Absolute Craft-Chapter 54: A Friend (3)

Chapter 54: A Friend (3)

Blake broke out in a cold sweat.

Not only did Joel drop his phone—thankfully onto his lap—but he also sprang away, staring at Blake as if he were a monster. Luckily, the phone landed on the bench without any damage.

His reaction made Blake’s heart pound. ’I didn’t say Supreme Blade, did I?’

Blake replayed their conversation and was sure he hadn’t mentioned his beta tester nickname. That name alone would explain this kind of reaction, so why did Joel look so shocked?

"What’s wrong?" Blake asked.

"You’re that m-monster who destroyed Anonymous House!" Joel shouted.

Blake clenched his fists. ’Kyria? Or her guild members? Whoever streamed that battle or made a video of it, you’ll pay for this!’

Since Blake didn’t say a word, Joel grew more certain that Blake was the one everyone had been talking about. He sat back down and showed Blake a video of Superbia annihilating Anonymous Guild with clever tactics, natural talent, and brute strength.

He truly looked monstrous, both in appearance and skill.

After confirming it wasn’t Kyria’s point of view, Blake clicked his tongue. "Yeah, it’s me."

Joel jumped to his feet and bowed. "Master!"

"Sit down," Blake said.

"Ok," Joel replied, nodding as he settled beside him again.

But he could barely contain his excitement. In the video’s comment section, people noted that Blake didn’t just rely on his rare skills—he also fought shrewdly. His duel with Wolfang earned special praise for showcasing pure swordsmanship. It all confirmed Blake was the real deal.

Joel kept stealing glances at Blake like a starstruck fangirl, grinning so foolishly that Blake wanted to smack him. He resisted the urge and took a deep breath.

Now wasn’t the time to mess around.

Blake needed to keep a cool head. He’d taken the first step by finding someone who could be a friend, though he wasn’t happy that Joel had discovered his strength so quickly. Maybe it was for the best—he could reveal more to him.

"Are you in for a plan to become better players—better people, even—while monetizing our content?" Blake asked.

Joel sprang off the bench and dropped onto one knee. "Yes, Master!"

"It irritates me when you call me ’Master,’" Blake said.

"If I don’t, I’ll get jealous and curse you!" Joel replied.

"Then curse me," Blake shot back.

"Bro!" Joel sat again and nodded. "If you’re this good, all you have to do is enter an arena and show off for the guilds! They’ll invite you in as a main member, like a real job! You don’t need to rot in our current work! Why do something this stupid?!"

"I have my reasons," Blake said simply.

"So stupid! Whatever’s holding you back, you’re being so stupid!" Joel muttered.

Blake raised his hand, fought the urge to slap Joel, then lowered it. After all, he’d told Joel to curse him—not the other way around.

Joel grinned. "You gave me permission."

"Yeah, I know," Blake said, nodding.

"How do we monetize content this early without a guild, though?" Joel asked.

Honestly, Blake wanted to know as well. He’d blurted out the idea on impulse, spurred by the memory of his past self who had dared to do the impossible. Now he was in too deep to back out; he had to adapt.

"We’ll hunt players," Blake said. 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝕨𝕖𝗯𝚗𝚘𝕧𝕖𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝕞

"You need me for that?" Joel asked.

"No," Blake replied. Joel lowered his gaze.

He muttered, "I knew it..."

Blake sighed. "There’s more to the Eternal Winter Graveyard than people realize. It’s a place that only newbies in the tutorial zone can access, right? We’ll explore its secrets, gather valuable loot, and sell it. That’ll give us enough money to invest in our own lives."

"And then? And then?" Joel leaned in, eyes gleaming.

He looked like a kid about to pull a prank.

"And then you’ll collect information about other valuable zones and their hidden treasures," Blake said, not overthinking it.

Joel latched onto those words. He planned to become the best information-gathering player in the world.

"Alrighty, bro!" Joel pumped his fists. "I’ll research the Eternal Winter Graveyard right away! I’ll dig for every rumor and comment out there! We’re gonna discover all the secrets! Haha!"

He had heard about the Eternal Winter Graveyard before but had never looted a key to enter it. However, now that Blake said they’d both go, Joel would gather so much intel that he’d surprise Blake and become indispensable—he’d provide more knowledge than Blake could ever imagine, making it unthinkable for Blake to leave him behind.

"Let’s go home! I’m itching to get to work!" Joel said.

"Sure," Blake agreed.

And so ended the first meeting between two new friends.

-

Blake got home later than usual.

He felt exhausted, even though he hadn’t really worked hard that day. Joel’s energy was so over-the-top that it practically drained him. Blake couldn’t help feeling a little envious of his endless enthusiasm.

After tossing his work clothes aside and changing into something comfortable, Blake heated up some noodles. He kept an eye on his phone, absently scrolling through random social media videos.

He was still interested in the Houses. He’d known about them for a while, but one hundred years was a long time—things could have changed drastically. Thinking clearly now, no longer swayed by an old teammate’s influence, he was certain he’d go for the House of Peace.

"In a way, I’ve taken a step toward the life I really want," Blake thought.

He’d gotten to know Joel and planned to invite him to the gym once they’d both made enough money from their in-game ventures. Their plan to uncover the graveyard’s secrets wasn’t half bad. The place was loaded with hidden opportunities and could be exploited in all sorts of ways. For instance, if Blake found people carrying keys to other generals’ tombs—or even the royal tomb—he could turn the tables on them, and he much preferred hunting to being hunted.

He flicked his empty cup into the trash and headed to his capsule.

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