I'm not a goblin Frankenstein's monster.

Chapter 12 The Wonders of Interspecies Reproduction

"You can run away, but you can't hide," Xia Lin said calmly. "Keep an eye out for suitable commissions in the future."

"Sure thing!" Nim patted his chest and stuffed the copper coins into his pocket. "Leave it to me. I've been around here for so long, I can't guarantee anything else, but my information network is definitely top-notch. If there's a lucrative job that's not too dangerous, I'll definitely let you know first."

Xia Lin nodded, chatted with him for a few moments, and then left.

The furnace in the blacksmith's shop, "Anvil and Fire," is burning brightly.

Xia Lin handed the small round shield and the "veteran" longsword to the dwarf Sindar.

Sinda pinched the edge of the small round shield with his thick fingers, then tapped the shield surface with his finger.

"This bison hide can't hold up anymore," Sinda shook his head. "The keel is crumbling too. If it gets hit again, it'll probably shatter along with the shield." He pushed the round shield back to Xia Lin. "It's not worth repairing; it's just a piece of scrap metal."

He picked up the old soldier's longsword again: "The sword is alright, it has a few chipped edges, but it can hold up for a while after some polishing."

He put down his sword, turned around, and dragged out a standard small round shield from the corner of the shop.

After dusting off the dust, the sheet metal underneath and the thick oak backing were revealed.

"Just picked up some old stuff, standard equipment from the town guards. It frees up your hands for fighting, no major problems," Sinda said, handing the shield to Xia Lin. "Much better than your junk. Five silver coins, take it or leave it."

Xia Lin took the shield, weighed it in his hand, and found it to be quite heavy. He then tapped the shield surface twice with his fingers to check its quality.

"Okay." He counted out five silver coins from his money bag.

Sinda put away the coins and casually tossed the broken little round shield into the rubbish pile in the corner.

"Leave the sword here, come back for it tomorrow." The dwarf picked up the longsword, turned and walked towards the whetstone. "I'll sharpen the edge for you, consider it a bonus when you buy the shield. Kid, if you really want to make a living with this, you'll have to replace it sooner or later."

"Are there any more durable ones readily available?" Xia Lin asked.

Sinda shook his head: "It's difficult. Recently, several villages to the north and west have been plagued by goblins, making the trade routes unsafe."

The convoys transporting ore are either too afraid to go or have been robbed along the way. The shops are currently out of even decent iron ingots, let alone good steel.

He put down his sword and looked at Xia Lin: "However, if you can find the ore yourself, I can help you."

I've heard that there are still some scattered meteorite veins emerging in the eastern part of Loran Forest, near the old mine.

Meteorite is harder than ordinary iron and easier to forge than refined steel, making it a good material for weapon making.

If you can get your hands on some decent-purity ore, I'll upgrade this "veteran" weapon for you free of charge, and I guarantee it'll be much stronger than it is now.

Meteorite ore? Xia Lin silently memorized the name, but had no clue what it was for the time being.

"I'm keeping an eye on it."

At the general store, Xia Lin got a new pair of shoes and replenished her healing kits and bandages, having used up quite a few last time she dealt with goblins and slimes.

When he checked out, his eyes caught sight of several brightly colored new books prominently displayed on the counter.

General Monster Encyclopedia for Adventurers (Color Illustrated Hardcover Edition)

Xia Lin picked it up and flipped through it; it was indeed much better than his cheap version.

The book has thick pages, and all the illustrations are hand-colored. Although some colors are applied beyond the line art, the monster's features and textures are still very clear.

The text section has also been expanded, providing detailed descriptions of "ecological habits," "analysis of known weaknesses," and "encounter response suggestions," and even includes a simple method for identifying monster tracks in the appendix.

The price is thirty copper coins, which is not cheap, but considering the convenience it brings, it's worth it.

Xia Lin used the proceeds from the sale of his old books to make up the price difference and exchanged them for this deluxe edition.

After finishing all that, my stomach started growling uncontrollably.

Xia Lin then realized that since leaving the inn that morning, apart from munching on a piece of dwarf bread in the carriage, he hadn't eaten anything properly.

The Moonlight Tavern is right next door.

Pushing open the door, the familiar hustle and bustle and the aroma of ale wafted towards me.

Xia Lin found an empty seat at the bar, ordered a regular glass of golden bar wine, and also ordered roasted mushrooms with pine nut bread that was marked "elf flavor" on the menu.

The price is 2 silver coins, which isn't cheap, but it should be better than black bread.

While waiting, I saw Sosia wiping crystal glasses behind the bar.

"I've completed the task of growing Moon Tear Grass," Xia Lin told her. "Twenty plants have been handed over to the association and should be delivered over once they're processed."

Sosia looked at Xia Lin and nodded slightly: "Thank you. If the quality is good, I can try brewing a small barrel of 'Blue Nightmare'. It's a recipe passed down in our clan, and it has some effect on calming the mind and relieving mental fatigue."

Her tone remained calm, but Xia Lin could sense that she was genuinely happy.

At that very moment, a text prompt appeared before my eyes:

[Sosia's favorability has increased]

[Interspecies Reproduction (Green) upgraded to lv2 (0/20)]

Effect Update: Charisma +1 → Charisma +1, Strength +1; Slightly increases natural affinity with elves.

[Reward: One chance to draw a character with affinity bonus]

Xia Lin's heart stirred slightly. He selected the elf in front of him and silently uttered "extract".

【Extracting...】

[Acquired entry: Identify Spell (Green)]

Effect: Can identify basic information and general effects of common low-level magical artifacts, potions, and enchanted items (requires visual contact and focused attention).

Introduction: Originating from one of the basic training contents of elven mage apprentices, it aims to help beginners establish a preliminary cognitive framework of the magical world.

Identify spells?

Xia Lin was somewhat curious.

He tried to focus on the foamy golden bar in front of him, skipping over a line of text.

【Golden Barley Wine (Standard)】

Brewed with inferior malt, it has an alcohol content of about 5%, a rough taste, and a slightly sour and astringent flavor.

It really works! Xia Lin perked up and looked up at the top of the wine cabinet.

His gaze fell on a bottle of wine with a blue sheen.

Refocus your attention.

【Blue Nightmare (Elf Legacy - Magical Drink)】

It is made primarily with Moon Tear Grass and Tranquil Flower, supplemented with elven magic and a trace amount of moon essence.

Effects: Within 1 hour of drinking, it grants immunity to common mental abnormalities such as 'fear,' 'confusion,' and 'hypnosis' (the actual strength of the effect depends on the amount consumed, individual magic resistance, and mental state).

Warning: May cause mild dizziness, disorientation, and other side effects.

For tasting only; not recommended for heavy consumption.

Magical drink! And the effects are quite practical; luckily, I still have some left.

Xia Lin withdrew his gaze, realizing that Sosia's ability to brew magical drinks meant she was definitely more than just an ordinary tavern owner.

She is most likely a mage, or at least has received systematic magical training.

The upgrade to [Interspecies Reproduction] increased by 1 point of Strength, and Xia Lin's attributes also changed.

Name: Xia Lin

[Basic Attributes]

Strength 6 ([Interspecies Reproduction +1])

Agile 5

Body type 5

Intelligence 6

Perception 5

Charm 6 (【Interspecies Reproduction +1】)

Equipment Attributes:

Healthy gut (white)

Night vision (white)

Interspecies Reproduction (Green) lv2 (0/20)

Despicable Sword Strike (Green) lv2 (5/20)

Mimicry (Blue) lv1 (0/10)

】

[Entry categories (3): Groundhog, Goblin, Slime]