As soon as we finish preparing, it is time to go shopping. Since Roxanne prepared most of the required water for the tub, so I just need to add the heat.
“Umm, mine aren’t dirty yet, so you don’t need--” Sherry started.
“Well, you need more clothing. Also, what would like for a weapon?”
“Ahh, thank you master. If you want me to be a vanguard, I could use a hammer. For mid-range, I think a spear would suit me best--I’m good with a spear, but it’s not so good for close combat. Which is why I suggest a hammer, since it’s both powerful and easy to use.” Sherry began muttering to herself.
Well, using a long spear would be difficult to use in the narrow corridors of the Dungeon.
However, in this situation, we need another vanguard.
Roxanne still hadn’t left yet, “In master’s party, I kill Demons from the front row and master uses Magic; so, if I may make a suggestion, I would advise a mace or hammer.”
It seems that Roxanne has a similar opinion as me.
“So, what do you think? I think a hammer would suit you.” I nodded to Roxanne’s words and then asked Sherry.
“Whatever master wants. But, I haven’t ever killed Demons with a hammer before.”
I wonder if that was the problem. I acquired Monk by killing a Demon bare-handed, and swordsman by killing a Demon with a sword. Perhaps one of the prerequisites of Master Blacksmith is to use a hammer?
Everyone knows blacksmiths tend to use hammers.
“Do Dwarves often use hammers?” I ask her.
“There are some people who use conventional weapons, but hammers are the most common weapons and tools. I’ve used one for blacksmithing, Dwarves are trained to meld metals from a young age.”
“Alright, I will get you one. Do you want a one-handed hammer or two-handed hammer?”
“Well, a one-handed hammer is good for speed; but two-handed means I will do a lot more damage.” Sherry spoke, her head slightly tilted.
It seems that she won’t need a shield.
“One last question. Even if you aren’t a Master Blacksmith, do you know about empty slots on equipment?”
Sherry narrowed her eyes in thought, “All I know is what I read from records and heard from the Master Blacksmiths in the village, but equipment with empty slots can accept enchantments; the more the slots, the better enchantment or more enchantments can be added to the equipment.”
“I see, thank you.”
“See, master is smart.” Roxanne spoke to Sherry with a grin and wagging tail.
“Yes--he knew about something that usually only Dwarven Elders and potential students know; he had also spoken about the theory of the round world.” Sherry actually looked impressed, “But, only the second-stage of Master Blacksmiths can use a special skill to see them.”
“Well, no need to worry about that. I can see the skill slots. But if only the Second-Stage Blacksmith can enchant equipment, how come there are weaker enchants?”
“Uhh.” Sherry looked a little embarrassed, “The First-Stage gets the Enchant skill, and then they try to use it; 9 out of 10 times they fail, and the card is destroyed…but the client knows that and is ready for it.”
“So, until level 30 of Master Blacksmith, it’s all dependent on luck?”
“Yes, master.”
“I see.”
She really is smart, and knowledgeable; but this doesn’t mean that Roxanne is worth less to me--thinking this, I embrace Roxanne from behind and gently play with her fluffy ears.
Author's Note:
This chapter is really short because of where I split the one before.
Thanks for the chapter. I'm glad you fixed that the author came up with a reason for his skill to be a cheat, dumbing the whole world just to have a slight advantage. The idea only he could see skill slots with a general skill was really dumb.
Yeah, I agree. But, then again, the MC himself was an idiot in the original--it gives me a headache to read lol.
I also disliked that Enchanting was purely luck. like alchemy in Xanxia (They have recipes and everything, yet almost always fail...I mean; even an idiot from Earth with a recipe and access to the materials could make all sorts of things...)
@Tek I agree, but it's extremely difficult for a "not very smart" author to create a smart MC, they usually have a similar or lesser mentality in a way that looks funny, like Naruto, Goku and others. With that I am really amazed by the authors of Death Note, Code Zero and other "smart" animes. As for the xianxian alchemists, it's less about the recipe and more about applying the right amount of energy at the right time in the right way.
@Chouzenfox
Well, as for a not very smart author making smart characters---do fanfiction of smarter authors (Life Hack)
Yeah, I do agree with that. They are amazing (the smart authors)...
But if the right amount of required energy, timing, etc is recorded precisely, they wouldn't fail. it's like saying to set the oven to 300C, and keep the cookies in there for 20 minutes (this is an example, I don't think I have ever actually cooked cookies before.) -- if they follow the recipe it works.
@Tek for alchemy in xianxia, I disagree. Most stories have these rules for spiritual herbs to be wild and not easily farmed. So this leaves the herbs at different strengths and not uniform. If the recipe calls for some 500 year old mystical ginger root but all you could get was 487 or 513, how do you counter that in the rest of the recipe? Also not every 500 year old one will be the same, often they talk about different energies seeping in. That is why in most xianxia alchemy is not like baking but an art rather than a science, or at least something where the skilled can modify the recipe on the fly. There are too many variables that cannot be standardized.
Now, someone with a modern understanding of advanced chemical processes, distillation techniques and combining these with mystical forces might be able to make at least certain things repeatable - but perhaps not everything. But most stories where the failure rates are high there is decent enough reasons in my opinion. Sometimes not so much so, like the ten realms where the mc introduces some of these ideas to great success.
@bilinear I haven't read that one. It is amusing the ages their plants get to though...
Then again, the oldest tree is a forest (Single tree with a lot of clones and connected root network) that is 80k years old, so 100-1000 year old herbs may be possible here too.