Free Web NovelChapter 3: Moonlit Harvest
[Newborn Ranger]: Increases the effects of your Ranger badge by 1%.
It was a modest bonus, but in Xander’s eyes, it was a solid start. Back in his peak days, completing his first Thief advancement with flawless execution had earned him [Gifted Shadow], granting +10 to all Thief skills. That edge, paired with his unmatched Dexterity and the [Wall Climb] passive, had turned his early game into a dominant run.
Most Thieves struggled terribly at low levels — they functioned more as scouts and trap-disablers than true fighters, relying on team support for experience. Only the high-burst Assassin path offered real combat potential later.
Xander had reluctantly set aside his favorite Thief foundation in this life. While lockpicking and stealth could generate quick coin, raw fighting strength was the priority. The Ranger class, versatile and balanced, suited his urgent needs perfectly.
Its advanced paths also converged toward the legendary Ruler of the Dusk. With only one title slot available, he equipped [Newborn Ranger] immediately.
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After handing in the forged recommendation at the Ranger Guild, Xander received his novice badge. New Rangers typically chose among three: the Wild Wolf, the Noble Hawk, or the Sika Deer.
[Wild Wolf Badge]: Taming +5
[Noble Hawk Badge]: Long-range Vision +3
[Sika Deer Badge]: Hide +9
Each enhanced a core skill. Xander’s choice was instant. In the wilds of Eudroya, Hide reigned supreme. At 100 or higher, it approached the potency of a second-rank Assassin’s Strong Stealth. Taming and enhanced vision had their uses, but nothing matched Hide’s immediate survival value. It was the Ranger’s equivalent of a Thief’s Stealth.
The class change brought tangible gains. His Health Points rose by 11, he gained one free attribute point, and he started with 96 skill points. The updated panel reflected his progress:
[Adventurer Class: Level 1 Ranger (0/50)]
He allocated the free point to Dexterity without hesitation. Rangers relied heavily on Dexterity for agility and precision, with Intelligence secondary for minor spellwork. His chosen advancement path favored Dexterity above all. Attribute points were precious — only one every two levels after the first.
The 96 skill points vanished quickly into priorities:
Hide – 41(+9)
Stealth – 20
Inspect – 35
Rangers wielded daggers and bows by default. With his panel refreshed, Xander reviewed the full status:
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Name: Xander
Race: Human/?
Attributes:
Strength – 11
Dexterity – 17
Constitution – 9
Intelligence – 14
Wisdom – 14
Charisma – 13(+1)
Class: Noble Rank 3 (150/200)
Adventurer Class: Level 1 Ranger (0/50)
Title: Newborn Ranger
Health Points: 37/37
Exp: 40 (Noble) [Unused]
SP: 0
AP: 0
Class Skills:
– Noble (Baron): Dignity – 25, Management – 31, Perception – 16, Diplomacy – 19, Accounting – 28, Horsemanship – 30
– Ranger: Hide – 41(+9), Stealth – 20, Inspect – 35
Equipment: Sika Deer Badge
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"I finally have a combat class," Xander murmured as he left the guild, feeling renewed energy course through his limbs. The forged letter had been a calculated risk, but his veteran knowledge had paid off.
Only Rangers offered this specific shortcut via a senior’s recommendation. Observing the beggar’s practiced movements had confirmed his suspicions of a fallen high-rank Ranger. A bottle of premium golden rum had sealed the deal.
The technique came from a god-tier ally in his past life — a player who had raced to third-rank Forest Warden while others lagged on second-rank quests. The guild verified only the sealed letter, never the issuer.
This success meant his hard-won expertise from Eudroya could now be leveraged. Though unfamiliar with every corner of Tanchapel, fragmented memories revealed several paths to quick coin and strength. In his original starting region farther northeast, he would have felt even more at home.
With 30 silvers remaining, he visited a blacksmith in the trade district and purchased a common curved dagger. Its stats were modest — 2 to 5 Attack — but sufficient for basic defense. Anything more would have to wait.
Money remained a pressing issue, as did the soulbound quest. Elyra waited back at the Oxhollow Inn. The half-elf had stood by him since childhood, carving a deep place in his heart. He would lay down his life for her if needed.
Since arriving in Tanchapel, their funds had dwindled. Elyra had taken exhausting odd jobs with his unpleasant relatives just to afford basic shelter and meals. Without her vigilance, local gangs might have already claimed what little they possessed. freēwēbηovel.c૦m
It was time for things to change.
Taking advantage of the still-open city gates, Xander strapped the curved dagger to his belt and slipped out of Tanchapel.
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The wilds beyond Tanchapel were unforgiving. Beyond patrolled roads, deadly creatures lurked in every thicket. Even a level 1 Ranger like Xander could fall to a young ogre or a pack of goblins. The areas immediately surrounding major cities benefited from regular guard sweeps, offering marginal safety.
Xander wasn’t venturing out to hunt monsters for experience, however. He sought money.
The broad Pineflow River ran near Tanchapel, splitting far downstream. One branch, the Whiteflow, passed through Redoak Vale near White Lake. The river’s long course carried fertile silt from the Gordon Plateau, creating rich sandy banks ideal for certain nocturnal creatures.
Occasionally, small Moonveil Crabs emerged from the waters. These azure-glowing delicacies commanded premium prices in Tanchapel’s markets. Wizards prized their meat for enhancing mental focus. A single crab sold for over 20 silvers when fresh. Xander remembered the exact value clearly.
High demand meant daytime competition was fierce, with crabbers relying on blind luck. The creatures were tiny and easily overlooked. At night, the banks grew deserted.
This suited Xander perfectly. He knew specialized night-catching techniques that others overlooked. No one would disturb him.
He reached the sandy stretch quickly. The river’s gentle murmur filled the air under the moonlight.
Then footsteps sounded behind him.
"Someone followed me?" Xander’s heart tightened. A critical lapse.
His Wisdom of 14 was merely average, and Perception at 16 offered only decent awareness. The recent class gain had made him overconfident. He hadn’t checked for tails. ƒгeewebnovёl.com
A lone shadow detached from the darkness, chuckling softly. Short stature, small dagger in hand. A Thief.
[Inspect (35) activated...]
[Wisdom Check...]
[Inspect Successful]
Information flashed before him:
Level 5 Commoner / Level 3 Thief – HP 42
"Out here alone at night, young noble? Not wise," the Thief sneered. "That little knife won’t save you. The Bleakhollow Gang sends its regards. Consider it an honor to die by our blades."
More shadows emerged from the roadside brush.
Xander clenched his teeth. ’Backup?’ He had no dealings with the Bleakhollow Gang. Why target him?
No time for questions. He exploded into motion, sprinting toward the dense grove lining the riverbank.
