Chapter 23: Paperwork
Alper POV
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After my initial scouting, I decided to roam around a bit, checking other shops to compare prices on core nodes. Unsurprisingly, the pricing was consistent—expensive. Even the chea.pest core nodes were priced above 1 gold auren.
What stood out to me, though, was how most alchemical shops treated core nodes. They weren’t considered end products but rather materials, something to enhance other items. They’d attach core nodes to practically anything—armor, weapons, even everyday machines. I saw core nodes integrated into items like blow dryers, furnaces, fridges, and a host of other gadgets.
While the machines were useful—and unsurprisingly expensive—the weapons and armor were outright outrageous. Even the simplest dagger was priced at 20 gold aurens. I checked my coin pouch, a grim realization setting in. I had just under 40 silver aurens, and with 100 silver needed to make 1 gold auren, I wasn’t even close.
Still, the scouting trip wasn’t wasted. I had a clearer understanding of the market and a growing determination to dip my feet into alchemy soon. Creating core nodes could easily solve my financial problems, but that was for later. For now, I needed to focus on one thing: getting a good ranged weapon.
Honestly, I wanted a gun. A marksman rifle, something precise with enough firepower to take targets out from a distance. But I doubted I’d find anything like that here. Then again, this world was full of surprises. It already had a strange mix of modern and magical technology, so anything seemed possible.
Following Nove’s directions, I arrived at a shop she’d identified. As I stepped inside, my first impression was the striking design. The floor was polished stone, while the walls were a blend of wood and stone, giving the place a rustic yet sturdy feel. Weapons were everywhere—barrels brimming with swords, axes, and spears, walls lined with bows and crossbows, and glass displays showcasing ornate weaponry.
There were armors too, displayed prominently on stands. However, unlike the alchemist shops I’d visited earlier, there was a glaring omission: no gemstone-like core nodes embedded in the items here. The lack of enhancements made the pieces feel... incomplete. Functional, perhaps, but far less versatile than what I’d seen before.
“Hello,” the clerk greeted, his voice friendly despite the sweat dripping down his soot-covered face. He looked to be around 30, wearing a well-worn apron and gripping a hammer in his hand. It seemed he’d just finished crafting something. “How can I help you?”
Unlike the alchemist shops I’d been to earlier, this guy didn’t immediately dismiss me as a waste of time. It was a refreshing change of pace.
“I need a ranged weapon,” I said, my eyes wandering around the shop. The sheer variety of weapons on display had my inner nerd fangirling hard.
This is it! A proper weapon shop! Swords, hammers, katanas, giant swords, massive axes—they were all here, polished and gleaming. My excitement bubbled over, my mind racing through every fantasy trope I’d ever loved.
“A ranged weapon, huh?” the clerk said, setting the hammer down. He gestured to a corner of the shop. “All the ranged options are over there.”
I followed his gesture and spotted the section he was referring to: bows, crossbows, slingshots. No guns, though—not that I was expecting any. My eyes lit up as I scanned the racks. The bows immediately caught my attention. While the larger ones seemed too unwieldy for my size, the short bows looked perfect.
Or so I thought.
I reached for a sleek, wooden short bow, its simple design both practical and elegant. But the moment I picked it up, I realized something was wrong. It was heavy. Too heavy. My arms wobbled as I tried to hold it steady, and when I tested the string, it barely budged.
What the hell? I thought, staring at the seemingly unassuming bow. It looked so straightforward, yet it felt like I was trying to lift a boulder.
“You need a strength and dexterity of 10 to wield that correctly,” Nove explained casually in my mind.
There’s a flipping stats limit on weapons? Like this is some kind of RPG?
I groaned internally. I had the stat points for it, but my strength had taken a major hit because of the chaos rune node. Right now, I was far below what I needed to handle the bow.
As I struggled, the clerk stepped over, watching with an amused yet empathetic smile. “Hmm. That looks a bit too heavy for you, kid. Want me to pick one out for you?”
Before I could respond, he reached over, gently taking the bow from my hands. Then, he started rummaging through a barrel nearby, sorting through a variety of bows and other ranged weapons.
“Let’s see,” he murmured, pulling out one weapon after another. “Something lighter, easier to use... yeah, I’ve got just the thing.”
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The clerk laid out a few slingshots on the desk, each unique in design. “I’d recommend these three,” he said. “While they’re not bows, they’re designed to shoot arrows, not pellets.”
I leaned in, studying them closely. He was right—these weren’t the typical Y-shaped slingshots I was familiar with. Instead, they had a T-shape, with a small nook in the middle perfectly sized to hold an arrow.
As I examined them, Nove began analyzing and describing each one’s features, strengths, and the properties of the materials used in their construction. Each slingshot had its own abilities: one could shoot arrows exceptionally far, another imbued its projectiles with fire, essentially creating fireballs, and the last one generated a shockwave to guide the arrow with greater speed and force.
After some consideration, I went with the shockwave slingshot.
“Well, Nove calls it a shockwave,” I thought, grinning as I inspected it further, “but it’s actually crafted with specialized materials. The bands have extra tensile strength, and there’s another material embedded that emits a directional shockwave when the slingshot snaps back to its original shape.”
