Ascension from Dual Professions

Chapter 7: Chapter 7: Sutton Silverbeard

Jon scraped the mud from the soles of his feet on the steps outside the Blacksmith Shop, then walked up.

The closer he got to the large furnace, the hotter it became.

But his gaze didn’t linger on the soundly sleeping Old Dwarf; instead, he scanned his surroundings with curiosity.

Compared to the bustling and orderly Silverbeard Workshop in Nomu Town from his memories, the Silverbeard Blacksmith Shop in this Nomu Village could only be described as crude and messy.

The large furnace divided the space. To the left were piles of coal and metal ingots, and to the right were various iron goods. There were few swords or sabers; most of the items were all sorts of farm tools.

At the very back of the Blacksmith Shop was a workbench covered with all kinds of ores, with a stone bed beside it.

That was all there was to it; you could see everything at a glance.

It was clear how casually the owner of this place lived.

This was to be expected. Dwarves were never ones for trivial details. Their lives consisted of only fine wine and Forging; everything else was unnecessary.

After taking it all in, Jon was lost in thought.

’So this is the result without any player influence...’

Without players becoming apprentices and helping run the place, it wasn’t surprising at all that, given the personality of the Old Sutton he knew, his workshop would end up looking like this.

Seeing that the Old Dwarf wasn’t going to wake up anytime soon, he didn’t mind. He expertly picked out a hook, hoisted the snow fox from his back, and hung it under the eaves to keep it from getting dusty. Then he grabbed a grimy dustpan and broom and started sweeping the floor.

This wasn’t an attempt to curry favor or suck up; his predecessor had always helped clean up voluntarily whenever he visited. Jon didn’t want to break this unwritten rule and needlessly arouse suspicion.

Besides, the experience of doing chores was quite novel for him, a child who had been spoiled by his parents.

He swept in circles, from the outside in. The goods area and the material storage area didn’t need sweeping, and the rest was finished in just a few strokes.

The only spot left was at the old blacksmith’s feet.

Jon carefully swept away the dust, then squatted down and picked up the hemp paper scattered on the ground from the Dwarf’s hand.

On it were simple drawings of a few ores and some scrawled Dwarven script. It looked like some kind of record.

Connecting this with the quests this old blacksmith had given out in ”Yino” in the past, the young man had a realization.

’Looks like Old Sutton has already started his research on metals...’

He gathered the rest of the draft papers, tidied them up, and placed them by the Old Dwarf’s hand, weighing them down with an empty, soot-stained wine glass.

Just as the young man’s fingertips left the pages—

”Hnggghhh—?”

A heavy, drawn-out snort echoed.

Sutton Silverbeard shook his head. His chin, buried in a messy red beard, rubbed against the leather apron on his chest. His heavy eyelids cracked open, and it took a moment for his murky, sleepy eyes to focus on Jon’s face.

”Hooo— It’s you, kid?”

The Old Dwarf rubbed his large, rosacea-red nose. His voice was raspy from just waking up, and he spoke as if to a neighborhood kid who visited often.

”What little trinket did you bring today? What’re you looking to trade for?”

Jon didn’t answer right away. Instead, he ”shyly” raised a hand and pointed outside, toward the eaves over the open gate.

”Hm...”

Sutton followed the direction of the finger, glancing outside with a hint of indifference.

Then, his voice jumped an octave.

”HMM—!?”

The Old Dwarf’s sleepiness vanished in an instant.

His short body shot forward as if propelled by something. In two steps, he was at the doorway, craning his neck. His small eyes were wide and round, fixed on the massive fox carcass hanging from the hook under the eaves.

Its fur was as fine as satin, without a single speck of another color. Apart from the gash on its neck, its entire body was perfectly intact!

”Hiss...”

After recognizing what kind of creature it was, the Old Dwarf sucked in a sharp breath.

He spun around abruptly, his eyes shooting out a glare as sharp as a quenched blade. He scanned Jon up and down several times—large patches of dried, blackened blood covered his filthy, tattered beast-hide clothes, the pallor on his face had yet to fully fade, and though he stood straight, one could still see the strain in his posture.

Case closed!

Sutton’s thick beard trembled, and his graying eyebrows knitted together tightly, finally resulting in a mumble mixed with complex emotions.

”What a reckless, foolish kid...”

”Heh heh~”

Jon stood his ground, grinning from ear to ear, revealing a simple, honest-looking smile that perfectly fit the ”foolish kid” image Sutton now had of him.

’Acting is a required course for players, after all!’

The Old Dwarf watched Jon’s goofy grin, and for a moment, he seemed lost in thought, as if reminded of something.

After a long while, he gestured to indicate the size of the large snow fox and spoke with a touch of emotion.

”Alright, tell me. What do you want to trade for this time?”

After a pause, he added another sentence.

”You can ask for some better stuff this time.”

Hearing this, the young man’s heart settled.

’Just as I thought. Old Sutton is as fair as I remember, never one to take advantage of others.’

So, he raised a hand to scratch his somewhat blood-stained hair and spoke to the Dwarf for the first time.

”Well... Uncle Sutton, I don’t really know what’s good and what’s not... but...”

Jon lifted the Mountain-Cutting Saber hanging at his waist, wiggled it, and put on a slightly pitiful expression.

”It looks like my saber is a little broken...”

This Mountain-Cutting Saber was a keepsake from his predecessor’s adoptive parents. It was already an old item, and even with proper maintenance, its material quality was what it was.

After withstanding the Power of Jon’s blow that severed the large snow fox’s neck, its blade had become slightly warped. The most direct evidence of this was its Durability dropping from 7/10 to 3/10. Although it still looked intact, it was completely unusable without repairs.

And how sharp was the old blacksmith’s eye?

Just by looking at the state of the saber, he could practically picture how thrilling and perilous Jon’s battle with the great snow fox must have been.

The old blacksmith stroked the beard on his chest and grumbled under his breath.

”Fine, wait here.”

He then turned and staggered toward the workbench.

Seeing this, Jon was secretly delighted.

’Compared to the common goods displayed outside, the Old Dwarf’s private stash must be extraordinary!’

Sure enough, Sutton dragged a large chest out from under his workbench, threw it in front of Jon, and kicked it open.

”Take a look!”

Jon leaned over curiously.

When he saw clearly what was inside the chest, his eyes widened!

—

[Saber of Balance (Excellent - One-Handed Saber)]

[Physical Attack: 30-44]

[Durability: 30/30]

[Balance +5%]

”A masterwork by Old Sutton. Though it lacks an Enchantment, it is still a formidable weapon.”

—

[Oak Arm Shield (Ordinary - One-Handed Shield)]

[Physical Attack: 15-20]

[Block Value: 40]

[Durability: 30/30]

”When you’re facing enemy arrows, you’ll know just how important a shield is! —A new-recruit drill instructor”

—

[Thick Hide Armor (Ordinary - Chestpiece)]

[Torso Defense Value: 30]

[Durability: 40/40]

”Yeah, it’s pretty good, thick and sturdy, but it kinda stinks. —A rookie adventurer”

—

It was actually three pieces of equipment, and a three-piece set at that: a main-hand weapon, an off-hand weapon, and a chestpiece!