Episode 3: Level Up!

Sorelia lowered her hand, sliding it gracefully from the table before retrieving an envelope from the folds of her clothing and placing it deliberately on the table before Sora. A soft, lingering smile played on her lips as Sora stared back at her, her face a canvas of confusion and boiling anger.

Eyebrows arched, Sora asked—breaking the silence, "What is this for?"

"Opening in it is the only choice you have if you wish to find out," Sorelia replied, her tone light yet firm. The room seemed to fall under thick silence, the air thick with anticipation.

Sora's gaze locked onto Sorelia's, her expression stern, but Sorelia's cheerful demeanor remained unshaken. With a deep sigh, Sora reached for the envelope, lifting it from its place and carefully opening it.

Inside the now open envelope lay a letter. As Sora's eyes scanned the contents of the words written on it with black ink, they widened with immense shock and disbelief. She glanced up at Sorelia, who had already anticipated her reaction. "This… this is an invitation to the Bureau of Knights," Sora said, her voice shaky as she nearly rose from her seat.

Sorelia clapped her hands together, her eyes sparkling. "Marvelous!" she exclaimed, her tone a curious blend of genuine admiration and subtle sarcasm. "You really are as sharp as they say."

Sora exhaled deeply, setting the letter back on the table. She turned to face Sorelia once more, her voice steady but resolute. "I'm not interested," she said firmly, sliding the paper back into the envelope and pushing it across the table to Sorelia's side.

So she began, toiling away as her hands moved tirelessly as she crafted multiple blades, the rhythmic clang of metal drawing curious glances from those who passed by her forge. Yet, she ignored them, her focus unshakable. Once she was finally done, she sank to the ground, wiping the beads of sweat from her forehead with a satisfied sigh.

For the first time in history, she had made five weapons under an hour—a feat that filled her with immense joy and pride at the accomplishment. But her moment of triumph was short-lived, and before she could relish the moment, the tablet emerged before her displaying a message that made her blood boil. As Sora read through it, she couldn't suppress her annoyance:

[Stats have remained unchanged]

[Crafter has refused to comply with quest conditions]

[Conditions for not complying: Stats Reduction]

[-10 points of strength and agility]

Sora shot to her feet, eyes blazing and her voice sharp with indignation. "What?!" she shouted, her words slicing through the air like a double edged blade. "This has to be a joke! I did everything you asked!"

As her voice echoed, she noticed the whispers of passersby, their eyes darting toward her before they exchanged hushed words. She rolled her eyes, dismissing their curiosity. They didn't care about her struggles or her journey. Her attention snapped back to the system, her mind racing to decipher what had gone wrong.

What was it that she had done wrong? Was there a specific weapon she was supposed to craft? Or perhaps there was a specific manner in which this system wanted her to craft like a hidden requirement?

Just as these thoughts swirled in her mind, another message chimed in:

[Code Words To Summon System: Status—Inventory—Quest—Craft—Shop]

Sora's brow furrowed as she read the words, her gaze lingering on the final one. "Craft?" she muttered, and as if triggered by her voice, the system flickered, revealing a new message:

[Items For Craft]

Steel: 0

Iron: 0

Tamahagne: 0

Damascus Steel: 0

Wood: 0

Bone: 0

Alloys: 0

Leather: 0

Sora squinted at the list, her confusion deepening. These were the very materials she used for crafting. She *had* them—so how were they all at zero? Muttering under her breath, she paced around, her frustration mounting. Then, she stumbled into a box filled with some of her materials. "Crap!" she exclaimed, lunging to catch it, but the box dissolved into a cloud of blue dust as it touched her hand.

The system chimed again:

10x Steel obtained

5x Iron obtained

8x Tamahagne obtained…

The list continued, tallying up the materials now floating in her inventory. Sora stared at her hand, then at the system, a flicker of awe cutting through her irritation. Incredible, she thought. Another message appeared:

[Requirements For A Metal Sword]

2x Steel

2x Iron

3x Tamahagne

2x Damascus Steel

1x Wood

5x Bone

2x Alloys

1x Leather

Below it, two options materialized:

[Option: Craft / Discard]

Sora's eyes flicked between the choices, her mind recalling the code words. She took a deep breath and muttered, "Craft." In an instant, the system whirred to life. First, the hilt of a blade emerged, followed by the gleaming metal of the sword itself. With a final clang, the fully formed weapon dropped to the ground, its surface glinting in the light.

