A Third-Rate Villain’s Sweet Life Exploiting Academy Bugs – Chapter 76

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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Wjin
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As with all games, professional skills were not something that could be done just anywhere.

While charm items and bead-blessing type items that you use on yourself could be used immediately,

things belonging to craft could only be activated in places with professional workbenches.

According to this setting, [Reincarnated Hero] the original game also had the concept of location.

From apprentice workbenches to professional workbenches, and master craftsman workbenches.

In other words, this was exactly why I deliberately came to Ankerfall’s workshop.

His old wooden workbench filled with his soul.

-Ding.

And,

By using the tools he had been using until now, you could receive additional proficiency benefits.

As an aside, later on, interesting items like [Dwarf’s Golden Hammer] that could be used both as a weapon and for proficiency work appeared too, I think.

I politely asked Ankerfall, who had an expression like he couldn’t believe his ears.

“If it’s not too presumptuous, could I borrow your work tools?”

“…Young man. Are you seriously saying this right now?”

Ankerfall became serious.

Coming here, the most common things to hear seemed to be whether it made sense, or if you were in your right mind.

“Of course, it’s not because I don’t trust the master’s skill.”

“Yeah, even putting that aside…! Didn’t you say it was a family heirloom? Are you planning to break it? Right in front of me?”

“I don’t intend to break it either.”

“…Hah.”

-Gulp. Gulp.

Ankerfall downed his beer as if he couldn’t understand me at all.

Well, if others were watching this scene, they would probably think it was completely insane behavior.

But this was the only method possible for me who received the ‘Gamer’ characteristic.

When I unhesitatingly went to the workbench and put on his sweat-soaked leather gloves,

“Kahahaha! You’re really going to do it?!”

Ankerfall laughed boisterously.

“I thought I was someone who only dug one well. The vigor of youth is good, yes it is.”

“Is that so?”

“That’s right. Because you’re the first crazy bastard to do the work yourself with the Empire’s best blacksmith sitting right here…! And there won’t be another one in the future.”

-Glug, glug!

“Ahhh… but looking at you! Passion! Spirit! It reminds me of my youth when those two were all I had…”

Was it because of the bomb drink’s intoxication? Ankerfall seemed to be sinking into contemplation.

“Please don’t make a result that ruins the taste of my drink. I mean it.”

Like all adults, the moment they reminisce about their past, the ‘back in my day~’ comes out.

The past of an old dwarf who wouldn’t get drunk or open up from just one beer.

Honestly, I wasn’t curious about it, nor could I imagine it.

Around when I was thinking that, a status window appeared.

-Ding!

‘Hooh.’

“I…”

Was it because of the favorability?

Ankerfall’s tone had become a bit more polite.

“…underestimated you too much.”

He got up from his seat and entered a narrow storage door that came up to about two-thirds of my height.

-Creeak…

And he started searching for something.

The acrid dust was visible in the lamplight.

“…Use this.”

What he brushed off dust and held out was none other than an appraisal scroll.

A purple appraisal scroll,

Made of silk, and given the color, which was considered noble in this world setting, it didn’t seem to be a simple commercial product.

When I received the scroll from him, a familiar status window greeted me.

-Ding.

Clark Hizeman.

He was also one of the old war heroes.

‘Well, that’s not important right now.’

Anyway, while basic appraisal scrolls had a 10-15 percent success rate, this one had a whopping 30 percent.

Probably just this scroll alone would be worth quite a bit.

“An old friend left it with me, but seeing you made me realize I’d forgotten about it. Well, I don’t just do appraisals. Might as well bet it on you.”

‘If it really fails, it would be awkward…’

When I was feeling pressure knowingly or unknowingly, Ankerfall patted my arm and encouraged me.

“Give it a try…! Though I can guess the result! Hukhuk!”

-Ding.

‘That’s good?’

I took a deep breath and opened the professional skill status window.

-Ding.

Since my appraisal proficiency was level 1, even with the resonance stat, the success rate was 0.001%…

Moreover, since I had used the test server’s first creation bonus on the Ash Dispersion combination, this was a much more difficult situation than before.

But…!

-Ding.

“…”

According to the original plan, to supplement the insufficient success rate,

I had planned to wait until Ankerfall passed out drunk and then secretly use Mind Fire.

‘Well, that’s done.’

Unlike before, there was no chance of failure so it was comfortable, but

Somehow that great success rate kept catching my eye.

…I wasn’t sure.

Well, let’s try it first.

“Appraise.”

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“Yeriel, you’ve worked hard today.”

“No! Aria and Lev, who were waiting, must be more tired!”

The Imperial City, a dormitory exclusively for cadets, situated in a prime location.

