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Villain as a Friend
08: Learning Combat Skill

08: Learning Combat Skill

"I see that you are eager to learn herbology young lad. I'm surprised when I watched you extracting the herb, such a great concentration. Well, you have done it. Now you're a Herbalist. Here's your Herbalist Badge and Cloak, it's proof for your status. And while wearing this it also increases your success rate, so don't hesitate and wear it proudly."

Quest Completed! Job Change Quest (III) has been completed with an amazing result. Trainer Flask is satisfied with you.

You are now a Herbalist.

Herbalist

A job who studies herb, potion, and its manufacturing process.

Effect: 

+100 HP, MP, and SP.

+5 stats for every attribute.

Success Rate of producing Potion +6%.

Producing Potion with Unique rating or higher will grant player a random bonus stats.

You gained 200.000 Exp Point.

You gained +4 Skill Point.

You get a Herbalist Badge.

You get a Herbalist Cloak.

You learned Brewing.

You learned Synthesize.

You learned Transmute

Herbalist Badge Uncommon Accessories A badge issued by Herbalist Association. Proof of Identity as a Herbalist. Get special treatment in the city.

Buying herb will be 12% cheaper and selling herb will be 6% more expensive.

Durability: 100/100 Effect: DEX +10 | WIS + 5

Herbalist Cloak Uncommon Equipment

Cloak issued by Herbalist Association. Proof of Identity as a Herbalist.

Wearing this cloak will increase all Herbalist Related Skill's success rate by 15%.

Durability: 50/50 Effect: DEX +5 | DEF + 8

Brewing Active Skill Proficiency 0% Herbalist Skill. Brew Potion by combining medicinal extract. The right equipment is required.

Successfully Brewing Unique Potion will grant huge stats, Exp Point, and Skill Proficiency.

Success Rate for Brewing Common Potion: 41%

Success Rate for Brewing Uncommon Potion: 4.12%

Success Rate for Brewing Rare Potion: 0,412%

Success Rate for Brewing Unique Potion: 0,041%

Success Rate for Brewing Epic Potion: 0,004% Cost 5 MP, 10 SP   Cooldown 20 seconds

Synthesize Active Skill Proficiency 0% Crafting Skill. Combine two items and/or materials to produce a better one.

Successfully Synthesizing Rare Material will grant huge stats, Exp Point and Skill Proficiency.

Success Rate for Synthesizing Trash Material: 35%

Success Rate for Synthesizing Common Material: 3,5%

Success Rate for Synthesizing Uncommon Material: 0.35%

Success Rate for Synthesizing Rare Material: 0,035%

Success Rate for Synthesizing Unique Material: 0,004% Cost 15 MP   Cooldown 30 seconds

Transmute Active Skill Proficiency 0% Alchemist Skill. Convert ten lower grade materials to one higher-grade material.

Successfully Transmuting Rare Material will grant huge stats, Exp Point and Skill Proficiency.

Success Rate for Transmuting Trash Material: 29%

Success Rate for Transmuting Common Material: 2,9%

Success Rate for Transmuting Uncommon Material: 0.29%

Success Rate for Transmuting Rare Material: 0,029%

Success Rate for Transmuting Unique Material: 0,003% Cost 25 MP   Cooldown 60 seconds

I skipped the skill description and immediately wore the cloak and the badge. It's stylish and comfortable. My appearance now looks great with the badge attached to my left chest, and the dark green cloak with a plant-like logo covered my back.

Trainer Flask didn't stop with just that, he then said with a new golden question mark on top of his head.

"You have what it needs to become Herbalist. But a craftsman who produces nothing can't be considered as a full-fledged craftsman. Bring me 20 HP, MP, and SP Potion you made yourself in three days, and I'll teach you my secret recipe for making medicine. Ah, and I will take back your qualification to become Herbalist if you don't finish it until the time limit."

Flask's Secret Medicine

Difficulty: Job Related Quest

Trainer Flask is greatly satisfied with your Job Change Quest result. He sees your potential and decided to teach you more advanced techniques and recipes. But before that, you must produce beginners' potion for him. Make 20 each of HP Potion, MP Potion, SP Potion in three days. Progress [0/60]

Reward: Flask Research Note, Skill [???]

