Alex pondered over it for a while, but in the end he convinced himself that it was the wrong choice considering he has [Swordsmanship] already. With his threefold training experience, he was sure he could make the skill reach a high enough level to perfectly mimic [Deflect Projectile].

Though on the opposite side of the argument was that there weren't a lot of non-magical skills in his arsenal. From a cursory calculation, non-magical skills were a 1 in 8.

Since he awakened he had achieved multiple skill requirements, though he didn't care about them because they were all non-combat or magical skills like [Fast Thrust], [Quick Attack] and [Cooking].

Though he had spotted a magical skill that had interested him greatly, [Hyper State] enhanced physical abilities for a short duration in exchange for doubling mana and stamina expenditure.

Now if he could find a non-magical equivalent then it would be great. His clones were, to say it harshly, disposable. He could resummon an infinite amount of them, and having a skill that can boost them up for a short period for basically no cost was going to be great.

Problem is he doesn't even know if this skill even exists, and if it does, what are its requirements. They were skill books that detailed every requirement, but those books were expensive, even if he worked an ordinary job all year he wouldn't be able to buy them. Makes sense since all who want them are awakened, which if strong enough can get ridiculous amounts of money.

Alex returned to [Deflect Projectile] and chose not to insert it. It wasn't like it was going anywhere, he could insert it when he doesn't have any other skill to insert.

Setting down his book, he summoned two clones. They quickly wore the clothes and equipped the rapiers.

"Help me sort out the pile of herbs." Alex said while emptying out the herb bag. His eyebrows rose.

"That's quite a lot." the first clone said, crouching down to hold a Thyfte. A yellow peaked vine that apparently helped with...bed performances, as the herb buyer eloquently said it.

"Quite a bummer they couldn't get any black herbs, those are crazy expensive." Indeed, there were no area specific herbs. Those apparently were rare and expensive, they didn't grow naturally and only the dungeon could spawn them. If there were any black herbs left then they would be hidden or hard to reach locations.

"Overall, it's a good haul. This will pay for a day or two of expenses. Good result for half a day of work, though it's best to get gremlin parts, each gremlin should net three days of expenses." Alex did the maths in his mind and nodded. Monster parts were a lucrative resource, what were they used for? He had no fucking idea. Probably potions or alchemy.

Separating each type of herb into different piles, Alex grinned widely at the spread. Satisfied, he told the clones to head out and to have a good hunt.

He settled down on a log, and retook to working on the chess set.

---

Two clones crouched behind some shrubbery, they were on a little hill that overlooked a clearing. The clearing held the sinister black grass and more importantly a pack of three gremlins. They were eating raw meat from the corpse of a battered deer, their bone spears forgotten at their side as they indulged themselves.

Bloody smiles were passed between the gremlins, giving the clones shivers in their spines. The two stayed still so as to not disturb the foliage around them and alert the gremlins. Yet if they stayed here too long they would lose a surprise attack.

“Sneak then attack.” B whispered, slowly manoeuvring himself and his sword towards the closest cover to the clearing.

C nodded and moved to the side opposite of B. The clones positioned themselves to put the gremlins between them, and when B made a hand sign over the bush, they both charged. There was only faint rustle as they exited the small tree they had hidden behind, and even though adrenaline was rushing through their blood, they refrained from roaring.

Would have been cool to do.

The distance was shortened in an instant, and the gremlins didn’t even notice them until the very last moment. Two of their expressions would stay forever frozen as their heads came out from their shoulders. The last one scrambled to pick up his spear, and two swords penetrated his throat and chest. He let out a final gurgle and slumped.

The clones stayed frozen in their position as they observed the three monster bodies bleeding out. To their numbed surprise, the gremlins had inky black blood.

“That was…easy.” B exclaimed, his chuckles quickly transforming into giggles.”The fuckers didn’t expect it at all.”

“Yeah.” C said while inspecting his sword coated in blood, brief flashes of the staring man’s head flashing across his mind. Shaking his head, he crouched and began to trace a line through the gremlin’s body. A quirk in gremlin biology was that every gremlin had their hearts in a different place, and considering their hearts were the most desired part, that meant having a technique to find the heart cleanly and resourcefully was developed.

C traced the monster’s veins till they reached the chest, then when they disappeared, he went to another vein on a different part of the body and repeated the process. After several tries, he had an approximate position of where the heart would be. He had to get that kind clerk at the Vanquisher’s Guild a nice piece of steak for his tips.

Carefully, he made an incision with the tip of the rapier. He cringed before steeling himself and dug his finger into the wound. Not feeling anything apart from muscle, C made the incision deeper and dug his fingers in. This time he felt an odd shape, and when he grasped his fingers around the heart, he pulled. In his hands was a small organ that looked like a piece of turd.

C chuckled at the comparison and threw the little heart into the special monster bag. B had finished the other gremlin. They both went over the other corpse, and to their surprise they had destroyed the heart with the sword to the chest. Checking over the deer the gremlin had been eating, they found only bits and pieces of meat left.éd

“Well, I guess that’s it huh.” B said, his hands bloody and face numb.

“Yeap, let’s search for more herbs.” C walked away.

They reached the edge of the clearing when they hesitated and looked back.

“Are we just going to leave them there?” C tittered.

“Yes, yes where are.” B shrugged. What are they gonna do? Bury them?