Five days passed in the blink of an eye. During that time, Yuna put Haruto through hands-on training, fully aware that his strength and endurance were his biggest weaknesses.
The "F"-rank missions they took from the guild were simple but effective: transporting goods, breaking rocks in the mine, and gathering medicinal plants in the snow.
They didn't involve combat, but they strengthened his body and got him used to constant physical exertion.
Haruto already felt like the protagonist of a boxing movie, training for an epic final battle. All he was missing was running through the streets of Molgaroth with an inspirational soundtrack, preparing to face a two-meter-tall light elf—full-on Russian style.
—Haruto, you need to improve your strength. —Yuna said, crossing her arms as she watched him pant after a particularly exhausting day in the mine—. There's no point in having weapons if you can't wield them properly. Remember what happened last time?
Haruto didn't need a reminder. The image of his pistols slipping from his hands was still burned into his mind. With a resigned sigh, he admitted Yuna had a point.
—Alright, alright. Just… give me a moment to catch my breath. —he replied, trying to smile as Simo, perched on his shoulder, stared at him with what looked like a mocking expression.
Despite his complaints, Haruto began to notice the changes. His hands hardened from the work, his endurance increasing, the ease with which he carried out tasks that once left him breathless. However, Yuna still wasn't fully satisfied.
As she observed him, she could see his progress—but also his limitations. She knew the real trials were yet to come, and she had to make sure Haruto was ready.
—You're E-rank and will soon rise to D, but your physical stats are still at F. —Yuna commented seriously—. If you run out of mana, you'll be an easy target. You saw it yourself when they put those Nulite cuffs on you.
Haruto sighed.
—I know, that's why I carry a short sword now, just in case.
—A sword without strength is useless. —Yuna replied, raising an eyebrow—. At this rate, even without my wind magic, I could outrun you. And I dare say Melodía could beat you in a fight without even using magic.
Haruto frowned, offended.
—Hey, don't underestimate me.
Yuna smirked confidently, taking a defensive stance.
—Then prove it. Come at me using only your physical strength. No skills. If you land a hit on me, I'll treat you to the café today. But if you lose… you're paying.
Haruto chuckled, amused by the challenge.
—I hope you don't regret this.
Wasting no time, he lunged at her. But for Yuna, everything moved in slow motion. With a simple sidestep, she dodged his attack with ease. Before Haruto could react, she placed a fist on his back, forcing him to stop.
—Checkmate. —she announced with a triumphant smile.
Haruto grumbled in frustration as Simo cawed, as if mocking him too.
—Alright, alright. You win. Hope you're hungry. —he muttered, scratching his head as Yuna laughed.
—Now you get what I mean. —Yuna said with satisfaction—. We're not going anywhere else until you improve.
Haruto sighed but nodded in resignation.
—Whatever you say, master.
Then, Yuna remembered something.
—Today's the day. Thalindra should have our weapons ready.
Haruto stretched his arms and shook the snow off his coat.
—Then let's head to her workshop. After that, we can go grab breakfast.
—Sure. But don't forget—you're paying today. —Yuna replied with a mischievous smile.
—Yeah, yeah. —Haruto waved a hand dismissively, a small smile tugging at his lips.
Both of them walked off laughing toward the forge as the first rays of sunlight lit up the snow-covered streets of Molgaroth.
Inside the workshop, Thalindra, covered in dust and snow, dropped her haul of stones into a barrel. She had spent the night in the mines, as she often did, searching for the elusive Umbranite—a stone with less than a 1% chance of being found.
—Another night wasted. I'll check later if I at least found something useful. —she murmured to herself, eyeing the incomplete gauntlets on her workbench with a mix of frustration and hope.
The sound of the door opening snapped her out of her thoughts. She grabbed a damp cloth and quickly wiped her hands before turning around. Yuna and Haruto walked in, shaking the snow off their coats.
—Good morning. —Yuna greeted in her usual calm tone.
—Good morning. —Thalindra replied neutrally, approaching the counter—. If you're here for your weapons, they're ready.
Without another word, she headed toward a display case next to the gauntlets, where the weapons gleamed with a renewed shine.
—I have to say, several buyers asked about them. That speaks volumes about their quality. —she added with a hint of pride.
