As the floating blue message dissipated from Callum's vision, he drew a deep breath. He focused on gathering his strength and stamina. He stood up and stretched his muscles, feeling a newfound confidence in his class's combat abilities.

However, he knew better than to grow complacent. Though he had gained new skills, he was still at level one until he took a long rest. On the other hand, the goblins he was about to face ranged between levels two and four. While this would undoubtedly provide a bonus to his overall experience gains, it would also make for a challenging battle should he find himself ambushed or surrounded by too many foes at once.

Walking over to the two deceased goblins, Callum activated his [Scrap Collector] ability and looted them. A smile of satisfaction spread across his face as he inspected the spoils of his victory.

Loot Received:

- Copper Coins x 5

- Strips of Linen Cloth x 5

- Iron Nails x 7

As he surveyed the pile of nails before him, Callum couldn't help but think they were useless in their current state. However, if Raul was going to teach him the knowledge of smelting metals, he was certain he could transform them into something more valuable down the road. The raw copper coins were nothing to scoff at either.

But as enticing as the idea of refining metals was, Callum knew that the true treasure here was the cloth, with its potential value. He could sell it to tailors in the nearby village or even turn it into bandages. After all, the skills required to acquire First Aid and Gathering Skills were not restricted to any specific Class or Profession. They were universal and available for anyone to learn and use as long as one had the knowledge. Though Callum had lost access to these skills due to his Class reset during the integration, he still retained the knowledge necessary to unlock them. It wouldn't take him long to create a bandage and regain the invaluable First Aid skill.

He decides that having a bandage handy would be well worth the slight delay in moving forward. Sitting on the floor, Callum reaches into his small spatial bag and pulls out the received Strips of Linen Cloth. He lines up two of them on his knee.

Now for the fun part.

Callum activates his [Tinkerer's Tools] ability with the image of a knife in mind. Oddly enough, the ability creates a different tool. When Callum studied it momentarily, he recognized it as a small, handheld laser cutter. His eyes grow wide, and he spends a few heartbeats rethinking how to adjust his plan. He shrugged and decided that not much had changed with the startling development. Then, he pressed the small pen-like object to his thigh, pinched some of the skin there so it wasn't pointed toward his muscle, and activated the tool.

To Callum's surprise, the cut, or rather the hole created, was so clean and instant that the pain had yet to register. He sat staring at the wound for a moment, rapidly filling with blood. He picked up the clean strips of cloth from his knee and began to wrap his leg. Before he was completely finished, a System message materialized in his vision:

Warning, Challenger!

Do you hear that? That's the sound of a warning alarm because you've been caught red-handed trying to use a Crafting Skill as a Combat Ability. Not once, but twice! Seriously? Who do you think you are, Rambo with a sewing kit?

Let me remind you this skill is for crafting, not fighting. If you persist in your misguided ways, I'll be forced to impose harsher limitations or drawbacks to your ability. We can't have you running around like a level-one ninja with a plasma rifle. You've gotta put in the work and level up like the rest of 'em.

So, let's cut the nonsense and get back to work! We'll leave the lasers and flame throwers to the big kids, okay?

He stared. And continued to stare for several moments.

Why's the System talking about Rainbows using sewing utensils? A nin- what in the hells is a plasma rifle?

This new System personality was jarring for Callum. It seemed that most messages were either designed to be intentionally confusing or underhanded. He dismissed the message to focus on the following pop-up. That was the one he had actually been expecting.

Skill Unlock: Branch of Study: First Aid (Beginner) Description: Description: Congratulations on unlocking the Beginner First Aid skill! You have shown proficiency in treating minor injuries, such as cuts and bruises, using basic first-aid techniques. With this skill, you are now able to create simple bandages and use them to stop bleeding and prevent infections. Keep practicing your skills, and you'll be well on your way to becoming a proficient healer in no time!

He was not expecting the message that immediately followed:

Skill Upgrade: Branch of Study: First Aid (Journeyman) Description: Congratulations on reaching the Journeyman level of First Aid! Your previous knowledge and experience in first aid techniques have been recognized, and as a result, you have rapidly progressed to a higher level of skill. You are now able to treat more serious injuries, such as broken bones and deep cuts, with greater proficiency. You can also create more advanced types of bandages and understand how to administer basic medications. Keep honing your skills, and you'll soon be a master healer capable of saving lives in even the most challenging situations!

If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

Callum found the upgrade a welcome surprise and noted that the System seemed significantly more cordial in those latest messages.

Maybe I just need to stay on its good side? That must be it, just keep your head down and focus on leveling, Callum. He told himself.

Taking another minute to read through the Journeyman description, Callum pulled out the few remaining cloth strips and created one Heavy Linen Bandage by combining four strips of cloth into one bandage.

Callum stood again and strode toward the tunnel opening, ready to venture deeper into the mine. Just as he was about to take his first step, a System Notification suddenly materialized before his eyes, demanding his attention.

Experience Granted: Goblin Scout: x2 Total Experience Gained: 20exp

Callum let out an excited 'pffft' sound, unable to contain his excitement at the experience he had just gained. The experience gained from dispatching those two goblins was almost equivalent to killing seven slugs or squirrels. And the best part? He hadn't needed to spend an hour scouring the area to find all seven creatures.

