cassioferreira

HC: Handyman | Ch. 111 - An Understanding

It was noon in the game, around 2 am in the real world. Around the small pond of the Between Ring, three horses grazed peacefully on patches of grass, keeping a wary eye on the giant ground sloth, who snored softly nearby. 

Close to a tent and a large pile of bulrush rope, two makeshift logs framed a fire, with Amari, Horace, and Marie on one side, still looking bewildered, and Jack and his cousin on the other. 

Jack took a moment to study Rob’s in-game setup: leather ...

HC: Card Slinger | Ch. 17 - 'Bove an' Beyond

“Here you go, sir. 300 coconuts!” Deckard said as he handed over the fruit he’d collected.

Old Jones’ eyes widened. “Eh, but I only asked ya for 200! Ya went ‘bove an’ beyond, foreigner!”

Deckard shrugged, smiling. After getting tired of throwing cards as he did in his apartment, he’d kicked things up a notch and started slinging cards while staying on the move. He’d been so caught up in it that he hadn’t even noticed that he’d exceeded the number required ...

HC: Handyman | Ch. 110 - Pond

Enticed by the lush fields and drawn by the ocarina’s melody, the bees began to emerge from their hives. Jack smiled as they darted through the breeze, eager to explore. Snowy stopped and grunted, shifting slightly toward the nearby meadow.

“What’s up, girl?” he asked. Snowy stared longingly at the grass swaying in the wind. Jack noticed her hunger meter had dipped below 30.

“Ah. I see. Go on, then. Eat.”

He dismounted, letting her graze, and wandered over to the...

Bundles and Audiobooks!

Hi, everyone!

I've got some exciting news to share with you all. Audible in the US has selected Hidden Class: Pacifist as the target for a cool promotion where you can get two books for one credit. If you're like me and love audiobooks, you might want to check it out. Here's the link:

https://www.audible.com/pd/The-Green-Woods-Audiobook/B0CVNL8BSL

Additionally, I was messi...

Cover for HC: Handyman 3!

Hello, dear friends!

How was your weekend? Did you get a lot of reading done?

I just got word from the artist who does my covers. He shared a first draft of the cover for Handyman 3. What do we think? Do we like it?

HC: Handyman | Ch. 109 - Suburbs

Jack sat in his bedroom, holding the sleek VRX helmet fresh out of the box. Its black frame gleamed under the light, accented with blue overlays. As he slipped it on, he sighed in relief. The fit was perfect—not like the clunky, battered helmet he’d been renting. Looking at the old one beside him on the bed, he couldn’t believe how many hours he had spent playing with such a piece of junk.

He glanced at the receipt in the box. His parents hadn’t bought the cheapest model, nor th...

Alien Bet & The Rise of the Lake Puppets | Ch. 12 - The Game

Arthurius gulped when he heard his name.

"It’ss not every day I’m impresssed. You’re the wealssiesst man in the country... neigh... the world, without anyone wissser."

The black merchant’s heart raced. No one alive should know his name, much less about Miriam. His most secret safe house had been found, and now this stranger knew of his daughter. He felt exposed, vulnerable.

He had mastered the art of disarming his enemies with information, but this was different. Who...

PDF of HCP6!

Hi, everyone!

I'm excited to share the PDF of Book 6 of Hidden Class: Pacifist with you. Thank you so much for your incredible support over the past year and a half—this series wouldn't be possible without you.

Please remember to keep this PDF for your personal use only, as it's an exclusive benefit for paid Patrons.

With gratitude,

Cássio Ferreira

HC: Handyman | Ch. 108 – Childhood Story

The moment stretched endlessly. Jack had hoped that coming clean would relieve him of the guilt, but the pain was only replaced by the dread of what was coming next. What could his parents possibly be discussing as they walked outside? Jack couldn't recall a time when they'd ever done this. 

Was coming clean really the best thing to do? 

He tried to distract himself by reading about the game and the different minors available, but that did little to calm him dow...

HC: Handyman | Ch. 107 - Confrontation

Jack removed his VRX helmet and stood up from the sofa. Maybe it was because he wanted to finish making the pot hives before logging out, or maybe because he was dreading going back home and lying to his parents about his day, but he had ended up staying in the game longer than he had planned.

As he packed his VRX helmet in his duffel bag, he spotted signs that Rob had already arrived home from work and was likely playing the game in his room. His shoes were by the door, there was a dir...

