Kain confidently places the knife onto the wet quartz stone, focusing intently on his task. He begins to slide the blade back and forth, the rhythmic motion a testament to his precision and determination. With his left hand applying steady pressure, he guides the blade with his right, ensuring every pass is deliberate and controlled. The sound of metal against stone reverberates through the workshop, a symphony of craftsmanship and dedication.
For two meticulous hours, Kain hones the edge, his eyes never wavering from the task at hand. He periodically assesses the blade's sharpness, feeling its progress under his fingertips. Each moment is a testament to his patience and attention to detail, until finally, the knife meets his high standards of perfection.
Exhaling deeply, Kain mutters to himself, "I am going to feel this one in the morning."
A notification appears in his field of vision: **Host has gained a new skill: Sharpening. The Host has been rewarded 1 skill point for completing a mission.**
Vulcan, intrigued by Kain's effort, strides over and examines the knife. With a critical eye, he comments, "Meh, not bad for a first try. Could use some more love, but it should get the job done."
Kain takes a moment to admire his handiwork, turning the knife over and over, scrutinizing every detail. The weight, balance, and sharpness of the blade reflect his dedication. As he contemplates his creation, another notification catches his attention: **Host has learned a new skill: Inspection.**
A virtual window materializes next to the knife, providing detailed information:
**Unnamed Blacksmith's Knife**
- +1 damage
- Rank: Unranked
- Maker: Kain
*This blade was crafted by an aspiring blacksmith, fumbling through the process until they created a truly unique piece of trash.*
"OK, rude. True, but rude," Kain mumbled under his breath as he read the systems critique.
Shaking his head, he added with a hint of excitement, "But this new skill is awesome."
With a determined look, Kain commanded, "System, show me my stats."
A detailed display materialized before him, showcasing his current status:
**Stats**
- **Name:** Kain
- **Race:** Human
- **Age:** 14
- **Level:** 1 (65/100 XP)
- **HP:** 100
- **MP:** 10
- **Strength:** 2
- **Defense:** 3
- **Stamina:** 2
- **Agility:** 3
- **Dexterity:** 3
- **Intelligence:** 5
- **Charisma:** 1
- **Perception:** 1
**Abilities:**
- **Regeneration:** 2%
- **Running:** Level 4
- **Pain Tolerance:** Level 2
- **Sleight of Hand:** Level 3
- **Hammer Mastery:** Level 1
- **Reshaping:** Level 1
- **Sharpening:** Level 1
- **Inspection:** Level 1
**Regeneration:** Boosts HP, MP, and Stamina recovery rates by the percentage achieved.
**Running:** Improves coordination and speed, granting +2 Dexterity and +2 Agility when running, with an additional +1 Dexterity and +1 Agility for each level.
**Pain Tolerance:** Reduces the sensation of pain by 2%.
**Sleight of Hand:** Increases hand movement efficiency, granting +1 Dexterity for every 2 levels.
**Cleaning:** Enhances cleaning efficiency by 10% per level.
**Hammer Mastery:** Improves the effective use of a hammer.
**Reshaping:** Increases efficiency in reshaping objects.
**Sharpening:** Enhances the effectiveness of sharpening items.
**Inspection:** Provides detailed information about items.
**Skill Points Available:** 3
```
Kain stood in contemplation, weighing his options. After a moment of deliberation, he decisively said, "I'm going to use my three skill points now. I'll invest them in Hammer Mastery to aid in both blacksmithing and combat. Then, I'll level up Inspection to get more detailed information. I'll do two and two after completing my daily quest. I'm tired, but I need these points."
Drawing in a deep breath, Kain issued the command, "System, open Daily Quest."
The system promptly responded with a new task:
**Daily Quest:**
- **Swing a weapon 100 times:** 100/100
- **Travel 1 mile:** 0.02/1
**Reward:**
- 1 Stat Point
- 1 Skill Point
Kain sighed, realizing he had already completed one part of the quest. "This wasn't the same thing the first time, and I've already done that. All I need to do is walk. I'll clean myself along the way. I'll complete it by going to the river and back."