Failure: Qualification as a [Herbalist]*

*your qualification as a Herbalist will be revoked, and you will have to repeat the Job Change Quest.

A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

Another forced quest. But three days... do I have an appointment tomorrow? Well heck, even if I have, I'll just skip that and focus on this quest. If not then I'll be wasting time doing that Job Change Quest.

And there was that quest to find bandit hideouts. It doesn't have a time limit, but if I want to reap more benefits, then I have to finish it this week. It's double experience and loots, I won't miss it.

However, the Production Job is weak and fragile. They didn't have any combat-related skill and just useless in battle. I have to think of a way to overcome this weakness.

Most people who choose the Production Job will level the Job until level 5 and then choose the second Job. But that's taking too much time for me. I need 3 million Exp Point just to level up Herbalist to level 2. And every time it leveled up, the necessary Exp Point will rise exponentially. I don't have the time or knowing the way for producing such an amount of Exp Point.

But can I learn combat-related skill even with this? Well, it's not too late to ask before I got lost.

"Mr. Flask, may I ask you something?"

"What is troubling you young lad?"

"Do Herbalists have a special combat-related skill?"

"Hoooh ..., why do you want to learn such skill? You know that herbalist's main goal is to produce the ultimate elixir, so why the fighting?"

"It's for self-defense. The forest is infested with monsters and there's no safe place in the world now. If I want to keep my life intact when exploring dangerous regions, I think I need to learn a skill or two."

Trainer Flask nodded and said.

"Smart reasoning, well, with that mindset, I think you could survive with your own. If you want to learn the combat skill of this Job, then you need staff. A herbalist staff is not like holy staves the Priest use, it looks like this walking stick. I'll teach you if you bought one."

Herbalist Way of Combat

Difficulty: Job Related Quest

Herbalist is Craftsman Job with low risk. But it doesn't mean they can't learn any skill for self-defense.

Herbalist can only use staff as a main weapon, buy one Herbalist Staff, and learn skills from Trainer Flask. Progress [0/1]

Reward: Skill [Staff Mastery], Skill [Nature Magic]

Failure: None

"Okay then, how much?"

"Hmmm ...?" The old man tilted his head.

"Mr. Flask, you sell it right? The walking sti- I mean Herbalist Staff?"

"I do have it. You want to buy it from me?"

"Yes. how much for the cheapest one."

"Well ..., I want to recommend you to one of the best woodworkers in the city, but if you can't wait for it, then there's nothing I can do. This is the worst staff I had, the price is ... 500 Bronze coins."

Cracked Staff Common Equipment It is said that powerful magicians have used this staff. However, now it's condition is very bad. Durability 12/30 ATK 1 M. ATK 5 INT 5 DEX 7

[It is said that powerful magicians have used this staff. However, now it's condition is very bad.]

If I'm remembering it correctly, 10 Bronze Coin worth one Gold Coin. I took the Pouch of Saving and withdrew 5 gold coins. When I give him the coins, he frowned and said with a slightly trembling voice.

"To not negotiate first and pay it upfront, you ..., don't you know the rule of trading?"

"I ..., is it wrong?"

"Of course it does! You even don't compare the prices with the much better staff I have! Here, look at this, this staff here has twice the performance of this staff, but the price is only 560 Bronze coins! You, why are you like this!" Trainer Flask showed me a frustrated expression, his tone seems caring and worried for me.

I compared the two staff and as he said, the later will greatly increase stats twice the amount of the former.

"I don't know about that, and from the beginning why did you show me the worst product when you had a better one with almost the same price?"

"It's trade! Of course, I want to reap more benefits when I'm trading!" He shouted feeling infuriated.

"I ..., I'm sorry."

"Tsk, I don't know how you deal with the merchant, but lad, the first thing you have to keep in mind is to negotiate with them. What will happen if they deceive you? Now that I remember it, what did you buy in the market?"

