Chapter 145: The Old Man's Visit (Part 2)

Chapter 145: The Old Man's Visit (Part 2)



"Mateo, come in," said the voice from within the smithy.

As Mateo entered, his eyes widened at the sight of the brand-new dual-handed hammer held by the barbarian girl, Lagra. The hammer, nearly complete, was in the process of being polished.

Mateo's eyes widened further as he took in the dense spikes adorning the hammer's head, leaving him momentarily speechless.

This exaggerated, almost grotesque design was something he had never seen before.

"Adjutant, is this black warhammer your new weapon?" Mateo asked, recalling the shattered bronze warhammer from the previous night's attack by the Iron Doll.

"Yes, what do you think? Lagra's craftsmanship is quite impressive, isn't it?" Rain, too, admired the nearly finished Boar Head Mace, a satisfied look on his face.

"Indeed! It's so intimidating!"

After all, when facing formidable foes, he would likely be in his Second or Third Iteration state.

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However, after Lagra added intricate patterns and bindings to the handle, the hammer felt great in hand, allowing for both single and dual-handed use with ease.

But as they were about to arrive, an old man spoke softly, "Young man, you just had a dream, and now you've awakened."

"Squeak!"

As the pair walked back, they soon passed by Abel's Apothecary, and Rain noticed that the shop's door remained tightly shut, unlike usual.

"Last week, Molly was killed by cultists while attending church."

Rain immediately understood, feeling a bit regretful but also expecting as much.

"Thank you very much, Mr. Abel!"

Abel seemed to treasure the notebook, which likely contained his hard work.

[Your skill in Bloodstained Steel Smelting has improved. Experience gained: +72]



Soon, the two arrived at the first house, a two-story building located just over a hundred meters from the administrative hall of Shiny Gold Town.

The house had its own fence and two courtyards, with the front yard alone being much larger than Rain's.

After demonstrating a few hammer techniques, Rain found the Boar Head Mace to feel quite comfortable.

Meanwhile, Rain returned to the smithy with ten Bloodstained Steel Ingots.

Shortly after, Lagra entered with a clay mold in hand.

"Sir, how heavy is this warhammer? It looks quite hefty!" Mateo, intrigued, circled the hammer being polished, examining it closely.

But before he could get an answer, a Night Watchman in standard leather armor entered Rain's home, apparently carrying something.

"Thank you."

However, Rain wasn't sure about the exact weight.

But judging by his father's expression, he seemed confident.

"Are you Mr. Abel?"

Soon, Rain and Lagra joined the moving crew.

After settling these minor matters, Rain gazed at the empty attic on the second floor, deep in thought.

His expression seemed to say that as the hammer's owner, he didn't even know its weight.

Ever since learning about that 'untouchable'—that farmer's son, Rain, whom he looked down upon—had taken a step ahead of him and entered the extraordinary realm of a Knight, he had been feeling exceptionally irritable.

"I'm very satisfied, Lagra. Thank you."

For the house renovation, Rain entrusted Mateo with finding someone to repair it soon so that his parents could move in.

He wanted to settle the house matter quickly so that his parents could move in as soon as possible.

Soon, Rain left his home and arrived at Abel's Apothecary, which was still closed.

Lagra paused, her hands stopping mid-motion, and looked up at Rain with her beautiful eyes. "Of course, it's suitable."

"It's almost 150 pounds!" Lagra, polishing the warhammer, rolled her eyes at Rain.

The house had a well-designed structure, at least two or three levels above Rain's home.

After a quick tour, Rain noticed that the house had a smaller backyard behind it.

Mateo suddenly remembered why he had come to the smithy to find Rain. He tapped his head and said, "Oh! Right, sir, I checked a few houses near the town's administrative hall, and I think two of them should meet your requirements."

As Rain stepped out, he thought for a moment.

"Why don't you go get a piece of clothing from your brother, Rain? If there's any hair on it, even better."

Lagra smiled as Rain entered.

Upon receiving the warhammer, Rain immediately felt its weight, a bit heavy in his hands.

Baron Norman spoke slowly.

Rain stammered, knowing this wasn't the right time to ask, but he gathered his courage and said, "Mr. Abel, I want to learn how to make potions."

"Sir, why don't you go check out the other house?" Mateo suggested.

But there was one more thing to do. The old man turned and scanned the area, quickly spotting a little girl digging in the front yard.

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"If there's enough Bloodstained Steel Ingots, we can make it the same size as yours. If not, a slightly smaller size will do."

"Rain thought for a moment and spoke.

