Sael exhaled as the blue system screen flickered before his eyes.
SYSTEM NOTICE: Tutorial and Evaluation Complete. Status Assessment Initiated. Assigning Skills…
The text scrolled rapidly, then settled on a final display.
CLASS ACQUIRED: HYBRID CRAFTER
A versatile class specializing in melee combat, basic magic, and material crafting. Masters of adapting battlefield resources into new weapons, armor, and tools.
New Skills Unlocked:
[Blunt Weapon Mastery - Lv.1] Increases proficiency with clubs, maces, and other blunt weapons. Slightly improves attack speed and impact force.
[Basic Mana Manipulation - Lv.1] Allows for minor spellcasting. Increases mana sensitivity and efficiency. Required for learning advanced magic.
[Novice Crafting - Lv.1] Enables basic crafting using raw materials. Unlocks simple recipes and improves item durability.
Sael rubbed his chin, taking in the information. “Hybrid Crafter, huh?”
Rhea leaned over, scanning the screen. “That actually fits you. You fight, you mess with magic, and you like making stuff. The system caught on fast.”
He huffed a small laugh. “Guess so. Though I’m not sure how much ‘mastery’ a Level 1 skill gives me.”
She smirked. “Not much. Think of it like being better than a total beginner but still worse than a trained fighter. You’ll get better the more you practice.”
Sael flexed his fingers, trying to get a feel for the mana inside him. He could sense it—a faint warmth beneath his skin. With time, he could probably do more than just fizzle out a spark.
Before he could test anything, Rhea stood up, stretching. “Alright, sit tight. I’ll grab us a round from the bar. You look like you could use a drink after all that system nonsense.”
Sael chuckled. “Still broke, though.”
She waved him off. “I got it. Consider it a ‘welcome to not being dead’ gift.”
With that, she slipped out the door, leaving him alone with his thoughts. He took a deep breath, staring at his skill screen. He wasn’t sure what he had been expecting, but the reality of it all was finally settling in. This wasn’t just some dream or temporary adventure—this was his life now.
By the time Rhea returned, balancing two wooden mugs of something frothy, he had mostly processed his thoughts. She handed him one and plopped down onto the bed.
“Alright, newbie. Let’s talk about the world a bit.”
He took a sip, the drink smooth and slightly sweet. “I’m listening.”
Rhea tapped a claw against the side of her mug. “Most people who take up adventuring follow a pretty simple pattern—get stronger, take on harder fights, collect better materials, and craft stronger gear. The best stuff? Comes from the toughest monsters.”
Sael nodded. “So adventurers don’t just fight for the sake of it—they’re hunting materials?”
“Exactly. Some do it for coin, some for power, some just for the thrill. But the strongest gear doesn’t come from a shop. It comes from the wild.” She gestured toward his club. “You already made that thing from a beast’s parts. Imagine what you could make if you had access to rarer materials.”
He considered that, his mind already spinning with possibilities. “And what about the slime cores?”
She perked up slightly at that, swirling her drink. “Oh, those are useful. Alchemists and craftsmen use them for all kinds of things—enhancing potions, reinforcing armor, even making living constructs. They’re not rare, but good-quality cores can go for a decent price.”
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Sael raised an eyebrow. “So, I wasn’t completely clueless for saving those.”
She grinned. “Not entirely. You just had no idea why they were useful.”
He chuckled, taking another sip of his drink. “Fair point.”
They sat in comfortable silence for a moment before Sael spoke again. “So, if adventurers get stronger by fighting and crafting, what do you do?”
Rhea smirked. “Same thing, mostly. I take contracts, track down monsters, beat ‘em up, and sell what I don’t use.” She stretched her arms behind her head. “Been at it for a while now.”
Sael glanced at her thoughtfully. She seemed experienced, confident. He could learn a lot from her. If he was going to survive in this world, he needed all the help he could get.
Sael turned the old grimoire over in his hands, running his fingers across the worn leather cover. He let out a breath and looked at Rhea.
“What do you think I should do with this?” He tapped the book. “I mean, how hard would it be to learn the magic on my own?”
