡¯d almost forgotten about my white lie. "Going well." "Oh yeah? Have you been studying much?" "Yes, quite a bit. Spent the whole weekend on it. I decided to take a break before diving back in," Jack said, blending just enough truth to make the lie manageable. "Maria, is that Jack?" his father called from the kitchen in Portuguese. Moments later, he appeared in his robe. "Hey, son. How are you?" "Good! You?" "The game¡¯s about to start. Want to come watch?" Jack had forgotten about the game. His father loved football as much as he did. No matter how busy he was, he always made time for it. The invite was a good sign¡ªit meant his dad was happy with him, probably because he thought Jack was on the right track with ¡®handyman school.¡¯ Jack¡¯s stomach churned with guilt. "Sure. Thanks, Dad." Ch. 96 - Chicken Wings Jack¡¯s father headed to the living room, settling into one of the armchairs perfectly positioned in front of the TV. His mother followed with a bowl of chips and two fresh cokes. "Thanks, honey," his father said, cracking open a can. "Thanks, Mom. Are you going to watch the game with us?" Jack asked. "I¡¯ll be there in a minute, just finishing up the chicken wings." Chicken wings... No matter how good Rob''s kitchen android was, it had nothing on his mom¡¯s wings. Unbeatable. Jack could already taste them, his mind drifting back to family gatherings where the smell of frying chicken always meant good times. He remembered watching countless football games growing up, his dad shouting at the TV while his mom brought over plates of wings¡ªonly to join in, yelling even louder at the screen. Lydia had even been over for one of those games once. Jack frowned at the memory. It felt like a lifetime ago. "How was your weekend?" his father asked, eyes glued to the TV as the commentators went over the team lineups. "It was good. Busy, but good." Jack hesitated, then added, "I actually got a text from Lydia today." His mother¡¯s head popped up from the kitchen, her hands coated in batter. "Lydia? What did she say?" "Well... this morning, I wrote her a letter and dropped it off at her caf¨¦. I apologized for some things I did." "Son, apologizing takes strength. Well done." His father¡¯s voice was calm, steady. "Sometimes, ''I¡¯m sorry'' is more important than ''I love you.''" "She got the letter?" His mom paused mid-batter, brow raised. "Yeah, she thanked me for sending it." Jack took a sip of coke, trying to focus on the TV like his dad, but the truth was, he didn¡¯t know why he was suddenly spilling everything. It had been a long time since he¡¯d opened up like this. Maybe it was because he¡¯d already earned half the rent, which took some of the pressure off. Or maybe it was just the loneliness Lydia¡¯s lukewarm message had stirred up. "If she replied the same day she got the letter," his mother said, "that might mean there¡¯s still something there, Jack." "You think?" "I don¡¯t know, but it¡¯s a good sign. What are you going to do now?" "Honestly? I¡¯m not sure." His father turned toward him, eyes searching Jack''s face. "You never really told us what happened between you two." The statement hung in the air. Jack hesitated, then decided to come clean¡ªat least about part of it. "She was upset when I quit my job at the supermarket. Said I wasn¡¯t thinking about our future, about us." His parents stayed quiet, which Jack appreciated. He didn¡¯t want to hear them say how right Lydia was. "Well, you¡¯re starting vocational school," his father finally said. "You¡¯re taking responsibility. Maybe when she sees that, she¡¯ll come around." "Maybe," Jack said, though he wasn¡¯t convinced. How could she come around when the one thing his father was praising¡ªvocational school¡ªwas a lie? Talking about Lydia had felt good at first, but now the conversation was inching into territory that made him uneasy. Jack shifted in his chair. The soft cushions that had once felt welcoming now seemed to trap him. "I think we¡¯ve got a lot to celebrate this week," his mother said, her voice warm. "She replied to your letter, and you¡¯re starting something new... Let¡¯s just relax and enjoy the game tonight." "Yes. And if our team wins, that¡¯ll cap off the week perfectly," his father added, offering a way out of the topic. "Who do you think¡¯s going to win?" The oil sizzled in the kitchen as his mother fried the wings, and Jack settled back onto the couch, talking football with his dad. The loneliness that had been clinging to him since he left the game seemed to ease, just a little. Surrounded by his parents, everything felt... right. Almost. Lydia wasn¡¯t here. * With a belly full of wings and the sting of his and his dad¡¯s team¡¯s defeat, Jack sat on his bed upstairs, staring at his phone. Tomorrow, he¡¯d head to Rob¡¯s place so his parents would think he was going to ¡®handyman school,¡¯ but tonight, he was staying in his own room. No matter how comfortable Rob''s sofa was, it couldn¡¯t compare to his bed.The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation. He lay back, the familiar weight of his VR helmet beside him. The room was dim, lit only by the glow of his phone screen as he read Lydia¡¯s message again. The reasons she had broken up with him hadn¡¯t changed. He still had nothing to prove that he was thinking about their future. He was barely scraping by enough money to cover cheap rent. How could he take care of a wife? His thoughts shifted to his parents downstairs, how they believed he was making something of himself. Every time his dad talked about vocational school, a pang of guilt hit Jack. How long until they found out he wasn¡¯t attending any classes and was pouring all his time into gaming? After a few long moments, he put the phone away. He wouldn¡¯t reply. Lydia had left him no room to. He¡¯d just accept her kind words and leave it at that. Jack turned his attention to the VR helmet. He picked it up, running his fingers along the sleek surface before slipping it on. The soft padding cushioned his head¡ªit felt good, comforting even. The helmet hummed to life, glowing softly as Jack settled back. Time to return to the game. He logged back in right where he had left off, still sitting on Snowy. The giant sloth seemed unaware that Jack had ever left. He smiled, patting her neck. It was good to see her. The bees buzzed around him, happy as ever, welcoming him back. That made him wonder¡­ Did Snowy just vanish from existence when he logged out? If so, how did the [Homing] skill work? Couldn¡¯t his mount take him places while he was gone? Maybe she entered some sort of stasis, like a paused program. But what about his bees? What happened to them when he wasn¡¯t around? The thought nagged at him as Snowy blinked her massive eyes and the bees fluttered off, indifferent to the deeper mechanics of their own existence. Jack imagined Snowy wandering off into the jungle and the bees visiting flower after flower, all living their own lives while he was in the real world. What did game animals do when no one was watching? Whatever the case, Jack grabbed two tufts of Snowy¡¯s fur and urged her toward the gate. He needed materials to craft a pot hive for Beeatrice. After talking with Horace, he¡¯d decided to make a few extra pot hives to sell on the auction site. Selling parts of the bugkeeper set had earned him over 300 credits. If he also could sell pot hives or ocarinas, he might make enough to cover his bills. As Snowy marched through the city, Jack noticed a few passersby giving him nods of respect¡ªor maybe envy. After spending so long getting cold looks in his moss suit, earning some respect again felt good. The scent of baked bread and roasting meats filled the air as they neared the food market, tempting him to stop at the food stalls. He ignored the urge, reminding himself he wasn¡¯t going far. Besides, the chicken wings from earlier had satisfied his cravings. Seeing players standing in line at the gate with no one mounted, Jack decided to follow suit. He dismounted, curious to see what would happen. "Unsummon," he commanded. Snowy disappeared in a puff of smoke, like a magic trick. For all the game¡¯s realism, this still felt like a flaw. But Jack didn¡¯t mind¡ªat least he didn¡¯t have to stable her. A new icon appeared in his field of vision. Focusing on it, he said, "Summon," and Snowy reappeared in another puff of smoke, ready to go. Satisfied, Jack dismissed her again and joined the line at the gate. It moved quickly, and this time, no guards called out to him. Outside the city walls, the air was crisp, and the forest stretched out before him, dense and humming with life. Once outside, Jack summoned Snowy again. The gentle giant marched toward the tree line, eager to forage. "Hey, hey, big girl," Jack called, catching her before she wandered off. "We¡¯ll go that way, but take me along, okay?" He climbed back on her, and Snowy grunted softly, walking toward the nearest tree. When they reached it, Jack dismounted, letting her eat while he searched for crafting materials. He gathered sticks, looking for ones straight enough for his pot hives. After collecting ten full stacks, he started gathering flowers and other ingredients. Snowy¡¯s large inventory space was a huge help. As she lumbered along, occasionally stopping to munch on foliage, Jack found himself appreciating her calm, unhurried pace. It balanced the frantic pace of the game perfectly. Suddenly, Snowy sprang to life, standing on her hind legs to slash at the bark of a tree with her massive claws. She peeled the bark off and munched happily. Jack watched in awe as she bent the tree to get at its leaves. The speed at which she devoured the tree was unbelievable for such a slow creature. Despite the feast, her satiation only went up by ten. Snowy would need at least ten trees to fill her stomach. Jack chuckled. "Gonna need a whole forest just for you, huh?" He picked up some grass, remembering how much she liked munching on straw back at the tent. It seemed wise to stock up in case they were far from the jungle. Her affection rose by three as her satiation increased. Every time Jack summoned her, her satiation dropped a bit, and riding her made it fall even faster. Now, though, foraging was helping her levels recover. A rustling in the bushes caught his attention¡ªa porky emerged. Jack froze. Even though he was ten levels higher, he felt a familiar surge of adrenaline. In his crafting gear, he was defenseless. But the moment the porky spotted Snowy, it retreated, running off into the brush. Snowy didn¡¯t even react, focused on her meal. Jack grinned. Snowy was even better than a fire at keeping low-level threats at bay. By the time Jack had filled his inventory, Snowy¡¯s affection had reached 22, and her satiation was at 80. Satisfied, Jack hopped back onto her and hurried toward the city. The durability of some of his gathered items had already started to degrade, but they were still worth selling. The marketplace calculated his haul¡ªhalf a gold. Not bad for a short foraging trip. At the market, Jack restocked his crafting materials. He typed "clay" into the search bar, scrolling through listings for stoneware, earthenware, and porcelain. He paused, frowning¡ªhe hadn¡¯t tried using porcelain yet. Earthenware had been his introduction to pottery. It was easy to access, simple to work with, and forgiving when it came to getting decent crafting grades, as it didn¡¯t rely heavily on his attributes. The downside? Its products were low-value, with limited durability. Stoneware, on the other hand, was his go-to whenever he crafted at the Pottery Association. It demanded higher agility for better grades but rewarded him with exceptional durability. It did require a proper kiln, though¡ªboth his Pot Hive and Ocarina had been made with it. But porcelain? What was its deal? Jack had seen elegant porcelain tea sets displayed in the glass cases at the Pottery Association, but he had no firsthand experience. Was it tricky to work with? What about its properties¡ªwould it enhance the items he made or complicate the process? Curiosity piqued, he bought five stacks. Maybe porcelain would boost the sales value of his crafted goods. Riding Snowy toward the Pottery Association, excitement bubbled inside him. It was time to experiment and, hopefully, make a profit both in-game and in the real world. Ch. 97 - Pots and Ocarinas Jack wiped the sweat from his brow, his fingers trembling slightly as he awaited the final stage of the firing process. The heat radiating from the kiln warped the air, the room heavy with the scent of baked clay and the sharp, mineral tang of glaze. His eyes lingered on the kiln¡¯s glowing interior, watching the progress bars over the ocarinas inch forward. Finally, the bars flashed red. With a satisfying hiss, he pulled open the kiln door, a blast of heat prickling his skin like a sudden slap. He squinted through the shimmering air, gloved hands gripping the shelf as he carefully slid it out. The ocarinas clinked softly, their surfaces still warm. Under the workshop lights, the instruments gleamed¡ªdeep blacks, glossy reds, shimmering blues, and vibrant yellows. You¡¯ve finished crafting 20x [Earthenware Ocarinas]. +16,000XP in [Pottery] Jack inspected them one by one, testing their weight, their finish. He held up a particularly striking piece¡ªan iron-rich black-glazed ocarina. Its surface gleamed darkly, like polished obsidian. The cool, smooth texture felt satisfying in his hands. As he blew into the finger holes, a clean, sharp note pierced the air. Earthenware Ocarina (Rare) Crafting grade: B+ Description: An iron-rich black-glazed alto C clay ocarina, handcrafted for sharp, clear tones and a smooth finish. Durability: 28 Artistry: 13 Crafting grade bonus: +12 durability; +4 artistry. Iron glaze bonus: Dissonant songs are +10% more powerful. "So the color of dissonance is black," Jack mused, his thumb tracing the ocarina¡¯s dark curves. He jotted down the observation in his crafting log. He could already play happy, epic, and dissonant melodies, but there was more to discover¡ªmore colors, more songs. Laying the ocarina back down, he felt a spark of excitement. Somewhere out there, he hoped, bards would be clamoring for these instruments, ready to pay top credits. Or perhaps a collector might surface¡ªsomeone like that guy he¡¯d met in college who collected guitars but never learned to play. Surely, New Earth had its own share of virtual instrument aficionados. His eyes drifted back to the kiln, where another progress bar flashed red¡ªthe pot hive had finished firing. Rejuvenated, Jack pulled on his thick gloves and approached the kiln again. This time, he withdrew a heavy trolley carrying the navy blue pot hive. Its surface was adorned with intricate hand-carved patterns, their colors deepened by the fire¡¯s heat. With effort, Jack wheeled the trolley over to his workbench, the pot¡¯s weight straining his arms. All that remained was securing the wooden sticks¡ªthe rafters and pillars for the honeycombs. He threaded them through the pot, carefully applying glue to ensure everything was firmly in place. As he placed the last stick, a notification popped up: You¡¯ve crafted a [Stoneware Pot Hive]. +73,000XP in [Pottery] Congratulations! You''ve crafted [Stoneware Pot Hive]. Crafting grade: C Description: A heavy, large stoneware-lidded pot that can house a honey bee colony. Durability: 71 Artistry: 5 Debuff: -30% movement speed Unlike the ocarinas, the pot hives didn¡¯t receive any bonuses based on their glaze, but that didn¡¯t stop Jack from putting his personal touch on each one. This navy blue hive was just one of five he''d finished. He ran a hand along its smooth surface, feeling the raised swirls under his fingers. Nearby, stood a deep red pot hive. Thin, rope-like marks criss crossed its surface¡ªa fibrous pattern scorched into the clay during firing, when a rope tied around it had burned away, leaving behind a beautiful, organic texture. Each hive was different: one was a soft, earthy brown with delicate floral motifs carved along the rim; another was a muted yellow, its surface marbled with a splash of speckled brown. They were large and heavy, built to house thriving bee colonies. Though functional, Jack went the extra mile to make them beautiful. He hoped their unique patterns and colors would catch a buyer¡¯s eye, even if they were simple bee homes. Ding! Jack¡¯s messaging window popped up. ¡°In Embersgate. Where are you?¡± ¡°Pottery Association,¡± Jack replied quickly. ¡°Can we meet somewhere near the gate?¡± Recalling his earlier meeting spot with Horace, he instantly knew where to suggest. ¡°How about at the defender¡¯s statue?¡± ¡°Sweet. See you there.