Chapter 5: A Pointy Stick and Village Voices
Dawn's cool breath was a familiar alarm clock. Ren was up before the sun had fully breached the Kukan'yu forest canopy, his mind already cataloging the day's objectives. The boost from Level 3 still resonated within him – a subtle hum of increased vitality in his limbs, a sharper clarity in his thoughts. His spear, the product of yesterday's fledgling [Basic Woodworking] efforts, leaned against the wall. It was functional, barely.
[Rough Wooden Spear]
Quality: Poor
Damage: Low (Piercing)
Durability: Low
Comment: Still looks like it lost a fight with the whittling knife. But it is pointy.
"Progress, not perfection," Ren muttered, channeling some long-forgotten motivational poster from his past life. He picked up his flint knife. Another hour of careful shaving, smoothing the shaft, and refining the point was in order. His movements were more assured now, the feel of the wood less alien in his hands. The tiny EXP bar for [Basic Woodworking] crept upwards. Just as he was admiring a slightly less jagged edge, a chime:
[Basic Woodworking Lv. 0 (EXP: 30/30) -> Basic Woodworking Lv. 1 (EXP: 0/100)]
Description: The ability to shape and work wood using simple tools has improved. You can now create slightly less awful, basic wooden items.
New Crafting Options Unlocked (via concentration with appropriate materials): [Simple Wooden Club], [Rough Wooden Shield (Small)], [Wooden Training Dummy (Basic)].
+10 Character EXP!
Level: 3 (EXP: 170/400)
The new crafting options were tempting, especially the training dummy and shield. But first, he wanted to get comfortable with his spear. He took it outside his small hut, the early morning air crisp. He settled into his [Basic Combat Stance Lv. 2], the spear held in a two-handed grip. It felt different, more purposeful, than practicing empty-handed. Slow, deliberate thrusts, parries, and shifts in footing followed. The system offered its usual critiques:
[Basic Combat Stance Lv. 2 (EXP: 70/200). Weapon integration improving. Still a bit stiff. Try to let the spear guide your flow, not fight it.]
After an hour, his muscles were warm and his focus sharp. He set the spear aside to begin his daily physical conditioning. The 100-rep grind of push-ups, sit-ups, and squats was becoming a familiar burn, each completed set a small victory. His Strength, now at 10, made the initial repetitions feel almost easy, though fatigue still set in.
As he was catching his breath after his final set, wiping sweat from his brow, he saw Old Man Hemlock, Oakhaven's de-facto woodworker and general fix-it elder, wrestling with the communal bench near the village well. The bench had a distinct wobble.
Ren approached, a little hesitant. Social interaction wasn't his strong suit, even with his adult memories. "Good morning, Elder Hemlock," he said, his voice still higher than he'd like. "Is the bench giving you trouble?"
Hemlock grunted, straightening up with a groan. He was a man whose age was etched into every line on his face and the gnarled twist of his hands. "Morning, Ren. Aye, this bench. It's seen better days, much like myself. One of the legs is loose again. The peg's likely rotted." He poked at it with a worn chisel.
Ren peered at the joinery. "I was working on a… a spear earlier," he began, a bit shyly. "Learning how the wood shapes. If the peg is rotted, wouldn't a new one, maybe slightly thicker at the top where it goes into the seat, and then tapering down, hold tighter? Create a sort of wedge?"
Hemlock paused, his gaze shifting from the bench to Ren, a flicker of surprise in his old eyes. "A tapered peg, eh? Most young'uns these days wouldn't know a peg from a post. You've been watching me work, boy?"
"Sometimes, Elder," Ren admitted. "And… I read a bit. In my old life." That last part was a slip, quickly covered by a cough. "I mean, I try to think how things fit together."
The elder stroked his wispy beard. "A wedged taper… Hmm. It'd put more pressure on the inside of the hole, might even tighten the existing wood if it's not too far gone. Clever thinking for a lad your age, Ren." He picked up a fresh piece of hardwood. "Let's give your idea a try, then. Can't be worse than this wobbly mess."
Ren watched for a few minutes as Hemlock began to shape a new peg, incorporating Ren's suggestion. The old man worked with a slow, practiced skill that Ren's Lv. 1 [Basic Woodworking] couldn't hope to emulate yet.
A familiar chime sounded in Ren's mind.
[Social Interaction: Offered practical, well-reasoned advice. Significant WIS EXP gained (+10). Reputation with Oakhaven Villagers +5 (Slightly Known -> Respected by Some Elders)]
The WIS EXP was a nice bonus, but the reputation change felt more significant. Being seen as more than just the quiet orphan boy could have its advantages.
Later that morning, Ren decided to take a walk through the village proper, spear in hand, more for the feel of it than any expectation of trouble. He wanted to see if his new status as "Respected by Some Elders" changed anything, or if other opportunities for interaction – and EXP – would present themselves.
He passed by the communal oven where Elara, the baker's daughter, a cheerful girl a few years his senior, was having a one-sided argument with a cloud of iridescent Flit-flies buzzing determinedly around a tray of freshly baked bread rolls set out to cool.
"Shoo, you little pests!" Elara waved a cloth, largely ineffective. "Honestly, you'd think they'd prefer flowers, but no, it's always my bread!"