Rhea leaned forward, eyeing the tome. “Hard.” She took a sip of her drink. “Most people don’t just learn magic. You either train under a mage, spend years studying, or have a natural talent for it. And even then, most people struggle with spells outside their affinity.”
“Everyone’s got a natural leaning toward something. Fire, water, earth, wind, light, dark—whatever. Some people are lucky enough to have a strong affinity, and their spells work way better because of it. The rest?” She snorted. “They have to work twice as hard for half the result.”
That wasn’t exactly encouraging. “So, if I don’t have an affinity for fire, this book is useless?”
“Not useless. Just a pain in the ass.” She shrugged. “You could brute-force your way into learning it, but it’d take a while.”
Sael chewed on that thought. “Would I be better off selling it, then?”
Rhea’s ear twitched, and her eyes flicked to the book again. “Depends. A beginner's spellbook is still worth a decent chunk of coin. Enough to get you by for a while.”
He sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. “I don’t even know how much I need just to survive. How much is a room for the night?”
Rhea tilted her head. “Depends on where you stay. Cheap places run a silver a night. Nicer inns? Several silver at least. The nicest places almost a gold.”
“And how much would this book sell for?”
She shrugged. “Maybe ten gold? If you find the right buyer.”
That wasn’t bad—enough to get by for at least a few weeks—but it felt wrong to just sell it. If magic was hard to learn, wouldn’t that make it valuable in the long run? He wasn’t sure he wanted to throw away a potential advantage so soon. Still, he needed money.
He exhaled. “Do they have anything like an Adventurer’s Guild here?”
Rhea nodded. “Yeah. It’s where most people go to pick up monster contracts, join teams, or cash in materials for money.” She tilted her head. “You wanna check it out?”
He considered it. The Guild might be a good place to get a feel for the town—and if they accepted materials, he could sell his extra loot without getting ripped off.
“Yeah,” he said. “Might as well.”
Rhea finished her drink and stretched. “Then let’s head out. You’ll get a better idea of how things work once you see the market.”
The Marketplace
The market was alive with energy. Stalls lined the streets, filled with everything from fresh produce to gleaming weapons made of monster parts. Merchants called out their wares, advertising enchanted hides, sharpened fangs, and exotic bones. The scent of roasted meat mixed with the tang of metal and alchemical ingredients.
Sael paused by a stall showcasing armor pieces crafted from chitin and reinforced with beast scales. Nearby, a smith displayed weapons forged from monstrous claws and enchanted gemstones. It was an entirely new world of possibilities.
Sael eyed a bundle of dried, dark red scaled hides. “What are these from?”
“Salamander,” the vendor said, a burly man with soot-stained hands. “Fire-resistant. Good for armor.”
Sael hummed, glancing at the prices. A gold each. Even low-tier materials weren’t cheap. He could already see how crafting would get expensive fast.
"Why is everything so expensive?"
"Because you die getting it." The shopkeeper responded looking annoyed. He reminded himself to think before asking questions.
They moved on, passing an armorer’s shop, then a stall selling enchanted trinkets. After a while, Sael realized something—Rhea was sticking close to him. Not just as a guide, but like she wanted to be around.
He glanced at her. “You’ve been spending a lot of time on me.”
She smirked. “Noticed, huh?”
Sael examined a pair of gauntlets lined with sharp barbs.
"Most don’t have the patience for crafting. It’s expensive, parts are hard to come by, and good crafters are rare. People either give up or just buy whatever’s available. That’s why I’m interested in you. If you actually stick with it, you could be valuable."
Sael raised a brow. "Valuable, huh? So that’s why you’re hanging around?"
Rhea smirked. "Partly. If you become a decent crafter, I’d rather have a direct connection than overpay for secondhand gear. And, well… I like how excited you are about it. Most people just see monster parts as loot, not potential."
Sael considered her words. A partnership with a fighter could mean steady materials and protection.
It clicked. “You’re looking for a business deal.”
She laughed. “You make it sound so cold. But yeah, pretty much. If you get good at crafting, you’ll need materials, and I can get them for you. In exchange, I get first pick of your best work—cheap or free.”
She wasn’t wrong. Having a dedicated supplier would make things easier, and if he could provide her with good gear, she’d be more likely to help him out in the future.
"So where do we go from here?"