Everyone and everything at the dungeon is okay. Let's do a quick rundown over what I missed for a day and a half.

First up is the defense effort for the dungeon; while I was away, the trio kept the bodies in separate piles to represent the kill counts. There isn't anything besides Ranbi Minions in the piles, at least, but the smallest pile is still a few feet tall. And, honestly, there's a good reason that I'm a bit confused at the results.

In order of lowest count to highest, the kill score is 8, 13, and 17. That staggering difference is one thing but it's completely different once you know who the numbers belong to.

Ivy, Bomber, and Ropert. In the same order.

Ivy's garrote cord snapped during the early morning not long after I left, which brought her kill count drastically lower. Without a cord to focus all the pressure of her strangling, she had to rely on her arms and it increased the time spent choking an opponent.

While Bomber's club held up, his count still makes sense; unlike either of the two, his ability to deliver brutal and quick death to the minions has been proven time and time again. Even if he broke his club, it wouldn't change his combat style much.

But Ropert's kill count being so staggeringly high, as I heard it, is because he fought smarter. Despite being weaker, he was able to practically butcher the ranbi using a simple tactic of "grab and throw" as he coins it. It's a two-part plan that only works due to his length; he binds the ranbi, drags it over to the DCT traps, and tosses them in. Such a simple move is only effective because the ranbi would break free to flee from him and dash into the DCT so fast that they'd get tangled up in it and kill themselves.

Ropert is really trying to work hard and catch-up. If he's keeping kill counts like this, I imagine he shouldn't take too much longer to hit level three and evolve. It's weird that he didn't evolve like I did when I gained a single level, but that's probably due to my Dungeon Master status changing how my form evolves. If it's like the other two, then at Level 3 he should be able to get stronger.

Good work, you three. Especially you, Ropert. Go ahead and start processing them so we can do another delivery to the big guy.

As you command, Master.

The victorious Creeper Thorn slithers off, while both of the ranbli remain. It looks like they're starting to understand the unspoken intent of addressing only one of the trio.

Ivy and Bomber, I want you to follow me. I acquired some stuff on my adventure yesterday that should be useful for both of you.

I turn and head downstairs with both in tow. Bomber is definitely better heading down the stairs than Ivy at this point, actually able to step down despite his stature. Comparing to me, it's actually really annoying just how good he is at it.

But I digress; all three of us eventually get down to the Toolroom, where I've arranged all of my loot. Ivy immediately springs over to the spot with the flowers, picking up a white flower and turning it around in her hands. She looks back at the two of us, squeaking and holding it up in both hands. The way she holds it makes it look like it's a decorative headpiece, despite how she's clearly just trying to present it or ask what it is.

I'll assume it's the latter since all they've seen since being brought into the world is vines and grass.

That's one of the flowers I found in the new place. They don't seem dangerous, so if you'd like you can keep it. It probably won't last much long-

Wait. Why not?

Would you let me borrow it for a moment, Ivy?

The ranbli girl tilts her head but Bomber squeaks reassuringly, giving the small morale push she needs to hand it over.

Crystal Crafting: 20 MP.

While the crystal forms in my other hand, allow me to explain my thought process and what I'm doing. The magic theory I've constructed already states that things require mana for life, so a flower once disconnected from its plant is no longer being provided mana. This is probably why the element of Life exists; converting mana into life is a core mechanic of the laws here.

But a flower in my prior life has a chance to have photosynthetic properties depending on the plant it comes from. It's not simply a matter of looking green since there were many plants that had non-green leaves. Additionally, all flowers are produced normally when a healthy plant is trying to reproduce.

The crystal has a gap between its angular shape, perfect for me to slip the flower's stem into.

Earthy Grasp.

I'd never tried it before but the crystal's shape slowly melds tighter, clasping the flower's stem and crackling as its shape morphed ever so slightly to steady around it. I pour some of my mana into the crystal but not enough to fill it, both Bomber and Ivy staring at the shimmering surface the entire time. When I turn to face her, Ivy reaches out for it. Sadly, I put it down on the nearby surface and her ears droop in understanding.

Don't worry, if this idea works, I'll give you one. But first, I need you to handle something else.

The flower experiment will need a few days to show results, but I have something that can produce far more immediate results: the mana-rich grass sample. I carefully grab the soil-bound clump, carefully turning and passing it into Ivy's arms.