¡± Beeatrice was in town. Jack¡¯s heart skipped a beat¡ªit was time to deliver his very first order. His mind quickly shifted to logistics, relieved that his extra inventory slots remained available even when Snowy wasn¡¯t summoned. He opened his inventory screen, carefully stowing the freshly crafted ocarinas and pot hives. The bulky pots took up 2x2 slots each, and the ocarinas, though smaller, only stacked in piles of five. It didn¡¯t take long before Snowy¡¯s 25 additional slots were filled. ¡°Seriously, how did I ever live with such a small inventory?¡± Jack muttered to himself as he continued to pack the ceramics. Satisfied that everything was in place, he approached the counter where the guild¡¯s NPC clerk was stationed. ¡°How much do I owe you?¡± Jack asked. The NPC¡¯s eyes flickered briefly as it calculated. ¡°You worked for seven hours. Including tool rental and the consumables you purchased, your total comes to 1 gold, 3 silvers, and 43 coppers.¡±Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there. Jack handed over the payment, a small price considering the profit he knew he¡¯d soon make from this haul. When the quest giver had picked pottery as his crafting minor, he remembered reading in a guide how affordable it was, with low material costs guaranteeing profits. Whoever wrote it was right. Sadly, he didn''t have the time to experiment with porcelain yet, but he was planning to return to the Pottery Association after putting all this stuff for sale. As he stepped outside into the courtyard, a fleeting thought crossed his mind¡ªhad it been Felix who wrote that guide? Or maybe one of Felix¡¯s buddies? He hadn¡¯t seen Felix in the entire seven hours he¡¯d spent at the Pottery Association. I¡¯ll have to ask him about it later. Summon! In a puff of thick, swirling smoke, Snowy materialized before him. She stood still for a moment, her large eyes locking onto Jack. Her mouth opened slightly, as though she were about to say something. Jack tilted his head, a bit taken aback. Can she talk? he wondered, stepping closer. But just as he reached out, Snowy opened her mouth wide¡ªonly to let out an impossibly slow, drawn-out yawn. ¡°Seriously, Snowy?¡± Jack laughed, scratching behind her ears. ¡°Here I was thinking you were going to talk to me, but nope, just stifling a yawn.¡± Snowy blinked lazily, her enormous form sagging as Jack mounted her back. As they began moving, his thoughts drifted to his friends. He used to think of Amari, Horace, and Marie as Amari¡¯s gang, but now, more and more, they felt like his gang too. Apparently, Horace hadn¡¯t been able to resist showing off his newly acquired horse. Even though he hadn¡¯t waited for Jack, he had still sent a video, proudly flaunting his mount. The others had been green with envy when they heard that he and Horace had managed to capture an allosaurus. Knowing Horace was about to tackle a quest that granted horse-specific items, they had all rushed to buy horses of their own and join him. Jack opened his messaging window and shot them a quick message. Amari responded promptly, letting him know they¡¯d be a while. ¡°Guess we¡¯ll sit this one out, Snowy,¡± Jack said aloud, patting his mount''s thick fur. ¡°But that¡¯s fine. Just the two of us¡ªwe¡¯ve got more than enough to get things done.¡± Snowy let out another contented, lazy noise as they approached the defender¡¯s statue, the agreed-upon meeting point with Beeatrice. ¡°I¡¯m here,¡± he messaged. Beeatrice responded almost instantly: ¡°Five minutes out.¡± With time to spare, Jack hopped off Snowy and decided to explore the nearby market. The sign over the door reading Marketplace swayed slightly in the breeze, its hinges creaking. Inside, players sat engrossed in their system windows, hands moving through the air as they navigated the invisible interfaces. Jack noted that this marketplace had a classier atmosphere than others he¡¯d visited. Vibrant potted plants with blooming flowers lined the walls, and cozy armchairs were arranged near sleek, long stools. The decor might have been for show, but it added a sense of luxury. An NPC merchant stood behind the counter, negotiating a deal with another NPC, his posture stiff and professional. Thinking about Amari and the others who were picking up gear for their horse-riders, Jack glanced out the window at his ground sloth. It was busy munching on the flowers growing around the statue. I wonder if they make sloth-specific gear? After a careful search, he found nothing tailored for sloths. However, he did find a saddle that seemed like it might fit. Buffalo Leather Saddle (Common) Description: A sturdy, well-crafted saddle made from durable buffalo leather. Designed to provide both rider and mount with added comfort during long journeys. Effects: Passive. Increases riding speed by 10%. Requirements: Level 10 mount. Feeling a twinge of jealousy at the new gear the others might be getting, Jack decided to splurge. After all, his steed deserved the best. But as he equipped the saddle, a dreaded message popped up. You didn¡¯t craft [Buffalo Leather Saddle]. You can¡¯t equip it. Jack clicked his tongue in frustration. The game treated the saddle as equipment¡ªdespite it being for the mount, not him. Sighing, he listed it for sale and turned back to the reason he¡¯d come here in the first place. Jack hovered his fingers over the interface and navigated to the auction site. His eyes flicked to the items sitting in his inventory, waiting for their first owners. A sudden weight settled over him¡ªthe significance of what he was about to do hit home. He was the first player to craft ocarinas and pot hives. These were the first of their kind to appear on the market, with the potential to solve his financial problems. Jack took a deep breath, steeling himself, and began listing the items. He put all five pot hives up for sale on the open auction system, setting a buyout price of 100 credits each. Players could either purchase them outright or place a bid, with a minimum increment of 1 credit. The auction would run for a full week, giving bidders plenty of time to decide. Next, he turned his attention to the ocarinas. The buyout price was lower¡ª50 credits¡ªbut the auction was structured the same way. Players could bid or buy outright, with a minimum increment of 1 credit. He set the auction window for three days, programming the system to automatically replace each sold ocarina with another from his inventory. The setup was smooth, designed to maximize exposure and keep his stock moving. Satisfied, Jack took a screenshot of the listings and sent it over to Horace. As he waited for a reply, he browsed the auction site for other instruments. There were bone harps, drum sets, and bassoons¡ªall much pricier than his ocarinas. The second cheapest instrument was selling for 400 credits. He wondered if he should adjust his prices and sent Horace a quick message about his doubts. He tapped his foot nervously. A couple of minutes later, his messaging window pinged, and a thumbs-up emoji appeared. ¡°Well done, Jackie!¡± came Horace¡¯s reply. ¡°The other stuff¡¯s made from more expensive crafting materials. Try this price first. If it¡¯s too cheap, you can always raise it later.¡± Jack smiled as he confirmed the listings. A small surge of pride swelled in his chest as he left the marketplace. The weight of his hard work hung in the air, now entrusted to the auction system. The thought of his items being out there, ready for players to buy and use, made him both excited and anxious. As he stepped outside, a fresh wave of uncertainty hit him. How much will these items actually sell for? After so many dead-end jobs where his efforts went unrewarded, he couldn¡¯t shake the creeping doubt. What if no one bid more than one credit? What if my work isn¡¯t worth anything to other players? His thoughts swirled as he crossed the courtyard. Then his gaze landed on Snowy, who was lazily munching on the flowers around the statue, completely unbothered by the world. Jack chuckled to himself, feeling some of the tension slip away. If only he could be as laid-back as Snowy. He just had to believe that, among the millions of New Earth players, someone¡ªother than Beeatrice¡ªwould be interested in his items. * SingleStone studied the wreckage of the carriage and sighed. "Oh, great," he muttered. Several of his hives had been smashed into splinters, and the bees were now scattered and confused, with no place to call home. "There goes your experience, boss," Jasper remarked from the side. "I don''t need reminding, Jasper," SingleStone grumbled. When he first read about the beekeeping profession and how it was possible to attack with bees, he had imagined an almost unstoppable combo. And it worked, mostly. He could single-handedly hunt a T-Rex¡ªas long as it didn¡¯t strike back. ¡°There¡¯s got to be a better way to do this,¡± he said, frustration creeping into his voice. The only way to transport a live hive was by horse-drawn carriage, which was slow, hard to maneuver, and¡ªworst of all¡ªfragile. One tail whip from a high-level dinosaur, and it was game over. "Truth be told, boss, if you want a weapon you can carry on a carriage, you might as well get a ballista," Jasper joked. "Yeah, I thought I was onto something," SingleStone replied, disappointment weighing his words. He prided himself on being an inventor, always exploring new combos and writing guides for his guild. When he discovered that beekeepers could have their colonies fight for them, he thought he''d struck gold. But the combo¡¯s weaknesses were proving impossible to ignore. ¡°Oh well, salvage what you can,¡± he said, waving SingleStone and the team towards the wreckage. "I¡¯ll have to go back to the drawing board." Ding! Hmm? Something new? SingleStone always kept an eye on the auction sites, searching for the next game-breaking combo. He knew every item related to beekeeping by heart and had set up an alert for anything new. Sure enough, something had just popped up. It was a collection of large pot hives with special effects. The moment he saw it, he knew he had to have one. "Guys, I¡¯m heading to the marketplace. Something¡¯s come up. Bring whatever you can salvage from the wreckage, and I''ll meet you there," SingleStone ordered, already setting off. "Right away, boss," Jasper responded. SingleStone didn¡¯t care if he had to pay the buyout price. This might be the key to unlocking the combo he¡¯d been working on for weeks. Ch. 98 - Flora For the third consecutive month, the Krakens had maintained their spot as the top guild in New Earth. With tens of thousands of members, the guild housed some of the best players in the game and controlled more in-game property than anyone else. Their real-world assets couldn''t compare to their virtual empire, but they still owned several buildings scattered across the globe. Herbert worked on the 16th floor of one of these buildings. As usual, he sat at his desk, chin resting on his hand, scrolling through the auction website. It had been two days since he found anything noteworthy. His best discovery that week was a potion that significantly boosted pet growth¡ªa decent find, but not enough to impress his supervisor. As he refreshed the page, something unusual caught his eye: a musical instrument he hadn''t seen before¡ªan ocarina. Bards were one of the most coveted professions in the game, but very few players had managed to unlock it. The Krakens had only three bards in their ranks. Instruments were notoriously expensive, yet the ocarinas that had just been listed were available for 50 credits. "Ocarinas are made of clay," Herbert mused. "Could it be a pottery recipe?" Intrigued, he sent a memo to the team handling profession research, instructing them to keep an eye out for any pottery-related recipes involving ocarinas. He also purchased three of the available colors and sent one to each of the guild''s bards, hoping one of them would take interest. It was a small win, but Herbert savored it. He decided to go to the vending machine and buy a soda can. He deserved it. After drinking a refreshing coke, he sat at his desk. With a sigh, he returned to his routine, scrolling through the auction listings in search of the next hidden gem. * Jack hadn¡¯t even left the marketplace when two notifications popped up: You¡¯ve sold three earthenware ocarina at the buyout price. 150 credits transferred into your bank account. You¡¯ve sold a pot hive at the buyout price. 100 credits transferred into your bank account. He froze in place, hardly believing it. Just a moment ago, he doubted whether anyone would want to buy his items. He never thought that someone would buy it this quickly. Horace had been right. It was foolish not to list them on the auction site, just because Beeatrice predicted it wouldn¡¯t work. Jack stared at his notifications, waiting. Hoping more sales would roll in at buyout prices. None did. But it didn¡¯t matter¡ªhe¡¯d already earned 250 credits in minutes. And with Beeatrice buying another pot hive from him for 50 credits, he was about to hit 300 credits total. He opened his bank app from within the VR space and looked at his balance. He¡¯d done it. He had enough to cover the rent. He wouldn¡¯t even have to lean on the 100 credits his mother had offered to help him. His hand rested over his chest, feeling the heavy beat of his heart. It had taken hours of grinding, crafting, and adventuring to earn this much. Amari, Horace, Marie, and other players helped, but he could say that his success came from his own hands¡ªhis skills as a handyman. He¡¯d made it. Although he never believed that his father would actually kick him out, knowing the rent was covered lifted a huge weight. And it had only been ten days since he started playing. For the first time in what felt like ages, he believed in himself. This job¡ªthis game¡ªwas the answer. He could make this work. He would make this work. There was still so much room for growth, and he was already making a decent salary. If everything sold at the buyout price, he¡¯d rake in 1,500 credits. Fifteen hundred! He could pay rent, cover the VRX helmet rental, and still have some left over. More than he¡¯d ever made at any job before. And this was only the beginning. The pressure on his shoulders eased, replaced by a sense of freedom. Jack caught movement from the corner of his eye¡ªBeeatrice was approaching. She wore the same yellow and black outfit from their video chat, looking even more striking in person. More than a few people glanced her way as she passed. She really was pretty, though shorter than he expected. She couldn¡¯t be more than 150 centimeters tall. She walked up to him near the statue where Snowy, his mount, was munching on the flowerbeds. Her eyes locked on the hive strapped to Jack¡¯s back. For a moment, he wondered whether she was looking at the pot hive, but her subsequent movements told him otherwise. Beeatrice stretched out her hand, and instantly, several of Jack¡¯s bees flew toward her, landing on her hand. She observed them for a while, petting them gently with her other hand. ¡°They look happy. You¡¯re doing a good job.¡±If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. ¡°Thanks,¡± Jack said uncertainly. She had charmed up his bees so easily. They usually attacked whoever dared come too close, unless the pot was on Jack¡¯s back where his scent calmed them down, but they seemed more than happy to interact with Beeatrice. After a pause, she made a small bow. ¡°We finally meet in the flesh. Hi, Jack.¡± Jack had the distinct feeling that if this girl hadn¡¯t liked how he cared for his bees, she would have just left. Moreover, why was she bowing? Unprepared for Beeatrice¡¯s formality he fumbled to bow back. ¡°H-hi.¡± ¡°Shall we trade then?¡± she asked, flashing him a smile. ¡°Yeah, here¡¯s your order,¡± Jack replied, summoning the pot hive from his inventory. The moment she saw it, Beeatrice¡¯s composed demeanor evaporated. She went from a poised, elegant woman to an excited girl, circling the pot hive, inspecting every detail. Jack grinned¡ªbased on what he¡¯d seen when they did a video call, he¡¯d chosen yellow and black stripes for the hive, hoping she¡¯d like it. Clearly, she loved it. ¡°Oh man, I love the colors,¡± she gushed. ¡°Fantastic. Fifty credits, right?¡± Jack nodded. Would you like to trade with Beeatrice? [Y/N] A trade window popped up. Jack accepted, dragging the pot hive into it. On the other side, a wire transfer of 50 credits appeared. For a brief moment, uncertainty crept in. He¡¯d just sold a pot hive for double that price on the auction site. Sure, no one else had bought one since, but it still made him think this pot hive was worth more than 50 credits. He shook off the feeling. They¡¯d agreed on the price, so he clicked ¡®accept.¡¯ ¡°Pleasure doing business with you,¡± Beeatrice said, her tone bright. ¡°No problem,¡± Jack replied. Beeatrice immediately equipped the pot hive, even though it had no bees in it yet. The striped pot perfectly complemented her outfit. ¡°It looks so cool!