In the dim glow of the flickering candle. Ryou was seated in a weathered chair and on the table was a paper with an inscribed title: "Quests that are good." His gaze lingered on each bullet point.
With the pen in hand, he methodically ticked off accomplishments:
* The Hidden Forger quest to enhance attribute stats on equipment. √
* The Rare Quest for acquiring a space bag. √
* The Rare Silver Tooth Rabbits Quest. √
Ryou took another paper which labeled "To do list."
With purposeful strokes, he marked the completed tasks:
* Initiating player-to-player trade for Rock ore and hard Stone. √
* Exchanging 3 Rock ore into 1 bronze Ore in a neighboring village. √
Each item on both the list represented a tangible step toward his overarching goals before getting out of Blue burn town and he had done 5 of 68 task.
After Ryou completed the meticulous task-ticking ritual, his gaze naturally gravitated towards Elsa, perched gracefully on the bed with an air of quiet elegance. Her green eyes fixed upon him with a quiet intensity. The soft glow in the room seemed to caress the intricate details of her attire.
The green gown's long, flowing skirt cascaded beneath an intricately embroidered belt, each golden thread which match the grace of her long angel sleeves. Gone were the remnants of shabby attire from the slums; instead, she adorned a garment of newfound allure.
The choice of the emerald ensemble wasn't arbitrary; it was a harmonious complement to her verdant locks and captivating eyes, enhancing her natural beauty. Ryou had invested in this attire to captivate potential customers who might be drawn to her enchanting presence. Remarkably, the gown was cheap as it had facilitated at a mere cost of 20 bronze.
Ryou's appreciative gaze lingered on Elsa, nodding for his successful choice of her gown. With a curious tone, he inquired, "How many potions did you make?"
Elsa's green eyes sparkled in a blend of moonlight and candle glow which accentuated her excitement. With a touch of pride, she replied, "I made 37 potions, young master."
A subtle pause befell Ryou's expression. He remembered that he entrusted her with 38 crystallized honey, and a quick mental arithmetic implies there was only a single failure.
Potion-making wasn't merely a time-consuming endeavor but it also bore the unpredictable nuances of success and failure. Elsa's 99% success rate in the world of alchemy, where beginners grappled with less successful probabilities was very hard to believe.
Elsa's elation radiated and she added more fuel to the fire as she disclosed, "I made them in just 5 hours, young master."
Ryou was dumbstruck, he nearly had his breathing stop, he couldn't help but question, "Did you lie to me when you said you have no foundation in Alchemy?"
A mischievous smile played on Elsa's lips as she explained, "No, young master, it was true. I had no foundation in Alchemy. However, when I made potions, my senses guided me—warning when the mixture would explode and signaling stability. I followed my instincts to create the potions. In the beginning, it was challenging, and..."
She paused, casting a playful glance at Ryou, "it exploded, leaving me with a honey and herb slimy mixture smeared on my face."As she continued, a teasing note entered her voice, "I didn't waste it, though. I swallowed it all; the sticky liquid was surprisingly tasty." Her lips moved in a suggestive gesture when she noticed Ryou's gaze fixating on them.
‘Seduction trick, she really has nymph blood in her.', Ryou inwardly thought, However, outwardly, his demeanor remained composed, and his voice unruffled. "I heard that nymph like to eat herbs and sweet things, maybe that's why you enjoyed the taste," He paused as if to choose his next words, and added, “Maybe potion making is also a nymphic traits”
Shifting the focus, Ryou continued, "Anyway, I need to go to the Forging Association now. Start the auction in 2 hours. Sell all 37 potions and the items inside that space bag I just gave you, including the two bronze equipment. Make sure to advertise them well." A wide smile adorned his face, anticipation for the potential earnings flickering in his eyes.
Ryou, mindful of the dynamics that would make the auction a success, entrusted Elsa with the crucial task of advertising in the town. The aim was to draw players from the far reaches, enticing them to participate in the auction. His strategy hinged on attracting multiple big shots, fostering an atmosphere primed for competitive bidding unlike last time when Sora bid alone.
After 10 minutes of explaining.
"Lastly, remember when you meet her, don't make any facial expressions because–"
Elsa interjected, cutting Ryou off mid-sentence, "Yes, young master, I understand already. 'She can read your face like an open book'. You've said it ten times already."
Ryou made a bewildering look, as if surprised that he had repeated it many times.
"You are jumpy as a deer, young master, when you speak of her. Did... something happen in the past between you?" Elsa inquired, detecting an undercurrent of unease.
Ryou shuddered for a moment, then firmly cautioned, "Don't even entertain a thought about me when you're near her. She would sense it like a dog and sniff out that you're related to me."
_ _ _ _ _
Ryou strode through the streets in his dark breeches and yellow shirt, anonymous to the citizens around him that he had a fake face with Blue hair and Blue eyes.
