Chronicles Of The Crafting Hero [REMASTERED]

Tyler walked down the dirt road, the massive stone walls of Veridia looming larger with every step.

A translucent blue system panel hovered in his field of vision, tracking his movements as he walked.

Skill: Mana Absorption

A skill that allows the user to passively absorb mana from their surroundings. The skill passively restores 1 Mana Point (MP) every 3 minutes. However, if the user manually absorbs the mana, they will gain 1 MP per minute.

"So that's what the skill does," Tyler muttered, his eyes scanning the glowing text. "And everyone had this except for me."

With a quick thought, the panel dissolved into the empty air.

Both Mana Absorption and Weapon Mastery didn't get a tutorial. Is it because they are passive skills?

He kept his gaze trained on the dirt path, his boots kicking up small clouds of dust with each heavy stride.

*It makes sense. Passive skills are automatic, so I don't need to manually activate them. A description is enough.*

He lifted his chin, staring up into the vast expanse of the endless blue sky.

*If I want to get a second class, then I probably have to wear armor that goes perfectly with that class. Like a full set of knight gear if I want to become a knight. I don't think I can mix things up, like use a bow while wearing heavy knight armor, to get the secondary class effect.*

He let out a slow sigh, keeping his eyes on the path ahead. "That means I'm going to have to find a way to craft a full armor set before I officially become a hunter. But how do I do that? Do I just wait day after day to make the daily recipe request? I can't do that. James and Lisa might leave anytime soon. That means I'll just have to go back to the monster zones and hunt."

He lifted his right hand, curling his fingers into a tight fist. The muscles in his forearm bunched, feeling dense and firm under his skin.

*I'm sure I've gotten stronger. I'm strong enough to defeat those Shadow Claws now. I won't just survive off of luck this time. I'll beat them. I'll even get recipes from completing quests, and the money as well. There are a lot of advantages to being a hunter. That's why I need it.*

He focused on the road ahead, spotting the two armed guards stationed at the town entrance. The sight of the gate triggered a sudden, icy chill that traveled straight down his spine. It reminded him of the night before, when he had walked past that woman in the dark. It hadn't felt like passing a stranger on the street. It had felt like surviving a lethal encounter.

*What the hell was she? Was she even human? How can anyone give out that much killing intent? It felt like every cell in my body was screaming at me to run away.*

As Tyler approached the gate, the guards shifted their gazes toward him. This time, they didn't raise their weapons or move to block his path. They merely exchanged a brief glance and let him walk through the stone archway.

The lingering tension bled out of his shoulders as he stepped into the bustling marketplace. The air was thick with the overlapping shouts of merchants calling out their wares. The heavy, savory aroma of roasted meats and spiced food drifted through the street, making Tyler's empty stomach clench. Pushing the hunger aside, he navigated through the dense crowd, keeping his focus strictly on reaching Hector's shop.

He arrived at the familiar wooden door and pushed it open.

The small metal bell affixed to the top of the frame rang. Hector emerged from the back room, wearing a short, vest-like tunic. A fresh layer of sweat coated the blacksmith's thick arms and forehead.

"You're here," Hector said, wiping his brow. "How was the training? James told me about it."

"Oh, yeah, it's been going great," Tyler said. "I got a new skill."

Hector straightened his posture, his heavy eyebrows rising toward his hairline. "Already?"

"Yeah. I managed to level up. That's how I got it."

"Oh! What kind of skill did you get?"

"Remember how I said I could just craft weapons?" Tyler's lips pulled into a wide smile. "Well... I can craft armor now."

Hector took a step forward, his eyes widening. "Armor as well?"

"Yes," Tyler said.

Hector let out a hearty exhale. "Well, that is great. Come on. Follow me. I want you to show me exactly how it works."

Tyler walked around the wooden counter, following the broad-shouldered blacksmith through the doorway and into the sweltering heat of the back room.

The familiar, acrid scent of smoke and the stifling heat of the furnace hit Tyler the moment he stepped inside. Sweat immediately prickled at his hairline. Hector, however, looked completely unbothered by the suffocating temperature. He leaned back against a sturdy metal worktable, resting his hand near a half-finished axe.

"Does it work like your weapon crafting skill?" Hector asked.

Tyler gave a firm nod. "Yes, exactly like that. I can craft armor instantly, but I still need the exact materials to do it."

Hector crossed his thick arms over his chest. "Materials. You mean like what you used for that sword?"

"Yes."

"What kind of materials do you need?"

