Chương 20: Rewards

Rewards are being calculated... Levels awarded first... Congratulations! You have leveled up. 5 Attribute Points awarded. Congratulations! You have leveled up. 5 Attribute Points awarded. Congratulations! You have leveled up. 5 Attribute Points awarded. Congratulations! You have leveled up. 5 Attribute Points awarded. Congratulations! You have leveled up. 5 Attribute Points awarded. You have reached level 10. You are ready to Rank up to Stone Rank. I had expected this much.

Still, it was nice to know that my guess was confirmed. Another five levels weren't bad, and I finally hit Stone Rank. This was fast. You have completed First Objective: Destroying 3 Demonic Portals You have completed the Second Objective: Killing 25 Demons You have completed the First Bonus Objective: Killing the perpetrator You have completed the Second Bonus Objective: Saving the village You have completed the Third Bonus Objective: Killing the traitor Calculating Calamity Points... none...

all objectives complete. Decrease not applicable. Increase in luck rewarded. Calamities and Blessings are part of the same coin. I grimaced slightly at those words. My Calamity Points stayed the same. But I had hoped they would decrease... well, at least my luck increased. How calamities and blessings could befall me at the same time was unclear to me. Prophecies reward: Unarmed Combat [Common] has evolved into Unarmed Combat [Uncommon]. Level reset.

You have gained [Tactician's Mind - Common] You have gained [Commanding Presence - Common] You have gained [Infiltration - Common] Special reward: You have been granted the Skill: Martial Forms [Uncommon] You are able to keep the Storage Bracelet. Max's blacksmithing journal has turned into Blacksmithing Blueprint. You have discovered Martial Arts... adjusting Snake Strike to original world. Snake Strike can now be learned as a Skill with the Martial Arts book acting as a guide.

You have been given the Skill Guide: Snake Strike [Uncommon] You retain all of Timothy's Martial Knowledge. You have been given a Body Forging Manual–Blackstone Body: Volume One All Skills have been placed into a limbo state until you choose to use them. So... this was a lot. So much, in fact, I just kept rereading the notifications for the next few minutes. Only then did I start to understand what those things truly meant. First, the Skills. Unarmed Combat evolved into Uncommon.

Nothing really changed about the skill, just that it was stronger in all aspects. Evolution of Skills was an interesting topic that I have far too little information about. Essentially, the evolution only depends on you. There is no set level where your Skills Evolve. It could happen at Level 2. Or at 200. Both cases are extremely unlikely, but theoretically possible. It was nice to see that my Class allowed me to Evolve skills easier. I began to love it more and more.

Besides this, I didn't really need any of the other Skills. Well, except Martial Forms. The Skill was quite interesting. It was similar to the Grimoire Skill of Mages I remembered. A Grimoire allowed one to place Spells inside that were learned by the mage but not turned into Skills. They could still use those Spells, just in a much weaker form, and had to create them manually. It was a time-consuming process and most people didn't do it. After all, most mage Classes granted spells as Skills anyway.

The Martial Form Skill functioned in the same way as the Grimoire. I would be able to place Martial Techniques in it, strengthening their function and systemizing them. However, the spots were limited, and the Technique would still be weaker than its Skill Version. Same for the Grimoire. Next was the Storage Bracelet. There was nothing much about it. I was just able to keep it. Unfortunately, it was empty. Well, except for the Blacksmithing Blueprint. Now, this was awesome. It was just this: a blueprint.

Not a skill, or anything. But just a way to forge armor and swords from different materials. Exactly what I needed right now. The Martial Arts guide for Snake Strike was another interesting thing. It was a guide that led one to the Uncommon Rank Skill Snake Strike. By following the steps, one would be able to learn the Skill themselves. So rather than being a one-time use Skill Book, this was more like... a guide... on how to acquire the Skill oneself. Now came an extremely unexpected find.

