I spent the rest of the day learning and upgrading my Basic Weaving, Basic Engineering, Basic Jeweller, Basic Arcana and Basic Monster Skinning up to mastery 6, while I was studying the books I had unlocked some extensions without having spent SP.

“Skill Extension Learnt [Unlocked]-Basic Ore Cleaner [Jeweller] (C), Skill Extension Learnt [Unlocked]-Basic Monster Tracking [Tracking and Skinning] (C), Skill Extension Learnt [Unlocked]-Basic Animal Tracking [Tracking and Skinning] (C), Skill Extension Learnt [Unlocked]-Basic Animal Skinning [Tracking and Skinning] (C), Skill Forcibly Unlocked-Skill Merger (C)”

“Skill Merger? And it took 7 SP from me”

Skill Merger Activated

“Merged Skill Learnt [Unlocked]-Basic Species Skinning [Merged Basic Monster and Animal Skinning] (C), Merged Skill Learnt [Unlocked]-Basic Species Tracker [Merged Basic Monster and Animal Tracker] (C)”

“Ragar, do you know what just happened?” I looked up at Ragar, he looked as confused as me

“I’m sorry Udon, I’ve never heard of someone unlocking skills just by reading them” So he didn’t know either, I mean, if you did think about it, you could learn magic from spell books so why couldn’t you learn trade skills from trade books.

“You are a very interesting person, where did you say your are from Udon?” Damn it, I have to change the subject, Ragar is already looking at me suspiciously.

“How is this?” I held up a clean small Ruby Ore, the red shine glimmered catching the light from outside.

“Impressive, you truly are a talented young man, how would you like to take over my work?” Huh? What did Ragar just ask me?

“What did you just ask me?”

“You see Udon, I am on the verge of retiring, I only do a handful of merchant jobs and they are all requests to design and create items, my son then delivers them himself, he is not a very talented young man when it comes to the creation of the item, if you could stay here and be my apprentice and then take over my work, I will pay you well” A job? He does seem like the fairest boss I’d have come by…

“The answer is no, I have a goal that I must achieve and this will get in the way of that” I still hadn’t forgotten getting back to my own world and punishing everyone that put me through hell, starting with my old boss.

“A straight forward answer, I can tell I won’t change your mind” Ragar let out a disappointed chuckle, he still seemed happy

“I must say though, it does bring a smile to my face to know a young player is this eager to learn the trades, not many players do and as a result the quality of products are getting lower and lower each generation” Miko had mentioned players are fairly lazy and selfish.

“Can I ask a question Ragar?”

“Huh? Sure, what is it you want to know?”

“Why are you living on such a low floor like this?” If he was a highly rated merchant and worked for nobility, then why was he here?

“Thats a fair observation, I did in fact work for a high ranked Kingdom, when I returned from a quest I found out my wife had succumb to an illness, the circumstances of her attracting the illness was suspicious, you see, my wife was a Valkyrie, she was the leader of the feared Valkyrie Sisters. Before I headed off on my quest she had mentioned something about the King being involved in a horrible black market conspiracy of selling Demi-Human children, she investigated her hunch and then succumbed to the illness, with her dying breath she told me to grab Ralph and escape to a lower floor, and thats why I’m here. Nobles don’t come down to these floors even new noble players will start at Floor 13 no lower.” Kings being involved in the black market wasn’t a big surprise to me, back on earth we had plenty of corrupt governments.

“I’m going to go get diner ready you keep studying, you might need to unlock the basic trades of the other skills as well” Ragar got up and headed off to the kitchen, I kept reading the trade skills and unlocked the other 18 skills, I had to forcibly unlock Furnishing but it didn’t cost me anymore SP then it required, I ended up only having 8 SP left after all of it.

