Chapter 25

A week later.

After finishing the last commission, Max went through the door connecting the smithy with the shop.

"Tadrose, I'm here to tell you something."

"You're leaving right?" She said without lifting her head from the book she was reading.

Yes, even though there was the stereotype that blacksmiths are illiterate and uneducated, Tadrose wasn't among them.

No matter how crude she looked or acted, she was actually a very knowledgeable person. If she didn't have a passing for the craft, she would've been a wizard many years ago.

"How did you know?" Max asked.

"You didn't accept any orders after you heard about the rumors and was rushing to finish the current ones." She put the book on her lap and looked Max right in the eyes. "That means, you have a place to be which I don't remember you talking about or, you're planning on going on a long trip which would take around 6 months, just in time for the winter to arrive. And what a coincidence, Falinesti which is rumored to have the dragon's hoard is around six months' distance away. Did I guess that right?" She asked.

"…yes." Max admitted.

"Good luck on your adventure." She said and returned to her book.

"Thanks… wait is that it?" He asked

"Yes. That's it. What did you expect me to do? To not allow you to go outside? I don't own you. You were only my apprentice for a week. After that you became a fellow craftsman ridiculously fast. I can't stop you. Go outside and have a few adventures. Trust me, it helps a lot. I've been through a few myself." She shrugged her shoulders.

"Is that so? I'll take your word for it. I'm off!" He said loudly as he turned his back and left the smithy.

——<>——

In the middle of Rimmen forest to the West of Bravil, there stood a single cottage with a chimney that spewed out smoke.

An old man sat by the window with a pipe in his hand while watching the downpour. He was very short for man of his age. And the reason for that was his dwarven ancestry.

He had a head full of white hair and a bushy white beard. He had a kindly and jolly visage but at the moment he was frowning as if he was in deep thought.

"Are you at it again Bilbo?" A female voice was heard from the entrance of his study.

"No, darling. I was just… thinking of some stuff." He replied tactfully.

"You think I don't know you? We've been married for 40 years!" She said with an outburst, but then calmed herself down. "Look, I know how much you want to go on an adventure once more, but let it go. The world doesn't need you anymore, nobody even remembers you probably. And you are old! Look at you, you became an old man well into his eighties." Then she came closer to him and put her hands on his. "Please. Just stay put. You are about to become a grandfather. Don't you want to see your grandchildren?"

"Sigh I do. You are right Raelyn. Maybe I should let it go already." He said and took a final peek outside through the window.

But this time, instead of the darkness he saw previously, he saw a source of light coming closer.

His eyes lit up and he turned to his wife. "Get some food ready my love. We are having guests."

——<>——

"How!? I mean how!? There was no indication of a rain!"

"You know, I've never been caught under a rain before I met you. Are you sure you are not cursed?"

Two people, one girl with pink hair and the other, a boy with auburn hair were running towards the cottage they saw. They were Max and Medb

Before they could knock on the door, it was opened by a man almost half the size of Max.

"Come on in. The rain in Rimmen doesn't cease easily." He invited.

Max was suspicious at first, because there was a cottage in the middle of a forest and the owner was very welcoming of them.

But since he had no other options, he could only go inside with caution.

"Hoho don't be too nervous young man. If I wanted to hurt you, I would have done so already. But I like your cautiousness. Never lose that." He said jovially and closed the door after the duo went inside.

"Make yourselves at home, go sit somewhere don't be shy." He said as he pushed them towards the couches.

"Ah okay, thank you." Max didn't know what to do in this situation. The old man was too eager.

"Oh, what am I saying. Let's get you new clothes first. Raelyn! The beautiful lady here needs new clothes!" He yelled towards one of the rooms and pushed Max towards another room.

"Hey! Wai-!" Max tried to stop the old man but he was too nible and quick. In no time at all, he was down to only his underwear. "I feel defiled…" he could only mutter while covering his body with his hands.

"Hmm, you have a nice body. Not too tall and and not too small. A compact body perfect for combat." The old man was touching everywhere on Max's body.

He would sometimes pull him sometimes lift him up and sometimes test the toughness of the muscles. And throughout this, Max couldn't even defend himself. He tried prying his hands off, kicking and hitting the old man but it was all futile.

He was both faster and stronger. But thankfully, he didn't try to do anything that would harm him. That was his only saving grace.

After finishing his inspection, the old man finally stopped to look at Max and laughed out loud. "Hahaha! Don't be embarrassed youngling. We're both men here. Nothing to be ashamed of. I was just checking whether you would make a fine adventurer and you passed with flying colors! Hahaha!" He said while hitting Max on the back.

"…stop touching me you damn pedophile!" Caladbolg III suddenly materialized in his hand.

——<>——

"Sorry about that young man. My husband gets a little excited when he sees adventurers. It was his dream profession." A woman with much younger features apologized to Max.

"Ahaha!" The dwarf old man laughed while scratching his head. "Yeah, sorry about that. You can call me the Great Bilbo!"

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You know the rules and so do I~

Stones are what I'm thinking of~