*Well, the recipe requires Hexhorn hide*, Tyler thought, shifting his weight. *But does he even have it?*

"I need Hexhorn leather," Tyler said. "Specifically, from a level ten to fifteen Hexhorn."

Hector rubbed his chin, his thick fingers scratching against his stubble. "Hide of that level, huh? Well, lucky enough, I have some. But... it's still Hexhorn leather. I can't just waste it."

Tyler raised both of his hands, waving them quickly to reassure the man. "You won't regret this, I promise. The skill is incredibly precise. I mean, check out these boots." Tyler shifted his balance and lifted his foot, presenting the solid leather to the blacksmith. "I crafted them using the exact same skill. They aren't bad, right?"

Hector rested his heavy hands on his waist, narrowing his eyes as he leaned down to inspect the footwear. "Yeah, they're not bad. There's not a single stray mark on them. Your skill is pretty diligent, I'll give you that." He let out a loud exhale and straightened up. "Alright, let's see it. It's low-level Hexhorn, so it won't cost much to replace if this fails."

Hector turned and walked toward the far corner of the room, stopping beside a heavy wooden back door. A neat row of wooden barrels lined the stone wall. He reached into one of the smaller barrels and hauled out a large sheet of Hexhorn hide. The material was incredibly clean and massive enough that Tyler could have used it as a heavy blanket, yet the texture was stiff and rugged, carrying the distinct rigidity of tough, cured leather.

Hector carried the heavy material back to the center of the room and extended it forward. Tyler received the thick, heavy hide, his arms dipping slightly under the sudden weight.

"I'm pretty sure that's from a level twelve Hexhorn," Hector said, dusting his palms on his vest. "I believe it fits your requirements."

"It does," Tyler said.

A faint blue light washed over the big sheet of stiff leather. In the blink of an eye, the entire hide dissolved into thin air, transferring directly into Tyler's inventory.

Hector jolted, his heavy head bobbing backward in sheer bewilderment.

*There it is again*,Hector thought, staring at Tyler's suddenly empty hands. *It just disappeared. Honestly, his skill is very unusual. Where exactly do these materials keep disappearing to?*

A translucent blue panel hovered in front of Tyler, displaying the word Crafting alongside a rapidly filling circular bar.

Hector watched Tyler stare blankly into the empty air. "Is it working?"

"Yeah," Tyler said, keeping his eyes fixed on the floating bar. "Give it a few seconds. It's crafting."

Hector remained silent, crossing his arms.

*Since it's his skill, he can tell. But to me, it just looks like he's doing nothing. This skill is basically cheating.*

The interface flashed.

Crafting Successful.

"It's done," Tyler said.

He extended both hands forward. A faint blue shimmer gathered in his empty palms, instantly solidifying into a brown leather cuirass. Hector’s eyebrows shot upward. He reached out and took the armor with both hands to study it.

The cuirass resembled a thick leather vest, designed to be slipped on easily. Hector ran his calloused thumbs over the material, testing the firm, smooth texture of the cured hide. Tyler blinked, leaning closer as he noticed a neat row of small silver pins lining the seams of the vest.

*Those pins... Could they be made from the leftover metal after the system crafted the sword?*

The compact, secure design heavily reminded him of a tactical bulletproof vest from his old world.

Hector rapped his knuckles against the smooth, hard surface of the brown leather. "This is pretty good armor. It looks durable, but at the same time, it's light. It's not heavy like most gear made out of Hexhorn material. I gotta give it to you, kid. Your skill is incredible."

Tyler's chest swelled slightly, a wide grin breaking across his face.

"But," Hector continued, his tone shifting. "That's just what it looks like."

Tyler's smile faltered. "What do you mean?"

"It's what it looks like on the outside," Hector explained. "Because of the Craftsman's Smith's Eye skill, we can see the true durability and condition of a piece. Someone without that skill would look at this and see great armor." Hector looked up from the leather, meeting Tyler's gaze. "I've realized something. Your weapon crafting skill and your armor crafting skill... they're essentially the same."

Hector set the cuirass down on the metal worktable. "What I mean is, the gear might look clean and flashy enough to attract a customer, but in truth, the armor you just made isn't all that durable. Sure, it has a baseline toughness because it's made from Hexhorn leather, but it feels hollow. Like something is missing. Like your skill could have done more with the material."

Tyler stared down at the armor resting on the table, his brow creasing.

*He's not wrong. But for my skill to do more, it needs to level up. The armor is like this because it's just a Basic grade. Maybe if I had hit the thirty percent chance for a Common grade, it would have been better.*

"Needless to say, it's still a pretty good skill," Hector added, tapping the leather. "And the armor isn't bad."