"... these two herbs." I handed the two herbs I bought from Annette.

"And how much did you spend on it?"

"400."

"in silver?"

"No ..., 400 gold ..." I lowered my voice.

"F*k it, boy! You've been tricked!" He once again shouted. We have attracted players and NPCs' attention because of him. I lowered my head because I felt need to do it.

He began teaching me about the importance of negotiating. And for some reason, I learned the passive skill [Bargaining] after listened to his explanation. Well, it's not bad to learn a thing or two. I learned about the true price of the herbs I bought from Annette. It's only 120 silver, or if it converted into gold, it will be 60 gold coins. She's tricked me for sure, to made me pay six-time the normal price. But, let's be positive, I also enjoy the time watching that busty unrealistic big-breast. Let's assume that 340 gold is the fee for watching her breast.

In the end, I bought the most expensive staff. Here are the details.

Emerald Cane Rare Equipment Embedded with emerald gems, this cane is perfectly made for nature magic users. The structure is also very sturdy and hard.

Increases nature magic power by + 7.5%. Magic casting speed halved. Water and Earth magic resistance +10% Durability 175/175 ATK 40 M. ATK 25 INT 15    

After being preached about the importance of negotiation, I then applied it when buying this staff. I negotiated until I lowered its price to 782 Bronze from 940 Bronze. Not a bad deal and Trainer Flask also satisfied with the result of this negotiation.

He then teaches me the skill.

You learned Staff Mastery.

Staff Mastery Weapon Mastery Skill Proficiency 0% Increase damage dealt by weapon [Staff] by 12%. Magic Consumption when casting a spell decreased by 3%.

You learned Nature Magic: Overgrowth.

Nature Magic: Overgrowth Active Skill Proficiency 0% Wield the mighty power of nature. Constrict enemy movement with overgrown ivy.

Incantation: Grow, grow, overgrowth! Damage:  18 ~ 24 Effect: Constrict the enemy for 40 second, or until the enemy break the constriction Cost 20 MP Duration 40 seconds Cooldown 60 seconds

After learning the skill, here is what my status window looks like.

Name: Zaki Level: 1 (213.024/3.000.000) Job: Herbalist

> Unequipped: Novice(10)

Title: -

> Unequipped: Explorer

Health: 390/390 | Magic: 485/485 | Stamina: 440/440 H. Reg: 1.5/hrs | M. Reg: 1.9/hrs | S. Reg: 2.0/hrs

ATK: 8(+42) | M. ATK: 11(+29) | DEF : 7(+13) | M. RES: 8(+6) | SPD: 10(+1)

STR: 26 (+5) | CON: 26 (+1) | DEX: 26 (+15) INT: 25 (+19) | WIS: 25 (+8) | CHM: 15 | LUK: 15 Stat Point: 0

Skill: Herb Collecting(II), Herb Identification, Brewing, Synthesize, Transmute, Staff Mastery, Nature Magic, Bargaining. Skill Point: 15

Equipment: Head: - Outerwear: Herbalist Cloak (DEX +5, DEF + 8) Innerwear: Padded Cloth Armor (CON+1, DEF +5) Arm: Shabirun Army Bracer (STR+5, ATK+2) Main: Emerald Cane (ATK: 40, M.ATK +25, INT +15) Secondary: - Waist: Blue Coarse Trouser (M.RES+3) Leg: Shabirun Army Leather Boots (SPD +1) Accessories: Aqua Urania (M.ATK +4, M.RES +3, INT +4, WIS +3), Herbalist Badge (DEX +10, WIS + 5)

With this, I feel like I can get back to Hinnan Woods and challenge the bandit. My stats are greatly enhanced, and I get better weapon. I went to the city plaza. A place filled with player shouting and trading. This atmosphere feels like a free market.

Fortunately, there are no foreign players chasing me. I still did not know what they were aiming for. Is it because of my Explorer title? Huh, I can't understand what they are thinking.

I walked to the armor shop to buy equipment. While doing so, I type an invitation to the City Chat Room.

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