¡± She took it off again to inspect it closely. ¡°Have you considered adding candle holders?¡± ¡°What?¡± Jack blinked. ¡°Candle holders?¡± ¡°You know. For the candles.¡± Catching Jack¡¯s confused look, she continued. ¡°You know, when you unlock the [Chandler] skill¡­.¡± Jack finally recalled reading something about candles when he was first doing research about this minor. ¡°Oh! Right! I¡¯d forgotten about how we can make candles. No, I hadn¡¯t considered it.¡± She laughed, amused by how someone could know so little about beekeeping. "So, what level beekeeper are you?" she asked curiously. "I¡¯m a novice, level eight right now,¡± Jack answered, surprised that she wasn¡¯t leaving. "Ah. No wonder you hadn¡¯t considered candle holders then. You haven¡¯t started making them. There¡¯s a cool recipe for a candle that boosts bee productivity. You unlock it at journeyman, level 6. That¡¯s why I was suggesting it. Since you carry the hive everywhere, adding a candle holder to the pot would help keep your bees buffed at all times.¡± ¡°I see. Thank you for the hint.¡± It sounded similar to the bard song that boosted bee productivity. Jack imagined what a bunch of bees would look like under the effects of a stat-boosting candle and his productivity-boosting song. "Haven¡¯t you read about the minor? I have great videos explaining the entire skill tree if you want." "I did research, but honestly, I¡¯d forgotten about the candles. What got me the most excited about the minor was that I can control an army of bees and use it to attack mobs," he said, smiling. "Boys! Wait a minute,¡± she added, pausing thoughtfully. "This pot hive has that perk, doesn¡¯t it? You can carry it around and summon the bees to attack. Smart. That removes the hassle of transporting the hives with wagons if you need them for combat." Jack laughed. "If you hadn¡¯t considered it, why did you even want to buy it? Isn¡¯t that the whole point of having a portable hive?" Beeatrice shrugged with a grin. ¡°I¡¯m just a beekeeping freak. If it¡¯s bee-related, I need to have it.¡± ¡°Fair enough,¡± Jack said. ¡°Mind if I ask? Why are you so into bees?¡± She sighed dramatically but then smiled. ¡°Well, since you made such a beautiful hive, I¡¯ll tell you the story.¡± She paused, then began. ¡°When I was a kid, I really wanted a puppy, but my parents said no. We lived in a tiny apartment, and the landlord didn¡¯t allow pets. But one day, I found a bee at my window¡ªshe had only one wing. I felt sorry for her, so I tried to take care of her.¡± Jack blinked. A bee with one wing? ¡°At first, I didn¡¯t know what I was doing,¡± Beeatrice continued. ¡°I found a little box, filled it with petals and leaves, and brought her tiny droplets of sugar water. Slowly, she got stronger. She couldn¡¯t fly, but she¡¯d crawl onto my hand, and it was like she was my pet. I named her Flora.¡± Beeatrice¡¯s eyes softened as she spoke, clearly lost in the memory. Jack listened, fascinated despite his initial skepticism. ¡°I¡¯d watch her explore my desk while I did my homework,¡± she said, smiling. ¡°She never stung me, and she¡¯d tilt her head like she understood me. We even played little games. She made me notice things about bees I never had before. Eventually, she passed, but Flora sparked my love for bees. She wasn¡¯t just a bee. She was my first pet. She was¡­ well, my friend. Since then, I¡¯ve been in love with bees.¡± Jack was quiet for a moment, absorbing the story. ¡°That¡¯s¡­ not what I expected,¡± he admitted. He wasn¡¯t sure if her friendship with the bee was the fruitful imagination of a small child or reality, but there was no doubting the sincerity in Beeatrice¡¯s voice. She considered that bee to be her friend. He glanced at the pot hive on his back. Could each of his bees have a personality, too? The thought that each bee had its own feelings and thoughts was mind-boggling. "Interesting," Beeatrice remarked, still admiring her new pot hive, interrupting Jack''s thoughts. "There''s no limit to how many of these you can carry." Jack blinked in surprise. "There isn¡¯t?" He glanced at his own pot hive, realizing it didn¡¯t occupy an equipment slot. "Huh, you¡¯re right." "That means, theoretically, you could carry four at once," she continued with a playful grin. "Of course, you''d be moving at 20% speed. Haha!" Her laugh hinted at some skit she might plan for her videos. Jack¡¯s eyes darted toward Snowy. "Wait... Right!" His mind began racing. Snowy didn¡¯t suffer from speed debuffs. And bushcrafting dabbled in all sorts of trades. Hadn¡¯t Ariadne said that bushcrafters who were good enough could rival other professions such as cooks, gardeners, and such? If memory serves him right, he saw a recipe for sale at the bushcraft XP store that would work perfectly for this situation! "You¡¯re a genius! I¡¯ve got to go!" he exclaimed, the excitement building in his voice. Beeatrice looked puzzled. "What¡¯s got you so excited?" But Jack was already lost in thought. Not even a notification of a sale of another ocarina at buyout price managed to capture his attention. "Well, it was great doing business with you, Beeatrice, but I¡¯ve got to run." "Okay..." She shot him a curious glance but quickly returned to admiring the hive. "Thanks again for making it look so amazing. I love it!" Jack mounted Snowy, already planning his next move. Beeatrice''s offhand comment had sparked something big, and he could barely contain his excitement. He nudged Snowy forward. "Let¡¯s head to the lake, Snowy." Ch. 99 - Hyah! Jack stood atop Snowy outside the gate. ¡°Hyah!¡± he shouted dramatically, pointing toward Red Lake. Snowy responded with a quizzical grunt, then set off at her usual, unhurried pace. A couple of onlookers laughed at Jack¡¯s bravado, and he chuckled along with them. He¡¯d done it more out of excitement than anything else¡ªthere was no way to get Snowy to go faster, no matter how much flair Jack added. Even if his ground sloth didn''t leave a cloud of dust as it ran, riding her was a welcome improvement over walking. Even with Snowy¡¯s steady pace, Jack was traveling faster than on his last trip, back when the 20% speed debuff from lugging his [Pot Hive] had slowed him to a crawl. The more he read about it, the more he realized how useful [Stubborn Slowness] was. Stubborn Slowness (Uncommon) There¡¯s no point in telling a sloth how fast to move. It will move when it wants to move, and that¡¯s it. Skill effects: Passive. This animal can¡¯t be slowed. Restrictions: 50 affection Weight debuffs didn¡¯t affect Snowy. That, in fact, was the whole reason he was in a hurry to reach Red Lake. After his conversation with Beeatrice, Jack had a hunch there was something interesting he could try with Snowy and the pot hives. Whether or not he could pull it off depended on a couple of things: the recipes he¡¯d seen at the XP store and whether they¡¯d help him bring his idea to life. For the first few minutes, Jack stayed alert. Every time he ventured into the jungle, he had to stay cautious¡ªsmall dinosaurs could jump out at any moment. But this time was different. The gentle giant¡¯s presence seemed to make Jack almost invincible against the smaller creatures roaming the jungle. Porkies, compies, archies, and other small critters Jack usually tried to avoid, scattered at the sight of the sloth¡¯s size and weight. This, too, sped up the journey. Instead of zigzagging to avoid the wildlife, Jack could follow a direct path. After confirming that Snowy would follow the destination coordinates he¡¯d set even if he wasn''t actively guiding her, Jack relaxed. He pulled out one of his yellow ocarinas and began to play. A cheerful tune echoed through the jungle, drowning out the distant sounds of skirmishes. His bees, already buzzing through the jungle in search of flowers, seemed to pick up the pace, energized by his bard skills. You¡¯ve played [A Morning of Spring]. +200XP in [Bard] Your bees work harder! A bee returns with pollen. +10XP in [Beekeeping] A bee returns with pollen. +10XP in [Beekeeping] Jack kept the song going on a loop. His plan relied on leveling up beekeeping. He needed to reach the journeyman tier in the minor if he wanted to test out his theories. Moreover, after Beeatrice pointed out the potential in candle-making, Jack became quite excited about the prospects in the minor. Who knew what new synergies he might discover once he had wax as a crafting material? About halfway through the trip, a notification popped up. Congratulations! You¡¯ve reached beekeeping, level 7! You¡¯ve learned a new skill: [Sturdy Sting]. Sturdy Sting (Common) Level: 1 Skill description: A sting is a bee¡¯s ultimate attack, but when it uses it, it¡¯s a death sentence. Or is it? Skill effects: Passive: Bees deal 10% more damage when defending their hive. Passive: 20% chance that stinging won¡¯t kill a bee. It was the first time Jack had come across a combat ability for his bees. However, instead of getting excited about the prospect of commanding his own swarm, the description of the skill hit him hard. He hadn¡¯t realized that every time a bee stung, it was giving up its life. He thought back to how his bees had defended the hive when patrons had visited his impromptu diner. He hadn¡¯t realized they were sacrificing themselves. He couldn''t help but stretch his hand out toward one of the arriving bees. It landed on his hand. ¡°You are a brave little soul, aren''t you?¡± Maybe Beeatrice was right. There was something special about these little creatures. At least now, they wouldn¡¯t always die after defending their home. He let the bee fly away and enter the pot hive on his back. As he reread the description of the skill, something felt off. His hive had never been attacked. Now that he thought about it, hadn¡¯t Beeatrice also said something about hives being vulnerable to disease? His bees hadn¡¯t gotten sick either. Why was that? Was it because he just had the one hive? Or was it because he kept the hive on the move, never stopping for too long? It had to be only a matter of time, though. At the prospect of his hives facing an invasion or an epidemic, Jack shuddered. He just had to keep leveling up to make his bees healthier and stronger.This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source. Taking a break from playing the same tune over and over, Jack leaned back and opened his character sheet. CHARACTER INFORMATION Name: JackOfDiamonds Level: 19 Fame: 17 Class: Handyman Mount: Snowy, the Ground Sloth Minors: [Bushcraft], lvl. 10 [Pottery], lvl. 10 [Bard], lvl. 8 [Beekeeping], lvl. 7 Titles: [Consistent Quality], [Embersgate Civil Servant], [Junior Craftsman]; [Museum Donor], [Novice Explorer], [Novice Firekeeper], [Overreacher], [Pride of the Innovator], [S-Grade Adventurer], [Slayer of Monsters], [Uniqueness] ATTRIBUTES Hit points: 100/130 Stamina points: 87/125 Movement Speed: 101% Attack: 1 Strength: 6 Constitution: 5 Agility: 26 Intellect: 6 Stealth: 15 Luck: 5 RESISTANCES: Defense: 6 Block: 0 Fire: 2 EQUIPMENT Right-Hand: [Empty] Off-Hand: [Empty] Head: [Empty] Torso: [Moss Suit] Pants: [Beginner Slacks] Gloves: [Empty] Shoes: [Empty] Cape: [Moss Cape] SKILLS: Fighting: [Blocking Stance], [Dash], [Heavy Strike], [Minor Synergy], [Unbound Knowledge] Bard: [A Morning of Spring], [Angry Void], [March of the Embers], [Ocarina Mastery], [Self-Taught], [Sitting Wind], [Sonic Valley]. Beekeeping: [Brood Breeding], [Friendly Scent], [Honey Harvesting], [Hive Ownership], [Nectar Harvesting], [Sturdy Sting]. Bushcraft: [Bush Immunity], [Camping], [First Aid], [Forage], [Kindle], [Rope Weaving], [Sticksmithing], [Survival Cooking] Pottery: [Clay Drying], [Clay Gathering], [Clay Molding], [Clay Tempering], [Pottery Etching], [Pot Firing], [Pottery Glazing], [Touch of the Potter] He had come a long way in such a short amount of time. As he read through the long list of skills, titles, and attributes, Jack couldn¡¯t help but sit a little straighter, puffing out his chest with pride. If only his parents could understand how meaningful these numbers were. If he were to show them, they would probably think it was a waste of time, but they represented his hard-earned progress. Maybe telling them he wasn¡¯t going to vocational school would be easier when he could explain the practical value behind it all. The way his stats translated into real-world income wasn¡¯t something they could ignore. Still, he had to remind himself¡ªhe was just getting started. Compared to some of the veteran players, he was still a noob. His biggest weakness at the moment? Equipment. Most of his attributes came from titles or the free points he¡¯d invested as he leveled up. His gear was embarrassingly basic. But he was excelling at something that surprised even him: fame. Amari had mentioned how hard it was to grind that stat, yet here he was, already at 17. He wondered just how much influence he could wield with that number. Was it enough to unlock new opportunities or get his hands on some more rare quests? Just as he was about to shoot Amari a message and ask him more about it, Snowy stumbled upon a group of dinosaurs. The creatures huddled around a small ornithopod, several times their size, feasting on its remains. They were bigger than compies, with dark brown and navy blue scales. What struck Jack the most was the eerie intelligence in their eyes. The beasts¡¯ gazes lingered on Snowy, assessing. Jack¡¯s heart started to race. He wasn¡¯t sure what they were, but he knew one thing¡ªthey looked dangerous. He tightened his grip on Snowy¡¯s fur, his whole body tensing. He could feel Snowy, too, was tense. The creatures eyed Snowy carefully, and Jack felt a lump form in his throat as he thought, Snowy is roughly the size of that ornithopod. Shouldn¡¯t its weight have prevented the hunters from attacking it? His mind scrambled for explanations. These creatures moved like they were used to hunting together. Could it be that they had a skill that canceled [Largeness], which kept lighter animals at bay? Jack held his breath, trying to make himself as small and unthreatening as possible, his muscles coiled and ready to flee. The jungle seemed to grow quieter around him, the tension thick in the air. For a long, nerve-wracking moment, the creatures continued to stare, weighing their options. Was it Snowy¡¯s size that kept them at a distance? Or maybe they were already satisfied with the carcass at their feet. Whatever the reason, they turned their attention back to the ornithopod, digging into their meal without giving Jack a second glance. He exhaled slowly, but the tension didn¡¯t leave his body. That was too close, he thought. His heart still pounded in his chest as he gently nudged Snowy forward, hoping to put some distance between them before anything changed. Once Jack was sure the dinosaurs weren¡¯t following him, he allowed himself to breathe. The tension slowly drained from his body, and he slumped forward slightly on Snowy''s back. The only sounds now were the steady buzz of his bees, Snowy''s heavy, rhythmic steps, and the distant, faint calls of other animals deeper in the jungle. We made it, Jack thought, his heartbeat finally starting to slow. He stole one last glance behind him, just to be certain, but the predators were uninterested in him or Snowy. Now that the coast was clear and his nerves had settled, Jack reached for his yellow ocarina, wiping his sweaty hands on his trousers before bringing it to his lips. As the cheerful tune of A Morning of Spring filled the air again, it cut through the quiet jungle, bringing a sense of normalcy back to the journey. His bees, buzzing in time with the melody, darted ahead, eager as ever. Jack smiled to himself. He wasn¡¯t just playing for fun¡ªhe needed to level up his beekeeping to reach level 10, and every bit of XP mattered. * The moonlight shimmered on the still waters of Red Lake, casting silver ripples as the wind gently stirred its surface. As Jack and Snowy approached the shoreline, he noticed a group of herbivores gathered near the water¡¯s edge. They drank cautiously, their long necks dipping into the lake as they kept a wary eye on their surroundings. The soft lapping of water against their beaks blended with the night sounds. Scattered along the shoreline, bushcrafters had set up temporary camps. The glow of their fires formed a series of bright dots around the lake, like lighthouses, demarcating the boundary of where the water met the land. The unmistakable scent of grilled meat carried on the breeze. The scene was a mix of serenity and survival¡ªdinosaurs drinking by the lake while fighters and crafters gathered in their camps, preparing for another hunt. When Jack and Snowy reached the shores, Jack¡¯s grinding proved its worth. He had leveled up his beekeeping and bard professions, even though it came at a price: He was sick and tired of the repetitive tune of A Happy Morning of Spring. While beekeeping gave him nothing new this time, reaching level 9 in bard unlocked an exciting new skill! Congratulations! You¡¯ve reached bard, level 9! You¡¯ve learned a new skill: [Swing Step]. Swing Step (Uncommon) Skill level: 1 Skill description: When the music starts playing, you become unstoppable and can keep going. Skill effects: +10% movement speed when playing a song. It was a simple but powerful buff¡ªperfect for avoiding trouble while strengthening his allies or weakening enemies. The prospect of being more nimble excited Jack. Beep. Beep. ¡°Already?