NOVEL NEXT Chapter 17: Out Of The Rut
Chapter 17: Out Of The Rut
Here, take this tea. Ive also brought some snacks, so try one.
Wow, this has honey in it.
Hehe, you need this much to really say youre having a snack, right? Come on, eat up.
We sat side by side on the bench, enjoying a peaceful snack time.
The snacks served with tea had a taste of honey, perhaps because they were the main ingredients.
I never imagined a day would come when Id eat snacks made of materials considered a luxury in this world.
Indeed, its said that one must be polite and well-mannered.
So, I heard you came to get some equipment But before we talk properly, how about introducing yourself first?
Ah, yes. Im Woo Hyo-sung, affiliated with the Labor Union.
Hehe, your name is Woo Hyo? Thats quite an unusual name.
Its Hyo-sung, not Hyo, but since Id introduced myself, it should be properly remembered, so I didnt bother to correct it.
Even if they continued to call me Woo Hyo after being corrected, it was just teasing, so there was no need to worry.
I am pleased to meet you, young man. I am Jang, spending my old age on this street of artisans. Those who know me call me Alley Chief Jang, as I guard this alley.
Ah, I see.
It was a moment when I thought that name suited him well.
Alley Chief Jang, guarding the street where the blacksmiths resided
Are you a blacksmith by any chance?
Not a blacksmith, but Chief Jang.
Hmm, I see. Not a blacksmith, but Chief Jang Its a title that suits you perfectly.
Hehe! Every word you speak is to my liking, young man!
The old man laughed heartily and patted my shoulder.
His thin hand looked like it struggled to even hold a cane, yet the patting felt rather heavy.
Well, it wasnt strange to feel a bit intimidated, even if he wasnt hostile, especially after seeing someones head get cracked open.
Well, anyway, if youve come to get equipment, youve come to the right place. I know quite a bit about the artisans on this street. If you have specific equipment in mind, I can recommend a store based on your budget
Ah, yes. So, my budget is about this much, and Im mainly looking for light armor and weapons suitable for the front line.
I told him about my plans and quickly glanced at his expression.
He nodded his head and finally rested his chin in his hand, deep in thought.
From the start of the consultation, it was clear that he was taking it very seriously.
If your budget is set at this level, instead of focusing on cost-effectiveness, you might as well indulge in a bit of luxury.
Luxury, you say?
It might not look good for nobles in dire straits to indulge in luxury, but if youre starting an adventure, why not pursue a bit of romance?
Romance.
That was actually one of the biggest reasons I chose to become an adventurer instead of a foreign worker.
Traversing continents, finding dungeons, and unearthing the forgotten tomb of a king to acquire treasures It wouldnt be very glamorous to be wearing shabby, unattractive gear during such monumental moments.
Thats true. A once-in-a-lifetime, monumental moment could lose its luster if met in a shabby state.
The young man knows something, indeed. If you embark on an adventure with great intentions, why settle for just efficiency? If you enter a dungeon only looking for profit, youre no more than a miner in an adventurers guise.
Indeed, as the old man said, the value of an activity was determined not by what you did, but by the attitude with which you approached it.
Even if it was the same task, if for one person it was a dream and for another, just a way to make money, what they gain and feel from it would inevitably differ.
Having the appropriate pretext for it would also help maintain such an attitude.
With the budget youve mentioned, you might not be able to afford magical equipment like those scoundrels use, but investing in decorative armor might be good. Do you have any such equipment in mind? Like embedding a gem in a self-defense dagger or engraving a pattern on a sword hilt
Hmm, decoration
But perhaps it was because Id never lived a life of luxury
Even after hearing the old mans advice on romance, I couldnt quite decide what would be good.
After all, the romance I had always imagined was more about hiding than showing off, just as the old man had said.
Rather than decoration, Im interested in something else. Like the cane you use, for example.
This cane?
Ah, yes. Do you know about sword canes? They look like ordinary canes, but with a mechanism, a sword can spring out
Hehe, a weapon disguised as an item. You have a unique imagination.
Of course.
One of my dreams was to buy a mithril cane and pretend to be weak if I ever made a lot of money.
Pretending to be a hero only increased the risk of death, but hiding just one powerful weapon could be enough to smash the heads of those who picked fights with me, like this old man.
So, Im asking because when you swung your cane before, I didnt see any signs of you using mana or anything like that.
Hehe, thats right. I may have been something in my younger days, but what power would an old man like me have to respond openly to magical weapons? Its all because of the canes material.
So, the secret of that power was the cane.
Feeling my interest piqued, I ventured to ask him a hopeful question.
If the material is good maybe a mithril-made cane?
Fuahaha!
You really make amusing jokes! Do you think its reasonable to make an old mans cane from a material used for heroes weapons?The old man, treating my hopeful question as gossip, laughed heartily and patted me on the back.
The impact hurt my shoulder, but more than that, it felt as if a stake had been driven into my heart with sadness.
I had expected some sort of affirmation, but being dismissed as a joke immediately was really too much.
Well, its not mithril, but its an alloy processed by a craftsman I know well. Its perfect for holding and swinging around, being very sturdy and lightweight.
Oh, is that so?
However, his current words were not easy to dismiss.
Even if it wasnt mithril, if it was sturdy and lightweight, wasnt it exactly the material I had been searching for?
Uh, sir? If its okay, could you introduce me to that craftsman?
Eh? My friend?
Yes. As I mentioned earlier, Im in the market for light armor, and if its a light yet sturdy material, it would perfectly meet my needs.
Of course, a material crafted by a renowned craftsman might be expensive, but since the equipment was meant to last a long time, it was better to invest in something relatively sturdy from the start.
