"Come on! Go man!"
I felt someone push me from behind as I was looking at the quest. I quickly accept the quest, close the player interface and moved on. It was my turn next so I went ahead and got on with my business.
I registered as an adventurer. There was nothing too different. The process was similar to what you see in light novels and anime. The only difference was the rank system. The rank system was based off of your character level. Even NPC were ranked this way.
This is how the ranking system works.
Level 1-9: Unranked
Level 10-19: Beginner Rank
Level 20-29: Intermediate Rank
Level 30-39: Advanced Rank
Level 40-59: Saint Rank
Level 60-79: King Rank
Level 80-99: Emperor Rank
Level 100 and beyond: God Rank
On average, most commoners stay Unranked their entire lives. Most of the town guards are either Beginner or Intermediate Ranked. While the captains and other leaders in the city are Advanced Rank. If I remember correctly, the town mayor should be an Advanced Rank as well. The Saint, King and Emperor Rank are more rare. These three could be considered the true powerhouses of the world. They are only found within big cities and usually have some ties to a ruler or big organization. As for God Rank, not much is known. There is no record of anyone reaching this point expect for four individuals from long ago.
NPC don't have to register with the Adventurer's Guild to know their rank. Every year, the leaders send out workers to check on their citizens ranks for free. If a citizen ranked up, there are rewards for them. It keeps them motivated to get stronger and in return, the leaders get a potential new soldier added to their forces.
Players aren't included in this obviously but it doesn't matter since we can see our level in the player interface.
My goal is to break through to Beginner Rank before the game event happens.
As I pondered the ranking system and my next goals, the guild staff had returned.
"Here you go sir. Exactly 10 gold pieces for the 8 wolves, 3 goblins and the hare you brought in. Will that be all for you?"
"Thank you. That's all for me."
I turn and leave the guild.
-
"Those cores sold for a lot huh?"
I decided to sell the three goblin cores. Just that alone brought me 4 gp (A/N: GP is the abbreviation for gold pieces in case anyone was wondering).
Apparently the cores are used by magic users. A magic user can absorb the core and permanently increase their MP. The higher ranked the cores are, the more MP you could receive from it. Since my cores were near Beginner Rank, they ended up selling for a lot more.
"Well. Now that I have some money, I could prepare for the next quest. I do need to buy some expensive things just to start it…"
-
While Roman walked around the town square, trying to buy the items he needed to start the next quest. Just outside the town square, there was an old and run down brick building. The building itself had seen better days.
Those passing by would just say, "Oh, the druggies are in there." Or "I'm sure that's where all the criminals hang out.".
They would be wrong. This old building belongs to someone from the Demon Continent!
The door to the old building suddenly swung open. A short man came stumbling out, still drunk from his morning drinking. This person wasn't just short though. This person was a dwarf!
The dwarf stumbles and falls off the steps, landing straight on his face. A group of children passing by began laughing at him. When he heard this, the old dwarf quickly got up. This frightened the children and they all ran away screaming.
The dwarf just grumbles and sits on his steps.
"I guess father was right… I should of never came to the human continent! I just thought that there would be more opportunities here since the human's weapons are so fragile…"
This dwarf's name is Ark Van. He was one of the few dwarfs that lived on the human continent. He began living here nearly 100 years ago with the dream of building his own blacksmith business.
Unfortunately, his dreams were destroyed when he realized no one wanted to work with a dwarf. Humans, just like most creatures, did not care for others unless it was their own. This caused many people to subconsciously discriminate against other races.
Ark had already spent his life savings buying this building and all the equipment in it. But no one wanted to learn from him, causing him to eventually sink into depression. With no source of income or even an apprentice, he had began to contemplate once again. Should he return home? Or try to wait again for a miracle?
-
Roman POV
I finally found everything I needed! In my right arm, I was cradling a bottle of the best human whiskey. In my left, I was holding onto a freshly baked berry meat lovers pie.