The green runes pulsed softly on the sword and bow. Yuna picked up her weapon, feeling the wind magic flowing through it with greater intensity.
—I also added an Aeresite rune to the bow. It'll cost you one Yue of gold more. I have plenty, so it's no big deal. —Thalindra commented, crossing her arms.
Haruto examined the bow in his hands, noticing the intricate engravings.
—I don't know much about this stuff, but they give off a stronger aura. —he admitted with a smile.
—Inserting the runes wasn't hard. The real challenge would have been forging them. Working with Astrium is incredibly difficult.
Haruto's gaze drifted toward the gauntlets in the display case.
—I've been meaning to ask… are those made of Astrium too? Are they for sale, or are they too expensive?
Thalindra pressed her lips together and let out a sigh.
—Those gauntlets are my greatest failure. I keep them there to remind myself never to lower my standards. And yes, they're made of Astrium.
Yuna looked at her with curiosity.
—I think they look impressive. —the elf said, while Haruto gave a faint smile.
—Why do you consider them a failure? —he asked—. They remind me of some from a video game.
Kizuna, who had been silent until now, couldn't hold back her excitement.
—You're right! They look just like the ones from Manofists! With those, you could beat anyone in a fight… if you can even lift them. They look super heavy, Kizu.
Thalindra raised an eyebrow, surprised by her reaction.
—Maybe you have a point, but without an Umbranite, I can't finish them. I need one last rune to make them perfect. I've spent years searching for it. —she confessed with resignation—. Mining every night, chasing every lead, every rumor… I'm starting to think it's a stone that doesn't even exist.
Kizuna, with a mischievous grin, darted straight into Haruto's magic bag, rummaging through it curiously.
—What are you doing, Kizuna? —Haruto asked, alarmed.
Without answering, the little spirit emerged with a large violet stone that radiated a sinister aura.
—You mean this, Kizu? —she said, dropping it into his hands.
Thalindra's eyes gleamed with astonishment and excitement.
—Yes! That's it… Please, I'll give you anything you want for it.
Haruto stared at the stone for a moment before calmly placing it on the table.
—I forgot I even had that thing. You can keep it.
Thalindra looked at him, incredulous, clenching her fists.
—I can't just accept it like that.
Haruto smiled faintly, crossing his arms.
—To me, it's just a rock. If it's what you've been looking for, it's yours. Consider it a gift.
Thalindra lowered her gaze to the stone, overwhelmed. Accepting such a valuable material without giving anything in return went against everything she had learned.
Kizuna floated beside her, keeping her usual teasing tone.
—Don't turn it down, Kizu! Haruto might be absentminded, but he knows what he's doing. Besides, I'm sure he wants you to finish those "loli" gauntlets.
Haruto shot Kizuna a murderous glare, clearly uncomfortable.
—That last part was unnecessary, Kizuna. —he said, scratching the back of his head—. Don't ruin the moment.
Yuna stepped in with a solemn tone.
—We won't accept a "no" as an answer. If this stone is what you need to complete your work, then you should keep it.
Thalindra lifted her gaze, glancing between the gauntlets and the Umbranite. She knew this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, but accepting such a valuable gift went against her personal code.
She took a deep breath.
—Alright. But on one condition.
Everyone looked at her expectantly.
—Let me join your party.
Silence fell immediately.
Haruto frowned, confused.
—What are you talking about?
Thalindra crossed her arms confidently.
—I don't like owing anyone anything. Besides, there's only two of you, and neither of you seems to fight on the front lines.
Kizuna snickered, floating around her.
—And what could a little thing like you even do, Kizu?
Thalindra clenched her teeth, ignoring her. Without a word, she walked over to the iron training dummy on the other side of the forge.
With a single punch, the structure groaned and visibly dented.
The echo of the impact resounded through the room.
Haruto and Yuna were left slack-jawed. Kizuna, unable to process what she had just witnessed, hid behind Haruto.
Thalindra looked at them with pride.
—I mine stones with my bare fists. I know you underestimate me because I'm a dwarf, but don't be mistaken—I'm much stronger than you think.
Haruto and Yuna exchanged glances, still processing the scene. Kizuna, peeking timidly from behind Haruto, murmured in a low voice.