'How did Sister Molly die?' Rain asked, taken aback.

Generally speaking, even if the apothecary is busy, either Abel or Molly is always there.

Additionally, there is a spacious basement on the lower floor where non-perishable vegetables, grains, and even alcohol can be stored.

After leaving Abel, Rain went to the general store and purchased some basic utensils for potion-making.

Following the previous method, Rain used the Arcane Touch spell to melt the Bloodstained Steel Ingots into a liquid state.

Upon opening the door, Rain entered the house and saw that the decorations were relatively new and, most importantly, spacious.

Rain's choice of this house had its considerations. Mateo had just given a brief introduction, and there was another house in the east of the town center, which was farther from Abel's Apothecary and even farther from the Town Hall.

After returning home, Rain briefly informed his parents of the situation and handed the purse containing three hundred Imperial Gold coins to his mother, Emma. He then asked them to take Mint and go with Mateo to handle the transfer procedures.

Although Rain had heard that the strength of a Level 3 Apprentice Mage was formidable, he didn't know what the Incantation School represented.

'I knew that knight as well, but he later went missing and was never seen again.'

At that moment, Rain also instantly understood why Abel had become like this.

'McAuff was a good man, but unfortunately, they all died in the church, killed by the Black Flame Cult's ceremony.' Mateo briefly explained the origin of the house.

This sudden statement made Lagra's face turn slightly red, and she lowered her head a little.

From this perspective, the overall layout of the house was similar to Rain's home, but the area it occupied was much larger, almost double.

The first floor was a kitchen-dining area with a fireplace, and the second floor had four bedrooms and an attic, which was currently empty and only had a few simple tables and chairs.

After all, there was a significant difference in Rain's physical condition when he was in his burst state compared to his normal state.

'Also, if the church's team comes in a couple of days and you go to the Night Song Forest again, you won't have a shield,' Rain said, shrugging.

[Your skill Shield Crafting has improved, +2 experience points]



'This...'

When Mint's innocent eyes looked up at the old man, they suddenly went out of focus, and she nodded blankly, 'Yes, Grandpa.'

After Rain and Lagra returned, they found Mateo with several Night Watch members helping with the move.

The thought that such a thing might happen made Dennis almost overwhelmed with restlessness and jealousy.

Maestor County City.

This doesn't seem like a good time to strike. Let's wait until tonight.

'Who?' A raspy voice sounded, but Rain still recognized it as the voice of the apothecary, Abel.

[You have learned a new skill - Shield Crafting]



'The one who did this is an old friend of mine, an Apprentice Mage of the Incantation School, Adams Nolan. His method of killing is very strange, and I can't imagine how Rain could have possibly escaped death this time.'

Abel took out a journal from the room and said, 'This is a record of some of my potion-making experiences. If you truly have talent, it should be of help to you.'

The young Night Watch member turned and saw the old man's deep gaze, and suddenly, his entire body went out of focus, his eyes losing their focus for a moment.

He thought the other house was also quite good, and it even had a separate stable.

After increasing his strength, agility, and stamina by 45% through the Break Limit technique, the slightly heavy Boar Head Mace immediately became much more manageable.

With his new weapon in hand, Rain happily walked to the backyard of the smithy and swung it casually.

Rain looked at the busy crowd, sweating profusely, and decided to treat the Night Watch colleagues to a dinner as a gesture of gratitude.

Rain nodded slightly.

'If it's convenient for you, you can come with me to take a look now.'

After several hours of moving, with the help of many Night Watch members, the entire relocation process was almost complete.

Looking at the now empty Rain's old house, a hint of confusion appeared on the old man's face.

A 'commoner' had turned his life around?

It was hard to imagine the effect of a spiked hammer weighing nearly 150 pounds if it hit with its sharp tip!

'Okay, Grandpa.'

'Hey, do you know the Adjutant? Rain has moved, do you want me to take you there?' The young Night Watch member said enthusiastically, seemingly mistaking the old man for Rain's friend.

Bloodstained steel liquid slowly flowed into the pouring hole of the clay mold.

'Adams once had a record of killing three peak knights consecutively in a battle.'

Rain was very satisfied with the house.

Then, Rain said to Lagra, 'In that case, I'll go out for a while to check on the house. The rest is up to you.'

Rain was, of course, familiar with the meat pie shop.

Due to the previous increase in strength, Rain's Knight (Extraordinary) panel's Breaking Limit value had further increased to 45%.

Fortunately, Rain's keen perception allowed him to sense a familiar aura, undoubtedly that of the apothecary Abel.

