The Boar's Hat (6)

I lay in the bathtub for what seemed like hours. It was so relaxing! Although I thought of getting up a few times, the comfort of the bathtub tempted me otherwise.

At last, only after my fingers started getting pruned did I get up. After drying myself with the towel, I decided to stand in front of the mirror. After all, it had been weeks since I last saw what I looked like.

The mirror was huge! Larger than my own body.

My hair had grown exceptionally long, almost touching my shoulder. Well, my hair did grow pretty fast. My skin felt and looked as good as new.

Even though I felt it, my body had developed more this past week than it had in the last year. My muscles and abs were more toned than they had ever been. Most likely not, but maybe I even grew a few centimetres.

I checked a few spots on my body only to find that no scars I had received in the past were left. Even the bullet wounds and knife stabs had completely healed. So it looks like it wasn't a lie that every wound was healed when we entered the Tower.

I picked up a black hairband on the rack and tied my hair into a ponytail. Although I need to get it cut soon, tying it back now was better than having it fly all over the place.

Hah! I almost looked like a teen going through puberty and had grown his hair to retaliate against his parents. Anyway, bathing again was a rejuvenating experience.

I washed my face once more, and, donning my towel, I stepped outside the bathroom.

Like Margaret promised, my tracksuit was neatly folded and kept on my bed. But, as soon as I touched it, a message appeared.

[This fabric has been enhanced by a Master Enhancer!]

[This fabric has turned into an item: 'Enhanced Tracksuit']

My tracksuit... turned into an item?

**********

Enhanced Tracksuit(C)

A once normal piece of clothing that has been enchanted and enhanced by a Master Enhancer.

The enhancements to this fabric are:-

Auto-Sewing: Given time, the clothing will automatically repair itself.

Increased Defence: When wearing this clothing, the wearer's defence increases by 2%.

Mana-Conduction: When wearing this clothing, the wearer's flow of arcane increases by 4%.

**********

This was beyond anything I had ever expected! To think that such a thing was even possible is fantastic.

But when the system mentioned a 'master enhancer', was it referring to Margaret? Just who was she? Why was she even working as a waitress if she was a master at her craft?

Getting involved in a stranger's story would only bring me trouble here. I need to stay vigilant.

But I need to thank her the next time we meet.

As soon as I finished putting it on, I felt my resilience increase. Even the flow of arcane in my body became smoother than ever before. It felt much lighter than before, almost as if I had put on nothing; that was a worrying feeling.

I wonder how this 'Auto-Sewing' worked. Well, there was only one way to find out.

Arcane Dagger!

A black, translucent dagger, made of arcane, appeared in my hands. I sat on the couch and tried to cut the sleeve of the tracksuit.

Ahhh… I guess I forgot how bad the sharpness of this was. It was like trying to cut something with the bluntest knife ever made.

But after repeatedly sawing the sleeve of the tracksuit, a small tear appeared. I wonder what would happen?

A minute passed, and then another. The threads of the torn region were sewing themselves together. It was almost like they were alive. Before the third minute started, the cut in the tracksuit had been completely repaired.

This was great. I guess I didn't have to worry about my tracksuit being on the verge of collapse again.

Well, enough playing around. Yesterday, Margaret spoke about getting an ID. So let's do that next.

I pressed the call bell, and someone knocked on my door within minutes.

Opening the door, I was greeted by the sight of the beautiful waitress again.

"Looks like you freshened up! What may I do to assist you?" she inquired.

"Please tell me what an ID is and how to get it," I replied.

"Of course!" she said excitedly.

I invited her inside, and we sat on the adjacent chairs at the dining table.

"Basically, just like on Earth, an ID confirms your identity, It is a basic requirement that everybody who lives in any settlement of the tower, must fulfill," she said.

That made sense; identifying every individual was one of the basic needs of any civilisation.

The waitress continued, "An ID shows your real name and level. Those who don't have it are often misunderstood and shunned, for example, thugs and criminals."

That's why I didn't find an ID on the goons that I defeated. But, according to what she told me, getting an ID would expose my identity. With the Divina coming after me, exposing my weak self was the last thing I needed to do.

"Is there no way to live in settlements without an ID?" I asked.

The waitress tilted her head as if she found my question odd. After a moment of contemplation, she said, "There is… If you get a 'letter of recommendation' from an influential figure in the Tower, then you will be allowed access to most of the settlements. "

An influential figure? I knew no one in the Tower. I doubt Sarroth, a Divina, would be ready to help me without any conditions. I guess getting an ID through the standard method was the only choice.

"When can I get an ID?" I asked.

"Right now, if you want. There's an authorised office nearby which issues IDs," replied Margaret.

I guess I'll just go there. But before that…

"May I ask a few more questions?" I inquired.

"Of course!" replied the waitress.

"Can you please tell me about this city?" I asked.

"Why not! The settlement we are currently in is known as, 'The Kingdom of Midland'. Although there are some more settlements on floor zero, none of them can even compare to here. For the past few millennia, this kingdom has been where all the newbies first arrived. So, this place holds a special place in the hearts of both veterans and newbies alike," she replied.

After drinking some water, she continued, "The domain holder of this region is unknown to me, although many presume it's Lord Mark. Currently, the 'Golden Guards' are the most influential clan here. They are in charge of all the guards and the army this place has."

The 'Golden Guards'? It looks like I need to stay out of their way. Getting involved with a big group like that would make me far too recognisable.

"What do you mean by a 'domain holder'?" I asked. It sounded like a strange term.

"Well, in order to build settlements, someone first needs to receive a domain from the Tower. It cannot be bought or traded. The only way to obtain it is if the Tower acknowledges you and gives it to you. Owning domain in the Tower increases one's standing in it," she replied.

"Standing in the tower?" I asked. Was owning a domain really so important?

"Don't worry too much about it. You'll get to know more about the Tower once you begin to climb it," she assured me.

Climbing the Tower. Just what was that?

"Please tell me more about 'Climbing the Tower'," I requested.

"There are a hundred floors in the Tower. Each floor offers a new challenge, and when a being rises to the top floor; the being is given the title of a 'Divina'! The floor you'll be facing next will be the first floor. Many people also call it the 'Class' receiving floor, "she replied.

"What is a 'Class'?" I inquired.

I had neither heard of it before nor was it on the status screen.

"Well, once you get a class, the Tower will give you related quests and skills. Although you can always try skills that do not fit into your class, the probability of you mastering them is considerably low. That's why many people only focus on class-related skills and weapons," the red-haired woman informed me.

Although I had more questions, receiving an answer to all of them in one go would be a little too much for my brain to handle.

"I thank you for everything you have done for me," I said as I got up and offered her a slight bow.

"Don't worry about it. It's just my job," Margaret replied, slightly bowing down.

"Then shall we head to the ID issuing office?" she asked.

"Sure," I replied.

Putting on my 'Stealth Cloak' and drinking some water, I followed behind Margaret, who was already standing in front of the elevator's doors.

I need to think of a way to manipulate my ID.