Ren remembered his previous, mostly failed, attempts to hit them with pebbles. "They are very persistent, Elara," he commented, stopping a polite distance away.
She turned, a smudge of flour on her nose. "Oh, Ren! Good morning. They are, aren't they? And quick! My father says it's a sign of good baking if even the Flit-flies want a taste, but I'd rather they admired from afar." She eyed his spear. "Is that new? Planning to hunt something bigger than squirrels today?"
Ren felt a blush creep up his neck. "Just… practicing. Getting the feel of it." He hesitated. "Maybe… maybe I could try to keep them away from the bread for a bit? My aim isn't very good, but I could at least distract them."
Elara laughed, a bright, ringing sound. "You want to fight Flit-flies with a spear, Ren? That's a new one! Alright, be my guest. But if you spear a bread roll, you owe me two!"
Ren grinned. "Deal." He wouldn't actually use the spear on them; that was ridiculous. But he did have those pebbles in his pocket from yesterday. He focused on his [Throwing Lv. 0 (EXP: 20/50)] skill. He picked a Flit-fly hovering near the edge of the cooling rack and threw.
Miss.
Another.
Closer, but still a miss.
Elara watched with an amused smile. Ren, however, was focused. Each throw felt a little more controlled. He wasn't thinking about hitting them as much as he was about the arc, the release, the feel of the stone in his hand.
[Throwing Lv. 0 (EXP: 25/50)]
After a dozen throws, one pebble finally connected with a tink against a Flit-fly, sending it spiraling away in confusion.
"Ha! Got one!" Ren exclaimed, surprised at his own success.
Elara clapped. "Impressive! You're a regular Flit-fly hunter, Ren!"
He managed to hit two more over the next ten minutes, not enough to clear the swarm, but enough to make them marginally less bold.
[Throwing Lv. 0 (EXP: 40/50). You're slowly getting the hang of not throwing like your arm is made of wet noodles. Keep practicing.]
"Well," Elara said, once the worst of the swarm had momentarily dispersed to regroup, "you've certainly provided some entertainment, and maybe scared a few off for good. Here." She picked up one of the rolls – perfectly golden, not burnt this time. "For your valiant efforts, Sir Knight of the Flit-flies."
"Thank you, Elara," Ren said, accepting the warm bread. It smelled divine.
[Social Interaction: Provided assistance (minor) and amusement. Reputation with Elara +3 (Neutral -> Friendly Acquaintance). Item Acquired: [Fresh Bread Roll] x1.]
[Fresh Bread Roll: Quality: Good. Restores 10 SP upon consumption. Tastes much better than burnt ones.]
He ate the roll as he walked, the warm bread a welcome treat. These small interactions were surprisingly rewarding, both in terms of system benefits and just… feeling a bit more connected to the village.
His next goal was the [Wooden Training Dummy (Basic)]. The skill description said it required 'appropriate materials.' That likely meant a sturdy log, something thicker than the branches he'd used for his spear. There was a communal woodpile, but taking a large piece without asking felt wrong, even if it was technically for common use.
He spotted Martha, a sturdy woman who often managed the wood distribution for cooking fires, especially for the elderly. She was splitting logs with a heavy axe, her movements economical and powerful.
"Excuse me, Martha-san," Ren ventured, approaching respectfully.
Martha paused, resting her axe. "Yes, Ren? What is it?" Her tone wasn't unkind, but it was direct.
"I… I've been practicing with a spear," he explained. "And my woodworking skill unlocked a… a way to make a training dummy. To practice on. It needs a solid log, about this thick." He indicated with his hands. "I was wondering if there was a suitable piece I could use from the pile, or if there's a task I could do to earn one?"
Martha looked him up and down, then at his spear. A faint smile touched her lips. "A training dummy, eh? Getting serious, are we? Most boys your age are still chasing lizards." She pointed with her chin. "There's a section of ironwood over there that Old Man Hemlock said was too knotty for his fine work, but it's tough as nails. Too much trouble for firewood. If you can haul a piece of it to your hut, you can have it. Consider it payment for keeping the Flit-flies off Elara's bread; she mentioned your… unique pest control methods."
Ren blinked. News traveled fast in a small village. "Thank you, Martha-san! I can definitely haul it."
[Minor Quest Triggered: Earn Your Sparring Partner]
Objective: Retrieve 1x [Knotty Ironwood Log] from the designated woodpile and transport it to your dwelling.
Reward: 1x [Knotty Ironwood Log], +25 Character EXP, Martha's Approval (+5 Reputation with Oakhaven General Villagers).
A quest! A simple one, but it was progress. The ironwood log was indeed heavy and awkward, but his STR of 10 and his determination saw him wrestling it back to his hut over the course of half an hour, earning him the EXP and Martha's approving nod as he passed.
Back in his hut, the log promising a challenging [Basic Woodworking] session, Ren felt a deep sense of satisfaction. He'd improved skills, gained reputation, acquired resources, and even got a quest, all through a bit of proactive interaction. The system was a tool, but it was up to him to find the best ways to use it. His path to surviving Hunter x Hunter was still dauntingly long, but today, it felt a little less solitary.