Chapter 186: The Blacksmith’s Commitment.

Chapter 186: The Blacksmith’s Commitment.

Tch, fuck no! As if!

It was a new day; well, technically, it was still the 30th of WinterMoon since the battle began after midnight. News of what happened yesterday had already spread around Cedaraille like wildfire.

The majority of the nobles already knew, as theyd fought alongside the Duke of Greenveil against the [Molten Core Rachonoid], and, once morning came, the rest of the people from the noble district would have been informed, I believe. The same thing was also going on in the merchant, middle, and lower districts due to the scavengers, adventurers, and soldiers spreading the story. Even if you hadnt heard this from the citys criers or through gossip, the scorched memento right outside the citys wall was enough evidence.

As somebody staying in an inn in the merchant district, I was well aware of the number one hot topic. The innkeeper, who stayed up late from all the commotion, even asked my party for details, as he knew we were inside the dungeon for over a week. He was quite overjoyed when he learned we were on the frontlines, mumbling how this information would sell well to the merchants. He deduced merchants would line up in front of the nobles houses for the materials, at least figuratively.

The Sarlenzia Company will benefit a ton from this if the Duke orders them to export the materials. Really helps that theyre so close with each other, maybe even more if what the Duke implied with his daughter

That was private business between the Duke and Ellaine. Id probably ask her about it later, but for today, there was something more important.

I need to forge the rock into my new hammer, Grimnir greeted me the moment I went down the stairs of the inn I was staying at. It was already noon and it seemed he waited until I was awake. Im about to make it and I want you and Aurora to see me create it. If you want your gear, then you should learn how it all starts.

Saori and Ellaine declined. Saori wanted to meet her students and Ellaine had already seen how blacksmiths work when her father commissioned his armor, so she went with Saori. The students were completely fatigued despite drinking some dragorade, so they decided to rest, while Yorshka told me she had to inform the Nordor Dragonewt clan of my birth, survival, and safety. That meant my dragon mother would learn about it but it was better than what Cernust warned me about an invasion army of silver-scaled dragonkins.

In the end, only Tasianna and I accompanied Grimnir. He grumbled about our disinterest in an important staple in an adventurers life, leading the way with a disgruntled expression. I thought we were going to his RV home in the lower district, but we actually ended up in the middle districts artisan neighborhood. This district consisted of merchants, eateries, workshops, guilds, and generally the middle-income residents in comparison to everybody else.

As an adventurer, this area was where you went for most of your gear, potions, and work. Not only could you find the hunters and mercenary guilds here but also the alchemy and blacksmith guilds. The noise of busy workers, loud foremen, and negotiating merchants filled my ears as we slipped through the crowd.

Grimnir, if you need minerals or metals, we already have a ton from the Sarlenzia Trading Company and we can smelt most of the salvaged voldunna armor. Why are we here? I asked Grimnir, worried he might have lost his way.

However, Grimnir just looked at me with pity, as if I had no idea what I was talking about. Lass, here is another lesson as a Peolyncian inhabitant: the hammer is the most important tool for a blacksmiths success. Endurance and technique wont get you far if your hammer is of the same quality as an apprentices first work. Where we are going is the one place I would have never thought to go to, but honor be damned if I cant repay a debt.

I remembered Grimnir mentioning how a hammer would melt and bend during the smelting process if it werent resistant enough against higher temperatures. Cause making armor from my scales required incredibly high temperatures, something as hot as my dragon breath, Grimnir required a hammer made from that molten voldunna core that could withstand that heat. I already gave it to him after the spider queen raid, so why isnt he making one right now? Does he need a bigger forge?

The Tunging Hammer and the Iron Crevasse were considered rivals for the title of the best according to the blacksmith guild, making them the most reputable smithies in town. Conveniently operating directly across the street from each other, the area between them was incredibly busy, primarily cause of all the customers inside the two shops and the workers enjoying lunch at the street vendors. In fact, the members and workers on either side were acting like sports fans, hyping up their faction with too much energy.

Considering the city was nearly destroyed last night, people are going on with their lives normally. Kinda makes the effort we put in to stop the rachonoid totally worth it.

People noticed us. A dragonewt priestess with a decorative white robe, a wind elf in a conspicuous maid dress, and a ram-horned taz dwarf without a beard which he tragically lost in his fight against a B rank volchark were traveling together in one group. People were talking about it, wondering if we were customers and which shop we would frequent.

And the one Grimnir chose was the Tunging Hammer!

Oh, fuck, yeah! I knew it!

Shit! What the fuck!

