Vol. 2 - Ch. 22 - Marihaba's Hunter [Part 2]

Ash and Clara headed for the blacksmith shop located at the northwest end of the central plaza.Passing through the sales area riddled with cooking utensils, tableware, etc., they headed for the counter that separated the front sales area from the blacksmith shop in the back.

"I'd like to embed an Enhancement Stone." Ash said, placing the stiletto and the Red Attribute Stone on the counter.

The Milma, who was on shift, took them in her hand and answered, "This already has an Enhancement Stone on it. I'll have to charge you a removal fee. Are you fine with that?"

"Isn't the removal free the first time?"

"Wait, you're that newbie from the other day. You're right. It's free. However, the embedding fee is free only the first time, so I'll have to charge you 100 Duri."

"That's fine."

After Ash paid the specified amount, the Milma got to work.

Sprinkling white powder on the Blue Enhancement Stone embedded in the stiletto, she sealed the area around it with what looked like a bandage. She then gently placed it into a square stone vessel filled with a clear liquid.

Soon, the liquid emitted a faint glow, and the Milma pulled the stiletto up. Following that she removed the bandage and the Enhancement Stone plopped right off.

Wiping the liquid off the stiletto with a cloth, the Milma placed the removed Enhancement Stone on the counter.

"I'll return the Enhancement Stone first."

"That was way easier than I imagined."

"Doesn't make it any cheaper though. Oh, and by the way, for every grade the fee for both embedding and removal goes up by 100 Duri."

"Life on this island must be tough."

Ash let out a sigh and put the Blue Attribute Stone he received away in his pouch.

Meanwhile, the Milma moved on to the embedding process.

She placed the Red Attribute Stone into the hole in the stiletto's handle and sprinkled red powder on top of it.

After which, she gently placed the stiletto in a large-mouthed furnace and closed the door.

Finally, she pulled down the lever attached to the side of the furnace.

Immediately after a heavy sound rang, smoke began to leak from the thick tube that extended from the top of the furnace with a sizzling sound. The smoke did not stay inside the room but went out through the ventilation openings in the ceiling.

Ash had already seen this process once, so he knew that all he had to do now was wait.

Clara, on the other hand, spoke while looking at the swordbreaker, "Aren't you embedding this one?"

"This one is only for receiving attacks. There's a limit to how much I can increase its attack power. Instead, I'll hold off until I happen upon an Abnormal Status Enhancement Stone, like poison or paralysis."

"In that case, they're all yours if they drop." Clara exclaimed

"Sounds good. In turn, you'll get all the Magic Stones."

"S-Sure! I like this atmosphere. We really do feel like a team!" she said, her eyes sparkling with excitement.

To some it might have seemed like an overreaction, however it was not unreasonable for somebody like Clara.

While Clara and Ash spoke, the Milma finished the Enhancement Stone's embedding process.

She pulled up the furnace's lever, opened the door and took out the stiletto.

The Red Attribute Stone was firmly attached to its handle.

"Here you go. Please come again." The Milma said, handing the stiletto over to Ash.

Although he'd only been away from the stiletto for a short while Ash still ran his hand over the handle to get a good feel for it.

"Phew! You have quite the unusual combination of weapons there."

Suddenly, a voice called out to Ash from behind him.

Turning around Ash noticed a lone challenger looking at him with interest.

Their eyes were sharp and determined, and their snow-white skin seemed fragile, as if it would melt in a heartbeat.

Ash couldn't figure out if they were male or female.

The abnormally large bangs and short black hair also did not aid him in the slightest.

They'd wrapped their slender but toned body in a revealing outfit that exposed the shoulders. Sᴇaʀᴄh the ɴ0velFɪre.nᴇt website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of nøvels early and in the highest quality.

Also, no fullness could be seen around their chest area.

However, that alone was not enough to judge the person as a male.

The challenger in front of Ash looked a little uncomfortable, perhaps because Ash was staring at them.

"I wasn't trying to peep. I'm sorry if I have offended you." the person explained.

"No, that's fine. That aside, you are?" Ash asked.

"I'm Luna Pistacha. Sorry for showing up out of nowhere."

The challenger in front of Ash - Luna - smiled briskly, and the ornament hanging from their ears swayed.

The ornament looked like a round crystal wrapped in a silver hexagram.

Furthermore, the way they spoke told Ash that they were quite the sophisticated person.

"I'm Ash and this is Clara."

"H-Hello..."

Luna smiled at Clara, who backed away as she greeted Luna.

"She's on guard." Luna remarked, smiling.

"She's just shy. That aside, your name... Are you from Marihaba by any chance?"

"Cover me impressed... I didn't think anyone knew about Marihaba."

Luna's eyes fluttered, showing they were quite surprised.

"I used to travel all over the world. I think the last time I visited there was about 3-4 years ago."

"Then we've just missed one another. I left Marihaba 5 years ago."

"If we had met then this would've been a fateful reunion." Ash teased.

"I'd prefer not doing that with other men."

"That makes two of us."

In an attempt to ascertain Luna's gender, Ash had ventured to make a joke, which fortunately bore fruit and revealed that Luna was, in fact, a man.

While this was going on, Clara tugged at the edge of Ash's clothes.

"Hey, Ash... Ash. What's Marihaba?"

"It's a place deep in the mountains of the northeast continent. Hunting tribes that are good with bows live there."

"Oh my! But how did you know that Luna is from Marihaba?"

"Pistacha is a title given to the bravest in Marihaba. That means Luna is the strongest warrior there."

"Whoa!" Clara exclaimed, prompting Luna to blush slightly.

"Haha... Now you got me all embarrassed."

"Most people there tend to be really quiet, but you don't look like you fit that stereotype, Luna."

"I often get that I'm an odd one. That's probably why you and I seem to get along so well, Ash."

"I'm sorry to break it to you, but I'm pretty normal."

"You're not. You're an odd one as well, Ash." Clara interjected

When Ash glared at her for saying something unnecessary, she gave him a scowl.

Luna chuckled, perhaps amused by their exchange.

"You two seem really close."

"Despite this, she didn't even want to shake my hand at first." Ash joked.

"That's because you're a man, Ash."

"Oh, so it was because I'm a man? Don't you think that's a bit rude?" Ask asked.

"I too think that it's normal for a girl to be wary of men." Luna added.

"See! It's just that you're way too friendly, Ash." Clara exclaimed.

Ash realized that he'd found himself in hostile territory.

When he glared at Luna with a grim look of betrayal, Luna just pretended like nothing had happened.

Luna then glanced toward the blacksmith shop in the back.

"I'd love to talk more, but I have a hunting appointment coming up."

"Sorry for taking your time." Ash remarked.

"Don't be. It's been a while since I've had such a good time. Well then, see you around, Ash, Clara."

"See you."

"S-See you!"

Just as they left the blacksmith shop after parting ways with Luna, Clara spun around and looked back.

She nodded vigorously as she looked toward the shop.

"He's a good person. He took my side!"

"You seem like you'll be easy to fool, Clara."

"Huh? Why?!"

(She really should've come to Dural Island after getting to know the world a bit first. Though, I guess it's too late for that now. Nevertheless, it's no wonder she liked Luna. After all, he's quite friendly. Though, something about him feels off.)