As they approached the towering city walls of Avrion, Ray unsummoned Noir. The walls were far too high for her to scale. Leaving the city had been easier, as they could leap from rooftop to rooftop, making the height difference negligible, but returning required a different approach.
Even though it was late, Avrion remained bustling with merchants and cargo coming in and out at all hours. Ray needed only to wait for the right opportunity. As the gates opened to allow a caravan through, he slipped past the guards unnoticed, blending effortlessly into the shadows.
Back at the academy, Ray returned to his dormitory, silently slipping into bed without making a sound.
The next morning, his roommates quickly noticed his late return, though they were used to him disappearing without explanation. However, what surprised them were the two gauntlets he had brought back.
"Where did you get those?" Gary asked, eyeing the weapons curiously.
"The old man gave them to me. Since I'm his only student, he wants me to do well in the upcoming tournament."
Gary muttered under his breath, "Maybe I joined the wrong club."
Ray noticed a flicker of disappointment in Gary, Monk, and Ian's eyes. Unlike Slyvia, Martha, and Dan, who came from affluent families and received support, they did not have the luxury of owning beast gear.
"Maybe you guys will be able to get something in the next hunt," Ray said in an attempt to lift their spirits.
That seemed to cheer them up. With the hunt scheduled for tomorrow, they would be heading back into the forest. If Ray used his Dragon Eyes, he could guide them to areas where intermediate-tier beasts roamed, increasing their chances of obtaining valuable crystals.
For now, it was their designated rest day. While the others went off to play games and eat at a restaurant, Ray had other plans—he needed to visit the blacksmith. His goal was to have the fanged boar crystal crafted into a chest piece. He had more than enough crystals to cover the cost.
The blacksmith area was located within the academy. As Ray entered the shop, he found the same scrawny man with glasses standing behind the counter.
"Hi there. Would you be able to tell me what this can be used for?" Ray asked, handing over the Voli Bear crystal.
The blacksmith pulled out a circular lamp-like device and examined it closely. "Ah, the Voli Bear crystal. This is an intermediate class," he remarked before glancing at Ray. "These bears are known for their tough defense. This would be ideal for forging into a shield."
Ray frowned. A shield was useless to him—he preferred swords or his own fists. Trading it for work on the fanged boar crystal was an option, but it seemed wasteful.
"Are you actually going to buy something, or are you just here to get me to do free work?" the blacksmith asked impatiently.
Ray ignored his attitude and pulled out ten basic-tier crystals, placing them on the counter alongside the fanged boar crystal.
"Would you be able to turn this into a chest piece? You said you could last time."
The blacksmith counted the crystals before shaking his head. "You need another ten."
Ray's brows furrowed. "You told me last time that a basic crystal is worth 100, and the cost of crafting is 1,000."
The blacksmith scoffed. "Well, the price has changed. You can take it or leave it."
Ray's frustration flared. The pricing structure for students was supposed to be fixed, ensuring the academy didn't profit from the work. Yet the blacksmith was now charging as much as an external shop. His blood boiled, and for a moment, he had the urge to knock the man out and shove a crystal down his throat.
"Can I ask why the price has changed, or should I just report you?" Ray challenged.
The blacksmith smirked. "Someone like you wouldn't be able to collect these crystals honestly. They're stolen. The extra charge is for my silence."
Ray's muscles tensed. This was bad. If the blacksmith reported him to the master knights, they might interrogate him about how he had obtained the crystals. Even though they weren't stolen, how could he explain his abilities?
"Fine." Ray reached into his pouch and pulled out another ten basic-tier crystals.
The blacksmith hesitated, clearly surprised. His smug demeanor faltered.
"Here," Ray said, tossing the fanged boar crystal onto the counter. "Just do a good job."
The blacksmith hurriedly gathered the crystals before retreating into the forge. The sound of clashing metal and the heat from the room intensified as he began his work. As Ray waited, the shop's doorbell chimed.
"Oh, hi, Ray! What are you doing here?"
It was Slyvia. She had come to search for new equipment in preparation for the upcoming hunt. After some small talk, Ray explained what had happened with the blacksmith. Her expression darkened with anger.
"How could he do that? We're all students at the academy!"
Before Ray could stop her, Slyvia stormed behind the counter and into the forge. Heated yelling ensued between her and the blacksmith. When she finally emerged, she held ten basic-tier crystals in her hand.
"Here, I got them back for you," she said with a triumphant smile.
Ray took the crystals, grateful. "Thank you."
Then, a thought crossed his mind. He reached into his pouch and pulled out the Voli Bear crystal. "Why don't you take this? I don't need it. Think of it as my way of saying thanks for getting my crystals back."
Slyvia's cheeks turned pink. "I can't take this. This is worth way more than just ten crystals."
"Please, I really have no use for it."
After a bit of back-and-forth, Slyvia eventually gave in and accepted the crystal.
Some time later, the blacksmith finally returned with the finished chest piece. He presented a dark brown armor plated with black metal, with tufts of fur lining the gaps between the plates. Ray took the piece, feeling its durability.
To his surprise, the blacksmith bowed his head. "I apologize for everything, sir. I didn't realize you were friends with the Heart family."
Ray glanced at Slyvia, who simply smiled back at him.
With the armor now in his hands, he was ready for whatever challenges awaited tomorrow.