Ch.40Merchants’ Street (2)

Old man Hughes.

That’s what they called the elderly blacksmith who was the owner of the largest forge in Cambria, a figure who was like the head of the Artisan’s District. A blacksmith with such authority that even his stubbornness was considered a virtue of craftsmanship.

Though his gruff manner of speaking and prickly attitude were often the subject of gossip among adventurers, his skill was undoubtedly genuine.

He had been hammering iron for decades.

He was skilled enough to secure a position even in the Empire’s capital, and could have received the title of master craftsman if he had wanted. However, Old Man Hughes was someone who disliked being bound by anything, so he had settled in this city.

‘I couldn’t have been mistaken.’

Because he was Old Man Hughes, he knew.

The sword in his hands was the work of someone skilled enough to be called a master. He examined the sword the young man had brought once more.

The finishing method of the sword.

The channels carved into the blade for mana to flow.

The perfect balance and custom-made hilt.

A sword with no flashiness, utterly plain. However, it was a longsword that reflected the blacksmith’s years of experience. Looking closely at the sword, Old Man Hughes couldn’t help but click his tongue.

A plainness that abandoned flashiness.

A sword with beauty born of simplicity.

It was a work faithful to a blacksmith’s duty, to the point where comparing it to recent works would be disrespectful.

‘But…’

The problem lay elsewhere.

If it were simply a well-made sword, Old Man Hughes would have stopped at expressing admiration. But the old man had discovered it—traces of Atanga on the sword.

When the old man was still young.

Back when he was an apprentice.

He had worked at a forge that had a contract with the Knights of Atanga. Because he wanted to learn forging under a renowned master. During that time, Hughes had observed the forging of senior blacksmiths from the closest vantage point.

Knights who upheld honor and pride.

Guardians of the old precepts, the Knights of Atanga.

The iron hammered by the master for such knights seemed to breathe with life, and the weapons completed after that intense hammering were infinitely beautiful.

‘…I know because I’ve seen it.’

A scene unforgettable even after decades.

Recalling that scene, Old Man Hughes ran his index and middle fingers along the blade of the longsword. This distinctive finishing method was used for the swords of Atanga Knights. However, feeling something off, the old man narrowed his eyes.

This was the exact same finishing method Hughes had seen decades ago. As far as he knew, the current Knights of Atanga finished their swords somewhat differently.

It was a longsword finished with old-generation techniques. However, the sword in his hands didn’t appear to have been forged that long ago.

“Ah, Old Man Hughes.”

While he was lost in thought, the blacksmith standing beside him whispered in his ear.

“That adventurer is the one. You know, the one who recently… jumped three ranks at once…”

“…The one who subjugated the Blood Troll alone?”

“Yes, I believe it’s that adventurer.”

An adventurer who had recently caused a stir in Cambria.

Old Man Hughes’s eyes narrowed as he looked at Najin standing blankly before him. He had thought him just a youngster, but looking closely, his posture was disciplined.

‘Calluses.’

The calluses on the young man’s knuckles. And his posture, slightly shifted to one side. The young man exuded the aura of an experienced swordsman, always ready to draw his sword.

“You there.”

The old man returned Najin’s sword.

“Hold the sword for me.”

“Suddenly?”

Najin silently gripped the hilt.

Other blacksmiths might not notice, but Old Man Hughes did. The young man’s build, the length of the hilt, the balance when holding the sword… everything fit perfectly.

A sword seemingly custom-made for the young man.

A sword meant only for him.

“That’s enough. You can stop showing me now.”

“Since earlier…”

Najin let out a long sigh. After securing the sword at his waist, Najin looked straight at Old Man Hughes.

“I came to repair my sword, why are you asking all these questions?”

“Because it’s important. Will you tell me who made it?”

Najin remained silent. It was a response suggesting he had no intention of telling. Old Man Hughes shrugged. He must have encountered it by chance somewhere. Though he thought the sword was too good for the young man before him…

‘A blacksmith who could forge such a sword wouldn’t have such poor judgment.’

There must be something special about him.

Why would someone make a sword in the old Atanga style? Why would they make such a fine sword for him? Though there were many unknowns, Old Man Hughes didn’t dig deeper. After all, his senior used to say:

“A blacksmith just needs to hammer iron well.”

