It takes one several years to get to know somebody, and sometimes they regret how they first acted. For example, when Julia saw the runes inscribed by the man with golden-eyes, she felt instantly regretful.
A genius.
No further praise or words needed, a simple fact. This poor and average looking man turned out to be a genius in the runes path. Her fingers traced his work, doubting they were created by humans. As if nature itself gathered, flawlessly, to create these runes. His lines were more perfect than depicted in textbooks, a true sign of his relentless perfectionist personality. No average joe could spend this time learning something.
What did she do, instead of appreciating him, to this genius?
She tried to fail him for her benefit. She might be a genius herself, but it was hard to find another one. One that she could have as her assistant. Just imagining the quality of work that they could make was enthralling.
Her heart ached as she wrote down his score. Barely passing in written, yet full score in practical. It was probably the first time someone gained a full score for a rune they inscribed, no matter how perfect it was.
'I need to be shameless,' she thought.
She wrote down the address that she read in his application and decided to visit him in his home.
***
"What are you hiding, Arthur?" Emma asked as they sat in the arcade. They ordered some snacks and refreshments, to quench their thirst after several hours of playing together.
"Hiding?" Arthur almost chocked drinking the juice when he heard her question.
"I saw your work," She ate some of her ice-cream, waving her spoon afterward and pointing it at Arthur. "It was near perfection,"
"Hah, and how would you know?"
"My family works in runes," She mischievously grinned, and then playfully added. "To be precise, my family are mostly runes' masters."
"Oh…" Arthur felt stumped for words. He used the five hours pretending to inscribe runes, a torturous experience he never wished to relive. In the end, he used his ability to inscribe the runes and left. He then met Emma outside, who had finished earlier, and the pair headed to Otherworldly Paradise.
After being beaten black and blue in every game, Arthur had to suggest they go to the café to retain what was left from his pride. As they sat down, the interrogation began. Arthur didn't mind since it was more curiosity than anything for Emma.
"The truth is, I've always wanted to be a runes master. The only reason I applied to be an apprentice is to participate in the Runes Apprentices Cup."
Emma nodded, seemingly lost in thought. After a lengthy silence, she asked something making Arthur tilt his head in puzzlement.
"The preliminary has already started though."
"The, what? Huh?" Arthur almost fell from his chair out of shock. He lost his ability to coherent proper sentences as this sudden revelation.
"Yeah, you can't just walk into the Runes Apprentices Cup. Unless you have a recommendation, you need to participate in the preliminary rounds. They began a week ago, I think? Maybe you can still make it."
"Oh, thank god."
"But… wouldn't it be easier to gain a recommendation?" Emma asked, greeted with a confused face. "Some people can recommend participants, like branches of the association, runes masters, and some institutes. They are fought for since the preliminary rounds are a pain in the…" She coughed and stopped right there, realizing how improper her words would be.
"I see, then I need a runes master to recommend me."
"The examiner from earlier is someone who's looking for apprentices," Emme suggested, but Arthur simply scowled.
"I'd rather not. Thanks for the suggestion, but no thanks." Seeing Arthur sulking, Emma laughed so loud that Arthur was startled.
"How about…" Her words trailed a bit as if she was mulling their feasibility. "You come with me?"
"With you?"
"Yeah,"
"Go where?"
"Pfft, to the Runes Apprentices Cup. Just give me your contact information, and I'll tell you if I can get you a recommendation."
***
Arthur saw Kira in the distance, playing with Joe's mount. He smiled warmly and headed their way. Sensing his presence, Kira stopped and looked in his direction. With a loud howl, it happily ran toward Arthur and started to circle around him.
"Easy, boy." Arthur smiled and stroked its mane.
"Hey Aldo," Joe came out after he heard Kira's howl. Arthur nodded in his direction in a greeting.
"How is it?"
"Sold. Thirty thousand dollars." Joe grinned as he said. Arthur's heart was beating with joy at his words. The armor he bought for ten thousand from Mr. Tate was sold for thirty thousand after he inscribed it with Protection-II rune.
"It's such a waste that it has only been sold for this much because of the armor's quality. Even more, its mana consumption is a bit high for warriors. It would mostly suit mages as an extra trump card." Joe sighed regrettably.
Arthur nodded his head in understanding. Because his mana stat and strength state wasn't that much different, he didn't see it as disadvantageous. However, for warriors who boosted high-stats in strength and low stats in mana, it would be incredibly inefficient. For mages, it was the opposite as it provided another protection layer for a very low cost.
Even still, this was sold for 200% profit. If Arthur kept making them, he would grow rich instantly. After taking out some fees, Joe sent the remaining money to Arthur's account.
With his business finished, Arthur headed toward the goblin's village. It was the weekend now and he would spend his time there. When he reached the place, however, he was stunned speechless.
The whole place was vibrating with life. Goblins were busy going in and out, some were hunting and others were building the wall. The wall that Arthur has left barely existent a few days ago was now almost complete.
Mero and Nero came over as soon as they spotted him. They kneeled down as they called him Kakan respectfully. Not expecting any explanation from them, Arthur patrolled the village himself.
Everywhere he went, goblins called him Kakan. Arthur felt his bond to them growing stronger by the second, a testimony of how his strengthening won their hearts.
After a few rounds of inspection, Arthur realized the reason the place changed so much. They were getting stronger. After Arthur gave the blacksmith the Compress skill, they made better weapons and armor, unlike the previous unrefined versions. This has greatly increased their chances of survival and made them start evolving by defeating different beasts.
Some of them evolved already. They were the group that Arthur strengthened, becoming taller like Mero and Nero. To his amusement, Arthur saw the two enviously staring at them. The group came rushing as soon as they saw Arthur, prostrating themselves in front of him.
Arthur dismissed them before going to his hut. When he opened the door, he was struck speechless again. Mana cores, ores, and other spoils filled his bed. They were offerings. Mero and Nero entered after him cautiously and coyly gestured that they had hunted some middle-mid-tiered cores.
It was then that Arthur noticed some wounds on their skin. It seems they had risked it to get stronger. Arthur simply laughed and nodded, before shooing them away for now.
He sat alone and counted the cores. A hundred primitive cores, ten low-mid tier cores, and two middle-mid-tier cores. If he went by market price, they would fetch thirty thousand.
Money was easier to make than he thought.