Determined, Kain headed towards the river for a refreshing bath. The cold water invigorated him, washing away the grime and fatigue. With renewed energy, he made his way back to the workshop. As he entered, a notification popped up:
**Daily quest complete. Reward: 1 Stat Point, 1 Skill Point.**
"Great, now I can see about those skills," Kain said with satisfaction.
He quickly issued his next command, "System, use a skill point on Hammer Mastery."
The system responded:
**Hammer Mastery Level 1-->2**
**Require: 1 Skill Point**
Confirm?
Confirm
A sense of accomplishment washed over Kain as Hammer Mastery leveled up. He saw the notification:
**Hammer Mastery leveled up. 3 skill points remaining.**
Eager to continue, Kain commanded, "System, use a skill point on Hammer Mastery again."
The system responded:
**Hammer Mastery Level 2-->3**
**Require: 2 Skill Points**
Confirm?
Hold up, 2 skill points? That messes up the whole plan. OK, I got it.
Confirm
**Hammer Mastery leveled up. 1 skill point remaining.**
Kain took a moment to adapt his plan. "System, use a skill point on Inspection."
The system responded:
**Inspection Level 1-->2**
**Require: 1 Skill Point**
Confirm?
Confirm
**Inspection has leveled up. 0 skill points remain.**
"Alright, let's test this out," Kain said eagerly.
He walked over to the swords on display and examined one closely. A window appeared, revealing detailed information:
**Unnamed Sword**
- +1 damage
- Rank: Unranked
- Maker: Vulcan
*Made by a blacksmith who didn't pay any attention to this blade.*
Kain felt a surge of pride and excitement at his newfound abilities, ready to take on the next challenge with enhanced skills and knowledge.
Reflecting on recent events, Kain found himself pondering something peculiar. Vulcan was always in the forge, tirelessly working away, yet Kain had rarely seen any new swords displayed. "That's weird," he thought. "And where the heck does he sleep? I never see him leave, and there's nothing in here that looks like a bed." The questions swirled in his mind, filling him with curiosity.
Determined to find answers, Kain bounded back to the forge. He paused at the door, considering knocking, but his impatience won out. Striding in confidently, he approached Vulcan and asked the question that had been burning in his mind.
"Hey, where do you sleep?"
Vulcan glanced up from his work, unfazed. "Right there," he said, pointing to a spot on the floor. "Sometimes over there if it's cold. I'll sleep closer to the forge. Why do you ask, kid?"
Kain was surprised by the casual response. "I was just asking because I rarely see you leave."
"It's called work ethic, kid. Something that would help you."
Kain frowned, puzzled. "What does sleeping on the floor of a forge have to do with work ethic?"
With a deep sigh, Vulcan explained, "That's what's wrong with people these days—they don't understand the basics. If I sleep in here, I can work until I drop, then repeat. How else am I going to level up all my skills?"
Kain considered this for a moment, then asked another question. "How come there are only three swords out there, but you're always forging? And where do you get the materials to keep forging all the time?"
"Oh, that's simple," Vulcan replied. "If someone wants a sword, they can take one of the ones out there. I don't need a bunch—it would just attract problems. As for the materials, I take goblin or kobold weapons, forge them into blades, sharpen them, and get them to a point where I'm happy with them. Then I reforge them into ingots and repeat. You do lose some material each time, but I can usually repeat the process many times before I can't make anything else out of it."
Kain was taken aback. "Well, that's crazy."
"I don't have the money for better materials, and the ones I have, I have to get myself," Vulcan explained. "Doing it this way means that when I finally get better materials, I'll have a high enough skill level for them."
"Yeah, but still, that is crazy," Kain said, shaking his head.
"Maybe," Vulcan conceded, "but this method has gotten me to where I am now. It's also gotten you food, so how crazy is that?"
"Okay, I get it. I'll leave you alone now. I'm so tired from earlier; I'm heading to bed."
"Whatever," Vulcan muttered. "Just don't become too lazy—you still need to pay me back."
"Yeah, yeah," Kain replied as he walked towards the closet, ready for a well-deserved rest.