To achieve this, I have concluded that I must obtain the Enchanter job myself. Initially, I had considered hiring a professional enchanter or even purchasing a specialized slave to perform the work for me, but upon further reflection, this seems like the superior path. While I might reconsider delegating the task in the long-term future, it is best to keep the reins of this operation firmly in my own hands for the time being. It minimizes the risk of my secrets being leaked and ensures every implementation is handled with the precision only I can provide.
Unlocking the Enchanter job is a straightforward process within the system: I simply need to push my Blacksmith job to level 40. However, there is a more pressing and complicated issue that I can no longer ignore. It is Nari. I have been postponing a final decision regarding her status in the household, but the friction she causes and her lack of integration have reached a breaking point. I need to decide what to do with her, and I need to do it soon.
“... Hmm… Master… Why are you still awake? Is there something bothering you?”
I had assumed both girls were fully asleep, but it seems Wyn was still hovering in that state of half-wakefulness. She shifted slightly, the rustle of the sheets loud in the silent room.
“Yeah, I was just thinking,” I replied in a low whisper, careful not to disturb Woya, who remained still beside me.
“Is that so?... Is it anything important?” Wyn nodded, straightening herself up a bit and leaning toward me, her eyes reflecting the dim light as she asked.
“... I will be going to the dungeon with Nari alone, starting tomorrow,” I said, pausing for a moment before letting the information out.
“Huh!?”
The exclamation was muffled but sharp. It wasn't just Wyn who reacted; I felt Woya move suddenly on my other side. When I turned my head, I saw her staring at me with her eyes wide open, the sleep having vanished instantly.
“What is it?” I asked, though I could already guess the source of their concern.
“Umm… You aren't taking us with you, master? You're going just with her?” Wyn asked, her voice cautious and laced with a hint of hurt.
“Yeah, I will be going only with her for this run,” I confirmed.
“... I understand, master,” Wyn said, her expression falling into a sulk. I noticed Woya also looked away, her eyes dropping as she processed the news.
I knew exactly why they were acting this way. They were worried that Nari was somehow gaining a special favor or that I was growing more intimate with her. That wasn't the case at all, but I had no intention of explaining my true reasoning to them just yet. It would be easier to keep the plan to myself until I was ready to execute the final step. Fortunately, they are disciplined girls; they didn't pester me for further details, though the heavy atmosphere remained. Their obedience only made me more certain about the path I would take starting tomorrow.
Year 1451, month 11, day 09
Because I had informed them of the plan the night before, Nari was ready and waiting when I finished changing into my combat equipment after breakfast. She looked a bit dumbfounded when she realized she would be accompanying me to the dungeon without the twins, but she didn't voice any questions. I turned to Woya and Wyn, who were standing by the door with anxious expressions.
“Take care of the home while I'm gone,” I told them, before leading Nari out.
I understood their reasoning for being uneasy, but it couldn't be helped. I wanted to explain that this wasn't about affection, but about cold, hard business. I kept it to myself to avoid any premature complications.
The plan for today was simple: Nari and I would enter the dungeon and grind until we both leveled up. I needed the Blacksmith levels to unlock Enchanter, and I wanted Nari to reach the threshold for the Beast Champion job. By evolving her job, I would effectively increase her market value.
Yes, I have decided to sell her. Since she has shown no improvement in her behavior and seems fundamentally incapable of fitting in with our household or our dungeon party, she has become a liability. She doesn't understand her place, and I have no interest in wasting more time trying to force a square peg into a round hole. I am planning on terminating our relationship entirely.
Regarding the logistics of the sale, it doesn't matter much which slave trader I use—whether it's the one I bought the twins from or the one I bought Nari from. The first merchant was a man of quality and integrity, so I intend to maintain a relationship with him in the future. As for the second one, I am convinced that the prick was fully aware of Nari's lack of training when he sold her to me. Elevating her to a Beast Champion would ensure that I recoup my investment and then some, regardless of who handles the transaction.
As soon as we stepped into the dungeon and away from prying eyes, I opened my Player Window to optimize my setup for the grind. Nari had been a level 14 Beast Warrior when I first purchased her, and through our occasional group sessions, she had reached level 25. Since my Blacksmith job was already sitting at level 35, my primary focus today was pushing her as hard as possible to reach her evolution point.
