Chapter 30 Enchantments And Repairs

An hour or so later, my arms were now feeling like noodles.

Using a pickaxe really takes a toll on you when you've never used one before.

However, I had gathered quite a large amount of rocks. I checked how many rocks I had gathered in total, it appeared to be around 800. It was enough to craft a single other Miner Minions so it was progress I guess.

I continued staring at the grey mountainside as I took a break. The sun was still bright and strong so I still had more work to do today. After a short breather, I heaved myself up and lifted my pickaxe once again, rotating my entire body, I slammed the pickaxe into the mountain, causing small particles of stone to be dispersed.

[+2 rocks]

Again and again, I continued working with the pickaxe.

[+3 rocks]

[+1 rocks]

[+2 rocks]

[+3 rocks]

[+3 rocks]

[+3 rocks]

[+1 rocks]

[+1 rocks]

...

Ah, this was getting really tiring, my arms couldn't go on any longer and I was forced to take another break. I guess this was what I was going to be doing for the rest of the day, it wasn't like there was really anything more productive for me to be doing.

After another short break, I lifted the heavy pickaxe up from the ground. My arms were practically numb at this point, but on the bright side, it wasn't like I could feel the pain either. I swung it, smashing the rough mountainside until the lactic acid buildup in my arms made it physically impossible to keep on going.

I continued to do so for the next few hours.

*

After collecting quite a large amount of rocks, I decided to start making my way back to the settlement, the sky was beginning to darken and before long, we would be fighting zombies again.

Through the woods, I observed the map a little more to check its accuracy. It had marked some places with some symbols which I decided to check the reliability of. For the most part, the mountain was accurate and so was most of the forestry, although most of the world as I knew it was a forest.

After a little while, I got to camp and took a seat. Chloe looked like she had already returned and she began walking toward me.

"Hey~ you're back, I was waiting for you."

"How much stone did you collect?"

"Aw no greeting? Well, I collected a few thousand," she began transferring the items to me, "anyways, where did the man go?"

"I killed him."

"Ah, but weren't you using him for information?"

"Turns out he was lying to us."

"Ee, you hate liars, don't you? But aren't you a big liar yourself?"

"I don't have anything against liars. It's just that he became useless the moment I found out that he was a liar."

"Hehe, are you a psychopath?"

"Speak for yourself."

"Aw, but William, I am a normal girl, that's the truth, even if I don't seem like it."

That phrase seemed to have some self-awareness in it. The truth was, I didn't know anything about Chloe, and I was starting to realise that there was more to her than what meets the eye.

Oh well, that would be for future me to find out.

"Anyways, what are we having for dinner~"

"The same as last night."

"Eh~ can't we have something new?"

"Such as?"

"Ehhh..."

As we were talking, my Minion Manager came over to me.

[I've got the end-of-day report]

-

<End of Day Report>

Total resources gathered:

- [x1461] wood

- [x20] leaves

- [x79] meat

- [x984] rocks

- [x2] ultra-hardened stone

- [x6] iron

~

Other:

- [x31] Scout Minions Crafted

- [x3] Minion hut built

- [x3] Miner Minions Crafted

~

Slowly but surely, my army was growing larger.

There weren't any casualties today but several of my Minions did come back injured. The attackers were still out in the forest but having combat Minion escort the resource-gathering Minions was a good idea.

I began cooking the meat on the fire as usual. It was kind of bland without any sort of seasoning though, I would've liked at least some salt and pepper or maybe some butter with it.

"So do you have any leads on where you think the kidnappers might be?" She asked

"Well, I managed to acquire a map when I killed the man and there are quite a few markings on it."

"Can it be trusted?"

"I was confirming the accuracy of it today and it seems to be correct for the most part."

"Ah that's good, are there any settlements labelled?"

"There are two," I took out the map and showed her, "I would like to finish crafting my sword so you'll probably have to deal with them by yourself, I'll send Rook and Knight with you though."

"Oh, you want me to fight them off by myself?"

"If it gets really bad just send one of my Minions back to inform me."

"Eh~"

"Don't worry you'll be fine, probably..."

"Hey, that doesn't sound too good~"

Oh well.

After a decent while, the steak began to char on the fire and the smell of it filled the area. I took mine and bit into it, it was pretty bland but it was food.

The two of us ate in silence as I thought about how to optimise my resource-gathering strategy.

Suddenly, I received a notification.

[You have levelled up!]

-

<Level Up!>

Level-6 -> Level-7

Rewards:

- [Unlocked!] Enchantments

- [Unlocked!] Enchanting Menu

- [Unlocked!] Repair Menu

- All equipment +1 enchantment slot

- More Crafting Recipes

- Inventory space [+3000]

~

Ooh, what was this? Enchantments?

I opened up the 'Enchanting Menu'

-

<Enchanting Menu>

(Select equipment to enchant)

-

I selected my [Silver Pickaxe].

-

<Enchanting Menu>

[Silver Pickaxe]

(Available Enchantment slots: 2)

Enchanting cost: 2 Tokens

-

2 Tokens wasn't too bad so without much thought, I paid the price and waited for my enchantment to appear.

-

<Enchanting Menu>

NEW ENCHANTMENT!

Reliability I

(Decreases durability loss by 60%)

-

Okay, so the first upgrade only affected durability although it seemed to be a pretty large buff, I had two open enchantment slots on my pickaxe so I could put on another. For another 2 Tokens, I enchanted it again.

-

<Enchanting Menu>

NEW ENCHANTMENT!

Lightweight I

(Decreases weight of equipment by 50%)

-

I pulled my [Silver Pickaxe] out of my inventory and noticed that it was in fact much lighter than it was before. That was quite a welcome surprise as now it would be significantly easier to grind for rocks. With that, I was given the option to enchant it again.

[You must replace one of your current enchantments if you wish to get another.]

I decided that the Reliability enchantment wasn't that necessary.

Time to spend two more Tokens.