Chapter 4 - First Craft

I sat down on one of the unoccupied tables. I was thinking of asking Jen what ways there are to level up. My theory is that killing monsters will grant experience, similar to the games in my world. The question is if there exist dungeons that you can clear for extra rewards. It’s highly possible, but you never know. I also believe that crafting may grant me various of bonuses. I hope.

A few minutes later Jen arrived with a big bowl of food that smelled delicious.

“Hello John” she greeted me with her usual smile.

“Hello, Jen..." I replied with a crooked smile, "Do you possibly know what dungeons are?” I asked with the assumption that it was common knowledge around here.

“Yes,” She replied. “From what I know, dungeons are a way for adventurers to level up and earn cash. Hundreds of years ago, they suddenly arose from the ground. Maybe it's the work of a crazy scientist, magicians or just the work of God, nobody really knows.”

“Where can I become an adventure?” I asked.

“You can become an adventure by signing up for the adventurer guild. It's located near the castle, so it’s pretty easy to find,” she replied in a friendly voice.

“Okay, thanks a lot,” I said with a big smile.

We talked about a few trivial things until she had to go serve some other customers. I, on the other hand, quickly ate my dinner before rushing up to my room.

Inside my room, I brought up the bags of material from under the bed.

I put down the sticks, the arrowheads and the rope in separate piles on the floor. I brought up one of the sticks, and a knife (which I bought from the general store as well). I looked at the brown stick. It was about one and a half inch wide, and 1,5 meter long. I began with chipping off all the twigs from the stick. I then used the knife to split the top of the stick about 1 inch deep. I then inserted the arrowhead in between. I secured it by tying the rope tightly around.

Iron Spear

Different from the modern iron spears, this one is made using an old and inferior method with origins the stone age. Can be used for stabbing annoying people.

- 3 damage

Very poor

Crafting Skill increase - level 1: 2/100xp

"Oh?" I exclaimed to myself. Let's continue.

Every time I completed a spear, the next spear became easier. My hands felt faster. As I completed my fifth and last spear, a window popped up in front of me.

New stat earned - Dexterity

Crude Iron Spear +1

Different from the ordinary iron spears, this one is made from an older and inferior method from the stone age. Can be used for hunting and stabbing annoying people.

- 5 damage

Crafting Skill increase - Level 1: 26 /100xp

I first read the effects of dexterity, "Increases crafting and hand speed..." That's neet

I only felt joy. The feeling of improving is really great. At first, I was only able to make a spear with 3 damage, and the last spear I made almost doubled. But...This was probably crap in front of real forging techniques. I put away the iron spears and took up the hide. It came from a creature known as Banalo Marmot. It was an easy, good and rather cheap material for beginner's to use.

My idea was to make a poncho - Like the natives in Mexico used. I want to make some sort of clothes, and a Poncho is probably the easiest thing available.

I began with spreading out the hide on the floor. I then opened a jar of Pam dust, A white powder used for drawing. The good thing was that it disappears with water.

I dipped my finger into the jar and carefully drew lines with the powder where I wanted to cut the hide.

Soon after, I used my knife to closely cut and follow the guidelines I had set up. It was rather tenacious, and it took a long time to cut through the thick hide and take off all the unnecessary leather pieces.

I folded the one square meter hide diagonally, one corner to another before drawing a half circle at the middle top of the one long side. This will be where my head would stick up.

I repeated the process of cutting and finally, I heard a sound of a blue window appearing.

Banalo Poncho

A poncho made from the skin of the creature known as Banalo Marmot. It's warm, water resistant and cozy.

+Warm under cold winters

+Resistant against rain

Poor

After my first crafting experience, I had some mixed feelings. Although I was quite satisfied with my results as it were the first time, I didn't get any experience nor levels. This meant that I really had to get out and kill monsters to level up. Of course, I could also just get rich, but something inside of me craved for power. Maybe it's because of my past…The poncho probably made me look like a foreigner, but that was better than someone from another world + It keeps me warm.

I shuddered as the memories flashed through my head. Let's go to the general store. I put on my newly made poncho, left my room and walked out of the room.

I felt a chilly breeze embrace me. I was stunned at how fast the climate changed. When I first came here a couple of days ago, It was rather warm and now...it was on the verge of winter. Luckily, my poncho came to good use and bugged my resistance from the chilly winds.

Walking down the streets, I enjoyed the scenery. The capital was indeed really beautiful. I also didn't get any weird stares today. One point to Banalo poncho.

Although, it could also attribute to my looks. Long black hair that stretched down to my shoulders. My brown large eyes coupled with my good-looking face made me exotic compared to the people here - quite a lady killer. Well, in my opinion, that is.

After a while of walking, I entered the general shop. I greeted the shop owner with a smile, "Hello"

The man recognized me and replied, "Hello young man, What do you want today?"

"I just have a small question if you don't mind, "I said before continuing, "Is there any blacksmith here in the capital? You see, I'm looking for an apprentice spot."

The man furrowed his eyebrows. It took a few seconds of silence before he finally answered, "Well, something happened and most of the blacksmiths moved out of the capital. Most of the ones left don't take any more apprentices at the moment. But, there is one Master Blacksmith available..."

