Leon stood in front of Dekken’s Smithy, staring at the closed gate with a blank expression.
“Why the hell is this guy taking so long to open?” he muttered and knocked again.
*Knock-knock*
*Click*
The door swung open sharply. Gerald stood there, his face twisted in the usual cocktail of irritation and exhaustion.
“Hello—” Leon began, but Gerald cut him off with his usual charm.
“What ?”
Leon blinked. “Why are you always so angry?”
“Because one of my fucking swords snapped in my hand this morning. Now, talk or piss off.”
“Calm down. I’m just here to buy a few daggers,” Leon replied with a calm smile.
Gerald narrowed his eyes. “Why? Don’t you already have five daggers in a sword?”
“Not for me, for her…” Leon said, stepping aside and pointing to Fruela behind him.
Gerald looked at her. His expression soured further.
“A dark elf… of course it’s a dark elf.” He spoke as he rubbed his eyes in disappointment.
Leon watched silently.
‘Just like in the mangas… these guys really do hate each other. Racism is real.’
“What kind of daggers? Curved ? straight? What material ?” Gerald asked, deadpan.
“Why don’t you show us a few?” Leon asked with a smile.
Gerald rolled his eyes. “Yeah, I’ll just throw out my inventory so you can easily look through all of it.”
“I’m not asking for charity, Gerald. I will pay you.” Leon said, his smile fading into a cold, firm line.
“Come in. Close the gate behind you,” Gerald grunted as he turned and walked back inside.
Leon entered, followed by Reina and Fruela. Reina closed the gate behind.
Inside was the same dim-lit chaos—tools scattered, glowing embers in the forge, and blades of all shapes lining the racks. A thick musk of smoke and sweat hung in the air.
Gerald plopped down on a rocking chair and grabbed a massive wooden mug of beer.
He pointed with the mug.
“That’s the rack. One-handed, long, short, paired—whatever. Pick, pay and go away.”
Leon nodded. “Go ahead and pick,” he said as he turned to look at Fruela.
She hesitated, staring at him. “Why are you doing this ?”
Leon didn’t blink. ‘So that I can use you.’
‘What’s better than an angry dark elf who likes to kill humans ? Justin will need help in order to become the head of the weaver household and people will definitely die.
I won’t kill them… I will get them killed using her.’ Leon thought as countless ideas started to form in his mind.
“You want an explanation or daggers?” Leon said coldly. “Because you’re only getting one.”
Fruela stayed quiet. She turned and walked to the rack, her eyes scanning the weapons.
Gerald chuckled. “A slave, huh?”
“Yeah,” Leon said with a neutral expression, watching her.
Gerald leaned back, sipping beer. “She’s a strong one, kid. You’re playing with fire. If that collar comes off, you’ll have one hell of a problem.”
Leon smirked. “I know.”
Gerald raised an eyebrow but said nothing.
“So… how the hell do you make money being this grumpy?” Leon asked with a smile as he turned to look at Gerald.
“I don’t,” Gerald said flatly.
Leon stared. “Then how do you live?”
Gerald shrugged. “People like you show up sometimes. Same way you found me, others do too.”
Leon’s eyes narrowed. ‘He’s not wrong. Most people would’ve turned around the moment he opened his mouth. But those who know talent when they see it… they stay.’
Fruela’s low voice broke the silence. “I want these.”
Leon looked over.
She held a matched pair of sleek, dark purple daggers—curved just slightly, gleaming with a sharp, almost wicked elegance.
“How much?” Leon asked as he looked at Gerald.
Gerald squinted. “Those ? Ten silvers.”
“What are they made of ?” Leon asked with a confused expression.
“Metal from the western valleys of the Dwarf Kingdom. Rare. Won’t snap unless you’re trying to cleave a mountain.”
Leon pulled out his pouch and counted out the coins.
“Here.”
Gerald took the silver and dropped the pouch on his cluttered table. “Great. Now piss off. I’ve got a broken sword to fix.”
Leon gave a half-smile.
“Come on,” he said to Fruela and Reina.
The three of them stepped back out into the sun, the door to Dekken’s Smithy slamming shut behind them.
*THUD*
“Let’s go.” Leon spoke as he started walking towards the wagon station.
Since the roads were filled with snow from last night’s heavy storm, it was getting hard to walk around.
…
As soon as Leon reached in front of the wagon station… He noticed kai standing their with his bag of tools and he was looking around as if trying to find someone.
He slowly walked upto him and touched his shoulder from behind.
“Oi…” Leon spoke.
“What the-!? Why are you always sneaking up on me from behind ?” Kai asked with a confused expression.
“I like it.” Leon replied with a smile.
“Where have you been ? I was waiting for you since this morning.” Kai asked with a serious expression as he looked at Leon.
“Yeah, I had some other things to do.” Leon replied with a neutral expression.
“So… Are we going to that place or not ? I have to complete that bathtub.” Kai asked with a confused expression.
“Yeah, let’s go.” Leon spoke as he claimed inside the wagon with kai, Reina and Fruela. 1
“Where to ?” The wagon driver asked with a confused expression.
“Vinceral Forest…” Leon replied with a neutral expression.
“Okay.”
*Stch*
The wagon started moving immediately and Leon pulled out a cloth from his pocket.
He then gave it to Kai.
“What ? Why aren’t they blindfolded ?” Kai asked with a confused expression as he pointed towards Reina and Fruela.
“They are my slaves… You want to become one as well ?” Leon asked with a smile.
“Give me the cloth please.” Kai spoke as he took the cloth and binded it around his eyes.
‘Hah… Tonight is going to be a long and bloody night.’ Leon thought in his mind as he looked at Fruela.
