home

search

Chapter 65: Steel And Leather

  Tyler studied the man—brown hair neatly brushed back, glasses perched on his nose. *He still remembers that? Did he forget I came in here and became a G-rank?* Charles spoke. "Yes, it's him. He also came in here not long ago, reassessed his rank, and became a D-rank."

  The man behind the desk stroked his chin. "Ah, right. What was his name again?"

  "Tyler," Tyler supplied.

  "Yes, right, Tyler," the man said. "Then I think you know what to do at this point. Please put your hand on the orb right there." He gestured to an orb set into the wall, just below a black screen.

  "Right," Tyler said, walking over to the orb and placing his hand on its cool surface. He channeled mana into his hand. The orb glowed faintly, then dimmed. Words materialized on the screen above:

  Lvl 67C-Rank

  Charles gasped. "You're already C-rank? And not just that, you're level 67! In just a few days… hasn't it been two days or so?"

  Tyler nodded. "Yeah, as I told you before, I fought a lot of monsters."

  The man leaned back in his chair, impressed. "Level 50 is where C-rank begins. To think you'd actually be level 67… like that… you're a C-rank plus!"

  "Yeah, so…" Tyler grinned, "am I going to get a C-rank necklace?"

  "Yes, of course," the man replied, a smile spreading across his face.

  Tyler casually perched himself on the desk opposite the assessor.

  The man produced a form, his gaze drifting to Tyler's neck. He noticed the two necklaces. "You're wearing two necklaces?"

  Tyler's eyes widened; a wave of realization washed over him. *Oh crap, I forgot to give Grone the Necklace of Growth. He's probably gone by now, damn it.*

  "Um, yeah," Tyler said, trying to sound nonchalant, "it's just an accessory."

  The man nodded, seemingly unconcerned. "Oh, alright. Well, as you know, you need to sign here and here." He pointed to the signature lines on the form.

  Tyler took the offered pencil and signed his name.

  "Alright," the man said, "you are an assassin type, yes?"

  Tyler nodded slightly. "Yeah."

  "Alright, I had a feeling," the man said. "Mostly we just ask, without knowing for sure, but with your gear, it was kind of obvious."

  *I don't even think I'm an assassin type at all,* Tyler thought. *I just craft things that boost my speed.*

  The man opened a drawer, the sound of metal on metal echoing softly. Tyler couldn't see what was inside. After a moment of searching, the man pulled out a black necklace with a square, black pendant bearing the letter C.

  "You should return that necklace," the man said, gesturing to Tyler's D-rank necklace.

  "Oh," Tyler said, removing the D-rank necklace and placing it on the desk. The man then handed him the C-rank necklace.

  Tyler accepted the necklace and put it on. "Ah," the man said, "you're officially a C-rank hunter, Mr. Tyler." He took a stamp and stamped the form, the imprint revealing intricate circles surrounding a large red dot.

  *These circles… they look like the kind of emblem that appears on my crafting gear,* Tyler thought, *but this one looks kind of different.*

  Tyler stood up. "Thank you," he said.

  The man waved a hand dismissively. "What are you thanking us for? We're just doing our job. Charles, please escort him out."

  "Yes, of course, sir," Charles replied, opening the door.

  Tyler and Charles descended the stairs. "I cannot believe this," Charles murmured, shaking his head. "You're really a C-plus rank hunter now. How do you do it, Mr. Tyler?"

  Tyler scratched the back of his head. "Oh, I guess I'm lucky, I guess. Or maybe it's just bad luck that I meet up with a lot of monsters in the forest."

  Charles chuckled. "Well, it is tricky indeed. It can be misfortune or fortunate, in your case."

  Tyler laughed lightly. "Oh, I've been meaning to ask this, but what day is it today?"

  As they reached the bottom of the stairs, Charles paused, looking at Tyler with a slightly confused expression. "It's Thursday today."

  "Thursday, huh?" Tyler murmured, a sudden thought striking him. He remembered a meeting arranged for next week.

  "Thanks," Tyler said. "Well, I'll be leaving now. I'll see you again when I get my rank assessed."

  "I'll see you…" Charles began, but Tyler was already walking away.

  Tyler stepped out of the Rank Assessment Building and inhaled deeply, the crisp air filling his lungs. *I really need to craft these things,* he thought. *Otherwise, these recipes are just going to pile up, and I might not be able to craft some of them later.* He mentally summoned his inventory panel, the sheer volume of materials making him wince slightly. *I should probably go to the inn.*

  He headed towards the inn, its familiar sign a welcome sight. Inside, a long counter stretched across the room, with a woman behind it on the far left and a man on the far right. Tyler approached the woman.

