"Are you sure? This item isn't one that can be easily handled by a newbie like you," Matt said sternly. Yet, for some reason, I found genuine concern in his voice.
"It isn't the shopkeeper's place to tell the customer what to buy," Margaret commented as she examined the armour that Matt had previously shown me.
"I thank you for the concern you have displayed for me, but, I would like to purchase this," I said, handing the armour to Matt.
"If you wish so, then so be it. Let's go look at some weapons too," Matt said, giving up on convincing me further.
He went to the reception desk, put the armour on top of it, and then headed to the wall that displayed the weapons. I followed behind him.
"What kind of weapon are you looking for?" Matt asked.
"A dagger," I replied. It was the most comfortable weapon, after all. Although a sword was fun to use and looked cool in fantasy novels, I personally liked using a dagger more.
"A strange choice for a newbie. Hmmm... wait here," the blacksmith said as he went inside the door behind the reception desk.
A massive pile of weapons lay in the corner of the room. It was larger than the pile of armour. Probably because it was easier to make. The pile mostly had disfigured swords, spears, and staffs. I wonder why Matt never bothered to arrange these items.
I took a look at one of the swords hanging on the wall. The sword was snow white, with only its handle showing a different colour of black.
**********
Ice sword (C)
A sword made by an intermediate-level blacksmith.
A once sharpened sword, which has been embedded with the ice element.
Attack: +50
Every time the enemy is inflicted damage with this sword, there is a 10% chance that they will be stunned for 1 second.
**********
This looked super interesting! If this was a C-grade weapon, I couldn't even imagine what an A-grade weapon would be like.
Placing the sword back in its place, I strolled across the wall, looking at the various gorgeous and fear-inducing swords.
Although getting a new dagger would be fabulous, I didn't wish to throw away the tooth of 'The Great Wolf'. Now that I think about it, can this blacksmith turn that tooth into more of a dagger? Fitting a handle and flattening it out would make it easier to use.
But I couldn't just give Matt the wolf's teeth. As far as I know, 'the great wolf' was one of the strongest monsters in the tutorial; I couldn't just tell him that I had defeated it if he asked how I obtained its tooth.
I know a negligible amount of blacksmithing; maybe I could make the handle myself? But I would still need Matt's forge to do it.
I don't really have much trouble using it anyway. So I guess I should just leave the tooth as it is.
"Got it!" the blacksmith rejoiced as he exited the room.
In his hand, he held a metal briefcase. He placed the briefcase on the reception desk and gestured for me to come over. I went over to him obediently.
"What's this?" asked Margaret, standing in front of the briefcase along with me.
"Well, I don't really forge daggers nowadays. Even though they are too simple, they are irritating to give shape to," replied the bulky physiqued man.
"I have a couple more daggers lying around, but this dagger was made by the same person who made the armour you chose, so I thought that it would be best to show this to you," he said, pointing toward both the briefcase and the armour.
The same man? Just who was he?
"Why is it kept inside a box?" I inquired. No other weapon in the room was kept in a briefcase.
"Well, this weapon is a strange one. It was the last weapon that my apprentice created before going away to climb the Tower; even though I told him over and over again that, climbing the Tower was a pipe dream for people like us, who provide support and supplies to the players," Matt complained.
If we ever meet, I need to thank him for the weapon and armour.
"It's an ego, isn't it?" Margaret asked, calmly brushing her hand across the briefcase.
"Yes, although it is not a complete one. My intuition and experience told me that this was the right weapon for the new guy here," the man replied.
"But, to think that an apprentice made a weapon with an ego is absurd. Just who was he?" asked Margaret, with a voice full of disbelief.
"Justin. He came to the Tower just two months ago. He worked here for a month and a half, and with the money he earned, he bought himself almost all the best and cheapest gear.
He went climbing the Tower just two weeks ago. I haven't seen him ever since. My other apprentices tried to convince me that he perished on the first floor. But, he's too stubborn to die in a place like that," the man replied.
It looks like he really cared for Justin, the apprentice. If he's alive, I get a strange feeling that our paths will cross, one way or another. Let's hope that he can be my ally. If these are the weapons he created as a novice blacksmith, then befriending him early on is the easiest way to access the weapons he creates when he advances in blacksmithing.
A short silence followed the conversation between Margaret and Matt. Matt was staring at nothing, probably thinking about his lost apprentice, and the waitress was staring at Matt.
"I-I apologise for getting lost in thoughts... Let's take a look at the weapon already," Matt said, snapping out of his daze.
He opened the briefcase slowly and calmly. I moved beside him to get a better view of the suitcase's contents.
Inside it rested the most beautiful dagger I had ever laid eyes on. It radiated weird energy as if it was something with a conscious. I was engrossed by its beauty before I finally decided to examine it.
Its handle was wrapped in some sort of black gripping tape. Its blade was pitch black, except for the edges, which had a shiny metallic white colour. The blade had a slight curve, and although its edges were uneven at some points, it looked like they were a part of the design.
There was a guard just above the handle, which was made in the shape of a tooth, protruding towards the handle. But, the most remarkable thing about this dagger was the blue crystal embedded in the centre of its guard, where the blade and the handle met.
**********
Moon Dagger (-)
A dagger made by a novice blacksmith who has incredible potential.
This dagger is a part of the 'sun and moon' set. When used together, a secret effect is unlocked.
Additional enhancements can be applied to this.
The grade of this weapon increases with the power of its user.
Attack: +?
This dagger has its own ego. If it finds a suitable master, it will change itself based on the master's requirements.
**********
Not much useful information was visible about this. Plus, what did "ego" even mean? And how would an inanimate object even choose a master?
"Is this a part of a set?" I asked. What could the hidden effect be when the items in the set were used together?
"It is… You have good eyes, kid," the blacksmith replied.
"Where is the other dagger in the set, then?" I inquired.
"Well, Justin took it with him. He told me that this one wasn't ready to accept him as his master. He instructed me to give this dagger to someone who looks worthy of it," the man replied, with a slight tone of melancholy.
This dagger didn't accept him as his master? How was that even possible?
But, what use was this dagger anyway? How would it even choose a 'suitable master'?
I moved my hand towards the dagger to pick it up, so I could examine its structure more carefully.
"Stop!" Warned Margaret.
But, my fingertips had already come into contact with the dagger's handle.
Suddenly, my surroundings turned black. But this was different from falling unconscious. It was like everything was enveloped in darkness by a particular object.
"Who are you?" A loud and hoarse voice boomed.
What was this? A delusion?
"First, tell me, who you are!" I demanded.
"I am Moon!" replied the booming voice.
Moon? Was this the moon dagger? How was it talking to me?
"My name is Nox!" I replied.
"Nox! You are no normal human, are you? Just like the one who forged me," said the voice in a tone that was a little calmer than before.
"Justin? What do you mean that he is not a normal human?" I inquired.
"I do not know the answer to that. But, like you, the energy he gave off was different from the other beings," the voice replied.
Like me? I remember that Yinghuo told me that other people like me had gained access to powerful skills, like the eternal Library. Was Justin one of them?