The weapons, armors and accessories listed on [The 40 Ranks of Equipment] have different price, materials, durability, magic, skill and ability on them. Rank 1 until 10 equipment considered as "Non-Magical" (with exception on Rank 1, 2 and 3) because they created by standard or common base materials. Normal blacksmiths can create them as long as you or they have the base materials, tools and money of course.
Meanwhile, Rank 11 or higher equipment normally created by exclusive races (Dwarf, Elf, Fairy, Evailla, Vala, Demon, Ghost, Vampire, Demi-Humans, etc.) with exclusive materials and their price is expensive. They can be found from ancient ruins or dungeons. You also can buy them from special merchants or an auction. For Rank 30 until 38 equipment, you need to obtain them from God-class dungeons or create them with EX-Ranked Materials. The materials can be found in exclusive places such as Yggdrasil World, Dwarven Mines, etc.
Rank 39 equipment can be obtained from Trials held by "Univa Gods" or created by God-class materials and Rank 40 equipment can be obtained from [Paragon Trials] held by Dragon Gods (as observer) and The Maker (as judge). There is a unique trial when Dragon Gods and The Maker bestowed you Paragon-class materials or asked you to find them in the world. After that, you will be ordered to create the weapon by yourself without assistance from anyone. Of course, you need Black Star (★) or higher ranks of [Blacksmithing], [Weapon Creation], [Item Creation], [Item Construction] skills or abilities. The [Paragon] Equipment that created by this trial will has a unique STATs and characteristics.
The price for each of the equipment rank is different depends on the demand, rarity, and stock. I remember, Rank 15 until 40 are rare to appear in market (of course, who wants to sell exclusive items like that). If I recall correctly, the [International Exchange Value] for Equipment Rank 1 until 3 is Copper Coin, Rank 4 until 5 is Bronze Coin, Rank 6 until 10 is Silver Coin, Rank 11 until 14 is Gold Coin. Meanwhile, Rank 15 until 20 is Platinum Coin, Rank 21 until 30 is Mithril Coin, Rank 31 until 37 is Oricalchum Coin, and Rank 38 until 40 is Adamantite Coin.
[International Exchange] itself is a Currency used by Human Race to trade with other races. Since their value is the lowest among 88 other Races and the materials that used to create their currency are easy to obtain, we agreed to use them as [International Exchange Value]. The Human Race was stupid enough to agree with the proposal that we, Elves proposed to them. It is written in history text recording this circumstance,
At that time, they thought that we would keep using their currency instead of making our own currency, so they thought if their currency is used by us, they could control our market value by setting the value of their currency accordingly. They thought that their currency would be dominating the world market since other races haven't developed their own currency yet. However, after the Terra Elf created their own currency and introduced [International Elven Currency] to the world, other races soon follow their lead and created their own currency using rare materials that only available in their home territory.
After other races developed their own currency, many kingdoms stopped using the human currency to trade in their kingdoms, which in turn made the human currency value drop like a rock. From that moment until now, human race currency has the cheapest and lowest value compared to other currencies. Their plan to control foreign kingdom market backfired, and now we can buy Human Race products with cheap price while they can't even afford to but the cheapest Dwarven products with their currency.
"Is this…blatant rip off?" Julio asked while reading my notebook.
"Well technically yes. But the founders of Human Kingdoms were clearly at the fault. They really thought that the Elves, Fairies, and Dwarves don't have any metal that are more worthy than their Old Gods' metals. They overestimate their own value and this is what they got in return. You know…Zeus' [Adamantite Metal] has lower value compared to Anubis' [Anevial Metal]. For us, the Dwarves though we have much more metal with higher value compared to an Adamantite. For example, this [Aurora Steel] that I brought here."
Igrei took a metal ingot that has beautiful rainbow color. The rainbow color is surrounded by deep blue color and little dots that are glimmering like the stars in the night Wina. This is my first time seeing an [Aurora Steel].
"Ugh…my head hurts…your explanation itself is not hard to understand…but those codes, prices and methods make it's harder to understand." Hel rubbed his head. He had awoken after Zikiya started her storytelling.
"Ahaha…don't worry, you will get used to it Hel. But remember, this is one of the most basic adventurer's knowledge, you know. Did your Smith Instructors teach this on the class?"
"Yes, they did, but until now I still can't fully understand that…" Hel shook his head.
"Oh…so that's it. Fumu…Now I have grasped the fundamentals, thank you Igrei-dono, My Lord." Julio nodded few times and returned my notebook. From his expression, it seems that he understands our explanation.
"You understand that confusing explanation?!"
After that, we continued to create weapons while explaining to Hel about the equipment ranks with slower pace and simpler explanation. Well, it seems he finally understand that…a little. We kept working for two heverra straight and finally we finished all of our steelwork at 9.06 A.M.E, right a moment after night raid teams returned from their night hunt with a lot of demonic materials.
