episode_0020

After all the evaluations were completed, we had to wait until the grading was completed. When about an hour had passed, the receptionist called us out.

“You’ve waited a long time. Now that the grade calculation is over, I’ll tell you. First, Kara.”

Kara perked her ears with an expectant look on her face.

“Kara is at rock level. The personality test was okay, but background knowledge and combat skills were a problem.”

The ears that had perked up drooped.

“Next is Seris, right? Seris, you are also at rock level. The reason is similar to Kara.”

“Yes…”

Unlike Kara, Seris seemed a little disappointed, but seemed to understand. It’s definitely because I got scolded by Belita.

“Lastly, Mr. Han Yu-seong…”

‘What should I do after receiving my grade?’

Is there a request that three rock-level people can do together? I don’t think other parties will accept these 3 people…

“Congratulations! It’s iron grade!”

First, start with the simplest request and work through your karma step by step… hmm?

“Yes? What did you just say…”

“Ah, why are you thinking about something else? Let me say it again.”

The receptionist cleared her voice and repeated what she had said earlier.

“Congratulations! Mr. Han Yu-seong, you are of iron grade!”

“…Iron? Me?”

“You don’t look very happy? If you’re a newbie and you’re starting from the beginning, it’s an unusual start, right?”

“No… I was just a little dazed…”

I thought it must be rock grade.

“Hehe, it’s worth it. Here is your adventure card.”

What she handed me was a wooden paddle. It had my name and iron ore drawn on it.

“You can’t forget it. Because someone can use it however they want. If you forget, please come to the guild as soon as possible and let us know.”

“I understand. Thank you.”

I said hello and left the guild. As soon as Kara came out, she patted me on the back.

“Oppa, oppa. I want to see my brother’s adventure card.”

“Okay.”

“Wow~…huh? It’s not much different than you think, right? It is said that the picture was drawn to make the rock look a little sharp.”

Kara looked at it a little more, then seemed to have lost interest and handed me the adventure card again.

“Anyway, congratulations, brother! If the receptionist is right, isn’t it great?”

“Sure. Congratulations, Yoosung.”

Kara said, hehe, and Seris smiled. I smiled at him and walked away.

“Let’s go.”

“Where?”

“To adjust the equipment.”

* * *

“42Silver.”

“…This is just one?”

“How much effort goes into making that one thing? It’s a reasonable price.”

“Hmm…”

I looked at the chainmail. If you wear just that, you won’t have to worry about most attacks. However, the price was too expensive.

While I was leaving, I also asked about the prices of other equipment.

-Leather armor 4 silver

-Leather cuffs, ankle pads 2 silver

-Quilted armor 6 silver

-Good quality one-handed sword 2 silver 25 copper

-Good quality two-handed sword 3 silver 10 copper

The prices were all burdensome. I wondered if this man had ripped me off, so I walked around the square and stopped by other blacksmith shops.

“42Silver.”

“…”

It seemed like there was collusion between the blacksmith owners. I heard there is a guild formed by blacksmith owners, so I guess that’s what happened there.

“Huh…”

Seris was furious after hearing the prices of the equipment.

For what it’s worth, her total assets were originally 10 silver, but due to the cost of living in the city and the rabbit mask she just bought, it had reduced to about 8 silver.

If you buy leather armor and a sword with that money, you’ll run out. You can’t even buy a shield.

‘The money I have now is 24 silver.’

Assuming you only provide Kara with basic equipment, the cost is 9 Silver and 10 Cooper.

Since I use a dagger, it will cost less than Kara, and I can give Cerys the sword of Gedric that I have.

In that case, you can equip the equipment by spending a total of about 24 silver.

24 silver.

This is the money I had to save like crazy for a year and a half. Of course, it was not money to spend lightly.

“…Let’s go back first.”

On the way back to the inn.

My steps felt heavy.

Although the equipment is expensive, it is impossible not to buy it. I have heard countless cases where a piece of well-made armor saved a life.

As my worries deepened, a blue window appeared in front of my eyes, just like it did with Ceris.

====================================================

(Blacksmith’s Tears)

Most blacksmiths on the continent belong to the Blacksmith Guild.

The Blacksmith Guild mainly shares blacksmithing skills with each other, trains apprentices, and tries not to expose their skills to the outside world.

Here in Kalita, the power of the Captain’s Guild is particularly strong. Therefore, blacksmiths who do not follow them are bound to suffer losses.

There are still blacksmiths who are being harmed by the guild.

Please help him.

compensation

-Talent discriminator x 1

====================================================

Along with the quest window, navigation was displayed next to it.

‘I don’t even know what’s going on, but I’m trying my best to help.’

It was a little absurd, but I decided to give it a try after seeing the reward.

I confirmed the usefulness of the talent discriminator last time, and Seris, who had a status window, also needed it.

‘Can I go here?’

I followed the navigation instructions and moved with Sister Cerise. They were a little puzzled by my sudden announcement that there was a place to stop by, but they followed without saying anything.

Following the navigation instructions, we arrived at the very end of the square.

It was a remote road, so not many people passed by, and there were two strong men arguing.

When I tried to walk towards it, Seris grabbed my arm. She shook her head with anxious eyes.

Is it because of the trauma from Alvis? Seris seemed to be more scared than before.

“You guys, just wait here for a moment.”

“Do you have to go?”

“I have important business to attend to. I’m waiting.”

I approached the two men who were arguing over Sister Cerise.

“What do you mean there are no customers?!”

“What does that have to do with me? Okay, if I don’t pay the overdue rent by tomorrow, I’ll have to vacate the room. If you don’t want to leave the room, think carefully about the suggestion I made.”

“Shut up! A story not worth thinking about. Get out now!”

