I was an apprentice in Ferren

Chapter 28 Elf Boots
Man Shi left. Before leaving, he changed into a shirt that showed off his muscular physique, and the shimmering purple agate ring on his hand was almost blinding.

The Ring of the Most Popular

Quality: Extremely Rare

Attributes: Charm +4, Performance +4, Persuasion +4
Once per day, you can cast Disguise (15-point check for Perception) and Charm (15-point check for Charisma), which regenerates at dawn.

Warning: This attribute bonus is a regular bonus and does not stack when worn with other equipment that increases Charisma; the highest value will be applied.

Description: This dazzling ring is of exceptional quality. Even without enchanting it, it will make you the center of attention.

Value: 4000 gold coins
Poverty made DuPont's eyes blaze: "Your outfit is really too flashy."

"Haha, I feel the same way." Man Shi was clearly in a good mood. He came to the pavilion and threw down a key and a pair of dark green boots. "Alright, that's enough. If I can really bring her back, I'll teach you some useful things. But I might be gone for a few days this time. You can come and go as you like in this courtyard. Feel free to use whatever you need."

"Oh, does it really take this long?"

"You said it yourself, women think differently from men. If I go to her, I'm afraid she won't give me a good look. Her pride won't make her come back to me obediently after I ramble on for a few minutes. If things go slowly, it might take me a month or two to get this done."

Man Shi pointed to the shoes and said, "These shoes are silent when you walk in them. They can help you whether you go hunting in the mountains or take on a contract mission. However, I still hope you will try them after I come back. Otherwise, if you are unlucky, you may really die in them."

DuPont: "Your mouth is really unlucky. Talking to a woman like that will definitely lead to a breakup."

“Perhaps, but that’s just how I am. I’m not as glib as those bards.” Man Shi said, waving his hand to leave. Before leaving, he suddenly remembered something: “By the way, if Judy asks me why I haven’t come these past few days, just tell her I was too lazy to go to work and went to the wilderness to relax. Don’t mention that I went to see her.”

After finishing his sentence, Man Shi strode away, completely forgetting about DuPont's smooth journey.

It seems he's really in a hurry.

Elf Boots
Quality: Rare

Attribute 1, Silent: While wearing these boots, you will not make any sound when moving on any surface.

Attribute 2, Stealth: You have an advantage when making agility (stealth) checks.

Note: These boots are a favorite among Wood Elf rangers and thieves, as they are not only comfortable to wear but also convenient for tracking and hunting. However, some Elf nobles do not like these boots because they are not fancy enough and are not comfortable enough to wear.

Value: 500 gold coins
Upon seeing the specifications of these boots, DuPont couldn't help but gasp.

This is practically a must-have for solo dungeons! If you also learn the second-level spell Invisibility, you can reliably gain the upper hand against anyone.
Besides, if he hasn't saved enough money by the end of the month, he can pawn it for some gold coins to get through this damn crisis.

Of course, as long as the situation isn't too dire, he will try his best to keep the boots.

The gift Man Shi gave him was a token of his affection, and he feared that selling it for money would make him look bad. Besides, magical items rarely have a fixed price; there's always a difference between buying and selling. He might not even get 500 gold coins for it, and if he wanted to buy it later, he might be overcharged. Rushing to cash out would definitely result in a loss, so it was more worthwhile to use it for now.

But this thing looks pretty big, will it fit properly?
Using magic to perform a simple cleanup, DuPont untied his shoelaces and put his foot in. The shoe, which was originally a bit loose, instantly fit snugly in the next second, and even the shoelaces tied themselves together, forming a somewhat intricate and ornate knot.

Holy crap, these shoes not only have a self-adjusting function, but they can also tie the shoelaces directly!
If this feature were to appear on Earth, it could probably more than double the price of an ordinary pair of shoes.

Once DuPont had put both boots on, the Elf Boots automatically turned the same gray as his apprentice robes. Whether he was running or jumping, he was completely silent, and the comfort level was similar to that of athletic shoes in his memory, much better than the cloth shoes he was currently wearing.

However, if the speed is too fast, the sound of the wind from the robe cannot be eliminated.

It seems quite difficult to sneak up on enemies undetected like in the movies, but something is better than nothing. Just be careful.

But that's all for the future. Right now, with Man Shi gone, there's no point in me staying here. I might as well take that gray wolf to the village and see if I can sell it for a good price, and also check if there are any suitable quests for me at the tavern here.

DuPont the Grey Wolf gave it a tug. This thing definitely weighed over a hundred pounds. Even if he was physically strong, carrying it down the mountain was probably a bit unrealistic.

He doesn't have the same physical strength as Man Shi.

Heading to the warehouse, I couldn't find the cart that had been used to transport the pigs that morning; I only saw a basket on its back.

After much effort, they finally managed to pack up the wolf carcass, but walking was a struggle, and their whole body ached after only a few steps.

This result was not unexpected for DuPont; in fact, it was somewhat surprising.

He used to be able to carry 100 pounds of cement on construction sites, but you have to understand that he was an adult then and much heavier than he is now. Now, despite his physical decline and injuries, he can still carry such heavy loads around, which means his physical condition is much better than before.

If he corrects his physical weakness and grows a few years older, carrying a hundred pounds around shouldn't be a problem. But he's still a teenager, so his stamina is bound to be much worse.

DuPont was definitely not going to put himself through this. Just as he was about to go down the mountain to find a villager, he suddenly discovered that the lame skeleton soldier he had summoned earlier was still alive and had not disappeared.

These are, after all, skeleton warriors specially designed for doing hard labor on construction sites. Although their combat power is extremely weak, the advantage is that as long as they are not killed, they can last for a whole day.

Without this feature, how can you lower the prices of those poor, unsophisticated people?
Thinking about this, DuPont couldn't help but sincerely admire the extent of evil in this world.

What if we don't have a super-powerful builder? Then we'll create a super-powerful builder that never tires, never needs to eat, and has unlimited stamina. It will overwhelm ordinary people, making it impossible for them to ever negotiate a lower price with our Mage Association's construction guild.

What? Kick the mages out and play by yourself? The end result is that the castles/walls you build will be far inferior in quality and speed to those built with mages present. The money saved on hiring mages will be used to cover the delays and food expenses of the laborers. It goes without saying which is more important.

Focusing his mental energy, DuPont helped the skeleton soldier reattach his leg, then helped the clumsy skeleton soldier sling a basket over his shoulder, looking at the skeleton's light and frail body with some confusion.

Without muscle and weight, can this thing even carry those hundred-odd pounds?
(End of this chapter)