*Clank clank clank*

"Strike harder, Put your back bone into it!"

*Clank clank clank*

"Stop being such a wuss, even my grandma can strike harder than you!"

... Some probably wonder what's going on here so I'll give a brief explanation, after we arrived at soaring swallow we were greeted with a bustling scene of people buying or browsing equipment.

Our guide, Mahatma, then lead us to the back into the workshop. There a burly and average human height dwarf with short trimmed golden brown hair is over watching everyone works.

When he noticed us(or I should say Mr. Leo) he greeted us with a bright smile, after a long chat with Mr. Leo he asked about who I am to him. after getting his answer and some details I couldn't hear over the hammering noise, he scrutinized me from top to bottom before pointing at me and declare that I'm weak.

I know I'm weak but having it spit out to your face would still annoy people and because so many ears are listening I denied his claim just for him to challenge me which at the time I did not know was a trap, I said I'll accept any challenge he'll throw at me.

And that lead us to where we are at the present, after giving me a book titled "introduction to smithery for idiots" he have me an hour to remember the content, which is more than enough actually.

Finishing the book, I gained three new skills, since it's a bother to explain let me just give you the system information.

– Smithery Lv1 (0/100) –

Type: passive

Effect:

1.) increase effectiveness during forging by 10%

2.) Increase the quality of finished product by 5%

Description:

A must have skill for every for blacksmith to forge.

– Metallurgy –

Type: passive

Effect:

1.) Increase effectiveness during smelting, forging, and repairing by 20%

2.) Increase durability of metals created by 20%

3.) Increase quality of metals created by 20%

Description:

A must have skill for every blacksmith to smelt.

– Tinkering Lv1 (0/100) –

Type: passive

Effect:

1.) Increase effectiveness during repairing or maintaining an item or equipment by 15%

2.) Reduce failure chance during item creation by 25%

3.) 3% chance to give random effect to items during creation

Description:

An uncommon skill some blacksmith have.

I was quite delighted with these skills before I had to sit here in front of a forge and anvil, hammering down metal after metal, blade after blade without rest for hours.

A couple times I gave a pleading gaze for help towards my teacher but he only gave me a smile and mouthed "do your best" as encouragement.

"I said hit harder you spineless fool!"

'Teacher... Why won't you save me?'

with that unsaid question, he continues to hammer with his full strength which never seem to be enough for hours to end.

.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..

Varius family resident, first floor storeroom.

"Ahh~" Vayne moan as he lay on the makeshift bed.

"Today sure is a torture, but the boon is worth it I guess." Turning around towards the ceiling, he open the system menu and check his statuses.

— status—

Name: Vayne

Title: alchemy maniac

Race: Magical Puppet

Age: 6

Main Job: Apprentice Alchemist

Sub jobs: Apprentice Blacksmith

Lv 4 exp: 180/206

Hp: 102/134 | Sta: 7/80 | Mp: 105/105

Str: 18 | Vit: 16 | Agi: 15 | Int: 21 | Res: 14 | Cha: 14

Rewrite point: 50

Condition: exhausted

"Haha... What is this title... well whatever, it seems doing alchemy and forging counts as training looking at these stats."

— Skills —

Special skill: Rewrite, Devourer

Active skill: body fortification, basic concoction mixture,

Passive skill: Observation, barehanded combat Lv 1(3/100), basic alchemy knowledge, Herbalist, Hunter, Explorer, sword mastery Lv 1(12/100), pain resistance Lv 1(3/100)

"Huh... There are some skills I've never seen before, does this mean the system won't tell me any new skills not from books?"

After looking for a while Vayne close the menu, blew the candle at the side table and prepare to sleep.

"There's no use thinking too much, it's answer itself someday."

Slowly he relaxed his breathing and his eyes grow heavier.

[Ding! Emergency quest triggered!]

.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..

"Ngh~." Lucas Stretch his stiff body after getting out of the guards Outpost.

"That sure took a while, think you can walk back? the potions don't replace blood loss after all. " He ask the person next to him.

"I still feel a bit weak and if you mean all the way back to the academy then no, let's head to the hide out it's closer and the gates probably closed already anyway." Elea said rubbing his chest.

