## Chapter 52 – The Black Mage’s Request
ㅡClang! Clang!
The blacksmith district was always noisy with the sound of hammering iron. A nation thrived when commerce and industry were developed. Somehow, that productive energy made the whole street feel a little warmer. Bare-chested workers carried lumber and goods everywhere, and flames soared from the furnaces. It truly felt like an industrial zone.
I decided to watch each blacksmith shop one by one to decide where to go. Shopping with money was always enjoyable. Shops decorated with swords and armor as signs lined the streets.
What I had decided to buy today were gauntlets to protect my hands and forearms, and a new sword to enhance my combat power. My current sword was getting old, and I had always intended to replace it someday.
Planning to look around first, I entered the blacksmith shop right in front of me.
“Welcome! What are you looking for?”
“Ah, I’d like to see some swords.”
I stopped the employee who was about to guide me and looked around inside.
Inside the blacksmith shop, there were weapons made from piles of bones, like Bone Swords and Bone Spears, along with inefficient shoulder-padded Bone Armor on display. I wondered if it would be incredibly difficult to move your shoulders wearing something like that.
“This is our blacksmith’s pride, the Bonesword. How about one?”
“I’m looking for a sword made of iron.”
A Bonesword was, as the name suggested, a sword made using the bones of monsters. It seemed difficult to maintain and looked like it would break easily, so I was reluctant. I also didn’t like the unnecessary decorations like fangs.
I was a man who pursued practicality over style.
Above all, there was no way the bones of monsters at this level would be more durable than iron. There were rumors that weapons made from the bones of powerful monsters like dragon bones were stronger than iron, but I had never even seen such a thing. I thought a weapon made of rare metal would be better.
Since it seemed to be a bone specialty shop, I came out without hesitation. A bone specialty shop was best left as a bone stew restaurant. Armor made in the shape of ribs and horned skull helmets stimulated my desire to buy, but those were style items, not combat items.
Coming back out onto the street, I looked around a bit more and found a blacksmith shop that seemed to specialize in swords. I went inside.
“Looking for a sword? You’ve come to the right place.”
“I think I really have.”
Oh, a gasp of admiration escaped my lips. Swords of all kinds and sizes were displayed nicely all over the shop. My blood was boiling.
“Hmm… What kind of weapon are you looking for? Judging by your build, a Greatsword might be good for you.”
A greatsword was a weapon carried by soldiers on the battlefield, not something an adventurer would carry. Its large size would only be a hindrance, and it required a lot of skill to handle properly.
I looked around at the swords. There was the powerfully-looking Bakdo, the agile-looking single-edged sword and Rapier, and the Broadsword and Longsword with guards to protect the hand. Not to mention the one-handed swords and shields.
Why wasn’t there a katana? Just kidding.
I was worried about what kind of sword to buy, but one in particular caught my eye.
“Oh… A Bastard sword, that looks good on you too. You have a good eye.”
“Can I hold it?”
“Of course. Ah, I’ll get it for you.”
I received the simply designed bastard sword.
The bastard sword had the hybrid advantage of being able to be wielded with both hands or one hand, but at the same time, it had the disadvantage of being a little short for two-handed use and a little long for one-handed use.
“Good grip.”
However, because I was more physically imposing than most isekai people, these disadvantages didn’t give me any demerits. It was a sword with only advantages for me.
“Good weight.”
It was about 1m long and weighed a little over 1kg.
Good. I decided on this one.
“I’ll take this. How much is it?”
“2 silver and 30 copper.”
There’s no such thing as free happiness, you son of a bitch.
That’s fucking expensive.
“Oh, that’s a bit pricey. Right, sir.”
“Yes?”
“I was thinking of selling this while I’m changing swords, would you take it?”
I handed the employee the sword I had been using until now. I had used it for quite a long time. I hadn’t taken care of it very well, so it was chipped here and there and not in very good condition, but it wasn’t broken, so it didn’t matter.
“Hmm… I think I can buy it for 10 copper.”
“Then can I give this to you and make it 2 silver and 20 copper?”
“Yes. We’ll do that.”
Purchase complete. I left the sword shop.
I inserted the scabbard of the newly purchased bastard sword into my sword belt. The slightly increased weight made me unconsciously straighten my shoulders.
Next, let’s buy a pair of iron gauntlets.
Wearing gauntlets on your hands allowed you to block an opponent’s attack with your forearm in the event of an unexpected situation during combat.
Without gauntlets, you would be defending against an attack that could cut off your arm or break your bones. Survivability increased dramatically. If your skills were similar, the difference in equipment could determine life or death. Gauntlets were something I had wanted to buy for a long time. There was also the added bonus of increased punching power.
“So this is 4 silver? Wow, seriously.”
Of course, they were fucking expensive as much as they were useful. They boasted a price almost twice as high as the bastard sword. I stared at the gauntlets and shouted in amazement.
“One set is two, so 4 silver. It’s a reasonable price.”
“I guess you’re right.”
I was going crazy after achieving the unbelievable feat of spending 6 silver and 20 copper in just one hour. Earning money was fucking hard, but spending it was fucking instantaneous.