Hector slid the cuirass across the metal table toward Tyler.

As his skin made contact with the crafted hide, a small, translucent blue panel flickered into existence directly above the armor.

Item: Leather Cuirass

Grade: Basic

DEF: +27

Durability: 100%

Tyler stared at the floating numbers, a heavy knot of realization settling in his stomach.

*Twenty-seven defense is actually high. But the durability just says one hundred percent. Hector's Smith's eye skill must let him see the actual structural weakness of the material, while my system just shows the basic item's current condition. He's right. It looks perfect on the outside, but underneath, my skill did the bare minimum with the hide.*

"Yeah," Tyler muttered. His shoulders slumped, his grip loose as he pulled the leather vest closer.

Hector caught the heavy shift in Tyler's posture. "Hey, don't sweat it. I'm sure you're going to refine your skill as you level up."

Tyler gave a slow nod, his grip tightening on the edge of the leather. "You're right. My skills will get better as I level up."

"Yeah. So, have you come back to work, or do you still want to grind some more levels?"

Tyler lifted his head. "I'm not too late to work, am I?"

"No, not really," Hector said, gesturing his arm around the soot-stained room. "As you can see, this place still needs some cleaning."

Tyler scanned the forge. A thick layer of grey dust coated the stone floor and settled over the heavy metal worktables. "Yeah, I better get to it. Where's the broom?"

"Oh, it's right in the back. Outside," Hector said.

Tyler glanced at the heavy wooden door at the rear of the shop. "Behind the back door?"

Hector gave a slow nod, lifting his half-finished axe from the table to inspect the blade.

Tyler walked over and pushed the heavy door open. The backyard of the shop consisted of an open patch of loose gravel. Right in the center of the enclosed space lay a massive, excavated pit. Tyler hadn't stepped out here the last time he swept; Hector had simply told him to dump the collected dust into a metal bucket inside so the blacksmith could throw it out later.

Tyler looked to his right. The wooden broom leaned against the exterior wall beside the door frame. He wrapped his fingers around the handle, ready to turn back inside, when a sharp glint of light caught his eye. A metallic shine reflected from beneath a pile of rubble inside the massive pit.

*What is that?*

He released the broom and his boots crunched across the gravel as he walked to the edge of the pit. He blinked, his breath hitching in his throat.

The bottom of the depression was piled high with jagged, discarded metal. The cut-up pieces had sharp, irregular edges, looking exactly like thick paper that had been violently snipped apart by scissors. Hovering directly over the chaotic pile of steel and iron was a translucent blue system panel.

Metal Scraps.

Tyler's eyes widened as he tracked the glowing letters.

*Metal scraps. This must be the waste material Hector throws away after he crafts things.*

He stared down at the dirty, discarded fragments.

*It looks pretty useless. But then again... *He kept his gaze locked on the floating text. *Most of the time, when the system identifies something, it's actually useful.*

He squinted, focusing on a cluster of dull, bent copper pieces partially buried under a layer of soot in the pit. "System. Can I use this to craft materials?"

The interface flickered. The previous text dissolved, replaced by a single, glowing word:

YES

Tyler let out a sharp, breathless exhale. The corners of his mouth pulled upward into a wide grin.

"I can. That means I can take this into my inventory."

He stepped right up to the crumbling edge, looking down into the massive, dust-choked crater. It was filled to the brim with thousands of jagged, discarded pieces.

"There's a lot of it... This means the System can actually recycle used materials. This is a huge advantage."

Tyler gripped the edge of the pit, his knuckles turning white. The burning urge to pull every single scrap into his inventory surged through him, but he locked his jaw, forcing himself to stop.

*Wait. If I take all these materials*, Hector is going to notice. *He'll get suspicious, and I'll have to explain my inventory. I'm not sure I can trust him as much as James.*

He drew a sharp breath through his teeth, tilting his head back to look up at the sky.

*Could I pass my inventory off as a unique skill without mentioning the System? No. It would sound like an obvious lie. I'm not good at lying.*

He looked back down into the dusty crater, his fingers tapping anxiously against his leg.

*

He probably won't notice if I take just a portion of them, right? I mean, these things are mostly buried under rubble anyway. He doesn't need them.*

He focused his mind, carefully restricting the pull of his inventory. A faint blue glow washed over a section of the discarded metal. In a flash, the targeted scraps vanished, leaving the rest of the massive pile undisturbed.

*There's still a lot left. He's probably been dumping waste materials here for months.*

He summoned his inventory panel. His eyes widened at the newly filled slots.