“Whether the one holding the sword is an unparalleled genius or some fallen noble who wandered in from somewhere, what does it matter?”

“We are blacksmiths. Stay true to your duty.”

Tsk, Old Man Hughes clicked his tongue.

“So can you repair it or not?”

“There’s no need for repair. It’ll remain flawless for another decade or more even with regular use.”

“…What?”

“That’s how the sword was made. I don’t know who the blacksmith was… but they seem to have put considerable effort into durability. It’s a sword hammered to be virtually unbreakable.”

Because it was slightly heavier than swords of the same size.

Sighing, Old Man Hughes glanced at Najin.

“Your name is Ivan, right?”

“Yes.”

“You must be the one the guild master mentioned. I was thinking of giving you a sword…”

The old man glanced at the longsword secured at Najin’s waist.

“But you don’t need a sword. Come inside.”

I’ll show you something else.

2.

“Then I’ll have these delivered to this address.”

After arranging for the items purchased at the forge to be delivered to his lodging, Najin continued walking through the streets. At the forge, he had been able to buy a variety of things at nearly half price.

The Dieta Guild that sponsored the forge.

It was thanks to the introduction letter from the guild master.

He had acquired a good selection of simple armor and auxiliary weapons that could help in emergencies. Old Man Hughes, who had been gruff at first, even helped Najin choose armor with an interested look in his eyes by the end.

“You have a good eye.”

Recalling Old Man Hughes’s satisfied smile, Najin continued walking. He stopped by the alchemists’ stalls to buy a few simple potions and some useful items, when his steps halted.

Clink.

A stall lined with blood-red test tubes. It was filled with drugs called doping agents. The distinctive stench of those doping agents was familiar to Najin.

-That’s the School of Blood.

Merlin muttered in Najin’s ear.

-Don’t touch those. If you buy the wrong one, you’ll get addicted. The effects are short-lived, but the withdrawal is no joke.

I wasn’t planning to buy them anyway.

Muttering this, Najin pondered the name School of Blood. He wondered if Hakan, the alchemist who had made him pull Excalibur in the underground city, had also been from the School of Blood.

Come to think of it, it had already been over a month since he escaped the underground city. Time seemed to have passed both quickly and slowly.

“……”

Suddenly, Najin silently looked up at the sky.

The blue sky and bright sunlight. Things that had been unfamiliar and strange when he first came outside, but now had become familiar. It had been a long time since he sought out shady, damp places to rest.

Things that gradually became familiar.

Things he now enjoyed as a matter of course.

Feeling a newfound emotion, Najin walked on. In the Artisan’s District, there were occasionally people who recognized him, and they would glance at him with the look of someone spotting a celebrity before passing by.

One alchemist approached Najin, asking if he would be interested in trying their creations.

Another blacksmith proposed that Najin consider using equipment bearing their mark.

Cambria, City of Opportunity. Many coveted Najin’s rising fame as he quickly climbed upward in this city. Equipment used by the most talked-about adventurer in the city would naturally attract the attention of countless other adventurers.

“……”

They were good offers, but Najin didn’t accept them. There was no need to. Najin crossed through the Artisan’s District, heading toward its center.

A place where artisans and merchants mingled.

The street where the guilds of Cambria, City of Opportunity, were concentrated. Najin walked toward the largest guild on that street. Unlike last time, the guard who recognized Najin didn’t block his path.

With a thud, Najin climbed the steps of the guild.

The reason he had rejected the offers from numerous blacksmiths and alchemists was simple. There was someone who had made a much more attractive offer. Someone was waiting to welcome Najin as he reached the top floor of the Dieta Guild.

“Welcome.”

The master of the Dieta Guild.

Snake that Swallows the Gold Coins, Dieta Albania smiled at Najin.

3.

On the top floor of the guild, in Dieta’s office.

“I told you I have an eye for people. I didn’t expect you to jump three ranks at once, though.”

With a beaming smile, Dieta was conversing with Najin. Her mood was excellent right now, naturally because of the young man sitting before her.

Ivan, the adventurer vouched for by the Dieta Guild.

News of this adventurer’s triple promotion had even made it into the newspapers, causing the guild’s reputation to soar recently. And Dieta had no intention of letting this momentum slip.