Basic Fishing: 0/10 Mastery-Level 1 Common Skill, Unlocked

Basic Animal Tamer: 0/10 Mastery-Level 5 Common Skill, Unlocked

Basic Monster Tamer: 0/10 Mastery-Level 7 Common Skill, Unlocked

Basic Wood Cutter: 0/10 Mastery-Level 1 Common Skill, Unlocked

Basic Mining: 0/10 Mastery-Level 1 Common Skill, Unlocked

Basic Enchanter: 0/10 Mastery-Level 1 Common Skill, Unlocked

Basic Harvesting: 0/10 Mastery-Level 1 Common Skill, Unlocked

Basic Metal Smelting: 0/10 Mastery-Level 1 Common Skill, Unlocked

Basic Woodwork: 0/10 Mastery-Level 1 Common Skill, Unlocked

Basic Leatherworker: 0/10 Mastery-Level 1 Common Skill, Unlocked

Basic Stone-Cutting: 0/10 Mastery-Level 1 Common Skill, Unlocked

Basic Weapon Smith: 0/10 Mastery-Level 3 Common Skill, Unlocked

Basic Leather Armourer : 0/10 Mastery-Level 5 Common Skill, Unlocked

Basic Alchemy: 0/10 Mastery-Level 5 Common Skill, Unlocked

Basic Animal Chief: 0/10 Mastery-Level 1 Common Skill, Unlocked

Basic Furnisher: 0/10 Mastery-Level 15 Common Skill, Unlocked

Basic Tailoring: 0/10 Mastery-Level 7 Common Skill, Unlocked

“Master Udon, dinners ready” Miko walked into the room I was studying in and pulled me towards the kitchen, her actions confused me so much, she was mad at me for the smallest things and yet acted like she cared about me, I couldn’t figure this damn bee out.

“I made Kelp and Anchovy Soup, Grilled fish and some Karluo bites on the side” Ragar put the dishes in front of me, the Kelp and Anchovy Soup looked like Miso Soup, it was made from those ingredients, the grilled fish was a salmon looking fish and the Karluo bites were just vanilla bites. I took a mouthful of the Kelp and Anchovy Soup, it didn’t taste as good as the Miso Soup from earth, it was most likely missing the rice koji, I don’t believe this world has rice.

“This is delicious!” Miko let out an outburst of joy, she was gulping her food up in a blur, Vnaa was doing the same thing, she almost ate the grilled fish whole.

“I’m glad, I rarely get the chance to feed others my cooking” Ragar smiled and grabbed a mouthful of the grilled fish.

“I’m going to head to back to the books” I finished my dinner and left the room.

“Maser Udon, Vnaa and I are going to go to sleep, goodnight” Miko waved at me and went up the stairs

“You have a special young lady their Udon, be carful she doesn’t get swept up by another guy” Ragar followed me to my books, he got his snobby son to clean the table

“What are you on about now? If you’re going to be annoying then I can study by myself”

“Hmm, don’t tell me, you’re a virgin?” What!? Where did that come from!?

“What the hell! Leave me alone!” Ragar looked me over, what was he doing? Did his appraisal skill see my sexual history? I didn’t have any history of that kind, if he had met the horrible woman I have, then he’d be in the same boat as me.

“Lets get back to work shall we” Huh? He just sat down like he didn’t just make an uncomfortable situation.

“Fine, but no more of those weird questions” I sat back down and we studied the new books, I ended up falling asleep on the ground.

“Good Morning players and Non-Players, in todays News the 7th ranked Hero has been seen in Lucifers Domain, if you see the Hero please report him to your closest Guard, he is extremely dangerous and marked as a wanted fugitive, for those on the lower floors, there has been a player with a crystal clear gem spotted, please be cautious and report any suspicious behaviour.”

“Mmmm, I hate that that damn skill from the gem,” I woke up at the ‘morning’ announcement, wait? Did that just say a player on the lower floors with a crystal clear gem? Did Ragar rat me in? When did he see my gem? No, it must have been that old hag witch from the summoning crystal stall.

“Udon” Huh? I looked up to see Ragar looking at me intensely

“What?” I sat up and looked around the room, everything seemed the same as last night but, why was Ragar acting on guard…No, he heard the announcement and was looking at my Guild Bracelet

“Can I see your Guild Gem?” Damn it, I knew he was looking at that.

“No” I need to get out of here, I won’t be able to take him on, I’m still to weak. Wheres Miko and Vnaa? Were they still asleep? Can I leave them behind? I did know how to create familiars now.

“Udon, show me your Guild Gem” Ragar was getting more intense, this won’t end well

“Father? Whats wrong?” The snobby boy walked into the room with Vnaa and Miko behind him, this was my chance, I could grab the snobby boy and use him as a shield to escape.

“Ralph, stay where you are, Udon your Guild Gem”

“Master Udon” Miko figured out what was happening and looked at me ready to escape, finally, she was starting to understand the problem my gem is causing us.

“Hear my words dungeon, I ask to be surrounded, filled and illuminated with the dungeons flowing energy, hear my plea ‘The Power of Water’ Ice Prison”

Ragar held his hands out and quickly incanted a spell, it was by far the fastest spell incantation I’ve heard.

“Master Udon!”

“Gahhh!”

“Father!?” Miko, Vnaa and the snobby boy shouted out, Ragar had trapped my body in a block of ice.

