After what just happened, Frank asked out of consideration, "shall we take a rain check?"

"And do nothing but stew all day? No thanks. Besides, Larry was asking for it." In his head he pointed out to himself that what happened to the others was not his doing and was out of his control.

"Alright." They headed towards the town gate as Frank asked "do you have your class weapon?"

"Nope. Only this warhammer and I really need a ranged option."

"Your guild should have at least given you a starter weapon."

"Oh. I suppose l have my pick of weapons if I go check them out."

"Then thus must our next destination be. Yet it is at the other side of town. Let us head to the main street and summon our mounts for expedient travel."

"Ah, I've seen mounts summoned but I don't have that ability."

"Did you saddle your bull and assign it as your mount?"

"No."

"Back to your house then, so that you can do that."

"Sorry."

"No need for such apologies. T'is why I have come to ensure you find your feet."

"Is 'tis' old timey?"

"No, it is a conjunction of 'this' and 'is'. The conjunction of 'it is' may not be to my preference but it's not like I avoid them."

After getting the bull mounted and assigned they ended up walking to Survivors Guild anyway, as by that point the street and back would have been a detour. Harry Morin didn't want non-members in the guilds library so told Frank "you'll need to stay outside the dungeon." Frank could quite visibly be seen to have grown tired of all the waiting but he sucked it up. His preconceptions had been that Lauri was new and unprepared, and he figured that this is part of why he'd come to help in the first place. Harry and Lauri entered the library, him seeing it for the first time. Rows upon rows of shelves upon shelves of dusty and dewy books, signs saying to 'Keep Your Voice Down' and a 'Circulation Desk' with a bin next to it. Lauri asked "what's a circulation?"

"That's the place where people would take books they wanted to borrow. Their name could be listed against it, to help the books be tracked down or accounted for if needed."

"The books aren't dungeon props?"

"Not a single one. Now, please set your bar to public so I can confirm your level and we can continue."

"Oh, umm, I've come to understand that I really shouldn't share my status."

"Good. Many people feel the same but I'm not asking for your status. Besides, while it's easier to level quickly at the start, it's only been 1 day since your System. For your own safety I need to be a little sceptical if you're really level 10."

"Hmm. Okay, I trust you." He did as instructed and Level 108 was displayed over him for others System overlay.

"Goodness gracious, I was wrong, you should keep that hidden!"

Even while not seeing it himself Lauri got a knot in his stomach. Levels gained by PvP were often referred to as 'blood-levels' and he was suddenly wracked by guilt. "You know what, as soon as I've gotten my starting weapon I'm going to use an Amnesia Potion."

"Did you not already pick up your starting weapon? What I'm going to show you is my good stuff, once you renew them at least. I'm thinking, how about I sell them at half what they go for new?" Lauri heard him but was distracted, finding a sudden urge to buy an Amnesia Potion, a quick filter finds there's some for sale.

{

SP: 1,421,196

[Cost in System Points]: [Item Name], (Misc. Value) Notes

1,498 SP: Amnesia Potion (Reset status to start)

}

[Purchased 1x Amnesia Potion for 1,498 System Points] the System log indicated but Lauri was further disturbed at seeing how many SP he had. Having become nauseous, he ran over to the bin and vomited. Harry was understandably concerned and asked "are you feeling okay?"

"Rough start to the day. My first PvP death duel."

"I understand. I've killed dozens, if not more, throughout my many years. You get used to it. Life is cheap and we're overpopulated again. Follow me."

"What does overpopulation have to do with it?" Lauri started to follow his guild master down the aisles.

"How else is overpopulation dealt with than killing people?"

"Having less kids. Natural deaths."

"Both take far too long and require far too much cooperation. Even with strictly enforced laws, your parents already have 3 kids so laws would already be too late there."

"But I heard that dungeons are more bloodthirsty then ever? Wouldn't there be a lot of natural deaths?"

"It's all related. More people, making the dungeons more greedy, making less people want to adventure, making prices go up..."

"It's related to golds collapse?"

"Gold's not going to collapse but the inflation, yes. People are forced to pick between starving or adventuring but either way people die. It's one of many tactics the ruling class use to murder peons on the down-low." Harry explained as they reached a descending spiral staircase.

"There's a 'Ruling' Class?"

"Not that sort of class. I'm talking about noble families and royalty"

"Ohhh. Aren't all nobles royalty?"

"Simply put, most nobles aren't royalty. Any member of the aristocracy is a noble."

As they arrived Lauri was asking "what's an aristocracy?"

"Were you not taught hierarchies at all?"

"Of course, those are the ranks within the church, right?"

"Never mind, have a look at my collection of rubbis... treasures.

"Are we inside a dimensional storage?"

"You could technically say that."