  "Hello," he said.

  "Hello, sir," the woman replied. "How can I help you today? Would you like to rent a room?"

  "Yes," Tyler said, "I want one of the better ones."

  "Ah," the woman said, "how long do you want to rent it for?"

  "Um, probably for two nights."

  "Yes, two nights," the woman confirmed. "That'll be two silver."

  Tyler reached into his pocket; the silver coins materialized from his inventory. He placed them on the counter. The woman took the coins, placing them in a drawer behind her. She produced a key and handed it to Tyler. "The room is upstairs, second door on the right, room seven."

  This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

  "Thank you," Tyler said, taking the key and heading towards the stairs.

  He climbed the stairs, reaching the second floor and opening the door to a hallway. He passed the first room, then turned right in the second door. A window at the end of the hallway offered a blurry view of the outside. He used his key to unlock the room; the door opened with a soft *clink*.

  The room was clean and surprisingly spacious. A large bed, easily big enough for two, dominated the space. Small wooden wardrobes stood on either side of the bed, and neatly folded blankets lay atop the mattress, promising warmth. The polished wooden floor gleamed, and a clear window offered a bright view of the inn's surroundings.

  *Whoa, these really *are* the better rooms, huh?* Tyler thought, impressed. *It's really worth it. If anything, it's kinda cheap. Compared to that room I shared with Grone… that one only had a tiny bed, barely fit for one person, and it looked like sleeping on it would give you nightmares.* He chuckled at the memory. *And the room wasn't even clean. And there was this tiny, little wooden window.*

  He walked to the window, gazing out at the side of the inn. Hunters bustled about their day below.

  *Man, I have to take a bath after this,* he thought, a sigh escaping his lips.

  The Gloomfang armor Tyler wore shimmered blue, then vanished, leaving him in the brown pants and cream-colored t-shirt underneath. He sat on the bed, leaning back against the mattress, his feet planted on the floor, his gaze fixed on the ceiling. His system panel materialized before him:

  SPECIES: HumanNAME: Tyler EvansRANK: CLVL: 67CLASS: CraftsmanHP: 316/316 MP: 254/254STR: 279 AGI: 272DEF:332 STM: 269STATUS: HealthySkills: Armour Craft Lv2, Weapon Craft Lv2, Weapon Mastery, Alchemy, Accessory Craft, Acid Blood, ChamberEquipped Skills: (None listed)

  "Wow," Tyler murmured, studying his stats. "My defense and HP have passed 300. They're all above 200 now… both 300 and above." He scanned his skills, his gaze lingering on *Acid Blood*. He remembered that each skill had a description, yet he'd never received one for *Acid Blood*, only for *Poison Blood*.

  "System," Tyler said, "can you give me a description of the skill Acid Blood?"

  The system panel vanished, replaced instantly by a new one, displaying an answer Tyler hadn't anticipated. A smile touched his lips. He thought , he would have to ask different kinds of questions to get an answer out of this system.

  The system panel displayed the following:

  Acid Blood: This skill allows the user to transform their blood into a highly corrosive acid. The acid is capable of melting most physical materials and is also poisonous upon contact with living beings. While this skill is active, the user is immune to venom, poison, and acid attacks. The skill can be activated and deactivated at will. No mana is required.

  *Huh,* Tyler thought, *so I'll be immune to acid attacks, huh? Well, it kind of makes sense. If I wasn't immune, and I turned my blood into acid, it would just kill me, wouldn't it?*

  He considered how to phrase his next question. "System," he said, "how do I upgrade Acid Blood, like I did with Poison Blood?"

  The system panel was replaced with a new one:

  To upgrade Acid Blood, the user must directly consume or inject themselves with poison or acid-based chemicals or substances. The skill will grow stronger as the user does so.

  Tyler muttered under his breath, "Whoa, so that's how I get stronger, huh? Since I'm immune, it'll just get stronger, I guess. So, that might explain how Poison Blood turned into Acid Blood. Maybe it had the same conditions to get upgraded."

  A new system panel appeared:

  Achievement Unlocked

  *Achievement? What did I do now?* Tyler wondered.

  Become a verified C-Rank Hunter. Rewards

  Tyler's eyes widened. This hadn't happened before. *Two rewards to choose from?*

  The system panel shimmered, replaced by a new one:

  Rewards:

  1. 1 Enhancement Stone2. Random Skill Upgrade

  User can only choose one between the two rewards.

