Kashi awoke to the sharp, piercing call of a cockerel.

What the— His crimson eyes snapped open as his body tensed, instincts kicking in. His hand twitched toward his longbow before his mind caught up with reality. Right. He wasn't on a battlefield—just a simple wooden room in a fantasy world.

He let out a deep sigh, rubbing his face. A rooster? Seriously?

Yawning, Kashi stretched, his lithe form twisting as his joints popped. Oddly enough, he felt... good. Really good. That was unusual. Normally, he woke up feeling stiff, always prepared to bolt at a moment's notice.

Curious, he pulled up his status screen, and his eyes narrowed at a new buff:

[Well-Rested (Minor)]
Effect: For the next 5 in-game hours, gain a 5% EXP boost.

"Huh." Kashi stroked his chin. A passive EXP buff just for sleeping? Not bad.

But then his mind worked through the implications. The game's time dilation of 5:1 meant five in-game hours equaled just one real-world hour, and considering this entire experience was played in REM sleep, Summoned could easily go for multiple in-game days without resting. And if a player used a Full-Body Virtual Drive? That was even worse. They could spend several real-world days without sleep if they weren't careful.

'Tch. This buff's probably a built-in mechanic to stop players from completely wrecking their sleep cycles.' He could already imagine developers patting themselves on the back, thinking they were encouraging healthy gaming habits.

Kashi shook his head, pushing the thought aside. It was useful, at least. He'd take the bonus.

With that, he stood, equipped his plain shirt and quivers, then holding the longbow, stepped out of the room.

The scent of roasted venison and caramelized onions wafted through the tavern as Kashi made his way back to the main hall. The warm light of morning streamed in through the windows, casting long golden beams across the rustic wooden floors.

And, just like the night before, the three veterans—Bert, Serti, and Skaardi—were exactly where he'd left them, as if they hadn't moved an inch.

Serti was the first to notice him, waving lazily with a smirk. "Damn, you really are a light sleeper, huh? It's barely been four hours since you crashed."

Kashi shrugged, unconcerned. "Four hours is more than enough."

He glanced around, searching for a certain golden-furred merchant. "Where's Miote?"

Before he could get an answer, a firm paw clapped him on the back.

"Miss me, boss?" Miote's teasing voice rang out as he strode past Kashi with a sly grin. The felur merchant sauntered toward the table, cheerfully greeting the veterans before looking back at Kashi with an amused gleam in his golden eyes. "Didn't think you'd be the type to worry about me."

Kashi didn't take the bait. His expression remained unreadable as he replied smoothly, "Finding a new merchant would be troublesome." He paused. "Not that I care much about the contracts anyway."

Miote chuckled, shaking his head. "Yeah, yeah. I get it. You only care about growing stronger, so shopkeepers like me are just a means to an end, right?" His grin sharpened. "Still, don't underestimate the power of contracts. One day, you'll see their true worth."

Kashi didn't bother arguing. Instead, he turned his attention to Serti, who took the opportunity to speak up.

"So, what's the plan for today?" the wisben asked, tilting his head.

Kashi crossed his arms. "First, I'm going to find some craftsmen. Then I'll return to the Archery Training Hall in the evening. At some point, I'll stop by the Adventurer's Guild and see if I can pick up a cheap Blood Refinement Technique."

Serti nodded in approval. "Solid plan."

Before they could head out, however, Skaardi clapped his hands together and proudly presented their breakfast.

On the table sat a woodland pie, its flaky golden crust still steaming from the oven. The rich scent of venison, caramelized onions, and chanterelle mushrooms filled the air, mingling with the deep aroma of sage-infused gravy. Beside it was a side of honey-glazed carrots, their edges perfectly caramelized, glistening in the morning light.

To wash it down? Sylvan Mead—a honey-rich drink infused with elderflowers and a hint of forest juniper.

Skaardi grinned, folding his arms. "A meal fit for warriors."

Kashi took one look at the feast and silently approved. If nothing else, this world had good food.

With that, they dug in, the morning beginning with hearty bites, warm banter, and the scent of adventure hanging in the air.

With their meal finished and their plans set, Kashi and Miote bid farewell to the veterans and stepped out of the Archery Training Hall.

