After obtaining the Vampiric Sword and examining the other weapons, I began repairing all the damaged ones in order. In my workshop, I could only use low-level materials because my tools weren’t sufficient for processing better ones. Even though I possessed the Crafting System, being able to craft a weapon like the Vampiric Sword in such a workshop was truly incredible.

Before starting the repairs, I carefully inspected the items on the table. Each had been worn out from battles, but still appeared reusable. I began with the swords in order.

When I picked up the sword, I could feel how the metal had deteriorated over time. The tip was dull, and there was a deep gash in the blade, but the iron still held its resilience. This sword must have survived many battles, but it deserved to shine once more. While my comprehension ability couldn’t fully analyze what the material was, my experience allowed me to understand the nature of the iron and how to work it or what metals to mix it with.

I took a deep breath and slowly placed the sword on the table. I glanced at the furnace beside me. The fire cast a warm glow into the dark corners of the room, as if promising to restore the sword’s former glory. I pumped the bellows, intensifying the flames, sending sparks flying. Carefully, I grasped the sword and placed it in the furnace. The iron slowly began to heat up in the flames, its surface glowing a faint red.

After some time, when I saw the sword glowing, I pulled it out of the furnace. As I laid it on the anvil, I could feel the heat in my hands, indicating that the iron had softened. I raised the hammer with force and delivered the first strike. The ringing sound of metal filled the workshop with every blow. I began sharpening the dull edge, restoring its original sharpness with each strike. As I struck the hammer down, the sword grew harder, and the cracks and marks on its surface gradually disappeared. As I forged the sword, it felt as if I was not only removing the metal’s wear but also lifting the weight of its memories from battle. Every strike made the sword stronger, giving it new life.

As the sword took shape, I plunged it into the cooling tank. The hiss of the water and the rising steam signaled that I was nearing the end of my work. When I pulled the sword out of the water, its shine surprised me. The old, tired sword was gone, replaced by a reborn weapon. But my work wasn’t finished yet.

I grabbed the whetstone and carefully polished the surface of the sword. The last scratches were erased. When I held the sword in my hand, the smoothness and weight of the metal pleased me. Now it was both an aesthetic and functional weapon.

Repairing the wooden sword was easier than repairing a metal one. When I picked up the wooden sword, its handle was worn in places, and the blade was full of cracks. It looked like it didn’t have much time left before breaking. First, I sanded down the blade to remove the surface cracks and then coated it with a special wood resin. This increased its durability and gave it a smooth surface. As for the handle, I had to replace it. I cut a new, sturdy piece of wood, ensuring it had the same size and balance as the old handle. Finally, I assembled the parts and polished it. The sword became stronger and more balanced than before.

The mace and the staff were next in line. First, I took the mace in my hand, its cold stone body and wooden handle carrying the weariness of years. The stone head of the mace was filled with cracks, as if it might shatter with the slightest blow. However, this was a powerful weapon that had probably shattered countless enemy shields on the battlefield.

I carefully removed the stone part and placed it in a special solution to prevent it from breaking. This liquid would strengthen the internal structure of the stone and repair the cracks. While the head rested in the solution, I took the wooden handle in my hands. The texture of the handle carried the traces of years, with small breaks and cracks in a few places. I decided to replace this handle with a stronger piece of wood.

I took a sturdy, solid piece of wood and began to carve it slowly. I paid close attention as I shaped it; it had to be strong enough to support the head of the mace but light enough to provide flexibility during combat. After preparing the new handle, I took out the stone head from the solution. The cracks on the surface had closed, and the stone had regained its strength. I attached the head to the new handle, and the mace seemed to have returned to its former glory.

Then I moved on to the staff. The staff was a mix of stone and wood, elegant yet powerful in structure. Its wood was rough and cracked in some places, but the most important part, the stone at the tip, was still in place. I took the stone in my hand and examined it for a while, trying to feel its energy. Despite a few scratches, it hadn’t lost its power.

My first task was to carefully mend the cracked wood. I sanded down the broken parts and polished them, restoring the original texture. Then, to secure the stone at the tip, I enlarged the wooden socket and tightly fitted the stone back into place. When I held the staff, it was light and well-balanced, ready to show its former might in the hands of a wizard.

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[Weapons repaired, your understanding of battle gear has slightly increased.] [Intelligence +1]

“That’s it! All this effort was worth it, now all I need to do is go to the front of the tower and start selling. Since it’s already past midnight because of all this work, I better head there early tomorrow morning to secure a spot.”

