After the brothers had finished with the looting they began to head back to the village with arms full of spears and some leather armor. All the while Dan was planning on how he was going to get the most varied and powerful crafting professions he could. Dan believed that the skills you developed mattered quite a bit in what classes or professions would be available to him, but in addition the way he spent his time. After all, Sam had received the [Front Liner] class as an option for his first slot even tho he had no defensive skills. Dan believed that the [Front Liner] class became an option due to Sam being the tank of their duo, sanding in the front while Dan attacked from their blind spot. So in conclusion: 1. Dan had to gain skills for the type of things he wanted to do. 2. Dan had to act for the profession he wanted and not the one he had, which was none. 3. Dan should start as soon as possible since the power boost that Sam got from just one level was too good to not get before the first wave hit the village. In Dan's mind there were only a few professions he would want to consider getting: 1. Alchemist. Alchemy would be cool to know if it existed, It would allow him create healing regents as well as other things such as poisons depending on how it functioned in reality. 2. Artificer. Artificing Seemed like a versatile profession depending on the world it is set in. It could be anything from crafting magi-tech to crafting actual tech, either way it seemed like a safe pick since if you are supposed to make do with only one profession, it would probably give him a lot of options to work with. 3. Smithing. Smithing would be good to have as one profession since it would allow him to create all sorts of weapons and armor. It would also give him access to metal goods and parts for other professions. 4. Some general crafting profession. It would greatly help him if one of his professions could be a general all purpose jack of all trades profession that would allow him to do all parts of a multi profession project on his own. Say he needed to makea spear, he could make the shaft of the spear with a general profession then smith the head and enchant the whole thing afterwards, or perhaps add some alchemical solution to it that makes it more durable. if only I could have more profession slots. Dan regretted thinking those words immediately afterwards, after all he was gifted the most powerful from of a bloodline which in it self is rare enough that each universe cherishes each one they have. And now he wanted more? Dan hadn't even picked his first profession. As Dan and Sam entered the village Dan looked around the village fro the first time, Every other time he had been here they had been distracted by something or he was busy thinking. Dan saw that most people were still unarmed and had clearly not even tried to go outside. A lot of people ere living in their quarters pretending like they weren't in a death game tutorial. Some people were laying alleys some sleeping and others muttering denial to them selves. No one was armed or wearing any kind of armor other than the clothes they came here with. It didn't seem to make any sense to Dan. Why would these people just lay about not doing anything when they could be out there getting more powerful? Why would anyone remain bound by their fear when they could become so much more without it? "Why are they like this?" Dan asked Sam "What?"
"Why won't they go out and get stronger rather than sitting here wallowing in their fear?" Dan clarified
"They aren't like us."
"What do you mean?"
"They don't have a bloodline to push them ever onward like we do." Sam answered.
"But i don't feel any different than before i had my bloodline." Dan mused.
"That's because you never chanced, you just got amplified by your bloodline. After all it is based on you. All that you are is condensed and purified into a record that amplifies everything that you are." Sam explained
"How do you know all this?"
This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
"Because I asked as many questions as i could before I was transported, here unlike you." Sam gave a look to Dan past all the things he was carrying. After a while they reached the weapon merchant
"Well, ti seems my two favorite customers have returned with piles of loot!" The merchant exclaimed "What kinds of treasures have you brought me this time? some more spears? Perhaps even a worn leather cap?" The merchants smile never wavered and Dan didn't detect any sarcasm from his statement. It was as if there were no greater treasures in the multiverse then crappy gobling spears that would take at most 1h to make if one was completely incompetent, then again you would have to be incompetent o be able to make such poor quality spears. Perhaps these merchants got paid big by the local system for all the tutorial points they gathered. That might explain why this merchant was so pleased to have repeat customers that only sold shitty gear. Either way that was a thought for another day. "Yes we actually have both" Sam said merrily "my count is 14 gobling spears and one full set of leather armor."
"Indeed, quite the haul!" The merchant cheered
"I've been meaning to ask, do you perhaps have any books for sale?" Dan asked
"I don't sell books, but i do know someone who does. what kind of books would you like?" The merchants eyes never left the pile of "loot" on the counter
"I would like to learn of any common professions such as Alchemy, Artificing, Smithing or any general crafting professions."
"Sure, you will want to talk to Alentiel down the street, her stall should be right there. Tell her El sent you."
"Sure, thanks!"
After selling their "loot" they headed for the book merchant.
"Good day, would you be interested in something specific?" Ale-something said
"A merchant down the street recommended you, he told me to say that El sent us your way. I would like to buy any books relating to Alchemy, Artificing, Smithing or any general crafting manuals." Dan said
"Of course, a friend of Els is a friend of mine. You can just call me Al." Al said "To business then: i have a collection of books for each of those requests but most of the books cost around 60-100 TP. Unless you are richer than I believe you to be you will only have sufficient funds for one of them."
[Current TP: 93]
"do you have a book on alchemy? preferably one that has everything one needs to begin doing alchemy? such as where to get the materials and some simple recipes?" Dan asked
"Yes i have a few options. there is a simple alchemy for dummies book that costs 60 TP but it doesn't include where one can gather materials just he theory behind alchemy and a few simple potion recipes. I also have a more complete Alchemy book that costs 90 TP, It includes a lot of theory for Alchemy with many beginner friendly recipes for simple potions, poisons and even elixirs. It doesn't include a compendium of herbs tho. I do also have a soulbook of regents that costs 500 TP. It is worth it i promise you, but if you want something right now i do also have a list of local regents that may be used for some creations, it costs 20 TP."
Dan stared dumbfounded at the lady elf. How was he supposed to get that much money? Also he had a pressing question on his mind "What is a soulbook and why does it cost that much?"
"A soulbook is a type of soul item that can grow with its wielder. This particular soulbook lists any local herbs found in the are you are as well as identifies new and unknown regents marking down what effects they may have and what energies they contain. It may also be able to point its user towards powerful regents and maybe even become able to speak if it grows powerful enough."
To Dan that seemed like an overpowered item. Even if Dan didn't currently have the funds for it he could save up some money to get it later. "For now I'll have the 90 TP Alchemy book." Dan decided. After so casually spending most of his hard earned TP on a book Dan decided on his plan of action: Since he couldn't tell time in the cave they were in, he would simply rest when he got tiered. Dan would read the book before and after he slept as well as whenever he had to rest. he would try to read it from cover to cover as fast as possible. When he wasn't resting and reading he would be out there collecting TP in the from of dead goblings and whatever they had on them. Deciding this was going to be his life from now on he went to bed in his private apartment in the village. It wasn't really a village but rather like a whole town or medieval city even, but if the system insisted it was a village then a village it would be. While resting Dan read the book until sleep finally claimed him.