Chương 46: ANNOUNCEMENT: Minor Story Update in Max's Arc (Chapters 28-32)

I've made some changes to Max's arc. I want to be clear that overall, it's a very minor addition to the story, but I still wanted to post a quick update so nobody feels like they need to go back and scour Chapters 28 and 29 looking for exactly what changed. I've included the relevant before-and-after passages below, along with a brief explanation of why I added them. I've also added a new subchapter containing Garret Crestwood's Status Update immediately after Chapter 29.

Before getting into the changes, a big thank you to RR user Salty0014, whose comment on Chapter 31 helped spark all of this:"Might be helpful in discussing Alina's class change to know (either here or at the beginning of the arc) what her prior class & level were… I'm assuming Hunter level 3, or Farmer level 8? Could have Max identify her when he first walks by or she could reveal when she's telling Cass about her archery proficiency."

That got me thinking about how little context readers actually had for Alina's original Class before her later Class Change, and it led to a few additions that I think strengthen the story beyond just answering that one question. They now give Alina's progression more weight, provide an early in-story example of how Profession Classes differ from Combat Classes, and make the later explanation in On Classes and The Unequal Meaning of Levels feel a little more grounded in things readers have already seen.

Change in Chapter 28 Before:"Upper chest," she said without hesitation.

"It dropped. We burned the body in the morning." Borin's eyes flicked to her bow again. Cass studied her more carefully now.

"You hunt?"

"Yes, I've hunted on our land since I was old enough to hold a bow."

"How far can you shoot cleanly?" Cass asked.

"Forty paces without thinking. Sixty to eighty if I take my time." After:"Upper chest," she said without hesitation.

"It dropped. We burned the body in the morning." Elias's gaze lingered on her for a moment, briefly going distant.

"You're Level Fourteen?" Alina blinked at him.

"Yes." Borin's eyes flicked to her bow again. Cass studied her more carefully now.

"You hunt?" If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.

"Yes, I've hunted on our land since I was old enough to hold a bow."

"How far can you shoot cleanly?" Cass asked.

"Forty paces without thinking. Sixty to eighty if I take my time." Why The Change Was Made: This gives Elias a natural reason to use Identify immediately after Alina reveals that she personally killed one of the goblins. Because Alina is Level 14, Max cannot Identify her at Level 6 with his current Identify Skill, while Elias can. Elias therefore has to verbally confirm what he sees rather than the narration somehow allowing Max to see another person's Identify result.

More importantly, the exchange quietly establishes that Alina is eight Levels above Max. Her full Level 14 Farmer Status has now been added to the Status Update following Chapter 28, where readers can see that she has only 21 total Stats despite her much higher Level. This introduces the idea that Level alone is not a reliable measurement of combat power before the later interlude explains the underlying Class system in detail.

Change in Chapter 29: Before: Max listened as Garret and Alina described the pattern of approach. How the goblins used the same gaps in the hedges. The same line across the yard. The same pressure against the lock. They didn't attempt to turn the farm into a fortress. There was neither time nor material for that, and too much structure would only create more for the goblins to burn. Instead, they adjusted what was already there. After: Max listened as Garret and Alina described the pattern of approach.

How the goblins used the same gaps in the hedges. The same line across the yard. The same pressure against the lock.

"And you'll be fighting if they come back?" Max asked Garret. Garret gave him a flat look.

"It's my farm."

"Fair enough. What Level are you?"

"Twenty-two." Garret caught Max's reaction and added, "Farmer, before you get too impressed."

"Right." They didn't attempt to turn the farm into a fortress. There was neither time nor material for that, and too much structure would only create more for the goblins to burn. Instead, they adjusted what was already there. Why The Change Was Made: This gives Max a practical reason to ask Garret's Level while they are actively deciding how the farm will be defended and who will be participating in the fighting. The reveal builds on the same idea introduced through Alina, but pushes it much further.

Garret is Level 22, sixteen Levels above Max, yet his Profession Class has given him only 23 total Stats compared with Max's 28 at Level 6. Garret's new Status Update following Chapter 29 makes that comparison even more visible to the reader. His Status also shows what those twenty-two Levels have actually accomplished. His ordinary Skills have developed considerably through decades of use, while every Farmer Class Skill has reached Level 22.

The repeated Level 22 Class Skills (and Alina's all being at Level 14 as well) quietly hint both that Profession Class Skills develop very quickly within their specialization and that Skills appear to have a soft ceiling tied to the individual's current Level. His Tool Use Skill at Level 11 also helps support his later performance with the pitchfork. Garret is not secretly a trained Fighter or Spearman.

He is simply an extremely experienced farmer who has spent decades handling long tools, controlling leverage, and applying force precisely. Together, the Chapter 28 and 29 additions let readers encounter the difference between Profession and Combat Classes through the story itself before Halren later explains it directly in Interlude: On Classes and The Unequal Meaning of Levels. Hope you enjoy, and thanks again Salty0014, I genuinely appreciate your great idea so much. ~Viserra