During the 15 hours of travelling, many have come to PK him and he kindly reciprocated and absorb their blood, however, the person bearing the face he currently wore was innocent, Ryou had killed him in spite because his face being handsome.
After much delay he had finally reached the Forging Building.
The towers of the Forging Association Building loomed ahead of him. The Forging Association was crouched near by a bridge. It was a big squat, sturdy, black stone building with tiny barred windows. A paved courtyard surrounded it, with an equipment shop behind the building. The anvil and hammer banner flew overhead, proclaiming that this was the Forging Place.
Wearing someone else's face, Ryou confidently navigated through the administration area of the Crafting Association, drawing noticeable attention. Whispers of admiration followed him, with onlookers openly praising his new good looks. It was a novel experience for Ryou, who had seldom been the subject of such compliments, and the unexpected attention left him with a newfound sense of confidence and satisfaction.
A cleric woman looked at him and exclaimed to her friends "Did you see that guy with the blue hair and blue eyes? He's stunning!"
Other women nearby also gossip "I think he's not just good-looking but also really smart, you can tell it by the look of his face!"
Some teen girls also said "I think he just set a new standard for charisma. The whole room lights up when he walks in."
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Ryou’s nose was held high, nearly facing the heavens, his chest puffs wider, his demeanor was measured as he dramatically flipped his hair and tried to mimic a runway model's strut, so he could get more praise.
Ryou confidently made his way through the bustling crowd of players and NPCs, he circled around them, heading towards the manager of the Association. However, as he walked past the people patiently waiting in line.
The murmurs in the crowd grew louder as Ryou brazenly attempted to cut the queue. A collective grumble of disapproval swept through the irritated male audience.
One person shouted, "Hey, we've been waiting here too!"
The anger intensified when it became apparent that the guy was attracting attention from the ladies in the crowd. Jealous whispers spread as people voiced "Just because he's good-looking doesn't mean he can skip the line."
Despite the crowd's discontent, the lady manager, in her late teens, walked out of her desk to Ryou to welcome him which made the crowd more rowdy and noisy by the unexpected favoritism.
The manager led him to the front and ask, “Sir, how may I be of service to you”
Whispers of "unfair" and "just because he's attractive" circulated as the manager blushed, unintentionally adding fuel to the already simmering anger among those waiting in line.
With an air of arrogance, Ryou, donned in his handsome facade, demanded, "I want a 3-star Forging Room."
"May I know how long you wish to rent it for, sir?" The youthful lady, serving as the Association's manager, inquired while casting an appreciative glance at his face, accompanied by a subtle blush once more.
The manager's flirtatious inquiry amplified the crowd's discontent. The murmurs grew into audible grumbles, and the demand for fairness became more vehement.
“Two hours," he declared with an unwarranted sense of swag.
"Alright, here is your key, sir. 3 star room for two hours, that will be a total of 3 Silver Coins, sir," the manager handed the key over with a smile.
“Hey lady, he hasn't paid yet,” The man behind him said after seeing that the lady had given the card without paying first.
Despite the hefty cost of 3 silvers, a considerable sum even for an expert player, Ryou made another dramatic gesture.
He raised his hand in the air, clutching 3 silvers between his fingers, and slammed them on the desk. "Here's the 3 silver, beautiful lady," he declared with flair, obtaining the required card before confidently moving away from the line and ascending to the second floor.
Just before he disappeared up the stairs, Ryou couldn't resist a parting wink to the crowd. The playful gesture triggered a cascade of excitement as the onlooking ladies collectively claimed that he was winking at them, prompting delighted screams to fill the air.
One lady, while blushing said to her friends "Did you see how he swaggered in here? So cool!"
"Totally! And did you catch how cool he looked when he took 3 silvers in his fingers? I'm swooning!" Her friend replied.
The room was filled with the lively conversation of the ladies while the males have ashen faces.
_ _ _ _
Deactivating his title ‘Master’ and having reverted to his original face, Ryou surveyed the 3-star forging room. The room featured black stone walls, a robust wooden workbench, nearby were a hammer, tongs, an anvil, and an array of metal tools. The air within was thick with the smoky aroma characteristic of a forge, while a warm reddish glow emanated from the furnace, casting an illuminating ambiance.
The significance of the 3-star Forging Room lay in its ability to enhance the success rate of forging by 3%. Moreover, it boasted superior tools, including a better anvil and hammer, whose craftsmanship could make a substantial difference—effectively distinguishing it as a realm apart from the more commonplace forging areas.
Ryou walked near the workbench and held up the black-reddish hammer that was placed near it.
[First Forge Hammer] (Iron-rank)
Increase the forging speed by 3%.
Requirements: Strength 2
He also observed the black anvil.
[First Forge Anvil] (Iron-rank)
Increase the success rate by 3 %.
“Good," Ryou stated with determination. "Let's start then."