The functionality was simple but brilliant: the harder I pulled the band, the stronger the shockwave, increasing the arrow’s speed and power significantly. Testing it, I pulled back slightly, feeling a burst of wind rush past as the mechanism released a subtle shockwave. A smile spread across my face.
“How much?” I asked, holding it up.
“30 silver aurens,” the clerk replied.
I didn’t hesitate. Handing over the coins, I knew it was worth the investment, even if it left me with only 8 silver aurens to my name. For ammunition, I decided to keep things simple. With so little money left, I’d just make my own.
With the slingshot secured, I left the shop and continued toward the kingdom’s border. The air felt heavier as I approached, the sight of soldiers stationed more frequently than usual catching my attention.
Are they here because of my clan? I wondered, the thought flickering in my mind. Whatever the reason, it didn’t matter for now. I passed through the border without incident, stepping into the wilderness beyond.
Taking a deep breath, I adjusted the slingshot in my hand, ready for the tasks ahead. “Alright,” I said to myself, a grin creeping back onto my face. “Time to get to work.”
The night stretched on as I crouched silently atop a tree, my Valkyrie armor glistening faintly in the moonlight. Below me, my prey—a golden-furred boar—rooted through the ground, busy nibbling on fruit. My slingshot was stretched taut, a sharp arrow nocked and aimed precisely at the creature’s neck.
Boom.
The sound was subtle but sharp, like a tiny ripple in the sound barrier. The boar paused, its head jerking up in alarm to locate the source of the noise, but it was already too late. The arrow flew true, striking deep into its neck. The boar thrashed violently, but the wound bled out quickly, and within moments, it collapsed lifelessly.
I let out a soft sigh, deactivating my Valkyrie armor. Jumping down from the tree, I approached the fallen creature and stored it in my inventory. This was the tenth boar of the day. My body was tired, but my mind was buzzing with excitement.
I decided to call it a night and head back. As I made my way through the forest, my thoughts raced. The sheer amount of materials I’d hoarded today made me giddy. The possibilities were endless.
If I can sell core nodes, I mused, I’ll get rich pretty quickly. Then I can reinvest the money into better materials. I could even experiment with alchemical potions to permanently increase my stats.
That was a plan for the future, though. For now, I was simply enjoying the thrill of my new slingshot. It felt like a mini-bazooka in my hands, its power undeniable. The process was so efficient—Nove would place one of the arrows I’d crafted into my hand, and I’d fire. The results were devastatingly effective.
How strong can I become? The thought sent a shiver of excitement down my spine.
Before returning, I made one last stop—a cave I’d learned about from the terminal back in the intel room. The cave had solid materials I needed, including stone for crafting arrows. Without this find, I would’ve been stuck making blunt wooden arrows. Fortunately, the cave was nearly empty, so I didn’t venture too far inside. I gathered what I needed and left.
Finally, I had used the nexus crystal I’d harvested from the giant turtle to upgrade my Valkyrie core. The boost in power was undeniable. I could already feel the difference, a subtle but thrilling increase in strength and efficiency.
Equipped core: Vengeful Valkyrie’s core (2/6 Star Tier)
Passive Attributes:
* Divine Wrath (Lvl: 2): Strength +15, Endurance +20, Agility +15
* Valkyrie’s Resolve (Lvl: 1): +10 Endurance when received any debuff for 10 seconds.
Special Abilities:
* Valorous Echoes (Lvl: 1): +20% Damage dealt and damage reduction. Removes Fear Debuff.
Duration: 1 minute.
NEP Cost: 20
Cooldown: 1 minute (After duration ends.)
The Divine Wrath had leveled up, and with it came a new passive ability: Valkyrie’s Resolve. Both seemed to further boost my stats, making me even stronger.
Of course, wearing the armor came with its risks. If anyone saw me in it, I’d almost certainly be hunted down by the entire kingdom. But that was only if I was seen.
With the boar safely stored in my inventory, I made my way back to the Midnight Prowlers. The journey took about an hour, and as I entered, I was surprised to find someone waiting for me. Standing just inside, arms crossed and eyes like daggers, was none other than Dara—Dix’s sister.
“Dara?” I said, caught off guard by her presence.
Her gaze was sharp and unyielding. “Where’s Dix?”
“Huh? Why would he be with me?” I replied, tilting my head in genuine confusion. Then it hit me—Dix had mentioned leaving the kingdom to search for traces of the fugitive in a neighboring kingdom.
Ah, crap. Dix, you didn’t just run off without saying anything, did you? And now you’ve left me to deal with your sister?
Dara sighed, her frustration palpable. A vein twitched visibly on her forehead, and it was clear she was far from happy.
“You know what? That’s it,” she said, her voice laced with exasperation.
“Um… what’s it?” I asked cautiously, though I had a sinking feeling I wouldn’t like the answer.
Without a word, she grabbed my wrist and started dragging me toward her office. “You’re helping me deal with this paperwork,” she declared, sitting me down at a desk and shoving a pen into my hand.
“You know how to read and write, yes?” she asked, her smile equal parts charming and terrifying—the kind that made it clear no wasn’t an option.
“Uh, yes?”
“Good. Then you’re working with me.”
Dix, you've earned yourself another enemy.