Lauri started searching through stuff and discovered that there was an entire section dedicated to weapons. Even better the section was split with half of them being ranged weapons. He specifically looks for ones restricted to Sealer, believing that weapons restricted to the profession level were the most powerful, even though not the most rare. Many he looks at have heavy level restrictions but, while most give the green light, he is planning on a reset. Soon enough he found a Sealer weapon with no level restrictions and it also appeared to scale but it didn't look like any weapon he'd ever heard of. It was a folder rectangle piece of paper with the top corners bevelled in until they made a pointed tip. Playing with it, the paper folded out into a bird-like shape and revealed fancy red calligraphy. In System it was described as [Kamifuda Tori: Animate a number of paper Bird Talismans equal to your level and control them to deal damage to enemies proportionate to the power of your spirit. Durability 16/20]

"What's this?"

"It's a weapon concept imported from another world. It's really fun to use but damage is based on Memory and Reasoning. Both of which I never had a good enough reason to raise by much."

"Oh. Do any weapons use Toughness or Charisma for damage?"

"Few weapons do, except in the case of Paladins. I vaguely recall a few I had that use Toughness. Also I recall one I kept that oddly used Charisma. Let's see... here it is," he picked up a plushie. "It's for any Ritualist and you animate it with your force of personality. The more Charisma the faster it moves and more damage it deals. I've focused Strength so only kept it because it's adorable."

"Not my aesthetic and I'm hoping to focus Toughness but if I end up focusing bubble I might need it, thanks."

"These chains may fit the bill but if you change professions you won't be able to use them anymore."

Lauri had avoided looking at his status but couldn't not be aware of a level 10 profession change awaiting his attention. Though it didn't mattered as he was going to reset all that. "Yeah? I'll have a look." [Sacrificial Chains of Binding: Chains bind your target proportional to how these chains bind yourself. Can be continuously constricted equally on self and target, to restrain or damage, ignoring shields. Durability 98/2,000] "There's no level restriction which is nice but there's nothing in the description about using Toughness."

"It may not say it but I find it obvious. Don't you?"

"Hmm. Well, since it ignores shields, I kind of get it. Also it'll help capturing horses."

The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

"Horses?"

"We're heading to Horses Trot from here. Say, from their durability loss, were these used a lot?"

"That's not the case. They have rusted due to the passing of time. No item remains forever and I believe many items I had stored down here have already disappeared."

"Is the bird thing newish then?"

"That item is as old as most here. I don't know why its durability declines so slowly so don't ask me."

"Okay. Can I have these chains as my starting weapon?"

"You can claim your starting weapon within the guild proper."

"The what now?"

"At half price the chains would be 20 thousand System Points."

"Huh? What's cheap then?"

"Nothing here is cheap. I only held onto the best. The things I wasn't willing to sell at the time or to simply throw away"

"Then why'd you even bring me down here?"

"So that you'd know what's here and have goals to work towards. Also so that you might renew anything you didn't want disappearing before you could buy them."

He inspected the plushie and renewed it, just in case. "What's the starting weapon?"

"For a Ritualist it's a red piece of chalk that can draw on most any solid floor surface. You draw a circle and it becomes a ritual symbol for 20 seconds. When a monster moves over it then the circle activates and spouts flames."

"Huh. I'd really like these chains but I just spent a chunk on the Amnesia Potion. Wait, did I leave that next to the bin? Could you sell these to me now for 5,000 SP?"

"Now that I think about it, you having enough to buy that potion was a little less than ordinary for a newbie. Did you earn a good deal of points from that duel you mentioned?"

Lauri tried to think up a good twist of words without an outright lie, "I was awarded 13,418 SP for beating Jacob."

"Then I will sell it to you for 10,000 SP."

"Oph!" Lauri haggled. "Couldn't you leave me with some play money?"

"I consider that price a favour as is."

"We're going to need to rehash your pricing method but thanks, glad to have them."

Lauri received and accepted the trade prompt, gaining the ability to equip the chains, so he wrapped them around his neck and body. Explaining that he'd have finish looking later, as Frank was only waiting on Lauri to find the weapon he'd come in need of, they started heading back. On their way Lauri spotted a book titled 'Muscle Training and You' and took an interest. Even asking if he could borrow it. "This library doesn't like to lose knowledge. I don't know if the following is true to all books, or just here, but books tend to cling to their last 1 endurance for a long time. If you try and open a book in such a condition, like this one, then you'll destroy it and be overcome by a feeling of dread. I happen to know that you don't get that feeling of dread if you destroy a book outside the library. Some books manage to survive while in even worse condition and can crumble on touch, or the covers can get stuck together. It's quite possible to accidently destroy a whole shelf of books and if that happens you'd best flee this dungeon and never return."

