They Call Him 'Mad Beard'

As time passed, the rain continued to increase in intensity, making it difficult for the group to actually pinpoint where they were headed. Fortunately, it seemed, Sarah possessed a good sense of direction.

"This is the place?" Leo asked.

A few minutes after they headed off, the team found themselves arriving at a new destination. In front of Leo stood a building that had a big sign out in front. Due to the rain and the darkening of the sky, it was a bit hard for him to make out the exact image of the shop. However, a part of him could have sworn that he'd been here before.

"Yes," Alex replied. "Now remember," his voice changed to a warning tone, "please don't say anything unnecessary or rude to the owner. Otherwise, your time here will be quite unpleasant."

"O-okay," Leo said, slightly alarmed.

Before anyone could say another word, Sarah walked up and pushed open the door of the blacksmith's shop.

"Hello, Mad Beard! We're here to check out your products!" she called out.

"Hey, Sarah! Keep your voice down!" Judy hissed to her friend who seemed unaware of the danger.

"Hm? Oh, was I not supposed to use that name again?" Sarah asked, holding a hand up to her chin.

Leo listened to their conversation as a mixed sense of confusion and familiarity began to creep in.

"GET DOWN!" Alex reached forward and pulled Sarah back as a hammer suddenly flew out of the doorway.

It was fortunate that Alex had quick reflexes, as he managed to get his friend to safety right before the object flew out. As for the hammer, it was immediately halted in the middle of its trajectory thanks to Leo's [Mage Shield] that expanded just in time to block it.

Looking down at the familiar working tool, comprehension dawned on Leo's face as he heard an old man's voice shouting with ferocity from within the store.

"Who the hell are you calling 'Mad'!? Eh!?"

"You, you old quack!!" Judy shouted back into the store with matching fierceness. "You almost killed our friend!"

"Hah?!" a voice of derision came out in reply. "Don't fool me with that nonsense, missy! I know you've got a healer on your team!"

"Our healer was the one you almost killed!" Alex also shouted back into the store.

"SCREW OFF!" the voice got closer as footsteps were heard. "It's your own damn fault for using that nickname!"

A silhouette suddenly emerged as an old man with a foul temper came to meet them.

It didn't take Leo long to confirm where his teammates had taken him for their last trip. He only wished that he listened to his friend's advice earlier and gave up on coming here beforehand.

"If you bastards just came to bother me--! Hm?" Madelin Graybeard, the owner of Graybeard Metalworks, spoke to the group before his eyes landed on Leo.

"What the hell... You're still alive!" Madelin, whose nickname is 'Mad Beard', spoke out in exasperation upon seeing Leo's face.

Leo's eyes twitched at the blacksmith's reaction. He seemed to remember that he and this person only met just a few days earlier.

"You two know each other?" Alex looked back at Leo incredulously as he stood in a combative stance against the crazy blacksmith.

"Yeah," Leo admitted reluctantly. "I bought my magic sword from this place when I first walked around the city. It was before I had taken on the same quest as you guys."

Judy gave Madelin a strange look.

"Why were you so surprised when you just met him recently?"

"I always assume the worst for my new customers," Madelin shrugged nonchalantly. "It helps me deal with disappointment."

"How thoughtful," Judy responded icily.

"Anyway, if you guys want to buy my things, then get in here!" Madelin walked away into the store while leaving the door open. "And make sure to close the door for me!"

Judy stared confusedly at the sudden change in attitude of the mad blacksmith. For a moment nobody seemed to know how to respond.

"I think he's taken a liking to Leo," Sarah commented when everyone continued to remain silent. She didn't seem to take issue with Madelin's temper, nor with the fact that she narrowly avoided getting a serious head injury a few moments prior.

"Are you serious..." Judy became speechless at her ally's carefree personality.

"What the heck..." Alex glanced warily after the blacksmith who had just managed to reach the store's counter.

"WELL?!" Madelin shouted at the group waiting outside. "If there is something you need, then get in here! If not, then go! But don't forget to close the damn door after making your decision!"

Judy harrumphed in response. She half-considered breaking the door's hinges and running away out of spite.

"Um, how about I go in for now," Leo suggested awkwardly.

"What?" Alex was bewildered at Leo's suggestion. "Didn't you see that guy's attitude?" he spoke in a low voice to prevent Madelin from listening in.

"I know." Leo had the same reservations as his friend, though he got a suspicious feeling that this 'Mad Beard' may have a different predisposition towards him. "But it'd be a waste of time to come here only to turn back now. Who knows, we may even find a good opportunity.