***
Player Window
—
Name: Han
Sex: Male
Age: 21
—
Total Points: 217
Remaining Points: 5
—
Skills:
Player Window
Exp Drop Increase Level 14
Exp Requirement Decrease Level 13
—
Equipped Jobs:
Hero Level 37 (1 UP)
Job Collector (Hero, Ascetic Monk)
Mage Level 7 (4 UP)
Swordmaster Level 45 (2 UP)
Knight Level 45 (2 UP)
Adventurer Level 45 (2 UP)
—
Acquired Jobs:
Ascetic Monk Level 37 (1 UP)
Merchant Level 40 (2 UP)
Slave Merchant Level 1 (New)
Equipment Merchant Level 5 (New)
Jewelry Merchant Level 1 (New)
Blacksmith Level 35
Total Job Count: 25
***
I needed to hit level 40 in Blacksmith, so I swapped out my Adventurer job. Then, I reallocated the levels of my experience-related skills. I wanted to maximize the benefit for Nari, so I shifted my points to heavily favor the Exp Drop Increase skill, which boosts the experience generated by monsters before it is distributed.
***
Player Window
—
Total Points: 217
Remaining Points: 1
—
Skills:
Player Window
Exp Drop Increase Level 19
Exp Requirement Decrease Level 4
This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.
—
Equipped Jobs:
Hero Level 37
Job Collector (Hero, Ascetic Monk)
Mage Level 7
Swordmaster Level 45
Knight Level 45
Blacksmith Level 35
***
With this configuration, my personal experience gain per kill dropped from 210x to 100x, but the multiplier for Nari’s gain increased from 15x to 20x. This trade-off was necessary; it meant I could spend less time in the dungeon overall while still hitting the targets for both of us.
I chose not to use Warp to reach our destination this time. Since I have no intention of keeping Nari and don't trust her in the slightest, I made sure not to use the skill around her to prevent any information about my teleportation abilities from leaking later. We traveled manually to the 20th floor, which I had identified as providing the highest efficient experience return for our current levels.
The clearing process was "easy peasy." I moved through the corridors like a whirlwind, slaughtering every group of monsters we encountered. I occasionally practiced my magic just to keep the combat from becoming monotonous. Nari seemed somewhat frightened by the sheer scale of the magical power I was displaying. The monsters on this floor, known as "hues," were level 20, but I didn't require her assistance at all. I dealt with every encounter myself while she watched from a safe distance.
The hues on the 20th floor are known for their ability to move in coordinated groups, especially in specific elemental combinations. Since they spawn in groups of four, dealing with them can be tricky if you aren't prepared for the synergy of a full elemental spread.
Every element has its own set of strengths and weaknesses. Fire is devastatingly powerful, but its effects often require a long period of exposure to truly take hold. Earth is equally strong in terms of raw impact but is notoriously difficult to land a hit with. Wind is incredibly fast, allowing for rapid-fire harassment, but its individual strikes deal less damage. Water is flexible and unpredictable, but it is the hardest for a caster to control precisely.
When these elements combine, the monsters can be lethal. They can use one element to bind or slow you while another launches a massive, high-damage attack. Or, they can hit you with a lightning-fast wind strike to disrupt your movement before following up with a combined elemental barrage to prevent a flawless counter-move.
However, regardless of their teamwork, they were no match for me. Thanks to my superior stats and my rapidly accumulating combat experience, I systematically dismantled every group. It took several hours of consistent grinding, but I eventually felt the familiar surge of a job reaching its milestone. My Blacksmith job hit level 40.
***
Player Window
—
Total Points: 218
Remaining Points: 2
—
Equipped Jobs:
Hero Level 38 (1 Up)
Job Collector (Hero, Ascetic Monk)
Mage Level 9 (2 Up)
Swordmaster Level 46 (1 Up)
Knight Level 46 (1 Up)
Blacksmith Level 40 (5 Up)
—
Acquired Jobs:
Master Blacksmith Level 1 (New)
Enchanter Level 1 (New)
Arcanesmith Level 1 (New)
Total Job Count: 28
***
It was around noon when I reached my primary goal. I checked Nari’s status and saw that her Beast Warrior job had climbed to level 31. We could have pushed further into the afternoon, but as always, I had other business to attend to. I hadn't brought any provisions for a long stay, so I decided it was time to head back.