The door opened, revealing a tall, gaunt figure with bloodshot eyes and disheveled hair. Rain was startled by the sight.

"The pie shop owner?" Rain raised an eyebrow, as if something had occurred to him.

This put him at ease.

Due to his previous experience, he was not overly surprised by the swift completion of the Bloodstained Steel Ingots. After placing the mold at the outlet of the blacksmith's furnace, Rain opened the valve.

However, before Lara could finish her sentence, Rain interrupted her.

Lara looked at Rain with hesitation, as if she wanted to refuse but was unsure.

Rain nodded and said with a smile, "I'll go home later and give you the Bloodstained Steel Ingots. Remember to make yourself a new shield."

Mateo gasped, his eyes widening in surprise.

"Mateo, how much does this house cost?"

The old man soon arrived at the entrance of Rain's new home, where he saw more than a dozen night watchmen coming in and out, their brows slightly furrowed.

After all, shields were of little use to him, so he decided to keep it as a spare for Lara.

"Sir, the house we're looking at first belonged to the pie shop owner, Mr. McAuff Degardo."

"Forget it, it's too expensive. Besides, you won't need that much Bloodstained Steel for a shield." Lara shook her head.

"Is it the pie shop near Abel's Apothecary?"

He completely forgot about guiding the old man earlier.

While Lara was making the clay mold, Rain placed ten Bloodstained Steel Ingots into the blacksmith's furnace.

Then, he sent his mother, Li Hua, to the market to buy meat, vegetables, and fruits, and his father, Old Rain, to purchase some quality mead and fruit wine.

"If there's any extra Bloodstained Steel Ingot, you can make me a Bloodstained Steel shield too," Rain said earnestly to Lara.

"How is it? Are you satisfied?" Lara asked with a smile as she watched Rain's demonstration.

Then, Rain returned to the attic on the second floor of his new home to try making a Mutagen Potion.

"Molly is dead."

Being with Lara always seemed to boost Rain's blacksmithing level! An hour later, Lara held the brand-new Bloodstained Steel shield, her face filled with joy.

Currently, there was nothing he could do about it.

It was an unremarkable black notebook with a leather cover that appeared old from its material.

So many people.

"Mateo, come home with me first, and then you can accompany my parents to handle the transfer matters," Rain said.

After some thought, Rain added, "Mr. Abel, if Molly were still alive, she wouldn't want to see you like this. I hope you can cheer up and live a good life."

The Molly he remembered, who had recently married and was gentle and beautiful, had passed away at the young age of twenty? Rain couldn't help but feel a sense of fragility in life.

The only minor issue was the weight of the Boar Head Mace, as it was made entirely of Tempered Golden Alloy, making it heavier than Rain had anticipated. This resulted in a slower swinging speed during attacks.

At the entrance of the old Rain residence, a figure in a black robe and holding a wooden cane appeared. The person wore a hood, concealing their face.

Knowing that Rain would be coming to view the house, Mateo had already prepared the key in advance.

"But if you really want to learn, you can try self-studying."

"Click!" Mateo opened the door to the house.

Rain peered through the door crack, confirming that no one was inside. He then circled around to the back of Abel's Apothecary and knocked on the residential door.

Rain nodded slightly, thinking that this small yard would be perfect for digging. He was sure his sister Mint would love it.

Abel waved his hand and said, "I don't have the mind to make potions right now, let alone teach you."

Each of the Baron's words felt like a hammer striking Dennis's heart.

This puzzled Rain.

Additionally, the black leather surface was stained with various colorful potions, and the notebook emitted a faint, unpleasant odor, presumably from potion residue.

"Yes, sir."

But the next moment, the young night watchman returned to normal, showing no signs of strangeness.

Rain waved his hand and said, "Don't refuse. Your Oak Great Shield was damaged in last night's battle, and without a shield, you can't fully utilize your strength."

He knocked away the anxiety and jealousy in his heart.

[You have gained insights from shield crafting!]



Rain checked his blacksmithing level, and although the system's experience reward was still generous, his blacksmithing level had just been upgraded, currently reaching Blacksmith Lv. 4 (329/1000).

At the same time, he realized how precious it was for his family to be together safely.

"Father, will the person you contacted this time be like the Black Sail Pirates from last time?" Dennis stood beside his father, Baron Norman, with a hint of worry.

"Yes! I'll go make the clay mold for the shield. By the way, what size shield do you want?

"Is he here?" Lagra asked.

The pain of losing one's beloved spouse must be heart-wrenching!

