"What's that?"
Hulio followed Balake's gaze and rested his eyes on the sword he had just forged, and a look of appreciation flashed across his face.
"It's something I just finished working on," he turned to the man.
Balake nodded, but he silently approached Hulio.
Honestly, at first glance only one word came to mind when he saw the weapon.
'Trash'
His mind had quickly gone through the little it knew about weapons and arrived at the conclusion immediately, but then something tugged at his heart, his instinct coming to life at the sight of the brown weapon.
If Hulio had really made the weapons currently in the store, then there was no way he could have made trash.
He had caught the look of pride in his eyes when he looked at the sword.
"What rank is it."
For the second time, the eyes of the other members of the group were drawn toward Hulio, and it was because of Balake's question.
While it sounded simple for an experienced man like him, it was startling, because within this shop and almost every other shop there were only two types of weapons one ever met.
Common-ranked weapons and uncommon-ranked weapons, both fall under the zero-grade category.
For someone who knew what they were doing, at a glance they could differentiate between the two grades, feel them if they needed to, to solidify their conclusion.
Hulio's grin returned in full force, his shoulder raised, and he gave his answer without hesitation.
"Demi Mortal Grade."
Balake wasn't the target in his imaginations, but he savored the sight of the man's face transforming from curiosity to shock.
Sadly, it didn't last long as he quickly became sceptic.
"What do u mean, Demi Mortal Grade?"
Hulio placed the sword on the counter right in front of Balake and folded his arms.
"It's like I said, you're looking at a weapon above the grade zero, it's something I just finished making."
Balake frowned, his eyes narrowing at the weapon, studying it carefully, put off by its appearance, but urged by his heart.
"Common kid, what kind of brag is that.
Not only are you calling that thing a mortal-grade weapon, you're also claiming you made it.
In the entire Tarol region and all of this sector, do you know how many Blacksmiths that can make Mortal Grade weapons exist?
These men had been studying their craft for decades, now you come to claim to be on the same level as them.
Do you take us for fools."
The words were spoken by the second man in the group, and though Hulio had initially ignored him, now he turned to him.
Long blonde hair, arrogant eyes, leather armor...
"Sir, please don't come into my shop and call me a liar," Hulio locked his gaze on him.
"I am a blacksmith and when it comes to my craft, I do not lie or joke about it.
I made this sword and my word is law about its existence."
Hulio didn't know what impression he had given the man, but he was taken aback by his words.
Older than him but not by much, he could see his ego be hurt after getting scolded.
He quickly cast a glance at the women to the side and with a hard expression, marched towards the counter.
Obviously, he wasn't going to let things just end, but just as Hulio thought things would escalate, Balake intervened.
"Cardish, that's enough.
His claim might be heavy, but calling him a liar without proof is wrong on your side."
Stopping in his track, Cardish's expression turned to one of shock.
"Boss, don't tell me you actually believe him."
Balake ignored him and faced Hulio.
"Hope you'll let me test your claim."
"Sure."
Balake immediately picked the sword, taking a step back from the counter and making an experimental swing.
He glanced at Hulio, went to a shelf, picked up another sword and without hesitation struck them together.
A sharp sound rang through the hall, but the brown sword remained in order, the same going for its counterpart.
Balake repeated the action several more times before stopping and carefully studying the edges of the two weapons.
"The blade is stronger than any other sword you can find in here.
You'll need a transcendent though to make a full confirmation test."
After the awakened stage was the transcendent, a level reached when one condensed a life seed, their strength reaching a whole new level and their control over essence letting them manifest it outside their bodies.
Sadly, neither Balake nor any member of his group was a transcendent, they were all at the awakened level.
"How convenient…." Cavendish started, but Balake simply raised his hand and the man shut up.
"No sparks flew out." He looked at Hulio meaningfully.
Hearing Balake's words, Hulio's opinion of the man increased, now suspecting a stronger relationship between him and his father.
Just like back when he was shaping the blade, the lack of sparks from the collision between the two swords was a sign that unlike zero-grade weapons whose properties became destabilized after being hit with an essence-fueled attack, his could adequately absorb energy and seamlessly deliver it back out to the surroundings.
"I want to buy it," Balake suddenly said.
Hulio was taken aback, having expected the man to insist on further tests.
"Okay, but you'll need to wait for a week, so I can forge a more proper one."
"No need, I want this one."
"Sorry, I can't sell it to you."
"I need you to..."