But it’s okay because I have the real thing left. These equipments are all my business capital. If I can catch stronger or easier monsters with good equipment, it becomes a meaningful investment.
Anyway, I changed to a good sword and I have reliable gauntlets on both hands. I was seized with the urge to feed them blood right away, but it was a bit late, so I don’t think I can go out of the city.
In the city, the time after noon was an extremely ambiguous time. Even if I went out into the field now, there wouldn’t be much I could do before sunset, and it would be a waste of time to keep playing around.
So I headed to the Adventurer’s Guild.
I needed companions who knew the geography well in order to complete Risha’s request. I didn’t know the geography of Isvant as well as Krasheim. Even if I were to gather materials, I would need to know where they grew first.
“A group of Lesser Drakes has appeared in the northwest.”
“Really? Then all the guys who can use their strength will flock there for a while.”
For some reason, there were quite a few people in the guild. Seeing the guild crowded at this time, I guess the job shortage was really serious. Adventurers with beer glasses in their hands were chatting idly here and there.
“Are you interested in the Jinhon Cult?”
“Are you talking about those cult bastards? I’m not interested.”
“Don’t say that, listen to the story. If you cultivate your mind, your soul can reach a higher level.”
“I think my soul will fly away if I drink three more glasses.”
I ignored their conversation and headed to the bulletin board. Ignoring the jumbled information, I looked for a party that wanted to gather materials.
Hmm… As expected, most of those kinds of parties were F-rank adventurer parties. Because magicians and alchemists undercut the price of materials so much, no one but these low-level adventurers did it.
I might have to join an F-rank adventurer party if necessary, but I didn’t really want to. Working with newbies was more trouble than it was worth.
“Hmm?”
As I was looking around, I spotted a familiar face.
“Gibson?”
It was Gibson.
Not Copson, Gibson. He was a teenage adventurer who was with me when I fucked up a goblin cave last time. I remember him being a decent guy. I called him out of joy.
“Oh, isn’t that Gibson? Nice to see you.”
“Katt? It’s been a while since the goblin incident.”
He recognized me and greeted me too.
Seeing him loitering around the guild at this time, he seemed as free as I was. I didn’t have anyone to ask, so it was good timing. I should ask him.
“Do you have anything to do? I’m free right now.”
“Not really… I was looking for something to do.”
“Hmm, is that so? Actually, I need to find some things for a request.”
“Are you proposing a party? I might join you if it’s not too difficult.”
Got one party member.
“It’s similar. You know, magic herbs and stuff like that? And there’s also Scale Wolves. I need a few of those.”
“Ah, the Scale Wolves have a habitat in the swamp to the east.”
“They’re there?”
“Their hides are usually worth money, so if you’re thinking of hunting them, I might go with you.”
Scale Wolf.
It was literally a wolf covered in scales.
Actually, I don’t even know if it’s a wolf. If a wolf has scales and its severed tail regenerates, is that a lizard or a wolf? When I think about it, it doesn’t look much like a wolf except that it walks on four legs.
It doesn’t seem to have anything to do with wolves, but let’s just call it a wolf since it’s called a wolf. Anyway, this Scale Wolf is a pretty annoying monster. Its scales make it hard to cut, it’s agile, and it’s carnivorous. It’s a predator that easily catches other small monsters, but I fought and won against one by chance last time, so it doesn’t seem to be a problem.
“Party formed.”
“Yes?”
“Very good. Gibson. Let’s go catch Scale Wolves together.”
I formed a party with Gibson. There are usually a lot of material items like magic herbs growing in the swamp. It’s a bit dangerous, but if we gather two more people with reasonable skills, we can make a decent profit.
Gibson and I put up the title of hunting Scale Wolves in the [Eastern Swamp] and recruited party members.
“You’re going to catch Scale Wolves? Let me join.”
Before long, we succeeded in recruiting two people who were loitering around the guild. The first person was an older-looking middle-aged adventurer who used an axe and was an E-rank adventurer. His name was Morris. He was quite large.
Hmm, it must be hard to make a living as an adventurer at that age.
“You said you’re going to the Eastern Swamp? All E-rank? Then how about me?”
The next person to come was a female E-rank adventurer named Claudia with brown skin and light purple hair. She was wearing tight clothes and a hood. Unusually, she was carrying two curved swords on her waist. Could she be the rumored dual swordsman? This guy knows a little about style.
After the four party members finished their party procedures, Claudia cheerfully compared her height to mine and said.
“You look like you can use your strength? From Mirkeisha? You can make some money.”
“Haha, you look like you can use your swords too. And yes, I’m from Mirkeisha.”
Judging by her brown skin, this woman seems to be from another race or something. But I’ve never seen anyone use dual swords in my life… Dual swordsmanship is a very difficult swordsmanship. Could she be a great master? Or maybe she’s just carrying one main and one spare.
After that, the four party members briefly introduced themselves and agreed to finish their preparations for departure by the next morning and meet in front of the east gate.
After parting ways with them, I went straight to the general store and bought some miscellaneous items and a sack that I could carry on my back. Since I would have to gather material items and bring them to Risha in the future, a sack was essential.
I could put the leather and those shocking specific body parts of the monsters in here, and put the plant-based materials in the pouch I had attached to my belt.