“Calm down everyone, I am just checking his Guild Gem, Miko if you don’t want any harm to come to Udon you will stand down and release the grip you have on your dagger” Miko had her hand on her dagger? She didn’t completely trust him then, not if she still wore her dagger around him.

“Hmm, a crystal clear gem, what crime have you committed? I’ve never seen a gem this clear, your crime must have been extreme if the Dungeon didn’t announce it” The Dungeon announces crimes? That could be my way out of this.

“Do you honestly think the dungeon wouldn’t announce a crime as bad as the one you are accusing me off? You would have heard something if I had committed such a crime to get my Gem this clear” I tried to plead my case, I hope Ragar uses his head.

“You do have a point, you also saved my son and returned the merchandise instead of stealing it, I will say you don’t seem to have any bad intentions, but, that does not explain why your Guild Gem is Crystal Clear” Damn it! If you understand I didn’t break any laws then why are you still holding me captive.

“Please Ragar, if you know any elves then you will understand Master Udon is innocent” Miko shouted out trying to get Ragar to let me go, that wasn’t going to work, Elves never got along well with humans, especially Noble ones, it’s just common sense.

“An Elf, hmm, I could ask Sylf from the lower floor” Ragar rubbed his chin still looking me up and down.

“Did you just say Sylf” Miko asked, a smile had come over her face.

“Tsk” I clicked my tongue, the thought of asking that Elf for another favour, I wasn’t going to owe her another one.

“Master Udon, please, if we don’t get Sylf’s help again you will be turned in for a crime you never committed”

“You two have met Sylf? Did you say she has helped you once before?” Ragar turned around and looked at Miko curiously

“Yes, she healed Master Udon after he was attacked by a Deer-Bear, she works at an Inn on the floor before this”

“Hmm, if Sylf indeed helped you out and saw your Gem and decided you weren’t a threat then I can let you go” Ragar let me loose from the Ice Prison which just evaporated.

“Miko, grab Vnaa and lets go” Another person who just assumed I was some criminal, he was bound to turn me in eventually

“Master Udon?”

“Wait, Udon, I apologise for my sudden outburst, I had my son to worry about, I couldn’t take any risks” Ragar put his hand on my shoulder, was that supposed to be an apology?

“Shut it! You’re all the same! You judge people by the colour of a stupid gem! This gem means nothing to me! If I could take it off I would!” I pushed Ragar off and back

“Master Udon, settle down please” Shut it Miko! We should have gone with my first instinct of this place and just left.

“Udon, I don’t know why your gem is clear, but, if you say you didn’t commit a crime then I believe you, you did save my son after all, not many players or non-players would risk their lives for a boy they don’t know”

“Please Master Udon” I stood in the middle of the room still infuriated with being accused all the time.

“Teach me the remaining Trade Skill Books and then we are out of here” I need to learn these trades, I need to use him as a means for an end now, I was starting to like the guy before all of this, damn it! Stop being so soft Udon! Everyone is only in it for themselves! When will you believe that!

“Kill him while he sleeps!”

Huh? That dark voice again, was it getting louder?

“Of course Udon, I am sorry, please sit back down” Ragar bowed his head and sat back down on the ground, I looked at him, that dark voice, what it said, should I do it? He might rat me in, hmm, I need these skills first then I’ll decide.

We ended up spending the next 4 days at Ragar’s house, I ended up learning the rest of the skills and levelled them up to 6, Ragar also helped Miko with the Basic Monster Skinning from the book and she levelled up to 9/10 Mastery, he also gave a permit card with his symbol, the symbol of the Uloff Family. It will apparently let me sell my wares without a permit from the Merchants Guild, it also comes with connections to other high levelled Tradesman, I also unlocked some extension skills again.

“Skill Extension Learnt [Unlocked]-Fish Oppressor [Tracking and Skinning] (C),Skill Extension Learnt [Unlocked]-Fish Scent [Tracking and Skinning] (C), Skill Extension Learnt [Unlocked]-Basic Animal Inspector [Tamer] (C), Skill Extension Learnt [Unlocked]-Basic Monster Inspector [Tamer] (C), Skill Extension Learnt [Unlocked]-Basic Clear Cutting [Logging] (C), Skill Extension Learnt [Unlocked]-Basic Ore Mining [Mining] (C), Skill Extension Learnt [Unlocked]-Ore Censer [Mining] (C), Skill Extension Learnt [Unlocked]-Basic Ore Smelting [Smelting] (C), Skill Extension Learnt [Unlocked]-Basic Leather Cleaner [Leatherwork] (C), Skill Extension Learnt [Unlocked]-Basic Metal Plate Armourer [Armouring] (C)”

It seems like if I unlock the base skill, I can unlock its extensions by reading the Trade Skill books, I should look for some more books at the next town. Animal and Monster Tamer along with Animal and Monster Inspector could probably merged, how do I do that, maybe if I focus on merging…nope, wait, I might need to announce the skill and then focus, that was in the help menu.

