The World Of Skill

Tony

Ryu is doing his best cutting down a tree using Tony’s ax. Since his stamina gauge hasn’t been unlocked, each action depletes his satiety faster instead.

*huff huff*

Letting out a heavy breath after each swing, Ryu realized that it wasn’t that simple to make an arrow. Collecting the sharp stone from the river, harvesting plant’s fiber, all took patience and time. Since Ryu is in a virtual reality world, these processes are highly simplified and it also makes him realized how much harder it is in reality.

“No wonder there’s only a small amount of arrow in the shooting range. Using a projected arrow nowadays tells you how tedious it used to be to just make an arrow.”

Carrying the lumber that he has cut towards Tony’s hut, Ryu is now going to proceed to the next step.

“Alright Ryu, since you have collected all the materials now, I’m going to tell you how to process it. For the arrowhead, you can use the grindstone over there to make it sharp and pointy since it is the basic. For the plant fiber, we’re going to weave it. Lastly, the lumber going to take more steps. You will cut it all into the same length, the length is also important. You have to put the size of your bow, the bowstring strength, and your shoulder width. You will also need to make a little nock at the end and make sure the nock won’t destroy the arrow’s balance.”

Following Tony’s instruction, little by little Ryu is nearing his goal. The arrowhead made from sharp stone is grinded nicely into having a sharp end that could penetrate the thick hide. The fletching is woven neatly. Only the arrow body took more time to shape into a circular tube. After assembling the arrow, Ryu is looking at his own work and satisfied.

「You have created a handmade arrow x 10. 」

「Ryu’s handmade arrow: a good arrow created by Ryu carefully. The arrowhead is sharper and gives an additional attack. Attack +3」

「You have learned 《Arrow Creation》. 」

「Arrow Creation (F Rank) Level 1: 3% proficiency

You can make your own arrow. Dexterity + 5.

MP use: 0

Cooldown time: None. 」

「You have acquired a production skill. Automated mode is unlocked. When using automated mode when producing an item, you just have to input the materials into the production box. Items made using automated mode have lower quality than items made using manual mode however automated mode won’t fail to produce an item, unlike manual mode. 」

“That’s a good arrow you have made.”

Tony also took one of the arrows that Ryu has made and examined it.

“I can only do it because you’re such a good teacher.”

“Haha. You’re good with words. A good teacher won’t be able to do anything if the student doesn’t want to learn. I hope what I have taught you today can be useful for you.”

“Of course. This can save me a lot of money. Now, I couldn’t even say that 1 copper for an arrow is too expensive either. The effort to make just one piece of an arrow is tremendous.”

“I’m glad that you realized that too. Not just everyone is qualified to make an arrow. Anyway, it is almost time for dinner. How about you catch prey while testing out your arrow and I’ll cook it for you?”

Without realizing, it took a lot of time for Ryu to learn the skill. He started after lunch and it is almost dinner. His character satiety needs to be replenished and he gladly took the offer.

“Alright, I’ll find something good to eat.”

Ryu didn’t take too long to find a target. It was a pack of「horned deer」. It was amazing how the monster could age and grow along with their level. The young horned deer are around level 5 while the mature one could reach level 10. It is also good since the young horned deer is at a level that Ryu could hunt.

He calmly waited until one of the young horned deer move out from the pack and attacked it. 5 arrows latter, the young deer fall down but its body immediately turns into white light. Ryu is lucky when the second young deer didn’t disappear and he managed to acquire deer meat x1.

Giving the deer meat to Tony, he sat down and chatted with Tony as he grilled the meat.

“Say, Tony, why did you live alone here?”

Ryu wasn’t really interested; he just wants to check out whether the game has a special backstory for every NPC or not. Since Tony is one of the NPC that could teach a skill, there should be some more to him. It could be even better if he could another skill.

“The story is long. I bet you will be bored listening to it.”

Tony shrugged it off but it makes Ryu more interested to find out.

“It’s okay, you can tell me. We could talk about it over dinner.”

