I started to sit gradually from my previous position. However, my pain was still icing ...
"Ugh ...!"
Initiatively, Mr. Schmidt gave me something. When I saw that item, it was a pack of medicinal herbs. Not only that, but he also handed me a fish. The fish's size was big enough.
Realizing those gifts from Mr. Schmidt,
"Thank you ...."
Then, Mr. Schmidt put on a happy face. Seeing that, I commented on his previous actions,
"You brainless-crazy-maniac ... After breaking my ribs, you just smiled like an idiot! Did you have some strange fetish, Old man?" I sneered sarcastically.
Hearing my responses,
"HAHAHAHA!" while saying back. "Ya've big guts to do that, even after receiving struck on yar ribs! I'm curious 'bout yar future progress, Brat!"
"The sexually-brainless-junkies nickname ... magnificently suited with you!" I said again sarcastically.
"HAHAHAHA! Ya got me!" He continued laughing.
(Uwaah! Rather, he likes it even more. Indeed, in this world ... people's behavior here is random and eccentric!) I thought while shuddering.
Furthermore, the sunrise appeared before me. The red, orange, and yellow colors blended into one.
*Shrrg*
Not only that, I saw several birds flying over my head. The air until morning dew can be sensed and blown by me ...
"Hah ...!" My breath was out from within. While looking at the panorama that was presented, I ate the fish that Mr. Schmidt had given.
*Munch* *Munch* *Munch*
I ate those fish solemnly, together with Mr. Schmidt.
...
Unexpectedly, he drew closer to me. Even so, I felt uncomfortable and reacted,
"Wait! What are you going to—!" Before I could finish it, he pushed me to the ground in a supine position.
*Buk!*
Even though I was being pushed by him, he kept my head safe, avoiding another fatal injury. Later, he uttered in a pressed intonation,
"Straighten it. Don't get any wrong of it."
Inevitably, I obeyed his word. Following what he said, I realized,
"Hold it! Don't tell me—!" Before I cleared it, he grabbed my lowest rib abruptly, which was hit by him. After groping mine, he gripped and tugged it mercilessly ...
*Crack!*
"ARGGHH!!!" I screamed in pain. "Wait—!"
Again, he did the same thing. Three times a row, he executed that ...
*Crack!* *Crack!* *Crack!*
"ARGGHHHH!!!"
...
Subsequently, Mr. Schmidt took something from his small storage bins. I saw him take a small knife and wash it in the lake ...
*Shoosh!* *Shoosh!* *Shoosh!*
By washing it several times, Mr. Schmidt turned back to me and spoke,
"Chill fo awhile. It's like being bitten by an ant!"
"God damnit! Wait—!" Swiftly, he was already beside me. Following with tying and holding my legs with his legs, he talked,
"Steady with it!"
*Shrrock*
I felt something below my ribs, and I recognized clearly that it was blood ...
"URGGHH!!! You brainless-freak-man!" I winced in pain. My scream even made several birds fly away from me.
At that moment, I was being "cured" with those methods ...
***
Later on ...
Both of them returned to the shop.
In there, Mr. Schmidt worked as usual. But Nagao was also being forced to work. With the etiquette between teacher and disciple, ineluctably, he followed his orders although his body was feeling uncomfortable ...
*Tang!* *Tang!* *Shh!*
(Ugh! I don't like to work in these conditions! It makes my work feel hamper! Shh!) Nagao thought as he let out a hiss.
Not only work, but he was also ordered to observe him when Mr. Schmidt made a weapon ...
*Tang!* *Tang!* *Tang!*
Despite he was irritated with those conditions. Nevertheless, Nagao still observed it, and it piqued his curiosity ...
(I saw him put several stones that looked like "shrimp paste" into the furnace. Then, the fire got bigger and burned the "shrimp paste" stones with the "blower" help. Next, Mr. Schmidt picked up some "shit" with tongs and hit the "shit" with a hammer. Following that condition, the "shit" was being burned again. Succeeding removed from the furnace, its shape changed into a rectangle with a red-orange color. Hmm, I've remembered those steps. Long-winded yet, interesting somehow.) Nagao thought within.
At this stage, Mr. Schmidt was immediately forging those things ...
*Tang!* *Tang!* Tang!*
Fire sparks started to scatter in all directions. Occasionally, he sprinkled water from a bucket. Either to coat the anvil or those bars ...
*Tang!* *Tang!* Tang!*
However, amidst those actions, I noticed the creativity that radiated through the forging that Mr. Schmidt did ...
*Tang!* *Tang!* Tang!*
Finally, those bars formed a sword. Mr. Schmidt also sharpened it several times ...