—Well… maybe she's not such a fragile "loli" after all, Kizu.
Ignoring her, Thalindra continued seriously.
—But… if I'm going to join your group, I have two conditions.
Yuna raised an eyebrow, intrigued.
—Conditions? What do you have in mind?
Thalindra pulled out a guild poster and a worn-out sketch of an imposing warhammer, placing them on the table.
—First, I want us to go to a level 2 dungeon here in Molgaroth. It's called "The Mine of Lost Souls."
Yuna tilted her head, analyzing the mission.
—That sounds interesting. It'd be good training for us. But what are you hoping to find there?
Thalindra pointed at the warhammer sketch with determination.
—I want to defeat the final boss, "The Soul Reaper," and claim the two-handed warhammer, "Gaia Imperium."
Haruto picked up the papers, examining them closely. Olivia, from her control room, chimed in his mind.
—Attention, Master! That monster is level 30, wields an extremely dangerous scythe, and is accompanied by specters. It can only be defeated with light magic.
Haruto frowned.
—I see…
—Warning! Neither you nor Yuna have light-based abilities to fight it. I have no sufficient data on Thalindra.
Haruto set the papers down with a sigh. Thalindra, unaware of his mental conversation, continued her explanation.
—It'll take me three days to insert the new rune into my gauntlets. Once they're ready, we can head into the dungeon.
Yuna nodded with interest, but before she could respond, Thalindra raised a finger, pointing at them with a firm gesture.
—And here comes my second condition.
—What would that be? —Yuna asked cautiously.
The dwarf stared at them intently, a defiant glint in her eyes.
—I don't know what happened between you and that light elf, but I want you to make peace with her. She pretended not to know you, but it's obvious you're friends.
Haruto and Yuna exchanged surprised looks.
—Melodía? —Haruto muttered.
—Exactly. —Thalindra nodded, leaning slightly toward them—. That dungeon is infested with darkness-type enemies. If we want to conquer it, we'll need light magic. Besides, we can't afford internal grudges if we're going to work as a team.
The weight of her words left a silence in the forge, broken only by the crackling of the fire.
Haruto and Yuna exchanged glances before Haruto spoke, uncertainty in his voice.
—She left on her own. I don't think she wants to come back. —he murmured, crossing his arms as he lowered his gaze, deep in thought.
Thalindra stepped closer to Yuna, her expression firm.
—I only spent an afternoon with her, but I can tell Melodía is someone reliable. She doesn't seem like the irrational type.
Yuna pressed her lips together, feeling the weight of the dwarf's words.
—If you're really the leader of this group, you'll know how to handle this. —Thalindra added, leaving an unspoken expectation hanging in the air.
Yuna remained silent for a moment, lost in thought. Finally, she let out a sigh.
"Thalindra is right. I haven't done anything to fix this, despite being her friend. I haven't even gone to see her. I still have a lot to learn—not just as a leader, but as a friend."
She opened her eyes with renewed determination.
—I'll do it. I'll go find her. —she said firmly, without hesitation.
Haruto looked at her, surprised, but then nodded with a faint smile.
—Then I guess it's time to set things right.
Thalindra crossed her arms and gave Haruto a stern look.
—You better. And I'm telling you especially. I'd bet you're the point of conflict between those two. Getting her back isn't optional. Light elves are invaluable—especially against dark enemies.
Haruto raised his hands in surrender, rolling his eyes with a hint of humor.
—Yeah, yeah, I hear you, boss.
Thalindra let out a huff before turning back to her workstation.
—I'll see you in three days. If you don't manage to convince her, I'll do it myself.
Haruto and Yuna exchanged glances. It was time to act.
—We'd better get started. Three days isn't much time.
Haruto nodded, feeling the pressure in the air.
—Understood. Let's go get our light elf.
—No. —Yuna stopped him firmly—. You'll go to the guild and continue with the missions as usual. Keeping the group together is my responsibility.
Haruto observed her for a moment, surprised by her determination. Finally, he just nodded.
Yuna left the forge with purposeful strides, the cold of Molgaroth barely touching her.
"Now I understand my father—leading requires strength and resolve. It's time to act."
With that conviction, she headed toward the Star Lúmina inn, leaving behind the bustling snowy streets, focused only on her goal.