People were becoming celebrative and rambunctious at the same time like rowdy fans in a packed football stadium. Smug-looking customers of the Tunging Hammer were slinging slurs at the other lane, calling out how their shop was better just cause a dwarf decided to frequent them. We are good enough for a dwarf! they all shouted, causing the Iron Crevasse side to bite their nails and lose some neutral customers.

What was the actual reason?

Their shop looks less packed, Grimnir told us under all the shouting and cackles.

The blacksmith workshop was divided into two sections - the shop consisted of half of the first and second floor, while the smithy was right behind the counter in the second half of the first floor, similar to Ognis shop in Firwood. In terms of size, Ognis small shop was a far cry from how large the Tunging Hammer was. The first floor was like a small 7-Eleven while, after leaving Grimnir at the counter and going up to explore, we found the second floor to be about as large as a medium-sized clothing store. There was an assortment of weapons on the ground floor, but most customers preferred browsing the goods upstairs, leaving those with commissions downstairs.

Listening around, it seems that all the shops salesmen were actually blacksmith apprentices, led by a single veteran as their supervisor. While they werent charismatic like merchants, the adventurers didnt seem to mind it too much as the purpose of these apprentices was for them to use and train their [Blacksmiths Appraisal]. The most important skill for a blacksmith next to [Blacksmithing] and maybe [Metalworking].

Blacksmiths Appraisal

Allows the identification of any equipment-type item which includes: weapons, armor, mana tools, and manatech. Only given by the God of Blacksmithing, Bleidla, as a blessing to newly initiated blacksmiths, this skill allows the user to learn all the parameters of a weapon while aiding them during the smelting process. A higher level allows more accurate System assistance, granting the user more information

Kraftja was a blacksmith, like her husband, Ogni, but she mostly manned the stores counter with her [Blacksmiths Appraisal] skill. Parameters like the Attack Power of a weapon or the Defensive Power of armor were paramount for an adventurer to know before they made a purchase, which was why a blacksmith was needed to act as the salesman for an equipment shop. Since those in this shop were apprentices, it must be part of their training.

Tch, fuck no! As if!

And that was how we got here.

As Tasianna pointed out a commotion downstairs, we went down to check it out. There, we saw a group of topless, burly men covered in sweat and metal dust, wearing aprons with pockets full of tools like hammers and chisels as well as a few other implements. Some had crossed their arms while others had their hands on their hips, but all of them were looking at Grimnir with annoyance and dissatisfaction.

Grimnir, looking moody as always, responded by snorting at them, small flickering flames came out from his nose unexpectedly. Grimnirs armor was completely destroyed during our dungeon dive, so he was back in his blacksmiths garb, albeit still wearing a shirt as he hasnt begun working yet.

The last thing I need is some disgraced blacksmith hammering inside my forge as if it's normal. Damn you dwarf, you came into this city with your shitty attitude, and you expect us to open the doors so you can use our smithy to forge something? Fuck no! I aint risking Bleidlas wrath! the human blacksmith standing in front of the others spat out, staring Grimnir down with a grimace. Considering he said my forge, this was probably the owner of the Tunging Hammer

With their boss trying to shoo Grimnir out, the other smiths began to step up in support. Were well aware of tazongn customs, zuekluk. You dishonored yourself, taz. Whatever the fuck you did, your clan found it horrendous enough to cut off all the crustlock from your beard and hair. Be happy you didnt lose your ears, too!

Zuekluk meant Dishonorable dwarf while crustlock alluded to the rock hair dwarves were supposed to have on their beard and hair, a sign of prestige and their accomplishments, at least according to Tasiannas conversations with Grimnir while practicing her dwarven. Grimnir, compared to Ogni and Kraftja, only had the rock hide on his ears when we first met him, a racial feature dwarves were born with.

Ha, let me guess, the reason why your beard is gone is cause it burned off, yeah? How does it feel being careful around a fire like us humans, huh, dwarf? Does your pride still exist after being clean-shaven? Or are you gonna spout how much better you still are, huh? I already knew there was some animosity between the local blacksmith guild and Grimnir. However, I didnt think it would be this bad. I anticipated a rivalry, not full-blown hatred.

I wanted Grimnir to defuse this situation, but with his personality, that was a bit wishful. Hmpf! Of course! My techniques alone are far better than every single smith in this damn city. Its unquestionable, regardless if Bleidla has abandoned me or not! By Crustacias twintails, I aint here to squabble with you, Im here to borrow your hammer so I can forge mine!

There was a commotion. The loyal customers watching this confrontation couldnt keep quiet at this challenge to their favorite smithy. They were shouting and spitting insults at Grimnir for coming into the shop and belittling the workshop owner and its employees. Although I was on Grimnirs side, I couldnt help but acknowledge their frustration from how he worded it.

Before it escalated again, I stepped up to stop them. I apologize, but what exactly is the commotion? Mister Grimnir, what is happening?