*Zring!* *Zring!* *Zring!*
As a result, the sword has been completed.
Seeing his work, Nagao immediately questioned,
"Mr. Schmidt, what did you put in first? That "shrimp paste" stone ... what's it called?"
"That "shrimp paste" ?" while putting on a confused face. "Hang on—" he made a thoughtful face. Then, he remembered something—"Oh! That "shrimp paste" ya asked was iron ore,"
"How about the "blower" thing and "shit" you picked up before?" Nagao asked curiously.
"As for the "blower" that's called bellows," while showing it. "For the "shit"—"Unexpectedly, he laughed—"HAHAHA! Nice one, kiddo! That was a bloom of iron. Sometimes, it's kinda similar! Yar words ... called my memories when I was greenhorn!" He laughed out loud.
Nagao started to understand with his explanations. Even so, Nagao was still in awe of that. With his equipment, Mr. Schmidt could produce works that were manifestations of his personality and characteristics.
Seeing those events, Nagao reacted,
"Please teach me the "art" of the blacksmith, Mr. Schmidt!"
Hearing his request, Mr. Schmidt stared at Nagao for a long time ...
*Stare*
Afterward, Mr. Schmidt replied,
"See, observe, and practice." He was giving Nagao a signal to sit beside him.
With that, Nagao began to practice about blacksmithing. Several times, Nagao made mistakes. But Mr. Schmidt wasn't angry. He guided Nagao patiently until he could do it by himself.
...
Several times have passed. Nagao carried out his routine from dawn like usual. Training until clearing quests became Nagao's daily routine, although he must be rested from blacksmithing every three days a week.
...
Afternoon, April 21st, 2223 ...
Nagao returned from his mission. He took a break and sat in front of Mr. Schmidt's shop. While looking at the people passing by, Nagao also looked at his status board, especially after finishing off several targets ...
*Click!* *Click!* *Click!*
[Collect some exp points to level up your level.] (80/100)
[ Name: Nagao Deri
Level: 22
HP: 124
MP: 125
Class: Unidentified
Skill/Job: -
Power: 141 -> 151
Strength: 141 -> 150
Agility: 140 -> 149
Mana: 140 -> 149
View more. ]
While stretching his body, Nagao commented,
"Since last week, my missions were babysitting the rich people until merchants to the border," while yawning. "Well, still grateful because I could promote shops. Plus, I got materials from monsters for free. Bandits also appeared. Not bad for adding experience points of mine!"
Amidst his break, Nagao noticed that someone was watching him.
Before him, that person wore a black hooded robe and a crow mask. The mysterious person's distance from Nagao was around a ten-meter radius.
Realizing the presence, Nagao questioned,
"Are you one of the customers who want to take your weapon?"
The person only saw Nagao silently. Seeing those reactions, Nagao talked again,
"Instead of looking at me like a freak, you'd better tell what your aim is!"
Just like before, the person kept to look at Nagao. This condition made Nagao feel something strange ...
(Enemies, huh? Could that be this freak is an assassin who was hired by Nina? Looks like I must punish her after beating this freak!) Nagao thought within and instinctively took out my weapons.
When he wanted to fight, from behind, Nagao heard the shop door open. As it turns out, Emilia and Mr. Schmidt came out from it. Emilia, who saw Nagao, reacted,
"Big brother! You've come back! What are you doing here??"
"Hey, Emilia! As you can see," I replied. "I want to fight someone in front of me. That person wore a crow mask,"
"A crow mask?" she said while looking around. "But no one was wearing that before you," she commented confusedly.
"What do you mean? That person was standing before—"When Nagao looked toward it, that person had disappeared—"Where did the freak go??!"
"You might be tired after taking much work," Emilia sighed. "Luckily, we wanted to eat. So, come join us!" While holding my hands.
Then Nagao looked at Mr. Schmidt,
"Go easy on yarself, boy," he tilted his head. "And, don't sweat the small shit because I gotcha yar back!"
"Daddy!" Emilia was annoyed by his words.
"Oh, silly me!" Mr. Schmidt talked back with chuckles.
"Fine ... if you insist!" Nagao sighed afterward.
In the end, Nagao was being forced to eat with them.
However, along the way, Nagao still had an uneasy feeling. Moreover, to that freak person ...
(Who's that freak??!) Nagao's mind was filled with mixed feelings.
In another place, precisely in one of the alleys amidst Keldam kingdom territorial, the mysterious person with a crow mask walked casually ...
*Tap* *Tap* *Tap*
Along with it, the person commented,
"The more difficult the prey, the more tastes sweetly~!"