Julio and other Knights left the room before us to wash their dirty body. Meanwhile, Rean and Zikiya headed to the entrance to pick the demonic materials the raid teams brought. A moment after they left, Del who passed the room glanced at me and he entered the room to help me who was carrying three boxes full of knife and dagger. I grabbed a cup that Zikiya left and poured in water from the kettle. Then, Del approached me with confused expression.
"Your Highness, may I ask about something?"
"What is it, Del-san?" Then, I drink the water from my cup.
"Was that you who created a plan to bait Yavia-san and Zikiya-san's anger when we fought against Abyssal Reaper?" After hearing that, I spilled out my drink and coughed a bit.
"As expected, it was you White Elf boy. I realized something was fishy when that skull face started to talk. You know, normal Undead Ghost can't talk THAT FLUENTLY or trash talking on that caliber."
I wiped my mouth with my cloth then took a deep breath for a bit. Igrei is looking at me with curious expression.
"Ahaha…you caught me red-handed Del-san, Igrei-san…but please do not tell Zikiya-san or Yavia-san. Otherwise, my head will be lopped off from my shoulder…" I sighed a little.
"Who were you asked to take those roles, Your Highness?" asked Del after he drank his water.
"Khazim, Erick, Toval and Arnold" I rubbed my neck.
"I knew it." Igrei looked me with flat expression then he drank his water.
"But Leader, why you did such—"
"We were in pinch situation Hel, didn't you know that? Our combat power had greatly depleted after the Abyssal Reaper used AoE [Instant Kill] physical attack. If we can't kill it quickly, the Abyssal Reaper will use AoE [Instant Kill] skill that ignore protection, evasion and buff and he used that, maybe only Dark Elves and Holy Elves that will survive from that. That's why I needed to bait Druids, Sages and Priests' anger in order to unleash their hidden power. As you can see, they hold back their power in battle and I still haven't known their reason…"
"You are right, group of Tree-worshippers and God's lapdogs have a great damage multiplier against Demon and Undead. Strangely, majority of them didn't join the battle and choose to keep healing us instead even though many of our Vanguards were defeated."
They promised me to keep that secret. If The Cathedrals or Temples' Priests and Monks found you are trash talking The Gods or asked the people to trash talking The Gods, they will punish you with severe punishment, no matter who you are or status you have.
The punishment can be extreme public service, or the worst is "excommunication" from society. I heard few Human Nobles have "excommunicated" by Lichtiash Equistava Cathedral because they harassed The Light Dragon Gods.
"By the way, why did you ask me that, Del-san?"
"Oh, since the battle I had been wondering why Abyssal Reaper can talk fluently even though they have low [CHA] STAT. But all of my focus is on defeating The Abyssal Reaper back then, so this just came to my mind when I met a Vengeful Ghost with Robert at the slope of a hill."
We talked while walking to the kitchen. Once there, we grabbed some snacks to eat that had been prepared by the girls since early morning. We rest for a half of heverra before Igrei decided to return to the Smithing Room to create metal helmets for the Knights.
However, when Igrei walked to door, Anna rushed inside the kitchen with tired expression. She grabbed a mug filled with water and gulped it in one chug. She is sweating a lot. Probably, she is tired from the night hunt. I guess she was hunting monster pelts and hides for her mother who worked as a leather and cloth armor maker in Midgardia, The Kingdom of Dark Elves.
"Wow, wow, wow!" No need to rush Spriggan!" said Igrei after he dodged Anna.
"Haah! I'm beat…" Anna sits on the floor.
"Anna-chan, finished already?" I fan her with a cutting board to cool her down.
"Yeah…for now…that swarm of monsters…they appeared from north…maybe they tried to…run from [Rain of Chaos]…while the rest of them were lesser demons…haah…haah…"
Anna informed us the number of monsters is around 50.000 until 400.000 on north and around 3000 on south. They appeared because [Rain of Chaos] created massive amount of [Demonic Miasma] and [Demonic Mana] on the atmosphere, with that amount of mana and miasma, anyone can die instantly if they don't wear a protection gear created by The Maker Cathedral, Elementalism Cathedrals and Temples. That kind of environment can also corrupt and transform someone into Demon, Beast, Monster or "Them."
"Why you didn't you tell me sooner?!"
"Whoa, whoa…don't worry Haru-san! The monsters on the north were still roaming there and our location to there is more than 100 KMe. The monsters on the south is still on [Fifth Danger Zone] and they will not run to north because "that". Moreover, they have been taken care of Jordan's group."
"Ohhh…Jordan's group…WHAT DID YOU SAY?!"
"Eh, you didn't know? He just came a few minerval ago, now he is still in longue. Eh wait, Your—"
I left Del and rushed to the longue. Jordan…how long has it been since last time we met? How tall and strong are you right now? Are you still scared and nervous to people? Are you still a crybaby like in the old days? My head is filled with memories about Jordan, Erica, Arianna and me when we were young. I'm getting excited and pumped up to our reunion. I can't wait to meet him again after more or less ten Eelvariash since we separated.