One that made me extremely glad to have completed all Bonus Objectives. I could tell that this was the reason for the large amount of rewards. Body Forging Manual was the thing I least expected. I didn't even know something like this existed. Essentially, it was a manual filled with prescriptions on how to strengthen your body via poisons and other concoctions. It would increase my stats. The best part about it? It was specifically tailored towards our little Town. I don't know how the System did it.

But all materials needed for the forging could be found near and around Blackstone Town. If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it's taken without the author's consent. Report it. It was perfect for me and Julie. I couldn't wait to try it out. After making sure I went over everything multiple times and hadn't missed anything, I knew it was time to go. It was time to get back to the real world and advance to Stone Rank. Life Simulation fully complete. Congratulations. The world morphed like all the other times.

The shapes and edges of the forest and trees became blurry before they formed into outlines of my room. The walls, followed by the ceiling and the furniture. A second later, I felt myself sink into the soft bed below me. I just enjoyed it for a few minutes before standing up and looking outside. It was still afternoon. Now, the question was, was it still the same day? I went out of my bedroom and down the stairs. While walking, I noticed the Storage Bracelet on my wrist. I stopped and inspected the insides.

That's where the Blackstone Body Forging Manual, Snake Strike Guide, and Blacksmithing Blueprint were located. Once confirming the contents, I reached the ground floor. Magret, Emily, and Jen were still sitting there and playing their game. I couldn't tell who was winning.

"How long was I in my room for?" I asked.

"Two minutes? Maybe three?" Emily answered me.

"Oh, I see," I said and went back to my room. A grin formed on my face. Indeed, I spent what? Two weeks? Maybe three? Inside the simulation, only a couple of minutes passed outside. Maybe even less. I pulled out my status sheet.

Name: Ivor Harvings Class: Life Simulator [Unique] Level: 10 [0%] Rank: Wood [Ready to Rank up] Stats: Strength: 12 Dexterity: 13 Constitution: 20 Mana: 28 Free Points: 25 Class Skills: Life Simulation [Unique] Skill Transfer [Unique] General Skill [2/3]: Mana Manipulation [Uncommon] - Level 8 Unarmed Combat [Uncommon] - Level 1 Limbo State Skills: Martial Forms [Uncommon] - Level 1 Swordsmanship [Common] - Level 5 Assassination [Common] - Level 4 Hiding [Common] - Level 6 Tactician's Mind [Common] - Level 2 Commanding Presence [Common] - Level 4 Infiltration [Common] - Level 3 First, I was surprised by the amount of Limbo State Skills I had.

Honestly, this just confirmed my suspicions. I could gain General skills much, more easily than anyone I had heard of. I mean, I had 9 General Skills, all technically learned rather than through a Skill Book. Only Geniuses had so many. This brought me to my current dilemma. I could only use three of them, and once I ranked up to Stone, five. Five was not a lot to go from. I already knew I would use one slot on Martial Forms. This left me with two more. I considered Commanding Presence, but I was not sure yet.

As for the other Skills, I didn't like any of them, nor could I see them in the future of my build. However, I realized I didn't want any of them to simply rot there as Limbo State Skills. I knew I wouldn't use them. So, I was going to give them away. To my people. To my village. I would build a force that was so unstoppable that even if we got attacked by a million Demons, we would be the ones to come out on top. I immediately went towards Gerald and the conscripts' training.

It was the five who took responsibility and another 8 troublemakers we had caught. I told the latter to go away. It was only me, Gerald, and my five Guards in the training yard. I looked at all of them. They looked better than before. I could tell they had more experience than before. But I was not the person I was minutes ago. They were much weaker than the people and Demons I had fought before.

"What can we help you with, my Lord?" Gerald said, and bowed. The other five Guards followed his motion.

"The fight will be bloody," I said.

"People will die. I just want to make that clear. I will now give you a chance. You can leave the guard with no strings attached. You won't have to fight, and instead can just help build our defense. Are you interested?" Silence, for a few seconds nobody answered. They looked at each other. I could see the fear. The tiny beads of sweat dripping down their foreheads. Their unsure gazes. Yet nobody took me up on that offer.