With this in mind, I ventured to make the suggestion, and he began to groan, resting his chin on his hand.
Well, introducing you is fine, but meeting him can be a headache. Hes quite the peculiar one, making it hard to deal with him as a person.
Hes peculiar?
Youd better meet him in person to understand what I mean
Swoosh.
The old man looked at me with half-closed eyes.
After a while, his stern face started to soften.
Well, you should be fine. Ill write you a letter of recommendation, so go and see him for a consultation.
Really?
Hehe, in this barren world, shouldnt I at least repay you for being an old mans conversation partner?
The old man stroked his beard and chuckled good-naturedly.
I could tell the conversation was progressing well from his demeanor, but soon, I noticed a serious look in his eyes.
Even though Im introducing you to an acquaintance, let me give you a piece of advice, just to be safe.
He leaned forward, his words heavy with caution.
That friend is quite sensitive about promises, so if you have to make one, do it cautiously.
Promises?
Dont make promises you cant keep. Can you uphold them?
Despite the weight of his words, I felt no particular tension.
After all, I had never broken a promise before.
Yes, well. I can manage that.
A promise was meant to be kept; breaking it was out of the question.
If something happened later, I would have no excuse, so I had to be careful, right?
After concluding the conversation and receiving a letter of recommendation, I headed to the deepest part of the craftsmans street.
Contrary to his bold claims of using good materials, the place I arrived at was closer to a back alley than a bustling area.
Perhaps it was a secret hideout, deeply hidden, where others wouldnt notice
Well, yes. A craftsman who makes superalloy canes might indeed prefer such a place.
Regardless, I decided to get a consultation first, so I stepped inside, ready to call for someone.
Excuse me. Is anyone here?
Hoo.
At that moment, I heard the sound of breathing, along with a presence from the side.
I stopped talking and looked over, seeing someone smoking a cigarette nearby.
Whats up with you? Are you here for some business?
An older woman.
Her apron and the tools at her waist indicated she was a blacksmith working in this craft district.
Are you the craftsman?
Im the owner here.
The woman took a puff of the cigarette between her fingers and exhaled smoke with a chuckle.
Her eyes, as cloudy as the smoke, soon shifted indifferently towards me.
Are you a thief?
No, I came here on the recommendation of someone named Chief Jang.
Recommended by another blacksmith?
No, an elderly person named Jang Heres the recommendation letter.
Nervously, I handed her the letter I had kept on me.
The woman skimmed through the contents and frowned.
So it was that greenhorn.
Greenhorn?
Well, since theres a promise, if that guy sent you, I guess I should deal with you.
Hoo.
The woman, exhaling smoke, entered the building.
Staring blankly at her, I stopped and turned to look at her.
What are you doing there? Arent you coming in?
Yes?
You came to get equipment, right? Ill entertain you, so follow me.
Ah, yes, Ill come right away.
I responded in a monotone voice and immediately followed her into the forge.
A document soon greeted me on the table.
Whats your name?
The woman, pointing her finger at a blank space on the document that appeared to be an order form, held a pen in her other hand and asked me quietly.
My name?
We need it for the contract.
Tap, tap, tap.
The woman tapped the document with her finger, waiting for me to speak.
Feeling rushed by her actions, I tensed my throat unconsciously and answered with effort.
Uh, my name is Woo Hyo-sung.
An outsider?
Yes, yes, thats right.
Not a hero, perhaps a foreign worker?
Yes, youre correct.
Of course. Its that kind of world.
She swiftly wrote down the information I provided in the name and classification sections of the order form.
After taking a puff of her cigarette and exhaling, she faced me again and said,
Tacchia Philoi.
Sorry?
My name. Whether you use honorifics or casual speech, thats up to you.
Ah, yes. Nice to meet you, Ms. Tacchia
You said you came to get equipment. Whats your budget?
Tacchia swiftly changed the topic right after the greeting.
Even though small talk now seemed possible, as we were conversing, she appeared uninterested and moved straight to business.
The pace was so fast that it was difficult to adapt, regardless of the distance
Well, I didnt come for a leisurely chat, so perhaps this was appropriate.
Deciding not to dwell on it, I handed her my pouch of gold coins.
Is this much for the armor and weapon insufficient?
Whats lacking? Well adjust to your budget and requirements. If its too much, well filter it out, and if its not enough, but you still want it made, we can mix in some lower-quality materials.
Tacchia quickly inspected the contents of the money pouch.
Based on its contents, she handed back the pouch and stood up from the table.
We can just buy any weapon that fits your hand and process it, so lets skip that. For custom-made armor, we need to measure your size first. Did you bring something like a body measurement chart?
No, I havent been measured since I arrived in this world.
Then Ill measure you here. Take off your clothes and stand there.
Ah, yes. My clothes Excuse me?
What did she just say?
Did she say, I dont have it? Did she mistakenly say dont have as take off?
You need to undress for the measurement. Dont you understand?
No, I heard it clearly.
She, a woman, had boldly told me, a man, to undress and stand.
No, I understand. But
But what?
Tacchia demanded an answer from my hesitating self.
Pondering what to say to calm the mood, I blurted out the first thing that came to mind.
Do I need to take off my underwear, too?
A question that could be taken sensitively, depending on how its heard.
Do you want to take it off?
No, no.
Then keep your underwear on. Ill get ready and come back, so dont go anywhere.
Ah, okay
As Tacchia nonchalantly answered and went inside the room, I stood there, dazed, recalling our conversation.
What exactly was she thinking?
Her words were blunt, yet she seemed to do everything needed Was that her way of being kind?