In this world where war was the main theme, venturing forth on adventures without proper equipment was nothing short of suicidal.
The blacksmith shop.
A burly man hammered away with rhythmic clang clang sounds, forging a strip of iron into shape. Sparks flew with each measured strike, casting dancing shadows across the soot-stained walls.
Levi stood nearby, watching for a long time. He waited until the hammering ceased and the blacksmith paused to wipe his brow before stepping forward.
"Good day to you."
"Good day, stranger. What can I do for you?"
"Do you sell weapons here? Or armor, perhaps?"
The blacksmith looked up and studied Levi with weathered eyes.
"May I ask who you are?"
"An adventurer."
"So you're not from our town?"
Levi nodded.
"Then no. You should leave."
The blacksmith shook his head dismissively.
"Wait," Levi said hurriedly. "I won't shortchange you on payment. Name your price."
The blacksmith turned back with a helpless expression and spoke seriously. "No amount of coin will change my answer. Bree's weapons and armor are only sold to Bree folk, and even among our own people, not just anyone can purchase them."
"Adventurer sir, if you truly need something for self-defense, I suggest you visit the farm next door. Perhaps the folk there will sell you a hoe."
Levi was stunned for a moment, then understanding dawned.
Of course. This wasn't some game world where you could waltz into any general merchant and purchase complete sets of equipment with a handful of coins.
In this historical context, weapons and armor were strategic reserves. How could they be casually sold to outsiders?
Especially to a so-called adventurer of unknown origin.
"Then could you sell me some iron? Just a small amount... I'll use it for research."
The blacksmith hesitated, then asked, "How much do you want?"
Levi gestured the size with his hands.
"No."
The blacksmith's refusal was final.
Levi's expression darkened.
If he had metal ore, he could craft equipment himself through the system. The problem was that ore... while in the game you could simply dig straight down and eventually find deposits, and if you were lucky you might even discover a mine shaft filled with riches.
But in reality, ore wasn't scattered everywhere beneath your feet.
"Excuse me, sir. I couldn't help but overhear... you're looking to buy those sorts of things?"
Both Levi and the blacksmith turned to see a man with a full beard and disheveled hair suddenly rise from where he'd been crouching in the shadows. He smiled at Levi with yellowed teeth.
Obviously, this person had been lurking there for quite some time.
"You are...?"
"Get lost, you stinking scrap collector! Stay away from my shop!"
Before Levi could finish his question, the blacksmith slammed his hammer down on the forge with a resounding clang and issued his eviction order.
However, despite being called a stinking scrap collector, the man didn't take offense. Instead, he smiled and said smoothly, "Alright, alright, my friend. I'm just passing through and happened to notice someone you can't satisfy... but perhaps I can."
The blacksmith interrupted harshly. "Don't try your sweet talk here. I'm warning you... you'd better behave yourself and not violate Bree's laws."
"Of course not, friend! I've always been very mindful of local customs and regulations," the man replied with practiced ease.
"You have three seconds to disappear from my workshop." The blacksmith's tolerance had reached its breaking point.
"Three..."
"Two..."
The craftsman seized his heavy hammer and loomed threateningly over his workbench.
"Alright, alright! I'm going, I'm going. No need to be so hot-tempered, friend."
The man immediately backed away several steps, but not before shooting several meaningful glances at Levi.
Levi looked between the scrap dealer and the hostile blacksmith, then made his choice. He followed the stranger out of the shop.
The blacksmith's gaze tracked them for a long moment before he called out from the distance, "I advise you to be more careful, adventurer sir."
Levi nodded his acknowledgment from afar.
Only when they reached a place with fewer people did Levi address his companion. "How should I address you?"
"I'm William... Scrap Dealer William, if you want the full title. Just call me William, sir."
Scrap dealer? That was a novel profession.
"What exactly do you do?"
William shrugged with practiced nonchalance. "Well, according to the local merchants here, we're just wandering scrap traders who compete with them for business. We sell everything, buy everything, and we're everywhere there's profit to be made."
We?
Before Levi could dwell on that detail, William continued, "I won't deny that I deal in scraps, but who knows... maybe among my collection there's exactly what you need."
"Do you know what I'm looking for?"
"Of course I do. Weapons and armor for protection, right?"
Levi nodded.
"Please, follow me, sir." William gestured confidently and began leading Levi toward the more secluded parts of town.
Levi felt somewhat suspicious, but the man's confident demeanor seemed genuine enough. He decided to follow.
Bree wasn't a large settlement, and it attracted all manner of folk.
Perhaps there really was something useful to be found.
After a short walk, William led him to a secluded corner of the town. Unlike the bustling main thoroughfare, this small district felt old and neglected. The eaves and walls were draped with spider webs and creeping vines, as if no one had bothered to maintain them in years.
Yet the houses showed clear signs of habitation.
Creak.
The door of one dwelling opened slightly, and a burly man with stubble and an unkempt appearance emerged. He first glanced at William, then fixed his gaze on Levi, watching them until they rounded the street corner before retreating inside.
Click.
The door shut firmly.
...
"This is what you call weapons and armor?" Levi stared at William with a deep frown.
"Do you think I'm some naive fool? Or perhaps easy to swindle?"
He gestured angrily at a pile of rusted, barely recognizable broken swords and corroded armor scattered throughout the small courtyard. "This is what you wanted to show me?"
A traveling merchant... not a local resident. I wonder if killing him would affect my reputation.
Sensing the sudden chill in the air, William hurriedly explained, "Listen, adventurer sir, I'm a law-abiding merchant! Whether it's Bree or the various kingdom territories, weapons and armor are strictly controlled goods. Anyone caught selling them privately faces serious consequences!"
"Getting even these pieces cost me considerable effort and risk. I can guarantee that in this entire region, only I have the connections to acquire such items. You won't find them anywhere else."
William pulled out a particularly decrepit longsword and waved it before Levi. "Look here! This blade may have some... cosmetic issues, but it can still serve for self-defense. And any enemy cut by this sword... well, once they see blood, they definitely won't live more than a few days!"
Cosmetic issues?
Levi took the decayed longsword, and the moment his fingers touched the hilt, its attributes materialized before his eyes.
[Decayed Long Sword · Attack +1]
"..."
He tried a practice swing, and immediately a chunk of corroded metal broke off and clattered to the ground.
The sword's quality became crystal clear.
If he actually tried to fight with this thing, the blade would probably shatter before inflicting any real damage on an opponent.
A wooden stick picked up from the roadside would be more effective than this rusted relic.
Levi surveyed the courtyard, estimating that everything here was of similarly abysmal quality.
No wonder Bree's authorities turned a blind eye to this place.
What was there to regulate?
Tsk.
Making a sound of disgust, Levi prepared to toss the worthless sword aside.
However, the next moment, a system notification that suddenly appeared made him freeze mid-motion.
[New Crafting Recipe Unlocked]
[Blast Furnace (Advanced)]
"Description: Significantly higher material recovery rate."
[Input: Decayed Long Sword — Estimated Output: 50%-80% raw materials]
What!
The junk in his hand had suddenly become very appealing indeed.
[Chapter Complete]
***
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