The Boy and Her

"...Damn…"

[Poor Iron ingot]

Smelted iron tempered into an ingot. The skill of the blacksmith is poor and inexperienced, resulting in a poor quality iron ingot mixed with many impurities.

*Increases the chances of producing [Poor] quality item

Exasperated, Len sighed loudly.

After the umphteenth time of smelting it over and over again, there's still many impurities mixed in the iron ingot. Despite having a guide telling him what to do, everything still based on his skill as a blacksmith.

Timing and hammering, it requires instinct and feeling that is sharpened by experience and practice. Len, a complete newbie in blacksmithing was actually doing quite fine being able to smelt the ore.

Maintaining temperature is not an easy task. Being able to do it many times in a row however, impressed Octo.

'This kid is not exactly talented, but he's tenacious. I'll give him that.'

After watching Len failed again, Octo decided to give his opinion and guidance.

"I'll show you once more."

Having personal experience holding the hammer and using the forge, Len had a better idea on what Octo did. Activating [Hawk Eye] while observing how Octo controlled the temperature and hammering, Len's insight of blacksmithing increased.

[Your comprehension of Blacksmith's Eye of Appraisal increased greatly!]

[Your comprehension of Blacksmith's Craftsmanship increased greatly!]

"Hm?"

'Blacksmith's Craftsmanship increased greatly?'

This time, when Len hold the hammer and the tong the guide arrows and explanation appeared like usual, but there's more than usual. The arrows and explanation increased.

"..."

Grinning wearily, Len started the process of smelting and followed the guidance. When he raised the temperature, suddenly a blue panel popped out indicating the heat. According to his observation, the iron ore is not supposedly heated until it melted completely. The iron ore only heated until it became spongy and the slag poured out by itself on the bottom.

After some time later he pulled the bright, yellow-ish heated ore with a tong and placed it on the anvil. Suddenly, crosshairs appeared around the surface of the ore.

'T-this is… These Indicators are telling me where to hammer!

'Alright!'

Len hammered the ore and heated it again according to the crosshairs. This cycle repeated for a few times and the result was…

[Poor Iron ingot]

Smelted iron tempered into an ingot. The skill of the blacksmith is poor and inexperienced, resulting in a poor quality iron ingot mixed with many impurities.

*Increases the chances of producing [Poor] quality item

"Agh…"

What went wrong? He followed what the guide said, so why is it still poor? Len became stressed, his patience was running. He put the tong and hammer on the table while slouching.

He didn't know, but Octo was becoming more and more impressed. Just by watching Octo doing it several times and few practices, his skill improved a lot from a newbie to a beginner. Octo became even more motivated.

But it's still not enough.

"Your technical skills improved kid, but still lacking in other parts."

The truth is, Octo wanted to teach Len the basics, letting him learn slowly from experience, giving him a challenge so he would improve, and finally set him off on his own journey of discovery.

But, after seeing how he improved within this short-period of time, Octo changed his mind. He wanted to teach everything he knew and see how much he can learn. Unlike before, this time, Octo doesn't hold back.

And Len, with his [Hawk Eye] skill focused with all his might to every Octo's movement. Each time Octo speaks, Len gained more knowledge unlike before where Octo only spoke the basics.

[Your comprehension of Blacksmith's Eye of Appraisal increased greatly!]

[Your comprehension of Blacksmith's Craftsmanship increased greatly!]

[Your comprehension…]

[...]

…

While Len struggled with his quest, a certain particular person approached the village. A tall figure almost reaching 2 metres. Her robe fluttered by the wind, making her silhouette bigger than usual. Strands of black hair swayed near waist and waved each time she took a step.

One of the guard, Dran squinted his eyes.

'Another non-local…'

It seems like there's been an influx of foreigner coming to visit their village. It's rather odd considering their village located on the westernmost part of the continent, there's nothing interesting to look at but the meadows.

"Halt! What business do you have here?"

Dran spoke impassively.

The woman smiled until her eyes turned into a slit. Raising her arms slowly, Dran tensed. An unknown pressure the woman omitted before him caused his hands to tremble. Cold sweat started to damp his back despite the bright sun shining on his metallic armour.

Dran was convinced that this woman isn't ordinary and even possibly… an apostle.

"I'm a traveller from the city of Balthur on the north. I'm on a quest to search for a family heirloom that was stolen."

She covered her lips, smiling sweetly.

Dran knew of Balthur, it is far away place that would require months going by horse wagon. Seeing that she's on foot and alone, that would means that she's strong enough to face the challenge ahead. Dran believed it was her aura that caused him to tremble and his instinct was just warning him.

"You are looking for a lost heirloom and travelled to the west? Here?"

"Yes, I believe it is quite hard to believe but it is the truth."