  Tyler sat up straighter, considering his options. "First, I can get an enhancement stone, or I can upgrade a random skill. So, does that mean I don't get to choose *which* skill I upgrade?"

  He pondered. *The enhancement stone doubles the effects of my weapons and armor, but the random skill upgrade… it just randomly upgrades a skill I have. But with all these skills, do I really need to upgrade them?*

  *Well,* he thought, *I already got an enhancement stone last time, and I used it. Anyways, Grone is going to have to take this necklace next time he meets me. So, should I take the enhancement stone?*

  He muttered, "I choose the random skill upgrade," selecting the second option.

  The system responded: User has chosen Random Skill Upgrade. A random skill shall be upgraded.

  A new system panel appeared, displaying his stats. One skill had changed, and Tyler felt a surge of confusion as he saw that the skill Chamber had been upgraded.

  SPECIES: HumanNAME: Tyler EvansRANK: CLVL: 67CLASS: CraftsmanHP: 316/316 MP: 254/254STR: 279 AGI: 272DEF: 332 STM: 269STATUS: HealthySkills: Armour Craft Lv2, Weapon Craft Lv2, Weapon Mastery, Alchemy, Accessory Craft, Acid Blood, RoomEquipped Skills: (None listed)

  Tyler stared at his skill list. *Chamber* had changed to *Room*. "System," he said, "can you give me a description of the skill Room?"

  A new system panel appeared:

  Skill: Room Allows the user to create a room-sized dwelling using any material the skill copies. Cooldown: 10 hrs

  Tyler's eyes widened. *Wow,* he thought, *so does that mean I can literally build myself a room with any material this skill copies? Looks like its cooldown has been cut in half. So that means I can make a big room, right? How big is the "room" it's talking about?*

  Another system panel appeared:

  Skill Room Cooldown has been reset due to skill upgrade.

  "Huh," Tyler murmured. "That means I can use it again today, I guess. I think I'll see what kind of room it will make and what it will look like in the forest. And I'll need somewhere spacious…"

  He paused, a new thought occurring to him. "Anyways, I need to craft some items."

  All the system panels vanished, replaced by his inventory panel and, beside it, the recipe he'd received as a reward.

  "Craft Steel Fang Dagger," Tyler commanded.

  The system panel displayed: Craft Steel Fang Dagger(yes/no)

  Tyler mentally selected "yes." The panel vanished, replaced by a circular loading bar with the word Crafting

  "Wow," Tyler murmured, watching the bar. "It's not loading as fast as it used to. Is it because this weapon is more advanced?" He sighed, leaning back against the mattress, his hands resting on the bed, his gaze fixed on the loading bar.

  Once the bar was full, Tyler opened his palm, mentally summoning the dagger. The Steel Fang Dagger materialized in his hand, its cold hilt a pleasant contrast to his skin. The hilt was smooth and cool to the touch, its silver surface gleaming faintly in the dim light of the room. The blade, a magnificent sweep of gleaming silver steel, curved gracefully from the hilt, tapering to a razor-sharp point. The polished steel surface reflected the light in a thousand shimmering facets, hinting at the exceptional quality of the metal. It was larger than his previous copper daggers, noticeably heavier, yet perfectly balanced in his hand.

  "Wow," Tyler breathed, turning the dagger over in his hand, mesmerized by its gleam. "This is the best dagger I've seen so far."

  A system panel appeared beside the dagger:

  ATK: 230 + 10% Speed-10% Damage to Water-based Attacks5% Chance to Shock on Impact45% Chance to Poison on Impact

  Tyler was speechless, utterly amazed by both the dagger's exquisite craftsmanship and its impressive stats. The cold steel felt alive in his grip, a promise of swift, deadly efficiency.

  The Steel Fang Dagger vanished back into Tyler's inventory. "Craft Leather Gloves," he instructed.

  This time, the system didn't ask for confirmation. A loading bar instantly appeared, reading CraftingCrafting Complete.

  Tyler summoned the gloves. They were perfectly sized for his hands. He slipped them on; with a thought, they vanished from his inventory and appeared on his hands. They were warm, a rich brown color, reminiscent of the Hexhorn hides. A system panel materialized beside his hands:

  +5% Hand Attack Speed

  "Craft Hexhorn Armor," Tyler said.