¡± The alarm reminding him to go to vocational school buzzed. He hadn¡¯t yet told his parents what he was really doing with his time, and for now, he would stick to his ruse. Jack sighed and logged out of the game, his thoughts already on his next shopping spree at the XP store, which would have to wait until he logged back in. Ch. 100 - Swim Jack double-checked his pocket for Rob¡¯s apartment keys and felt the weight of the VRX helmet nestled in his duffel bag. ¡°Are you sure I can¡¯t drive you? It¡¯s no trouble at all,¡± his father asked again. ¡°No, Dad. I¡¯ve got it,¡± Jack replied, forcing a smile. ¡°Thanks, though.¡± ¡°Have a good first day at school!¡± ¡°Yeah... thanks,¡± Jack mumbled, stepping out the door. Outside, the crisp morning air hit him, his breath forming little clouds in the chilly air. It did little to cool down his burning cheeks or to appease his churned-up stomach, but it did throw him back to his school days when he had to wake up early to catch a bus. His parents¡¯ reaction today only strengthened that impression. His mother had made him pancakes with a smiley face of bacon and eggs¡ªsomething she hadn¡¯t done since he was a kid. His father had even been up early, eager to drive him. Why did I have to lie to them and tell them I¡¯m going to vocational school... Why didn¡¯t I just tell them the truth? The guilt gnawed at him. The lie seemed more ridiculous with every passing day, especially now that he was starting to make some money. Jack glanced at his phone. Another ocarina sold, and his auction listings were buzzing with bids. The money was coming in fast¡ªfaster than he¡¯d expected. Rent for his room, the helmet rental, all covered. By the look of it, he would be sticking to his newfound career. That begged the question: How would he explain to his parents that he¡¯d lied to them? Moreover, how could he explain his new job to his parents? He knew his mother would support his new career after she got over the hurt of being lied to. But his father? He¡¯d never understand. He would call it a ¡®get-rich-quick scheme¡¯ and say it was time to get a real job. This is a real job, though. Jack frowned. He didn¡¯t remember ever making this kind of money in such a short time. Sure, working around the clock for ten days straight wasn¡¯t exactly sustainable, but it had paid off, and he could take things a little easier from now on, now that the pressure was off. As he climbed the stairs to his cousin¡¯s apartment, Rob came out the door with a half-smile. ¡°Rob! I wasn¡¯t expecting to run into you.¡± ¡°Hey, Jack. How are Uncle and Auntie?¡± ¡°They¡¯re good. All pumped up about ¡®school,¡¯ you know.¡± Jack laughed awkwardly. ¡°Right. By the way, I think you made a mistake.¡± ¡°Tell me about it. I should never have lied to them.¡± His cousin laughed. ¡°That¡¯s not what I¡¯m talking about.¡± Jack¡¯s heart skipped a beat. ¡°What do you mean? Did I do something?¡± ¡°No, no. It¡¯s about this transfer you sent me.¡± Rob held up his phone. ¡°Hadn¡¯t you paid me back already? You sent me fifty more credits.¡± Jack chuckled, relieved that he hadn¡¯t done anything to upset Rob. ¡°Yeah, I know. The extra¡¯s for all the meals I¡¯ve been mooching off you. Plus, I¡¯m using your water, electricity... figured I could chip in.¡± Rob gave him a pleased look, shaking his head with a smirk. Jack tilted his head. ¡°Why do you look so smug?¡± Rob shrugged, grinning. ¡°No reason. Just, it¡¯s considerate of you. By the way, sorry I bailed on you in-game this weekend.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it,¡± Jack replied. ¡°I think I¡¯ll get to Embersgate soon. Maybe tonight or tomorrow?¡± ¡°Sure, hit me up,¡± Jack said. Rob glanced at his watch and tensed. ¡°Oh, gotta run. See ya!¡± Rob dashed down the stairs, leaving Jack to climb the last few steps alone. Once inside, Jack tossed his duffel bag onto the couch and let out a long breath. The cozy familiarity of Rob¡¯s apartment welcomed him. Finally, he thought as he grabbed the VRX helmet from his bag. He lay back on the sofa and, in one smooth motion, slipped into the world of New Earth. * Back at the vicinity of the lake, Jack urged Snowy forward, her massive paws sinking into the soft earth as they approached the shore. As they neared the lake, a pack of ornithopods came into view. The large, herbivorous dinosaurs were gathered in clusters, their sleek bodies reflecting the moonlight in soft, muted shades of green and brown. Their heads, crowned with crests, dipped low as they drank. Jack couldn¡¯t help but admire their serene presence. They reminded him of a herd of grazing cattle, peaceful and calm, except for their sheer size and the muscles rippling under their skin. But as they drew closer, the peaceful scene burst like a bubble. One of the larger ornithopods lifted its head sharply, nostrils flaring. It let out a low, guttural sound, causing the others to stir. Jack tensed. This was the first time the ornithopods reacted to him like this. The pack¡¯s mood shifted in an instant. The larger ones shuffled into a protective formation around their young, their eyes now fixed on Snowy. Before Jack could react, the first ornithopod slammed its tail against the water with a loud crack, sending ripples across the lake. It was a warning. The rest followed suit, their tails thrashing the water violently, creating sharp, echoing snaps that cut through the night.You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version. Jack¡¯s heart leaped into his throat. ¡°What¡¯s happening?¡± he muttered, his hand tightening on Snowy¡¯s fur. Snowy, too, responded to the sudden aggression. She rose onto her hind legs, matching the height of the ornithopods, letting out a sharp shriek. Jack swallowed hard, his pulse quickening. What¡¯s going on here? Is there some feud between sloths and ornithopods? There are so many. If they charge¡ª He glanced at their powerful tails and imagined them battering Snowy or smashing into him. He wasn¡¯t sure if Snowy¡¯s size spooked them or if something else was triggering them, but the last thing he wanted was a fight. ¡°Easy, Snowy,¡± he whispered, gently patting her side. ¡°Let¡¯s get out of here. No need to stir them up anymore.¡± Snowy grunted in response, still standing tall but beginning to back away slowly. The ornithopods kept their defensive circle, tails snapping at the water, their eyes watching Jack. Finally, when the distance between them grew, the pack relaxed. They stopped thrashing and returned to the water, dipping their heads low again to drink. Jack let out a long, shaky breath. That was close. Just as the tension in Jack''s chest began to ease, he heard another sound¡ªdistant but unmistakable. The calls of hunters echoed through the trees, and moments later, a group of them burst out from the shadows, weapons raised. Without hesitation, they attacked the ornithopods. All that commotion for nothing. They ended up getting into a fight anyway. He shook his head. ¡°Oof, Snowy, let''s keep moving. No need to get caught in that mess.¡± Snowy grumbled softly and lumbered on, steering away from the pack. Without warning, Snowy veered toward the water, wading deeper until Jack¡¯s boots were soaked. ¡°Wait, what? You want to swim?¡± Jack¡¯s eyes widened as Snowy plowed forward, the water rising higher around them. ¡°Are you sure about this, girl?¡± Snowy, undeterred, continued into the lake, her powerful legs pushing through the water until she was deep enough to float. Jack kept an eye on the pot hive. He didn''t want his bees to drown. However, even though Snowy was fully immersed in the water, it only reached Jack¡¯s waist, and the lowest hole on the pot was still above the water line. They''d be OK. Then, with surprising grace, Snowy began to swim, her long arms pulling them forward easily. The only noises were Snowy¡¯s steady strokes and the gentle water lapping against her fur. Jack cast one last glance behind him. The sound of fighting between hunters and ornithopods had faded into the distance. Jack couldn¡¯t help but marvel at Snowy¡¯s speed as they swam. Her strokes were smooth, her large claws slicing through the water. It almost seemed like the currents couldn¡¯t slow her down, as if she was cutting through them effortlessly. He wondered if Snowy¡¯s deep weight cancellation effect also applied to water resistance or currents. It was a pleasant surprise. She moved just as fast in the water as she did on land. The only experience Jack had with swimming was when he ran Piri¡¯s underwater mazes. He wondered if he could summon Snowy while inside the pyramid. If so, those dungeons were about to get super easy. Jack couldn¡¯t help but feel that he made the best possible choice when he chose Snowy as his mount. Jack thought back to the fishermen around the shore and the size of the animals he¡¯d spotted him pull out of the water. Jack shifted uncomfortably on Snowy¡¯s back, glancing around. The lake stretched out endlessly in every direction, dark and still. The moonlight only illuminated the surface, but it was a black abyss beneath them. His stomach twisted. I can¡¯t see what¡¯s under us. What if something¡¯s down there? The thought sent a shiver down his spine. He had heard some of the fishermen who¡¯d come to his camp earlier talk about massive creatures lurking in the depths of lakes¡ªcreatures big enough to swallow a man whole. Jack scanned the water nervously, imagining shadows moving just below the surface. Snowy¡¯s swimming was fast, but the thought of something lurking in the deep, unseen, unsettled him more than he cared to admit. ¡°You know what, Snowy? Let¡¯s stick closer to the shore,¡± he said. Snowy snorted but veered left, moving toward the shallow waters near the banks. Jack breathed a little easier, though he still cast glances at the inky water, half-expecting some massive creature to breach the surface at any moment. After several minutes of calm swimming, Jack finally relaxed. This was the best route. Given the early reaction that the ornithopods had shown to Snowy, they would have likely bumped into other groups and, maybe, even gotten caught in a fight if they¡¯d taken the land route. Swimming, they could avoid the ornithopods and travel peacefully. Moreover, they could avoid any allosaurus attacks. He heard a distant roar, the familiar sound of the large predator. Jack couldn¡¯t help but wonder how the baby allosaurus he¡¯d delivered to the taming arena was faring. Had Master Leon managed to tame it? Would any player get lucky enough to earn it as a mount? The bees buzzed around him, diligently flying to and from the jungle, returning with pollen for the colony. Jack considered playing a song for them, but he was afraid it might draw some aquatic predator. Eventually, Snowy¡¯s feet found the lakebed, and she waded out of the water, shaking off the excess from her heavy fur. Jack dismounted, patting her affectionately. ¡°Good job, girl.¡± Snowy likes your kind words. +1 affection. Even though Snowy had moved quickly through the water, Jack noticed that her satiation bar had dipped a little faster. ¡°I¡¯m going to be here for a while,¡± he told her. ¡°Go ahead, forage if you want.¡± Snowy trotted off to the nearby treeline, immediately setting to work on a tree with her massive claws. She peeled back the bark and began munching away contentedly. Jack chuckled as he walked past her toward Erwind¡¯s camp. Erwind¡¯s bonfire crackled brightly, casting a warm glow across the campsite. The bushcrafters huddled around the fire, cooking small animals skewered on sticks. The scent of grilled meat wafted through the air, making Jack¡¯s stomach grumble. ¡°Evening,¡± he greeted the group, sitting near the fire. A few of the bushcrafters grunted in response, barely looking up. Jack¡¯s gaze landed on one of the men¡ªa familiar face. It was the bushcrafter jerk¡ªthe one with the knife. Jack tensed, but the man paid him no mind, much to his relief. Opening the trading window, Jack scanned through the available options. After completing the allosaurus quest, he¡¯d amassed 200,000 bushcrafting XP. Between that and his earlier crafting sessions, he had 240,000 XP, burning a hole in his pocket. ¡°Here it is,¡± he murmured, spotting the recipes for which he¡¯d come all this way. The first one was for a saddle. Recipe for: [Rope Saddle] Ingredients: Instructions: Requirements: The second one was for saddle baskets. Recipe for: [Saddle Baskets] Ingredients: Instructions: Requirements: With these recipes, he was going to turn Snowy into a money-making machine! Ch. 101 - Addictive Jack¡¯s eyes twinkled as he laid eyes on the two recipes that had brought him rushing here. The [Rope Saddle] and [Saddle Bags] cost only 20,000XP each, and Jack didn¡¯t hesitate for a second before purchasing both. ¡°Twenty thousand for a saddle made of rope? Bargain,¡± he muttered, half-smiling. Normally, saddles and saddle bags were leatherworker territory. But because they were considered ¡®equipment,¡¯ his handyman class restrictions wouldn¡¯t let him buy and equip them on Snowy. That had been a real downer until he found these rope-based alternatives. He inspected the recipe for the [Rope Saddle] again. How exactly do you turn rope into something you can sit on? He couldn¡¯t picture it, but the game mechanics wouldn¡¯t lie, right? Maybe it wouldn¡¯t be as comfortable as leather, but it would do the job. And for now, that was all that mattered. With the recipes learned, Jack¡¯s next step was leveling up his [Rope Weaving] skill to meet the requirements. The [Rope Saddle] required level 3, and [Saddle Bags] level 4. [Rope Weaving] was one of the first skills I learned as a bushcrafter, Jack thought, grinning at the memory of Saul ordering him around in Bright Hill. It¡¯s at level 2 already. Shouldn¡¯t break the XP bank to get it up. He whistled as he pulled up the upgrade window. 20,000XP for the next level¡ªsteep but manageable. [Rope Weaving] has been upgraded. Rope Weaving (Common) Skill level: 3 Skill description: The ancient art of twisting or braiding natural fibers to form strong, flexible ropes and cords. Skill effects: You¡¯ve learned a new recipe: [Rope Mat]. You''ve learned a new recipe: [Rope Sandals]. You¡¯ve learned a new recipe: [Rope Saddle]. Jack grinned. ¡°Rope saddle, check!¡± And the [Rope Mat] recipe was a nice bonus since he¡¯d need it as a component for the saddle anyway. Recipe for: [Rope Mat] Ingredients: Instructions: Requirements: Jack chuckled to himself. Guess I¡¯m a one-stop shop now. No need to give money to someone else¡ªI¡¯ll just make my own gear. He felt a sense of satisfaction knowing he could rely on himself for crafting. Then, his eyes drifted to the next recipe on the list. [Rope Sandals]? He frowned, half amused, half incredulous. Recipe for: [Rope Sandals] Ingredients: Instructions: Requirements: [Rope Weaving], lvl. 3 Jack looked down at his feet. The only things he¡¯d made himself so far were the moss suit and cape, and his feet were still in beginner¡¯s shoes. The idea of walking around in rope sandals made him laugh under his breath. Didn¡¯t think I¡¯d be making shoes out of rope, but hey, I¡¯ll take it. Who knows? Maybe I¡¯ll start the latest bushcrafter fashion trend. He smirked, shaking his head. And if it gives me extra attributes, I¡¯m in. The flood of new recipes and upgrades had put him in a surprisingly good mood. It was easy to see why Felix, Ariadne, and Beeatrice were so hooked on their professions. Once you got the hang of it, leveling up and learning new skills was almost... addictive. Jack needed [Rope Weaving] at level 4 to make the saddle bags, but the XP cost had jumped to 50,000¡ªa steep climb compared to the 20,000 for the last level. He rubbed the back of his neck, feeling a slight pang of hesitation. Fifty thousand... that''s more than double. If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. Still, it wasn¡¯t like he had much of a choice. He had to level up if he wanted Snowy to carry those saddle bags. [Rope Weaving] has been upgraded. Rope Weaving (Common) Skill level: 4 Skill description: The ancient art of twisting or braiding natural fibers to form strong, flexible ropes and cords. Skill effects: You¡¯ve learned a new recipe: [Rope Basket]. You¡¯ve learned a new recipe: [Rope Hat]. You¡¯ve learned a new recipe: [Saddle Bags]. Jack skimmed through the new recipes, his eyebrows shooting up as he saw the latest additions. A rope basket? Recipe for: [Rope Basket] Ingredients: Instructions: Requirements: The recipe seemed simple enough. Just whirl the rope into shape and fasten it together¡ªeasy. But Jack couldn¡¯t help but be a little surprised. First sandals, now baskets? He glanced down at the next item. Wait... a hat, too? The recipe for the hat was almost identical to the basket, only flipped upside down with a cord to fasten it under the chin. Jack tapped his foot nervously. He wouldn¡¯t have guessed in a million years that rope weaving could escalate into actual equipment. One piece of equipment made out of rope, sure. But two? What¡¯s next, I wonder. Then, he noticed the next XP requirement. 