Chapter ,12
Liora heads to the adventurers' guild first thing in the morning, heart pounding with anticipation. After her recent quest and success in handling both the small monsters and the formidable lightning beast, she's ready to make her promotion to Rank D official. As she steps into the bustling guild hall, she feels a mix of nerves and pride; this moment marks a real milestone in her journey.
Approaching the guild counter, she presents her completed quest paperwork and the evidence from her encounters—a small bag with monster cores and the lightning beast's horn. The guild official inspects her items and nods approvingly, then stamps her paperwork with a bold "D" mark. "Congratulations, Liora," he says with a grin. "Welcome to Rank D."
Liora's face lights up as she takes in the words. She's earned this, through effort and persistence, and the promotion feels like a powerful validation of all her hard work. She thanks the official, gathers her things, and practically flies out of the guild hall, eager to share the news with Reyn.
Arriving at Reyn's house soon after, Liora's surprise doubles when she sees the feast set up, brimming with freshly prepared dishes and beaming faces. Reyn's parents greet her warmly, and she realizes this celebration isn't just for her—it's also for Reyn's new familiar, Ember.
As soon as Liora spots Ember, her eyes widen with delight. "Oh my goodness, Reyn, she's adorable!" Before Reyn can say anything, Liora scoops up the tiny kitten with rainbow-tipped flames. Ember purrs at the attention but, not used to being handled so suddenly, flicks her tail and lets out a tiny burst of warm flames. Liora lets out a startled laugh, feeling a gentle sting, but she doesn't mind—it only adds to Ember's charm.
After settling Ember back down, Liora pulls out a small pouch and hands it to Reyn. "This is for you," she says with a smile. Inside, Reyn finds a shimmering lightning core, its crackling energy contained but potent. "A token from the quest. Thought you might want it for one of your creations." She pauses and adds, "And speaking of which... my sword could use an upgrade." She winks, half-joking, but Reyn can tell she's serious, especially after her encounter with that lightning beast.
Reyn grins, already envisioning what he could create with the core. "I'll come up with something worthy of a D-rank adventurer," he promises, sparking excitement in Liora's eyes.
As the feast begins, Reyn fills her in on his recent projects, including the latest request from Sir Edger. "He's competing in a major tournament soon and wants me to craft him a sword. I've been thinking about a weapon that's both powerful and elegant, I also got us tickets to go see the tournament with Garrett".
Liora nods, her eyes shining with excitement and pride for her friend's growing reputation. "That's amazing, Reyn! You're going to have knights lining up at your door one day."
Throughout the meal, they enjoy dish after dish, laughing and swapping stories of recent adventures. When his mother finally brings out the cheesecake, Reyn watches everyone's reaction, hoping they'll love it as much as he once did. Liora takes a bite and lets out a contented sigh. "This… this is incredible!" she exclaims, savoring each bite. Reyn's parents are equally impressed, and the cheesecake quickly becomes the star of the feast.
The night draws on with laughter, stories, and warm memories. Reyn feels grateful—not just for the chance to create powerful weapons or make a name for himself but for moments like this, surrounded by people who believe in him. As the feast winds down, he and Liora exchange a look, both filled with excitement for the future and whatever new adventures await.
The weeks passed, each one shaping Reyn and Liora in new and unexpected ways. For Liora, life as a Rank D adventurer meant facing tougher challenges and going farther afield than ever before. The jobs were no longer just gathering herbs or patrolling the outer city. She was taking on creatures that, just months ago, she would have struggled to face. Her armor grew new scratches and dents, and the weight of each battle seemed to press into her posture. Yet, despite the bruises and exhaustion, her eyes sparkled with the thrill of victory, her spirit hardened and sharpened like a well-forged blade.
Reyn, meanwhile, found his days equally full, though with a different kind of rigor. One afternoon, he met up with Alistor, eager to catch up on the business they'd set into motion. Alistor, however, greeted him with a grin that spoke of far more than he'd expected. The business was booming. Nobles had become fanatical about chess, with sets now gracing parlors, study rooms, and even the prestigious halls of city lords. The spatial tent, on the other hand, had gained a cult following among the adventurers. Those lucky enough to afford one spoke of it in awed whispers, tales of its convenience and magic spreading like wildfire through the guilds.
"Even the academy's cafeteria has changed," Alistor said, unable to hide a laugh. "The enchanted cooking tools have raised the quality of meals. It's becoming one of the best places in the city to eat, thanks to you!"
Reyn couldn't help but smile, feeling a pride he'd rarely allowed himself to savor. For someone who had once worried about even affording the academy's tuition, the success of their venture felt unreal. Money was flowing in, and with it, opportunities he hadn't dared to dream of were now within reach.
After spending the afternoon with Alistor, Reyn wandered back to his room, the gold and the success of their business swirling in his mind. He looked over the notes he had already started on for the Masamune—a blade inspired by one of his favorite creations in his past life. With the tournament in the capital approaching and Sir Edgar needing a weapon, Reyn knew this was his chance to forge something exceptional.
As he looked over sketches of the Masamune, he imagined the blade in Edgar's hands, gleaming under the sunlight of the tournament grounds, its presence alone enough to silence the crowd. He knew Garret would soon return with materials, but with his new financial resources, Reyn planned to add the finest elements available. He wanted to layer the blade with magic so precise it would feel as if the weapon itself were alive in its wielder's hands.
But as the thought lingered, Reyn felt an unexpected urge to do more than just build a weapon. This would be a sword crafted not only with skill but with his ambition woven into each strike of the hammer. He wanted it to be a weapon that would embody a warrior's spirit, much like the legendary swords he'd loved in stories, but even more, he wanted it to be his own creation.
And while the Masamune would take time and precision, Reyn's mind began to wander to another project—one sparked by the gift Liora had given him from her latest quest. The lightning beast core she'd given him was a powerful artifact, brimming with energy, and he could feel its raw magic every time he picked it up. He couldn't help but think how perfectly it would fit into a blade suited for Liora's growing skills.
Then the memory of one of his favorite weapons flashed into his mind: Kiba, the legendary twin lightning blades. They were small, swift, and devastating when wielded by someone fast and agile—a perfect match for Liora. The idea struck him like lightning, and without a second thought, Reyn sketched out the plans. His workroom filled with rough drafts and diagrams as he went over every detail, envisioning the twin swords and how they could channel the core's power.
He couldn't help but imagine Liora's face when he handed them to her, ready to test her skills against stronger foes. The blades would be forged with the lightning beast core embedded in them, allowing her to conduct its electricity and summon its energy at will. He wanted to make sure she would have the upper hand in the battles that awaited her as her adventurer rank grew. He spent hours refining the design until he was certain that this new creation would be one of his best yet.
Just as Reyn was beginning to gather materials for Kiba, he heard a familiar knock on the door. He looked up to see Garrett stepping into his workshop, a familiar grin spread across his face.
"Hard at work, I see," Garrett said, taking in the blueprints scattered across the room. "I just stopped by to see how things are going with Sir Edgar's sword."
Reyn smiled, wiping his hands on his apron. "It's coming along, don't worry. I've been planning to make it my masterpiece. But since you're here, do you have those materials we talked about?"
Garrett held up a small satchel, jingling with a variety of enchanted metals and rare ores. "Got them from the guild's suppliers. They're some of the best you'll find in the region."
Reyn felt a surge of excitement as he took the materials, mentally already placing them into the design for the Masamune. He glanced back at his sketches, imagining the final result, then looked back at Garrett. "When I finish the Masamune, you and Edgar better make sure it's well-used."
Garrett gave a hearty laugh. "With that blade, we'll be the talk of the capital."