His eyes scanned the board until they settled on a pinned request.
It was a straightforward herb-gathering task, but what caught his attention was that the location matched the direction Roran's sister had taken before disappearing beyond the town.
The pay was noticeably higher than that of other herb-gathering jobs, making it stand out.
The unusual reward made him wary, but the opportunity was too good to pass up.
It was the perfect way to search for clues about Roran's sister while completing a guild mission. Just like killing two birds with one stone.
"I'd better make some preparations in case things go sideways. I still have enough money for supplies," he thought, recalling with a wry smile, 'If my equipment is lacking like that time with the tissues in the company CR...'
'I should head to the blacksmith and potion shop later to see if they have anything useful.'
He took the paper and approached the guild receptionist to notify her of his choice. She looked at him for a moment, her eyes narrowing before she decided to warn him.
"Just so you know, the people who took this quest before you haven't returned. If you manage to find them and report their whereabouts to the guild, we can offer additional rewards."
Ephraim's instincts flared. This could be connected to Roran's missing sister.
He didn't head home right away after accepting the mission. Instead, he made his way to the blacksmith shop to see what could be done with the loot he had gathered earlier.
While standing outside, he could feel the heat radiating from the smithy and hear the rhythmic clanging of hammer striking metal.
Ephraim stepped inside, taking in the sight of a middle-aged man with well-defined muscles, focused intently on hammering a glowing, molten piece of metal shaped like a sword.
Not wanting to interrupt the craftsman's concentration, Ephraim decided to wait quietly until the man completed his task.
Growing bored of watching the middle-aged man repeat the same hammering motion over and over, Ephraim shifted his focus to other things around the smithy.
As Ephraim's eyes wandered, he took in the details of the blacksmith's shop. The walls were lined with an assortment of weapons and tools—some gleaming with a polished finish, while others looked worn, carrying the marks of frequent use.
A rack near the entrance displayed swords, daggers, and battle axes, their sharp edges catching the glow of the forge's fire. A large shield, slightly dented and scratched, hung prominently on the wall, hinting at past battles.
The air smelled heavily of iron and scorched leather, with a hint of sweat, adding to the rugged feel of the shop. He glanced at a bucket of water placed near the forge, where steam would rise in sharp bursts whenever a newly shaped weapon was cooled.
Ephraim's gaze fell back on the blacksmith. The man's tanned skin glistened with perspiration, and veins stood out on his muscled arms as he worked.
Each swing of the hammer came down with practiced precision, the rhythmic clang resonating like a heartbeat in the enclosed space.
Ephraim scanned the weapons on display and considered adding a secondary weapon to his repertoire. His short sword was reliable, but he felt it would lack the finesse needed in certain situations.
His gaze rested on a compact black dagger, its edge glinting under the forge's light.
"Thinking of picking up a companion for your sword?" the blacksmith inquired, noticing Ephraim's interest.
Ephraim nodded. "Exactly. It never hurts to have a backup." He smiled faintly to himself, 'Dual wielding a dagger and a short sword might look cool.'
He shook his head after thinking about it. 'Might actually be dangerous for someone who doesn't know how to wield a blade like me.'
The blacksmith handed the dagger over, the weight surprisingly light yet solid in Ephraim's palm. The handle was cool and smooth, fitting snugly in his grip, with a texture that hinted at hours of craftsmanship.
He moved it experimentally, feeling the subtle balance perfect for quick strikes and defensive maneuvers.
The blacksmith watched with a nod of approval. "Good choice. That one's sharp enough to make a magical beast rethink its life choices."
Ephraim's lips twitched at the humor as he envisioned the new tactics he could employ with the dagger. "I'll take it," he said, feeling the thrill of preparation buzz through him, almost like the excitement of grocery shopping.
After paying for it, he strapped the sheathed dagger to his leg, positioning it where it would be easy to draw in case of an emergency.
Just as he was about to ask the blacksmith for recommendations on armor or boots, the status page suddenly popped up in front of him.
[Dagger equipped – Agility 8 (+2)]
A suppressed smile tugged at the corner of his lips. 'My money wasn't wasted!'
This got him thinking. 'Why doesn't my other equipment give me additional stats? Is it because they're just beginner gear?'
After thinking about it, his gaze wandered over the various pieces of equipment hanging in the blacksmith's shop, but he quickly shook his head, dejected.
'My money is not enough!
He sighed to himself. 'Some things never change, even in two different worlds.'
He glanced at the coins in his pouch. 'This is only enough to last me a week here. I'll check out the potion shop and come back later if I don't find anything more useful.'
With a plan set, Ephraim didn't linger inside the blacksmith's shop any longer.
"Later, uncle!" he called as he turned to leave.
The middle-aged blacksmith's mouth twitched. "Don't call me uncle! The name's Orn."
"Okay, see you later, brother Orn." Ephraim chuckled, waving as he stepped out.
As Ephraim stepped out of the blacksmith's shop and into the warm light of the late afternoon, he took a moment to assess his surroundings.
The dagger strapped to his leg gave him a small boost of confidence, but he knew preparation didn't end there.
If the last warning from the guild was any sign, the herb-gathering quest might not be as simple as it looked.
"Next stop, the potion shop," he muttered, turning down the bustling street filled with people going on there own way. 'One thing I learned from reading novels is that you can never be too prepared.'
The path ahead already has the scent of herbs and concoctions waiting in glass bottles.
As he made his way down the street, Ephraim's mind churned with the questions he wanted to answer. 'I should ask if there's a way to use that poison sac effectively. Maybe it can be turned into something useful,' he thought, recalling the items he'd kept from his journey.
The path ahead became infused with the scent of herbs and alchemical concoctions. The potion shop came into view, its wooden sign swinging slightly in the breeze, painted with images of vials and leaves.
Ephraim's eyes scanned for anything out of place as he approached, already forming a mental list: ask about the poison sac, learn proper herb-gathering techniques, and see if there were any stat-boosting or healing potions he could afford.
Preparation was key, and he wasn't going to leave anything to chance.