It had been a busy yet uneventful month, or at least close to a month, since nothing exciting had happened.

  Thanks to my job as a fisherman, I was able to gather a small fortune for myself and the crew. I quickly blew most of it on, finally getting out of the shelter, buying new clothes, and a nice-looking wallet. It made keeping count of my money far easier, as it dispyed the number whenever I pulled it out.

  One benefit of discovering the job system was how it gradually connected my memories, allowing them to make sense and blend seamlessly together. However, some memories still leave me with a pounding headache whenever I try to make sense of them. I consider myself fortunate to have received the gamer system, but mine was quite different from the strange tales of getting stronger with menial tasks if my memory wasn’t pying a trick on me. Despite this, I persevered and continued to explore the many possibilities that these discoveries had to offer.

  In theory, I should have had an entire catalog of jobs and skills, but I soon learned that unlocking new jobs wasn’t as easy as I had initially thought. It wasn’t as if people refused to help me; quite the contrary, many of them gdly took their time to teach me their craft, but the results remained the same.

  It was a rather disappointing development for a supposed gamer, who was known to be the conqueror of worlds. Nonetheless, I took into consideration the possibility that those memories were just a product of my imagination, designed to appeal to my sense of wonder. They made little sense when trying to apply them to reality.

  However, there was another factor that dealt a powerful blow to my pride.

  ‘Status’

  Ma’iq RakhanRace–Feline FaunusAge 17Level–1 (0%)Mentor–NoneApprentice–NoneHP–360 [45 regen per minute]MP–1000 [300 regen per minute]SP–1700 [200 regen per minute]STR–22END–30DEX–25INT–19WIS–19CHA–25LCK–10

  Despite a month having passed, I remained stuck at level one, which was quite disappointing. Only the fisherman and cook had managed to increase their levels to the point of reaching an unexpected breakthrough. However, the promotion from novice to journeyman made a big difference in the field. For fishing, I no longer needed to sail deep into the sea with the crew; a good fishing rod and a pleasant spot away from the busy port were enough. As for cooking, I ended up working as an assistant in a small restaurant in the market.

  So I can be proud of something rather than mop all day and wallow in self pity.

  “Truly fishing is the endgame to all paths.”

  I find myself fishing on a natural formation of rocks that serves as a seawall. The sound of the sea waves crashing against the rocks, accompanied by the wind, creates a pleasant tune as I feel a tug on my fishing rod. It’s a good thing I came early today; my basket is practically overflowing with fishes, and I’ve also caught a couple of crabs that I’ve stored in a separate bucket to avoid damaging the fish.

  My attention shifts to the rod and I start reeling it in. As the fish gets closer, I use all my strength for the st pull and a rge, reddish fish the size of my arm comes into view. It fps its tail wildly, trying to break free from the hook.

  [Fisherman Level up]

  [Journeyman fisherman level increased by 1, 6/50]

  I wonder if I level up enough times, I would start fishing sharks. Should I get a bigger basket?

  With the fish at hand, I grab a stick and swiftly smack the animal on the head to end its suffering before dropping it into the basket with the rest.

  “Hi there.”

  I spun around and found a fair-skinned girl wearing a white tank top and a pair of blue shorts. It was a common fashion trend for a tropical city, but what caught my attention were her pointy, long beige ears sticking out from her long, curly brown hair. She was as tall as me, but her ears gave her an edge, as mine were pointing sideways instead of upwards.

  “Hey.” I greet her, waving my hand in acknowledgment.

  “Do you mind if I take some?” she asks with an innocent smile, pointing at my basket.

  “Sure, take one.” I grab my basket and open it for her to take whichever fish she liked. Her smile widened into a grin as she picked out the recently caught red fish.“Nice, free food.” She pulled out a folded pstic bag from her shorts and pced the fish in it.

  [Affection with Levi Fang increased by 1, 01/100]

  Did I trigger an ‘Affection system’?

  I can’t help but feel puzzled. Why her and why now? I have met others and shared good times without triggering this system.

  “Strange way to say thank you.” I dismiss my doubts and quirk an eyebrow.

  She rolls her eyes and a cheeky smile forms on her lips. “Okay, okay. Thank you, oh merciful one,” she says pyfully and gives a sarcastic bow.

