Chapter 47 047

Seojin had his own clear guidelines whenever he induced others do what he wanted. When he was in a hurry, he told them what he wanted directly and persuaded them. If he had some time, he liked to beat around the bush before making an offer that they couldn't refuse. However, his preferred method was to make the opponent curious about him first.

'People say that curiosity kills the cat, but the same could be said about humans too.'

He kept pretending to be someone important but never revealed his purpose while building a positive relationship with the opponent.

And then?

'I can simply broach the subject with someone who is already eager to help me.'

The downside was that he had to invest a relatively long time into such a method, but the overwhelming effect compensated for it.

'It's not so bad since I was planning to lay low for a while. The only thing is that I have to show some output soon, but oh well.'

Seojin was sure that Rachael would cover up for him as they were both in the same boat.

'Maybe accepting a request before being demoted would be a good idea.'

He had nothing to worry about right now.

"Flappy, I'll need you to do me a favor today."

"Ahv barely evun opened mah eyes an yore orderin' may around lahk thus."

"…"

Even more so, if he could get help from Flappy, aka the high-powered radar. Seojin stared at Trail Halebarden again with his butt glued to the bench.

* * *

"The dude's here again."

"Dude?" Trail Halebarden warned his apprentice as he made a slip of the tongue, "Mind your tongue and just get to work. Breaktime is over."

The apprentice withdrew. Actually, Trail also couldn't help but notice him.

'…Is he really just coming to watch how we work?'

It had already been four days since the young adventurer started going there to watch the blacksmith every day.

'He doesn't look like a blacksmith… maybe the other hammerheads sent him to spy… no, that's ridiculous. Shame on me.'

Things such as hiring an adventurer to steal techniques would never happen, at least in the Street of Fire. Trail suspected him because what he was doing didn't make any sense. It had already been twenty years since he started wielding a hammer here. Nobody had done anything like that before, even after adventurers began to rush in a year ago.

'So, what he said back then… did he really mean it?'

At first, Trail laughed at the adventurer for being so idiotic, but now he was starting to think that he was telling the truth.

'Damn shame if that was the case…'

To blacksmiths, mocking someone who was paying respect to their craftsmanship was no better than mocking a blacksmith himself.

'Should have asked him for his name.'

It was too late, and Trail didn't have enough nerve to approach and talk to him first.

"Master."

"Feed the fire first."

"It's ready."

"…Let's get started."

Trail tuned out from Seojin. It was merely a curiosity that wasn't big enough for a craftsman that was so proud of his skills.

However, Trail had to change his opinion ten days later.

"That adventurer is here again today."

"Yes, looks like he has nothing else to do," Trail answered bluntly, but the apprentice seemed to like the adventurer slightly more than before.

"Maybe I was wrong."

"About what?"

"I thought he was like the other adventurers, but… I think he's really coming to see your work, master."

"Huh, nonsense. Just get ready to work."

Although Trail rebuked the apprentice's words, that was what he had been thinking for the last three days or so. Why on earth would he sit there and watch what they were doing so interestingly, other than that?

'I've already met enough backstabbing adventurers. I don't care what they do anymore.'

His past experiences made him cautious, as adventurers always tried to manipulate him for their own selfish interests as soon as he opened up to them. Trail had no intention of making the same mistakes.

'…But it wouldn't hurt to know his name.'

Trail decided to talk to him first after he finished the day's work. He was a craftsman before he was a grumpy old man, so couldn't just hate someone who admired his skills. He was just a bit nervous, worrying if the adventurer was just acting to gain what he wanted. But wouldn't it be more likely that the adventurer is sincere if he showed such dedication, though? Knowing his name wouldn't hurt even if that isn't the case.

'I can't fully focus on my work because of him. This is only for the sake of my work.'

Trail briefly justified his actions to himself.

'I'm not trusting this adventurer; I'm just protecting my pride.'

Eventually, Trail approached the adventurer first.

"Hey," he said.

"You must have finished your work for the day."

"I have, how long are you planning to come here for?"

"Sorry for bothering you. I didn't mean to."

"That's… okay. I don't think you mean any harm."

"I always tell myself that I should stop coming here, yet the next moment I'm back. I'll control myself starting tomorrow. Thank you for enlightening me with your skill…"

"You won't come?"

The adventurer smiled bitterly as Trail interrupted.

"I can't bother you this much just to satisfy my greed."

"I never said that you were bothering me"

"And yet here you are. I was preventing a craftsman from focusing on his work."

"My skill isn't shallow enough to be affected by such small things. I can't stop you if you're busy, so…"

Trail brought up the question that had been on his mind for days.

