HC: Handyman | Ch. 169 - Imbuement

Jack maintained the protective barrier around the ceramics, refreshing it whenever necessary.

As he played Clay Dome, an unexpected notification popped up.

You’ve played [Clay Dome].

Success rate: B

+900 XP in [Bard]

+9,320 XP in [Bard]

Congratulations! You’ve reached level 3 in [Bard]!

You’ve learned a new song: [Lily Lullaby].

Jack grinned. No matter where he used the vases, one minor skill kept reaping the benefits of this combo—[Bard]. Every time he played Clay Dome around the vases, his bard XP skyrocketed at a rate ten times faster than normal. 

And now, that had earned him another level and a new intermediate song.

Lily Lullaby (Melody)

Difficulty: Intermediate

Melody description: A soft, drifting tune that lulls the weary into slumber.

Melody type: Soothing

Judging by the name and description, it was likely a sleep-inducing melody. If he’d had this tool under his belt when they were snatching the allosaurus baby, their escape would have been a breeze.

I haven’t even mastered the songs I have, and they just keep piling up. I need to buckle down and practice more on the ocarina—right after I’m done with the One-Eyes’ etching recipe.

Movement flickered in the corner of his eye. The terracoat mix had finally completed its reaction. A plume of thick, white smoke curled up from the cauldron as the process reached its peak, followed by a brief flash of red light. The air filled with the sharp scent of heated clay and wax.

You have tempered [Bulrush Grass Hat].

Bulrush Grass Hat +1 »»» Bulrush Grass Hat +2

Jack grinned as the progress bars of all four minor skills surged upward.

+200 XP in [Butchering], [Bushcraft], [Pottery], and [Beekeeping].

+2,230 XP in [Butchering], [Bushcraft], [Pottery], and [Beekeeping].

No level-ups this time, but watching [Butchering] inch closer to level 10 and [Beekeeping] jump from Journeyman 2 to Journeyman 3 was satisfying enough.

He leaned over the cauldron, peering through the dissipating steam. For six hours, the mix had bubbled incessantly. What had once been a thick, mineral-rich slurry had thinned, turning into a watery, mud-streaked liquid. He could actually see through it now. Resting at the bottom of the cauldron, having soaked up everything it could, was his newly tempered hat.

Jack carefully scooped it out with a wooden ladle and set it on the ground before it could burn his hands. The terracoat was still darkening as it cooled, its hardened layer forming a seamless shell around the once-visible woven fibers.

The rough, interlaced bulrush weave was gone. In its place was a sleek, ceramic-like finish, marked by thin, uneven striations.

The hat finished cooling, and Jack finally picked it up. 

Jack ran his fingers over the surface. It was neither rigid nor pliable—eerily smooth, like resin, with the slightest give beneath his touch. The rim, once flexible, now had a stiffened edge, holding its shape even when nudged.

There were also subtle color shifts where the mix had set differently—deep earthy browns along the crown, fading into a muted ochre toward the brim. It almost gave the hat a two-toned, leather-like appearance.

He turned it over in his hands, and something caught his eye.

A glow.

Faint at first, almost imperceptible. He thought it was just the fire’s reflection, but when he shifted his body away from the flames, the glow remained—a soft, steady luminescence outlining the hat. 

Does terracoat always leave a glow?

Jack ran his fingers along the surface, feeling nothing unusual beyond the slickness of the terracoat. He couldn’t explain the reason for the glow; it was just… there. A passive effect.

Jack pulled up the stats.

Tempered Bulrush Rope Hat +2 (Common »»» Uncommon)

Description: A masterfully woven hat crafted from bulrush grass, further strengthened through an advanced tempering process. The enhanced blend of oil, clay, and beeswax provides superior durability and resilience, making it a formidable piece of headgear.

Crafting grade: B-

Tempering: II

Effects:

• +7 constitution »»» +12 constitution

• +21 defense »»» +28 defense

• +10 block »»» +15 block

• +1 fire resistance »»» +2 fire resistance

• +1 water resistance »»» +2 water resistance

• NEW: +1 cutting resistance

Durability: 17 »»» 25

Requirements: Lvl. 20+

It was as if it wasn’t even the same hat anymore.

Going from the hat's original eight defense up to twenty-eight after the two terracoat baths? That was more than a threefold increase. On top of that, it had jumped from Common to Uncommon.