Sora stood frozen, completely overwhelmed—until that shock turned into sheer amusement, something that she had never felt in a long time. The mere thought of what she could achieve with this newfound power filled her with an indescribable joy and pride—far more than what she had felt during her hour long crafting.

The system chimed softly, breaking her reverie:

[1/5 Metal Blades Crafted]

You have received 25 craft points!

A bright smile spread across Sora's face as she absorbed the significance of this discovery. The real work had only just begun. With effortless precision, she crafted six additional weapons, her hands moving with a speed and skill that left her in awe. Her business, once plagued by rude customers and scams, now ran smoother than ever.

As she finished her work, the system chimed again:

Level Up!

[Congratulations Crafter, you have reached level 2]

You have received 10 life potions!

Sora's eyes widened as she read the message. Suddenly, her body began to shimmer, an orange aura swirling around her like a gentle tornado. She felt a surge of energy coursing through her veins, the pain and strain in her muscles dissolving as if they'd never existed. It was as though a comforting presence had enveloped her, leaving her revitalized and at ease.

"This is amazing," Sora murmured, flexing her fingers and tightening her fist. A smirk tugged at the corners of her lips as she reveled in the sensation.

Hours slipped by as Sora continued her work, the forge alive with the sounds of her craft. By the time night fell, she finally closed the forge and made her way home. There, in the quiet of her space, she could focus entirely on the quest ahead, her mind buzzing with anticipation for what was to come.

—Status—

•Crafter: Sora •Level: 2

•Class: ???

•Title: Newbie

•Main Quest: Craft weapons to earn Craftpoints…

•Special Points: 1

•LifePoints: 101+

•Strength: 198+

•Agility: 55+

•Speed: 100+

•Durability: 101+

Sora scrolled through the system, her eyes scanning for more ways to harness the incredible power she had stumbled upon. The concept was becoming clearer to her with each passing moment. She understood that every task she completed would make her stronger. She grasped that crafting items, as outlined in the main quest, was the key to leveling up. She felt like she had pieced together the puzzle—or so she thought.

"It seems I'm right about everything today," she muttered to herself, slumping into the chair at her dining table with a deep sigh. Her mind raced, but exhaustion was beginning to creep in.

'What do I do?' she thought inwardly, her frustration bubbling to the surface. 'I've already checked the shop section, but the items there are practically priceless.' She groaned, resting her head on the table as the weight of her situation pressed down on her.

Then, it hit her—Sorelia. The invitation to the Bureau of Knights. Sora lifted her head, her gaze landing on the carefully placed letter at the center of the table. At first, the idea of joining had seemed absurd. Sorelia had shown up uninvited, and Sora wasn't even sure if her name was the only thing the woman knew about her. The whole thing felt shady, and Sora had been hesitant.

But now, as she stared at the letter, she realized this might be her only shot at becoming a knight. Opportunities like this didn't come around often, and she couldn't afford to let it slip away. Stealing it—seizing the chance—felt like the only logical move. And she had to act fast. Sorelia would likely return tomorrow to hear her decision.

Sora groaned, running her fingers through her hair in frustration. Everything was moving too fast. At just seventeen, the idea of becoming a knight felt overwhelming. The responsibilities, the expectations—it was a lot to shoulder. Yet, her mother's teachings echoed in her mind, a constant reminder of the values and strength she had instilled in her. Those lessons felt like an unbreakable seal, binding her to a path she couldn't ignore.

She sat there, thinking hard, but the harsh realities of her life as a craftswoman kept intruding on her thoughts. The long hours, the demanding customers, the constant struggle to make ends meet—it all weighed heavily on her. Finally, with a resigned sigh, Sora pushed herself up from the dining chair and made her way upstairs to her room, the letter still sitting on the table as the lit candle was put off by the wind.