“Yeah, sure.”

A man turned his back and left. The other person cursed and entered the shabby building.

‘Is that man the blacksmith mentioned in the quest?’

I am asked to help that man, but how can I help him?

‘Can I just pay that overdue rent?’

With that in mind, I entered the shabby store.

The interior was not much different from the exterior.

Mold growing here and there as if it wasn’t managed properly.

Unlike other stores where the fire was always on, the furnace was turned off.

Weapons and armor scattered around in a haphazard manner.

It feels more like visiting a friend’s messy house than a blacksmith shop. As I was looking inside, the blacksmith from earlier came down the stairs.

“Damn it, Victor! What kind of bullshit again… huh? What are you?”

“I came to look around the store.”

“Oh, I was a guest! How long has this been… Come on in!”

The blacksmith took me with him and carefully explained the products in the blacksmith shop.

“This is called quilted armor, and inside this cloth is a lot of stuff like cotton, wool, and linen. Thanks to that, it’s quite sturdy.”

“What is the price?”

“It would be about 3 silver.”

cheap.

It is very cheap compared to 6 silver at other stores.

‘Are you selling it cheap because you’re in a hurry? Or is this the price before collusion?’

I thought the latter was more likely. This means that if you suffer damage from the Captain’s Guild, their influence will not reach you.

As I was looking around at the equipment, my eyes inadvertently caught my eye on the chain armor. At that moment, my head was spinning and one possibility came to mind.

‘…is this going to happen?’

If you fail, you leave.

After thinking about it for a while, I decided to just give it a try.

There is a possibility of failure, but the benefits of success are greater.

“Then, which one will you do?”

The blacksmith who was explaining the equipment turned to me and said. I touched my chin, pretending to be worried.

“I… I will first look into other stores.”

“Oh, no, why? Are our weapons not enough?”

“It’s not like that. It’s just because I’m a bit cautious. I’ll look around some other places and if I think this is the best, I’ll come back.”

“…How long do you think it will take?”

“Well… it would probably take at least two days to tour all the blacksmith shops in the city?”

“Two days? Okay…”

The blacksmith looked troubled. That’s probably because I have to pay the overdue rent by tomorrow.

“Even if you look around the whole city, you won’t find a place as cheap and high quality as our blacksmith shop. It’s just a waste of time.”

“But you never know. We also have to buy it with money we have saved for several years, so it is better to be sure.”

“’Us?’ Is there anyone with you?”

“Didn’t I tell you? There are two more people besides me. They also buy the equipment together.”

“Is that so?”

The blacksmith began to worry with a serious look on his face. At this point, it can be said that everything has been overcome. I turned around and tried to leave the blacksmith shop.

“Now, just wait a moment!”

“Yes?”

“How about something like this? If you three buy equipment here, I’ll make it cheaper.”

good. Step 1 passed. Now it’s time to lay the next groundbait.

“Ah, then we are thankful, but… Why so much..?”

“…”

The blacksmith hesitated for a moment at my words, then sighed and said.

“The monthly rent is behind. They told me to leave the room if I don’t give it to them by tomorrow. If you do something wrong, you’ll end up on the street without a penny.”

“I see. But why was the monthly rent delayed? Looking at it, the price seems reasonable and the quality is good. There’s no way there won’t be any customers at this rate…”

“It’s because of the tyranny of the damn captain’s guild. They threatened our store customers. If you stop by here, you won’t be able to use any other blacksmith shops.”

“…Yes? Then shouldn’t we buy it here too?”

“Hmm..?!”

The blacksmith who was lamenting only then realized that he had been talking nonsense. But it was already too late.

“Oh, no. Who would know if you buy it secretly?”

“Even so, it is true that it is a bit burdensome. We just became adventurers too.”

“Even if we get caught, can’t we just use our blacksmith shop? I don’t know anything else, but I’m confident that I’ll be the captain. You won’t be disappointed!”

“Uhm… Still…”

I deliberately took my time and made him even more nervous. The blacksmith’s expression was becoming more restless as time went by.

‘I guess this is enough.’

“Well, then how about doing it like this?”

“How do you mean it?”

“We will buy equipment worth 25 silver today. Instead, please give that to us as a gift.”

The blacksmith brightened up when he heard the word 25 silver, but became gloomy when he saw the item I pointed to.

What I pointed to was chain armor covering the upper body.

“No, no matter what… they cost 20 silver each…”

…20 silver?

I found out how much other blacksmith shops exaggerated their prices. Moreover, how conscientious this blacksmith is.

“They say you have to pay the overdue rent by tomorrow. Didn’t you need money?”

“That’s true, but that’s still…”

“I’m not just asking for it either. If you give me that as a gift, I will only use this blacksmith shop from now on.”

“Grunt…”

“Besides, you don’t know anything, right? We could become famous adventurers. If that happens, other people will also flock to this blacksmith shop?”

“Wow…”

Hmm, maybe that last statement was a bit excessive?

Still, the blacksmith was thinking as he looked at the chain armor, wondering if what I said was in vain.

You may be weighing in your mind which one is better.

Honestly, there is nothing to weigh.

He is in a position to be evicted from his house tomorrow if he fails to pay his monthly rent. I am a guest who can prevent that.

I wonder if it would be okay to sell the equipment to another blacksmith shop at a low price, but he is a person who has been stamped by the blacksmith guild.

There is no way you can buy it from another blacksmith shop. Even if you buy it, it will be sold at a very low price.

In that case, it would be better to sell it to me.

The blacksmith, as if he had finished counting, raised his head and looked at me and said.

“30 silver. No less than that.”

“Okay.”

“…Bring your friends. Because I have to measure the dimensions.”