I walked out to the entrance, "Jordan, Long time no—"
I expected a teary reunion, but what I got instead is a Werewolf with white hair who is currently bickering with a Dark Elf that was none other than Robert. They grabbed each other's collar and glaring to each other intensely. Since Robert is also here, no wonder they are aiming at each other's throat. Whenever they meet, they will start fighting for a whole daesh nonstop. It happened so often that I have gotten used with this.
"GIVE HIM HELL!" Khazim and Toval shouted to Jordan and Robert, followed by other boys.
I walked in with Julio and Hel when their fight is about to start. Jack and the girls were trying to stop them but they are totally ignored. When they noticed me approaching them, they suddenly stop bickering at each other.
"Yo—Boss! Great you are still alive!"
He walked to me and reaching out his hand to me. However, when I almost grabbed it, he suddenly pulled out his hand and kneeling down in front of me. The people who shouted at them and the people who have been skinning the demonic deers they hunted before fall silent and now they are staring at us.
"That was rude of me, my apologies, My Liege. [Lancer], Jordan Evander Frankreit has returned from duty. I had assisted Imperial Army to clean up the remains of [The Third Rain of Chaos] in Virizia Plain. I also had escorted Queen Anne Petroskyvia Reina and Master Alexandria to Virizia Plain. Now, I returned to main duty as your servant once more."
"Heeeh…where is your pride as "Almighty White Fang" before? Did Aniki's presence put a leash on your collar?" Robert said that with mocking tone and expression.
"I believe…I am still better than a Black Hawk that always flies around without restraint…"
They are glaring each other intensely, until the atmosphere around us turned very unpleasant. As usual, the girls are whispering "something I don't want to know about" while staring at three of us, especially at Jordan who was kneeling before me, and myself.
"Cut it off you two. Don't you have a shame to quarreling right now when we have a crisis in front of your eyes?"
I glared at both of them and they are silent suddenly. Robert walked away from me and stand near the wall. I also glared to the girl and they shuddered a bit before going silent.
"Oh…scolded by beloved Onii-chan, dear Black Hawk?" Erick mocked Robert while grinning at him.
Robert snorted, "Shut up you mad alchemist."
"I welcomed you back Jordan. Glad to see you are fine right now…how long since that time…ten Eelvariash? Anyway, you may lift your head…it's embarrassing you know…please do not kneeling before me again."
Yeah, suddenly kneeling before someone in crowd is really embarrassing for me, I can't understand why knight loves to do this in front of their Lord, anywhere, anytime, anyplace, sigh….
"Pardon me, but I'm afraid I can't fulfill that request…"
He lifted his head and stands in front of me. He suddenly reached out his hands and he hugs me tightly. Of course, I'm really surprised by his sudden action and I tried to resist by shaking my head but I failed. He hugs me even tighter than before and he keeps sniffing on my hair. The boys are so surprised that their mouths are wide open and the girls flustered all of sudden, especially Luna whom I bet has started thinking something indecent.
"Hmmph, Jordan! Let…me…go!"
"I don't want to. If I let you go, "that thing" will be happened again. I once let you slipped out from my hands, and I will be not repeating the same mistake again…"
His words run deep as I know exactly what he meant…no wait, stop sniffing my hair and rubbing your right cheek onto my head! Also, how did you have grown taller than me?! My height is around 175 CMe and I haven't grown taller since three Eelvariash ago but why are you now 11 CMe taller than I am?!
From here, I can see Luna is laying on the floor with a lot of blood flowing out from her nose. Probably, she got a critical attack right into her mind when seeing this scenery. Yuna is getting more excited and Miral is flustered more than usual.
The other girls also have same reaction except Mirel, Cynthia, Eleza, Vania, Tamara, Zikiya, Yavia, Elizabeth, Maria, Anna and Hime as well as some of their squad members who just gave me a cold stare with disgusted expression. Please, I beg you don't misunderstand me!
"I…have…seen…the…paradise…" Luna raised her thumb highly before finally passed out from blood loss.
Valentino took his lute, "Aahh…a love between a loyal servant and his Master…I WILL MAKE THIS INTO A SPLENDID SONG! WILL YOU FOLLOW ME, MY DEAR SISTER AND BROTHER?!"
"I WILL MAKE THIS INTO A WONDERFUL DRAMA SCRIPT!" Valentina's eyes sparkling brightly.
"SPLENDID, YOUNGER SISTER! I WILL MAKE A LOT OF MONEY WITH MY ART ALONE!"
"HHMPPHH!!!" (SSSSTTTTTTTOOOOOOPPPPPPP IIIIIIITTTTTTTT!!!)