100,000XP for the next level. A hundred thousand XP... I wonder what juicy recipes are hiding behind such a costly upgrade. He scratched his chin, pondering what to do next. He had enough XP to either push [Stick Smithing] to level 2 or upgrade [Rope Weaving] yet again. Both options would probably open up new equipment for him, and he definitely needed more gear. But which one would give him the bigger boost? ¡°If only I could peek at what each upgrade unlocks,¡± Jack muttered, feeling torn. He stared at his crafting menu for a long moment before sighing. Alright, it''s time to call in the expert. He opened his friends¡¯ list and shot a quick message to Ariadne. ¡°Hey, Ariadne. Sorry to bother you. I¡¯m torn between upgrading [Stick Smithing] to level 2 and [Rope Weaving] to level 5. I¡¯m focusing on whatever allows me to make equipment. What are your thoughts?¡± He hit ¡®send¡¯ with a flick of his finger and leaned back, waiting for a reply. Seconds passed with no response from Ariadne. Jack mulled over his options, unsure of which path to take when a sudden commotion broke out around him. ¡°Hah!¡± One of the players by the campfire jumped to his feet, spear in hand, pointing toward the large shape near the edge of the clearing. It was Snowy, casually munching on bark and leaves, completely oblivious to the chaos she¡¯d caused. ¡°Relax,¡± Jack said, raising a hand. ¡°That¡¯s just my mount.¡± The spearman, a tall, lanky guy with scruffy hair blinked in confusion. He lowered the spear slightly but still looked rattled. ¡°Goodness gracious, get a leash on that thing or unsummon it! It scared me half to death!¡± Jack smirked, finding it hard to take the guy seriously when his hands were still shaking. His armor, two sizes too big, clinked awkwardly as his knees trembled. Before Jack could respond, another player chimed in. This one, the guy with the knife who Jack had met earlier, leaned against a tree with a smug expression. Short and stocky, with a buzzcut and a constant smirk, he lazily tossed his blade into the air, catching it with an effortless flick of his wrist. ¡°How could you think it¡¯s a mob? We¡¯re in an NPC¡¯s camp, noob.¡± ¡°Shut up,¡± the spearman barked back. He puffed out his chest, clearly trying to look tough, especially after the sorry display earlier when he¡¯d shrieked pathetically. The bushcrafter with the knife stood up straighter, twirling his blade. ¡°Who did you just tell to shut up, you piece of trash?¡± ¡°Get out of my face, baldie.¡± The spearman jabbed his spear in the air. Jack watched with wide-eyed amusement. Are these guys seriously about to throw down? Over Snowy? He was about to intervene when the spearman swung his spear in his direction. ¡°And you!¡± the spearman shouted, pointing the spear at Jack. ¡°If you can¡¯t control your mount, maybe you should stick to smaller animals!¡± Jack raised an eyebrow, unsure of what to say. For a moment, it looked like the spearman might take a swing at him, but before things could escalate, the knife-wielding bushcrafter stepped in. ¡°Don¡¯t you turn your back on me, twig boy,¡± he sneered, approaching the spearman. ¡°Unless you want me to trim that mop on your head with this knife.¡± The spearman snarled, gripping his spear tighter. ¡°At least I don¡¯t look like a rejected extra from a pirate movie, you dagger-flinging clown!¡± ¡°Oh, real original,¡± the bushcrafter shot back. ¡°What are you gonna do, poke me with that oversized toothpick?¡± The two squared off, glaring at each other, weapons raised. Jack took a step back, relieved that the heat was off him for now. Suddenly, a loud burp echoed through the clearing. All eyes turned to Snowy, who had paused her munching to let out a smelly, loud burp. Several players nearby snickered. Jack slapped his forehead. Just as I had gotten out of trouble, Snowy. Jack missed what happened next, but when he looked back at Baldie and Crabby¡ªJack¡¯s newly assigned nicknames for them¡ªthey were in full brawl mode, wildly swinging their weapons while throwing insults. ¡°Come on, baldie, is that all you¡¯ve got?¡± the spearman taunted, narrowly avoiding a slash. ¡°Maybe if you weren¡¯t flopping around like a fish, I¡¯d actually bother aiming!¡± Baldie laughed, twirling his knife again. Jack¡¯s best guess was that one of them had tried to use the distraction caused by Snowy and get a sucker punch in, thus starting the full-on brawl. Jack shook his head. And here I thought I was the immature one. Snowy, meanwhile, continued her slow, deliberate munching, completely ignoring the chaos she¡¯d started. As if on cue, she wandered right between the two fighters, paused for a moment, and then let out a slow, rumbling fart before continuing her stroll. Both men froze, staring in disbelief as Snowy ambled past them without a care in the world. The fight resumed after a brief, awkward pause, though neither Baldie nor Crabby could land a solid hit. It was a comically even match, with both dodging more than striking. Jack watched for a moment longer, then sighed. This isn¡¯t gonna end anytime soon. Ding! Finally, a notification popped up. It was Ariadne¡¯s response. ¡°Hey, Jack! [Stick Smithing] level 2 allows you to make stakes and a breastplate. [Rope Weaving] level 5 gets you the [Average Rope] recipe and some rope equipment. I don¡¯t remember the specifics, but I recall that between levels 4 and 5, you can get enough to make a full suit of rope armor.¡± Jack blinked. A full suit of rope armor? He¡¯d been running around with half his equipment slots empty for way too long. A full suit of armor made of rope might not be glamorous, but it would get the job done. And if [Average Rope] was a better quality rope, then everything he made¡ªsaddle, saddle bags, and future gear¡ªwould be sturdier and more durable. Jack bit the bullet and bought the upgrade. [Rope Weaving] has been upgraded. Rope Weaving (Common) Skill level: 5 Skill description: The ancient art of twisting or braiding natural fibers to form strong, flexible ropes and cords. Skill effects: You¡¯ve learned a new recipe: [Average Rope]. You¡¯ve learned a new recipe: [Rope Overalls]. Jack grinned. ¡°A full suit of rope armor? Yes, please.¡± He glanced back at Baldie and Crabby, who were still going at it, neither gaining the upper hand. The last thing he wanted was to get dragged into their drama, especially since it had all started because of Snowy, and his ground sloth seemed to be going out of her way to enrage them, burping and farting at every chance she got. Better make a quick exit. He left Erwind¡¯s camp without looking back. He could check his new recipes later. Without wasting any more time, Jack began scouting for a safe place to set up and craft. It was time to turn Snowy into a powerful honey factory. Ch. 102 - Rope Weaving After four hours of braiding grass, it felt good to take a lunch break. He had thought about going for a walk, but the possibility of running into his parents and having to explain why he wasn¡¯t in class made him stay put. Jack logged back into the game, greeted by the familiar sounds of crackling fire, unioryx bleats, and Snowy¡¯s steady snoring. The camp was exactly as he¡¯d left it, perched atop a rocky outcrop that provided a perfect vantage point. Below, the meadow stretched out like a vast green carpet, illuminated by moonlight and fireflies. Dark-green, almost black, one-horned deer grazed in the shadows, their forms lit softly in the gentle glow. A quick exchange of messages with Amari had clued him in: these were unioryxes, a popular mob for hunters between levels 13 and 16. Their horns were valuable for crafting, though most newbies preferred hunting grounds closer to the city. Their bleats unsettled Jack¡ªa strange mix of a sheep¡¯s call and the harsh cawing of a crow. Occasionally, one would let out a desperate bleat, followed by a sharp shriek and then eerie silence. He hadn¡¯t seen the predators that lurked in these parts, but something was out there, hunting the unioryxes. For all he knew, it could be a hunting party. In the short time Jack had been offline, the meadow had miraculously regrown its grass, allowing the unioryxes to graze peacefully again. Before he logged out, not a single blade of grass had been left¡ªhe had stripped the meadow clean to gather every bit for crafting. Without Snowy¡¯s [Largeness] skill keeping the creatures at bay, Jack was certain the unioryxes would have skewered him for clearing their food source. The fire flickered nearby, the stones surrounding it reflecting warmth into the cool night air. Snowy slept contentedly by the fire, enjoying a well-earned rest after helping Jack earlier. Off to the side stood his pot hive, bees buzzing in and out, tirelessly working even at night. Let me confirm if I have everything I need. He first checked the stack of long strips of bark, carefully harvested with Snowy¡¯s help. The sloth¡¯s sharp claws sliced through the bark with a precision that reminded Jack of a kebab vendor expertly carving meat. Nearby, a mountain of sticks lay in a neat pile¡ªJack had selected the straightest ones for crafting while the rest served as firewood. Next to him lay piles of grass cords and rope, the product of hours of labor that had left his fingers stiff and sore. Jack told himself his hands didn¡¯t hurt, but the numbness said otherwise. There¡¯s no way I got arthritis from playing a game, right? He shuddered at the thought, then, to distract himself, picked up an [Average Rope]. He ran it through his fingers, appreciating the differences from the [Weak Rope] he used to make. Recipe for: [Average Rope] Ingredients: ? [6x Weak Cord] ? [4x Dry Grass] Instructions: ? Untie one end of each [Weak Cord] before starting. ? Twist the [Weak Cords] together as you would with [Dry Grass] to create the rope. ? When you run out of fiber length, add more [Weak Cords] to the mixture. Requirements: ? [Rope Weaving], lvl. 5 Jack stretched the rope taut with his hands, a pleasant twang vibrating through the air. Weaving three cords instead of two gave the ropes extra strength and elasticity. The best part was the XP he earned for crafting it. Before learning this recipe, he hadn¡¯t gained any bushcrafting XP for weak rope braiding anymore, but now he¡¯d earned over 1,000 XP just from making [Average Rope]. Of course, these perks came at a price: more materials and effort. Each [Weak Rope] only required twenty-eight pieces of grass per rope, but now he needed forty¡ªfour full stacks of dry grass per rope. With Snowy¡¯s extra inventory space, he could only carry enough grass to make ten ropes at a time, forcing him to shuttle back and forth between the meadow and his crafting spot over the last few hours. After a final check, Jack judged the number of sticks, bark, cords and rope sufficient. Finally. The prep work is all done. It''s time to get crafting. Jack started with the mats. He picked out four of the straightest sticks and arranged them into a square, adding a fifth, central stick for support. He tied the frame together tightly with cords. Some sticks bowed more than others, but it held. Next, he tied one of the ropes to an edge of the frame parallel to the central stick. Then, he looped it around the central stick before securing it at the opposite end. Row by row, he repeated the process until the frame resembled a warped harp. That was the easy part, Jack thought. He rotated the frame 90 degrees, ready to begin weaving. This technique would be much more than just twisting fibers. He had to weave them over and under each other. It reminded him of when was a kid and he tried crocheting with his mom, an attempt that had ended in laughter and a mess of yarn. At least this time, he had a sturdy frame and thicker threads to work with. Taking a deep breath, Jack started weaving the rope over and under. Over and under, over and under, he repeated to himself, finding a rhythm. Then, halfway through, confusion struck. Wait¡­ what? He¡¯d missed a row. Pausing, he retraced his steps, his mind briefly blank as he figured out how far back the mistake went. After some careful undoing, he fixed it.If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. With the mistake corrected, he picked up speed, muscle memory kicking in. The process became smoother, and by the time he finished, Jack was feeling more confident. He carefully loosened the knots, removed the sticks, and fastened the knots along the edges, securing the mat. You¡¯ve crafted [Rope Mat]. +500XP in [Bushcraft] Rope Mat (Common) Description: A rustic mat that grants charm to any room, retaining the scent of the meadow. Crafting grade: D Durability: 31 Effects: +10HP when placed in a house you own. D-grade debuff: Durability falls much faster. He picked the mat up. It was surprisingly heavy. From the sheer amount of grass in this thing, he couldn¡¯t help but feel he was picking up the whole meadow. The mat was rough, with uneven knots and stray grass sticking out, but it was functional. Good enough for a start, Jack thought, though he was already thinking about improving his next attempt. So these things go into houses, uh? The mat was designed to be placed in a house, where furniture and decor boosted stats. Jack couldn¡¯t help but wonder how much a house would cost. He made a mental note to ask Amari next time they teamed up. Determined to do better, Jack grabbed the same sticks and got to work on his second mat. This time, the process went more smoothly, with fewer mistakes. You¡¯ve crafted [Rope Mat]. +800XP in [Bushcraft] Rope Mat (Common) Description: A rustic mat that grants charm to any room, retaining the scent of the meadow. Crafting grade: C Durability: 36 Effects: +10HP when placed in a house you own. Comparing the two mats, the second one looked much better. But it wasn''t good enough yet. Jack picked up more rope for a third attempt. He¡¯d harvested more than enough grass for multiple attempts at all the recipes he needed to craft. This wasn¡¯t just about making mats; this was equipment for him and Snowy, and he wasn¡¯t about to settle for subpar quality. You¡¯ve crafted [Rope Mat]. +850XP in [Bushcraft] ¡°The third time¡¯s the charm,¡± Jack said, inspecting his best mat yet. It looked good enough to use. Rope Mat (Common) A rustic mat that grants charm to any room, retaining the scent of the meadow. Crafting grade: C+ Durability: 36 Effects: +10HP when placed in a house you own. He picked up the worst of the three mats and laid it on the ground where he was working. It was a marked improvement over the cold, rough rock. Feeling more like a craftsman now, Jack set the other mats aside, careful to keep them out of Snowy¡¯s reach. His ground sloth had tried more than once to eat the dry grass he¡¯d collected, and Jack wasn¡¯t about to let Snowy turn his hard work into a snack. ¡°One recipe down,¡± he said, mentally preparing himself for the next challenge. Next, Jack turned to the basket. He grabbed the end of a rope and began curling it into a tight spiral. The fibers resisted, trying to spring back into their original shape, but Jack held them firmly, determined to keep the spiral tight. With one hand awkwardly holding the spiral in place, he used his teeth to grip a cord and the other hand to tie it around the coil. It was a mess, but after some fumbling, he managed to pull the cord tight, compressing the spiral together. Then, he tied another cord at a 90o angle, making sure it held the shape. He wiped the sweat from his brow and took a step back to examine what would become the base of his basket. So far, it wasn¡¯t falling apart, but he wasn¡¯t sure how long that would last. He kept rolling the rope around itself, watching as the spiral widened. To keep it from unraveling, he pressed his knees down over the base, trying to pin it in place while tying knot after knot with the cords. The whole process felt clumsy, and Jack couldn¡¯t help but wonder whether basket weaving was supposed to be this difficult. Is it normal for this to be so... stubborn? he thought as he struggled to keep the rope in shape. He wasn¡¯t even halfway through the base when he noticed the first rope was almost finished. His stomach sank. Four stacks of dry grass, and it was barely enough to finish the base of the basket. Making a basket¡¯s going to chew through more materials than I thought, he mused, but he wasn¡¯t about to give up now. He grabbed more rope and persevered, determined to finish what he¡¯d started. After what felt like ages, he finally completed the base. But the real challenge came when he started working on the basket¡¯s walls. If keeping the flat spiral together was tough, building the walls was nearly impossible. Every time he tried to stack more rope on top of the base, the walls sagged and wobbled, threatening to collapse in on themselves. He tied knots as tightly as he could, but the cords weren¡¯t holding properly, and the whole structure drooped like a poorly made vase. It¡¯s like I¡¯m making a coiled vase all over again, he thought bitterly, but this time, there¡¯s no drying the layers to keep them in place. The basket was a lopsided disaster. The walls leaned to one side, barely standing, and the cords that were supposed to keep it together were only making it sag more. The entire thing looked ready to fall apart at the slightest touch. You¡¯ve crafted a [Grass Basket]. +90XP in [Bushcraft] Grass Basket (Common) Description: A simple basket made of grass that is flexible and can be used to carry stuff around. Crafting grade: D- Durability: 7 D-grade debuff: Breaks at two durability. I need to think. Jack paced back and forth on the crag. The struggle with the basket reminded him of his attempts at making tall vases. He¡¯d had trouble stabilizing them back then, too. What could I do to make this work? He tried to imagine Felix standing beside him, watching him work. Though this wasn¡¯t pottery, Jack could practically hear Felix¡¯s gravelly voice in his head. The old craftsman would likely start rambling about how the principles of crafting were universal, no matter the medium. Don¡¯t rush it. Stabilize before building further, he¡¯d say. The question was, how could Jack do that? It wasn¡¯t like the basket needed to dry. Dry¡­ ¡°Glue!