HC: Handyman | Majors and Minors List

Do you want to help me brainstorm the full list of majors and minors in New Earth? Do you want to help me think of cool new synergies between minors?

https://www.patreon.com/chats/2055dbb756da4a3e950234bb0a8ea567

Come and join the new chat I created for HC:Handyman here on Patreon.

Alien Bet & The Invasion of the Lake Puppets | Ch. 11 - The Cerberus

The waitress eyed the silver coin Geoffrey had given her, turning it over in her hand as if testing its weight and authenticity. Satisfied, she walked over to Peter Hilton. Geoffrey leaned back into the shadows, watching as the waitress spoke to Hilton and gestured toward him. Peter excused himself from his group and made his way over to Geoffrey's table, sitting down with a calm, steady presence.

From what Red had told him, Geoffrey knew this man wouldn’t come cheap, but the price wo...

Alien Bet & The Invasion of the Lake Puppets | Ch. 10 - The Nautilus

Sorry that I didn't post the usual chapter last week.

Enjoy!

*****************************************************

Red, a thin man in his fifties, had skin burned by the sun and carried the scent of water and earth. He removed his hat, revealing a bald head that gleamed in the muted sunlight.

“So, what can I do for you today?” His eyes fixed on Esther with a steady calm.

“I’d like to start with a walk by the lakeside. Would that be all r...

HC: Handyman | Ch. 106 - Workshop Chatter

Jack unsummoned Snowy, feeling a bit sad to see his silent companion disappear, and entered the Pottery Association. Oddly enough, stepping inside felt a bit like walking into an office. Talking to the NPC behind the counter was starting to feel like a chat with an overly familiar secretary.

"Hello, Madam," Jack greeted.

"Hi, Jack. Will it be the communal workshop?" she asked, recognizing him immediately.

"Yes, please," he replied.

"Very well. Same arrangements as usua...

HC: Handyman | Ch. 105 - Empty Brag

After logging out for a quick bathroom break and a snack, Jack was back on his trusty steed, wearing his Ronin-style straw rope outfit as he rode toward the lake. As he neared it, he spotted Ariadne’s camp, marked by its large palisade. Feeling courteous—or maybe just wanting to show off his new gear—Jack decided to stop by and say hello.

Ariadne’s camp looked as impressive as ever. This time, though, it wasn’t her Gibbon butler who greeted him; Ariadne herself stepped forward...

HC: Handyman Poll | Lydia? Or New Love Interest?

Hi, everyone!

Would you rather have Jack end up with Lydia? Or for him to find someone else?

Your feedback is most welcome.

Thank you all for your support,

Cássio F.

HC: Handyman | Ch. 104 - Rope Armor

Time to make yourself look awesome, Jack!

Jack decided to start with the hat. Of all the equipment he needed to craft, it had the most in common with something he’d already made: the basket. 

Just apply what you learned from the saddle bags, and you’ll have a decent hat in no time.

He started by making the base of the hat the same way he had for the basket: fastening the spiral of rope. Jack tied a temporary cord to keep the spiral from un...

HC: Card Slinger | Ch. 16 - Coconut Seagull

The two beginners who had taken the initiative to talk to Deckard looked like a couple. They wore mismatched beginner gear—cobbled together with whatever they could scavenge or buy cheap—but their bright, curious expressions gave them the appearance of friendly, eager newcomers. The woman had her hair tied back, her face alight with what seemed like genuine excitement, while the man, taller and bulkier, had an edge to his smile that felt less sincere.

“Can I help you?” Deckard a...

New Cover Coming! Your Opinion!

Hi, everyone!

Today, I commissioned a cover for Hidden Class: Handyman's third book! It will feature Jack riding Snowy, and I'm excited to see how it turns out. I'll share the draft once Mervyn finishes it.

Btw, thank you all for leaving reviews on Amazon. It really helped the series get off the ground.

Quick question: I'm trying to decide whether it would be appropriate to call Hidden Class: Pacifist (Talking about Roth now!) 'Slice of Life LitRPG. ' ...

HC: Card Slinger | Ch. 15 - Conclusions

The once-inky sky was torn apart by streaks of orange, pink, and purple, the colors reflecting in the shimmering waves below. Deckard sat on the pier, shuffling a deck of 52 blank cards. The rhythmic roar of the surf and the flutter of his cards provided a soothing backdrop to his thoughts. His legs swung idly above the water as he replayed everything that had happened in AstroTerra so far—his victories, his shortcomings.

A quick internet search had told him that it wasn...

HC: Card Slinger | Ch. 14 - The Repository

Deckard inspected the details of the item Ronan had just given him.