When we arrived home, I could hear the familiar sounds of lunch preparation coming from the kitchen. I went straight through the house and found Woya tending to something on the stove while Wyn was in the middle of carrying prepared dishes to the dining table. Just as I had expected, Nari made no effort to help them. She simply stood there, either waiting for a direct order or assuming that domestic labor was beneath her.
“... Oh, welcome home, master.”
“Hmm? Welcome home, master!”
Wyn turned around with the dishes still in her hands, greeting me with her usual grace. Hearing her sister, Woya briefly paused her cooking to offer her own welcome.
“Yeah. Nari, go and help Wyn with the rest of the table,” I commanded. I was certain she wouldn't have lifted a finger if I hadn't explicitly told her to do so.
Once the table was set, the four of us ate our lunch in relative silence. I had informed the twins this morning that I would be returning at noon, and as always, they had done an excellent job of managing the household in my absence—unlike a certain someone else.
As soon as the meal was finished, I prepared to head back out. I said my goodbyes to the girls and left the house. My schedule has become significantly more demanding since I shifted my focus toward the trade routes. I have already accumulated enough various goods to fill half a room, and there is still much to be done. I must continue to work hard.
***
Slave Merchant:
- Merchants who focused on selling slaves.
- Intelligence increase (small)
- Wisdom increase (small)
- Charisma increase (small)
Skill: Coin Bag
- You can store your coins in an invisible bag.
- Max number of coins that can be stored = (200 + 2 * level)
Skill: Calculate
- You can calculate any transaction instantly.
- Skill cost = 5 mana
Skill: Slavery
- You can set someone as a slave. This would change the person’s job to a villager. It works only if the person in question agrees.
***
***
Equipment Merchant:
- Merchants that focused on selling equipment.
- Intelligence increase (small)
- Wisdom increase (small)
- Charisma increase (small)
Skill: Coin Bag
- You can store your coins in an invisible bag.
- Max number of coins that can be stored = (200 + 2 * level)
Skill: Calculate
- You can calculate any transaction instantly.
- Skill cost = 5 mana
Skill: Equipment Appraise
- You can see the equipment's information, like added skill crystals.
***
***
Jewelry Merchant:
- Merchants that focused on selling accessories and jewelry.
- Intelligence increase (small)
- Wisdom increase (small)
- Charisma increase (small)
Skill: Coin Bag
- You can store your coins in an invisible bag.
- Max number of coins that can be stored = (200 + 2 * level)
Skill: Calculate
- You can calculate any transaction instantly.
- Skill cost = 5 mana
Skill: Accessor Appraise
- You can evaluate an accessory’s or an artisan’s worth slightly depending on your level.
***
***
Master Blacksmith:
- Advanced job to create equipment up to orichalcum.
- Strength increase (medium)
- Dexterity increase (medium)
- Wisdom increase (minor)
Skill: Create Equipment
- You can create equipment that you created manually before, instantaneously.
- Equipment will be of the same quality as the manually created one.
- You can update the equipment with a new one.
- Skill cost = 10 mana
***
***
Enchanter:
- An advanced job to add skill crystals to equipment up to 3 crystals.
- Strength increase (small)
- Dexterity increase (small)
- Intelligence increase (medium)
- Wisdom increase (small)
Skill: Create Equipment
- You can create equipment that you created manually before, instantaneously.
- Equipment will be of the same quality as the manually created one.
- You can update the equipment with a new one.
- Skill cost = 10 mana
Skill: Imbue Crystal
- You can imbue a skill crystal in equipment.
- Equipment has to have at least one empty skill slot.
- Equipment has to not get a skill crystal with the same attribute.
- Skill cost = (20 * skill crystal count) mana (First crystal = 20, second = 40, third = 60)
***
***
Arcanesmith:
- An advanced job to create magical equipment.
- Strength increase (small)
- Dexterity increase (small)
- Intelligence increase (small)
- Wisdom increase (medium)
Skill: Create Equipment
- You can create equipment that you created manually before, instantaneously.
- Equipment will be of the same quality as the manually created one.
- You can update the equipment with a new one.
- Skill cost = 10 mana
Skill: Mana Inprint
- You can create equipment with innate attributes.
- Equipment quality depends on the mana consumption.
***
[Edited]
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Heroes:
Koreyn
NaTaS
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Knights:
udrea radu-cristian
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