A week passed in a blur of soot, sweat, and soap. Kenji fell into a surprisingly comfortable rhythm at 'The Scorched Anvil'. His days began before dawn, stoking the forge's embers back to life. While Elara handled the difficult, expert work of hammering raw steel into submission, Kenji became the workshop's indispensable support system. He sharpened blades until they could split a hair, polished armor until he could see his bewildered face in it, managed the small storefront, and cooked simple, hearty meals that brought a touch of color back to Elara's cheeks.
The [Aura of the Respectful Son] worked its subtle magic. The locals, initially wary of the strange newcomer, started to warm to him. They saw a diligent young man helping the town's respected blacksmith, not a "suspicious poet."
Elara, for her part, was transforming. The deep-set lines of exhaustion around her eyes began to soften. The constant tension in her shoulders eased. One evening, after a particularly grueling day finishing a set of ploughshares, Kenji even heard a low, unfamiliar sound from the forge. It was a hum. Elara was humming a forgotten tune as she worked.
It was on the eighth day that the system chimed in with something new.
[System Notification]
[Through diligent, selfless support of a target, you have demonstrated a key tenet of the MILF Hunter path: The art of assistance.]
[New Skill Unlocked!]
> [Attentive Ear (Passive, Lv. 1)]: Allows Host to hear the unspoken needs and frustrations behind a target's words. Increases empathy and understanding.]
Kenji stared at the panel. "The art of assistance?" he muttered. "Is that really a 'hunter' skill?" It felt more like something a therapist would have. Still, it beat another cleaning skill.
He was contemplating this when the sound of pristine leather and well-oiled axles stopped outside. A carriage, lacquered in deep crimson and pulled by two magnificent white horses, was a stark contrast to the dusty street. A footman in livery opened the door, and a woman emerged who seemed to steal the very light from the air.
She was tall and slender, dressed in a gown of midnight blue silk. Her hair was a cascade of obsidian, elegantly pinned with a silver clasp, save for a few strands that had turned a striking, beautiful silver at her temples. Her face was one of classical, aristocratic beauty, sharp and intelligent.
Naturally, the system went wild.
[Target Identified!]
[Name: Lady Seraphina Valerius]
[Age: 45]
[Occupation: Head of the Valerius Merchant Guild]
[Charm Level: S]
[Status: Deeply Unsatisfied, Seeking True Artistry]
[Note: Possesses immense wealth and influence. Has an extreme intolerance for mediocrity.]
Lady Seraphina swept into the workshop, her nose wrinkling slightly at the smell of coal and metal. Her gaze passed over Kenji as if he were a piece of furniture before landing on Elara, who was wiping her hands on an oily rag.
"You are the smith?" Lady Seraphina asked, her voice as smooth and cold as polished marble.
"I am," Elara replied, her tone instantly defensive. She did not appreciate being looked down upon in her own forge.
"I require a personal dagger. Something… exquisite. For display, but fully functional. The last three artisans I commissioned produced glorified letter openers. I trust a… provincial smithy like this can handle the task?"
The air in the workshop dropped ten degrees. Elara's jaw tightened. Kenji could feel her pride bristling like a cornered wolf. "My work is not 'provincial,'" she said, her voice dangerously low. "If you want a weapon, tell me the length, the weight, and the type of steel. If you want a toy, the next town has a trinket shop."
It was a clash of two powerful wills. Lady Seraphina's eyes narrowed. "Insolence. I should have known better than to venture into such a rustic backwater."
She was about to turn and leave, taking a massive potential payday with her. But as she spoke, Kenji's new [Attentive Ear] skill activated. Beneath the icy arrogance of her words, he heard a different story—a thread of genuine frustration.
Unspoken Need: "I have a vision of what I want, but no one will listen. They see my wealth and offer me gaudy, tasteless baubles. I want someone to understand the elegance I see in my mind."
Kenji knew he had to act. He stepped forward, bowing respectfully. "My lady, please forgive our humble workshop. Master Elara's pride is in her craft's function, but her artistry is second to none. Perhaps we have simply failed to understand your vision."
Both women turned to look at him, surprised by his interjection.
"And what would a shop boy know of my vision?" Seraphina asked, though her tone was a fraction less hostile.
Kenji took a breath. "You don't want gold and jewels plastered onto a blade, do you? That's what the others offered, I'd wager." He saw a flicker of surprise in her eyes. "You want something in the elven style, correct? A blade that flows, with a subtle, leaf-like curve. The guard shouldn't be a bulky cross, but a delicate, flowing piece of silver filigree that protects the hand without adding weight. The pommel should be weighted for perfect balance, perhaps with a single, inset sapphire, dark as a midnight sky."
He was channeling every bit of lore from his days playing Celestial Saga.
Lady Seraphina was speechless. Her cold mask had cracked, replaced by stunned disbelief. "That… is precisely it. How could you possibly know?"
Kenji glanced at Elara, whose own expression was one of pure shock. "A master artisan like Elara can make anything, my lady. She just needs the right language to build your dream."
Elara recovered quickly, seeing the opportunity Kenji had created. "The boy has a good eye. An elven-style blade requires a difficult tempering process to keep it light yet strong. The filigree you want… that is master-level work." She looked directly at Seraphina, a new respect in her eyes. "It can be done. For a price."
Lady Seraphina's demeanor had completely changed. She looked from Kenji's earnest face to Elara's confident one. For the first time, she saw a master smith and her insightful apprentice, not just two commoners.
"Name it," she said, a genuine, dazzling smile finally gracing her lips.
As Elara and Lady Seraphina began to discuss terms, a cascade of blue panels filled Kenji's vision.
[Quest Objective Updated!]
[Objective: Secure a high-value commission for The Scorched Anvil. (Complete)]
[Elara's Trust +30!]
[Lady Seraphina's Interest +15!]
[Reward: +500 EXP! Level Up! +2 Skill Points!]
Kenji let out a breath he didn't realize he was holding. He hadn't swung a hammer or used a single flashy combat skill. He had just listened. And in doing so, he had saved the day. Maybe, just maybe, there was more to this ridiculous system than he thought.