chapter 5

With my stomach finally satisfied, I set off through the town, keeping an eye out for anything resembling a weapon shop. Zoro followed at a leisurely pace, arms crossed behind his head like he had all the time in the world.

"Think they've got a blacksmith here?" I asked, scanning the buildings.

"Probably," Zoro said. "Most towns do. Just look for smoke or the sound of hammering."

Right. That made sense.

After a few minutes of wandering, I heard the distinct clang of metal on metal. Following the sound, I turned a corner and found a modest-looking shop with an open forge in the back. A burly man with a thick beard and soot-covered apron stood over an anvil, hammering away at a glowing piece of iron.

Bingo.

I stepped inside, my eyes immediately drawn to the weapons lining the walls. Swords, spears, daggers—pretty much everything you'd expect in a place like this. The blacksmith looked up from his work and gave a grunt of acknowledgment.

"Looking for something?" he asked, wiping sweat from his brow.

"Yeah," I said, running my fingers over the hilt of a broadsword. "I need a weapon."

He smirked. "Well, you're in the right place. Got anything in mind?"

That was the problem—I didn't. I still didn't know what kind of weapon suited me best. A sword felt like the obvious choice, but I wasn't Zoro. I didn't have his skill or his instinct for the blade. If I wanted to stand a chance in this world, I needed something that fit me.

"I'm… not sure yet," I admitted.

The blacksmith nodded. "Then take your time. Pick 'em up, feel their weight. A weapon's gotta feel right, or it's useless to you."

That made sense.

I moved along the racks, testing different weapons. A longsword? Too light. A greatsword? Powerful, but felt off in my hands. A spear? Good reach, but not my style.

Then my eyes landed on something different—a warhammer.

It wasn't huge, but it was solid. The head was thick and heavy, with one side flat for crushing and the other ending in a sharp spike. The handle was wrapped in leather, sturdy but not too long.

I picked it up, and the moment I did, I felt it.

The weight was perfect. Heavy enough to hit hard, but not so much that I couldn't swing it properly. My grip tightened around the handle as I gave it a few test swings.

Something about it just clicked.

"That's an interesting choice," the blacksmith said, watching me closely. "Not many folks go for warhammers these days."

"Why not?" I asked.

"Most people want something fast. A sword, an axe, even a spear. Hammers require strength, control. You don't just cut or stab with 'em—you break things."

I glanced at Zoro, who was watching with mild curiosity. "What do you think?"

He shrugged. "If it feels right, go with it. A weapon's just a tool. It's how you use it that matters."

I looked down at the hammer in my hands. Yeah. This was it.

"How much?" I asked.

The blacksmith scratched his beard. "15,000 berries."

I blinked. "I, uh… don't have that much."

Zoro sighed and tossed a small pouch onto the counter. "Guess I'm covering you again."

I stared at him. "Dude—"

"Pay me back later," he said, smirking. "Or don't. Up to you."

I exhaled, shaking my head. "I swear, you're too chill about this."

"Don't worry about it," Zoro said. "Just don't die before you get strong enough to make it worth the investment."

I grinned, gripping my new warhammer.

Now I had a weapon.

Now, it was time to train.