Though he was certain that he had read it correctly, Aster could not help but blink and rub his eyes a few times to make sure that what he was reading was not a mere hallucination. Seeing that the class on the screen did not change even after a while, he eventually got over his disbelief as he looked at Valyr with a newfound sense of awe.
“A True Prodigious Blacksmith…” Taking in a few deep breaths, Aster eventually told Valyr that he had seen enough, prompting the latter to close the screen as he gave the middle-aged man time to process what he had just seen.
Fortunately, it did not take long for Aster to accept the fact that Valyr had the True Prodigious Blacksmith class, even thinking that it was only proper for someone like him to obtain a class with that high of a rarity.
Though, now that he knew Valyr’s current class, Aster’s mind could not help but return to the incident where Valyr had been ambushed, now gaining a far better understanding of what might have been the reason for the ambush.
‘With a Mythic production class… the chances of the reason being that is very likely.’ After pondering over it for a bit, Aster decided to tell Valyr his findings, catching the latter’s attention before opening his mouth.
“I think I know why you were ambushed, Valyr,” he told him. “In fact, I have a feeling that you’ve thought about the reason in the past, but just didn’t have enough concrete evidence to ascertain it.”
In response, Valyr raised his eyebrow in curiosity, pondering over what Aster meant by him thinking of the reason behind the ambush in the past. Though, once he figured out what Aster meant, his eyes slightly widened, waiting to hear the words from Aster’s mouth that might confirm his suspicions. “You mean…?”
“It’s highly likely that the ambush was done because of your class, Valyr.” Hearing those words, Valyr could not help but pump his fists in his mind from the feeling of having someone think the same way as him. Though, just as he expected to hear from Aster that the ambush was also because someone wanted him dead, Valyr was instead given something else.
“However, it’s not because someone wants you dead. Instead, there’s a high chance it was a test.”
“Hmm?” Hearing Aster’s words, Valyr could not help but knit his brows in slight confusion as he tried to recall what had transpired during the ambush.
“Think about it, Valyr. If something truly wanted you dead, you wouldn’t be here right now.” Saying these words, Aster looked at Valyr, waiting for the latter to process the information he had just dropped on him.
Fortunately, even though it took a few minutes, Valyr eventually noticed that the whole incident felt somewhat peculiar, especially the part before where he lost consciousness. At that moment, the words of the man that fought against him echoed in his mind.
‘In any case, since you’ve shown me a good fight, I’ve decided to spare your life. I’ll just find a way to prove to that person who hired me that you’re dead.’
‘Get stronger. It wouldn’t be interesting if you didn’t.’
“Ah…” With these words lingering in his mind, Valyr could not help but look at Aster, hoping that the man would talk more about it.
“So, I was right, huh.” Seeing as Valyr’s attention was fully focused on him, Aster inwardly nodded before deciding to explain the conclusion he had arrived at after finding out the most likely reason for the ambush.
“Before I continue, keep in mind that there is only a possibility that the words that will come out of my mouth are true, not the truth itself.” Of course, knowing that he was just basing it off the greater bank of knowledge afforded to him by living most of his life at a core city, Aster decided to warn Valyr that there was a chance his conjecture may be wrong.
In response, Valyr told him that he would keep that in mind, prompting Aster to lightly nod before continuing.
“So, as I’ve mentioned before, the ambush you’ve experienced was a test, specifically a test done by the Blacksmith Guild. After all, class guilds keep records of their members’ classes, no matter if it’s just a common class or an incredibly rare one.”
“But why would they do that?” Valyr could not help but find it odd that the Blacksmith Guild would use an ambush as a test. Fortunately, Aster’s response would clarify it for him.
“It’s because the Blacksmith Guild is wanting to test your combat strength.”
“Isn’t the Blacksmith Guild more focused on forging, though? Why would they test my combat strength instead of my proficiency in forging?”
“That’s because they’re checking to see if you’re fit as a candidate.” Hearing these words, Valyr only felt even more confusion.𝞸𝑣𝔩xt.𝗇𝓔t
“A candidate? A candidate for what?”
“A candidate for an inheritance,” Aster told him, prompting Valyr to go silent as he waited for the former to continue.
“They’re checking to see if you’re fit as a candidate for an inheritance. Specifically, the Four Pillars’ Inheritance.”
“What’s the Four Pillars’ Inheritance?” Hearing this question come out of Valyr’s mouth, Aster recalled the multiple times a few of his clan members were chosen in the past to take part in this inheritance.
With the knowledge he had accumulated regarding the inheritance, he soon opened his mouth to respond. “The Four Pillars’ Inheritance is considered the most important inheritance to ever exist. Though I’m not sure as to why it’s considered to be the most important inheritance, the inheritance needs four candidates in order for it to open, specifically candidates with Legendary production classes and above.”
“To be more exact, a tailor, an alchemist, a sage…”
“And a blacksmith.”
At that moment, Valyr could not help but scour through his memories in his past life, wondering if he had ever come across the Four Pillars’ Inheritance before. From how Aster was making it sound, the Four Pillars’ Inheritance seemed to be an incredibly important inheritance for those who had any of the four classes the man mentioned.
Yet after searching for quite some time, he had found no memory regarding the inheritance at all. Wondering as to why, a thought eventually surfaced in his mind. ‘Is it because the inheritance only existed before the first version of Greater Beyond even began?’
Keeping a mental note to find out the answer to this question in the future, Valyr continued to listen to Aster’s explanation.
“With how the Four Pillars’ Inheritance is considered an incredibly important inheritance, a guild comprised of the four production classes I’ve mentioned earlier was created, solely for the purpose of nurturing candidates that would enter the inheritance. Its name?”
“The Imperial Production Guild.”
“And I have a feeling that they’re already searching the entire continent to find you after that test.”