“Skill Merger”

Skill Merger Activated

“Merged Skill Learnt [Unlocked]-Basic Species Tamer [Merged Basic Monster and Animal Tamer] (C), Merged Skill Learnt [Unlocked]-Species Inspector [Merged Basic Monster and Animal Inspector] (C)”

*Skill Merger: 2/10 Mastery

“Miko, we’re leaving tomorrow” I left the study room and entered the kitchen, it was getting dark and Ragar was cooking dinner.

“Oh, ok Master Udon” Miko was sitting down at the table playing with Ralph and Vnaa, it looked like a memory card game.

“Here, sit down, I made some Yakitori” Ragar put down three plates filled with Yakitori, Ralph dug in while Vnaa and Miko waited for Ragar to sit down, I grabbed a handful of the Yakitori and starting pigging out.

“Master Udon, its rude to eat until everyone has it on their plate” Miko kicked me under the table and loudly whispered, she got my shin, that hurt a little!

“Don’t worry Miko, you too Vnaa, dig in please” Ragar sat down and smiled at the two girls, well, one girl and one fluffy caterpillar.

“You’ll be heading for the 5th floor after this I’m assuming?” Ragar looked over at me, I still hadn’t forgiven him for trapping me in a block of ice.

“Why do you need to know? We might head down to the third floor, who knows” I can’t have him knowing where I was going, he might tell the guards on where to find me

“Hmm, I see, any case, if you do make your way to the fifth floor, be careful of the God who has claimed that floor as his home” Another God is living on a lower floor?

“What do you mean?” Miko wiped her mouth with a white cloth and looked at Ragar,

“The fifth Floor is home to Neptune of the Adventures Guild, it was originally home to Poseidon the Adventures Guild Leader, he took Neptune under his wing and trained him up, It wasn’t long until Neptune got a large following, and when Poseidon moved to a higher floor, Neptune took the floor for himself. I’ve heard rumours that Neptune is looking to rule over more floors, but I’m unsure if thats true.” Just another pointless god in my opinion, I probably won’t run into him, I’ll get some monster material, level up and then move on.

“Ragar, do you have a map of the fifth floor?” Miko asked looking over at me with a smile, huh, that was a good point, we didn’t have a map, did she want me to praise her or something? Fine, I’ll give her a slight nod of approval

“Of course, I can give you one if you’d like, I don’t have any higher though, I didn’t acquire many floor maps for the lower floors when I was a Noble Merchant” Ragar got up and left the room, Miko looked over at me, eyes wide and sparkling, she saw me nod my head to her, I might have accidentally let out a little smile.

“Here we go, the fifth Floor map” Ragar placed the map spread out on the table, Ralph cleared the dishes away.

“Hmm, so its a tourist floor then” I read the description, it mentioned everything Ragar said about Poseidon and Neptune, but also explained it was a beach town, the monsters have been driven into the deep depths of the beach and the weather is nice, a tropical climate would be the best way to describe it.

“Master Udon” Miko looked up, a worried expression over her face, why was she worried?

“Hmm, Level Recommendation-15” That made sense, I was only Level 8 and Vnaa was only a level 6, even Miko didn’t match the recommendation, she was only a level 12.

“Don’t worry to much about the level recommendations, they are more of a safety measure for new players, if you stick close to the town when you go out hunting you’ll encounter lower levelled monsters” Ragar smiled at Miko trying to reassure her, finally you did something that helped.

“Hmm, what do you think Master Udon?” Miko still not sure, she held her hands close to her chest and looked over at me.

“I don’t care about the level recommendation” I wasn’t going to have this exact same argument.

“Hmm, ok, I trust you Master Udon”

“We should get to bed, I want to leave early in the morning” I got up and left the room, I wanted to leave this house as quickly as I could.

“I’m sorry Ragar and Ralph, Master Udon can be quite rude, but he is a nice person” Miko mumbled something to Ragar and the snobby kid, was she apologising on my behalf again?

“Don’t worry Miko, I can sense that his been through some hardships in his time” Ragar said something back to Miko, I was already half way up the stairs, all I could hear was mumbling through the walls.