As Arlo and Remi stepped into the blacksmith's workshop, a wave of intense heat washed over them, seeping into their skin.
A colossal furnace roared in the heart of the workshop, its high temperature producing dark plumes of smoke that were funneled away through a network of tubes.
Arlo and Remi were taken aback by the vast array of swords adorning the walls, their sheer number and arrangement lending an artistic touch to the coarse walls.
This sight made them realize that this was no ordinary blacksmith's workshop. Ulysses, with a dismissive gesture, yanked some swords from the wall and tossed them onto the floor as if they were worthless scraps.
Arlo scanned the room and activated his status-check ability. The weapons displayed:
[Regular Class]
[Regular Class]
[Regular Class]
Arlo had been hoping to find decent regular weapons, not mythical or divine class, but these were far from satisfactory. The edges were dull, the metal was of poor quality, and some weapons even bore signs of rust. Disheartened, Arlo sighed,
"Apologies, Shaman, but none of these weapons meet my preferences. Like Ulysses said, all the good ones must've been sold. We'll return later."
Arlo and Remi turned to leave, but the Shaman called out, "Hold on! Just a moment."
The Shaman dashed to a corner of the workshop, knelt down, and unlocked a safe embedded in the floor.
Ulysses barked angrily, "Bastard! What are you doing? Don't touch that!"
Ignoring Ulysses' outburst, Shaman retrieved a collection of swords and laid them before Arlo.
"Apologies for our earlier lack of hospitality," Shaman said, "these are the finest weapons we have in stock."
Ulysses was livid, "What are you doing? When did I give you permission to display my weapons to these idiots?"
Arlo's fist tightened, ready to strike Ulysses for his disrespect, but Remi quickly intervened, "Let's just watch for now."
As Ulysses and Shaman continued their heated exchange, Shaman retorted, "What's the point of having weapons if we don't sell them? I refuse to eat canned food again. We're selling them, whether you like it or not."
Ulysses shot back, "I crafted these weapons. I have every right to sell them or not."
While they argued, Arlo examined the weapons using his status-check ability. One sword, in particular, piqued his interest. He knelt and picked it up, and a prompt displayed:
[King's Longsword – Annnyte]
[Crafted by: Ulysses]
[Class: Regular]
[Subclass: A]
Even though it was a regular class, Arlo had never encountered a regular sword with a subclass higher than C.
The sword boasted a long, straight, double-edged blade and a cruciform hilt designed for two-handed use. The blade was so sharp that even a gentle touch might result in a cut. The hilt featured a cross-shaped guard for protection. It was clear why it was dubbed the King's Longsword.
Arlo exclaimed, "This is the finest sword I've ever laid eyes on. The craftsmanship is simply extraordinary."
Remi smirked, "What do you know about weapons? This is your first encounter with such a vast collection. I've seen far superior weapons."
Shaman and Ulysses ceased their argument upon hearing Arlo's words. Ulysses approached Arlo and said, rather unexpectedly,
"Thank you. I can tell you have a discerning eye. Allow me to share the thought process behind its creation..."
Ulysses' tone was noticeably friendlier, which took Remi and Arlo by surprise. Shaman stood by with a satisfied smile on his face. From his expression, Remi could guess his intentions.
Ulysses extended his hand to Arlo and invited him to sit on the floor. The intense heat of the workshop caused them to perspire profusely, and their eyes began to sting.
Suddenly, a pop-up window appeared. After Ulysses clasped Arlo's hand, it displayed:
[New information about Ulysses:]
[Activation: Physical touch or forming a close bond with someone.]
Baffled, Arlo checked Ulysses' status again. This time, more information was revealed:
[Ulysses]
[Profession: Master Blacksmith]
[Creation Proficiency: LongSword
Katana
Sabre
Kukri
Spears
Shields (All Kinds)]
[Talent Potential:
Gun Creation
Rapier]
[Weapon Class: Shield and Hammer]
After seeing this, Arlo asked, "Could you craft a katana and its sheath for me?"
This left both Remi and Shaman speechless, but Ulysses responded promptly,
"Sure, why not? Do you have the materials for me to use in its creation?"
"Hold on," Remi interjected, pulling Arlo aside to question his sudden request.
As Shaman and Ulysses watched, Shaman asked Ulysses, "What's going on? You vowed never to craft weapons again after your son's death. Why the sudden change of heart?"
Ulysses chuckled, "I'm not sure myself, but when he asked, I simply couldn't refuse."
Shaman appeared puzzled by Ulysses' reaction. Meanwhile, after a brief discussion, Arlo and Remi approached Ulysses again.
Remi said, "We've made our decision. Could you craft a sword for Arlo?"
Ulysses replied, "Do you have a core material for me to use in crafting the katana, or should I choose what I think suits you best?"
Arlo responded, "Yes, we have the material."
Remi raised his eyebrows, asking, "When did you acquire the material without my knowledge?"
"HA...HA..."
Arlo gave an awkward laugh and said, "I mean, I have an idea of what type of material to purchase, not that I already possess it. Ha... Ha..."
Everyone, including Shaman, was suspicious of Arlo, but Ulysses broke the silence with, "You're weird."
"I don't need to hear that from you," Arlo retorted.
Ulysses asked, "Do you require any other weapons?"
After a brief pause, Arlo replied, "Could you also create a Kukri and a shield?"
Upon hearing this, Ulysses instructed Shaman, "Take Remi with you and wait at the reception. I wish to discuss the weapons with Arlo in private."
After Remi and Shaman departed, Ulysses picked up the longsword Arlo had chosen and asked, "Do you like this sword?"
Arlo replied with a smile, "Yes, it's exceptional."
Suddenly, Ulysses held the sword against Arlo's neck and asked, "Do you still like it?"
[End of Chapter]