The fastest way to Level Identify is to use it while fighting monsters. The safest way to Level Identify is to spam it on every person you meet. Don’t bother wasting your mana on Identifying every rock, bush, or grain of sand you see – that’s fucking stupid.

  Contested Identifies, when you’re trying to pierce through some bullshit public profile – you know, like that asshole who is always claiming he’s Tier 3 when he’s really Level 23 – those uses of Identify will Level it up much faster than trying to cast it on every brick in a wall. Plus, you’re less likely to end up hating yourself out of boredom.

  - Delver’s Guild Handbook, Section 8.1 – “Making Identify suck less”

  I took my time, enjoying every bite of the juicy burger. I wasn’t sure what kind of meat it was, but it was far better than whatever Hazel bought. Probably trihorn. By the time I was savoring the last of my fries, everyone else was done eating.

  Mason and Hassan were just finishing the last of their large mugs of beer. Vale and Block had practically inhaled theirs. I was happy with water – beer was disgusting. I’d snuck a sip of it one day while helping clean the saloon, and I didn’t understand why anyone wanted to drink the bitter stuff. Mason finished his beer and stood up, pushing back his stool.

  “Hassan, take Az over to the store and get her kitted out. Usual basics. Az, you got any goodbyes you need to say or stuff you need to get?”

  I hesitated briefly. “Not really, I said goodbye to the kids this morning when Hazel threw me out.”

  Everyone looked at me with surprise, so I quickly explained. “She’s uh, not a big fan of the Guild I guess. Wanted me to stay with her…”

  I could tell that Mason realized there was more to the story, but he didn’t pry, just raised an eyebrow before moving on.

  “In that case, let’s hit the road. Vale, gather up the other recruits and settle the account. I’ll check in with the Guard, see if there’s anything interesting going on out there. Oh, and Hassan – help her get her public profile set up.”

  Mason and Vale were already out the door as I looked over at the tall Archer. He looked at me and sighed.

  “Let’s get the profile out of the way first. You know what it is?”

  “Something to do with Identify,” I shrugged. He rolled his eyes.

  “That’s really it? What do they teach you kids out here?”

  “Honestly, I only really paid attention when we were training. And before this,” I gestured at my scar, “I lived on a farm.”

  It was the truth, even if I didn’t remember much about it. It’s not like I had some mysterious history or anything. People around here had known my parents, but I guess they mostly kept to themselves and only came into town when needed. I saw Hassan’s expression change slightly and smiled on the inside. Guilt trip activated!

  “Fine, here’s the short version. When you use Identify, it tries to show you everything about your target’s Status. Naturally, they rarely want you to see everything, especially their Stats and Skills. It comes down to something like a contest.

  “Your Identify Level, Perception, Acuity, etc, against their defenses. Barrier and Control help resist Identify, and there are also Classes that get Skills to counter it. The main thing to remember is that the further your profile is from reality, the easier it is to see through. Here, use Identify on me.”

  Name: Hassan

  Class: Archer

  Tier: 3

  My eyes widened in surprise. “You’re Tier 3?”

  He just shrugged in response, then winked. “Maybe, maybe not. Now try it again.”

  Name: Hassan

  Class: Guns are for brutes

  Level: 99

  I felt something weird the second time, a sense of wrongness, as I snorted a laugh at his little joke. He smiled.

  “What you just felt was your Skill telling you that something on my profile is a lie. If you had more Levels in Identify, and enough Stats, you would be able to tell that my name was accurate and the Class and Level were wrong. If you were really Wasted good, you’d be able to see through to my real Status. The first time, did you get that feeling?”

  I shook my head.

  “Exactly. My Class is not just Archer, and of course, I have an actual Level. But Archer and Tier 3 are close to the truth, and I’ve got way more Levels and Stats than you. That means Identify won’t give you any hints that something isn’t right. So, it’s important to grind Identify, but you should never blindly rely on it.”

  I nodded. “That makes sense, thanks. So, what should I put on mine? And how do I change it?”

  “Just tell the System what you want. Most people show their Tier and not their exact Level. For your Class, there’s nothing wrong with putting your actual Class for now. When you Tier Up later, just keep Gunner on your profile and only give the new details to the people you trust.”

  I nodded again. “PAST, set my public profile to show my name as Az, Class as Gunner, and instead of my Level show Tier 0.”

  [Acknowledged, Gunner! Do you wish to display anything else?! Perhaps some of your mighty Skills, to strike fear into your enemies?!]

  The author's tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

  “No PAST, hide everything else.”

  [Of course, Citizen! It is done!]

  I had a sudden, unfortunate realization.

  “Wait, since my profile wasn’t set before, does that mean anyone who Identified me this morning saw my actual Level?” I asked.

  I cursed when he nodded, quickly explaining that I hadn’t wanted the kids to know I’d taken the Advanced Tutorial. With a sigh, I realized it was probably too late now… Darien had probably Identified me during the fight with Hazel, and even if he hadn’t, someone else would have, maybe Abel. The gossip would get around in no time. You only got one Level in the Standard Tutorial, after all.

  Shit! Nothing I can do about it now…

  Still annoyed with myself, I followed Hassan to his room so he could get his things. I was surprised to see that it was a shared room, with two single beds – though each looked bigger and much softer than mine. Block was busily stuffing clothes into a large backpack.