The morning air was crisp, carrying the scent of damp earth as the sky remained a murky gray, the sun still struggling to fully rise. Despite the early hour, the streets were already alive with activity.

Worldborn moved about in small groups, their voices mixing into a quiet hum of morning conversations. Hunters, clad in weathered leather and reinforced mail, chatted amongst themselves as they made their way toward the gates, undoubtedly setting out for the day's hunt. Others, donned in simple but sturdy gear, discussed their shifts as they prepared to replace guards stationed at nearby farms.

Unlike the yawning Worldborn, however, the Summoned were a completely different breed.

Energetic and loud, they dashed through the streets, their eyes gleaming with excitement, racing to grab the hottest quests, unearth hidden protagonists, or perhaps simply show off their newfound gear. Their boundless enthusiasm brought a strange contrast to the otherwise subdued morning, turning the gray dawn into something livelier.

Kashi and Miote paused for a moment, taking in the hustle and bustle before the former finally turned toward his companion.

"You plan on tagging along all day?" Kashi asked, his red eyes glancing sideways at the gold-furred felur. "I figured you'd be out chasing contracts or making deals to level up your class."

Miote let out a soft chuckle, shaking his head. "If only it were that simple." His golden eyes glimmered with amusement. "You will notice it when you get a class. Class-specific skills cannot be leveled through free experience like those gained from killing monsters. You need to get Class experience, in my case Merchant Experience Points."

Kashi raised a brow. "Merchant Experience Points?"

Miote nodded. "Yep. We earn them by facilitating contracts, brokering treaties, trading goods, and any other activity that directly involves commerce. If I wanted to be lazy about it, I could just sacrifice gold to my patron deity, Savi, and pray he blesses me with some EXP in return."

He stretched lazily, his tail flicking behind him. "But personally? I'd rather make real profits."

Kashi exhaled through his nose, unimpressed. "So, what's your angle?"

A mischievous grin spread across Miote's face. "Simple. If the craftsmen you visit today are anywhere near the level of the ones you dealt with yesterday, I stand to make a killing." His eyes gleamed with anticipation. "A lot of merchants focus on buying and selling to Summoned because it's easy money. But in the long run? That's small change."

He tapped his temple. "A smart merchant builds relationships with people like Rook—artisans with real skill. Short-term gains are nice, sure, but long-term investments?" His grin widened. "That's how you build a castle full of treasures."

Kashi folded his arms, scrutinizing the felur with an unreadable gaze.

"So basically," he said slowly, "you see me as a walking lottery ticket."

Miote didn't even hesitate. "Oh, absolutely." Then, with a completely straight face: "A golden one."

Kashi's eyes twitched.

"...So you're following me for your own selfish greed?"

Miote's tail swayed, his ears perking up as he grinned shamelessly. "More or less."

For a few seconds, Kashi simply stared at him.

In his previous life, Razznik would have rebuffed this kind of merchant without a second thought. He had no interest in playing games with opportunists, and he had never relied on anyone but himself.

But wasn't that the problem?

Razznik fell—not just because his heart wasn't truly in the fight, but because, in the end, he was alone.

What if I choose differently?

The thought was almost amusing. Could things change if he chose not to walk the solitary path?

Kashi held out his hand, his expression cool and unreadable.

"Fine." His voice was even, but there was an edge of challenge to it. "I'll use you too."

Miote blinked, his ears twitching.

Kashi continued. "If I want to get stronger, I'll need money. A lot of it. As long as you help me get the resources I need—now and in the future—I don't care how much profit you make."

A slow, toothy grin stretched across Miote's face. He grasped Kashi's hand in a firm shake, his claws lightly pressing against the daeben's palm.

"Now that's what I like to hear." His tail flicked behind him. "This might just be the start of a very profitable partnership."

Kashi didn't respond—he simply released the handshake and started walking.

Miote chuckled under his breath and followed.

And just like that, a deal was struck.

With their newly forged partnership established, Kashi led the way through the bustling streets of Kerta. The city had fully awakened, with merchants haggling, adventurers boasting about their latest conquests, and street vendors pushing fresh-baked goods into the hands of hungry passersby. The scent of sizzling meat and spiced bread filled the air, mingling with the distant clang of a blacksmith's hammer.

