Chapter 32: Blacksmithing
We walked back to the inn in unusual silence, our minds racing as we each mulled over our next lines of action after we saw my system interface.
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[Alert!!]
[Unauthorized divinity sensed!]
[System penalties will be applied in 47:58:32]
[#$&###2@@ Yama""@$#’@@#$"]
---
Recalling the abnormal system data, I blamed myself for being too weak and forcing Laura to use her powers continually.
Letting out a heavy sigh, I glanced at Laura – who was in deep contemplation, from the corner of my eye.
’The penalties must be really serious, for Laura to be this silent’. I reflected grimly.
Closing the door to our room, I sat on the wooden chair right in front of the window while Laura sat on the bed opposite me.
"I’m losing the connection to the system...". Laura started.
My heart sank as I heard Laura’s words, ’This was bound to happen, and we knew that, but....why do I feel so discomforted?’.
"Using my powers must have sped up the process". Laura spoke with sad eyes.
I clenched my fists tightly and replied, "It’s my fault for being so weak and cocky, if I had known my limits, things would’ve been different...".
Laura simply smiled and answered, "I don’t regret my actions, if we went back in time, I would do it over again and besides it was only a matter of time before it happened".
I remained silent at her retort.
Placing her hand on her left cheek she continued, "I do have to admit, it was a fun journey – probably the best I will ever have".
My heart skipped a beat and a light blush crossed my face.
"Jeez, at least visit once in a while or something". I suggested as I averted my gaze.
"That much is obvious, you’re weak as hell after all". Laura nodded matter-of-factly.
Grabbing a pillow and flinging it at her, I countered smugly, "I bet you’ll tell all your sisters, how awesome and amazing I am".
’’If by amazing, you mean getting tossed around and getting your bones broken at every chance you get, then sure, you’re pretty amazing". Laura answered while barely stifling her laughter.
"Tsk, I can never win against you, can I". I spoke with a wronged look.
"Obviously not, you’re a....what do they call that again?.... yeah!, a noob". Laura answered, seemingly proud of herself for finding the right word.
My lips twitched ever so slightly and I stood up and tried catching her.
"You’re too slow~". Laura spoke with a heart-stopping smile.
With a faint smile, I picked up a pillow and flung it at her back while she was mid-air.
"Hey!, that’s cheating!". Laura complained amidst laughter.
"All’s fair in love and war, princess". I answered smoothly.
"Urgh, that was so cringe".
Shouting in annoyance, I jumped and grabbed Laura by the heel of her feet and pulled her down to the bed amidst laughter.
A few moments later, we lay side by side on the spacious bed with amused smiles on our faces.
"Thanks for this". Laura muttered.
I glanced at her entrancing red eyes and answered, "It was for both of us".
Laying in silence for a while, I suggested, "I’m sure that Koft guy must’ve finished my cloak by now, how about we go check it out?".
Laura nodded immediately and fixed her messy hair and clothes as we made our way out of the inn.
The receptionist – Rose, was at her post when we came out and I gave her a curt nod to which she responded to, quite awkwardly.
Not minding that little detail, we left the inn and took a carriage to the guild even though we could walk there....
Opening the door, the atmosphere was clearly different from the last time I was here, it was like someone from a very high standing came in here and put all those crack heads in their places.
With a shrug, I walked towards the manager’s office and was followed by the slightly fearful eyes of the people in the bar and the receptionist that I met last time who accompanied me.
Entering the spacious office with a large brown rug covering the floor alongside numerous exquisite paintings adorning the wall, I was met with a pleasant surprise.
"Kurt!". I called out excitedly.
"Ey! Kiddo!, how are ya!". He laughed heartily as he stood up from his seat.
"I’ve been good, a little problems here and there, but it’s nothing I couldn’t manage". I responded whilst rubbing the back of my head with a smile.
"Ahem".
A light cough interrupted our pleasantries as I politely smiled at Kurt.
"Hello, Mr. Kroft"
"Welcome back, Mr. Clark, you’re here for your cloak I presume?". He responded
I nodded and he glanced at Kurt who was still visibly confused.
"Wait a moment, he’s the Clark you were talking about?". He spoke confusedly.
"Yes, Kurt he was the Clark I was talking about". He answered as he held his head to avoid getting a headache.
"Bwahahahahahahaha, I knew you were special, kid!, but this is too surprising!". Laughing heartily as he patted my shoulder with his callused hands, he continued, "Since it’s my new friend we’re talking about, I’ll make him an Etherial level cloak for the same price!".