As the first rays of the morning sun began to seep through the heavy curtains of the room, I slowly opened my eyes. My body was still tired from the intense work throughout the night, but my mind was at peace. I had repaired the weapons and breathed new life into them. I touched the edge of the pillow with my hand and took a deep breath. Quietly, I got out of bed, my feet lightly creaking against the floorboards.

I walked to the window and pulled back the curtain. Outside, a thin layer of mist had started to melt away with the slowly rising yellow rays of the sun. In the distance, a few merchants were slowly making their way to the morning market. But behind them, I saw the structure that cut through the sky: the Tower. This massive building, reaching into infinity, disappeared among the clouds, rising from the ground to the heavens with a size that defied human limits. It was so majestic that every time I looked at it, I felt a mixture of admiration and fear deep inside.

I remembered that I needed to get ready. I quickly dressed, carefully packed the weapons I had repaired into a leather bag, and opened the door to step outside. The streets had a light activity as the day was just beginning. The air was cool, but not cold enough to make me shiver. As I got closer to the square where the tower stood, the hustle and bustle increased. Merchants were setting up their stalls, apprentices were arranging goods, and hunters were filling the square with heavy steps.

As we approached the tower, its vastness became even more striking. The doors were so large that even a giant would struggle to open them, adorned with intricate carvings. This stone structure seemed as if it had been standing there for centuries; as if the world could change, but the tower would remain the same. Its boundless form rising into the sky gave the feeling that it harbored secrets and ancient powers within. Each stone seemed to carry a piece of history.

In front of the tower, a marketplace had been set up, a haven for hunters and adventurers. Weapon stalls lined the area; swords, axes, daggers, and arrows were displayed in various forms. Some swords drew attention with their shiny metal surfaces, while others looked older and more worn, waiting to be reshaped by experienced hands. Armor stalls were filled with gleaming breastplates, sturdy shields, and finely crafted leather armor. Every piece was made to protect the life of a hunter or warrior, remaining loyal even in the toughest battles.

As I passed by a potion stall, the colorful bottles caught my attention. Each bottle, with its bright hues, carried a fairytale-like aura. The red ones signified healing potions, the blue ones replenished magical power, and the green ones enhanced resistance to poisons. Each of these was vital for hunters; during a battle with a tough creature, these potions could save lives.

The vendors introduced their goods to customers, some even performing small demonstrations to showcase the power of their potions. In one corner, a craftsman was sanding down a sword he was repairing, while on another side, a merchant was carefully weighing a newly forged axe.

This was the gathering place for hunters about to enter the tower and for those making a living thanks to the tower. After wandering around a bit more, I found a good spot to set up my own stall.

After spreading the large cloth from my bag on the spot where I wanted to sell, I laid out the items I had repaired and eagerly waited, wondering how many tower coins I would earn.

Tower coins were the currency used for trade by those within the tower. Though the coins appeared as numbers in the hunters' system, when they wanted to hold the money, it would suddenly materialize in their hands. This allowed both hunters and non-hunters to trade using tower coins. Non-hunters could take the tower coins they earned to Tower Coin Exchange Centers and exchange them for real money. While the value of tower coins fluctuated from time to time, at the moment, one tower coin was worth about $35.

So, do I have access to this currency system since I’ve gone through my awakening? The answer is no. For the system's full features to be unlocked, hunters need to enter the tower. A hunter who hasn't entered the tower is essentially non-functional because to level up, gain power, or collect loot, a hunter can only do so by entering the tower or by killing other hunters. Monsters in dungeons, aside from the bosses, do not grant experience points. Additionally, a hunter who hasn't strengthened themselves in the tower is likely to die quickly in dungeons, so those who venture into dungeons are usually hunters who have already entered the tower.

Though the reasons for this are unknown, this is how the system works, and there's nothing we can do about it. As a result, hunters are divided into two categories: those who continue climbing the tower to become stronger and those who, after reaching a certain level of power, continue to clear dungeons. Though dungeons are tough, they’re a better option for most hunters because to exit a dungeon, you only need to clear it. But in the tower, you can only enter or exit through the portals located every five floors.

Also, a hunter on the 3rd floor cannot descend to the 2nd floor. Once you enter the tower, you must clear five floors at a time, so keep in mind that you’ll need to clean five floors once inside. For this reason, some people remain on the same floor for years without clearing it—some choose to live there, while others go mad and commit suicide.

Luckily, I'm just an awakened who produces things, so entering the tower would be certain death for me. No matter how hard I work to improve my stats, lacking the proper skills in the tower could mean death. All I need to do is keep producing and selling more items so I can afford better medicine for my mother and provide better opportunities.

“So, let’s start selling!”