  He waved in greeting and then went back to what he was doing. There was a similar pack next to the other bed, already closed up, and Hassan picked it up. A moment later it vanished into his Inventory, and he turned to look at me.

  “Get your armor out so I can see what we’re working with. The Guild won’t be paying for anything beyond the basic kit, but I can make suggestions.”

  “OK, give me a moment.”

  I walked over to his bed and sat down – it was so soft – and pulled off my boots and socks while the two men watched, bemused. I summoned my Class Armor, feeling it swiftly envelop me from my shoulder blades outward, as my clothes vanished below it. I slipped my still-bare feet into my socks, then my boots, and got a System prompt.

  (Attach Worn Leather Boots to the Gunner Class Armor baselayer?)

  I accepted, then sighed in pleasure as the boots, which had been getting a little tight lately, suddenly shifted to a perfect fit. I tried to channel mana into them, but nothing happened.

  “PAST, why can’t I repair my boots?”

  [Armor components may only be restored to their original condition!]

  I sighed in disappointment and stood back up as Hassan looked me over.

  “You’re going to need more armor, obviously. You don’t have a pack, pouches, or even a belt?”

  I shook my head and he thought for a moment. “We’ll cover those then, along with what you’ll need to put in them. Let’s get going.”

  “Wait, I just remembered something!”

  “PAST, I want my item reward now.”

  [Excellent, Citizen! Here it is!]

  I felt the Essence being pulled out of me and a small item materialized, hovering in the air. It looked like a small, dark pouch or bag, maybe the size of both of my fists next to each other. I grabbed it, using Identify.

  Item: Basic Medical Kit

  Level: 3

  Hassan gave it an approving look. “Not bad, everyone should have a medkit. Store it for now, you can attach it to your belt later.”

  The building was quiet as we left, but the square outside was noticeably busier. I caught a few people staring at me, though none of them approached. Considering all the yelling this morning, and Darien’s love of gossip, I figured just about everyone had already heard that I’d survived the Tutorial and was joining up with the Guild.

  It was just a couple minutes walk to Gleason’s General, the main store and by far the largest shop of any kind in town. The two-story building was whitewashed, though it was flaking and in need of a new coat. About two-thirds of the first floor of the store was food, mostly dried goods. There were a couple of chiller boxes with cooling runes holding fresh vegetables and meat. Not that I’d ever had anything from those. Whatever fresh food Sister Mercy had bought came from the weekly Farmer’s market on Sundays after she gave the morning sermon.

  I led the way past the counter and down the aisles. In the back of the first floor there was a section of everyday clothes and the staircase leading up to the second floor. I’d been up there before several times, looking with greedy eyes at the armor, mods, and few weapons on display. But this would be my first time actually buying anything there - and hopefully my last!

  As I stepped out onto the upper floor, the door at the back opened and the owner, Mr. Billings, stepped out. I’d never heard anyone use his first name, so out of curiosity I tried Identifying him.

  Name: Mr. Billings

  Class: Proprietor

  Tier: 2

  What an asshole, of course he puts the ‘Mr.’ on his profile! And I bet his Class is actually Shop-Keeping Jerk. Said asshole gave us a big smile.

  “Ah, Miss Zimmerman, I was wondering if I’d see you in my shop! I was so relieved to hear of your miraculous survival! And I see you’ve joined the Delver’s Guild, congratulations! Mr. Hassan, very nice to make your acquaintance. I am Mr. Billings, at your service! What can I do for you today? Some armor and mods for young Ashley, I presume?”

  “That will be up to Az,” Hassan replied smoothly. “I need a full camping kit – bedroll, utensils, toothbrush, etc. All the necessities, with a decent backpack to hold them. A pair of canteens, one with a purifying enchantment, and two large waterskins. Fifty feet of good rope. Trail rations for… let’s say two weeks. Finally, a belt to carry the canteens, and an extra belt pouch. Oh, and a utility knife, with a sheath.”

  “Excellent! I can help you with all of that, of course. For the canteens, I have a pair of very nice ones with both purification and chilling runes.”

  “I only need one with purification,” Hassan replied.

  “I’m afraid I sold several of those yesterday and don’t have any in stock. I have unenchanted ones, of course, and the pair with both runes.”

  Hassan frowned, thinking. “How much for one of the enchanted canteens?”

  “One eagle, three talons. Very fine work,” Billings replied with his irritating smile.

  Wasted hells, Az, that’s almost everything you have! I don’t think my money is going to get me a whole lot here…

  “Looks like I’m getting a new canteen today,” Hassan said with a thin smile.

  “Very good, sir! The total for everything is eight eagles, four talons. The price book is of course available, if sir wishes to check it.”

  Billings gestured to a heavy book laying on one the counter nearby. It was always a bit amazing to me the way he could remember a list of things and sum up all the prices instantly. Idly, I wondered what the Skill was called. Hassan shook his head, and Billings smiled again.

  “Fantastic, I’ll have my son prepare everything for that order. Now, Miss Zimmerman, what can I get for you?”

  by storytopia07

  When the apocalypse came, the world burned. But Uruvi found a new purpose in life.