Smoke drifted out of the stone-built chimney while waves of heat came from inside the hut.
Clang, clang—a hammer banging against metal resounded from inside.
Above the door, a sign hung.
[Honorable Blacksmith]
Zhen and Ambrose walked down the street, the lamps lighting up their path.
After they finished their business with the Wisdom King, they went straight to the blacksmith shop.
“It should still be open.” Zhen walked over to the hut and checked the opening and closing times on the sign that was nailed against the wall.
Ambrose looked at the front door with his arms crossed. He could feel intense heat coming from inside, and the banging of the hammer sounded powerful.
This was his first time visiting the blacksmith shop, even though that was one of the most frequently visited places among players.
Ordinary weapons get damaged easily, and they often had to visit blacksmiths to get them fixed. It was still cheaper than getting new weapons.
However, Ambrose was rather lucky to acquire the Black and Red Swords. They also got slightly worn out, but he was certain that he could’ve used them for a few more years.
Knock, knock—Zhen knocked twice on the door and heard the banging noises stop for a moment.
“Come in!” A coarse voice sounded from other side of the door.
Zhen nodded at Ambrose, and opened the door.
Intense heat blew against their faces like a fan, and they needed a moment to get used to such heat.
Since it was turning night, the temperature started dropping outside.
This area was rather cold as it was close to Yatagarasu, which was famously known for its relentless rains. It was another reason why the recovery of the city was a slow process.
In the nights, it wasn’t uncommon for the temperature to drop to negatives.
As Ambrose stepped inside the shop and closed the door behind him, he felt like he had accidentally walked into a volcano. He started sweating buckets.
In the middle of the blacksmith shop, a shirtless man with robust-looking muscles swung his hammer up and down, striking a piece of burning red metal.
Clang, clang, clang!
As the sparks flew like machine gun fire, Zhen approached the blacksmith and whispered something to him. It seemed to do something as the blacksmith stopped swinging his hammer.
“The grandmaster did?” The blacksmith repeated, and looked at Zhen with raised eyebrow.
Zhen nodded as confirmation.
Bang—the blacksmith dropped the hammer on the ground and approached the purple-eyed man while taking off his brown leather gloves.action
“My name is Honorable Gensai.” He then offered a handshake, and asked. “What’s yours?”
‘He is honorable as well?’
Ambrose didn’t expect him to be one of the honorables. However, he was aware that not all honorables lived inside the temple, and did stuff in the town and outside.
Zhen and Gensai being one of them.
“Honorable Ambrose.” He shook the firm-looking hand, but his grip wasn’t any weaker.
As he introduced himself, he decided to use his own title as well. In this town, he was known as Honorable, so he might as well use the title.
“I saw you participating in the trial.” Honorable Gensai said with a deep look. “I heard you left, but it seems you’ve returned.
“So, there is a weapon that I need to make?”
“Yes.” Ambrose opened his inventory and brought out ten crimson metals, then placed them on the metal table. “If these are enough, two swords would be ideal.”
“Hmm, what are these?” Gensai approached the metals, brought out his small, circular-shaped monocle, and appraised these strange metals.
The crimson metal pieces were shaped like square bars. They weren’t enormous, but a little bit longer and bigger than his own hand.
They were completely crimson in color, and when Gensai tried tapping his fist against the metal, it didn’t let out much of a sound.
“I haven’t seen this metal before.” Gensai said and tucked the monocle into his chest pocket. “However, I can see that it is very durable, and strong.”
“How many swords do you think you can make?” Ambrose asked curiously.
“I can make two with nine metal pieces.” Gensai said. “I can use the last one to make two scabbards. What do you say?”
“Sounds good.” Ambrose nodded with a slight smile and asked. “How long do you think it will take for them to finish?”
“Hard to say. This metal is unknown to me and I don’t know how long it will take to melt.” Gensai rubbed his chin and gave an assumption. “A week, at least. That is based on normal metal speed, but might take up to 2 weeks.”
“All right.” Ambrose nodded. ‘It sounds like my visit will be increased a little bit.’
“We should leave him to do his magic.” Zhen patted Ambrose’s shoulder and led him out of the shop. “Honorable Gensai is one of the greatest blacksmiths in Light Continent.”
Ambrose nodded and after they entered the cold night air, he asked. “I’ve heard about blacksmiths of Dark Continent. They are apparently miles above Light Continent ones. Is that true?”
“That makes the Dark Continent so dangerous.” Zhen said while walking beside Ambrose down the street.
“They have a bigger population, better weapons, and better technology.
“Our continent is miles behind in many important aspects.”
“Mm…” Ambrose frowned.
Boom!
At that moment, the blacksmith shop exploded into a cloud of fire and dust. The hut still stood, but the windows were shattered, and the walls had turned black as ink.
It was clear that the hut was made from very durable material, but still, the explosion was nothing to scoff at!
“Honorable Gensai!” Zhen screamed and rushed back to the hut.
However, a purple-eyed figure moved way faster, and smashed through the door.
A second later, he returned from the hut with a coughing blacksmith.
“Argh, the hell…”
Ambrose helped Gensai to sit down on the ground, and looked at the smoking shop with a shock on his face. There was fire burning inside the store, but the hut still seemed all right.
Also, Gensai only had a few minor injuries.
That explosion had enough strength to give even Ambrose some damage, but Gensai seemed fine, proof of his durability that rivaled the Starborn Constitution.
“Cough!” Gensai coughed out some smoke, and leaned against the wall while looking at his burning shop with a quizzical expression.
“Honorable Gensai, are you all right?” Zhen crouched beside him and asked worryingly.
The explosion seemed to have alerted the Honorables from the temple as the bell chimed loudly from there.
“I tried smithing the crimson metal, and it created some strange chain reaction that ended in explosion.” Gensai said in a shock.
He then turned to a surprised-looking Ambrose and asked. “Just what kind of metal did you bring me?”
“I… have no idea.” Ambrose frowned. ‘What the hell just happened?’
lightsΝοvel “Ambrose, maybe we should take the crimson metal with us.” Zhen said with a serious look. “That is unknown material, and we don’t know what its capability really is.”
Ambrose nodded as he agreed. He was still somewhat disappointed as it seemed like it would take longer for him to acquire a new weapon.
“No!” But then Gensai stood up and shouted powerfully. “I do not give up this easily. Give me another chance. I will tame this beast!”
“Honorable Gensai!” Zhen shouted. “It’s far too dangerous!”
“Hahahaha!” Gensai laughed madly and looked at his burning store with enormous grin.
“Finally a proper challenge!
“I’ve been stuck as master blacksmith for almost a decade, and I thought this would end up as my limit.
“However, I now finally have a chance to push my limits!
“This might finally be my chance to catch up on those monsters from the Dark Continent!”
He then looked at Ambrose, grabbed him by his shoulders, and asked. “Please, let me try one more time. I won’t fail!”
Ambrose looked into Gensai’s eyes with a surprised look.
Those were the eyes of a person who wasn’t going to fail.
Ambrose then grinned and said, “Very well.”
“Atta boy!” Gensai laughed, and without any warning, he rushed inside the burning building with a mad-sounding laugh.
The fire didn’t damage his body, the smoke didn’t clog his mouth, and the ash below his feet didn’t disturb him.
He grabbed his fallen hammer from the ground, and the crimson metal piece. Then, he lifted his hammer, and struck down.
Clang!
Boom!
Another loud explosion sounded, however, Gensai’s mad-sounding laugh followed as he continued hammering down at the crimson metal.
Boom! Boom! Boom!