Episode 22.
Palms’ Request (2)
“Hmm… but the condition is really poor.”
Aren frowned as he carefully examined the weapon rack and shield stand from every angle.
He could repair them.
He had done worse repairs in the workshop before.
However,
“I think it’s better to build them new.”
“Can’t you repair them?”
“It’s possible, but even if repaired, they’ll soon break again. It’s better to make new ones.”
“I see. Then I have no choice. You’re the expert, so that must be right.”
Permission was granted.
“Do you have the materials here?”
“Materials… I think the warehouse has collected wood. Sometimes, we ask outsiders to gather wood.”
“Why collect it?”
“For firewood in winter. Buying it is expensive, but asking outsiders is cheap.”
“…”
Requests like that were quests.
Palms was skillfully using quests to make good use of the users.
They headed to the warehouse, filled with various kinds of wood.
“Village Chief, which should I bring?”
“Oak first. If there’s none, walnut’s good too.”
Alfredo picked up a piece of wood.
“How about this?”
“No, that’s chestnut.”
“Chestnut? How can you tell? Don’t all woods look alike?”
“They’re all different. Chestnut looks tough outside but is relatively weak inside and breaks easily.”
“Really?”
“Also, it cracks over time and worms easily eat it, so it’s bad for racks unless it’s a sculpture.”
Alfredo was surprised.
He had thought all wood was the same, but each had different uses.
Aren found the wood he wanted.
‘Here it is.’
Oak wood.
It was strong, durable, and resistant to impact — perfect for racks and stands.
Aren searched eagerly for oak hidden among the wood.
Then,
Ding!
[Due to repeated actions, a skill has been generated.]
[Skill ‘Star Identification LV. 1’ has been created.]
[Star Identification LV. 1]
Grade: C
Type: Passive
EXP: 0.00%
Description: By borrowing the power of the stars, you can identify wood type just by looking.
Effect: Identify wood type and its strengths and weaknesses.
A skill was created.
‘Star Identification?’
What kind of skill was this?
Curious for a moment, Arlen looked toward the stacked wood and the skill activated.
[Skill ‘Star Identification LV. 1’ used.]
[Oak]
[Advantages: High strength, excellent durability, impact-resistant.]
[Disadvantages: Very dense and heavy, difficult to process.]
[Walnut]
[Advantages: Easy to work, deep brown with an antique look.]
[Disadvantages: Discolors on contact with iron and vulnerable to moisture.]
[Star Identification skill experience slightly increased.]
“Convenient.”
At a glance, he could instantly know which wood it was without painstakingly searching.
It was useful to know both strengths and weaknesses.
‘With this…’
As Aren scanned, ‘Oak’ quickly appeared marked among the mixed wood.
Thanks to this, he found oak fast.
As Aren confidently picked wood, Alfredo marveled.
“Amazing. You picked only oak from all this wood.”
“I just got a skill.”
“You got a special ability? Congratulations. Seems like a good one.”
Alfredo congratulated him, and Aren shrugged lightly, carrying the oak wood to the training ground.
He immediately began work.
“Shall we start?”
Aren raised the saw.
When the sharp metal touched the wood, the quiet workshop filled with sawing sounds.
Some parts sliced smoothly, but at hard knots, he had to use force.
Wood chips fell to the floor softly.
Palms, watching with folded arms, said nonchalantly,
“I heard the wood’s hard, so saw work won’t be easy.”
“It shouldn’t be easy.”
Aren shook sawdust off his hand, smiling.
“Only by making it from such wood will the weapons and shields last for years on the rack.”
Palms thoughtfully stroked his chin.
“I see.”
One by one he refined the cut boards.
Smoothing surfaces with a plane, testing the glossy finish with fingertips.
He made the rack sturdy enough to bear weight and designed the shield stand with curves for shock absorption.
“Hmm? Village Chief, why the curves there? Won’t it weaken the weight support?”
“Oh, this? It’s for shock absorption.”
“What do you mean by shock absorption?”
Arlen continued working, explaining their doubts.
“Guards won’t carefully set weapons or shields down. The broken racks above even have cracks from shock.”
“Hmm… true.”
“So I added curves. With curves, shock is smoothly absorbed even when weapons are placed down harshly.”
Curves divert force.
Straight lines resist, curves guide away.
Palms admired.
“Oh… that’s why?”
“Yes. It makes them last longer and sturdier.”
“But it looks troublesome to cut like that… you could just do it roughly.”
“No. It has to be done right the first time.”
Doing it roughly because it’s hard?
A carpenter’s pride wouldn’t allow that.
A belief Aren had built working alongside his father in their workshop.
“Haha… impressive. I trust you completely.”
Ding!
[Palms’ affection increased.]
[Palms senses your carpenter’s pride and conviction and greatly likes you.]
Aren worked busily.
Though he had made tables and chairs before, he hadn’t built racks and stands in a long time.
It was fun.
His fingers, tired of typing, happily worked planes and carved wood.
‘This is fun.’
He rounded edges for smooth handling.
Nailing had to be careful.