  I chuckle at her dispy and py along, raising my nose up like a true stuck-up rich bastard. “Fttery will get you nowhere. Now move along, young one. This one has some proper business to attend to.”She giggles, and her top ears wiggle for a moment before settling into an uneven position.

  “... this might not be the best introduction, but who are you?” I ask after a moment.

  “My name is Levi Fang, and you?” She extends an open invitation for a friendly handshake, which I take with a smile.

  “Ma’iq Rakhan. I’m delighted to make your acquaintance.”

  “That’s a strange name, no offense. And no need to be all formal or anything with me.” She waves her hand dismissively.

  “Better safe than sorry. I don’t want to offend a big shot going incognito, you know?” I only shrug and drop the basket on the ground. “And don’t worry about your comment. I got used to hearing the same thing after a while.”

  “So, what’s bringing you here?” I gesture at the entire pce around us, since it is not exactly a busy or popur spot.

  She walks closer to the edge and kicks a couple of pebbles into the sea. “Curiosity. I saw you all alone fishing in this spot for a couple of days now. And you must be great at it, unless that basket of fish is not yours.” She spins around and points at the container next to my feet.

  Instinctively, my tail reaches for the lid and closes it, trying to hide the contents from Levi’s eyes. But it is weird that I tend to forget about my tail existence.

  “Curiosity killed the cat, you know?” I tease her, but that only makes her smirk.

  “Good thing I’m not one.” She points at her ears, happily dancing.

  “I thought you were one…” I trail off, my hand scratching my head in confusion. It dawns on me that despite her only Faunus trait being her extra pair of ears, I have nothing else to differentiate her from a cat faunus.Her face twists into a frown as she kicks a rger rock off the seawall.

  [Affection with Levi Fang decreased by 1, 00/100]

  I have to avoid speaking my mind.

  “I didn’t mean to offend you or anything. I’m just ignorant regarding the variety of faunus and I wish to learn more about my kin if possible.” I try to apologize and let out a sigh of relief as she smiles again in response.Levi moves closer and grabs my fishing rod. “Can you teach me?”

  I am surprised at first by her request, but quickly take the chance to make up for my previous mistake. “Sure. Fishing is not that hard, to be honest. You need a lot of patience tho.”

  She rolls her eyes to my warning and points at the sunny skies. “I have all the time in the world.”

  [Affection with Levi Fang increased by 1, 01/100]

  Did I make a friend?

  Levi left after teaching her the basics of correct posture and even promised to come back the next day to continue our lessons.And I am already waiting for tomorrow to arrive.

  But there are a couple of things I need to do before calling it a day.

  Heading to the market to sell my catch of the day, I notice a gathering crowd. While it’s a common sight at the docks, it’s still too early for the other fishermen to return. Instead of shouting prices, the crowd seems to be cheering and chanting, but it’s hard to distinguish amid all the noise.

  Curiosity getting the better of me, I approach the growing crowd.

  “What’s going on here?” I ask the nearest person, who gestures toward the center.

  “The White Fang just came back with a huge shipment of dust. People are hoping to get their hands on some.”

  My ears perk up at the mention of the White Fang, and I push my way to the front of the crowd, ignoring the man’s chatter.

  I try not to exert too much force as I push some people aside to make my way through the crowd, and my suspicions are confirmed when I see a group of faunus dressed in bck sleeveless hoodies and white robes, fshing their menacing symbol of a rge feline head. They are handing out small boxes filled to the brim with the famous dust crystals to the people.

  “The White Fang is always looking for new members! Join us to protect the rights of faunus all over Remnant!” The tallest and most muscur White Fang member announced, reaching most of the younger members of the crowd who lined up in front of another member with white bunny ears coming out from his hoodie, who started distributing flyers.

  The scene didn’t match up with what little I had heard about them back in Vacuo or even my blurry memories.

  This only made me worry.

  But in a crisis, there is an opportunity. They could be my ticket out of level 1 and a chance to learn more about them. I was aware of how stupid of an idea it sounded, but I couldn’t resist the temptation finally to overcome my longstanding problem.

  I patiently wait for the young crowd to disperse before approaching the rabbit faunus. “Could I have one of those?” I ask, pointing at the fliers.

  “Sure thing, brother! It’s great to see the younger generation standing up for their rights!” he responds with a smile, handing me a flier.