Miote walked beside him, his tail swaying lazily. "You sure we're not stopping by Rook's shop?" he asked as they passed the familiar blacksmith's storefront.

Kashi barely spared it a glance before turning his attention to another shop further down the street. A large wooden signpost stood outside, adorned with a realistic carving of a bear's head. Beneath it, racks of animal pelts flapped gently in the breeze, each one carefully arranged to showcase the shop's primary trade.

Miote's ears perked up. "A tannery?"

Without answering, Kashi pushed the door open, stepping inside.

The scent of cured leather and oils filled the air, mixing with the faint hint of smoldering embers. Inside, a muscular Cerulean woman, easily in her fifties, worked with practiced efficiency, adjusting a brown leather breastplate on a mannequin. Her jet-black hair, streaked with faint silver strands, was tied into a high ponytail, keeping her sharp features unobstructed. She wore a simple breast-binding tunic and sturdy pants, revealing her toned arms and calloused hands—a sign of a craftswoman who had spent decades refining her trade.

As Kashi and Miote entered, she looked up, her eyes glinting with recognition.

"Well, well." She crossed her arms, grinning. "A daeben with cold red eyes, and a golden felur with a swindler's smile."

Miote visibly puffed up at the description. "Swindler's smile? That's a bit harsh, don't you think?"

The woman ignored him. "You two must be the whippersnappers Rook wouldn't shut up about last night."

Kashi's ears twitched slightly. Quavean spread the word? That saved him the trouble of explaining himself to every craftsman in town.

Before either of them could respond, the woman turned on her heel and beckoned them to follow.

"No need to stand around," she called over her shoulder. "Let's see if you're as good as he says."

Kashi and Miote exchanged glances before shrugging and trailing after her.

She led them through a backdoor, revealing a spacious, grassy backyard where strips of beast fur hung over fire pits. Several worktables sat nearby, surrounded by a small furnace and a heap of cured furs, stacked high like a mountain of fluffy hides.

Without missing a beat, the woman strode over to the pile and pulled out two massive pelts, tossing them onto a worktable with a thump.

"Alright, kid." She pointed at Kashi. "Show me what you can do."

She leaned against the table, arms folded. "Impress me, and I might just offer you a job. Hell, maybe even a partnership."

Kashi didn't hesitate. He stepped forward, running his fingers along the pelt's surface. The texture was rough but softened—fire-treated, most likely. As he inspected it further, his sharp eyes picked up a minor flaw.

He sighed. "These hides have been tanned and stretched, but they're not fully worked. The internal fibers are still stiff." He looked up at the woman. "You want me to process them first? Because for a pelt this size, it'll take hours."

At his words, the woman's grin widened in approval.

"Well, look at that." She nodded. "No point testing a leatherworker's skills if they can't even tell when the material isn't ready."

She turned back to the pile, grabbing another set of fully prepared hides. Tossing them toward Kashi, she smirked.

"No more games," she said. "These ones are ready to go. Show me what you've got."

Kashi caught the pelts with ease, running his fingers along them while gently pulling at the edges, checking for elasticity. Satisfied, he moved to a workbench, grabbing a piece of chalk and swiftly outlining patterns across the hide.

Miote, watching from the side, let out a low whistle. "Damn. You've got a steady hand."

The markings soon took shape—a torso piece, a set of sleeves, and smaller reinforcement strips.

Once done, Kashi turned to the woman. "Got any bone parts lying around?"

She nodded toward a crate beside the workbench. "Knock yourself out."

Kashi opened it, revealing a pile of white, bleached monster bones. He carefully selected a few, breaking some apart with a hammer before positioning them into reinforcement slots within his design.

Satisfied, he grabbed a pair of scissors, cutting out the pieces with precision. From there, he located a large needle and some monster sinew thread.

Before beginning, he glanced up.

"Normally, I'd confirm what kind of monster bone and sinew I'm working with for optimal synergy." He paused, then added, "But since this is just a test, I'll make do."

The leatherworker's grin returned, a look of genuine approval in her eyes.

"Now that," she said, "is the kind of detail that separates an amateur from a real craftsman."

She leaned back, arms crossed, watching as Kashi got to work.

