Upon my entry into the house, a few subtle signs had indicated that all was not as it seemed. The disorderly state of the house suggested that its occupant was either particularly unclean or… As I inhaled deeply, the lingering human scent wafting in the stale air confirmed my suspicions. Someone had been here recently, possibly even now.
Although this raised some alarm bells, I decided to keep my focus on my own objectives. After all, the person didn't project any immediate threat. But once I wrapped up my self-assessment and had a better understanding of my abilities, it seemed only natural to confront the lingering presence in the house.I pondered, “For all I know… This might not be his home.” In the chaotic world that unfolded around us, concepts such as property rights had become rather ambiguous. Nonetheless, it was a surprise to stumble upon a resident in this dilapidated shelter.After successfully rendering the intruder unconscious, I fetched a sWith a confident smile, I responded to his desperate plea. "Certainly, I'll assist you," I assured the trembling man tied before me. Relief began to replace the terrified expression on Arthur's face."R-Really?" His voice wavered, seemingly unsure whether to take my words at face value."In all honesty, I've been struggling to escape this place on my own," I admitted, exhaling a heavy sigh. "I need your assistance just as much as you need mine.""Even with your high level?" He questioned in disbelief."Well... the situation is a little complicated..." I confessed, masking my unease with a vague reply.It had become quite apparent that Arthur was a novice when it came to navigating this world and its embedded system. I'd initially regretted not being among the first batch of summoned individuals, assuming I'd missed out on crucial information. However, it appeared that even the early arrivals were clueless about many aspects of this world.If I could garner Arthur's trust and collabora
With a confident smile, I responded to his desperate plea. "Certainly, I'll assist you," I assured the trembling man tied before me. Relief began to replace the terrified expression on Arthur's face."R-Really?" His voice wavered, seemingly unsure whether to take my words at face value."In all honesty, I've been struggling to escape this place on my own," I admitted, exhaling a heavy sigh. "I need your assistance just as much as you need mine.""Even with your high level?" He questioned in disbelief."Well... the situation is a little complicated..." I confessed, masking my unease with a vague reply.It had become quite apparent that Arthur was a novice when it came to navigating this world and its embedded system. I'd initially regretted not being among the first batch of summoned individuals, assuming I'd missed out on crucial information. However, it appeared that even the early arrivals were clueless about many aspects of this world.If I could garner Arthur's trust and collabora
My mind reeled at his revelation.“Is this fool for real?!” I internally exploded.All the kindness I had shown him, all for naught? Such a waste!“There’s no point in an alliance then. I’ll have to figure out another way-” I caught myself before speaking my thoughts aloud.Suddenly, my attention was caught by the sight of the fine tools I had noticed earlier. Knives and other well-crafted makeshift weapons lay strewn on the ground a few meters away.A grin spread across my face as an idea took form in my mind.“He might still end up being useful, after all.”An uncomfortable silence settled between us, only to be broken by Arthur's hesitant voice.“E-Erm… So…” he stammered, his eyes darting around the room in anxiety.He was clearly wondering about my next move. Luckily, he might not be as useless as I initially thought.“A-Ah, I apologize. I was momentarily lost in thought.” I quickly reassured him, keeping up my friendly facade.“Tell me, Arthur, could your Gift have anything to do
[Smithing] – a gift that granted the ability to forge weapons and tools from various materials. An ability straight out of the many games I had indulged in. Given the similarity in the mechanics of this world to those of video games, I felt confident about how the concept should work. I was ecstatic, feeling as if I had stumbled upon a jackpot.A soft moan broke my reverie. It was Arthur, finally loosening his stiffened limbs after I had untied the ropes that had kept him bound. His relief was palpable, and he looked at me with a thankful smile. I rolled my eyes internally; it was as if I was dealing with a child. My act of kindness was purely utilitarian – I needed him to use his [Smithing] Gift, after all.Thankfully, Arthur trusted me, and his evident fear meant he would refrain from pulling any risky moves. Satisfied, I decided it was time to get to work.“Alright, Arthur, it's time we got started. I've told you about my Gift. Now, it’s your turn to explain how your Gift works,” I
[System Alert]Arthur's face lit up in delight. "It worked!" he exclaimed, his gaze transfixed on the glow emanating from the newly crafted sword. I, too, found myself grinning in relief, thankful our risky endeavor hadn't ended in failure. Otherwise, five invaluable cores would have been wasted.Slowly, I reached for the sword. Its hilt was glowing on the ground, pulsating with an inviting yet intimidating energy. Grasping it firmly, I hoisted it off the ground."Heavy..." I muttered, feeling the considerable weight of the weapon.Bringing the sword closer, I examined it carefully. The blade, thin and long, bore a dark hue, underscored by a subtle crimson aura that surrounded it. I trained my focus on the weapon and the familiar green window popped into view.[System Information]Name: Enhanced SwordRank: F+Level: 10 (Max)Strength: 500Durability: 5,000Core Power: 700Core Energy: 100%[.]A smile of satisfaction spread across my face. The decision to sacrifice two more cores and
"Wow," I breathed out, incredulous, "that's a considerable amount."I was awestruck by the vast array of weapons that Arthur had crafted using his Gift. The assortment seemed to span into hundreds, a testament to his prowess and dedication.He chuckled uneasily in response, an awkwardness hanging in the air as he acknowledged his handiwork. Arthur shared that he believed having a substantial arsenal would prepare him to confront the Demons. This belief had driven him to hone his skills, to explore the possibilities offered by his Gift. Yet, despite his impressive output, a tangible fear of the outside world remained nestled within him.Making a decision, I spoke up, "Alright then, it's time to get to work."Given the circumstance, it was clear that the seventy or so Demon Cores I possessed wouldn't be enough to smith the vast array of weapons spread before us. However, the objective wasn't to enhance every single weapon. Arthur looked towards me, a gleam in his eyes that suggested ex
After a restful few hours, I stirred Arthur from his slumber, as we made ready to embark from the sanctuary he called home. Cautiously, I stowed all essential items within the confines of my [Subspace], meticulously arranging them for easy access when required. Every significant object was carefully positioned, and its location committed to memory to ensure an uninterrupted focus during combat.“Time to go!” I said, looking at Arthur with a comforting smile. He responded with a hesitant nod.The prospect of stepping out of the house for the first time since the apocalypse would indeed be a daunting task for anyone. His apprehension was palpable, yet I was certain he would soon come to understand the futility of his fears.With a resonant vwoop, the deep freezer and refrigerator that had fortified our entrance seamlessly found their places amongst the other items in my [Subspace]. As the barricade disappeared, the door slowly swung open. With my senses heightened, I cautiously set foot
Despite my rising apprehension, I couldn't help but flash a defiant grin. "Bring it on!" I declared, primed to confront the monstrous presence barreling towards us.Turning my gaze to Arthur, I found him frozen in place, pale-faced due to my ominous warning earlier. His proximity to the forthcoming clash would only complicate things; he'd be more of a liability than an asset in the imminent showdown. However, I couldn't afford to lose sight of him either; a stray demon might take advantage of his vulnerability while I was occupied. Besides, observing the battle might serve as a reality check for Arthur, helping him appreciate the gravity of our partnership and the peril that came with it.Without wasting any more time, I issued my command, "Arthur, stay here… I’m heading down!" "W-wha?! B-but-"Before he could voice his protest, I sprang into action, descending the stairs in one swift leap. There, at the bottom, I finally caught sight of the titanic demon making its grand entrance.T