?Ara Ara, what a predicament.“

  “Tsk Tsk, you should know better how important a good night sleep is.“

  “Why am here?“

  *crunch* *crunch*

  There are two sturdy brown haired man sitting on the floor. One of them is only sitting on his knees, while the other is bowing, more to avoid eye-contact then to actually repent. By the sidelines is a dwarf with something roasted, nuts or seeds, maybe a mix. Before the young man are two woman, one old dy, dressed in Green robes, the other rather… exceptional. To describe her, one must first be able to imagine the cliché character that sometimes appears in online novel or mangas. Someone who is born a guy but dresses and behaves feminine and has always a thick mask of make-up on. No, imagine him, but as born woman with strong mainly features. And don’t omit the breasts or hips, or readjust the imaginary figure to have a manly skeleton. As soon as you change the imaginary thick make-up to a light one, then it will be perfect.

  On a side note, she is a tailor with “foreign” origin. It tones down to having a darker skin colour, making her look kind of exotic in the current environment.Even though I am sure no matter the skin colour, she would stand out. And she also says “Ara Ara”. With a hand on her cheek and tilted head.

  Now, to how that happened. I took the Head, on which slowly colours began to from after the lotions was sprayed on, and asked the alchemist if she knows someone who would need he head. What I didn’t look at, was the constantly changing colour, which looked terrifyingly simir to blood in that moment. Combined with Olga, the alchemist, being absentminded and me walking out of a dark room, made her scream out of fright. Which woke Gerald up, who turned around, and saw a simir picture. But for some reason he rushed at me instead, having recognised the head as his product instantly, somehow. Maybe because he is used to the changing colours of the lotion?

  Anyway, Olga calmed down soon enough by herself, while Gerald didn’t even reach me. He was sleeping for a long time in an uncomfortable position, and his legs didn’t take it nicely. Olga wasn’t worried one bit by then, and calmly asked why I wasn’t told anything by Gerald. Which sounded more like asking for a confirmation instead of not knowing what happened. So I told her, and he was lightly scolded. Shortly after, Gelbert, the tannery-guy, and Brock, the dwarf-smith, came in. Gelbert loudly asked how much he progressed on some container thingie for tanning stuff, while Brock was here for drama. Said something about his right big toe tingling or something. Which made Gelbert look frighten at the roasted something munching dwarf, while slowly turning at Olga. Brock even provided background noises for that, with some rusty, creaking, un-oiled tiny machine.

  At this point i am pretty sure I unlocked some kind of special event. Especially since I was ignored, even while climbing the cabinet. Fun VR. Then I kind of got bored and was semi-listening, semi-deep in thoughts. Big fight, cane punches and now both grown man were kneeling. And a lot of scolding and screaming. At some point the Tailor also joined, watching the spectacle and even actively participating.

  I think now I have to listen closely, so that I don’t miss something important for the quest. Is what I thought, but then everyone was turning towards me. Either they have something to ask or say to me, or the event changed from forced interaction to something that happens by the side. You know, like a kid that runs in circles no matter what happens, even when fireballed, or one that falls to the ground when punched. If it’s ter, then maybe I should have gone down from the cabinet.

  ”What do you think, Honey?”

  ”Dunno. The only thing that got across was that he sucks at Work-Life-Bance.”

  ”Hmm?”

  Aaaannd here goes my Personae of being well-spoken and polite. Well, I wouldn’t have been able to keep it up all the time, but appearance is important. I should have tried harder.

  ”So what do you think he should do?”

  ”Establish working hours for himself? With predetermined holidays and sick leaves for himself. When someone is to rigid, they would just work in a fixed pattern in a week, no matter what. Talking from experience.”

  “Do you think it is this easy?!”

  ”I don’t know. I don’t have that problem.”

  Gerald fell Silent. Hard to argue with a ymen who knows he is a ymen.

  “Gerald, is there anything preventing you from doing so?“

  “No, but…“

  “Aree~? So can you or can’t? And don’t say something like could. Everything boils down to actually doing it.“

  “…I will give it some thought.“

  “An unreliable Craftsman, no matter how good, is not any better then an Apprentice.“

  “Ha, good one girly!“

  Gerbert is still silent. Which isn’t strange, as he has nothing to add.

  “And we didn’t even begin with you!“

  “Urgh. Look, it was just a normal request!“

  “Normal you say, our little alliance was meant to be on equal ground. But you gained the most without holding back, while dodging responsibility.“

  “Are you gonna kick him out?“

  “No, I do t think we will.“ ?Brutal, but straight to the point.“

  “You listening Gerbert? When it continues like that, maybe you will be repced by Wanderers like me.“

  “Expin Girly.“

  “Soon, Wanderer with Craftsman css will come, some of them will probably branch into leather working.“

  “That’s all? Doesn’t seem like a big risk to him.“

  “Well, he is the one endangering himself.“

  Gerbert began to gre at me. My bad, not. It’s your fault. Will fundamentally a good person, you are selfish. And ?gluttonous“. Other will lose through your endless will to ?consume“. Why do I know? Someone broke into the Tannery and made photos, posting them in the forums. Its the most interesting thing right now. Otherwise there are only random things and party recruitment spams.

  The building has an excess of everything, with tanned leathers, all of fine quality, stacked in shelves. Containers, like the one commissioned being the outbreak for all that, are pced inside the rooms and basement like casks and barrels in 2-D Pixel Games to create artisan goods. So, yeah. I don’t have any positive feeling for him anymore. But I wonder, is he made so ?two-faced“? Being a good guy in heart, but also ?evil“? Or is he a NPC that will be patched ter on, because of this contrast?

  Ah, I spaced out again.

  *cp* “How about it, why don’t we look at how his tannery looks like?”

  ””””Huh?”””” “Why?”

  ”Well, the compints are about the give and take retionship being unbanced, so why don’t we look at it ourselves to determine the degree of unfairness? Does he take advantage of you, or does he actually need the stuff?”

  “No no no no, a workshop is like a sanctuary for a craftsman. You can’t walk into it so easily like that!”

  “Oh, really? But you never respected my sanctuary.”

  Brock squinted at the strong protest of the Tanner. What is disgusting for Lorelei is that he doesn’t look guilty or anything for abusing their goodwill. More like reluctance, between having a very messy room and having hidden a p*rn magazine. It wouldn’t have made it much better, but he would have been more respectable if he came clean and apologised.

  ”I will lead the Way!” (Lorelei) “Ara, Gerbert, do you have hidden anything unsightly inside?” (Tailor)“Let’s go. Let’s take a look how grateful he really is for all our support.” (Olga) “Gerbert.” (Brock)“What about me?” (Gerald) “You go to rest! And don’t take more then you can chew next time!” (Olga)

  ———————

  If Lorelei would have unlocked the System Tab right now, she would have been able to look into the quest content. And found out how “wrong” her answers were. First, when asked what Gerald should do, the quest rail road one to say things like “He is only doing his Job” or “isn’t it fine when he gets it done?”. From there, it comes to a closure pretty fast and one would receive some “Apology” in from of potions. Afterwards, one would have to carry a wooden puppet to the tailors house with a sled. Then the Craftsman Quest would end and the css would be unlocked.

  What she got is a hidden quest. When offering an advice or helpful critic, one would be asked about Gerbert. From there the hidden quest begins. Depending on the answer, various rewards can be gained, also how much favourability is gained. The answer can vary from neutral, to pro-Gerbert or destroying his reputation. Last would have the biggest yield and influence on the Vilge.