RGRB 2

Episode 2

I Made a Rocking Chair

“Haa… not a single visitor today.”

At the Carpenter’s Guild, staff member Yuel sighed deeply, her face heavy with boredom.

Other guilds were bustling with people.
Thanks to the constant flow of outsiders, they were lively and loud.
But the Carpenter’s Guild…

“This quarter’s registrants: zero…”

The moment she saw the number, Yuel let out another sigh.

“At this rate… will our guild really disappear?”

The threat of unemployment weighed heavily on her.

Creak.

The door opened.

Two outsiders entered at once, and Yuel’s face lit up with a radiant smile.

“Welcome! Welcome to the Carpenter’s Guild!! How may I help you—”

“Oh, this is the Carpenter’s Guild? Whoops, wrong place.”
“I told you to look properly before walking in. Come on, let’s go next door.”
“Phew… I almost ended up as a carpenter. Let’s hurry to the Alchemist’s Guild.”
“Yeah. Definitely not carpentry.”

The two left immediately.

Yuel’s smile fell into a sulky pout, then twisted into anger.

Almost a carpenter? What’s wrong with carpentry, huh!?

The old chair beneath her creaked in protest as she slumped into it, but she ignored the sound. Chairs were replaceable anyway.

“It wasn’t always like this…”

Once, the Carpenter’s Guild had been overflowing with visitors—busy to the point of chaos. But as time passed, fewer and fewer came, until none at all.

Carpenters weren’t a popular choice.
Unlike the forge, their work wasn’t flashy.
Unlike alchemy, it wasn’t practical.

Houses and furniture.
That was all.

“So today too… only flies.”

Loneliness. Emptiness. It hurt to stand guard over an abandoned guild, alone.

Creak.

Another outsider entered.

Yuel, too drained to hope, muttered mechanically:

“Welcome… This is the Carpenter’s Guild. The Alchemist’s Guild is on your left. The Blacksmith’s Guild is the big building to the right.”

Her tone was no different from a GPS correcting a wrong turn.

But this outsider didn’t leave. Instead, tilting his head, he spoke.

“I came here for business. Here’s my recommendation letter.”

“You… actually want to be a carpenter?”

“Yes.”

Yuel’s eyes sparkled. She clasped the outsider’s—Aren’s—hand tightly.

“New carpenters are always welcome!”

System Message
[Linked Quest, Rex’s Letter of Recommendation, cleared.]
[Experience acquired.]
[Level up.]
[500 silver obtained.]
[Yuel’s Affection has increased.]

Aren blinked, dazed.

Yuel, a little too excited, smiled brightly.

“Sorry, it’s just been so long. Would you like some tea? Or maybe coffee? I hear outsiders like coffee—I can run out and get some!”

“N-No, that’s not necessary!”

Her fervent hospitality left Aren bewildered.

“I’d rather just get on with the class change.”
“Ah! Of course, forgive me. It’s been ages since an outsider came here…”

Blushing with embarrassment, Yuel led him to a workshop-like room filled with hammers, nails, saws, and planks.

“The method is simple. Make a chair.”

“A chair?”

“Yes. Any kind will do.”

System Message
[Linked Quest, Chair Crafting, generated.]

Aren inhaled deeply. The warm, nostalgic scent of wood filled the workshop.
It felt like stepping into his late father’s workshop again.

Just like the old days…

He recalled helping his father before the accident—
the rasp of saws, the slide of a plane, the rhythm of hammering.

Happy memories.
Moments long buried, now revived.

Yes. I’ll make that.

He selected oak.

“This oak is strong and dense. Durable, resistant to damage, and with a grain and tone that makes furniture look refined.”

Yuel’s eyes widened with admiration.

“Amazing… You really know your wood!”

Aren began.

Sawing, planing, hammering—his hands moved naturally, as if no time had passed.
The compass traced graceful curves.
The saw followed the lines without hesitation.
Shavings curled away, leaving smooth surfaces.

It’s fun.

His lips hummed a tune as he worked.

System chimed:
[Your technique shows remarkable precision.]
[Work stability +10%.]

Time passed unnoticed.
Memories of childhood blended with the joy of creation.

Finally, the last nail was set, and a coat of oil gleamed across the surface.

“Done.”

System Message
[You have completed a Comfortable Rocking Chair.]
[You crafted a C-rank or higher item without a profession.]
[Special Achievement unlocked.]
[Special Stat Dexterity acquired.]
[Strength +5]
[Dexterity +10]

“Wow! This is incredible!”

Yuel’s eyes sparkled as she examined the rocking chair.

“Perfect balance… not a tilt anywhere. And the height—just right!”

She sat down.

“So comfortable…”

The backrest, the seat, the smooth rocking motion—it was all seamless.

This is the most comfortable chair I’ve ever sat in!

“Even if I rock hard—look, no creaks at all! Did you really just use nails?”
“Not only nails. I also joined the pieces.”
“Joined…?”

Aren explained gently:

“It’s called a mortise and tenon joint. Like fitting puzzle pieces together. Stronger and better-looking than nails.”

Yuel gasped.

“That’s… amazing! I never even thought of that!”

System Message
[Yuel’s Affection has increased.]
[Yuel has learned new knowledge through you.]

She stared at the chair, trembling with excitement.

“This isn’t normal… This is another level entirely.”