Apprentice

'Finally….' Wayne went to the counter meeting an old NPC, he was looking at Wayne with one hand on his chin lazily.

"How much for a full boar copse?"

The old man looked at Wayne and snorted.

"6 copper coin"

Wayne furrowed his brows, the price was too damn low.

"That's too low…how about 8" He didn't really know how bartering worked but tried his best. The old man finally showed a reaction.

"You give me this copse, let's say for 8, I will need to have it skinned by the skinner and that will take me 3 copper coins. Then the flesh to the butcher which will also take three. Then I will take out the parts needed for potion making, and I cost 4 for it. So, why would I give you 8 when I have so much to pay already?." The old man grinned looking at Wayne, he didn't know that what he explained to Wayne will backfire.

Wayne's eyes shone in understanding, the things that the old man said made Wayne rethink the transaction. He smirked towards the old man making him frown.

"Nevermind…I shall come back later"

Wayne said and left with quick steps, the old man couldn't understand what happened and just took the boy as a weirdo going back to the next customer.

'Where….where…Hm? Ah..there!' He went running towards a particular shop and went inside.

There was not even a single person there other than the owner, the man inside the shop looked at Wayne with eyebrows up.

"Young man, what can I do for you?"

Wayne looked at the NPC as if he was gold.

"This is a skinning shop, right?"

"Yes, it is. It's written just outside." The NPC said calmly.

Wayne stopped for a while and looked at the man as if thinking whether to say the thing he came here for. With a deep breath, he said.

"I would like to learn the art of skinning from you…."

The man looked at Wayne with a surprised gaze for a while holding his hand on the chin as if thinking deeply.

"And why would I do that?"

Wayne was waiting for the question and answered immediately.

"My family is very poor, we have a lot of debt accumulated-"

"Stop, young man," He said interrupting Wayne in between. Wayne panicked feeling he messed up with his start.

'Fuck, there goes the chance to earn money.'

"I am not a good person nor a bad, what background or what hell you come from doesn't matter, what matters is the thing I get from this exchange…."

Wayne's eyes perked up, he looked at the man in a new light. The practical man in front of him was just too much suited for him, resembling with his personality.

"I can work for you freely till I learn how to skin, you can even overwork me, I don't care."

"Not enough, I shall add a condition, how are your hunting skills?"

Wayne thought about how to take this conversation from here. He could either say he was not a good hunter or a good one that do not even damage the hide of the animals.

'Beggars can't be choosers, here goes everything' he thought bringing all the corpses out of his inventory for a good impression.

The shop owner looked at the 3 corpses of boar and a wolf's with wide eyes. He crouched down examining the copses everywhere like a professional.

"Hm, one hit on the gut, some internal bleeding, and the other on the head. The hide's quality is as good as you can find. Small hits….you are a Marksman, right?" he asked. Wayne was feeling very good with the accurate judgments and the man even predicted his class too.

"Yes"

"You got the talent for hunting, then there is one condition I thought about, it's your choice to accept it."

Wayne nodded wanting the skinner to continue.

"You will give me every day, a new corpse of one boar and wolf with the same qualities as this till you learn the skill of skinning," The man said with seriousness.

'Hah…he's just ripping me off now.' He thought looking at the skinner with a thoughtful expression. But deep down, he was grinning inwardly thinking he would do the same if not go to another extent.

"I know you are taking advantage of the weak little me, but I humbly accept." He said while giving a ninety-degree bend for false respect.

The man's eyes twitched from Wayne's retort.

"Hahaha….drop the antics, young man. I know you are doing it to make me feel pity but alas my heart's made of stone~"

"Tsk"

[Apprentenship under Skinner Wally]

[Quest activated:- Complete the apprenticeship under skinner Wally according to his conditions.

Reward- Gain of skill 'Skinning' with a chance of a side-quest]

"Now, your lessons will start tomorrow morning, and I will be taking a boar and wolf's copse for tomorrow's quota today." He said making two of them vanish into thin air.

"Inventory?" He blurted out without thinking getting a mild smile from Wally. In the end, Wally didn't say anything further.

Wayne came out of the store and decided to just log off.

–

The VR pod opened and Wayne came out of it refreshed. The technology had become very good, the VR made the mind relaxed while also using it to play. Wayne didn't know the concept behind it nor did he care.

He went directly to the bed finding the booklet. Without wasting time, he started reading it.

The first fifty pages were about the classes with their thorough description. Wayne finally reaches the page he wanted to find all this while.

"20 copper coins make a dollar. 100 copper coins make a silver coin of around 5 dollars. 100 silver coins make a gold making it worth 500 dollars, and lastly, 100 gold coins make a platinum meaning….whatever."

"I have 6 copper coins making it….not even a dollar, but if the plan goes the way I want, then I will be fucking rich heheheh" He giggled like a devil. Mabel entered his room finding his brother giggling crazily.

"What happened, big bro!? Are you right in the mind?"

Wayne's brows twitched at the question, he looked at his little sister after coughing trying to make the embarrassment go.

"No my dear sister, our lives will become normal yet again, don't worry"

"I never worry, this life is also good enough for me."

Wayne looked at Mabe with sad eyes, she was just too kind-hearted. This only made him more determined in clearing their debt.

"Let's go"

They both went to the lobby finding their mother in the kitchen cooking something.

"Oh~ You both are here~ Come, sit at the table. Food is just going to get ready."

That night, Wayne had a good family dinner after so long, and all three of them were very happy. Night fall soon and Wayne slept peacefully finally finding a good path to follow.

"Yawn~"

Wayne made his way to the shower.

"Hahh…should I take another break?"

Wayne couldn't understand what he should do, he tried to ask his mother but she just said to whatever you want like usual.

'Maybe I should play and then go for work…..got 6 hours then.'

He bid farewell to his sister and mother going to his room.

"Mom….will big brother be okay?"

"Yeah, sweetheart, he will always do what he deems good for him. We should just give him some time."

Mabel nodded looking at his brother's room for a while before leaving for school.