“Halt! This area is only accessible to those with a permit…” a guard said, blocking my way.
“Ahh… yes good day to you too Sir.”
1 Day Pass
2,000a
7 Day Pass
5,000a
Lifetime Pass
50,000a
Perhaps, I should have chosen the [7 Day Pass] but really I was only planning on staying a few more days, if it could be helped.
*Ching*
You have received ‘1 Day Pass’ to the Barracks of Dagon.
The keep grounds were littered with my lost little farts wondering around aimlessly.
“Ahh shoot, I totally forgot about them.”
As soon as they spotted me they started rushing over.
Margery – Trainee Herbalist is requesting upkeep [100g].
“Oh yeah… maybe some of these basic NPCs can be useful somehow…”
I didn’t choose any option and just left them hanging in employment limbo for a minute while I tried to figure out who would get to keep the job or not.
Only three seemed useful-ish to me right now and they were a Herbalist, Weapon Smith, Trapper and a Bowyer. Things like Gardeneering and Husbandry weren’t really high on my list of priorities right now.
“Okay you…” I said after finally sorting through all the NPCs.
"My name is Frank Alpost, I'm a weaponsmith and I've been working with steel for years now. I'm looking for a place to set up shop, so I can make some more weapons and stuff. Maybe I can find the right place travelling with you?"
“Yeah… thanks, I know that already, have I got a job for you.” I smiled at him, before I looked over at the other building.
The prison was right there… in the barracks apparently.
“Maybe later…”
It hurt every financial fibre of my being to buy something that was stupidly overpriced but still… I swung past the fishmonger and grabbed a fish steak for later. then wandered along until I came across a sign with an anvil and hammer.
The place had several large anvils and other tools scattered on one side of the room. A long bench with stools lined the wall, which was littered with various metal ingots of varying sizes. On the other side of the room was the store displaying various items for sale. The shelves were filled to capacity with every type of item imaginable, from weapons and armour to trinkets and ingots.
The rugged long bearded man in the back continued to beat a red-hot piece of metal into shape, as he waffled off his NPC script to me: "You're looking for an item? I can make anything you want, but there's going to be a price." He said gruffly. "Let me know what your needs are."
Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.
"Can I see your menu, please?"
The menu appeared in the air and I swiped over to the [Repair] tab and threw my ornamental sword into it. It was like stabbing into a dimensional portal.
“What the hell?!”
The only option available was to salvage…
“Oh, hell no!” If I salvaged this dad would ground me for life…
There was another tab, for blueprints Okay then… there has to be something I can use here. There were quite a few blueprints but most were probably out of Frank, the weaponsmith’s, skill level, the cheapest and thus probably the lowest skill level was [Bronze Dagger], but… the [Bronze Longsword] actually had multiple blueprints and one of them used a [Broken Sword] component, it would be most efficient and economical to just get the blueprint I need, but–
What the hell? Why list the recipe components… couldn’t I just make it now then? Well, I’ve never really lifted a hammer in my life so I doubt I’d be able to do that anyways… and it’s not like I can instruct the NPCs to manually do anything.
The mental grasp around my spatial coin purse loosened and I reluctantly made the purchase.
"Hmph. Please come back if you need anything else."
“Ahh yeah, sure, will do.”
I knew if my Weaponsmith worked in the smithy zone he would get a bonus to his skill. The recipe was inexpensive, now all I had to do was trade it with Frank the weaponsmith.
“Umm… trade? Frank, open trade?” I tried. “Swapsies. Barter. Sell. Deal. Exchange. Stinking…”
Nothing seemed to be working.
"My name is Frank Alpost…” he began to say.
“Shh-shh-shh… yeah I know.”
I tried handing him the blueprint, but his hand was a bundle of limp noodles.
“Ahh, just take the recipe please!!!” I yelled in defeat, throwing the blueprint scroll at his chest but the scroll didn’t connect it just passed through a dimensional space instead.
You have gained +10 disposition with Frank Alpost – Trainee [Weaponsmith]
“Oh, thank you Sir. With this, I am one step closer to achieving my dreams.”
Note to self… I grinned, …gifts translate to disposition increases.
Although I couldn’t bring up a trade menu with Frank, I could bring up a [Craft] menu. The [Bronze Longsword] was the only available blueprint and it highlighted when I selected the option.
“I’m sorry Sir, but I lack the necessary components to craft that item.”
Facepalm…
Okay… what did we need again? My broken sword… a bronze ingot… and, oh, that’s it.
I tried again and Frank stopped what he was doing to stretch his arms out in front, a few fizzles and hisses came from his hands but little else.
“I’m sorry Sir, but I don’t have the energy to make that item right now. Please, try again later?”
“Crab sticks…”
If I wanted the crafting NPCs to make me something then they’d need to have mana… but I don’t think any of them have mana, maybe there was another way?
Blood is Thicker Than Water; a special Commoner ability that allows them to use experience points in the absence of Mana.
Wait, why do you get to be B1?
I slapped another [Grilled Hare] on the table. “Now, you’re sure you do not want another one?”
“I think I’ve had about enough, thank you.” Frank said, pushing his hands outwards blocking any more gifts of food.
“Just another little bite maybe?” I pressed.
“I think I’ve had about enough, thank you.” He repeated.
“Tsk.” Damn, that’s annoying, so what? NPCs can only eat, what, like 4 serves before they tap out? Oh well, that should be enough, shouldn’t it?
I brought up Frank’s [Craft] menu and selected the [Bronze Longsword].
Frank stretched his arms out in front of himself and I held my breath.
All the components rose in the air in front of him. The air grew warm and thick, and the components began to shine brightly. Electricity cackled off the parts as they collided and began to join together, until a flash forced me to shut my eyes.
When I recovered there was a notification waiting for me.
Frank has failed to create [Bronze Longsword]
Materials lost: [Bronze Ingot]
Shit-shit-shit… It’s fine… I mean bronze ingots don’t cost too much.
“Alright let’s try again…”
The materials rose in the air again and cackled with veining electricity jumping from point to point, but again another bronze ingot was lost. And another… and another… and then a fizzle and a hiss farted out from Frank’s hands.
“I’m sorry Sir, but I don’t have the energy to make that item right now. Please, try again later?”
“Shit…”
Okay… so this could take a little time but why isn’t this working? probably because the skill level of the blueprint is higher than his crafting level… I could try getting an easier blueprint like [Bronze Dagger] and build up his skill level until he can craft the sword or I could continue trying to bulldoze my way through this. Or I could try it at the smithy’s like any ordinary person would have done, face palm, and get the bonus.
For now… I’m going to need more mercenaries.