"Hey did you hear that? Village Chief is in need of labourer. Apparently, it's for the new building."
"I just woke up and heard someone shouting. So the Village Chief is looking for people."
"I don't have work right now. So I might as well apply and earn some money."
"Father! Village Chief is looking for labourers right now. You don't have a work and we don't have food to eat tomorrow. Go!"
"Alright, alright, I'll go! I'll earn more so we can buy more flour and vegetables tonight."
One by one, men in their forties and fifties came out of their house under different reason but of the same cause.
That is....They needed to earn money for food.
Although this village is abundant of meat, vegetables, and flour. Not many villagers could have them all without working.
Others has supply of vegetables but lack meat so they sell their surplus and buy meat with the money they earn.
Those with no produce with only their body as the capital work in farms, mine, animal pen, and other place which would pay them salary to buy what they need and want.
As for just simply giving their surplus to others? Only good people with no problems in life would do that.
After all, who would like it when others could easily received things they work hard to earn? No one right?
"Hey kid! Is what you said is true?"
A man walked forward and asked for confirmation from Juan. In which the latter nodded as he said.
"Village Chief and Menmo are currently in the Smithy. The former told me to have those interested wait outside."
"Alright, thanks for the hard work kid." The man then left afterwards.
Juan didn't mind, instead, he jogged around the whole village while he spread the recruitment news.
It took him ten minutes to do that. And by the time he returned to the place of gathering. There were already many men waiting around.
They were talking to Garu and Menmo by the side. It seems they had already made contact and negotiation about the job.
Juan didn't disturb them and just waited by the side. His job isn't to interject in a place he shouldn't have.
A while later, Menmo came besides him with a parchment drawn with numbers and calculation.
"I heard you can count and calculate. Help me add this all up first."
Juan didn't say anything and just took the parchment before he found a wall and started solving.
Be it unknown letters, numbers, and symbols. Juan could understand them all as thought they have been with him all along.
He could even wrote them fluidly.
The counts and numbers in the parchment is just a small number to him. Even an elementary grade 1 kid could solve it in just a few minutes.
But, he can't do that or he'll incur jealousy. Even if solving it fast could amaze those around him, the ignorance were always the arrogant.
Human heart is complicated, it's better to just remain humble than rise up under everyone's hate and pain.
Juan cared after everyone's opinion after all. Society, is a place where people's opinion dictates ones social standing.
So Juan took a few minutes to solve the problem. However, this is still outstanding.
"Good, quiet fast."
Thankfully, Menmo's voice wasn't loud enough. Which made Juan heave a breath of relief.
The labourers were still listening to Garu's instructions and orders which were quite loud due to the latter wanting for everyone to hear him loud and clear.
"Follow the Village Chief after this."
After saying that, Menmo took the parchment with him left with a group of labourers.
Juan remain, standing by the side of the wall wanting to be inconspicuous as much as possible.
Looking at the village men around him, Juan felt inferiority towards his height and weak looking physique.
'I'm so weak, even in this world. So pathetic...' he mocked.
Just as he was mocking himself inwardly. Someone suddenly pulled his clothes softly by his side.
It was a kid, should be seven years old and quiet tan. Face full of black markings only possible if charcoals were around.
"What wrong kid?"
Judging from his get up and appearance, this kid should be the descendant of a blacksmith working in the smithy.
The smithy is a dangerous place for people but here he found a kid. Although Juan wanted to search for this kid's parents and warn them.
In the end, he didn't let his justice heart took his reason. Because doing that may cause an enmity and gossiped to circulate around.
Old people are simply stubborn people. Although they can be reason with. It's inevitable to leave bad impression in mind.
Relationship by that time won't be easy. People's heart would go uneasy every time there's a meeting happening.
In the end, Juan was pulled inside the smithy by the kid who said nothing but just look at him.
The moment Juan entered the smithy, he was immediately assailed by the hot air inside, the mixed smell of iron burning and men's sweat made Juan uncomfortable inside.
He could only hold his breath from time to time. Letting his mouth captured air instead of his sensitive nose.
Still, this Juan's first time entering a smithy. It was a novel and uncomfortable experience.
There are three rooms in total, one for forging, one for storage, and the other last one is like a resting place.
Of course the lobby isn't included.
They didn't entered among those last two rooms but instead, the kid pulled him into the forging room.
There, there are three men hammering a piece of reddish iron ingot on top of the anvil.
Suddenly, the one on the left saw them and started approaching.
"Did you choose him?"
The man spoke unto the kid while he ruffles the latter's head lovingly.
The kid nodded, and pointed at Juan then to the man. The man nodded as he understands.
Then the man looked at the bewildered Juan who has no idea of what's going on. Still he was ready to run for any strange actions from them.
"Don't be too stiff kid. Because today is your lucky day. It's my son's seventh birthday."
But what does that had to do with him?
Juan thought confused and on guard. Who knew if this village has some tradition of eating a man after turning seven? And he was the chosen sacrifice.
It might be ridiculous but for one in a hundred chances that he was right. Juan will make sure he won't regret running immediately at this time.
"Umm?"
"Yeah I know your confused. You see we blacksmith will gift our child in their birthday either a hammer or weapon of their choices."
"But there is also a time when we let our children find their chosen person. And we will forged that chosen person's weapon."
Basically, this blacksmith tradition is to give their children their forge tool as a gift or let their children choose someone to have his wish weapon get fulfilled.
"I see....I understand. That means I'm the lucky guy?"
Juan pointed at himself dumbfounded. Did his luck just trigger this event? How can there be such coincidence in this village?
Now Juan was suspicious of this man's motive might be connected to Garu's shady kindness and Ceth's honey trap.
However, a free gift is something Juan won't refused. Not to mention, it's a weapon made of iron! It's an expensive tool in this era!
"Yep, so you better thank my son he chosen you out of all people outside. Well, it must be because your new that he choose you."
Indeed. New and novel things are bound to attract everyone's attention.
So the kid doesn't know who to choose among the people he know choose the stranger subconsciously to avoid any misunderstanding that may happen.
Juan looked at the kid smiling before him and nodded with a smile. He was also the same, he can't choose among the choices.
One will rise and be happy while the rest will get depress and angry. There's bound to be a gap after which is not worth it.
"Good job, also, thanks for choosing me. I'm called Juan, what's your name?"
"Von."
"Von, happy birthday. How about I draw a weapon design for you as my thank you?"
Von eyes lit up after hearing that, and he immediately nodded.
"Wait, I'll go get some parchment and charcoal!"
Looking at Von leaving, Juan and the man laughed slightly.
"Drawing a weapon huh, well, atleast it can make my son happy."
The man smiled before he turn to Juan and continue.
"I'm Albert, a blacksmith. Now then, tell me what kind of weapon do you want me to forge. Don't worry, it's free."
Juan thought for a while. Since he will have a weapon from now on. It's only natural to get excited and have some problems to choose from.
Sword is a no go. He didn't want to wield such dangerous thing without any practice. There's a high chances of him getting reckless while holding that after all.
"I know myself very well, so I won't choose melee weapons."
"So a bow or spear?" The man chimed in with his opinion.
"As for those long range weapons, like bow and spear, hmmm."
Juan was thinking hard and he was having inner conflict which to choose from. In the end, he gritted his teeth and firm his heart.
"I choose..."