Card Repository (Unique)

Description: A piece of Zulmer technology that imparts subdimensionalized characteristics onto the carrier’s genome.

Despite its fancy description, the item Ronan handed him felt instantly familiar. Deckard ran his fingers over its surface—a hard-covered, thick, sturdy portfolio almost identical to the ones he and Andy had used to store their Spa...

AstroTerra Library

Hi, everyone!

I’m excited to announce that the AstroTerra Library is now open!

It currently features all the information from the six volumes of Hidden Class: Pacifist, and I hope you find it helpful and enjoyable. In the future, I’ll be adding content from Hidden Class: Card Slinger, along with a dedicated card section.

Feel free to share any suggestions you have to improve the library!

2024-10-11 13:53:23 +0000 UTC View Post

HC: Handyman | Ch. 103 - Saddled

Now that Jack had the pot hive near him, it was time to put his new approach to crafting a basket to the test. He crouched down and began making a base spiral. The process hadn’t gotten any less awkward—starting the first spiral with just his hand and teeth still felt like playing Twister. But this time, once he secured the second cord, he took extra care to remove the first one and tie it more neatly.

“There. Looks a little cleaner now,” he muttered, placing a rock over the spi...

HC: Handyman | Ch. 102 - Rope Weaving

After four hours of braiding grass, it felt good to take a lunch break. He had thought about going for a walk, but the possibility of running into his parents and having to explain why he wasn’t in class made him stay put.

Jack logged back into the game, greeted by the familiar sounds of crackling fire, unioryx bleats, and Snowy’s steady snoring. The camp was exactly as he had left it, perched atop a rocky outcrop that provided a perfect vantage point.

Below, the meadow stretc...

HC: Handyman | Ch. 101 - Addictive

Hi! I've added the following bit to chapter 97 to make this chapter make more sense:

****

Thinking about Amari and the others who were picking up gear for their horse riders, Jack glanced out the window at his ground sloth. It was busy munching on the flowers growing around the statue.

I wonder if they make sloth-specific gear?

After a careful search, he found nothing tailored for sloths. However, he did find a saddle that seemed like it might fit. 2024-10-10 11:06:50 +0000 UTC View Post

HC: Card Slinger | Ch. 13 - The Preservers

The longer he stood there, the more real it all felt. Ronan’s dark, slick skin gleamed under the shop’s light, and the gills pulsed gently with each breath. It was unnerving. But then, the somewhat stereotypical appearance—the antennae, the mouthless face—helped ease the tension. It was just a game, after all.

Deckard was still trying to recover from the shock. The unassuming shopkeeper named Ronan, who had issued him a quest and had come across as a bit of a jerk, turned out to...

HC: Handyman | Ch. 100 - Swim

I didn't plan for chapter 100 to come out on the same day that the book was released on Amazon, but it's nice when things work out.

Thank you all for your support!

By the way, I revamped the format for system notifications. You'll notice they will look a bit different from now on. With time, I'll implement the same format for earlier chaps.

*******

Jack double-checked his pocket for Rob’s apartment keys and felt the weight of the VRX helmet...

Hidden Class: Handyman is now on Amazon! I need your support!

Hello, everyone!

Exciting news! Hidden Class: Handyman has officially launched on Amazon, and I'm thrilled to share this milestone with you! I couldn’t have done it without your support, especially your valuable feedback, which helped shape Jack into an even better MC. The response so far has been incredibly positive, and I’m really excited about what’s to come.

Now, the most important thing the novel needs is reviews! If you’ve enjoyed the s...

HC: Handyman | Ch. 99 - Hyah!

Jack stood atop Snowy outside the gate. “Hyah!” he shouted dramatically, pointing toward Red Lake.

Snowy responded with a quizzical grunt, then set off at his usual, unhurried pace. A couple of onlookers laughed at Jack’s bravado, and he chuckled along with them. He’d done it more out of excitement than anything else—there was no way to get Snowy to go faster, no matter how much flair Jack added. 

Even if his ground sloth didn't leave a cloud of dust as it ran, ridi...

Alien Bet & The Invasion of the Lake Puppets | Ch. 9 - The Painting

There wasn’t much to say about the terminal on Geoffrey’s property—no imposing station or wide platform, just a simple track that ended abruptly.

Joey helped the professor out of the cab as she took in her surroundings. He noticed how deeply she breathed in the air and wondered if the mayor had mentioned the change in the lake's smell since the flood.

“This way,” Joey said, leading her down a gravel path past the warehouses. He wasn’t sure how Jeff transported his prod...