Elliot was speechless. He returned to his seat where the bowls of porridge were placed.
"Creation is the secret?" he asked himself. "What a load of bullocks."
He was stressing out that he ate all the bowls of porridge continuously.
'Midnight Pheasant Porridge taken. +2,500XP.'
'Midnight Pheasant Porridge taken. +2,500XP.'
'Midnight Pheasant Porridge taken. +2,500XP.'
'Midnight Pheasant Porridge taken. +2,500XP.'
'Level Up'
'Midnight Pheasant Porridge taken. +2,500XP.'
'Midnight Pheasant Porridge taken. +2,500XP.'
'Midnight Pheasant Porridge taken. +2,500XP.'
'Midnight Pheasant Porridge taken. +2,500XP.'
'Level Up'
'Midnight Pheasant Porridge taken. +2,500XP.'
"Status."
<< Elliot Max >>
HP: 10,000/10,000
MP: 500/500
Level 10 XP: 4,150/10,000
The items that was spewed out by the merging materials caught Elliot's eye. He picked it up and examined it one by one. The leftover rice and pepper were also in their respective containers, meaning that the process didn't need unnecessary materials.
<< Midnight Pheasant Feather >> X18
// A feather used for arrows and ???.
Something locked again. Elliot thought.
<< Midnight Pheasant Claw >> X6
// Used for item crafting.
<< Midnight Pheasant Eye >> X6
// Used for ???.
Shoving the thoughts away, he checked The Manual if he could find the use for the other materials. Midnight Pheasant items weren't as demanded in the market, so it wouldn't get him far if he sold them.
He read the weapon section and found interesting weapons.
<< Flamberge of Kirth >>
<< Lightning Kris >>
<< Claymore of Arachnol >>
<< Captain Bloodlust's Cutlass >>
…
The weapons seemed to be too heavy for Elliot. It was also useless to forge one since he will have a stronger weapon made by Francoise. The first part were weapons and the second half of the section was all about equipment.
Each equipment was displayed by set with the piece's recipe on a smaller box.
<< Forest Guardian Set >>
<< Ghost Knight Set >>
<< Giant Spider Set >>
…
He was going to skip the section when he saw a familiar red chest plate.
<< Crimson Phantom Set >>
'Status: Set bonus not activated.
'Crimson Phantom Robe not equipped'
Elliot was in awe that Francoise's creation was in the book. It also says that he's missing another item, the reason why the set bonus wasn't activated.
He examined the recipe for the robe.
[ Crimson Phantom Set set bonus:
+ 18% all attributes
+ Skill ]
<< Crimson Phantom Robe >>
Recipe:
Crimson Phantom Essence X1
Farmer's Robe X1
"Seems easy enough," he said and headed to Francoise to ask where the Crimson Phantoms were located.
It would make sense that the old man knows the location of the beasts since he had already forged a set out of it. And also because Elliot didn't know any other person he could ask for directions with.
"Are you serious?" Francoise asked when Elliot got to his shop.
The boy was nodding vigorously. "I am. I need to complete the set."
"Where did you even learn about– Why are you Level 9 already?!"
Elliot pursed his lips. He didn't remember anything about telling Francoise about his leveling up.
"How did you know?" the boy asked.
"You can see the Level and the basic information of people you talked to for more than 30 minutes," Francoise said and instructed Elliot where it was located.
<< Midnight Cosmo >>
<< Sun Cosmo >>
<< Francoise Fitch >>
…
Elliot decided to check on Midnight and his eyes widened after what he saw.
<< Midnight Cosmo >>
Level 100
Class: Shapeshifter
Occupation: Barmaid
Subclass: Nightcrawler
"So, that's why he's so strong."
Francoise rolled his eyes when the boy was busy with his newfound feature and forgot about him. He cleared his throat to get Elliot's attention.
"Anyway, no. Crimson Phantoms are guards of the Crimson Palace. That place is terrible for a young Adventurer like you," Francoise said and sighed. "Look, kid. If you really want to have a complete set, you need to level up. Crimson Palace has a minimum level requirement of 15 and– hey, where are you going?"
Elliot turned around when he was at the door, "To level up!"
Returning to his house, Elliot was indulged by the recipes on the book. If he wanted to complete the Crimson Phantom Set, he needed to level up. And seeing as he had The Manual, it was going to be easy.
He was sitting on the floor beside his bed and rested his head on the soft bed. Elliot looked at the portrait of his mother and it only dawned him that his mother kept secrets from him.
"What more do you know, mother?" he asked the portrait but shook his thoughts away. If he's going to level up, it was no use asking his dead mother for answers. He must grind hard and hunt beasts and make recipes.
'Steel Armadillo Cupcake consumed. +1,000 XP.'
'Steel Armadillo Cupcake consumed. +1,000 XP.'
'Steel Armadillo Cupcake consumed. +1,000 XP.'
…
<< Elliot Max >>
HP: 10,000/10,000
MP: 500/500
Level 10 XP: 1,050/15,000
'Class Upgrade unlocked.'
'You have two options. Self or Fate.'
'Self means you choose your own class.'
'Fate means you let the heavens choose for you.'
'Choose now and choose wisely.'
Elliot thought about what to choose. Choosing fate means that he will let the Adventurer system examine his skill, strengths and weaknesses and pick a class for him. He may not like the outcome, but it will probably be okay.
Self, meanwhile, means that he will choose his own path. If he really liked a class, he can choose it. For now, Fighter would be his best option. He fights close range and he could train himself to fight more effectively.
Although it might become a setback if he gains his skills in the future, at least he will have time to incorporate his skills to his fighting style. It was decided. Elliot is going to choose Fighter.
"Okay, I choose–"
'You have chosen your Class.'
Elliot stopped and narrowed his eyes. He didn't get to say what he was going to choose. Does the system automatically select what he had in his mind?
'Please select your Adventuring name.'
"E-Uhm," Elliot paused and thought about it. Will he use his real name? He wanted to. After all, it was what his mother gave him.
"I chose–"
'You have chosen your Adventuring name.'
'Welcome, APRIL.'
Elliot's eyes widened at the message. "No. I revoke that. My Adventuring name is–"
<< APRIL >>
Level 10
Class: Creator