Chapter 8: One Million
He forcibly held himself back from thinking ominous thoughts.
"Mom, stop crying. Everything will be okay. Tell me what happened."
He tried to sound as calm as possible.
"Sob… Sob… Your dad is in… Sob… hospital…"
Finn reacted quickly.
He put the bare essentials, including the VR Headset, in a bag and wore his shoes before leaving the room.
He did not waste a single second and got everything done in under a minute.
At the same time, he spoke to his mom with a calm tone. He had to remain steadfast and act as a pillar to support his mom. He couldn't allow himself to be stunned by the news and become helpless.
"He got in an accident. Sob… The hospital stopped… Sob, Sob… the treatment because we have no money."
Her words were an incoherent mess.
But Finn was able to make out the important details.
"Mom, I'm on my way home." He added in a calm and serious tone. "I'm sending you money for the hospital bills. Is there someone besides you?"
"Wuzi is… sob, sob… with me.."
"Can you give her the phone?"
There was a short silence.
A feminine voice soon flowed from the other side.
"Finn, don't worry too much. I'm looking after uncle and aunty. You don't need to come here. Focus on your college."
Wuzi's voice was cracking.
It was clear she was holding back tears to look calm in front of Finn.
She had always been like this.
Finn transferred the money to his mom while they were talking.
"Wuzi, I've transferred 55,000$. It should be enough to start the treatment. How much more do you need?"
"...!? How do you have so much money?"
"I'll explain everything when I get there. Answer my question first."
"...One million."
"Got it. Take care of mom until I arrive and thanks."
Wuzi was not even a relative.
She was a neighbor and had always helped their family.
When Finn was a kid, she had taught him free tuition while taking time out of her busy schedule.
Today was just another moment where she was helping them.
Finn's family did not have money for any emergencies like today.
Wuzi probably forked out her savings to get his father treated.
She did not have enough money herself.
But she still helped.
Although it was how she usually was, Finn couldn't not thank her.
"Okay, but, please, don't do anything illegal."
"Of course, I'll always follow the teachings of my Ethics mam."
Finn joked and cut the call.
He reached the bus stand and took one of the buses where he could sleep.
It was a luxury he could not afford before.
With the current situation, he did not feel happy about being able to afford it.
He brought a meal before stepping inside the bus.
After filling his stomach, he lay in his personal area.
It would take him one day to reach his parents.
Finn had one day to earn money in Infinite Realm.
He wore the VR headset and entered the Infinite Realm.
A jolt passed through his head.
He was suddenly standing in the blacksmith shop.
Taking a deep breath, he opened the stair door and went to the workshop above.
He met Yurian.
"You're back already? Why don't you take a rest for a day. It must've been tiring to forge two swords back to back on your first attempt."
"I've rested before coming here," Finn answered. "Where is the Master?"
"He is out and won't return for a week. I think he said something about getting your recommendation letter."
Finn felt aggrieved.
He had hoped to get the blacksmith to teach him to create an Epic-grade weapon.
"Should I try to forge a sword of a higher level than Lvl. 10?
"Even if I could, I'll need to work nonstop for two weeks to earn 1 million."
He mumbled to himself.
There was another problem.
Yurian might not allow him to use the smithy and its materials in the absence of the blacksmith.
Unknown to Finn, Yurian was able to hear him even though he had spoken in a very low voice.
"You can use the smithy. Master gave the permission before he left. Though I'd give up if I was in your place. You won't be able to create a sword greater than Lvl. 10."
Yurain added.
"People can forge weapons ten levels higher than their levels. But anything higher than that is difficult."
He explained it to Finn in detail.
A 10-year old child could run 100 meters.
If he tried to run 500 meters he would be greatly exhausted.
On the other hand, a 20 year-old man could run 500-meter easily. He would, however, find it difficult to run 1,000 meters.
The age of the child was comparable to the level of a blacksmith and the distance was the level of their creations.
A Lvl. 1 Blacksmith could create Lvl.1 weapons.
He could also forge an Lvl.10 weapon if he pushed himself.
However, anything higher was beyond a Lvl.1 Blacksmith.
Only a higher level blacksmith could create weapons higher than Lvl. 10.
"Your limit is a Lvl. 10 weapon. Level up if you want to break through the limit."
"I can't."
Finn sat on the chair with a sigh.
He cupped his face as he tried to think of a solution.
Yurian frowned when he saw Finn giving up so easily.
"Go out in the forest and kill monsters. How is that difficult?"
"I did not mean that metaphorically. I meant literally." Finn paused. "l don't have a level or Exp bar."
Yurain blinked.
If it was anyone other than Finn, he would've thought they were lying.
But his words were too absurd to be believed.
"Pardon me," Yurian said. He muttered, "Inspect."
His eyes glowed.
Finn suddenly felt a gaze on him.
Even if he tried to hide, it was as if he was naked in front of Yurain and he could not do anything.
"What?" Yurian blinked as if he could not believe his eyes. "Your level is missing…"
He grabbed Finn by his shoulders.
"How many people did you meet after coming here?"
"What happened? Why are you acting like this?"
Finn was confused when he saw the urgency on Yurian's face.
"Answer me."
"Just three. Master, you, and the Enryu."
Speaking of Enryu, he recalled something.
"The payment was confirmed. You can give her the sword when she comes—"
"Dammit!"
A pulse of shockwave spread out from Yurian.
It knocked back Finn.
"This is why travelers are an easy target! You guys don't even understand the basic shit and end up messing up your lives!"
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