Episode 4
. Repaired the Chair
[Fix the House]
Grade: D
Description: Letâs repair a house in the abandoned village.
Success Condition: Repair an abandoned house.
Reward: Experience points, 500 silver.
Penalty upon failure: None.
âHm.â
Aren was checking the quest.
After giving Yuel the letter of introduction that Rex had handed him, she had given him this quest.
âSo I have to repair a house in the abandoned village⊠Well, since I was asked, I should at least try.â
Aren unfolded the map Yuel had provided.
The village he was currently in was called Rete, one of the beginner villages in Illusion. According to the map, the abandoned village was north of Rete.
Aren stood before the northern gate of the village.
Inside the village might be safe, but outside, monsters were waiting.
âIâm not good at fighting⊠what should I do?â
Just then, a group of players passed by him.
âHey! Hurry up or weâll lose our spot!â
âYou got your gear ready?â
âOf course. Iâve been itching to try this new equipment I bought.â
They walked past, chatting excitedly.
âGear, huhâŠâ
The only âgearâ Aren had was his carpenterâs work clothes, a hammer, a saw, and a few nails.
Even if it was a special class, his role was still a production job.
âThereâs no way I can bash a monsterâs head in with this hammer. Iâd better prepare before heading out.â
He had 500 silver in his pocket. Enough to buy some basic equipment.
âWhere was it again? Ah, the weapon shop.â
He soon found the weapon shop with some help from NPCs.
Inside, weapons were lined up on stands, from daggers to swords.
âWowâŠâ
It was fascinating. As someone from modern times, when else would he see medieval weapons up close? But just standing near them gave off a cold, sharp aura that made him uneasy.
âCustomer, huh?â
The shop owner yawned and stood up lazily.
âGo on, pick whatever.â
âMind if I just browse a bit?â
âBrowsing is free. Suit yourself.â
Ignoring the manâs curt tone, Aren wandered between the displays.
âA swordâs too much for me⊠Iâve barely handled a kitchen knife.â
His eyes settled on a bow.
Heâd made a few while working as a carpenter, and he had taken some archery lessons before.
âA bow I could manage.â
He picked one up.
[Shoddy Bow]
Grade: E
Description: A clumsily crafted bow made from poor materials.
Attack: 5
Requirement: Level 1, Agility 5+
Durability: 100/100
Options: Attack +1%, Projectile speed +1%
Aren drew the string.
Empty⊠⊠.
A dull, flat sound. The wood felt warped, poorly processed. He sighed in disappointment.
âI could probably make a better one myself⊠But with my current money, this is all I can afford. Anything better costs at least 1 gold.â
Just as he was brooding, something happened.
âWhoops!â
The shopkeeper toppled backward as his chair suddenly collapsed under him.
âYou okay?â
âDo I look okay to you? Ugh⊠my back.â
He stood, groaning, and stared sadly at the broken remains of his chair.
âIt shouldâve been repaired earlier⊠damn. Can this even be fixed?â
âYou plan on repairing it?â
âOf course. This chair was passed down from my mother. I always meant to fix it, but I canât leave the store unattended.â
âDoesnât seem like youâre busy. Do flies count as customers?â
ââŠWhat did you say?â
âNothing at all.â
âSounded insulting.â
âMaybe you hit your head when you fell and heard things?â
ââŠMaybe. Still, what do I do about this chair?â
Arenâs eyes gleamed.
âThis smells like opportunity.â
The scent of profit was strong. He rubbed his palms together.
âExactly. You want to repair it, but donât have the time. And even if you head out during lunch, other workshops are closed at the same time. So itâs impossible.â
âRight, right! You get it. Iâve suffered so much just trying to get the timing right!â
âWeekends too, theyâre all closed.â
âExactly!â
Aren nodded like his father once taught him: âAlways agree first. Customers love to be understood.â
âSame with me. Whenever I try to go to the bank, itâs their lunch break. And on weekends, theyâre closed.â
âTell me about it! So frustrating!â
[Weapon Shop Owner Hectorâs Favorability has increased.]
[Hector no longer views you with suspicion.]
Aren smiled inside. Raising favorability meant benefits. Discounts, quests, and maybe even unique rewards.
âBy the way, could I take a look at that chair? I think I can fix it.â
âYou really can?â
âYes.â
âThen Iâll leave it to you!â
[Quest Generated: âHectorâs Chair Repairâ]
Grade: D
Description: Hector wishes to repair the chair his mother left him.
Success: Repair Hectorâs chair.
Reward: EXP, Title, Hectorâs Favorability.
Failure: Hectorâs Favorability decreases.
Aren accepted.
He examined the chair carefully.
âThe joints are weak from age⊠the legs wore down unevenly due to posture.â
[Through detailed observation, youâve identified the exact cause of damage.]
[Unique Title Condition Met â âStellar Insightâ]
[Stellar Insight]
Grade: C (Unique)
Effects: Dexterity +2, Vision +20%, Observation +50%, Precision Work +5%
His sight sharpened. Cracks, worn joints, unfinished cutsâevery flaw became visible.
âImpressiveâŠâ
This title was powerful. With such precision, nothing would escape his eyes.
âI can repair it perfectly. Even restore it to its original condition.â
He got materials from the Carpenterâs Guild with Uelâs help and began the repair.
He sawed, planed, and reinforced the joints with iron nails instead of wood, strengthening durability.
âLegs must be equal length. Even a slight difference makes it wobble.â
He carefully measured and adjusted until the chair was stable.
Finally, he hammered in the nails and finished with a coat of oil.
[You have successfully repaired Hectorâs chair.]
[Repair Rate: 95%]
[Dexterity +1]
[Skill EXP: Starâs Hand increased.]
[Class EXP gained.]
âItâs exactly like when my mother used it!â
Hector sat down. No wobbling, no creaking. Perfectâat least to his eyes.
But Aren frowned.
â95%. Nearly perfect, but not complete. Where did I lose that 5%?â
[Quest Cleared: âHectorâs Chair Repairâ]
[Hectorâs Favorability has increased.]
[Multi-Title Condition Met â âTouch of a Craftsmanâ]
[Starâs Hand skill EXP increased.]
[Touch of a Craftsman]
Grade: C (Multiple)
Effects: Dexterity +1, Repair Efficiency +20%, Repair Speed +10%, Material Use â10%
The quest cleared successfully. Hector looked at Aren with newfound admiration.
âSay⊠with skills like that, could you repair a bow?â
âA bow? I could, yesâŠâ
âPerfect! I saw you eyeing the bows earlier. Honestly, those cheap ones wouldnât satisfy you. And the good ones are too expensive.â
Hector chuckled, then disappeared into the back room. He returned carrying an old, broken bow.
âThis was my hunting bow when I was young. I used it to slay monsters back in the day. If you can fix it, Iâll give it to you. Iâll even provide the materials.â
âCan you do it, or not?â
Aren smiled faintly. Of course he could. He had repaired bows like this in his fatherâs workshop many times.
He carefully lifted the bow.
âAlright. Iâll restore it properly.â
[Quest Generated: âRebirth of a Broken Bowâ]