Chapter 53
"Well, there you have it. Though I suspect the diagnosis is wrong—it’s more likely just mental exhaustion. I struggle to control the flow of my thoughts, even in-game. So, I need to read up on this, or I’ll end up destroying myself without even meaning to.
Seems I’ve figured out how to spend these two weeks without overloading my brain. To level up my smithing—or rather, my forging skills—I need metal. Which means a lot of ore. So, mining it is. Darkness… my love… I step into your embrace.
My talk with Claude was brief but meaningful.
> You have been offered to learn the profession: Miner.
> You have learned the profession: Miner.
> Miner +1
> Chance to discover mineral deposits +1%
—Claude, due to certain… circumstances in my world, I need to spend two weeks in darkness. I plan to spend it all in the mines, gathering ore for my training and your work.
—Two weeks?! You’ll lose your mind from solitude! —The blacksmith threw his hands up.
—Trust me, two weeks is nothing. Besides, I’ll be busy.
—Ugh, you’re always like this. Is there anything you’re afraid of?
—Yeah. One terrifying old woman and her… grandchildren.
—What old woman? Did you do something to her?
—Black robe, carrying a scythe. I ran from her, but she kept inviting me over, calling and calling… Didn’t end well.
Under Claude’s stunned gaze, I headed into the mines. He didn’t see my sly grin.
And I descended into the dark. I had my reasons. Eyes strain the brain the most—darkness would ease the load. No magic, just meditation. I needed to learn control; another episode like that could kill me.
It turned out better than meditation. Every strike resonated through my body, mapping the space around me. My imp’s eye filled in the gaps, processing echoes off the walls. They say if you stare into the abyss, it stares back. For me? I felt it. My consciousness worked as one—analyzing movement, force, sound. Each strike used reinforcement; I had to master this bodily control. Working in total darkness… it was calming.
Two weeks passed. Then, a notification:
> Ability Acquired: Shroud of Darkness
> Having lingered in the dark so long, you’ve made it a part of yourself. This ability cloaks your body in absolute darkness.
If I think about it, my aura just… absorbs light. A sphere of pure night. A good skill—now I’m a true nocturnal hunter.
My "treatment" ended. First thing back at the orphanage? Sleep. A full day of it, waking only to eat and crash again. No pain, no tension, no bleeding. Fully healed.
Returning to the game, I left the mine. Forest smells, sea salt, baked bread, molten metal—I sprinted to the shore, craving the water, needing to feel every muscle, every cell.
I swam all day, testing my mental control. No degradation—if anything, it was smoother. By afternoon, I was back at Claude’s.
The most valuable haul? Quartz sand. We turned it into glass—finally, vials for potions. Before, I’d used acorns as test tubes. No local sellers, and Clarissa barely had enough herself.
A week at the forge, hardening metal under Claude’s guidance. As complex as potioncraft. Layer it for strength, or temper it in special alloys. I’m no smith, but I focused on alloying. Five days later—success.
> Skill Learned: Metal Hardening
> Metal Hardening +1
> Hardening effect +1% durability
Chrysalis’s systems are intricate! Based on real-world metallurgy—each metal melts at unique temps, and mismatched alloys spoil. Who makes the solutions? Clarissa, with her potion skills! So I had the recipe.
With two weeks left, I studied wood hardening. The book said it’s done via infusion—no earth-style pressing here. Different woods need different treatments, or the effect reverses. Everything "brewing"-related hinges on thermal and chemical properties. Mastered it in two days.
> Skill Learned: Wood Hardening
> Wood Hardening +1
> Hardening effect +1% durability
Four days until the ship. I waited at the dock, wary of missing it in this backwater.
In six weeks, I’d gained five class skills, hoarded herbs, pearls, and metal, built poison resistance, and compiled recipes for potions, poisons, infusions, salves. Crafted vials and an alchemy set. The last ten days? Herb-gathering and brewing concentrated toxins.
Hell taught me: even trifles can save you. No one helps—they’ll stomp your head if you drown. They take everything, then wait for you to rebuild just to steal again. I need power—the kind the world’s rulers can’t seize. From what the devil said, they can take objects, even bodies… but not the mind, not skills. Achievements and levels, though? Unclear.
I sat there, furious at my weakness. I craved strength—enough to crush all who’d harm me. That astral watcher, the sword-wielding entity (not me—different details I’d ignored then). Enemies. The world’s hostile, stifling my growth. They showed their hand. Now I’ll answer.
—Status window.
Name: Saji
Level: 0
EXP: 0/100 (Next: 100)
Race: Human
Class: Unselected
Core Stats:
STR: 90
DEX: 90
END: 90
INT: 90
WIS: 90
Unallocated: 0
Secondary Stats:
Speed: 90
Athleticism: 90
Spirit: 90
Vitality: 90
Combat Stats:
Phys. Damage: 45 (STR/2, min 1)
Carry Weight: 225kg (STR×10/4)
Mana: 900 (WIS×10)
HP: 900 (END×10)
Stamina: 900 (END×10)
Regen Rates:
HP/min: 900 (VIT×10)
Mana/min: 900 (SPI×10)
Stamina/min: 900 (ATH×10)
Move Speed: 10 km/h (1+SPD/10)
Defense: 1
Resistances:
Physical: 1.72% (Ignore up to 421 dmg/sec)
Poison: 2.72% (Ignore up to 1021 dmg/sec)
Skills:
Cooking: 250
Traps: 19
Archery: 250
Swimming: 250
Breath Control: 250
Stealth: 250
Life Magic: 250
Spirit Magic: 250
Space Magic: 250
Earth/Water/Fire/Air/Light/Dark Magic: 250
Meditation: 250
Melee: 92
Perception: 166
Necromancy/Blood Magic/Chimeralogy/Ritual Magic: 250
Artifact Crafting: 250
Poison/Ointment Crafting: 25
Metal/Wood Hardening: 25
Body Enhancement: 25
Professions:
Herbalist/Fisher/Tailor/Blacksmith/Carpenter: 250
Miner: 25
Abilities:
Imp’s Eye
Eleven Streams of Thought
One of Us
Shroud of Darkness
Boons:
Deferred Meeting
I need power—and a path. An idea’s forming, but it’s not enough. I need might beyond the physical."