Players' NPC Big Daddy

”I see, a lost homeland?” Hade nodded thoughtfully. After taking a sip of his drink, he said earnestly, ”I don’t understand it at all.”

Blaze stumbled and nearly fell over. Hade’s expression had turned so solemn the moment he heard the words ”Lost Kingdom” that Blaze thought the dwarf was about to reveal something profound.

It turned out the old man simply had too many wrinkles clumped together on his face, making him look deeply profound no matter what expression he wore.

”Since the incompetent Master Hade has no way to solve the Armor issue, we’ll have to settle for the next best thing and repair the weapon,” Herbie said, crossing her arms and feigning a troubled look.

”Tch, I never make excuses. I won’t charge you this time. Bring out the weapon.” Though Hade was annoyed by Herbie’s cheeky attitude, he was surprisingly honest. He extended a heavily calloused hand toward Blaze.

[Twisted Giant Sword / Damaged]

Blaze handed the Twisted Giant Sword to Hade.

”Oho—this is also a battle-tested weapon. The craftsmanship is similar to your Armor, but the material is ordinary metal.”

Hade easily hoisted the Twisted Greatsword with one hand. Stroking his beard, he inspected the blade, occasionally tapping it with his knuckles and bringing it close to his ear to listen to the metal’s echoing resonance.

Blaze leaned in close to Herbie’s ear and whispered, ”How many times have you scammed Master Hade with this trick?”

”How can it be a scam if both parties are willing?” Herbie tapped her lips with her index finger, tilting her head with an innocent smile. ”I’ve probably been freeloading off him ever since he owed me a favor.”

Blaze looked at Audrey and pointed at Herbie, hoping the future Lady would use fair laws to reprimand this Little Demon. But Audrey averted her gaze; evidently, the future Lady had also gained something from every instance of this freeloading.

”Severed cleanly in a single strike... The opponent was a master of Swordsmanship... A Great Sword, no, a Giant Sword Master. Fierce Dragon Cyan Bull Slash? To think they used a Chef Skill... A Bone Weapon? I see...” Hade murmured with his ear pressed against the Twisted Greatsword, as if the weapon were telling him a story.

”Is this the special ability of a Dwarf Equipment Appraiser?” Blaze was amazed that Hade could deduce so much just by listening to the metal’s echo, identifying Flying Brick’s Skill and Profession without ever meeting him face-to-face.

”Yes. It’s a Skill that can only be unlocked and taught by Dwarves, allowing them to converse with metal and fire,” Herbie replied, crossing her arms and lowering her voice.

”Hm?!”

Hade, who had been half-squinting, suddenly widened his eyes. He hurried over to the workbench, clamped the Twisted Greatsword in a vise, and gently tapped the severed cross-section with a small Iron Hammer. He used a small dish to catch the white powder falling from the break.

Blaze and Herbie curiously leaned in to look. It appeared to be the bone dust of some creature.

”This is!” Blaze’s eyes went wide as his Blessing provided him with an unbelievable result.

[Yamata’s Tailbone Powder]

[A weapon pulled from Yamata’s tailbone. When attacking, Ama no Murakumo drops Piercing bone dust, dealing multiple instances of splash damage. Normally difficult to collect, but there is an extremely low chance of it remaining on destroyed equipment.]

”With this, I can extract the Metal Memory from this weapon and add a Skill to your weapon,” Hade said.

”Really?” Herbie’s voice was even louder than Blaze’s. ”If this succeeds, how massive of a favor will Blaze owe m—Mmph!”

Before Herbie could finish her sentence, Audrey covered her mouth from behind. Finally unable to tolerate Herbie any longer, the future Lady took action to stop her. Herbie’s feet left the ground; she twitched twice, then her eyes rolled back as she lost consciousness.

”Please pay her no mind, you two.”

Holding Herbie like a ragdoll, Audrey bowed slightly to the two men and made a graceful exit.

Hade and Blaze wordlessly agreed to ignore Herbie’s fainting spell. Staring at the fractured cross-section of the Twisted Greatsword, they began to discuss forging.

”I can’t do anything about your Soul Steel Armor, but I can help you process this Great Sword.”

”Then I will trouble you, Master.”

”The forging ritual to extract Memory and create a Skill requires two preparations.” Hade held up two thick fingers.

”One: Metals do not hold Memories of each other, so the wound must be inflicted by Life—animals, plants, insects, or even Undead skeletons will do.

”Two: A piece of the Life that caused the wound is required, just like that Noble Knight’s Breastplate over there.”

Hade pointed to the [Noble Knight’s Breastplate / Griffin Engraving] as an example.

”The damage caused by the Griffin, combined with the Griffin’s feathers and claws during the forging process, generated the Passive Skill, Griffin Engraving.

”However, this bit of bone dust isn’t quite enough,” Hade said, getting a headache as he looked at the small dish of powder.

”When attacking, it drops Piercing bone dust, dealing multiple instances of splash damage...” Blaze stroked his chin. A Flash of Inspiration struck him, and he yanked the Nemean Lion Skin off his shoulders.

”Gah! Human! What are you doing?!” the chicken shrieked in fright, flapping its wings and nearly falling into the nearby fire pit. ”What are you trying to do to my nest?”

”Don’t just turn people’s capes into your chicken coop without permission.” Exasperated by the bird’s bossy behavior, Blaze handed the Lion Skin to Hade. ”Master, when I was attacked, this Lion Skin also took a hit. Perhaps there’s enough bone dust left on this as well.”

The Twisted Greatsword had snapped in two after a single blow, but the Nemean Lion Skin had endured a full eight strikes.

”Oh~ so much bone dust! This is definitely enough for the forging ritual!” Hade’s eyes lit up. He took the Lion Skin and started shaking it. Somehow—Blaze wasn’t sure how he did it—all the falling bone dust landed perfectly into a single small dish.

Flames automatically ignited within the furnace. The apprentices and shop clerks all looked over, gazing at Master Hade with reverence. This highly respected Master Blacksmith would only fire up the forge when the Advanced partner from Hermes’ Travel Hat visited; the rest of his time was spent dead drunk.

They detested Herbie, that insatiably greedy Merchant, yet it was only when she appeared that the Master would reluctantly pick up his Iron Hammer to do the thing he had once loved most.

But today, they witnessed the Master’s passion. The embers in the furnace flared and burned, and searing heat once again filled the forging room.

The clerks and apprentices moved on their own accord. Some went to close up the blacksmith shop, while others prepared tools. One of them brought a bucket of water to Hade.

Hade lifted the bucket and poured the water over his head. The moment the water touched his skin, it turned bright red, evaporating the moisture as if he were a piece of red-hot iron.

Amidst the rising steam, a crimson rabbit faintly appeared on Hade’s back.

[Fire Rabbit Totem]

[Equivalent to Master of All Techniques in Swordsmanship; proof of mastering all the arts of the school and passing all requisite tests. It grants the qualification to disclose the school’s name to others and to take in disciples under its name.]

[Exists as a tattoo on the back, granting high favorability with Fire Fairies, as well as the ability to converse with metal.]