"Hmm," Rayen felt that the Boar Head Mace must weigh over a hundred pounds, significantly heavier than the Radiant Greatsword.

Rayen smiled and stepped out of the smithy.

"Alright! Let's go and take a look now." Rayen nodded.

"Although Adams failed to advance to a deceitful mage a few years ago and his strength has declined, I believe that with his help, dealing with Rayen should be no problem at all, even with Rayen's exceptional knight talent."

"Alright!" Lagra nodded, knowing that Rayen rarely used shields.

Mint turned around and left, soon arriving at Rayen's room to find a waist-tied linen jacket of her brother Rayen's and took it with her.

He never expected that the friend his father had found would be so formidable! At this moment, Dennis' face turned red, and his heart was filled with excitement, even more thrilling than when he had his way with Tina. – Shiny Gold Town.

The man mumbled to himself for a while and then left on his own.

If Rayen were to unleash his full power, the Boar Head Mace might even feel slightly lighter.

"What!" Rayen's pupils constricted as he realized that Molly was among the dead from the church last week.

"No need." Rayen shook his head.

"Also, I heard that he has a record of killing a great knight, although Adams has never directly responded to this rumor, but I guess it's true."

Abel looked up, his bloodshot eyes meeting Rayen's, and said a single sentence.

Meanwhile, in the front yard, there were many flowers planted, with almost no weeds. The previous owners, the McAuff family, seemed to have taken good care of the place.

Additionally, the warhammer's crafting was almost complete, and he didn't have much blacksmithing experience left to gain.

Previously, McAuff had bought meat pies, and his meat pies were one of Mint's favorite, second only to those made by her mother, Emma.

In the study of Baron Norman's family manor, a conversation between father and son was underway.

"Rayen, you've arrived at the right time. I've just finished the final touches. Try out your new weapon."

At this moment,

Rayen also glanced at the system prompt, feeling delighted: [You have focused on bloodstained steel smelting, and your related insights have improved!] [You have learned a new skill - Bloodstained Steel Smelting]



However, Rayen still had things to do, so he didn't delve further.

Once the decision was made, he could have his parents start moving and also pick up the bloodstained steel ingots on his way home.

Baron Norman's right-hand fingers rhythmically tapped the armrest of the luxurious calf leather armchair.

As soon as Rayen opened the door, he saw Lagra wielding the brand-new Boar Head Mace, but her sluggish movements made it evident that she was struggling.

However, Rayen thought for a moment and didn't think it was a significant issue.

Rayen's last words made Lagra stop declining, and she nodded, saying, "Alright! Then I won't hold back. Thank you, Rayen."

Terrifying! Terrifying! "By the way, Mateo, have you found a house yet?" Rayen turned to Mateo and asked.

"Sir, you know about it? Yes, it's that one." Mateo was initially surprised but soon realized that since McAuff and Rayen were both from Shiny Gold Town, it was normal for them to know each other.

"Rayen, what brings you here?"

"Mateo, which house should we see first?" Rayen asked.

"Alright, let's go to this one."

In situations like closing the store, Dennis knew that this was one of his father's habits, reflecting a mindset of having the upper hand.

However, as Rayen took a step forward, he seemed to remember something and turned around, saying, "By the way, how about using the bloodstained steel ingots to craft a shield?"

"Little girl, is this Rayen's house?" The old man walked forward, speaking to Mint through the wooden fence.

"It's me, Rayen."

In his heart, Norman was becoming increasingly unreliable.

The old man, accompanied by the night watchman, soon arrived near Rayen's new home.

Rayen's new home.

Once he passed the ennoblement exam, wouldn't he become a noble like them?

"How did you...?" Rayen couldn't help but ask.

If not for the man's desperate situation, Abel might not have given it to Rayen.

[You focus on shield crafting, gaining blacksmithing experience.]



Meanwhile, Anna, who was nearby, seemed to start packing her belongings, probably informed by Mint.

[You focus on bloodstained steel ingot smelting, gaining blacksmithing experience.]



The man approached and asked, "Young man, does Rayen live here?"

Therefore, Dennis proactively came to his father, Baron Norman, whom he feared, to inquire about the situation.

"Two hundred and eighty gold, and the transfer can be done anytime."

Anna, who was organizing the room, witnessed this scene, not knowing why Mint had taken Rayen's clothes, but she didn't ask further.

After Mint handed the linen jacket to the old man, a few minutes passed, and Mint shook her head, feeling dizzy and unable to recall what had happened.

The old man, however, disappeared into the sunset of the evening.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end