Chapter CLIX - Forging (part 1)

While me, Fran, and the others are talking about the weapon I can make using the Nychromium metal, Cane moves out from the group to sit on the tall chair in front of Hod, next to the ordering desk.

He took his ice cream with him and moved to have a little chat with Hod.

"So? What changed?"

Hod asked coldly, since he is being careful with Cane. He knows what kind of person Cane has become after he became a White ranked adventurer, but the recently changed Cane simply chuckled.

"... Isn't it obvious? She did."

Cane nodded towards the main table, and Hod can see that Rize is listening very well to Brod's explanation about the special metal. Meaning that red haired person wasn't listening to their conversation at all.

Hod was one of the first to know about Cane's incident. He didn't tell Rize because he doesn't want her to feel bad the moment she returns to the kingdom. Giving someone bad news right after they returned is a hint of karma.

"I thought you hated her. What happened?"

Hod asked again, with a much lighter tone this time.

"Well, she literally kicked some sense into me. Like, an actual kick... To my face…"

Cane took another piece of ice cream into his mouth, while his eyes were closed to focus his mind more on the ice cream rather than the painful memory.

Hod listened in horror as he imagined being kicked like that.

"I... see. Well, I had some guesses that she will bring some changes the moment she returns. And would you look at today?

A dragon raid, Yellow ranked dungeon..."

"She was the one who killed all the dragons, according to Fran."

"Yeah, I heard it too."

Hod and Cane glared back at the main table, and then they chuckled again. 

"I wanted to know."

Cane suddenly said, and Hod turned his attention back to the blonde guy.

"She once said to me… when she was knocking me out of existence. That… she once lost everything, just like I did."

Hearing Cane's words, Hod's eyes turned wide. Cane noticed the change in Hod's expression, and immediately confirmed his suspicion.

"… So you know something about it, after all?"

Cane knows that Hod was Rize's old team leader. So if anyone knows more about Rize in this world, it should be Hod.

Hod turned his face away and placed his back on the table, showing his back to Cane.

"What you experienced… and what she experienced, are two very different definitions of 'Losing everything'. But, I understand why she said that to you."

"Is it okay for you to tell me?"

"Unfortunately, that is something only she can say to you personally. After all… that secret can destroy this world."

Hearing that last bit, Cane turned widely shocked.

Hod did not lie when he said the secret can destroy the world. Once this world finds out about the existence of another world, things will definitely change for the worse.

After that, Cane did not ask anymore. Hod chuckled and turned his gaze back to the man eating ice cream in front of him.

"Well, don't mind it anymore. Just know that she is who she is today because of those tragedies. And… so can you."

"Mm-Hmm."

Cane mumbled while having ice cream in his mouth.

The two then talked more about something regarding food and the restaurant, while Brod finished explaining to me about the metal.

After eating, everyone split up and headed back home, while I went to the smith that Brod told me about. It's still the afternoon, and I think I still have some time before evening.

This smith is so famous and trained, they most likely are capable of working with Nychromium. Because according to Brod, not many blacksmiths can forge with Nychromium. There might be a few in Balenia, the dwarven kingdom's capital, because dwarves were known for their blacksmith abilities. But even in the dwarven kingdom, it is still very rare to find blacksmiths at that level.

Brod told me that the only one in this kingdom that he knows of is the new famous smith at the south-eastern main road. So that is where I am heading now.

If the smith he mentioned couldn't work with Nychromium, then I'll fly to Balenia myself.

I arrived in front of the store. From the front, it looked like your average weapons store. But as soon as I entered, I could see some really good looking weapons on the racks.

Swords, spears, shields, even armour are being shown in the wide lobby. The display boxes were filled with weapons and stuff, and they all looked very shiny.

In the middle of the room is where the armour stands are being placed inside a glass box. All those armours looked very cool looking, but they aren't the type I want to wear.

They are indeed cool looking and look comfortable. I can see that the smith of the store is indeed talented in designing, hence the store's popularity. As to whether or not he is capable of working with Nychromium, though…

I walked to the front desk, where a single female was writing some stuff. Aside from us, there is no one else here, but I can sense someone in the back.

"Welcome to the Royal Metal Blacksmith! What can I help you with?"

The lady stood up the moment she noticed me and greeted me. I nodded at her and quickly said why I'm here.

"Eh, I'm here to forge a weapon. I heard I can do that here."

"Yes, but custom forging requires more money than buying. Are you certain that you wanted to request forging?"

"... Yes. Because I have the materials with me."

"Hmm, I see. Custom made with custom materials, interesting. May I ask what material it is?"

"Nychromium."

"N-Nychromium!?"

The lady quickly turned shocked and lost her composure. 

Well… it is the strongest material…

She then excused herself for a bit and turned around to enter the door behind her. I can hear some discussion inside, and she came back later with someone behind her.

A dwarf.

I see… the reason why this blacksmith is popular is because of the owner's skills. And certainly, dwarves were always known to be skillful in smithing.

I don't have a proper age knowledge when it comes to other races, like dwarves or elves. They are very difficult to tell, but judging from the amount of beard this guy has on his chin, I can guess that he must be pretty old.