[The All-Purpose Crafter’s Hospitality]

Following the promotional post for my primary business, Perfect Repair, a staggering number of messages had piled up. The requests from the state offered the best rewards, primarily focusing on high point payouts, while individuals often proposed points or rare items they had hoarded rather than sold. Since I wasn't desperate for points, I accepted a few repair requests, prioritizing those that included special materials. Receiving the necessary materials, earning points for the restored durability, and gaining skill proficiency and experience—it was a sweet deal.

Seeing that the Hell difficulty progression would likely be time-consuming, I moved my living quarters entirely to the workshop on the floor below. I finished the repairs on the weapons sent by Manager Lee Seung-jun via Gallery delivery, completing my quota for the month. I sent the repaired items back under Manager Lee Seung-jun’s nickname and pulled out the first item requested by a client under my Perfect Repairman alias.

Although this was my first time handling a bow, I had sufficient knowledge, so I wasn't worried. The item was in a state where firing was impossible because the bow limb was snapped. Even if I repaired it with my Repair skill, the durability was so low that it would break again before I could even finish a few battles. Since it was a ranged weapon made of wood, its attack power and durability were lower than melee weapons, but since I wasn't going to be blocking swords with it, as long as the durability wasn't abysmal, it would be fine.

"It’s made of special wood, but it’s still wood."

I removed the bowstring and checked the state of the broken bow. The limb was split wide open and dangling. I applied some High-Grade Item Repair Adhesive, which was used for bonding non-metallic materials. After practicing the pressure on the cracked area a few times, I found the optimal bonding surface, applied the adhesive, and set it. "It’s bonded well. Now, should I insert a reinforcement core?"

Even if the bond was successful, the fact that it had broken once meant there was a high probability of future issues. I secured the head and used a small saw to cut a space for a reinforcement core. Using the same material as the bow body—which the owner had thoughtfully included—I carved a core to fit the headline, applied adhesive, and attached it to the limb. After completing the fine-tuning of the limb's outer lines, coloring, and a final coating, the repair was finished.

The bow was restored to a durability of 45/45, and its maximum attack power had increased by 3. "Nice!" At 3 points per 1 durability and 10 points per 1 attack power, that was 117 points. Compared to the 8,500+ points I got for selling a single steel sword, 100 points seemed small, but this was a fortune worth about 13 million won. Repairing items required the Repair skill, and Perfect Repair was a unique, exclusive service only I could provide. "Specialized professions really are the future."

I cleared the remaining materials into a corner and sent the item to the client via Gallery delivery, cash on delivery. Once they paid the points, I’d receive them. "Next customer, please." I had to work hard as a Perfect Repairman, thinking that if I didn't, I might get caught in the net of being an All-Purpose ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Crafter. I was busy climbing the Tower and doing repairs, leaving little time for crafting, but I planned to gradually reduce the number of repair requests later to significantly increase my crafting time. Most climbers just slack off after they've earned a lot of money, but I was just getting started.

After finishing the day's repair requests, I bought items needed for goblin hunting: Odorless Perfume and Goblin Lure Scent. Goblins were sensitive to smells, especially blood, which made the chance of being discovered during a hunt very high. If too many swarmed me, I could be in danger due to being outnumbered, as my stamina wasn't infinite. I bought so much for the sake of escaping after the hunt that my backpack was too heavy just from the Odorless Perfume.

I invested all the points I’d earned so far into an Interdimensional Backpack from the special shop. It was a rare-grade artifact that could store an enormous amount of items, with a 5,000kg weight limit, no volume limit, 90% weight reduction, and automatic input/output. It was a hefty price, but the options were satisfying. I packed my food, repair tools, crafting tools, and even my artifact-making kit.

'The Baroness said she could make scrolls.' Scrolls were high-end goods that could only be produced by intermediate artifact crafters. They were strategic weapons that allowed even a normal person without mana to trigger stored magic just by tearing the scroll, launching it forward to kill monsters. If I could get scrolls and magical supplies from Baroness Helene, I could dissect, analyze, and enjoy the mana circuits, and if I could learn the crafting method, that would be even better. The special shop had many things, but not everything.

"And that Baron’s greatsword I saw last time looked quite worn out..." It seemed the blacksmithing skills in this remote border territory were lacking. I packed small forge and anvil equipment into my Interdimensional Backpack and entered the 4th floor.

"No specific penalty for failure, huh." It seemed the rewards would be poor, and the story would change significantly depending on the success or failure of reducing the goblin population. The Hell difficulty concept seemed to be about differentiated rewards from the 3rd floor onwards, no penalties for failure, and massive story shifts.

Upon entering the 4th floor, I was lying on the bed in the guest room where I had logged out on the 3rd floor. A glance out the window revealed the dawn just before morning. I got up, took out comfortable clothes from my backpack, and heard a servant's voice outside. "Are you awake, adventurer?"

"Just woke up."

"I will bring you water for washing." The servant soon ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠returned with a wooden tub the size of a washbasin full of water. I dipped my hand in; it was freezing, as if just drawn from a well. I took an Ignition Stone from my backpack and dropped it into the tub. Since I had brought many magical items, I would be able to live comfortably even in this medieval-themed Tower. After checking that the water was appropriately warmed, I retrieved the stone and washed up.

"Are the Baron, the Baroness, and the children not up yet?"

"Yes, not yet..."

"Ah, it's nothing else, but I wanted to treat the Baron to some food from where I live." Since I’d be staying here for a while, I had to build up my favorability. In Hell difficulty, where even normal NPCs were like real people, building favorability was a must.

"I will ask the butler. Are you cooking it yourself?"

"No, I just carry many things in my Interdimensional Backpack." It was common knowledge that food didn't spoil inside the backpack. A short while after the servant left, the butler came up. "If you set the food in the dining hall now, we can check it and then escort the Baron, which should time out perfectly."

"Let's go."

Time to earn some favorability. I arrived at the dining hall ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠and laid out freshly fried, steaming fried chicken, pizza, smoked duck, pork belly, ssamjang, kimchi, lettuce, and various sauces. A maid who acted as a taster for the servants, surprised by the exotic food, picked up one of each, her eyes widening as she nodded. The butler nodded and went to fetch the Baron, the Baroness, and the children. Soon, everyone gathered in the dining hall.

The Baron's family washed their hands in water with lemon and placed both hands on the table. I followed suit, having seen them do it before. It ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠was almost identical to the dining etiquette of medieval nobles. "A luxurious feast, indeed."

"I'll enjoy it, Jaeil."

"Wow, adventurer, what is this?"

"Everything is amazing! It smells delicious!"

Just as I was about to answer Emily, who was asking about the food, the Baron said, "Let's eat." The Baron hesitated for a moment before picking up a chicken leg and placing it on his plate. "That is a dish made by frying chicken in oil."

"Is that so?"

"It's even better if you dip it in the salt in front of you or apply the other sauces." The children and the Baroness also picked up the chicken the Baron had chosen, placed it on their plates, and as if on cue, followed the Baron's lead, dipping it in salt. The Baron, who had stripped the meat from the bone with his hands and dipped it in salt, said with a look of shock, "Delicious. Is this food eaten by nobles in your hometown?"

"It is a popular dish that even ordinary citizens can eat at least once a day."

The Baron paused for a moment before nodding. "To be able to eat a whole chicken a day... it must be a truly strong country."

Well... the eras are just too different, aren't they?