The man looked at me and said slowly, "I don't recommend it since he's a bit...special, but go to the east district and ask for The blacksmith."

I shrugged, "Maybe he's a bit special, and maybe he's not." I thought to myself. I required help from a professional, I had to learn the correct techniques, otherwise I was stuck with crude spear crafting techniques and poncho crafting.

"Thanks," I said before disappearing into the streets.

****

I saw all kinds of people on the streets. From old men to young women trying to attract lustful men with their bodies. I'm stronger than that...I mentally empowered myself. I traveled through the crowd of people. I bumped into people many times and on one occasion there was a typical young arrogant master who cursed at me, calling me rude and un-behaved. Of course, I didn't bother.

After almost an hour of walking, I arrived at the east part's main district. I asked for directions from a woman.

The blond woman dressed in fine clothes snorted at me. I smiled and said, "Please?" Maybe it was my charm, but she replied right after.

"Go straight that way until you see a large building" She pointed her finger to me, "Then go right and you're there."

I thanked the woman and followed her directions. I took a while, but finally, I arrived in front of a small building. It was built with gray bricks and looked rather creepy, to be honest.

I knocked on the door and said, "Hello, anyone there?"

The door opened and I saw a small old man, not more than four and a half feet tall (140m) peak out. The man that looked like a dwarf. He was bald and had a long white beard that stretched down to almost half his height. Everything together made him look bizarre and funny.

"Aye, What can I do for ya?" The dwarf replied in a weird accent. I could see his middle finger tapping against tumb in a rhythm. His eyes were filled with a strange kind of light.

"I want to become a bla--" I began to explain before the door was closed with a loud bam.

"Huh?" I accidently exclaimed out loud, "Couldn't he even let me finish?"

I knocked again, "Hello?"

I could hear a muttering voice as the door once again was opened by the dwarf, "What do you want? If you say you're here to sell those damned miracle medicines for hair development I'll strangle you with my bare hand."

"Ahem" I cleared my throat and replied in a polite and serious voice, "I want to become a blacksmith"

"Eh?" The dwarf replied, but later shook his head, "I don't want any disciples"

Just as he was about to close the door, I used the super effective technique from Earth called, "I'll stick my foot between the door and be a douchebag."

As the little man realized what I did, He clenched his jaw in anger and said, "For fucks sake..."

"I only want one chance," I said as I looked at him straight in the eye.

The dwarf seemed to become even angrier, but after a few seconds he calmed down and he muttered, "Whatever..."

"Have you ever created a sword before?" asked the dwarf.

"No?" I replied surprised. That's...why I'm here...

"Do you have a crafting class?" The man continued with his questions.

"Yeah, It's called The Crafter," I said to the man.

Something lit up in the dwarfs eye's like a wildfire, but quickly disappeared a tenth of a second later as he thought, "The Crafter? Impossible...Is it the same...as that man? No, it's probably only the name that's similar."

"I'll give you one chance, create a sword in my workshop right now and I'll let you become my disciples." The dwarf snorted.

"Ehh?"

"But, I don't even know how to do it..." I unconsciously said out loud.

The dwarf's grin became bigger and bigger as he said, "Well, you don't have to do it if you don't want to..."

Minutes later, I stood in a huge room. A monstrous black forge with a blazing hot fire stood in the middle. Huge amounts of metal scraps laid around the room in a mess. Tens of sharp-looking weapons adorned the wall.

I gulped in terror, "How....can anyone work in this freaking mess?"

"How do you like my forge? Cool right? This is my baby. No, much more than that. She's my wife, my adorable little wife..." The dwarf said with passion in his eyes. As he turned around and saw me looking at him in a weird way, he cleared his throat and said a little embarrassed, "Let's get started..."

"I'll give you 7 tries." The little man began to explain, "If you can't successfully smith a rare weapon , you can't become my disciple..."

A mysterious and creepy smile began to grow on his face, "Hm...If you can't become my disciple, you will have to pay all those materials + the additionals fees for disturbing me...let's say around 7 gold coins. Do you still want to try?

I furrowed my eyebrows as I looked in my coin purse, "7...8..9 gold coins in total" I shuddered and thought, "I guess it's all or nothing..."

As John the Hero took his first step towards a big journey, the cogs of destiny began to move...

- Somewhere in the North; In an underground ice cave -

"Finally...I'm free..." A voice rang out in the cave. The icicles shook and fell down to the ground and broke into countless of fragments. The ice cracked and fell apart.

The voice akin to a roar echoed out tens of kilometers in the wasteland. The monster that wandered the land became stricken with fear and passed out. Some fell to the ground. Lucky predators that withstood the enormous force pounced upon the unconscious creatures. Feasting on their flesh.

- On the other side of the continent; In the town of elves - The Tree Village.

"He's awakened..." An old lady with pointy ears slowly said. In her hands, she held a small transparent crystal ball covered in cracks.

"Hm..." A man with long golden locks replied. His skin was flawless. In his slither-like purple eyes, a shimmering light flashed, "A storm of chaos and destruction is on the way...I can only hope for a miracle, and that a True Hero can once again appear…