¡± Jack said aloud, the idea hitting him like a spark. It made perfect sense. Glue would help stabilize the basket and take some of the strain off the cords. But another issue remained. "How am I going to keep it secured while the glue dries?" His joy deflated. He didn¡¯t even have any glue on him. He began pacing again. Glancing at his flimsy basket attempt, then at the pot hive, Jack knew there was no way this weak structure could hold a pot of that size. Suddenly, he froze. ¡°Wait a minute! I have the perfect way of securing it!¡± He dashed over to the pot hive, bees buzzing in and out in their endless quest for honey. His eyes flicked to his inventory¡ªsix full stacks of honey and growing. He couldn¡¯t wait to unload it in the city. But for now, he had a different use for the hive. Refocusing, Jack carried the heavy pot hive over to his crafting mat. He then started gathering rocks, searching for ones heavy enough to help hold the rope in place. ¡°Alright. Let¡¯s try this. Patience, Jack. Steady, Jack.¡± Ch. 103 - Saddled Now that Jack had the pot hive near him, it was time to put his new approach to crafting a basket to the test. He crouched down and began making a base spiral. The process hadn¡¯t gotten any less awkward¡ªstarting the first spiral with just his hand and teeth still felt like playing Twister. But this time, once he secured the second cord, he took extra care to remove the first one and retie it more neatly. ¡°There. Looks a little cleaner now,¡± he muttered, placing a rock over the spiral to keep it from springing loose. One step at a time, he told himself. He imagined Old Felix watching him work and how proud he would be of him. He grimaced at the thought that he now had an inner Felix, his very own Jiminy Cricket, to guide him through challenges while crafting. As Jack wrapped the rope around itself, something clicked. His fingers began moving with a rhythm he hadn¡¯t realized he¡¯d developed, a steady flow from the time he¡¯d spent weaving the rope mats. Over and under, over and under. It felt natural now. This time, though, he was weaving cords into the basket. The base began to look more solid, and with each new loop, Jack felt more confident. Once the base was slightly wider than the pot hive, Jack set the pot on top of it. It¡¯s so much easier this way. Wrapping the rope around something solid made all the difference in the world. The pot¡¯s weight created the perfect tension, keeping the shape intact and allowing him to tie everything off securely. This is going way better than expected, he thought, tugging at the last knot. Of course, there was a downside¡ªusing the pot as a mold was making this basket bigger than he¡¯d initially planned, so he ended up using more rope than he¡¯d budgeted for. At this rate, he would have to make rope again. But he¡¯d leave that problem for later. By the time he tied off the last loop, the basket had enveloped over half the pot¡¯s height. The bees didn¡¯t seem to mind the temporary blockage in some of the gates, and instead just used the holes that were free. He wiped his brow just as the notification popped up: You¡¯ve crafted a [Grass Basket]. [Pride of the Innovator] kicks in and improves your creation rating. B- £¾B +300XP in [Bushcraft] Grass Basket (Common) Description: A simple basket made of grass that is flexible and can be used to carry merchandise around. Crafting grade: B Durability: 19 B-grade bonus: The durability of stored items drops at a reduced rate. Jack couldn¡¯t help but throw a few punches at the air in triumph. ¡°Yes! It¡¯s been a while since [Pride of the Innovator] kicked in!¡± It was as if the game¡¯s system itself had given him a reassuring pat on the back for a job well done. He took a step back to admire his work. The basket looked far better than his previous attempts¡ªtighter and sturdier. The bonus that helped preserve the contents inside was a pleasant surprise, too! ¡°Too bad I didn¡¯t have any glue,¡± Jack muttered, though he wasn¡¯t all that upset. He knew the basket¡¯s durability would degrade over time, and he¡¯d probably need to craft another one in a few days anyway. By then, he¡¯d have some glue on hand and could make an even sturdier version. Emboldened by his success, Jack immediately set to work, repeating the process. The rhythm he¡¯d developed from crafting the first basket stayed with him, guiding his hands through the motions. Before he knew it, another B-grade basket was done. He paused only long enough to admire the work before diving back into the process. At this rate, I could start a basket shop, he thought with a smirk. By the time he finished, four neat baskets were lined up atop the rock. Using the [Pot Hive] as a mold made each of them look uniform and aesthetically pleasing. He had all the ingredients to make the saddle and the saddle bags. All that remained was to bring everything together. Jack turned to his companion. Snowy lay by the fire, snoring softly. Jack knelt by the sloth, giving her a gentle pat on the side. ¡°Sorry, buddy. Time to get up.¡± Snowy let out a long, exaggerated groan, the kind that could only come from a creature deeply offended by the idea of leaving a warm spot. She shifted sluggishly, blinking lazily at the firelight as Jack gave her another nudge. Reluctant at first, Snowy eventually heaved herself up, grunting complaints. ¡°Yeah, I know,¡± Jack chuckled. ¡°I¡¯d rather be by the fire too.¡± Dragging one of the mats over, Jack held it up to Snowy¡¯s broad back. She made a low, grumbling noise but didn¡¯t resist as he carefully placed the first mat over her. Smoothing it down, he grabbed the strips of bark next, layering them evenly for padding. ¡°The bark should make it nice and comfortable for both of us,¡± Jack said as he grabbed the second mat and laid it on top, sandwiching the bark between the two. He made sure to use the better-looking mat for the outer layer¡ªif Snowy was going to wear this thing, it might as well look halfway decent.Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation. Now came the tricky part: securing it all together. The rugged texture of the rope and the bark made the whole thing stick together without sliding. Even so, Jack grabbed a length of rope and began threading it through the mats, trying to reinforce the bonds between the three layers of the sandwich. He tried to keep the rope taut when necessary but left enough slack to keep the sloth comfortable. After the saddle was secured properly, Jack moved on to tying the ropes around Snowy¡¯s belly. He tested the tension, adjusting it carefully to ensure a snug but non-restrictive fit. Snowy huffed, her drowsy eyes silently asking, Why is this happening to me? ¡°Almost done with this part,¡± Jack reassured her with a pat. He could tell she was over this whole saddle business, but he couldn¡¯t let her wander off just yet. The final step was the reins. Jack grabbed another length of rope and tied it in place, making sure to fashion a loose, comfortable noose that wouldn¡¯t tighten when pulled. He gave the reins a gentle tug to check the fit¡ªcozy but secure. Just as he finished fastening the last knot, a notification popped up: You¡¯ve crafted a [Grass Rope Saddle]. +1100XP in [Bushcraft] Grass Rope Saddle (Common) A makeshift saddle that has ingeniously been crafted using bark and rope. Crafting grade: C Durability: 34 Item effects: +8% movement when riding a mount; +5 satiation; Grass and bark satiate more. Jack stepped back to admire his handiwork. The [Rope Saddle] wasn¡¯t exactly a work of art, but it was functional¡ªand surprisingly good-looking for something made of bark and rope. Plus, the slight buff to Snowy¡¯s movement speed and the extra bit of satiation were nice perks. He could ride faster and for longer now. She can stuff herself a little more now, too, Jack thought. Snowy, however, seemed less than impressed. She gave him a sleepy, half-lidded look before glancing longingly back at the fire. ¡°Uh, uh. Don¡¯t you dare,¡± Jack warned, wagging a finger. ¡°I still have to put the saddle bags on you.¡± The sloth grunted, her protest clear. She stayed put, though. Jack brought over the four baskets he¡¯d crafted earlier, placing two on each side of Snowy. Using steady hands, Jack tied the baskets securely to the saddle, weaving the rope under Snowy¡¯s belly and looping it back around to the other side. Snowy gave a lazy huff, clearly unbothered by the added weight. He tried securing the baskets as best he could so they wouldn¡¯t slip or shift during travel. Once the first pair was fastened and snug, a notification flashed across his vision: You¡¯ve crafted [Grass Saddlebags]. +745XP in [Bushcraft] Grass Saddlebags (Common) Simple baskets that can be fastened to a saddle and allow for the transport of more goods. Crafting grade: B Effects: Can be used to transport live goods in addition to regular inventory space. Durability of perishable goods does not decrease for the first 30+30 minutes of transport. B-grade bonus: +30 minutes of durability protection. ¡°Nice,¡± Jack said, a grin spreading across his face. But the real test was still ahead¡ªcould they hold the pot hive? He brought over the green portable hive and placed it into one of the baskets. The fibers strained under the hive¡¯s weight, creaking slightly as they adjusted, but the basket held firm. Jack frowned, noticing that the pot was tilting slightly. ¡°It¡¯s leaning toward the side of the loop,¡± he muttered, studying the issue. It wasn¡¯t a deal-breaker, but he made a mental note to fix it in future crafting attempts. Another issue caught his eye¡ªthe tightly woven rope blocked some of the hive¡¯s entry and exit holes. What if the bees can¡¯t breathe? Concern flickered through his mind for a moment. But as the weight of the hive stretched the spiral of rope, small gaps opened in the weave. Jack realized most of the lower holes were blocked, but the upper ones remained clear. Good enough, he thought. Bees are smart; they¡¯ll figure out how to use the lower holes for ventilation and the top ones to come and go. Still, there was one last test to pass. ¡°Stand up, Snowy,¡± Jack commanded. Snowy groaned, reluctant as always, but eventually lumbered to her feet. As she rose, the pot hive tilted precariously to one side, and Jack¡¯s heart lurched. ¡°Stop!¡± he shouted. Snowy dropped back down on all fours, saving the hive from toppling. I¡¯ll need to make the pot slightly heavier at the bottom, Jack thought. That would keep it from tipping like a wobbly vase. Sighing, he removed the pot hive from the saddlebag and set it aside. The problem was clear, but Jack already had a plan for fixing it. For now, he untied one of the baskets and readjusted it, making sure the angle of the loops wouldn¡¯t tilt in the same direction Snowy leaned when standing. Moving on, Jack crafted the second pair of saddle bags. By the time he finished tying the last knot, another notification popped up: You¡¯ve crafted [Grass Saddlebags]. +800XP in [Bushcraft] Grass Saddlebags (Common) Description: Simple baskets that can be fastened to a saddle and allow for the transport of more goods. Crafting grade: B+ Effects: Can be used to transport live goods in addition to regular inventory space. Durability of perishable goods remains the same for the first 30+45 minutes of transport. B-grade bonus: +45 minutes of durability protection. Snowy, with her baskets on either side, looked like a walking mercantile tank, ready to carry anything from honey to half a forest. It amazed Jack how he¡¯d turned simple materials¡ªdry grass and rope¡ªinto something functional and genuinely cool. Snowy, however, was less impressed. She groaned again, shifting her weight and scratching at her sides with obvious discomfort. As Jack watched her shuffle back toward the warmth of the fire, he noticed the way she was scratching a little more insistently. "Is the grass making you itchy?" Jack wondered aloud, tilting his head. He quickly checked for any system notifications that might hint at an itchy debuff, but nothing popped up. Shrugging, he figured it couldn¡¯t be that bad. He debated returning to town to craft more pot hives and fill the saddle bags, but a quick reality check reminded him that his beekeeping level wasn¡¯t advanced enough to manage more than one hive at a time. With a sigh, Jack shelved the idea for now. No point hauling around more hives when I can¡¯t use them yet. With that thought, he turned his attention to the next big task: crafting his own set of rope armor. He could feel the excitement bubbling up as he imagined himself and Snowy both decked out in matching gear. Ch. 104 - Rope Armor Time to make yourself look awesome, Jack! Jack decided to start with the hat. Of all the pieces of equipment he needed to craft, it had the most in common with something he¡¯d already made: the basket. Just apply what I learned from the saddle bags, he thought, and I¡¯ll have myself a decent hat in no time. He started by making the base of the hat the same way he had for the basket: fastening the spiral of rope. Jack tied a temporary cord to keep the spiral from unraveling, then secured a second cord tightly around it. Once that was in place, he untied and re-tied the first, ensuring the whole thing held steady. With that out of the way, he expanded the spiral until it was wide enough to cover the top of his head. Let¡¯s do this, he thought, excited to try it on. Jack placed the flat spiral on his head, planning to use it as a mold¡ªjust like he had with the pot hive. But the awkward angle was a killer. As he rolled his eyes upward to check the progress, he realized it was almost impossible to tie the knots properly. His fingers fumbled in midair, twisting ropes in the wrong direction. This isn¡¯t going to cut it, he thought, grumbling under his breath. He yanked the unfinished hat off and scanned the area for something head-sized. I need a better mold. ¡°Hey, Snowy!¡± Jack called out. The sloth, still lounging by the fire, opened one sleepy eye and lazily glanced in his direction. Jack held up a rock he''d found nearby. ¡°What do you think? About the size of my head?¡± Snowy responded by standing up, turning around so that her backside faced him, and plopping back down with a dismissive snuffle. Jack let the rock fall with a thud. ¡°I¡¯ll take that as a ¡®no.