Seeing me, a noble priestess of Aurena, speaking up, most of the onlookers became uneasy and the noise dwindled, although I could still hear people whispering their dissatisfaction at Grimnir. Grimnir, himself, didnt give them a second thought and answered my question, saying, The reason why we came here, lass. I need to create my hammer and to do that, I need to borrow somebody elses hammer to do so, preferably a high-quality one.

I thought you needed a larger forge? If you need a stronger hammer, we have the funds, we can just buy it for you, no problem. Its an investment.

Its not that easy, Lady Priestess. The one to reply wasnt Grimnir, but the owner of the Tunging Hammer, Johark. He still had a grimace on his face, but it seemed to have softened a bit.

Since my knowledge of blacksmithing was pretty much only surface-level, only knowing that stronger monster materials created better equipment, Johark gave me a short explanation of what Grimnir wanted. In short, when Grimnir said hammers were the most important tools for a blacksmith, he wasnt just stating the obvious; hammers were primarily responsible for a weapons stats and the quality of its skills.

The sturdiness and heat resistance of a hammer werent the only things that made a good hammer good, the Attack Power and the skills embedded into it also affected how well gear created with it would come out. A good blacksmith wasnt just somebody with incredible technique, endurance, and patience, but also someone who has meticulously created numerous hammers. Use a good hammer to create a better hammer, then repeat this cycle until your better-better hammer becomes the best hammer. This was one of the main money-sinks for a blacksmith.

Apprentices usually start off with a crude, skill-less hammer to create their first personal one. Since monster materials and special ores affected the strength of a hammer, blacksmiths had to accumulate money for their next upgrade. Experience was important, but assuring you had the right materials was a major concern for every blacksmith apprentice. Cedaraille having a dungeon wasnt just a blessing for adventurers, but also for all equipment artisans.

I aint starting from zero. The amount of investment to get a lowly hammer up to what I need would take too long, I aint making you wait that long, lass. I heard the Tunging Hammer and the Iron Crevasse were the only smithies in Cedaraille to have hammers made from B rank materials; both belong to the shops respective owners, Grimnir finally explained it to me in detail.

But Johark couldnt care less of his explanation, rejecting his request entirely. Pah! You think Ill just say yes? Fuck no! First, I aint risking Bleidlas anger by letting you use it, I aint risking my business! Second, youre here for a favor but all I hear from you is damn scorn setting your pride aside to ask a favor from a human while looking down on us is what makes you dwarven blacksmiths patronizing and arrogant! Get the fuck out of my smithy, you have no friends here!

He then turned to me, forcing himself to calm down. Lady Priestess, if you have a request, I can personally show you what a human blacksmith can do. I can turn any B rank material into what you want.

Hrmmmk! Grimnir growled as veins appeared on his thick forehead.

This is problematic.

As I was shaking my head at the heated quarrel between the two of them, Tasianna stepped forward with a nonchalant expression. May I suggest a competition?

Huh? Grimnir and Johark let out in surprise, the tension in the shop giving way to confusion.

My Lady is seeking the highest-quality equipment Cedaraille can produce, regardless of who it comes from. Our companion requires sturdy armor, armor fit to protect My Lady. So, I suggest we decide on the blacksmith with a competition, to see who is fit to work on the commission. The materials we have are all B rank, we cannot risk losing them.

I looked over at Grimnir, who gave me an affirmative nod. It seems he agreed to Tasiannas plan. I am looking for scaled armor, preferably ones made from my own scales. If its a competition, I believe it would give me a glimpse of who is more qualified for this work. Considering how many scales you have to add to the armor, this should be a time-intensive procedure, correct?

Dragonewts love creating armor using their scales, its a status symbol if an armor made from them comes out well. The lass is asking for armor made in the style of her homeland. Can you really do it? Grimnir's eyes blazed up, challenging Johark with a smirk. Without his beard, the smugness level was going through the roof.

Oi, Grimnir, Im trying to help you here! Make friends! Stop looking like that!

Johark frowned at Grimnirs agreement to the challenge, looking slightly anxious. The crowd and his employees were egging him on to join the competition, stating he should show the workshops hard work and maintain their honor in front of Grimnir. As Johark continued to hesitate, the crowd suddenly made way for a single person to enter the shop.

Yo, Johark. Dressed similarly like a blacksmith, only with a shirt on, the beardless man waved at the owner of the Tunging Hammer.

Daniel? Johark responded. According to the crowd, Daniel seemed to be the owner of the Iron Crevasse. What are you doing here?

What else but agreeing to a high-profile customers request. Lady Priestess, youre speaking about a ton of B rank materials, yeah? No jest?