Kroft’s eyes widened in surprise as he nearly jumped out of his seat, "What?!".
It wasn’t just Kroft who was surprised by the unexpected declaration, I was equally as shocked, perhaps even moreso.
One should know that getting a blacksmith to make any weapon or armor above the Enchanted level is as hard– if not harder, than getting box to gain consciousness.
And yet, here he was, practically handing me one.....very suspicious, but who was I to reject something that would obviously benefit me, huh?.
"Come on, let’s go, kid!". Kurt’s loud voice brought me out of my thoughts and I trailed behind him after exchanging a farewell with the skeptical and shocked Kroft.
Walking out of the guild, I talked with Laura internally as I glanced at Kurt who was chewing on a piece of stick.
’What do you think he’s up to?’. I asked.
’I dunno, maybe he just wants to be friends with you?’. Laura answered innocently.
’I’d rather receive sheet-gripping back shots than believe that’. I scoffed
’You did not just say that’. Laura replied disbelievingly.
’All I’m saying is, there’s no way a blacksmith would make me something of that value without wanting something in return’. I replied.
’What could he possibly want from you that he doesn’t already have?’. Laura argued.
’I don’t know, maybe my battle mage status is more valuable than I thought?’. I answered with a puzzled expression.
’I guess we’ll have to wait and see then’. She stated.
With a shrug, we walked down the wide expanse of trees that lined the road and were accompanied by the occasional whistles of winds and chirping of birds.
The medium sized store finally came into view and I belatedly noticed the name of the building was, ’Kurt’s Smithy’.
"Nice name". I commented as we walked into the serene shop.
Laughing heartily, Kurt spat out the chewed piece of stick he was chewing on and replied, "It was my disciple that suggested it, he said it was practical and less taxing to put up, what a brat!".
I could see his bright eyes dim a bit at the mention of his disciple but I couldn’t be too sure, since it was only for a moment.
"Lily, nice seeing you again". I spoke politely as we passed by her.
Her eyes scanned me for a moment before nodding with a neutral smile and facing the pieces of paper lined on her table.
’Tsk, so cold’. I commented inwardly as Kurt opened a door that led underground.
’Stop trying to flirt with girls you have no chance with’. Laura commented
Walking down the metal stairs, I answered in annoyance, ’It’s called being polite’.
’Sure~’. She answered with an unnaturally stretched out tone.
’You–!’
Clank Clank
My thoughts were cut short due to the loud banging and clanking of metals that resonated throughout the underground floor and the sparks that accompanied them.
"I’m going to make you one from scratch!!". Kurt said loudly.
"But a cloak doesn’t need metals does it?!!". I asked as I covered my ears to close off the noise.
Kurt’s laugh somehow managed to drown out the constant sound of clanking that filled the large room,"Silly kid!, it isn’t just metal armor that are forged!, any armory must be forged– the processes just vary slightly". He explained.
"The leather of your cloak will be made out of kobold, wyvern and skrodian skin, and they’re extremely tough, so they’ll need heat treatment amongst other things before imbuing them with the defensive and offensive elements and those elements are imbued via smithing, but you’re not studying blacksmithing, so you don’t need to know all that!".
He explained as he brought out different colored materials and threw them in a blue-colored furnace sequentially.
I remained silent as I watched him work, ignoring the sweat drenching my robes and the sparks that flew out from the different blacksmiths working on different weapons and armors that were close by.
Watching the different colored furs slowly change into a different, singular color, my thoughts wandered.
’I thought blacksmiths were usually dwarves and had bad personalities?.’
’And aren’t they supposed to be secretive about their techniques?, and only reveal them when they’re teaching their disciples?’.
I was lost in thought but my eyes never left the blue flames that was being increased and decreased at fixed intervals.
’I think we both know why he’s like this..’. Laura muttered.
’.....’
’It’s one of two things– either he really missed his disciple or....’. Laura didn’t complete her sentence.
’.....He’ll open up if he wants to’. I responded after a moment of silence.
’Haaa.....at least you’re getting a good cloak that most would die for’. She consoled.
’I really hope he just misses his apprentice’. I responded as I followed the sweating Kurt– who held a glowing piece of a gooey like substance, to a wide, pitch black and elevated table with a shapely depression in the middle.
Placing the gooey substance in the depression, it flowed and occupied the spaces perfectly. A golden hue emanated from his palm as he asked urgently, "Describe how you want your cloak to look like, physically!, QUICK!".
I was caught off guard by the sudden request but I hurriedly made a mental image of a cloak inspired by a multitude of novels I had consumed in my past life.