"And I guess I probably should've mentioned this sooner," Leo's expression became both apologetic and sheepish. "This happened to be the place where I acquired that healing potion."

Alex and Judy raised their eyebrows in shock upon hearing their friend's revelation.

"Of course," Leo continued out of consideration, "I won't force anyone to come with me. I'm mainly just curious about the items on display here since they've already proven to be of good use."

The group of friends stared at each other before eventually sighing.

"Forget it." Judy shook her head out of reluctant acceptance. "Mad Beard's always been like that anyways. And I just remembered that we need to find a new suit of armor for Alex."

Eventually, after conversing a little more, the team decided to enter the store together but still keep up their guard. They agreed that if Madelin committed any further crazy actions, they would be ready to either leave immediately or fight back if necessary.

As they stepped in, the atmosphere around the team became strikingly similar to when they first entered the goblin's cave. The last person to walk through the entrance, Sarah, did not forget to close the door once they were all inside.

"Finally! About time," Madelin grumbled. "Just how long were you guys going to conspire there dramatically anyway? Any longer and my shop's front entrance would've been ruined."

"That'd be a shame," Judy said sarcastically. "You're really lucky we haven't reported you to the authorities for what you nearly did."

"Heh, you want an apology?" Madelin challengingly raised an eyebrow. When silence followed and the mood started becoming tense, the blacksmith spoke softly, "Alright fine. I apologize to the healer for nearly hurting her. You happy now?"

Judy was slightly taken aback at the latter's sudden sincerity. It must be said that it really isn't easy to predict the behavior of a crazy person.

"Come again?"

"I said I'm sorry, damn you!" Madelin shouted.

"Seriously?" Judy's face heated up. "Can't you check your tone--?!"

"Alright then. That's enough!" Alex intervened to prevent the situation from getting further out of hand. "Let's stop talking and find some new armor."

Judy harrumphed a second time for the day and turned around to look at some metal plates.

For a while, nobody said a word as the group browsed around, though Sarah would often hum a tune occasionally to lighten the mood.

Eventually, this awkward silence would soon be broken.

"See anything you like?" an old, gruff voice politely asked.

Leo, who was appraising some leather armor, became startled from the sudden presence behind him. Turning around, he spotted the figure of Madelin who had seemingly snuck up to his back without a single notice.

"No, uh, not really," Leo replied.

"Is that so?" Madelin didn't appear too annoyed. On the contrary he seemed to be looking considerate, which Leo found a little unsettling. "I believe you're friends with these people?"

When Leo slowly nodded, Madelin continued, "I heard one of them say that they needed a new suit of armor, right? I can build a custom one for them, though the price will be far higher than usual."

At the sides, Alex, Judy, and Sarah were each keeping an eye on the two of them once they noticed their conversation. If anything unexpected occurred, they would be ready to support Leo.

"We are currently tight on money at the moment," Leo replied evasively.

Thinking of the number of coins that remained in his pouch, and how his friends were likely short on funds, he knew that buying custom armor from a skilled blacksmith was currently too expensive for them.

"Are you going to receive any money from the quests you've done?" Madelin asked, probing him.

"Eh, well, yes actually. We just finished a quest a few days ago."

"Good! Then you can simply pay me after you get your reward."

Just as Madelin was starting to make Leo feel uncomfortable, Alex walked in on their conversation.

"Um, we appreciate your help, Madelin," Alex spoke in as sincere a tone as he could muster while positioning beside Leo, "but how much exactly is it going to cost?"

"Did I say you could butt in?" Madelin grumbled at the intrusion. "That isn't for you to know."

Seeing Alex becoming speechless, Leo decided to clarify, "Actually, Alex is the teammate who needs the armor. It would be helpful for him to know the price so we can make a decision on whether or not to buy it."

"Oh, that so?" Madelin's attitude took another noticeable change for the day. "In that case, it'll have to depend on what quality enchantments you want and the size of the person wearing it..."

Standing a couple feet away, Judy was whispering silently to Sarah.

"Don't you think Mad Beard's acting differently than usual around Leo?"

"Hmm, I don't think it's unusual." Sarah held a serene expression. "I imagine that Mad Be-- um, Madelin, must be pretty happy to talk with a fellow enchanter."

"A fellow enchanter?"

At Sarah's words, Judy carefully recalled how Leo previously enchanted Alex's original armor and weapon before their fierce battle with the goblins.

Judy complained to herself, 'Then isn't this just bias among professions?'

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