I nodded.

Thats all I needed to hear! Makes my blood boil in anticipation of what I can work with. Whatever comes out of that is something Bleidla will definitely acknowledge! If youre starting a competition for the best blacksmith to make your armor, then the number one forge in all Cedaraille should be the one fighting for the commission! He then turned back to Johark, smirking similarly as Grimnir. Come on, Johark, or is speaking all you can do, huh? Were both apprentices of Master Hreik, the best blacksmith in the whole kingdom. Where is your pride as a blacksmith, huh, or are you gonna throw in the towel against somebody without [Blacksmiths Appraisal]?

Whoooo? Hreik? Grimnir expressed his interest in this Hreik person, impressed when Daniel mentioned them. Now thats a human even a dwarf can respect. Somebody willing to go nights without food just to finish a piece of armor. If you two are his apprentices, then I really did underestimate the blacksmiths in this city Or youre just another two who assume working a year under him makes you an apprentice. Ha!

Those words were the deciding point. Johark returned a stare filled with commitment at Grimnir, accepting his challenge. If either of us wins, you will bow and apologize for all your hubris. One of us will take the commission and you can wallow somewhere Bleidla cant see you, Johark stated, anger leaking into his voice.

Ha! If I lose, Ill give up on blacksmithing entirely. However, if I win, you two will loan me your hammers and allow me to use your forge to create my own hammer. No complaints, no crying.

The rules were simple. D rank slazzanbal scales, iron, and eoriant were the only materials they were able to use to produce a single slazzanbal scalemail for evaluation. We decided on only the scalemail simply cause a full set of scale armor would take far too long. The competitors were only allowed to use an ordinary hammer to smith. This was a competition to test out the blacksmiths skill, technique, knowledge, and dexterity, after all, and not who had the best gear.

Making the competition fair by removing sources of skill-boosting bonuses was our way to give Grimnir as many advantages as possible. All three blacksmiths must rely on their skill alone to win. Of course, there was still the hurdle of [Blacksmiths Appraisal] Grimnir was the only one of the three who didnt have it which allowed you to properly assess everything you need to know while forging. The temperature of the fire, the heat of the metal, the locations to hit, how much strength should be placed into every hit, and so many more variables.

I giggled a bit, before turning back to Grimnir. Hie hie you meant the ninth member. We have four garms, dont forget. Tasianna then dispelled the air bubble, allowing everybody to hear my next words. Youre hired!

[Taz Dwarf, Grimnir Luedbrumdar] has received the title [Hestias Retainer] and is now your follower

1 dwarf has become your followers

Total follower count updated. Total follower of [Young Sunfang Dragon, Hestia Atsuko Kargryxmor]:441

Things calmed down from thereon, at least, between Grimnir and the blacksmiths of Cedaraille. While Grimnir won in the end, both Johark and Daniel were ecstatic to watch him work, asking if he could show his skills to them more, intending to use him as a way to train up their employees while also bettering themselves. Grimnir accepted it, after all, he still had to make his new hammer.

I handed over some voldunna ore, corrosive obsidian, and some of my scales to Grimnir. He intended to first create a placement hammer with Joharks hammer and then finish a hammer using the voldunna core I gave him. This took a while. About four days, actually, but what came out was something Grimnir couldnt help but brag about.

I had already told Ellaine and Saori about Grimnir joining us and that we will most likely renovate his RV to fit all of us. Both agreed to my decision, believing a blacksmith would be a great addition to Aurora. Ellaine was especially ecstatic as she gained an artificer tutor aside from her mother, and also a traveling method that didnt involve her having to walk.

This girl I should probably force her to walk next to the damn RV at this rate! She needs to build up Stamina!

After the four days were over, Yorshka also returned from her trip to Firwood. The Misfits arent done yet, we have some more free time people~

Yorshka had sent a message to her clan to be delivered to my dragon mother. The Magical Biscuits decided to spend time with Saori. Me? Well, Tasianna, Ellaine, Grimnir, Yorshka, and I decided to enter the dungeons depths again.

It was time for me to finally learn about my draconic heritage.

A note from AbyssRaven

I bet you guys thought I would add another girl, right?!

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About the author

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Sunday, July 18, 2021 12:25:16 AM Germany [Member of Zard Skwad]

Bio: Hey there, AbyssRaven here. I'm just an avid Light Novel and Fantasy story reader who randomly thought of a story and began writing about it.

I eventually found out that I've been spending a bit too much time with building, planning, and researching for the story, that I've decided to just share it with others.

Writing is mostly a hobby for me, but I would still love any kind of criticism to improve on it.

I'm also german, so please excuse anything that sounds a bit weird...I wouldn't mind you pointing it out though.

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