Miote, ever the opportunist, leaned closer to Kashi and whispered.

"...If you impress her enough, think she'll give us a discount?"

Kashi didn't look up. "Work first. Scheme later."

Miote chuckled. "Can't blame me for trying."

Kashi smoothly threaded the needle, his fingers a blur as he worked with an almost hypnotic precision. He chose a double-loop stitching technique, a time-consuming method that required threading the needle through a hole, opening the next, looping back to the first, and then advancing forward—each stitch reinforcing the last like a carefully woven spell. It was the kind of meticulous craftsmanship that lesser tailors would balk at, but Kashi preferred durability over convenience. No amount of stress or pulling would tear this coat apart.

Miote, lounging off to the side with his tail flicking idly, let out a long whistle. "Sheesh. Watching you work is kinda mesmerizing. Ever thought about doing this full-time? 'Kashi's Killer Coats'—has a nice ring to it."

Kashi didn't even look up. "That's a terrible name."

"Fine, fine. 'Kashi's Killer Kouture' then—"

"Even worse."

"Bah. No taste." Miote shrugged dramatically, returning to the very important task of snacking on a roasted meat skewer he'd somehow acquired during the process.

As the coat finally began to take shape, Kashi carefully affixed the bone reinforcements to the chest area, breaking and reshaping them where necessary to ensure an even spread of protection. For added utility, he attached a bronze buckle—a fortunate find from the cluttered workbench—and fastened it to serve as a clasp for when the wearer wanted the coat closed.

Then came the final touches: lace adjustments along the sides and sleeves for a customizable fit, and scrap-leather loops discreetly added inside and out—perfect for stashing knives or hidden daggers. Because why just wear armor when you could wear strategic armor?

Finally, Kashi turned to the leatherworker. "Do you have any oils for waterproofing?"

The woman, who had been watching with a gleam of approval, grinned. "Hah! Not just any oil. My formula is second to none in all of Kerta."

She then produced a bucket of deep brown liquid, the scent rich and earthy, like aged resin mixed with a hint of spice. With a nod, Kashi dipped his hands in and began slathering it over the coat's interior, ensuring that no rain or swamp water would ruin its integrity. Then, for good measure, he coated the exterior—not necessarily for waterproofing, but to preserve the leather and enhance its longevity.

By the time he was finished, two full hours had passed.

Even with his enhanced Dexterity, heightened speed, and sheer strength, the process had taken this long. For a normal person, this would have been a multi-day endeavor—perhaps even a week. His Dexterity didn't just increase his agility in battle; it allowed him to work with precision, his fingers moving at a speed that blurred the needle's path.

Satisfied, Kashi stepped back and placed the finished coat onto a mannequin. Then, without pause, he grabbed a second set of materials and began crafting a women's version. With his experience from the first, this one took him only an hour, and he even went the extra step of using a special dye, giving the coat a sleek, dark glow rather than the raw, primal aesthetic of its predecessor.

As he placed this second masterpiece on display, a familiar prompt materialized before his eyes.

Item Name: Traveler's Warden Coat [Uncommon]
Item Level: 5
Type: Coat (Leather Armor - Medium)

Weight: 15
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

🛡 Physical Defense: 29

Slashing Defense: 33

Piercing Defense: 30

Blunt Defense: 15

🔥 Magic Defense: 10

Burning Resistance: 9

Freezing Resistance: 12

Electricity Resistance: 9

⚒ Durability: 100/100
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

📜 Description:
A sturdy coat made of reinforced beast hide and layered cloth, designed for travelers who venture through unpredictable terrains. Though it offers decent protection against both physical and magical threats, its lightweight build makes it ideal for those who favor mobility over heavy armor.

🔹 Special Effect:

Weathered Resilience: Reduces environmental damage (cold & heat) by 5%.

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

At the same time, another prompt flashed, notifying Kashi of a new Crafting Skill unlock—

Leatherworking: F-Tier (Novice Level)

Stitched seams are 5% more resistant to stress and tearing.

Leather items gain +5% durability.

Kashi swiped the notification aside, his gaze lingering on the finished coats. His work had exceeded even his own expectations. But something still nagged at him.