These were the key items needed to start the next quest I wanted to do.
I ran towards the old and run down brick building located just outside of the town square. The person I'm looking for should be around here.
As the building came into view, I see a dwarf sitting on the steps. I could see him sighing. I quickly rush towards him before he heads back inside.
"Excuse me sir!"
I tried being polite as possible. I don't know much about his back story but I know he doesn't really like humans.
The dwarf gives me a glance but then looks away. He doesn't even say anything. I guess what I heard was true. The dwarf gets up and was about to go back inside.
"Wait! Sir, I wish to learn blacksmithing from you!"
The dwarf suddenly stops and scoffs at me.
"Get lost kid. No way a human wants to learn anything from me."
"I'm serious sir! I… I will do whatever it takes to become you're apprentice!"
The dwarf in front of me is Ark Van. Living in the human continent, he is a nobody but from where he comes from, the demon continent, he is the son of the greatest blacksmith of this generation.
In the past, Ark left the starting town after the first game event ended. He wasn't known to the player base until he was discovered wondering the demon continent. There, he took in players without much resistance. The only requirement for becoming his apprentice was alcohol and his favorite berry meat lovers pie from the human continent.
He is the son of the greatest blacksmith so those who learned under him not only learned the blacksmithing skill, but they also received a permanent blacksmithing boost.
Now, I'm hoping that he will accept me so I can learn the blacksmithing skill. With that skill, I could make my own armor. Since you always loose your items when you died, it would be better if I had a way to quickly make a new set of armor for myself every time.
Not only that, I can give my parents and Clem good items when they finally decide to join me too. I just need to convince them soon…
Ark looks at me and then looks at the whiskey and pie. He hesitates but I made sure that he knew how sincere I was about learning from him.
"Please sir!! I must learn blacksmithing from you! I will offer this pie and this whiskey to you as a sign of my sincerity! If it isn't enough for master then I will even help you find a wife!!"
Ark quickly turns red. Even though he looked older, he was still considered young and cute to all the other dwarfs. He grabs the things from me and clears his throat.
"What the hell!? Fine, I'll take you as my apprentice! Just stop shouting those ridiculous things!"
I couldn't help but let out a small cheer. With this, I can guarantee my family a constant flow of armor that will keep them safe as they train. However, it seems like I was celebrating a little bit to early.
"Don't get to excited! If you bring me ... then I will fully commit to teaching you everything I know!"
After I heard what he said, a quest appeared in front of me.
~One of One~
Quest Details: Ark Van has been living alone in the human continent for a century without a purpose. You have now given him a purpose. As a sign of thanks, he wants you to bring him the best ore possible. Unfortunately, bandits have stolen all the ores getting transported into the town. Retrieve the ores from the bandits hideout!
Time Limit: One Week
Reward: The skill "Smithing" is unlocked
(Note! To use the smithing skill you must train with Ark for at least 6 hours before the skill is available to you. You will also require level 5 in these following skills before you can use smithing: Strength & Magic)
Will you accept?
I read through the quest details to understand what I was getting into. Maybe he plans to create something with it? I'm not sure what to expect from this quest. No one has ever done this quest since no one found Ark this earlier in the past.
I press the yes and look back at Ark. I could see him smiling and laughing as he drank the whiskey I got him. I bow to him.
"Master! I will return with the ore you mentioned. I will not let you down."
Ark looks at me and smiles again, I could tell that he was already drunk.
"Of course! Go on my pupil!"
He laughs cheerfully as he heads back inside his home. It looks like I brightened up his day. I go ahead and return to the town square.
"Now... level 5 Magic... It seems that I must visit the magic shop before it closes. I should have another hour before the festival starts so I'm sure that they are still open."
-
A/N: I'm thinking about putting Roman's stats and skills at the end of every 10th chapter. I think I'll also add the current quests that he has as well. I think once the story picks up steam, I will add it every 50 chapters instead. At that point, his stats and skills shouldn't be changing as often.