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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Vine
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Today’s MVP: popcorn.
Not Luna’s Haste buff, not Iron Horn providing the spectacle, but the popcorn that kept his mouth busy during the hour-long automatic hunt.
The only regret was the lack of cola. He hadn’t found any soda in the capital.
But he hadn’t given up hope.
He believed that somewhere in this world, carbonated beverages existed.
“What are you thinking about, Luke?”
“I’m thirsty.”
“…You brought popcorn, but not water?”
“Popcorn with water?! Water?!”
Popcorn went with soda or sparkling water.
Never water.
“I didn’t raise you like this, Luna. I’m disappointed.”
“My parents raised me…”
A slave talking back?!
He gave her a look, but she just shook her head.
“Anyway… we’re almost there.”
“Finally. Freedom from this carriage of torture.”
He wasn’t carsick, but the bumpy ride was brutal.
He didn’t want some random coachman’s carriage floor assaulting his backside.
They arrived at the capital and paid the coachman.
He stretched, trying to work out the kinks from the long ride.
“KYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”
“…Can you please not do that?”
“I can’t even stretch?”
Was she a dictator now? Restricting his stretching rights?
“People are staring…”
“Let them stare.”
“Sigh… let’s go to Mr. Smith and then get dinner.”
“Smith?”
Luna gave him a look that clearly said, “You’re amazing…”
“I know, right?”
“I didn’t say anything.”
“So, who’s Smith? Your ex?”
The name sounded like someone who worked with hammers. Was her ex-boyfriend a blacksmith or something?
And why was she asking him about her ex?
“How do you not know the name of the blacksmith you frequent…?”
“Ah~ that guy?”
He had only ever called him “mister,” so he had assumed his name was “Mister.”
“I didn’t ask, so of course I don’t know.”
He didn’t need to know the name of some burly blacksmith.
“Whatever. Let’s go.”
Luna, giving up on the conversation, pushed him forward.
He let himself be dragged along.
They had to hurry.
It was already late afternoon. By the time they dropped off the materials at the blacksmith, it would be dark.
The streetlights were starting to flicker on.
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Ding-a-ling.
The bell above the door announced their arrival. The blacksmith was alone.
“Hey, mister~ we’re back~”
“Are you breaking your weapons every day? You’re treating this place like your own home.”
“Don’t be so cold, mister. We’re practically family.”
“…So, what is it this time?”
“You told me to get the materials.”
“You found them in one day…?”
One day was more than enough. This blacksmith had no concept of time.
It wasn’t like he had gone on some grand expedition.
“So, where are these amazing materials?”
“Hehehe… prepare to be amazed.”
Thud!
Just like at the Adventurers’ Guild, he dumped the Rhino Horn carcasses onto the floor.
But unlike Adela, the blacksmith didn’t scream.
“Boring.”
“I don’t know what you were expecting, but that’s not going to happen.”
He had hoped to see the blacksmith shriek like a little girl, but…
“What are these?”
“Rhino Horns. Don’t you know?”
“Rhino Horns are… herbivores, right?”
“Tsk tsk. A blacksmith who doesn’t know basic monster information? For shame.”
“I’m a blacksmith, not an adventurer, kid.”
Just like a shut-in’s knowledge of the world was limited to the internet, a blacksmith’s knowledge of monsters was limited to the materials brought to him by adventurers.
He probably spent most of his time working with iron.
“So, I’m providing you with valuable information. I’d normally charge for this, but since it’s you, it’s free.”
“Yeah, yeah… thanks.”
Information was a valuable commodity.
He should be groveling at his feet, offering to make the sword for free.
The blacksmith picked up a Rhino Horn head and examined it closely.
“Hmm… large, but light… and very strong…”
He tapped the horn with his hammer, testing its strength, and weighed it in his hand. He was completely focused, the very image of a master craftsman.
Luke had chosen the right blacksmith.
As expected of me.
He nodded to himself, pleased with his choice.
The blacksmith set down the head.
“This will make a fine weapon. Herbivore monsters are surprisingly valuable. But kid, why did you bring so many?”
“The bigger the greatsword, the better, right? I want a super-compressed, ultra-dense weapon.”
“I’ll give you that, it’s a rare material, but… it’s not exactly ‘amazing,’ is it?”
“Hehehe. You underestimate me. I have a surprise for you.”
He reached into his inventory and pulled out a large, thick, and… shiny horn.
It was similar to a Rhino Horn, but darker, almost iron-gray, with a metallic sheen.
Even the blacksmith was impressed.
“Behold! Its majesty!”
“That is… impressive…”
Of course it was. That thing had been a beast.
He’d have to bring a Behemoth next time if this wasn’t impressive enough.
“Is this… a Named Rhino Horn…?”
“Indeed! This magnificent specimen single-handedly defeated all those Rhino Horns! Its name is Iron Horn.”
“Well, I’ll be damned.”
High-grade materials like this were rare, especially from Named Monsters.
“So, about that ultra greatsword…”
“Alright, alright… I’ll give it a try. Come back tomorrow evening.”
“Tomorrow?”
He had never forged a sword before, but did it really take a whole day?
YouTube videos made it seem much faster.
“Kid, this isn’t iron. It’s a new material. And you’re asking for an ultra greatsword, not just a regular one. It’ll take all night.”
“If you say so.”
He couldn’t argue with the expert.
“See you tomorrow~”
“Yeah.”
Having secured the materials and commissioned the sword, he left the blacksmith with Luna and went to get dinner.
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On a rooftop, hidden from the brightly lit streets below…
A hooded and masked figure signaled to another.
Clad in black, their bodies concealed various hidden weapons. They were assassins.
They were the hounds of the Buckley family, tasked by Daine Buckley to investigate the carriage attack.
Investigations usually took time, but they had gotten lucky.
They had spotted a woman with dark blue hair, silver eyes, and pointed ears, accompanied by a man in an academy uniform.
The woman matched the description of one of the escaped slaves.
They had found their target.
The three assassins positioned themselves on the roof of the inn where the man had entered, waiting for nightfall and confirmation that their target was asleep.
As midnight approached…
Quick and clean.
One of the assassins silently opened a window and slipped into the room.
He saw a figure under the covers, seemingly fast asleep.
The assassins drew their swords and stabbed the figure under the covers.
…?
The sensation wasn’t right.
They felt something… off.
They didn’t know that in the darkness of the room, illuminated only by moonlight filtering through the window…
A pair of blood-red eyes, glowing faintly in the corner, were watching them.
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