"Uhhh....Ankle-length, black, crimson lining, steel edges... hood draped, seams hammered... yeah, like that!"
A look of approval flashed past the face of Kurt, as he injected the golden hue into the opening at the edge of the table – that seemingly connected to the depression.
Slowly, the cloak began to take shape, it moved like it had life of its own and the outline of my mental image slowly came to life.
’Are all blacksmiths this impressive?’. I questioned inwardly as I stared at the sweating man continually infusing mana into the cloak.
After an hour or so, the finished cloak was brought out and displayed before me for scrutiny.
"It’s perfect!". I shouted excitedly as I stared at the hooded scythe that would absolutely look badass with my new cloak.
"Ha! Of course it is, it was made by me after all!". Kurt answered proudly.
Nodding in agreement as I stared at the cloak, he added, "I’ll need to get it imbued with the defensive and offensive elements, so scribble down what you want and I’ll get it done".
Taking the piece of paper, I scribbled down the abilities that it absolutely must have and returned it to him.
Glancing at it before folding it and putting it in his back pocket, he said, "This process usually takes a lot of time so you can go home and I’ll have it delivered to ya".
Following him back upstairs, I asked Laura, "Wanna go shopping?".
"Sure, why not". She agreed immediately.
With my lips tugging upwards slightly, I bid farewell to Kurt and made our way to the store we went last time.
As we entered, I couldn’t help but notice how empty it was – only a few catkin and a few other species were present but I didn’t pay it too much mind and walked to the counter with a friendly smile.
"Welcome, Mr. Clark, how may we help you today?". The receptionist spoke in a polite tone.
"A few dresses". I responded, while Laura had left to choose the ones she liked.
"The ladies’ section is right down there, sir". She gestured.
Nodding calmly, I walked into that part of the shop and spotted Laura’s yellow hair peeking out from a wardrobe.
Walking up to her and examining the short, purple dress, I asked quietly, "This one?"
"Mhm!". Laura nodded ecstatically.
’Always love them dresses’. I reflected as we picked out a few more for her to wear and I secretly checked the price tags on each of them whilst ignoring my breaking heart.
At the end of the shopping spree, I incurred a loss of thirty Valen and came one step closer to understanding the concept of dating.
On our way back, I opened my system and checked out my stats and how much we had left.
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Name: Clark Thompson
Rank: F [Dissociation time: 37:33:13]
Class: Battle mage
Lvl: 5
Exp points: 140
Mp: 200/200(+50)
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Strength: 95(+50)
Agility: 70(+55)
Vitality: 74(+54)
Intelligence: 90(+60)
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Weapon in use: Aether scythe Weapon rank: Mythril – touched Weapon proficiency: 78%
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Skill(s) in use: Null Skill proficiency: 70%(Masseuse) • 87% (Calculative) •70% (Desperation)
Skills possessed: Liar lvl.3, masseuse, Calculative, magic fingers lvl. 2, Rank nullification lvl. 3,Desperation lvl.5 (New!), Eagle’s eye lvl.4, Stealth lvl. 5, Rank Ascension (New!)
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[Rank Ascension]: Grants host the ability to skip a minor rank for a limited amount of time.
Time limit: 13:00 (improvable)
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Remark: Today’s a bad day for rain 🥲
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I stopped in my tracks as I stared at my system in shock.
Laura – who was enjoying the scenery instead of staying in my head, noticed that I had stopped moving and was staring blankly into space, but before she could open her mouth in worry, I spoke to her telepathically–excitement apparent in my voice.
’I’ve got some serious upgrades!!, like major ones!’
I have never been this excited ever since my reincarnation, that goes to show just how much the leap on stats meant.
’These figures are comparable to that of a D rank’. Laura muttered in awe as she stared at my system.
’Good, at least this way you won’t be easily killed’. She added
Punching her shoulder lightly with a hearty laugh, we made our way back to the inn and after a few minutes of Laura dressing up in her new clothes and I, applauding her like a die hard fan, we were exhausted – well, I was, couldn’t speak for Laura who was still twirling in front of the mirror.
I lay on the bed with a plomp and slowly fell asleep whilst talking with Laura.
*
A little while later, the mana in the room reacted violently – similar to when Laura’s mother came.
Laura jumped in surprise and scrambled about like a kid who had been caught by their parents, as she straightened her dress and fixed her hair lightly.
Laura’s mother appeared once more, this time there was a mixture of worry, anger, relief and amusement in her expression.
"I see you’ve been having fun eh?"