At that moment, he entertained the idea of spending days grinding in the mines, determined to clear them out entirely and gain a significant amount of experience in the process. However, he knew he had eight more goblins to dispatch for Raul and then he needed to obtain those blueprints. He was very likely.

As he watched the goblin corpses dissipate into nothingness, Callum couldn't help but marvel at the magic involved in the looting process. Having only observed it a few times in his life. He recalled when his eldest sibling had hired an adventurer with a looting ability to accompany him on a dungeon dive. It had been a worthwhile expense, considering the valuable herbs the monsters dropped and the difficulty in obtaining them.

The sight before him was fascinating to watch. The bodies of the goblins cracked and emitted a bright blue light before slowly disintegrating into small, glass-like shards that floated away like bits of black and white ash on an imaginary wind. There was no sound or smell save for the blood that now pooled around the cavern. In a mere 15 seconds, the bodies had completely disappeared.

As he walked toward the yawning maw of the tunnel leading deeper into the mines, a curious thought popped into his mind. Was the System's granting of looting abilities a calculated move to clean up this alien world? Callum couldn't help but ponder why such an ability wasn't bestowed upon more individuals. With a tap of his pocket, he idly wondered what Book would make of his musings.

Undeterred, he pressed on through the snaking tunnels until he emerged into a vast cavern illuminated by a pulsing glow brighter than anything he'd encountered thus far. It was clear to Callum that the goblins had claimed this place as their own. The tunnel abruptly stopped at a sheer drop that plummeted some twenty meters down to the cavern floor below. A narrow ramp hugged the curved wall of the cavern, winding its way down to the base.

From his vantage point high above the bustling goblin encampment, Callum watched with relief that he had prevented the goblin he'd encountered earlier from sounding the alarm. As he peered down into the cavern, his eyes darted across the frenzied activity of the goblin camp. The space was cavernous, with a ceiling that dripped with moisture, casting eerie shadows on the rough-hewn walls. The flickering light of torches danced and bounced, lending an otherworldly air to the already surreal landscape.

As Callum surveyed the dismal scene before him, he couldn't help but feel a twinge of unease. The goblins' lair was far from the polished halls of the noble houses he was accustomed to. The cave floor was cluttered with all manner of refuse, from discarded bones to rusted metal scraps. But Callum could see signs of the goblins' ingenuity amidst the debris. Makeshift huts cobbled together from scavenged animal hides, and untreated trees dotted the cavern. Some were mere lean-tos, while others were large enough to house several of the grotesque creatures.

The air was thick with the smell of decay and smoke, almost enough to make Callum retch. And yet, despite the noxious fumes, the goblins went about their work with a grim determination. Some hacked away at the cavern walls with crude pickaxes, while others tended to makeshift weapons or cookfires. One particularly disturbing creature seemed to be tending to an oversized snarling canine that would no doubt serve as a deadly attack animal.

But even as Callum took in the bustling activity of the goblins, he couldn't shake the feeling that something was off. As his gaze roamed the cavern, he noticed a dark tunnel leading off to one side. No goblins seemed to venture in that direction, and no torches lit the way. It was as if the tunnel led to some dark and foreboding place that even the goblins dared not tread.

Callum felt a chill as he surveyed the scene before him. A dozen goblins patrolled the room below, their beady eyes scanning the area for intruders. The young dark elf wondered if he was out of his depth - he had only just begun his quest and had yet to face any real danger. But he couldn't turn back now. He had come too far to give up so easily. He had to find a way to defeat the goblins, or his mission would fail.

Callum considered his options carefully. He could try to pick off the goblins one by one, but that would be risky - if he were spotted, the entire group would attack him immediately. He needed a different plan.

He thought about retreating and returning later, as this would allow him to hit level two and choose one of his minor class abilities; however, he knew that was a bad idea. The goblins would be on high alert if he left now and returned tomorrow, and it would be much harder to sneak past them. He had to act now while he still had the element of surprise on his side.

Suddenly, an idea occurred to him. He could use fire to his advantage. Goblins were notoriously susceptible to fire damage. He had some flammable material with him that he could use to start a blaze.

But then he realized the flaw in his plan. If he set the room on fire, he would be trapped inside with raging flames and thick smoke. He couldn't risk that, not when he had further to go.

Callum knew that one of his racial traits granted him a pseudo-stealth ability when skulking in shadows. Though it paled in comparison to a true stealth skill or an invisibility spell, it was a useful tool that allowed him to, for the most part, undetected as long as sufficient shadows concealed him. If he intended to hatch a viable plan to bring down this group, he knew that he would first need to conduct some reconnaissance. While his vantage point from the tunnel entrance provided a good overview, he was certain that there were nuances that he would miss unless he drew closer.

With a deep breath, Callum cautiously descended the slope, taking care to mind his footing on the rocky terrain. Though the goblins appeared unaware of his presence, he knew that any misstep that sent loose rocks clattering down the hillside would instantly betray his position and bring the enemy upon him.