¡¯¡± Jack kept searching until he found a rock closer to his head size. He placed it in his work area and used it as a mold. With the solid surface to work against, the hat started taking shape faster this time. Jack knew what a proper straw hat should look like¡ªhe¡¯d worn one before¡ªso he had a clear idea in mind as he expanded the rope outwards. Once the cap-sized portion was done, Jack began widening the brim. The end result was rough around the edges, but functional. Not bad for a first attempt. You¡¯ve crafted [Grass Rope Hat]. +230XP in [Bushcraft] Grass Rope Hat (Common) A hat made of grass fibers that have been woven together. The thick rope offers some protection. Crafting grade: C Item effects: +2 constitution +5 defense +3 block Requirements: Lvl. 10+ Jack grinned as he checked the stats. Nothing groundbreaking, he thought, but better than running around with nothing on my head! He tossed the hat onto his head with a satisfied smirk. ¡°Not bad,¡± he said to himself, admiring the fit. Now that he had his headgear sorted, it was time to tackle the next part of his new outfit¡ªrope sandals. With the success of the hat fresh in his mind, Jack felt confident. He began by forming the base of the sandals, shaping the sole much like he had for the basket, but in an oval. The real challenge, though, came when it was time to position the cords for the straps. After some fiddling and re-adjusting, Jack managed to complete the first sandal. It wasn¡¯t perfect, but it was wearable. Feeling a little too confident, Jack quickly started on the second sandal¡ªonly to realize, halfway through, that he¡¯d made another right-footed one. He groaned, slapping his forehead. ¡°Come on, Jack.¡± Muttering to himself, he started over, making sure to get the left-footed sandal right this time. Finally, the pair was complete. You¡¯ve crafted [Grass Rope Sandals]. +280XP in [Bushcraft] Grass Rope Sandals (Common) Sandals made of rope and cord that are incredibly light and offer some protection. Crafting grade: C+ Item effects: +3 agility +10% movement speed +2 defense +2 block Requirements: Lvl. 10+ Jack sat back and admired his handiwork, a small chuckle escaping his lips. Sure, the process hadn¡¯t gone as smoothly as planned¡ªmistakes were made¡ªbut that was part of the fun. Even if his creations were a little wonky, they were still his creations, and that made them worth the effort.Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings. Jack turned to the next item on his list: [Rope Overall]. * Amari relished the feeling of the wind rushing past him, his horse¡¯s powerful, rhythmic breathing in sync with each gallop. There was something about riding a horse¡ªsomething primal, almost. It was a connection he¡¯d never quite found with any other mount. In his old account, people used to give him funny looks for choosing a simple horse over a flashy dinosaur or one of the game¡¯s more exotic creatures. What they didn¡¯t get was that he¡¯d tried them all. He¡¯d ridden almost every type of mount the game had to offer, and while each had its perks, nothing came close to the feeling of riding a horse. It wasn¡¯t just the speed or the strength; it was the bond, the unspoken synergy between horse and rider. Horses and humans were made for each other. It was a truth that didn¡¯t need explaining¡ªit was just felt. Every time he was in the saddle, he felt that connection. Amari glanced over at Horace and Marie, riding alongside him. They seemed to be enjoying the ride as much as he was. Horseback riding had a way of calming the mind once you got used to it, and doing it with friends made it even better. The sprawling meadows and rolling green hills of the Between Ring stretched out endlessly around them under the starlight, offering a kind of quiet solace. For a brief moment, all the challenges and stress of the past month seemed to melt away, lost beneath the steady beat of their horses¡¯ hooves. They were on the second of three quests¡ªpart of a chain that would reward them with an uncommon skill usually reserved for knights, as well as special gear for their horses that would significantly boost their speed. After this long journey, all that remained was the obstacle course back at the stables, and then they¡¯d be done. Despite the peace of the moment, Amari stayed alert, scanning the horizon. It had been over two weeks since his last run-in with the Slayer, and while Amari doubted the brute was still after him, he knew better than to let his guard down. No red flags in his mind, though, so he allowed himself to relax, settling back into the rhythm of the ride. But not far away, hidden among the boughs of a lone pine tree, a rogue watched them. On his forehead, a metal symbol glinted in the sunlight¡ªa twisted iron mask locked in a perpetual scream. ¡°Slayer, I¡¯ve found them.¡± * Jack inspected the shape on the ground, double-checking that everything was in order. The first steps to making rope overalls weren¡¯t too different from crafting a rope mat, except that this time, he needed a long rectangle instead of a square. Finding long enough sticks for the frame proved challenging, so Jack improvised, lashing the longest ones he could find together with cords. He lay down beside the frame, checking his measurements. After a quick glance, he nodded with satisfaction. The frame was just a bit longer than his full body length. Perfect. Jack glanced at the rope he''d coiled into a circular shape and placed it in the center of the rectangle. "This is where my head goes, right?" he muttered. He made sure the circle was wide enough. The last thing he wanted was for the collar to become a noose that would choke him. With the long rectangle and circle in place, it was time to weave. Jack started by tying ropes vertically along the longer side of the rectangle, much like he did with the mats. The first few ropes stretched from top to bottom, fastening securely to the sticks on either end. But when he reached the middle, things got tricky¡ªthe collar section. He had to cut the ropes in half, tie them to the circle for the head opening, and then continue securing them to the opposite side of the frame. After several knots¡ªand a lot of rope¡ªhe was left with yet another wonky harp. Now came the real challenge: weaving the horizontal ropes. Jack started tying knots to sticks and running new rope through the threads he¡¯d already tied earlier. He bent back over his work and threaded the rope through the vertical strands. Over and under. Over and under. The added height of the frame wasn¡¯t so bad, but the circle in the middle was a time-sink. He had to stop frequently to cut the rope, tie extra knots around the circular section, and then start again. Finally, the weaving was complete. He leaned back, flexing his stiff fingers and giving the work a once-over. ¡°Not bad,¡± he mumbled to himself, feeling both proud and slightly exhausted. Now for the next step. This was where things got a bit more technical. Jack carefully removed the sticks that had been serving as the frame. Thanks to his earlier experience, he¡¯d tied the knots loosely enough to make this part easier. The circular rope in the middle stayed put, acting as the collar. Instead of fastening the edges right away, Jack threaded a fresh length of rope through the knots along half of one side of the rectangle. The collar in the middle made it easy to gauge where the halfway point was, so he repeated the same process on the opposite side, ensuring both halves were evenly secured. Once the rope was threaded through, he fastened the knots tightly, securing the overall''s structure. Lifting the entire piece, Jack was pleasantly surprised by how solid it felt. ¡°Huh. Rope¡¯s sturdier than I thought.¡± Next, he folded the rectangle in half, aligning the edges. He then carefully began untying the knots along the other side, retying each one around the newly threaded rope, joining the two halves together. Slowly but surely, the overall started to take shape. After a few final adjustments and tying the last knot, the piece was complete. You¡¯ve crafted [Grass Rope Overalls]. +550XP in [Bushcraft] Grass Rope Overalls (Common) Description: A tunic made of sturdy rope that can protect you from some attacks Crafting grade: C Effects: +3 constitution +30HP +10 stamina +6 defense +4 block Requirements: Lvl. 12+ Jack wiped his brow, proud of the finished product. He quickly stashed away his moss suit and equipped the new overalls. The armor felt surprisingly solid. Scratching his chest, Jack muttered, "This rope is definitely itchy." In real life, this kind of outfit would probably leave him with raw skin. Now that he had a new suit of equipment, Jack checked his attributes. ATTRIBUTES Hit points: 160/160 Stamina points: 51/145 Movement Speed: 111% Attack: 1 Strength: 6 Constitution: 10 Agility: 29 Intellect: 6 Stealth: 15 Luck: 5 RESISTANCES: Defense: 13 Block: 5 Fire: 2 It was a massive upgrade. His previously barren defense, block, and constitution stats had received a hefty boost, and his movement speed, too! Turning toward Snowy, he called out, "Snowy! It¡¯s time to fill those saddles with new pots!" The sloth let out a groaning sigh, standing up with an exaggerated yawn. Jack clambered onto her back, feeling an overwhelming sense of accomplishment. Nothing beats wearing fresh gear, Jack thought, grinning. He and Snowy looked like some kind of bushcraft samurai duo¡ªhim in his new rope armor and Snowy, a lumbering mythical beast outfitted for adventure. "Hyah!" Jack shouted, pointing dramatically toward the lake like he was leading a cavalry charge. Snowy didn¡¯t charge anywhere, but with the boosts from Jack¡¯s new saddle and sandals, she moved along at a much faster pace than usual. Ch. 105 - Empty Brag After logging out for a quick bathroom break and a snack, Jack was back on his trusty steed, wearing his Ronin-style straw rope outfit as he rode toward the lake. As he neared it, he spotted Ariadne¡¯s camp, marked by its large palisade. Feeling courteous¡ªor maybe just wanting to show off his new gear¡ªJack decided to stop by and say hello. Ariadne¡¯s camp looked as impressive as ever. This time, though, it wasn¡¯t her Gibbon butler who greeted him; Ariadne herself stepped forward with a welcoming smile. "Hi, Ariadne!" Jack grinned. She glanced him over, taking in his new look, and smiled. "Hey, Jack! I see you took my advice and leveled up your rope weaving." "Right?" Jack spun in a slow circle, showing off his full ensemble. "Thanks for the tip!" He watched her expression closely, hoping for admiration, but something about her smile felt off. It didn¡¯t quite reach her eyes. "What?" Jack asked, frowning. "It¡¯s nothing¡ª" "No, come on. There¡¯s something wrong with my clothes, isn¡¯t there? Tell me." Ariadne hesitated, then plucked at one of the many dry strands of grass poking out from his armor. "You spent all that time crafting, but¡­ couldn¡¯t you have used a better material?" Jack¡¯s shoulders slumped. "What do you mean? I thought grass was the only option for rope." "Well, sure, but there¡¯s more than one kind of grass. You used plain grass. Bluegrass or pampas grass would¡¯ve given you smoother armor¡ªand better stats." Jack¡¯s pride deflated instantly. His mind spun. "You¡¯re telling me there¡¯s more than one kind of grass?" Ariadne burst out laughing. "Of course! What made you think there was only one? Hey, at least you got some good practice out of it." Jack forced a smile, but inside, it felt like someone had dumped cold water over his excitement. Hours spent weaving, and there had been better materials out there all along? How did I miss that? He blinked, incredulous. He tried to focus on the upside¡ªAt least now I know¡ªbut it was hard to shake the bitterness. Ariadne, sensing his mood, changed the subject. She stepped closer to Snowy, patting the ground sloth¡¯s neck. "I see you¡¯ve got a new friend." "Yeah, got her from a quest. She¡¯s really cool, isn¡¯t she?" ¡°That she is!¡± Ariadne inspected Snowy¡¯s items and smiled. "You really went all in with the rope, huh? A rope saddle and four saddlebags? That¡¯s impressive. Most bushcrafters would¡¯ve bought those from a tailor, but you made them yourself." She put on a proud look. "Kudos to you, Jack! Why use a tailor when you can craft your own stuff? Bushcrafting is the best profession, don¡¯t you think?" she added loudly as if declaring it to everyone in the camp. Jack blushed slightly, half-embarrassed. Ariadne seemed to be waging a personal war against the other professions, as though bushcrafting could outshine every tailor, carpenter, and trapper in the game. "What are you planning to do with baskets that large?" she asked, raising an eyebrow. "Even with their anti-spoiling bonus, by the time you fill them with perishables, there won¡¯t be enough time to haul them back to the city." "I¡¯m not using them for perishables." Jack pointed to the pot hive strapped to his back. "I¡¯m going to use them for these." Ariadne¡¯s eyes widened slightly. "I noticed that pot earlier. It¡¯s... unusual," she said, intrigued. Since she¡¯d been helpful before, Jack decided to explain. Plus, after the rope armor misstep, he felt the need to explain how awesome his plan was. "It¡¯s not just unusual. It¡¯s a unique item¡ªonly I can make these portable hives." Her expression grew more serious. "Only you? Are you sure?" "Positive," Jack replied confidently. She squinted slightly as though unsure whether to believe him. Jack continued, "The hive does have a downside, though. It gives me a speed debuff, but sloths cancel out weight debuffs¡ª" Ariadne¡¯s smile returned. "You¡¯re using the saddlebags for pot hives. Smart." Jack saw a shift in her gaze¡ªsomething resembling respect. "I¡¯ve got to hand it to you, Jack. You¡¯re full of surprises. So, did you stop by just to thank me and show off your new gear, or is there something you need?" "Actually, a meal would be great." Jack cleared his throat. "That¡¯s the main reason I came here. I need to top off my stamina before heading back to the city. Oh, and to thank you, of course." His stamina bar really was low, and he did want to thank her, but he didn¡¯t want to admit that showing off his gear was a big part of the visit. Ariadne grinned knowingly. "Any specific buff you¡¯re after?" "Uh¡­ whatever you¡¯ve got in the pot." "Mr. Jeeves! Some stew for our guest!" Hu-hu. The Gibbon butler appeared with remarkable speed, serving up a steamy bowl.If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. "Thanks," Jack muttered, eyeing the butler. "Mr. Jeeves, huh? I need to get myself one of those." "Good luck with that," Ariadne chuckled. "I got him from an epic quest." "Epic?! Wow. That must¡¯ve been brutal." "Oh, it was," she said darkly. Jack sipped the stew, his pride still smarting a bit. Conversations with Ariadne always left him feeling a little behind. "What about you? You could be off in a higher-level area by now, couldn¡¯t you?" he asked. "I could. And I will, soon. But there¡¯s something I need from this lake. I¡¯m just waiting for the right opportunity. It shouldn¡¯t be much longer," she said. Jack was intrigued. What¡¯s in the lake? What could possibly be so valuable here that a high-level bushcrafter like her would stick around? If it was something she wanted, there was a good chance Jack would want it, too. But before he could ask, Ariadne stood, signaling that she had more business to attend to. "I¡¯ve got some customers waiting," Ariadne said, nodding toward a group of high-level players entering the tent. "Thanks for the help," Jack said, genuinely grateful. "Anytime, Jack. And thanks for stopping by," she replied, giving him a warm smile before heading off to greet the newcomers. Jack sat there, finishing his stew, his curiosity gnawing at him. What¡¯s so special about Red Lake that Ariadne¡¯s camped out here? Could it be some rare resource? An aquatic gibbon to add to her butler collection? Or maybe even a sea monster servant? "Hey, you with the straw hat." "Huh?" Jack spun around, startled. One of the higher-level players dining nearby had approached him quietly, catching him off guard. The player, clearly far more experienced, had an eye patch over one eye and a longbow strapped to his back¡ªlikely a ranger, judging by his gear. Jack felt a little thrown off. Why would someone like this be interested in him? Following the player¡¯s gaze, Jack realized he was staring at the pot hive strapped to Snowy. Maybe he wants to place an order, Jack thought. "How can I help you?" Jack asked, trying to sound casual. "I see you¡¯ve got a hive there. Got any honey for sale?" "Uh¡­ yeah, actually, I¡¯ve got plenty," Jack replied. Since becoming a beekeeper, he hadn¡¯t listed any honey on the market yet, keeping it for his bushcraft ventures. He only had 12 pots for storage, though, and nine were already full. He didn¡¯t mind parting with some. "You want some?" "Yes, please. Let¡¯s see¡­ It¡¯s five silver per stack of honey, right? I¡¯ll take two stacks. How about 11 silver for both?" "I