After thinking for a while, Tony seemed to agree.

“Long time ago I used to be a guard working for the archer association. I started as an archer and by chance, I learned 《horse riding》 which enabled me to be promoted to a horse archer. As a horse archer, I have greater mobility so the archer association sends me from one battlefield to another battlefield. In the end, I grow tired of it and I decided to retire.”

 “Ayy, how can that long story be that short? Tell me more. Something should happen right?”

Ryu learned one of the unique features of Green World by talking to Tony. Class change can also be triggered by acquiring a specific skill. A magician focusing on 《firebolt》 might become a fire mage or a swordsman learning 《shield mastery》 might become a crusader and learning 《heal》 at the same time might evolve him into a paladin. Now he also can roughly guess that Sayu’s original high-wind archer might have something to do with a wind-related skill.

“Along the dead body of enemy and comrade, I just feel that I have lost sight of myself. I used to be a young boy like you, wanted to make a name for myself, I conscripted to the archer association. After my long journey, my friend that used to drink and laugh with me isn’t there anymore. My achievements can’t even be bragged around and it didn’t make me proud at all. I feel like I have wasted all my life for nothing.”

“So, you decided to live in seclusion like this? Far away from other people? What for?” Ryu just couldn’t get the logic.

“Waiting for new generations like you. To impart my knowledge in hope that they wouldn’t be like me. At first, new people like you used to come here but lately there is none. You are the first person to come here after a long time.”

Tony must be talking about players coming to acquire skills from him. As the archer class popularity went down, and the skill arrow creation itself won’t be much use for people who got money or support from their friends, no one comes to visit Tony lately. Also judging from his manner of speech, Tony really have other skill to impart to a player.

“So, will you impart me with your teaching some more?”

Tony looked at Ryu and shook his head.

“Maybe later.”

There are several reasons for the answer. Ryu’s level is too low and didn’t meet the requirements or he hasn’t built enough affinity with Tony.

“Alright, I’ll take your words. I’ll come at a later time to ask again.”

Tony was taken aback for a bit but he shrugged it off quickly. He didn’t think that Ryu will really come back at a later time. Just like everyone else that has learned arrow creation skills from him. But maybe, this time Tony wants to put his trust towards this boy. From the start, Ryu’s eye is always so bright and straight-forward. Just like his eye when he was Ryu’s age. Before he joined the army and get tired of the battlefield.

“If you really want to, just try not to kill anyone until you reach level 50.”

Maybe this is one of the reasons why Tony decided to live separated from others. He has taken too many lives on the battlefield and it finally haunts him. The price of a life is heavier than what he originally thinks of when he was still a young boy. The more he kills the bigger his guilt.  After the battle he saw wives crying after their dead husband's body and mother losing their son. He was tired of all that and decided to retire.

The new generation that comes after he retires always took the life of the other person lightly. He can tell from the way they talked to him that they didn’t take others seriously and looking at him as if they are looking at a statue. They never look at him as a person. Maybe because he was dejected and disappointed at himself, he regarded himself as such and agreed to teach them his arrow creation skill but that was it. Some even give up after they think the time consumed didn’t worth the skill. He never put expectation that they won’t be like him. But Ryu is different. This young boy seemed to be still pure and he really hopes that he won’t become like him.

“Is that true? Not killing anyone until I reach level 50?”

Ryu thinks to himself. As this is a game, player-killing is everywhere. Can he really do it? Not killing anyone until he reaches level 50.

“I don’t know if I can do it. But I promise you that I will try my best. Let’s register each other as  friends first so I won’t forget about it.”

Since there are no windows pop out telling Ryu that he has gained a quest, it is better to add Tony as a friend first so he won’t forget about it. His decision however makes Tony seemed to trust him more. After all the people that come to learn a skill from him, no one asked to become friends with him. Maybe, this boy can really do it.

“Alright.” Even Tony himself didn’t realize that he is smiling which he hasn’t done after a long time.

「4. Tony Evan Hart Level 420 Blood Hunter - Online」