And then there was the new resistance. Jack frowned at the unfamiliar term. Cutting resistance? 

Amari, who had been silently watching, grinned like he’d been waiting for this moment. “I knew it! Your hat is glowing.”

Jack glanced down at the hat in his hands. “Oh, yeah… I noticed that too. Do you know why?”

Amari stretched out his hand. “Let me see it.”

Jack handed over the finished hat, and the moment it touched Amari’s hands, his grin widened. “Just as I thought—plus two.”

Jack blinked. “What are you on about?”

“You really imbued it!”

Jack hesitated. “Imbued?”

“You reinforced a finished piece of equipment. I had a feeling that’s what was happening, but seeing it in action? Haha! This is huge.”

Jack frowned. “The skill only called it tempering. This is my first time hearing about imbuement.”

Amari chuckled. “No wonder. This is advanced content.” He shook the hat for emphasis. “You’ve unlocked something valuable.”

Jack perked up. “How valuable are we talking?”

Amari’s grin narrowed. “Depends. How many times can you imbue an item?”

Jack frowned. “I guess I can do it twice?”

“And the success rate?”

Jack shrugged. “No clue. The skill description doesn’t mention it.”

Amari crossed his arms, nodding. “Then it’s 100%. You’ve unlocked Lower Imbuement. The reddish glow checks out.”

Jack raised a brow. “And that means…?”

Amari paused, clearing his throat.

Jack allowed himself a small smile. He is so going to turn this into a video.

Pacing with the hat in hand like a professor in a lecture hall, Amari began. “Imbuement is split into three tiers. What you have—Lower Imbuement—can reinforce an item up to +3. It’s a guaranteed success, so once people hit level 40, pretty much everyone gets their gear imbued at least that much. Lower Imbuement gives equipment this faint glow. See?”

Jack exhaled. “Alright, that sounds solid.”

“Then there’s Higher Imbuement, from +4 to +6. That usually requires expensive ingredients and comes with a risk of failure. People will pay a fortune to have a skilled imbuer reinforce their gear, only for it to fail and their equipment’s durability to drop. That tier gives off a more noticeable blue glow.”

Jack frowned. “And above that?”

Amari’s smirk faded slightly. “From +6 onward, we call it Heavenly Imbuement, and there’s an added risk. If you fail, the item breaks.”

Jack stiffened. “…Oh.”

“Moreover, Heavenly Imbuement has a very low success rate. No one’s made it past +7 yet, but that doesn’t mean it stops there. +7 gives off a bright purple glow. It’s impressive.” He paused dreamily before shaking his head. “That’s why I was asking. High-level imbuers make good money. Heavenly Imbuers are millionaires. But there are only two or three in the whole game. They charge thousands just for an attempt.”

Jack deflated. For a second, he’d thought he’d struck it rich, but he’d only unlocked the most basic form of imbuement.

Amari laughed, clapping him on the shoulder. “Don’t look like that, Jack! You can still charge 50 credits per imbuement. Easy money. People will line up for guaranteed +3 gear.”

Jack mulled that over. Fifty credits per imbuement. He could do it twice—100 credits. Five of these and rent was covered. That was still really good.

His disappointment faded as he looked at the hat in his hands. He might not be in top-tier territory, but this was still a solid source of income.

Amari’s voice pulled him from his thoughts. “Are there any limitations on how the skill works?”

“I can only use it on fiber-based equipment.”

Amari glanced down at his own setup. “Figures. I’m all leather. Guess I won’t be getting any of those nice buffs.” The disappointment flickered across his face before he shrugged it off. He stood up, stretching. “That was a really good show. I’m gonna do another sweep of the fortress—still need to wrap up the package.”

“Will you help Marie with the next wave?”

“Sure. Might as well, since I’m here. I’ll probably hang around until the boss wave. You?”

The memory of the four bears tearing through the romie army flashed through Jack’s mind. “I think you two will be more than enough. I really want to finish this recipe as soon as possible. I’ll join you guys for the boss wave.”

Amari nodded approvingly. “See you in a while, Jack.”

Jack watched his friend disappear into the fortress, then looked down at the hat again. He hadn’t realized terracoat was so valuable. Charging 50 credits per imbuement was already a solid deal. Tempering fiber-based equipment with terracoat took a lot less work than making a pot hive, which sold for about the same amount.