Lauri's tried to Renew Item but it didn't activate successfully until he had carefully touched the book. He noticed that his skill cost no power, used the first time today. He carefully touched the other books and renewed them, so that they didn't risk falling over and getting destroyed like dominos. The following activations were consuming 50 power each so he dumped attribute points into Toughness for convenience. Then he kept going until he renewed them all and felt a sense of accomplishment. Only then did he finally slid the book out and page through it. "Can I borrow this?" With a nod from Harry, Lauri headed to the circulation desk and spotted the Amnesia Potion while there, picking it up. Unsure, Lauri asked "how do I do this?" Harry considered whether it was even necessary but feeling nostalgic he showed Lauri and helped him checkout the book. Meeting up with Frank outside the library, Lauri quickly collected his chalk starter weapon and, as he made his leave, noticed all the old men and Rebecca started staring at him. Considering the average age of the other members it occurred to Lauri that Rebecca might be a granny. Remembering that she was level 16 he gave less credit to the though but didn't discount the possibility.

"Say, Rebecca, how did your dungeon go?"

"It has no dungeon core."

"Huh. They all have a core, let me come with you next time."

Rebecca looked at the Amnesia Potion he was carrying and said "sure, come with and see."

Once outside Frank was finally able to ask, without feeling too embarrassed, "why have thou doffed oneself in chains?"

"Thou? Laying it on thick."

"In my head 'why have you doffed oneself in chains' didn't sound right."

"It would be 'why have you doffed thyself in chains.' These chains mirror themselves around my target and constricts around us equally, at my will."

"Then you are in need of a metal neck guard, lest you choke yourself more than you choke your enemy."

"Is that how these work?"

"I don't actually know. At least give the metal neck guard a try."

"Okay but for the horses I plan to wrap the chain around my legs."

"You have a strange look about you with those chains. Perhaps a change in style is called for? Black leather suits."

"Oh, so that's why everyone was starting at me?"

"Also your level, 108, is showing."

"Oh!" Lauri quickly set to fully renewing his chains, and his warhammer for good measure, then drank the Amnesia potion. His display then changed to Level 1.

"What did you just do?"

"I reset my status. I have my reasons."

"Hmmmm. Blood-levels. While all levels come from blooding something, whether man or monster, I support your decision. Though why did the rust on your chains vanish?"

"I... went for a cleaner looking style."

"Interesting. I don't believe I'm yet to have a weapon which changes style"

Thinking of a pun Lauri remarks "given time I'm sure you will."

As they neared the city gates Sarah spotted them and ran over to follow. "Wait, Lauri didn't you tell your dad you're level 4? You liar." Frank could only laugh at this.

"I messed up my levelling so drank an Amnesia Potion which reset all my stats."

"Even your potentials?"

"Oh. Since attribute potentials are one of the few things you can increase before you get your System, I should check that." A System prompt in red warned him [Further System propaganda to minors can result in penalties]

"You can?"

"Uhhh... I couldn't tell you."

"Can't or won't?"

Lauri scratches his chin and considers that he could tell her and risk an unclarified penalty. "Won't. I can understand now why people never lectured about the System or anything."

"And why's that?"

"I'll tell you something. In only 2 days of having my System, I already know that it's way different than what others told me they know about theirs. You're better off an empty cup."

"Why are you showing your level?"

"So that everyone will know that the choice I made was to reset back to scratch"

"Why do they need to know that?"

"They don't."

{

Class: Ritualist

Profession: Level 1 Sealer

Effective Level: 1

HP: 80, PP: 100, MP: 3

Strength: 12/28, Toughness: 8/50, Agility: 3/19, Memory: 14/14, Reasoning: 8/16, Charisma: 31/24, Destiny: 1/2

Skills: 4

}

"It seems that my potential didn't change with the rest, so that's huge."

"Cool. Where are you going?"

"A dungeon."

"Why is Frank following you?"

Frank answered this one, "he is following me, as I am heading to Horses Trot and I generously invited Lauri along."

"But you never go to dungeons."

"There is usually no point but don't worry, for I shall show you the ropes too, once you have your System."

"But you'll be too high level or are you going to reset too?"

Frank apparated a necklace and explained "I know too many skills, such that I don't wish to reset, but this necklace of greed will prevent me from gaining levels."

"It will?"

Lauri was quite interested as well, "I need one of those." He immediately looked them up in System Market while saying so.

"But why do you need one?"

Frank continued, "it increases the system coin drops in proportion to the difference it increases the EXP penalty, up to 100%. Meaning I will gain no EXP and thus not level. Also, same question, why do you need one Lauri?"

A matching necklace appeared in his hands. [Purchased 1x Necklace of Greed for 2,998 System Points] "I've thought of a way to leverage my System... Maybe."