I did. Just as before, I had one gold, two platinum, and two diamond, showcasing that each five-level request likely applied uniformly to all of the tabs—spells, books, recipes, and the like. That gave me a heavy incentive to earn big.
Below that were recommended goods. Each had a description if I opened it up in my thoughts. The first was immediately enticing.
Recommended Equipment:
-Advanced Alchemy Equipment | Grade: Platinum
-Enchanted Tent | Grade: Platinum
-Enchanted Gravity Pack | Grade: Platinum
-Full Recovery Chest | Grade: Diamond
-Quality Carpenter Tools | Grade: Gold
-Quality Dagger | Grade: Gold
-Portable Heating Array: Grade | Gold
"Just as you can ask for anything within reason for Information Requests, Equipment requests will also let you request just about anything," Lithco said.
"Whether you want scientific lab equipment or a stuffed animal, you can request almost anything through requests. That's the power we're talking about here. That said..."
"No one's coming here." I felt my stomach sink deeper now that I fully understood what I was losing.
"Yes, and no," Lithco said. "Once again, the Galfer's Gate opens up once a year for the Black Harvest, and you're not too far from the gate. More importantly, a platinum level request can grease some wheels. For you, that's a drop in the bucket, but out there? Ha. People will slaughter each other for that request. The only thing preventing every idiot with a sword from accepting jobs to bring you equipment is the big ass gate that prevents every idiot with a sword from getting in here."
"Why would people want to be here?" I asked, rubbing my eyes.
"'Cause it's full of alchemic ingredients. It's a gold mine, so every year there's a Black Harvest where a large group of adventurers and alchemists come in to gain resources. Half or more die, hence the hideously trite title."
"Oh…"
"So yeah. That gate prevents people from getting in. That said, if you use a diamond request, things will magically start happening. You're still not going to get it hand delivered, but someone will drop it in the forest. Though you'll have to get it no matter where it ends up."
I shuddered at the thought that I might end up in a wandering reaper's nest to get it next time.
"Okay."
"Naturally, if you use your Epic request, people will pick you up before this shelter runs out. Still, it would be a damn shame for someone like you to give up and be a farmer."
I took a sharp breath. I was confused and I didn't know what to do.
"Until you make that decision, I suggest you explore your rewards on your own," Lithco said. Then we sat in silence for a while until he asked, "Do you have any questions?"
I bit my lip and took a deep breath. "No… I mean, yes. What's Market?"
Lithco's voice became rueful. "The market's where alchemists, merchants, and just about anyone can offer goods, services, and other items. Imagine Ebay, Amazon, and Craigslist had an orgy and took over the universe, that's the market place. And since you're here, you can't sell your alchemic creations, poisons, and ingredients until you get stuff worth a high level adventurer's time and there's not many 'round these parts."
"I see, " I whispered. I almost wished he didn't even mention the Market. "So I'm pretty much screwed."
"No," Lithco said. "The Black Harvest will come around next spring. Save up and make a killing."
I didn't like how he emphasized the word killing. Not one bit.
I enjoyed the bed a bit longer. Then, I ate jerky and a Cliff bar for breakfast, conserving the meal rations for later on. Kline ate Fancy Feast. I also cleaned the tub until identify didn't pull up any alchemic residue from the bath bomb, drank clean water from it, and took a bath. Kline declined to join me.
I then got dressed and examined the bow in the corner of the room. It was awe-inspiring. The body was made of something similar to ivory with golden characters that looked to be from some ancient alphabet, like Egyptian hieroglyphs, but with calligraphy curves closer to Arabic. There were also geometric lines on it. Yet the most distinctive feature was that there was no string on it or holes to add one.
"What is this?" I asked.
Name: Nymbler
Type: Soul Weapon
Grade: Epic
Summary: Once wielded by Kori, the Blinding Archer, Nymbler is a bow that amplifies raw mana and fires it in bolts. The bolts follow the wielder's mana sense, allowing the bolts to follow your will. The bow can become invisible with active camouflage and can mask its mana pressure. Bolts increase in power alongside your soul density, allowing it to serve you well through the Sixth Evolution.
Important Notes:
-The wielder can activate the active camouflage with the array on the bow using the spell provided in your Guide.
-The arrows are very bright. It is necessary to control arrow girth to prevent giving away the wielder's position or blinding themself.
-Nymbler is not advisable for nighttime fighting unless used strategically.
-Nymbrel grants the wielder skills for the weapon.
Nymbler bonds to a person's soul—it is not a physical object.
Summon or return Nymbler with your thoughts.
Warning: Your soul density acts as a multiplier for this bow, but it still requires a mana core to work. Using this weapon before establishing a mana core can shatter your meridians and eliminate your ability to use magic. You also cannot use will attacks. Develop a mana core and learn mana sense before using it.
….
Congratulations! Newbie Dylan Tseng has bonded with soul weapon, "Nymbler."
I blinked a few times and then instinctually summoned Nymbler by grabbing at my chest and pulling. It appeared in my hands, physical in form. I also knew how to use it. Nymbler wasn't a weapon now—it was another limb. I could use it like people moved their fingers or breathed air. That included using mana, it forced me to feel mana channels for the first time. They felt… broken… clogged like a drain stuffed with hair and trash and gunk but I could feel them.
I wanted to try it out, but I reread the warning about destroying my ability to use magic and put the bow back into my chest as if it were only natural.
"This world's a trip," I chuckled, running my fingers through my hair.
Suddenly, a chime went off and I thought it would be a good thing—it wasn't.
[Alert!]
Warning: The current time is 7:30 am.
Temporary shelter will lock between the hours of 8 am and 8 pm for the rest of the trial. If a neophyte is in the shelter, it will permanently lock forever. After the trial, the shelter is locked permanently.
Temporary Shelter Nights Remaining: 6
"Wait!" I cried. "There's a time? Where?" A clock suddenly popped up on my screen.
"Seriously? Seriously? Why didn't you warn me?" Then that anger turned to horror when it dawned on me that I would soon be living in that forest with nothing but a tent. I had a week to get more survival equipment. If I didn't, I was as good as dead.
I immediately pulled out tincture bottles and tubs I kept in my hiking backpack (you must always be prepared to find poisons in the wild) and started splitting my healing rewards into two places. If I got locked outside or injured, I needed them, but I was also certain I could lose my backpack. It was all about mitigating risk.
Then I rushed back to bed. "Get some books," I whispered quickly. "We'll figure out the rest later."
We sat on the bed, eyes glued to the clock as I pulled up the book tab. This time, it only showed me the rewards I had, making it easier to look at.
Shelf (1)
Requests:
Gold (1)
Platinum (2)
Diamond (1)
Recommended Books
-Trap Plants and Fungi in Aranarawood Forest: A Guide to Avoiding Innocuous Plants | Grade: Platinum
-The Convict's Guide to Foraging: Foragable Plants, Berries, Mushrooms, and Vegetables in Aranarawood Forest (Vol. 1-4) | Grade: Platinum
-Killer Animals in Aranara Forest (Vol. 1-4) | Grade: Platinum
-Alchemic Plants and Mushrooms in Aranara Forest (Vol. 1) | Grade: Diamond
-Evolution 101 | Grade: Bronze
-Alchemic Medicines 101 | Grade: Silver
-Building a Core Foundation | Grade: Gold
-The Big Book of Mushrooms: A Visual Guide to Documented Mushrooms in Aranarawood Forest | Grade: Platinum
-Fundamentals of Magic | Grade: Silver
See More >
I considered the recommended options and bought one without hesitation.