Her demeanor somewhat entranced Dran. A strong and sweet woman looking for a long, lost family heirloom. He imagined what she went through on her journey, facing various kind of creature.

Dran suddenly felt empathetic to her.

"What kind of heirloom is it?"

"A gem. It was of my great great grandfather. An important memento that was once lost when I was but a child. I've been travelling all over the world searching for it. I've visited many lands and cities but it was in vain, perhaps this village might be the one."

"I… see…"

Dran glanced to his partner eye to eye and both of them nodded.

A woman with strong sense of responsibility to her family wished to reclaim what once was her, what a noble and patriotic figure she is! Dran and his partner felt something hot in their chest and eyes.

Unable to hold back, tears ran down their cheeks and Dran brushed it off swiftly. Straighten his back, he hit his chest making a metallic clink and said.

"We do not know if what you are looking for is in our humble home, but you are welcomed to stay here as long as you want!"

Clasping her hand with a shocked expression, she gasped.

"Is that really alright? How much is the entrance fee?"

"No need for courtesy! We are happy to help!"

"Oh you people…"

Wiping tears from the corner of her eyes, the woman reached grasped Dran's hand and thanked him.

"Thank you so much! May the goddess Freya give her blessing upon both of you!"

"N-no need for thanks miss! We are just doing the right thing!"

"Thank you, really."

With misty eyes, the woman said her goodbye and entered the village with a wide grin on her face.

Soon, after her silhouette disappeared, Dran's partner asked him.

"Hey Dran, we didn't ask her name, did we?"

"Ah! You are right! How come we forget such simple thing!"

"Well, it's fine. Just ask her next time."

"Yeah. Today we did a good thing, didn't we?"

"We definitely did."

Laughing, both of them gave each other fist bump. They were so indulged in their conversation, they didn't notice another person was standing in front of them.

"Hey!"

"Oh Novy! Where did you went off to? Were you injured?"

"Please, you really think I would get injured?"

"You can never be too careful!"

Crossing his arms, Dran laughed.

Novy felt something is out of place. Why are these two so happy? Something good happened?

"Did something happened?"

"Actually, yeah! A traveller came here, she's looking for her family's lost heirloom. Up from the north in Balthur to our home here! How amazing is that!? She must be hella strong!"

As Dran continued to rambling on and on, Novy's heart beating faster and faster.

"W-what was she looking for? Her appearance? Her name?"

"She wore a robe, black long hair and a pair of beautiful eyes! And I think she's looking for a gem or something."

And as she heard the word 'gem', her face went pale as a paper.

"...Name?"

"We were so caught up in her story that we forgot to ask her name…"

Dran seemed disappointed in himself, as if he just lost the lottery by a single digit.

"Tsk!"

Clicking her tongue, Novy brushed them off and ran back to the village.

"Hey, what's the matter Novy!? Hey!"

"...Nice work Dran."

"W-what!? What did I do!?"

While both of them continued to chat, Novy rushed through the village to her home.

"Good afternoon Novy! How are you?"

"Sorry granny! I gotta go!"

"Hey Novy! Come let's play!"

"Sorry! Maybe next time!"

"Novy~!"

Many people called her name, the elderly, children, teenager, man or woman. Everybody knew her and her old man, Octo.

'That woman… she must be an apostle! Furthermore, she's looking for a gem! I have to tell Pops as soon as possible!'

Novy didn't even bother to look for the woman, she knew she's not a match to an apostle. She can handle most of the monsters outside the village, but an apostle is on a completely different league. They can revive after death, possess extraordinary skills and are not the one to hesitate to kill!

"All apostles really are…"

An image suddenly appeared in her mind, cutting her words off abruptly. A boy who's hammering on an anvil.

Through the past few days, she's been observing him quietly from the back silently. How he studied her pops' work and locking himself in the workshop. She saw how he came back to the house only to sleep and eat only to spent the rest of the day practice blacksmithing.

He saw how he repeated the same action of hammering over and over again relentlessly. How he sweated his life out, his persistence and patience to learn.

Len left quite an impression on her.

Hearing his story how he ended up in the workshop shocked her. Such person who spent days in a forest, hunting sapphire monkey without eating and drinking must have one or two screws loose in the head.

But when she saw his eyes… she knew that he's not the same like any other apostles who looked at the people of the land like dolls. In his eyes, she only saw regrets and resolve. A boy who was searching for his purpose in a foreign world.

'No, focus!'

Shaking her head, she snapped to reality. Picking up her pace, she must inform her pops about the incoming 'peril'.

…

Oblivious to what Octo and Novy thought of him, Len concentrated on his quest. He hammered the half-molten ore while covered in sweat.

'I'm not going to sleep on the street no matter what the cost!!'