"What's your name?"

"I'm Seojin."

"Seojin. Seojin. That's a good name."

'Good name? Seriously?'

Even Trail himself couldn't help but laugh at his awkward words.

'I never meant to do something like this.'

At least he had relieved his curiosity, and he wouldn't have to sit there and wonder what the adventurer's name was anymore.

"I'll remember that. Oh, and about what you just said."

"Please."

"I never thought that you were bothering me. So, keep coming if you want."

"I appreciate that."

The adventurer smiled broadly, but Trail had a hunch… that the man wouldn't show up from tomorrow onward.

'Damn it, maybe I shouldn't have talked to him.'

Trail was starting to feel impatient. He had only two options now. Grab him here, or let him go.

"But, uh, what did you like so much about my work?"

"I can't put my finger on it with my untrained eyes."

"Yeah, I didn't take you to be a blacksmith either."

"How about we put it as… the process itself was beautiful? The sword gradually being completed every time you complete each step… it was impressive."

"Is that so?"

His praise wasn't that great. Trail felt the emotion in his heart cool in an instant. A little more. Trail wanted his skills to be recognized further, but it seemed that was all the untrained adventurer could see. As soon as Trail was about to leave those lingering feelings behind, Seojin brought up an interesting topic.

"In fact, I felt a similar thing once before."

"Before?"

"Yes, from a blacksmith like you. I was fascinated as I was busy appreciating his work."

"…Did you?"

It triggered something inside Trail's heart.

"He must have had similar skills to me."

"I'm afraid that he didn't."

"Well, no wonder. The Street of Fire is—"

"He was slightly better."

Trail was lost for words.

'Better than me?'

His eyes narrowed upon the sudden thought.

"Where did you see him?"

"Movelon, it's a small town."

"You mean to say that the craftsman there was better than me?"

His ego was hurt, his pride wounded, and the adventurer's face suddenly seemed really punchable.

'Yeah, he must be blind. As expected, adventurers are all the same.'

He didn't need an adventurer who appreciated a mere hillbilly blacksmith more than him.

"Yes, he—"

"I see. Big world, with many great people. So, what was his name?"

However, he completely forgot about his ego as soon as Seojin answered.

"It was Master Ferguson. He came to Movelon to carry out His Majesty's orders."

"…You saw Master Ferguson?"

"Yes, I was lucky."

"D-didn't you say I was a little less?"

"Huh? What do you mean?"

"Regarding skill… you said he was slightly better…"

"Oh, I did. My apologies, I'm no better than blind when it comes to…"

"Damn right you are!"

Trail burst out into laughter.

"Damn right you're no better than blind! He can't only be a little better than me! Hahaha! No hammerhead in their right mind would say that!"

Seojin looked puzzled, and that made Trail feel even more joyous. Trail eventually broke his own rule as he ignored his own principles this time.

"We shouldn't just stay here, let's go inside and talk. I'd like to hear about Ferguson."

…The principle of never getting close to an adventurer.

* * *

"So, that's how it was. Master Frid's tombstone… you were searching for it and that's when you saw me working."

"That's right. Sorry for troubling you once again, I didn't mean it."

"Ahh, quit it! I'm just wary of adventurers. You know adventurers like you are rare. We could've talked like this earlier if you had told me about Master Ferguson."

The best blacksmith in Erzebet. To him, Seojin was a man who was polite, respectful, and able to see the skill of a craftsman. Seojin, however, didn't agree with him.

'He would have never let me in if I had dropped the name first.'

Seojin was sure of that, no matter what Trail said. The favor of the master craftsman, which granted Seojin a certain positive relationship with all blacksmiths, did not work well in Erzebet. Trail reacted differently to Redrix, the blacksmith in Berne.

'The effect probably differs depending on the level of the NPC.'

That was the reason Seojin changed his plan.

'Winning a favor doesn't mean much. I can be close to blacksmiths slightly faster than other players, but that's all.'

At least the new plan had gone accordingly, as Trail was busy admiring Seojin's amazing stories and Ferguson. The conversation came to halt after a long while, and Trail nodded, twitching his lips.

"You are truly an adventurer, people like you are rare."

"Thank you."

"I'm sure Ferguson felt the same way as I did. I can't help but think that it's okay to talk to you."

"Huh? What do you mean?"

Seojin pretended he had no idea what Trail was talking about, as such a reaction made people even more willing to spill their secrets.

"So, about the request you received."

However, Trail's words surpassed Seojin's expectations.

"I was the client."

"What?"

"I was the one who put up that request."