Because the lodging was reserved for today’s awards ceremony, the entire three-story building belonged to Clarice’s cadets.

Lily, lately engrossed in research on summoning and summoning mediums, was already asleep, leaning against the sofa.

Yeriel and Aria were by the window overlooking the street on the first floor.

“Today…! Were you two together all afternoon?”

“Yes. Mr. Lev kept me company.”

“That must have been fun…!”

Yeriel combed her hair with a brush and thought,

‘It really… must have been… fun.’

But she had been busy.

As an Elder, Yeriel had to represent the party in the award interview, and, being accustomed to considering others, she had to politely decline the attention of those interested in her.

‘It’s been a while since I ate with Lev, hasn’t it…?’

When they were in the Black House, she could often eat with him or do other things together.

After moving dormitories, she had seen him much less frequently.

Especially since they were in different years and different dorms.

As she swallowed a slight bitterness, Aria handed her a small box.

“This is for you, Yeriel. Mr. Lev bought everything… for you.”

“…?!”

Unlike the others, it was a cake box tied with a blue ribbon.

‘Only for me…?’

She didn’t know why, but she felt good. Even this small gesture seemed special.

After that, while Aria took out a lot of cakes and cookies, Yeriel said with surprised eyes,

“Did you get it to go because there were so many people? I thought you came back really quickly…!”

“Ah, that’s because Lady Aveline…”

“Aveline?”

“Yes, Mr. Lev seemed uncomfortable with something and suggested they leave.”

As far as Yeriel remembered, she had never seen Lev and Aveline meet separately.

Just recently, regarding the sparring practice between Edwin and Aveline, he had asked her to make the request on his behalf.

What could have happened between them?

“There’s no way Lev would do that for no reason…”

The moment Yeriel inadvertently let slip words defending Lev, Aria cautiously spoke,

“…You always seem to trust Mr. Lev, Yeriel.”

“Huh…? Ah, because he’s a friend? I have to trust him! Yes. Right?”

Even though her reply was suspiciously evasive, Aria didn’t seem to mind and continued,

“Actually, I… suspected him… at first. He bothered Mr. Edwin, and he had all sorts of bad rumors surrounding him… There were many things.”

“Right, that’s possible…! But it’s not like that now, right…?”

“Yes. He often does unexpected things… but I feel like the results are always directed towards others rather than himself.”

“Yes, yes…! This award, too, is practically Lev’s achievement.”

Even now, favorable views of the cadet Lev Denec were probably uncommon at the academy, but these two were different.

It felt like they shared a secret about him. That strengthened their bond.

Of course, the two had a few things they were curious about regarding each other… but now wasn’t the time.

“Still, it’s a little disappointing that he disappears sometimes without saying anything.”

“Right. It’s worrying…! He always came back late when we were at the Black House too…!”

Whenever they were outside the academy like this, Yeriel, as a dormitory prefect and Elder, and Aria, as a healer, ended up in a situation where they couldn’t help but keep an eye on him, who somehow seemed lonely.

As Yeriel was thinking about Lev, she cautiously suggested, “Let’s call Lev and Edwin too! Snacks are more enjoyable when shared…!”

“Lev won’t be there.”

“Huh…?”

At that moment, Edwin interjected, “I knocked on his door because of tomorrow’s departure time, but there wasn’t any response. Isn’t he out?”

Then, as if Lily had woken up, she added in a drowsy voice, “Lily saw with her familiar. Lev… was going towards a dark, red-lit alley…”

“Red light…?”

-……

In that moment, Yeriel’s and Aria’s gazes met.

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Creation.

The moment these two simple words were uttered, the status window began to pop up.

Clang!!!!!

Huh…?

Ding.

‘Newbie, is this a good thing…?’

“KHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!! This is the real deal!!”

Before I could even ask, Anchorfall’s hearty laughter filled the air.

The originally gray ring had transformed into a luxurious ring with a purple gem and gold trim, clearly high-quality at a glance.

Befitting the name “Shackles,” it had a beauty that made it seem like one would never be able to take it off once worn.

Surely, the original item name should have been [Memorize: Ring of Inscription].

Did a blacksmith from that MOBA game come and help…

“A family treasure, they said, but no matter how I look at it, your ancestors must have helped! I guarantee it on my name, Ankerfall, master blacksmith! This is worthy of being featured in the largest auction house in the Empire.”

Ankerfall seemed even more excited than me, chattering away beside me.

‘View details.’

I calmly checked the skill details first.

Ding.

Yes, this was the effect I had originally expected.

And…

There was one more.

Ding.

‘Inscribed Casting…?’

A simple ability that amplifies the power of a skill but increases mana consumption.

‘This is it…’

It seemed like I would be able to show unprecedented explosive growth in this Nether Gate.

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