was thinking more like 12 silvers," Jack countered. The player grinned. "Deal." A trade window popped up. RobinMeadhood would like to trade with you. Jack offered the honey, completing the trade as he received the coins. Just as he was about to return to his meal, his curiosity was piqued as the player pulled out small wooden kegs from his inventory. The player popped the lids, releasing a sweet, spicy aroma into the air, and began pouring the honey into each keg. "Uh... what are you doing?" Jack asked, genuinely curious. "Making mead for my next hunt," the player replied casually. "Mead?" Jack echoed. "Yep." "What does it do?" The ranger looked up, surprised. "You don¡¯t know? You¡¯re a beekeeper, aren¡¯t you?" "Yeah, but I just got started recently." The player shrugged. "Mead boosts damage," he explained as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. "That¡¯s... cool," Jack said, intrigued. After filling the kegs with honey, the player added water, giving each keg a generous shake. "There. Now it just needs to ferment." The player left the lids of the kegs uncovered, and carried them under his arm, and with a nod, the ranger turned to leave. Jack watched him go. What kind of profession is that? I need to look into it later. * Jack and Snowy resumed their journey toward the city. Jack''s thoughts were fixed on Ariadne¡¯s hint about using better-quality grass for crafting. The idea of upgrading his equipment simply by changing materials¡ªwithout having to invest in new recipes or skills¡ªhad him fired up. After a quick search online, he discovered why all the grass he¡¯d seen so far looked the same: higher-quality grass was only available on specific maps he hadn¡¯t visited yet. However, one type could be harvested within the city walls, which left Jack buzzing with excitement. After crafting a few more pot hives, he¡¯d definitely check it out. Feeling content with his plan, Jack picked up his ocarina and played the familiar notes of A Morning of Spring as he traveled. He could now play it effortlessly, the melody flowing smoothly as the bees buzzed with renewed energy. But Jack¡¯s thoughts drifted to something far less harmonious. Here he was, after his first ¡®day of school,¡¯ but in a couple of hours, he¡¯d have to log out and face his parents. What was he going to tell them? Why did I have to lie? He mulled over his options. Should he keep pretending to attend school, get his ¡®diploma,¡¯ and then reveal his new online career saying that it aligned with his supposed studies? Or would it be better to rip the band-aid off and come clean, apologizing for the deceit? His musings shifted to his in-game decisions. He was nearing level 20 and needed to choose his next two minors. Initially, he thought he¡¯d need a minor that let him craft equipment for himself, but bushcraft had become surprisingly versatile. Did he even need a minor for equipment now? If not, what was he still missing? Despite all this pondering, he hadn¡¯t reached any clear answers by the time he approached the city gate. Sighing, he put away his ocarina and checked the progress bars for his two minors. Beekeeping was progressing smoothly; already 70% of the way to level 9. His bard progression, however, was slower. Getting from level 9 to 10 required significant XP. As Jack reached the clearing before the city gate, now surrounded by other players, he straightened up, hoping someone would notice his new armor. But no one spared him a second glance. Maybe his armor wasn¡¯t as impressive as he thought. A few players glanced at Snowy¡ªlikely their first time seeing a ground sloth used as a mount¡ªbut beyond that, he was just another face in the crowd. A little disappointed, Jack made his way to the marketplace, where he began offloading extra rope, cords, and honey. Each stack of honey sold for five silvers at market price, and with the quantity he had, he was looking at a solid 50 silvers. Not groundbreaking, but reliable passive income that would only grow as his beekeeping profession advanced and he acquired more hives. Out of curiosity, Jack searched for mead in the marketplace. Several listings popped up, and he quickly found the cheapest option. ¡°Woah!¡± he exclaimed. One small keg sold for over 10 gold! And that was the cheapest type of mead. The more premium types were much more expensive. Jack¡¯s mind buzzed with excitement. A thought formed. What if I brewed my own mead? The ranger who had done it in front of him had made it look so easy, and the upside seemed to be huge. The idea of boosting his income tenfold had him stoked. Whatever profession allowed him to brew mead was now a strong contender for his next minor! After selling everything, Jack pocketed around two gold coins. Satisfied, he bought the clay he needed to craft more pot hives as well as some materials for glazes. He then checked on his auction listings. Two pot hives and five ocarinas had already sold at their buyout prices. The remaining auctions were stabilizing¡ªpot hives around 60 credits and ocarinas around 25. With a few days left on the auctions, there was still room for bids to rise, but Jack now had a better sense of their market value. It was still very good money. Things were beginning to take shape. With his marketplace errands done, Jack headed toward the Pottery Association, ready to dive back into crafting. Ch. 106 - Workshop Chatter Jack unsummoned Snowy, feeling a bit sad to see his silent companion disappear, and entered the Pottery Association. Oddly enough, stepping inside felt a bit like walking into an office and talking to the NPC behind the counter was starting to feel like a chat with an overly familiar secretary. "Hello, Madam," Jack greeted. "Hi, Jack. Will it be the communal workshop?" she asked, recognizing him immediately. "Yes, please," he replied. "Very well. Same arrangements as usual. Help yourself to any available workstation." Jack made his way down the corridor, hearing the echoes of conversations and laughter. As he rounded a corner, he spotted a few familiar faces. There were five potters in the communal workshop today¡ªthe biggest crowd Jack had ever seen there. Among them was Felix, Ava¡ªa female potter Jack had seen a few times before¡ªand a few new faces. Felix gave pointers to a newbie trying to throw their first pot. Seeing how Felix went out of his way to help another beginner, Jack smiled, though with a hint of bitterness. There was a warm feeling in his heart but also a twinge of jealousy. Here I was, thinking we had something special, old man, Jack thought to himself, watching Felix gesture as he explained to the beginner how to shape the pot. Felix looked up and spotted Jack. "Hey, Jacky!" he called out with an enthusiastic wave. The other potters turned toward Jack, and he waved back. "Hey, everyone. How¡¯s it going?" "Good, good. This is Amanda¡ªher first time throwing a pot," Felix introduced. "I can see that. Well done! Exciting stuff," Jack said, smiling at Amanda. "Thanks! Mr. Felix has been helping me a lot," Amanda replied, trying to maintain eye contact with Jack, though her gaze kept drifting toward the giant pot with hovering bees on his back. "Oh, that? This young man can make the most unique items in pottery. You¡¯ll see," Felix said, winking at her. "If you get the chance to watch him work, take a few moments later. It¡¯ll be worth it." "Thanks, Mr. Felix... and Mr. Jack," she added shyly. Jack frowned slightly at being called ¡®Mr.¡¯ It was the first time he could recall being called mister by another adult. "Just Jack will do," he said awkwardly. Ava, the woman with the bandana, nodded at Jack. "Hey, Jack." ¡°Hi, Ava! How are you doing today?¡± Jack chose a workstation away from the kilns. As he unpacked his supplies, his eyes wandered to the workstation across from him, where several white clay statuettes were in progress. It looked like Felix was working on owl figures today. Jack began wedging his clay, ensuring the moisture was evenly distributed, before rolling coils to start on his pot hives. Crafting these had become second nature by now, and he relaxed into the familiar process. Meanwhile, Felix wrapped up his lesson with Amanda and returned to his own workstation. "So, what¡¯ve you been up to?" Felix asked from across the room. "Not much. I put some ocarinas and pot hives up for sale at the auction site recently." "You did?" "Yeah, sold them for a decent price¡ªenough to cover rent," Jack replied. "Well done!" Felix nodded approvingly. "What about you? Still making bears, or have you moved on?" Jack asked with a grin. Felix chuckled. "Can¡¯t flood the market. I¡¯ve got bills to pay too, you know." ¡°I really need to try my hand at porcelain,¡± Jack said, a bit wistfully. "How high is your agility now?" Felix asked, his interest piqued. Jack opened his character sheet. ¡°29.¡± Felix whistled. "Wow, you¡¯ve been leveling up fast! But hold off until you hit at least 35 before tackling porcelain. 40 would be ideal. Any lower than that, and it¡¯ll just frustrate you." "Good to know," Jack said. "By the way, I recently crafted an item that gives bonuses when placed in a house. I assume your statuettes do something similar?" "That¡¯s right," Felix confirmed. "Bears give a strength boost, and owls increase intellect when they¡¯re used as house decorations." "How does owning a house work?" Jack asked, curiosity getting the better of him.This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon. "Well, you can buy cheap huts in the suburbs of gate towns or go all out and snag a prime estate in Eternia. The size of the house determines how many items you can place, which impacts the bonuses you get." "Do you have a house?" "Oh yeah, just down the street here in the crafting district. How else do you think I make these little beauties?" Felix said proudly, gesturing to his owl statuettes. "I see," Jack said, realizing how much more there was to learn. For the first time, Jack and Felix had the chance to chat leisurely while working. It felt good¡ªrather than distracting, the conversation relaxed Jack and made his work feel easier. He finally understood why surgeons in the TV shows his mom watched always chatted during operations. "So, Mr. Felix, do you have a family?" Jack asked, voicing the first question that came to mind as he continued shaping rolls of clay. "I do. Two children. One of them has children of their own," Felix replied. Jack remembered Felix mentioning that New Earth was a gift from his son, who played in a major guild. He wondered if both of Felix¡¯s children played the game. "What about a wife?" Jack asked. "I''m a widower," Felix said. Jack froze. "I-I¡¯m sorry. About your wife." "It''s fine," Felix said softly. "Nara and I had a wonderful life together, but she was in pain for many years. I''m just glad she''s at peace now." His voice wavered slightly, and the workshop fell into a gentle silence. For a moment, the only sounds were the squeak of the potter''s wheel and the soft crackling of the kiln fire. It felt as if everyone present was honoring Felix¡¯s late wife with a quiet moment of respect. After a pause, Felix broke the silence. "What about you, Jack? Do you have a family?" "I don¡¯t¡­ I mean, I live with my parents, but I haven¡¯t started a family myself." "So, the person you''re paying rent to is your father?" Felix asked with a chuckle. Jack smiled faintly. He hadn¡¯t expected Felix to catch on so quickly. "Yeah, you could say that." Felix nodded. "I respect that¡ªyou¡¯re taking responsibility. Your father raised a good man." "I was kind of forced into it," Jack admitted. "Forced into it?" Felix laughed. "Did your father lay down the law?" "Something like that," Jack said. "Ha! Your father sounds like an old-school guy. Probably has some ¡®tough love¡¯ approach." Jack looked up at Felix and thought, Aren¡¯t you even more old-school than my dad? "How do your parents feel about you making a career as an online potter?" Felix asked. "They don¡¯t really know. They think I¡¯m in vocational school." Felix paused, raising an eyebrow. "Wait¡ªyou mean you¡¯re lying about what you¡¯re doing?" Jack shifted uncomfortably. "I wouldn¡¯t say I¡¯m lying about what I do, just about how I¡¯m doing it¡­ online." Felix chuckled. "What¡¯s there to be embarrassed about?" "Nothing, really. It¡¯s just... my dad doesn¡¯t get the whole ¡®online¡¯ thing." Felix nodded knowingly. "Yeah, I didn¡¯t get it either when my son first got into it¡ªuntil I tried it myself. Maybe you should invite your father to see what it¡¯s all about." Jack laughed. "No way. That would never work." Felix glanced over at him, his expression thoughtful. "So, what¡¯s your plan? You can¡¯t keep this up forever." Jack sighed, feeling the weight of the question. "I honestly don¡¯t know." "How long have you been playing this game?" Felix asked. "About ten or eleven days." Felix let out a low whistle. "That¡¯s it? So, the whole ¡®rent situation¡¯ is pretty recent then. Ha, that¡¯s your first rent, huh?" Jack clenched his teeth. This old man had eyes on the back of his head! How was he deducing so much from so little? From feeling like a fellow surgeon chatting with a colleague while operating, he now felt like he was the patient on the table, all his secrets being laid bare by Felix¡¯s insightful eyes. "If I had to guess, I''d say you''ve spent at least 200 hours in the game over those ten days, based on your skill level," Felix added. Jack frowned. "I haven¡¯t really kept track." "Think about it. You¡¯ve put in close to five weeks of full-time work in just ten days! That¡¯s real dedication¡ªnothing to be ashamed of. Your father would be proud." "Yeah, I guess you¡¯re right," Jack said, though he still wasn¡¯t entirely convinced. "Jack, few things hurt as much as a father realizing his child didn¡¯t trust him enough to tell the truth. Let me tell you a story about something that happened in my family," Felix began, his voice heavy with memory. Jack was beginning to regret opening up to Felix. Now that the cat was out of the bag, there wasn¡¯t much he could do but listen. "It was with my youngest son. He was a little younger than you when he got himself into a bit of trouble. Nothing too serious, but he was scared and thought he could handle it on his own." "He kept telling me everything was fine, that he didn¡¯t need any help. But I knew him too well." Felix smiled softly. "I could tell something was off. He was distant, avoiding eye contact, always making excuses. A father knows when something¡¯s not right. It¡¯s hard to explain, but you can just feel it when your child is hiding something." Jack felt a pang in his chest. Could his father sense the lie too? He thought back to their last few interactions and the way his father had looked at him. ¡°I don¡¯t think my father knows about this lie,¡± Jack said, more to himself than to Felix. "Oh, he knows something¡¯s off," Felix assured him, his voice calm but certain. "Even if he doesn¡¯t know what you¡¯re hiding." Felix continued, "I didn¡¯t confront my son about it right away. I waited, gave him time to come clean. I figured maybe he needed to sort it out himself or build up the courage to talk to me." "Knowing he was lying hurt. Every time I saw him dodge the truth, I felt like he didn¡¯t trust me. That frustration made me snap at him more than I should¡¯ve. I thought I was helping, but he saw it as pressure. And every time he lied, I took it personally¡ªlike I¡¯d failed him somehow. It became a vicious cycle, and it hurt us both." Jack¡¯s throat tightened. "One day, I finally sat him down. I told him, ''Son, whatever you¡¯re going through, I want to help. You don¡¯t have to do this alone.'' He broke down and told me everything. It wasn¡¯t nearly as bad as he¡¯d thought, but we¡¯d wasted months arguing when we could¡¯ve been fixing things together." Felix set down the horn he was using to engrave his figurine and met Jack¡¯s gaze, his expression gentle. "I told him then, and I¡¯ll tell you now: no matter how bad you think something is, telling the truth is always better. We hurt when our sons don¡¯t trust us enough to let us in. A father just wants to help his son." Felix picked up his tools again, the smile returning to his face. "He learned his lesson, and so did I. It¡¯s better to face things together than let a lie tear you apart." ¡°Right on!¡± Ava chimed in from across the room. ¡°The same thing happened with me and my husband. He lost his job and didn¡¯t tell me. When I found out he¡¯d been lying, I was furious!¡± Jack¡¯s thoughts swirled. Was he hurting his father the way Felix¡¯s son had? Should he come clean about what he was doing? As Ava¡¯s story continued in the background, Jack¡¯s heart pounded in his chest, a dizzying weight settling in. He returned to crafting pot hives, but the question lingered: was it time to tell the truth?