  The system responded: Craft Hexhorn Armor? (Yes/No)

  Tyler mentally selected "Yes." A new panel appeared above the previous one, displaying a circular loading bar that slowly filled, with the word Crafting

  Finally, the system announced: Crafting Successful.

  Tyler stood, walking to the window. He equipped the Hexhorn Armor. Instantly, he was clad in the brown leather armor—leather pants and a sleeveless vest. The leather felt smooth against his skin, yet undeniably tough, especially around the abdomen. The armor fit perfectly, molding to his body like a second skin. The stitching was nearly invisible, and the overall effect was one of understated strength and resilience. The leather itself had a subtle sheen, almost oily in appearance, suggesting a high level of craftsmanship and the use of exceptionally high-quality materials. It was clearly more than just simple leather; it possessed a certain inherent strength and flexibility that hinted at magical enhancements. The color was a deep, rich brown, almost the color of dark chocolate, with subtle variations in tone that suggested natural markings and variations in the leather's thickness. The vest was slightly longer than a typical vest, providing additional protection to the lower back and kidneys. The pants were similarly well-crafted, with reinforced stitching at the knees and seat, suggesting durability and protection against impacts. The overall design was practical and functional, prioritizing protection and mobility over ostentatious display.

  Tyler was impressed. He walked around the room, testing the armor's flexibility. It didn't hinder his movements at all; in fact, it felt incredibly tough and surprisingly comforting, safer than anything he'd ever worn. It even felt better than the Gloomfang armor.

  A system panel appeared:

  DEF +215Skill: Charge

  Tyler was even more impressed. "System," he said, "can you give me a more detailed description of the skill Charge?"

  A new panel appeared:

  Skill: Charge: When activated, grants the user +40% speed and hardens the user's skin for 10 seconds. Overall skill activation lasts for 3 minutes.

  *Whoa, wait,* Tyler thought, *if I have this armor, do I even need the Gloomfang armor anymore? I mean, it gives me a 40% speed boost, and my skin gets hard for 10 seconds—that's a new thing. But how much mana does it consume?*

  He checked the mana cost: 25

  *Well, 25 mana is nothing considering how much mana I have,* he mused. "Why didn't I ever craft these things? What was I thinking?"

  He unequipped the Hexhorn Armor; it shimmered and disappeared. He checked his inventory, searching for other craftable items.

  "Craft Shadow Armor," he instructed.

  The system responded: Can't craft Shadow Armor. Two materials lacking.

  "Hmm? Two materials lacking?" Tyler murmured, pulling up the recipe for Shadow Walker Armor. He saw the missing ingredients. A wave of disappointment washed over him; the Shadow Walker Armor was the only armor recipe he had that required a boss hide, and he was missing the necessary materials.

  Tyler sighed. "Well," he said, "at least I got a very useful dagger and new armor out of this. And I have some alchemy recipes I can craft too, but they'll need a lot of water, I guess. I'll just have to go take a bath now."

  He left the room, walking down the hallway and out the door, heading downstairs. As he descended the stairs, he overheard the two receptionists talking.

  "Really?" the woman said. "I thought you were just joking with me at first, but is it true that he died?"

  "Yes," the man replied. "They said it was a murder. It's a tragic thing, but it's not uncommon among these hunters, you know."

  "Yeah, I know," the woman said, "but it's just that… I mean, I didn't think, out of anyone, it would be *him*."

  "I mean," the man said, "he was always cocky and got on everyone's bad side. It was obvious he was going to get hurt eventually."

  "But didn't he have a pet with him?" the woman asked. "I heard he had something similar to a White Fang."

  "It *was* a White Fang," the man confirmed.

  "Then how did he die?" the woman questioned. "They said that beast was B-rank. Could he have been beaten by a B-rank or an A-rank? But hunters like that don't even come to Yellow Tear monster zones."

  "I don't know," the man replied. "It's still a mystery who killed him. And we'll probably never know about it. I mean, what happens in the monster zones always stays there. No one really knows."

  "Yeah," the woman agreed, "I guess that makes sense."

  "What?" the man said, a grin spreading across his face. "Are you actually sorry for him?"

  "Um, no?" the woman replied, a little defensively. "I was just surprised, that's all."

  "Oh, come on," the man teased. "You think I didn't know you actually found Gary to be a little interesting?"

  "Shut up," the woman retorted. "Why would I find that jerk interesting?"

  Tyler, listening from the stairs, thought, *Wait, they already know about that?*

Recommended Popular Novels