His biggest motivation to learn was actually to not die of hypothermia. Dying on the street like rats terrified him greatly. He wanted to avoid that path and even go to such length.

Finishing his work, a fanfare echoed and the information window appeared.

Tring!

[Common Iron Ingot]

Smelted iron tempered into an ingot. The skill of the blacksmith is poor and inexperienced, however through trials and error he made fair a iron ingot.

*Increases the chances of producing [Common] quality item

Ting!

[You have successfully produced [Common Iron Ingot]! You earned 500 EXP!]

"I did it!"

Len jumped and kneeled on the floor. Tears formed on the corner of his eyes. Clenching his fists, he wiped them off and turned around.

Octo smiled in satisfaction and gave a thumb up.

"Congratulation Len! You did it!"

[Octo is impressed by your skill. Your affinity with Octo increased by 10!]

"Oh!"

'That's new, isn't it?'

It's the first time his affinity with someone else increased, not through a quest but his own action! And it's a muscular old man to boot…

'Well, it's still something!'

He can't think pessimistically, not in this situation at least. Failure was not an option for him. He must complete the quest no matter what. A vow he made to himself.

Len felt warmth spread over his chest. He cannot remember when the last time he felt like this. Being acknowledged after numerous trials and errors, his happiness was justified despite only smelting an iron ore.

He knew that it's still a long way to go. He hasn't even begun crafting and only a little bit over two weeks left.

But he accomplished something, and that's what count for him.

And as they were just about to go back home to eat, the workshop door slammed open and a figure of a person stood there.

"Ah…"

"Novy? What is it?"

Novy gasped for breath, sweat poured all over her forehead and chin. Leaning her palms on her knees, she opened and closed her mouth silently, not knowing what to say.

Octo guessed from her expression something urgent happened, and they need to talk about it in private. Could it be...?

'No, It can't be…'

Reaching into his pocket, Octo threw a small pouch at Len.

"...Len, catch."

"What's this?"

"There's 1000 gills inside. Why don't you go explore the village a bit? You've been in this workshop for days, right? A breather wouldn't be bad."

"Now that I think about it…"

When Len entered the village, he didn't do anything at all. He was too hungry and tired mentally, he didn't talk to anyone nor exploring the village at all.

'But why now…? Could it be...?"

Len's eyes started to shine.

'...Because my affinity increased? Wait no, that doesn't seems right... '

Moving his gaze to Novy, he noticed her desperate face. Something happened, and they don't want any outsider like him to know. It's the most logical explanation.

'Ouch.'

Nodding his head, Len said said his goodbye and walked out the workshop.

"Alright, I'm going out for a while."

Leaving both of them, Len enjoyed the gentle breeze on his skin. Yawning while stretching his body, he felt a little bit drowsy and sleepy.

'Should I go to sleep instead? Nah…'

Sleep can be done later, he wanted to sight see the village for a while and then come back later.

'Maybe there's a better food beside fish soup.'

Trying to recall his way to the center of the village, Len continued to walk on the road. Before long, he started to see people here and there going back and forth on the street.

'The houses made of brick were lined up nicely and colorful, there's also many people doing bazaar selling second hand stuff. How come I didn't notice this before?'

He was too caught up in his own mind. Now that he has found time to enjoy the moment, he explored the village.

He approached one of the fruit vendor and saw an apple. Grabbing it, he asked the owner.

"How much is it?"

"10 gills each!"

"..."

Len scratched his head.

'Is 10 gills cheap or not? With 1000 gills I can only buy 100 apples… I'm not sure what to think.'

After thinking for a little bit, he decided.

"I'll take one. Here."

Handing a coin with a '10' stamped with on it to the owner, Len bit the apple.

"Much appreciated boy!"

"..."

'Everyone kept calling me boy… I'm gonna be 18 this year, I'm not a boy anymore.'

Then Len realized, speaking of year, what date is it today? This world has a different calendar, right? He wondered.

Len continued walking around the village and suddenly, a familiar smell struck him.

A smell so wonderful, his stomach roared wildly and eyes turned red in agitation. Turning around, he sniffed the surrounding. His action creeped out other people, but Len didn't mind.

"What's wrong with that kid?"

"Shush don't speak loudly! He might hear you!"

"You are one to talk…"

"Daddy, is he crazy?"

"Don't point your fingers at other people carelessly, child…"

Len proceeded to follow the aroma and just as he expected-

A food shop on the street! In his old world, usually these street vendors sells hot dogs, burgers, ice cream, fish and chips, and etc. This time, Len found a street vendor who sells grilled chicken thigh! And there's only one left!

Len dashed to the shop and called the street vendor.

" "One chicken thigh please." "

And there she was, a robed woman with long black hair stood beside him.

" "Huh...?" "