  He doesn’t look much older than me, and I find it odd that he refers to me as ‘brother’.

  “Yeah, yeah,” I dismiss his propaganda as I scan the paper. In addition to the corny words and slogans, the flier also provides directions to their recruitment buildings and, if I’m feeling daring, their training camp, which is located not too far from the city walls.

  I carefully tuck the piece of paper into one of my pockets and set off for the market. My first stop is at the old man’s stand, where he happily takes the fish off my hands and pays me a reasonable amount. The crabs, being a delicacy in expert cuisine, make up for the difference in pay as they sell well.

  I had considered the idea of selling directly to the public, but it would mean standing for hours and shouting about my products and prices, which is not really my comfort zone. So it’s better to let others handle it.With that taken care of, I venture deeper into the market and reach the restaurants. The alluring smell of seafood and more wafts in the air, tempting me to spend my hard-earned lien.

  As I walk, I spot a particur restaurant that is just opening its doors. I head towards it, leaving my belongings in a container near the small kitchen. However, as I drop them off, the flier falls out of my pocket and nds on the floor.

  Not wanting to be accused of littering, I quickly pick it up and ball it up before stuffing it back into my pocket to avoid losing it again.

  “Are you thinking about joining the White Fang?” a deep voice startles me.

  I turn around slowly, only to see my boss wearing his apron and looking at me with concern. “Fishing all morning and cooking all evening is nice, but it’s starting to get boring after a month. I believe there’s more out there for me.”

  It’s not a lie, but it’s not the entire truth either. The truth is, I am curious about the White Fang and want to learn more about them.

  The goril faunus pats me on the back, and his concerned expression transforms into a knowing smile. “Can’t bme you. I was the adventurous type when I was younger, too. But you should also learn your limits and know when to quit.”

  “Did you use to be a hunter?” I ask curiously, wondering if his words hinted at that possibility.

  He shakes his head, causing my interest to wane. “Not really. I was just a backpacker traveling all over Remnant, exploring new pces and meeting new people. The biggest threat to me at that time wasn’t the Grimm, but rather bandits.”

  “It would have been cool if you were a retired hunter,” I tease, causing him to let out a hearty ugh.

  “That doesn’t mean I didn’t pick up a few moves on my travels,” he says, giving me a light punch on the arm, causing me to rub the spot even though it doesn’t hurt. “If you have some spare time, I could teach you a few things.”

  “I’ll keep that in mind,” I say before walking over to the counter and grabbing a gray bandana from underneath it. I wrap it around my head, taking care not to apply too much pressure on my ears. “So, what’s on the menu?”

  A quick gnce at my wallet shows that I have a little less than a thousand lien, which makes me smile. It means I only need one more day of work to have enough for my rent and then I can use the remaining time to save up for a scroll.

  On my way home, I bought a book about sewing and knitting that covers the absolute basics of the craft, including some history and small biographies of famous people in the design and fashion industry of Remnant.

  Finding another way to unlock more jobs is a priority, but with each failure, my enthusiasm slowly slips away. If this doesn’t work, then I honestly don’t know what other options I have and will have to resort to luck, hoping that one day I’ll trigger another job unlocking.

  After a short walk through the city streets, I find myself in front of my humble home. I open the door and drop everything inside before sitting down at my empty desk. I start reading my new book, and as boring as it sounds, I steel myself to maintain my attention. Not to memorize every word, but to actually understand the book and what it is trying to teach me.

  Even the proper posture when working.

  The book wasn’t as thick as an encyclopedia, but neither was it short. Taking a quick gnce at my clock, I realize that it’s the dawn of a new day. But since I am my own boss, my work schedule is not an issue.“Now let’s test this out.” I grab the pair of thick needles with a blue yarn ball and pce them on my desk next to the open book.

  I return to the knitting section and follow the instructions on how to knit a single cloth piece. Instructions which I zealously follow to the letter, as everything needed to be perfect, just be sure.Tie the yarn, go through the loop, wrap it around and go down.

  The same movement over and over again until all the repetitions take shape into a square piece of cloth made of yarn.

  [Weaver’s job unlocked!]

  [Novice Weaver level 1/50]

  “Fucking finally…”

  I can finally sleep in peace.