"Woohoo! This is a really beautiful sub-city of Stone City!" I exclaimed quietly as soon as I stepped through the entrance gate to Rusty city. The atmosphere looked more peaceful and lively than I'd expected.
Alright, first plan is to just wander around and ask people here about that "Stone Wolf Mask." Easy enough.
Hmm... wonder if anyone might have some info? Oh! I see an old guy bent over sweeping leaves in front of his house. Looks friendly... maybe?
"Uncle!" I waved enthusiastically.
"If you're gonna ask about that Stone Wolf Mask thing again, get the hell out of here!" Before I could even open my mouth to ask anything, the old man snapped back at me instantly, like he could read my mind.
"Uh... so you know where it is?" I still didn't give up trying.
The old man stared at my face intensely, let out a huge sigh, then threw his broom down angrily.
"Kid! I've had people bugging me about this all day until I'm about to lose my mind!"
"You're the thirteenth person today!"
"Thir... thirteen?!" My eyes went wide. Is this some kind of super popular mission or what?
"You mean a lot of people came looking for it? If that's the case, do you happen to know where it actually is?" I kept asking with dwindling hope.
"It doesn't exist! That stupid mask thing!" the old man raised his voice. "If it really existed, you guys would've dug it up ages ago!"
"Ridiculous! Go home, kid!"
"But if you still wanna know... try the blacksmith at the end of that street. Maybe old Vex might know something," he said like he was completely fed up.
"Really? Thank you so much, uncle!" I bowed quickly to him before immediately running off in the direction he pointed.
Soon enough, the sound of hammering metal - clang! clang! - drifted from the distance. And then I saw it... a huge blacksmith shop with an ornate carved wooden sign hanging prominently in front that read "Blacksmith VEX."
I didn't hesitate, immediately pushing through the heavy wooden door into the shop. The stuffy smell of soot and hot air from the forge hit me hard.
"Hurry up and order! What weapon do you want?!" A gruff voice boomed from inside, along with the burly figure of a middle-aged man with messy hair and a thick beard, swinging a hammer down on red-hot iron on an anvil with thunderous strikes.
"Uh... that's not it, I..." I tried to explain.
"If it's not about ordering weapons, get the hell out! I don't have time to mess around with you guys!" The man kept hammering away without caring. Um... why is everyone in this town so hot-headed?
"I wanted to ask about..."
"That Stone Wolf Mask thing again! Yeah! You can get out now! So annoying!" He snapped back knowingly before putting down his hammer and turning to glare at me with irritated eyes.
"I'm counting to three... if you're not out of my shop..." He pointed his massive hammer at me, looking dead serious, before slamming it down on the anvil again with a loud *BANG!* Sparks scattered.
"One..."
"Two..."
Before he could count to three, the blacksmith grabbed that hammer again, swinging it expertly before hurling it straight at me! Lucky I had some quick reflexes, so I managed to dodge the hammer that, despite looking heavy and slow, was packed with terrifying destructive power.
After dodging, I glanced at the hammer embedded in the wooden wall behind me... hmm, it actually looks pretty good quality. Could probably sell it for a decent price...
But before that crazy thought could finish, when I turned back around, the blacksmith's hefty figure was already standing right in front of me since who knows when! His leather belt had all kinds of tools hanging from it, and most importantly... his massive fist was flying straight at my face!
THWACK!!
The whole world spun around. My body flew out of the shop, crashing into the street with a loud thud! The people walking by all turned to look at me in surprise, but only for a moment before they acted like nothing happened... as if having someone get punched out of this shop was just part of their daily routine.
"Hey! I just came to ask about the mask! Why do you have to be so violent?!" I shouted, trying to prop up my aching body. The blacksmith strutted out of his shop with a scowling face.
"There isn't one! I said there isn't one, so there isn't! If you want it so bad, go find it yourself! So damn annoying!" He grumbled angrily.
My blood was boiling! I decided to pull out the short sword Sin gave me, even though I had no idea how to use it. Don't even know how to hold it properly!
I charged at him, hoping to stab him from behind. Pretty cowardly, right? But who cares! I was gonna strike with full force, but then... the blacksmith's hefty figure just vanished from right in front of me!
Before I could steady myself, his heavy hand chopped down hard on my back! My body collapsed to the ground in front of his shop again. The short sword slipped from my hand and flew off in another direction.
"What the hell was that? Couldn't even see it..." I mumbled weakly, pain shooting across my back.
"Kid..." The blacksmith walked closer before bending down to easily grab my shirt collar. His eyes looked at the short sword lying on the ground.
"That sword... where'd you get it?" His tone changed slightly, sounding more serious than before.
"Uh... I found it on the road," I don't know what my brain was thinking then, but I chose to lie to him for some inexplicable reason.
"Don't you dare lie to me!" He roared, raising his fist to punch my face again. Looks like my lie didn't work at all.
"Fine, fine! I give up!" I quickly called out to stop him before that heavy fist could land on my face for round two. Lucky it stopped mid-swing.
"I... I got it from someone in Sliver town," I finally answered truthfully.
"That person's name was... uh..." I tried to remember the name but couldn't quite recall it.
"Sin," the blacksmith said with a flat voice, but there was some feeling I couldn't read, like he knew this name well.
"Yes! His name was Sin!" I quickly agreed. "Uh... do you know him?"
The blacksmith looked at my face silently for a moment before smirking at the corner of his mouth.
"Of course... that bastard... is my son!"
His son?! My jaw dropped. What the hell is this crazy situation? That guy... Sin... is the son of this hot-headed blacksmith?! How small can this world be?!