Miote, ever attuned to his boss's moods, squinted at him. "You don't look happy. What, is Uncommon quality not good enough for you now?"

Kashi shook his head. That wasn't the issue. His craftsmanship was fine. The problem was the bigger picture.

He turned to the leatherworker. "How much would you price these at?"

The woman raised a brow, then carefully assessed the jackets. After a moment of murmured calculations, she spoke. "These would go for 380 Syros each."

Kashi frowned. "That much?"

"For a Level 5 coat? It's steep, I know. But the issue isn't the craftsmanship—it's the materials." She sighed, crossing her arms. "Most hunters can't carry large monster carcasses due to dimensional bag size limits. So, they either have to butcher them in the field, which attracts predators, or risk hauling them back while being hunted down. That danger inflates the cost of monster materials, which is why leather armor is rarer than metal gear."

Kashi absorbed her words, his thoughts swirling. This was exactly the kind of bottleneck Bert had warned him about.

If he wanted the Denizens to become a force strong enough to survive in the fields, they'd need weapons and armor. But if leather was too expensive, they'd never afford the armor necessary to start hunting. And if they never hunted, they'd never afford the armor—

A vicious cycle.

His gaze drifted to the coats, realization dawning. This wasn't just about protection. Weapons, armor, and clothing weren't just art—they were the foundation upon which civilizations stood. Every stitch, every reinforced bone plate was a tiny cog in the machine of survival.

As his thoughts crystallized, a new prompt appeared—

Leatherworking Comprehension: F+ Unlocked!

Kashi exhaled sharply as a familiar prompt flashed before his eyes.

Leatherworking Comprehension: F+ Unlocked!

Effects:

Passive: +100% boost to Will

Active: +150% boost to Will when Crafting

The tiny increase from F- to F+ might not seem like much, but considering his Blacksmithing and Tailoring skills had only been bolstered thanks to his memories of Razznik's past life, this was different. This one was born without referencing anyone else.

It was his.

Did that make a difference? Was this the result of true comprehension rather than borrowed knowledge? Or... was this about looking beyond himself, seeing the greater web of the world's craftsmanship rather than just his personal growth?

Kashi filed that thought away for later. No point in philosophizing when there was business to settle.

He turned to the leatherworker, his red eyes glinting. "So? Satisfied?"

Kasuga Kunoichi's grin widened into something positively wolfish. A glint of approval flashed in her eyes as she waved Miote over. "Oh, I'm more than satisfied." She slapped the newly finished coat like she'd just found her new favorite toy. "In fact, you're hired."

Kashi blinked. "Hired?"

"Yeah, yeah, draft up the contract, cat," she called to Miote, who, to Kashi's utter lack of surprise, had already produced a contract scroll out of seemingly nowhere. His tail flicked smugly.

Kasuga continued, "Standard partnership—same as what you got going with the tailor. You give me designs, I give you training, and we split the profits." Then she jabbed a finger at him. "Oh, and when you start that guild of yours, I'm first in line for recruitment."

Kashi groaned. "For the last time, I'm not starting a guild."

Kasuga smirked, arms crossed. "Oh? And how exactly do you plan on pulling off all that 'big-picture revolution' talk without a proper organization backing you?" She tilted her head. "Even the gods needed to create lesser gods to handle various domains, or they'd be overwhelmed by the world's woes." She leaned in with a knowing grin. "And you, my pointy-eared friend, are no god."

Kashi opened his mouth, then closed it. Damn it. She had a point, and he hated that she had a point.

Instead of arguing, he snatched the contract from Miote, signed it, and handed it back in record time.

"Wooow," Miote drawled. "Not even gonna read it?"

Kashi shot him a glare. "That's your job."

"Fair, fair." The 'cat' tucked the contract away with a flick of his wrist.

Kasuga let out a satisfied laugh, hands on her hips. "Good choice, kid. You're gonna go far. Now, when you're done playing around with the rest of the city's craftsmen, come see me. We've got real work to do."

Kashi sighed. He was getting really tired of being bossed around by the people he was supposed to be hiring.

But still, a small smirk tugged at the corner of his lips. Maybe this wasn't so bad.

With another contract secured and another craft learned, Kashi strode off toward the last craftsman on his list.