"Good," I nodded.

"Very Good. If that's the case, I want each of you to swear an oath of loyalty. I know it's a–" The rogue's knee hit the ground first.

"I, Ben Blackstone, swear–" The other four followed his example and began swearing their oaths too. I hadn't expected that. A golden light enveloped the kneeling figures for a brief moment, before fusing into their bodies. They stayed for a moment in that position before looking up.

"We greet the Lord of Blackstone Town. The man we serve and fight for," they said in unison. Ben, the rogue, stood up first and the other four followed shortly after.

"The Guard Captain has already told us that if we wish to truly serve the Lord and this Town and make it prosper, we were going to have to swear an Oath," Ben said.

"We were prepared to do so days ago, and were just waiting for you to ask that." I nodded, slowly, then shot Gerald a grateful look. He just smiled brightly in return. I guess he was right, and I was wrong about those five.

"Great," I said.

"You are a Rogue, correct?" Ben nodded.

"What Skills did you get?"

"Penetrative Strike, and after reaching level 5, I got Dagger Arts."

"I see," I said, "From what I know, even if you have the same Class you might get different Skills. It's not clear why that is the case, but it's believed to be related to talent and personality. I am guessing you want to become an assassin?"

"I want to become the Town's Shadow and protect it from those that wish to harm it." Ben nodded.

"From people like us. I know that people have likely died because of us. We stole their food after all. This sin will never be forgiven, but I hope that at least I can make sure that my life will be dedicated to repaying the Town." The rest looked at the ground with shame.

"That's why I mentioned to you they had the potential to change," Gerald chimed in.

"They are deeply ashamed of their actions and determined to pay back the Town and in turn you for the things they have done." I was taken aback. I should have had a conversation with those men sooner. I didn't expect them to feel this deeply. I patted Ben on the shoulder.

"I agree," I said.

"The lives that might have been lost because of your actions will never come back. In a perfect world, you would have never ever been in this situation. In a better world than this, I would have thrown you into jail. But our world is the way it is. It sucks. It sucks a lot. We are in a pickle, and I will need and take every bit of help I can get. Especially from a group of men as determined as you guys. Let's change locations." We left towards the mansion.

On our way there, I asked for three of the five men to leave. One was an archer. The other two were warriors but used a spear and an axe, respectively. I had nothing to give them. For now. The last two were Ben, the Rogue, and Ren, a swordsman. While walking, I asked for more information about both their classes. Eventually, we arrived inside the mansion and went towards another office, one not vacated by the crazy Herbalist. I gazed deeply into both men's eyes.

"What I am about to give you won't leave the room. Understood?" They nodded. I used Skill Transfer multiple times. Out of nowhere, four very heavy and thick leather-bound books appeared in the air above me. I moved fast to catch them all. Once confirming the contents, I pressed three books into Ben's hands, and one into Ren's. Their confused gazes amused me. I knew I would have to repeat this many times.

"Three Skill Books for Ben. One for Ren," I said.

"I know it's an unfair distribution but bear with me. Once I get more, I will make sure everyone gets more than they need. Now, the three Skills Ben receives are Assassination, Hiding, and Infiltration. Essentially all you wanted and need. Ren, your Skill Book contains Swordsmanship. I know you already got the Skill from your Class; however, I know that the System won't just let you keep the same Skill twice. One as a Class Skill and the other as a General Skill. I bet something special will happen."

I smirked at Ren with a teasing expression. Of course, I knew what would happen. I was a Noble even if I attended Classes drunk, I knew some shit. The Skills would merge into one and the levels would increase. If he was lucky... well... he would see himself. I left both speechless guards on their own accord. I wouldn't convince them myself to use those Skills. For that, I had Gerald, my dear Guard Captain, aka the convincer. Or maybe he negotiates? I didn't know. He would get it done. I went back to my room.

Okay, with that out of the way. It was time. Rank Up. You have decided to Rank up. Your Rank increased from Wood to Stone...