“It’s what I mentioned last time.”

She flicked her finger.

The secretary standing nearby handed Najin a wooden box.

“Open it.”

When he opened the box, there was neatly folded leather armor inside. Black-based armor with a faint red tint. It wasn’t difficult to guess what it was made from.

Armor made from the hide of a Blood Troll.

About a week ago, Najin had sold the Blood Troll’s hide to Dieta. He could have received money for it, but instead, Najin had requested that she make armor from it, and Dieta had accepted the proposal.

It was a proposal more beneficial to Najin, but Dieta judged that it wouldn’t be bad for her either.

“About 60% was used for the armor, and the remaining 40% will be used elsewhere. It was made by skilled artisans sponsored by our guild, so the quality is guaranteed.”

Try it on, Dieta muttered, pointing to a room in the corner of the office. After a brief moment, Najin emerged having changed his clothes.

Armor custom-made to fit Najin’s build.

It was a sophisticated design closer to a knight’s attire than armor. Being made of leather, it allowed for easy movement, and being made from Blood Troll hide, it was difficult to cut with ordinary blades.

Rustle.

Najin awkwardly adjusted his sleeves. He had never worn this type of clothing before. Still, the fit wasn’t bad.

“It’s nice. Thank you.”

Najin said this, but there was no response. Najin tilted his head and glanced at Dieta. She was staring at him with wide eyes.

Until now, Najin had always worn loose, light clothing. While his appearance was fairly handsome, he had never dressed properly. But now, seeing him properly dressed…

He cuts quite a figure.

Indeed, the saying “clothes make the man” exists for a reason.

Dieta, who had been momentarily dazed, slowly nodded. Her gaze turned to the emblem embroidered on Najin’s clothes. The emblem symbolizing the Dieta Guild. This was why she had accepted Najin’s proposal.

“It suits you well.”

This adventurer is sponsored by the Dieta Guild.

So, don’t think about touching him.

Nothing was more effective in conveying this than proper equipment. This might even make those damn Red-Eyes think twice.

‘It’s not easy to sponsor equipment of this quality.’

Only a guild like the Dieta Guild, which had swept up many artisans, could do this. Dieta rose from her seat with a bright smile. Then she stood in front of Najin. Due to the slight height difference, Najin naturally looked down at her.

Rustle.

She brushed back her hair and said:

“Shall we go for a walk together?”

This too was part of the contract.

In exchange for producing the armor at a low price, he would spend a day with her. Dieta had a reason for including this in the conditions.

She needed to show it.

Walking around the streets with Najin, showcasing that this adventurer had a close relationship with her. It was to demonstrate that the currently rising adventurer and the Dieta Guild were engaged in a long-term exchange.

‘It seems to make quite a picture.’

Dieta extended her hand to Najin as if asking for an escort. Najin, who had never received such education, grabbed Dieta’s hand as if for a handshake.

“Sigh…”

Seeing this, Pashion, the guard knight standing nearby, sighed and taught Najin how to escort properly. Pashion, who was teaching various things to Najin as he would be Dieta’s escort for the day, felt a chill down his spine.

A naive youngster who knew nothing of the world.

And his master who acted on whims.

He felt that their walk would not go smoothly.

And Pashion’s intuition proved correct exactly 30 minutes after Najin and Dieta went out.

“You insolent bastard…!”

A noble’s guard knight who had drawn his sword.

“Why is your tongue so long?”

Najin said expressionlessly while tapping his sword hilt.

“If you’re so confident, come at me.”

Insults are washed away with duels.

Isn’t that the knight’s precept? At Najin’s muttering, the guard knight’s reason snapped. He removed his leather glove and threw it toward Najin’s face.

It was a sign of challenging to a duel.

Naturally, the glove didn’t hit Najin’s face. Because Najin snatched it out of the air. He threw the captured glove to the ground.

“Why throw it at my face when you should throw it on the ground?”

“How dare you…!”

“You said you wanted a duel.”

Najin drew his sword with a swish.

“Why aren’t you drawing your sword?”

The speechless knight,

The noble’s face turning red,

Dieta barely suppressing her laughter,

And finally, Najin with a nonchalant expression and lowered sword tip.

It was more than enough to attract the attention of the city’s adventurers.