Take this over to the pond. I want you to dig up all the grass around the pond, then put this in. The sand over there probably won't let this grow but if it does regrow, we can see if it still gathers this much mana.

Ivy squeak-grumbles but turns, leaving Bomber and I alone in the Toolroom with the rest of my loot.

Unlike Ivy whom I had a task for, Bomber is here to actually get a proper gift. I move and grab the nearby Boneback plates, turning the weighty bones over in my grasp.

Bomber, as for you... I'm going to be making you armor.

I turn around and the male ranbli looks completely confused. I guess there's some level of logic to his confusion; no one nor anything in Kave has natural defenses outside of Creeper Thorn's... well, thorns.

Don't think about it too much. I just need you to stand there while I measure out the pieces. We shouldn't need to use more than one or two given your current size, so there'll be more in the future for whenever you evolve again. Now... hold still.

...

Bomber left a short while ago and I have the measurements ready. Cutting the bone plate won't be easy since it's highly resistant to my Cutter Thorn, so it's probably about time to develop a remedy to that. And my Toolroom has the perfect way to make it: the Manaflame Forge. I'll admit that I'm pretty worried about using it, but I've got the Washroom nearby with plenty of water nearby if the fire spreads onto me or something.

I set the piece of bone down on the forge, touching the interaction orb.

Welcome to the Toolroom of Dungeon of Kaden.

What would you like to make?

Current Dungeon Resources: 15/0/0/0

A cutting tool.

Cutting Tool selected.

Select the material or resource you wish to use.

All around me, my vision hues green; the walls, floor, and nearby objects all seem to fade out whilst all the worms, flowers, and bone nearby outlines. When I look at the plate I put on the forge, it darkens.

Select?

The material lifts up off the forge and the colors around me return to normal. Mana sparkles around the object and carries it, levitating it over my shoulder.

Material selected.

Manaforge heating available. Using Craft will allow the user to refine the object's quality.

Do you wish to use Craft?

No.

The door of the forge opens and shuts, allowing the bone plate just enough time to slip inside in-between it. Comparing this to my first time crafting, I've had enough experience interacting with the Toolroom since I built it to manage it sensibly. Carving and handling things personally is all fine and dandy but sometimes letting the automatic process work is for the best.

Heating material; transmutation process started...

Designate the type of Cutting tool.

This sort of automated crafting is probably going to be my go-to if I can get it working with the workbench.

Knife.

Type confirmed.

Creating...

The forge booms and its crystals within glow. All the light pours through the grated door, pulsing with heat and magical warmth within. Just being nearby makes my vision dizzy and my body heats up. This is the perfect time to just step back and-

Would you like to initiate Dungeon-run crafting?

Cost: 1 Favor per minute.

Oh thank goodness.

Yes.

...

It's definitely a good thing I've been saving up Favor. After I left the forge running to go cool off, I ended up dozing off in the Washroom. When I came back, the forge had shut off.

But what lay on the stone anvil beside it wasn't a mere bone plate. The dungeon's crafting had been doing a lot of work and seemingly shaped and carved out chunks of the bone onto the floor nearby. Unlike the pale grey of bone, most of the partially formed blade is now pitch black and etched with glowing white veins that snake out from the edge and tip. Walking closer, I carefully touch the access orb with one hand while reaching out to brush my vine-tips across its surface. It's smooth and cool to the touch... but I can feel mana coursing within it.

Dungeon-run crafting now concluded.

Estimated time and cost: 36 minutes / 36 Favor

Current Tool (Progress %): Magosbone Workknife (69%)

Magosbone sounds cool. Tightening my grip around the non-bladed section of the knife, I hoist the weapon up and turn it over. The dungeon's mana may not be physical but it is thorough; although only the blade makes up the majority of the progress, there's hardly any imperfections or damages.

Honestly, I think it has me beat. Carving my staff is one thing yet there's no way I could have made something like this.

Setting the blade back down, I made a decision that any sane person would do.

Resume dungeon-run crafting. Begin preparing a new project.

It's a good thing my summons kept busily slaughtering yesterday. It's time to use as much Favor as I can. If it can get us prepared faster for the expedition, there's no reason to be stringent now.

[Notification] You have begun taking an invested interest in crafting.

Condition Met: Granting title. New Title: Fledgling Craftsman Every master swordsmith or tinkerer has a beginning. Most of them filled with hammering nails or making doorstops.

Passive Effect

+ 10 Maximum SP

Equipped Effect

N/A