Bronze x16

Steel x17

Iron x24

Zinc x39

Each material displayed the exact same icon: a smooth, rectangular ingot.

*Wow, there are so many of them. But the icon...*

He focused his intent on the bronze slot. A soft blue light flared over his open palm. As the light faded, a heavy, reddish-brown bar rested in his grip.

*Whoa. It changed shape. Did the System combine all the loose bronze scraps to make this?*

The solid metal felt warm and perfectly smooth against his skin. Its dense weight pressed firmly into his palm.

*No wonder the numbers are so low. I know I pulled hundreds of jagged pieces in there.*

"What's taking so long?!" Hector's muffled shout carried through the heavy wooden door.

The bronze ingot vanished back into Tyler's inventory. He grabbed the wooden broom, hurried back inside, and shut the door behind him. Hector stood over the anvil, bringing a heavy hammer down against the edge of his axe. The sharp, ringing impacts echoed through the hot room, but Tyler kept his head down. He swept the stone floor, shifting heavy wooden crates to reach the corners, then moved out front to wipe down the main display counter.

When he returned to the back room, Hector pointed a thick, soot-stained finger toward a barrel overflowing with dull blades. "I want you to sharpen some of those swords for me."

The blacksmith kicked a dark, square whetstone across the floor. It scraped to a halt near Tyler's boots.

Tyler picked it up, pulled the first sword from the barrel, and sat down. He dragged the coarse stone along the metal edge, grinding away the dullness until the steel gleamed sharply. He wiped the accumulated metal dust away with a rag, placed the finished weapon back into its barrel, and pulled out the next one, settling into a steady, repetitive rhythm.

As his hands worked, his thoughts drifted.

*I really need those materials for the recipes I was given. Since I'm going hunting with James tomorrow, I need to be completely prepared.*

He looked up from the grinding stone. "Hector, where can I get dead berry powder?"

Hector paused his hammering, resting the head of his tool against the anvil. "You can get it at the ore shop, where they sell the refined metals. I'm pretty sure they stock it. What do you need it for?"

Tyler kept his focus on the blade in his hands. "Nothing important."

Hector stared at him for a long moment before his eyes drifted back down to his axe. "Do you want to light a fire somewhere?"

Tyler paused his grinding. "Fire?"

"Dead berry powder is highly flammable," Hector explained, rubbing his thumb over the axe's newly shaped edge. "It's also a little expensive. You could use something else to start a fire."

"How much does it cost?"

"A small pouch will run you about two silver coins."

*Huh. That's not bad at all. I thought he'd say a lot more.*

Tyler gave a slow nod. "Yeah, that is pretty pricey. I'll use something else."

Hector lifted his hammer and resumed his rhythmic strikes against the anvil, choosing not to pry any further.

Tyler continued grinding until the last sword was sharp. Once the shop was clean, Hector handed over his daily wage: two silver coins.

"I'll see you tomorrow," Tyler said, gripping his crafted leather cuirass under his arm. He slipped the coins into his pocket and stepped out into the bustling street.

"Alright. Time to go buy that dead berry powder. He said the shop should be on the opposite side of the bakery, three buildings down.*

As he navigated through the heavy foot traffic, a figure in the distance caught his attention. A young man wandered through the crowd, wearing a worn, black cloak completely shredded at the hems. Messy black hair hung low over his forehead, almost concealing his eyes. The stranger held his dirt-stained palms cupped together, silently offering them toward the passing pedestrians.

A heavy-set merchant walked by, brutally shoving his shoulder into the beggar. The impact sent the young man crashing down onto the hard cobblestones.

Tyler's brow furrowed, his boots slowing against the street.

*It looks like he's asking for money. A beggar?*

The man didn't try to get up. He didn't look angry, or even sad. He just sat there. Heavy, dark bags hung under his eyes, carrying the distinct, hollow exhaustion of someone who had given up entirely but was forced to keep existing.

A tight knot formed in Tyler's chest. He recognized that exact look. He knew that heavy, suffocating feeling all too well.

*Too bad. Even if I wanted to give him something, I can't. I have to save up every coin I can.*

Tyler adjusted his grip on the cuirass and kept walking. As he closed the distance, preparing to step past the slumped figure, he noticed the beggar was roughly his own age.

Then, the stranger lifted his head.

Deep, unsettling crimson red irises locked directly onto Tyler. The young man's eyes suddenly stretched wide.

"You're alive..." the beggar rasped, his voice painfully dry and rusty.

Tyler's boots locked against the cobblestones. The heavy rhythm of his pulse stalled in his chest.

"What?" he breathed out, staring down at the young man sitting in the dirt.