Lucas nod at his suggestion and both head off towards the southern part of the town. There they walked towards the alley next to a warehouse with the number 5.

Lucas knock on the warehouse wall and whisper something, after he done so the wall slide open, revealing a staircase. Lucas and Elea entered and the wall closes behind them.

After the wall closes, a cloaked person walk to the same wall and knock. They whisper the same thing Lucas did but instead of opening a small magic circle light up.

Before the person could evade, they were blown to bits of bloody pieces.

.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..

Reading the system notification Vayne jump up from his bed as if he got stung by electricity and quickly open the quest.

—Emergency quest: uninvited one—

An uninvited guest has entered the residents, he meant harm towards you, Dispose of him. Failure and face the consequences.

Kill the intruder (0/1)

Reward: all stats + 10

Bonus reward: ???

Failure penalty:

1.) Pain x 500% for two days

2.) Intense pain for two days

3.) All stat reduce to 1

4.) Erasure of all skills except specials

Status: incomplete

he feel shock by the quest description but what shock him more is the reward and penalties of it, to him the balance seems off.

grabbing the sword by his bedside he quietly creep out of his room. when he reach the living room he see the silhouette of a person carefully going up the stairs.

'they doesn't seem to notice me'

although the quest already said one person, Vayne still look around to make sure there are no straggler around before turning back to the person sneaking halfway up the stairs and scan them.

Assassin A

Lv 9

Str: 21 | Vit: 24 | Agi: 32 | Int: 30 | Res: 28 | Cha: 22

'I could sneak up and kill him quietly right now or I could just confront him head on but in the end it makes little difference... I will have to kill...'

shaking his head Vayne put his hesitation and doubt to the back of his mind and activate [Rewrite].

'it's time to utilize the system feature.'

[ding! using Rewrite to increase status, current RP conversation ratio is 1RP : 1 status point]

[ding! adding 20 point to Strength, 10 point to Vitality, and 20 point to Agility. confirm?]

[ding! process rewrite... rewrite complete. showing new status]

— status—

Name: Vayne

Title: alchemy maniac

Race: Magical Puppet

Age: 6

Main Job: Apprentice Alchemist

Sub jobs: Apprentice Blacksmith

Lv 4 exp: 180/206

Hp: 212/244 | Sta: 57/130 | Mp: 105/105

Str: 38 | Vit: 26 | Agi: 35 | Int: 21 | Res: 14 | Cha: 14

Rewrite point: 0

Condition: tired

Vayne nod his head, satisfied with the results, before he unsheathes as quietly as he can but the man must have heard him as he stops at the top of the staircase.

'It's now or never!'

leaving the hallway where he hides Vayne dash full speed towards the man, it takes a little over two seconds for him to reach him but that two seconds was enough for the guy to draw his curved dagger and face him.

using the built up speed, Vayne thrust himself towards the man but he jumps back and throw something towards him.

Vayne felt something like ant bites on his right shoulder and chest but he ignores it and continue his charge.

as he got into range he swing his sword horizontally but only manage to cut air as his opponent roll away behind him. the man stops into a crouch and propel himself into a backstab, seeing this Vayne spin to the side along with a slash of his sword.

seeing what happens the man also spin himself mid flight and use his dagger to parry his opponent.

the two weapon clash with a loud metallic sounds and with his superior Strength Vayne manage to send the man up higher into the air. trying to take advantage of it Vayne chase after him.

seeing the boy chase after him, he quickly spin himself midair, positioning his feet against the ceiling and propel himself down with a long swipe.

Vayne using his smaller stature only lower his body slightly to evade, the dagger's tip left a long graze at his cheek but he manage to pass through the man defense and drive his sword through the man's chest.

the moment the boy stab him he could feel the life seeps out from his body, using the last of his strength he stab his dagger at the boys back, missing his heart slightly, before darkness engulf his mind.

both body fall to the side drench in blood, Vayne wants to move but he can't, he wants to pulls his sword but he can't, he wants to yell for help but he can't. he knows a beastkin hearing is sharper than human but the feeling of death drawing closer and closer scares him.

[ding! quest condition met, sending quest reward. bonus condition met, the...]

in the back of his mind he hears the system cold, emotionless voice but he couldn't hear everything before the strong allure of sleep take him.