The Master Builder System

The five of them followed Finn as he stepped into the newly built Village School.

Even though it was only Tier 1, the building looked amazing.

The walls were made of smooth, polished wood, giving off a fresh, clean scent. The floors creaked lightly under their feet, but in a good way, like the place was alive, ready to welcome them.

Large open windows let in the sunlight, and there were gaps near the roof to let the air flow through. It felt bright, calm, and somehow full of hope.

Inside, there were five long rows of desks, each facing one of the five large chalkboards that lined the front wall.

The chalkboards were evenly spaced out, with enough room for every teacher to have their own group of students. Each section had wooden benches, a small shelf with basic writing tools, and a bucket of chalk.

The ceiling was high, supported by thick beams. In the corner stood a sturdy desk—larger than the others. It looked different, smoother, like it was carved by something not human.

Finn blinked at it. 'System must've made that one special,' he thought.

Lisa walked ahead and ran her fingers along one of the chalkboards. "It's… beautiful."

Tessa grinned. "I can already see myself teaching here."

Xabi walked slowly to one of the benches and sat down, testing it. "Comfortable. Not bad at all."

Tora looked up. "This is better than the Village Hall."

Rata chuckled. "And this one actually smells nice."

Then, from the back of the room, a sound clicked.

They all turned.

A tall humanoid robot stepped forward from a narrow doorway. Its body was sleek metal with wooden patterns etched along its arms. It didn't look like a warrior, but more like a watchful servant.

It stopped in front of them and gave a slight nod.

"Welcome," it said in a calm voice. "This unit is the assigned School Guard. I will follow the rules set for this building. My job includes watching over the students, ensuring class safety, and assisting with daily routines."

Everyone stared in awe.

Even Finn.

The robot continued. "To begin, teachers must register. Please step forward."

Lisa glanced at the others. "Well… we did say we wanted this."

Tessa stepped up first.

The robot scanned her with a soft blue light from its eyes. Then, a small panel opened in its chest, and a smooth, round badge slid out.

It had her name on it and the word: Teacher.

Tessa took it gently, her mouth open in amazement.

Next was Rata, then Tora, then Xabi, and finally, Lisa.

Each of them received a badge from the robot's chest—like it had a little drawer built into its stomach.

"Badges must be worn during class," the robot said. "They are linked to classroom access."

"Classroom access?" Xabi asked.

The robot nodded. "You will discover them in time."

Finn watched, impressed.

The others were speechless, clutching their badges with wide eyes.

After the last badge was given, Finn heard the familiar chime in his head.

[Mission Completed: Teach the People – Part 1]

Then, another notification followed.

[Level Up!]

In that moment, Finn felt a warm rush run through his body. His arms felt lighter, his steps steadier, and his mind clearer. Strength filled him from within. He had leveled up.

He couldn't stop the big smile that slowly stretched across his face.

He was grinning from ear to ear.

And everyone noticed.

"Why are you smiling like that?" Lisa narrowed her eyes.

"You look like you just found gold," Tessa teased.

"Or fell in love," Rata added.

"I think he just remembered there's still stew at home," Tora said with a grin.

They all burst into laughter.

Finn quickly wiped the smile off his face and coughed. "It's nothing."

But Xabi wasn't laughing.

He had been watching Finn closely and noticed something strange. Not just the smile—but the air around him. It felt stronger. Sharper.

He was about to say something when the school door creaked open again.

Villagers had started to arrive. One by one, they stepped in, looking around the place with wide eyes. Some were parents holding their children's hands.

Others were teenagers, or even adults who looked nervous and curious at the same time.

Just then, another chime echoed in Finn's head.

A new mission.

He quickly willed it to appear before him.

=====

[New Mission: Teach the People – Part 2]

Objective: Begin the education path for Riverwood

• Recruit 50 students

• Ensure students are able to read, write, and do basic math

• A test will be held in one month

Rewards:

• 5000 EXP

• 50 Free Attribute Points

• 250 Builder Points

• 100 Hero Points

Penalty:

• Failure rate of more than 50%: –3000 EXP

• Failure rate of more than 60%: 50% reduction to all attributes

=====

Finn's eyes widened.

"A test…?" he muttered under his breath.

He had no idea who would prepare it. But since it was the system's mission, he assumed the system would handle that part.

Still, the penalties were brutal.

Losing EXP was one thing… but having half of his attributes cut down?

That would be a nightmare.

Especially because he had a feeling that in one month, he would be much stronger. And the thought of all that progress being wiped out… just because someone failed to learn how to read or count?

He clenched his jaw.

He needed to find 50 students.

And he needed to make sure they passed.

Driven by the pressure of the new mission—and the fear of failing it—Finn took a deep breath and focused.

He opened the system in his mind and made a few updates to the school's settings. Then, he gave a silent command to the School Robot.

'Go and do the school introduction,' Finn ordered in his mind. 'Name this school as Riverwood School.'

The robot's eyes lit up. It took a step forward, facing the villagers who had just entered.

"Welcome to Riverwood School," the robot announced in a clear voice. "This is the official learning center of the village. All villagers aged four and above are eligible to register."

Murmurs spread among the crowd.

The robot continued, "To all who register as students and pass the basic test after one month… rewards will be given."

Everyone went quiet.

The robot lifted a hand. "Those who pass the test will receive a new house and food supplies."

Gasps filled the school.

A new house?

Food?

Some of the villagers looked like they couldn't believe their ears.

One man even whispered, "This… this is a dream."

"Please line up in front of me for student registration," the robot said. "One at a time."

Almost instantly, a long line began to form.

Lisa turned to Finn. "That reward… Was that you?"

Finn nodded. "Yeah. I need people to learn. Fast. If they do, everything I plan for the village will go smoother."

Lisa gave him a thoughtful look. "That's smart."

Finn smiled. "I just want them to have a reason to try. And if it helps them live better too… then it's worth it."