Not many beekeepers were willing to sacrifice 20% movement speed for a hive on their back. But what about fiber-based gear users looking for an upgrade? That was a whole different market.

For now, he’d focus on tempering his own gear and maybe Marie’s. Selling imbuement services could wait until they left the breach. He considered tempering his other items but ultimately decided against it. The boss wave was coming, and he needed to be ready. He’d do his overalls and sandals after the battle.

Finally, he put the hat on. It was heavier than before but still surprisingly light. Satisfied to see his stats rise, he turned back to his workstation.

For now, his focus was on the etching recipe.

Jack grabbed a new vase and began working on the second scene of the One-Eyes’ etching sequence: Preyed Upon.

He tossed another chunk of wax into the warm pot beside the vases, waiting for it to melt before dipping his brush. He painted the bear first, just as he’d practiced countless times. Next, he moved on to the fallen One-Eyes and the fleeing goats, carefully layering each figure into the scene. 

Mastering each element had been slow at first, but now, the effort was paying off. He no longer struggled with the details—only the spacing needed work. Once finished, he stepped back, comparing his work against the reference images. Squinting under the firelight, he checked for any mistakes.

Satisfied, he dipped the vase into the vat and watched the slip drain.

Then he noticed it.

One of the bear’s paws was missing. Worse, two of the fallen One-Eyes overlapped, throwing off the entire composition. It was a failure.

Jack exhaled sharply, setting the failed vase aside. He grabbed a new one and started making a bear again, this time making sure to paint both its paws.

A voice suddenly cut through the quiet.

“What are you doing?”

Jack yelped, nearly smudging the wax. He whipped around. “Not this again!”

Marie stood there, arms crossed, watching him with mild curiosity.

Jack groaned. “Don’t any of you people knock?!”

Marie blinked. “What door? You’re in the middle of the courtyard.” She sniffed the air. “I’m hungry.”

Jack winced and gestured toward the pot. “There’s food in the pot. Help yourself.”

Marie didn’t need to be told twice. She headed straight for the pot, ladling stew into a bowl. “You still haven’t answered me,” she called over her shoulder. “Why are you using a dry brush to paint the pot? Have you lost it?”

Jack scowled. “I’m using wax to paint a scene,” he said, forcing patience. “Once I glaze the piece, the design will be revealed. And thanks to your interruption, I have to start all over.”

Marie’s eyes lit up, completely ignoring his frustration. “Because you can’t see it! Wax is transparent!” She grinned as if she’d just cracked some grand mystery. “That must make it challenging.”

Jack sighed. “It does.”

Marie grabbed a spoon and stirred her stew, still watching him. “How do you even keep track of what you’ve done?”

Jack tapped the vase. “If I tilt it just right, I can see some of the lines under the firelight. But most of it I have to do from memory.”

Marie wrinkled her nose. “That’s way too hard! Why don’t you frame the design?”

Jack frowned. “Frame it?”

She took a bite of stew and gestured lazily with her spoon. “Yeah, you’re glazing the whole thing anyway, right? Just make a square with the glaze and mark it. Like this—look.”

Still holding her bowl, she walked over to Jack, dipped a finger into the slip, and crouched down. On the ground, she dotted the corners of an imaginary square, then added another set at the center of each side. “Split the frame into four parts. Work on one section at a time. That way, you don’t lose track. Once you glaze the rest, you hide the frame.”

Jack stared. His jaw dropped.

That was… surprisingly brilliant.

More shocking was who had come up with it. As far as he knew, Marie was all about blowing things up. He’d never expected her to have pottery advice—let alone something this useful.

“M-Marie.” He hesitated, still processing. “Thank you. H-how did you—?”

Marie shrugged. “No biggie! I went to art school. I know a trick or two.” She scooped another bite of stew. “Anyway, enjoy your pottery crisis. See ya.”

She wandered off with her food.

Jack shook his head, turning back to the vase. Marie’s suggestion was actually a great way to add reference points without messing with the design. It was simple. Efficient.

He got to work immediately. He grabbed a new pot. Then, he framed the design, making a large square with slip and adding small guide marks in the center of each line.

Finally, he started over.

Hopefully, this time, it would turn out even better.

Ch. 168 - Broth

INDEX

Ch. 170 - The One-Eyes and the Bears