He took out 4 bronze ore acquired through exchanges in Braham Village and 3 silver ore obtained from the level 6 Silver Tooth rabbits he had slain.
With purposeful intent, Ryou began his forging process by carefully selecting 4 bronze and 3 silver ores. Placing them into the furnace, he initiated the heating process. The furnace, distinct in its red hue with a tinge of blue, operated using magic crystals as fuel, enhancing the entire forging experience.
After a long time when the two ores started to melt, he mixed them by pouring the liquid in many separate spaces for making the perfect ratio of alloy. After the red hot liquid cool down a bit and became a red hot lump, he put the lump in the anvil for hammering. He was an Expert rank 6 star forger in his previous life so he meticulously crafts an alloy with the right balance, refining it to eliminate impurities.
Notably, the Dawn Armor was a (Iron Rank) equipment, and it was supposed to need only Rock Ore, Hard stone and Bronze to make it and no need for Silver ore. But his Hidden Quest to help a master forger had helped him in getting a skill.
**Master Forger Shane's Knowledge: passive skill:** Allow the user to mix a higher compatible mixture of Metals with the metals needed for the specific equipment. Have a 50 % chance to add additional effects. This skill is limited to Master Shane's knowledge only.
This skill, honed through Shane's illustrious past, had catapulted its possessor in his past life into wealth and fame as a premier forger, creating equipment with unparalleled attributes and effects within its rank. And now, this was his ticket to make him rich in the shortest amount of time.
The refined hammering now complete, Ryou proceeds it to the furnace, and poured the molten metal into a plate-shaped mold after it had become liquid. With patience, he allows the metal to cool before commencing the meticulous process of rough shaping through skillful hammering, intricately crafting it into the distinguished Dawn Armor design, hammering and shaping the bronze to seamlessly blend with the silvery base. Ryou then subjects it to heat treatment again for added strength.
Through 20 minutes of dedicated work, after assembling the pieces securely the armor was finally finished. The armor had silver areas to a reflective sheen while leaving textured bronze details. Ryou heaved a sigh and now sat still for the last difficult part.
After waiting for a while, a bright light glowed from the silver-plated armor, wrapping it into a Cocoon, it was the system inspection. This was the system check if the equipment was legitimately made by the person possessing the design or not.
In his previous life, many adept individuals could replicate armor merely by observing the smelting, hammering, shaping, and assembly processes. However, despite using top-tier materials and showcasing unparalleled craftsmanship, their replicated armor often suffered a severe setback—losing half of the original attributes or rendering it outright useless. This unfortunate outcome was a consequence of the system inspection, revealing a critical absence: the lack of the equipment design.
This principle extended to skills and spells as well. Take, for instance, Ryou's [Shadow Flash] skill. While it held the potential for greater damage output, its power was diminished by half since Ryou had developed it through personal knowledge, resulting in the system's failure to fully acknowledge its potency.
While watching the light cocoon in anticipation, the system inspections finally completed and chimed in after a minute.
*System:* Dawn armor successfully made (Bronze-rank). Rewarding 5% proficiency for Beginner forger Sub job.
Dawn plate Armor: (Iron-rank)
Equipment level: 5
Equipment requirements: Defense 9
HP +50
Strength: +3
Defense: +7
Endurance: +4
Additional effect; Ice elemental resistance +8
‘Not bad’ Ryou inwardly thought, it was the highest attribute that a level 5 (Iron-rank) could have gotten.
He had managed to acquire 25 Silver ore and 56 Bronze previously. he still could make about 8 or so Armor with additional effects, if the time limits still remains.
_ _ _ _ _
After two hours in the 3 star Forging room, Ryou emerged, bearing a subtly altered appearance from the one he used before, as the previous face had already drawn too much attention by his earlier antics.
The Blood Orb, fueled by the absorbed human blood from Pking players when he had traveled to nearby villages, had given him the chance to change to any diverse personas as long as the specific's person blood was still inside the orb.
As he leisurely strolled down the road, the anticipation of arriving at Elsa's house lingered in the air. A growing crowd had gathered, forming a semi-circle around the residence.
"The auction must be in full swing," he mused silently.
In New Worlds, once a permission from the owner had been given previously, one could enter the private property . Ryou, benefiting from Elsa's permission, circled her house and seamlessly entered through the back door.
Inside, a small cooking furnace greeted him, with the washing-place in the opposite corner. Unhurried, he continued stepping into the next room with a relax gate.
BUT
“Hello, Rem, we met again?" Sora's smile, bathed in the gentle candlelight, possessed a warmth capable of melting any heart
Seated on the bed next to Sora, Aoi, with her own innocent smile, joined in. "Sorry for coming without telling you but you were ignoring nee-san's messages, so we just barged in to could 'thank you'."
Seeing both their smiles, a past trauma resurface from his memories and Ryou could felt a shiver running down his spine.