Oak was hard and could split easily.
Before nailing, Aren pre-drilled small holes with an awl.
Then he lifted the hammer.
Tap, tap.
A steady rhythm echoed across the training ground.
“Just need to finish the final touches now.”
Aren applied oil cautiously with his hand.
The oak grain became vivid.
The heavy yet neat shape was complete.
Ding!
[You completed the Weapon Rack of Regeneration.]
[You completed the Shield Stand of Regeneration.]
[You completed a masterpiece.]
[Experience with Star Hands and Star Craft skills slightly increased.]
[Dexterity +2]
“Wow… this is amazing. It looks extremely sturdy.”
“With curves added to absorb shock, weapons can be placed down roughly with no problem.”
“I see.”
Palms’ eyes gleamed with curiosity.
He eagerly checked the options.
[Weapon Rack of Regeneration]
Grade: B
Description: A masterpiece weapon rack made by a skilled carpenter for guards living rough lives.
Sturdy and durable for long use.
Crafted by a rare master’s hands.
Usage Level: 30+
Durability: 660,000 / 660,000
Options: Durability +20%
Shock Absorption +20%
Maintenance Efficiency +10%
First Attack Speed +10%
Accuracy +2% (accumulates up to 5 times over time, lasts 30 minutes)
[Regeneration’s Blessing]: When storing weapons of grade B or lower, durability regenerates 1 every 5 minutes.
[Shield Stand of Regeneration]
Grade: B
Description: A masterpiece shield stand made by a skilled carpenter for guards living rough lives.
Sturdy and durable for long use.
Crafted by a rare master’s hands.
Usage Level: 30+
Durability: 660,000 / 660,000
Options: Durability +25%
Shock Absorption +20%
Maintenance Efficiency +10%
First Damage Taken –10%
Knockback Resistance +10%
[Regeneration’s Blessing]: When storing shields of grade B or lower, durability regenerates 1 every 5 minutes.
“Gasp!”
“Amazing…”
Palms and Alfredo were aghast at the options.
They were extraordinary.
“These are unique options?”
“Unique options? What’s that?”
Aren tilted his head as if he didn’t know.
Alfredo gave a face of disbelief.
“You don’t know?”
“No, this is the first time I’ve seen them today.”
“Huh…”
He thought Aren would know, as he always made good things.
“Unique options are special options attached to crafted items. They offer far better effects than normal options.”
“Is that so?”
Aren nodded.
He had built various furniture and buildings but never seen options attached like this before.
They seemed conditional.
He thought it might be good to investigate slowly later.
‘An onion of a game? The more you peel, the more keeps coming out.’
He began to understand why people were so enthusiastic about Illusion.
While Aren was absorbed, Palms admired the rack and stand.
“What’s this? It regenerates durability automatically when storing B-grade or lower weapons?”
It had a durability regeneration effect.
One every 5 minutes wasn’t much, but it made durability management easier.
‘Is this even possible? How…’
He placed a weapon on the sturdy rack — it felt firm and steady without shaking.
Besides that, new options unseen before were attached.
It was much better than before.
“Haha! You’re amazing!”
“Do you like it?”
“I do! It’s in a different league from what we used before. Fantastic!”
Ding!
[Palms’ affection increases.]
[Palms really likes the rack and stand you made.]
[Reward enhanced.]
[Experience gained.]
[Level up.]
[You received Palms’ Letter of Recommendation.]
Quest cleared.
Because Palms liked the rack and stand more than expected, the quest rewards were better.
Arlen examined the letter he got from reward enhancement.
[Palms’ Letter of Recommendation]
Grade: C
Description: A special letter Palms wrote for Arlen.
If shown to certain people, you may be able to hire them as guards.
Usage condition: Aren.
As Aren looked over the letter, Palms came over and lightly tapped his shoulder.
“That letter is prepared for you!”
“For me?”
“Of course! You made wonderful racks and stands, so you deserve it. Don’t you need guards?”
“Ah.”
There were two ways to hire guards.
One was using the system, which was convenient but limited to hiring up to a certain grade.
The other was finding talents directly, which could hire higher-grade guards but was difficult.
“I know someone. With that letter, you can hire him.”
“I see. Thanks. This will make things easier.”
“Haha. If you’re grateful, help me again later.”
“Of course. If anything breaks or you need something, just ask. I’ll work cheap.”
“…You charge money?”
“Of course. You’re the captain now, you can’t expect freebies.”
“Ahem… can’t help it.”
“And…”
Aren gave him a subtle look.
Palms nodded in response.
“Since you helped me, you can tour freely. But don’t go into dangerous places.”
“Understood!”
Permission for the tour was granted.
Aren thoroughly explored the guardhouse, starting to understand how the building was made.
[You fully observed and understood the guardhouse’s structure.]
[Your understanding of the building reached 100%.]
When the message appeared, Arlen smiled contentedly and glanced at Alfredo.
Everything was done.
Only one thing remained.
“Alfredo.”
“Yes?”
“Let’s go back. It’s time to build the guardhouse.”
Only the building remained.
