Calm raised an eyebrow, mistakenly thinking that Matthew's request for the staff was out of curiosity about spells. He couldn't help but chuckle.
“If you want to keep it, then keep it.”
He waved his hand, his tone carrying the understanding of someone who had been there before.
“It's normal for young people to be curious, but this thing is useless to us. It's just a decoration. It's fine to look at it for fun, but don't let it distract you from your proper business.”
Matthew let out a sigh of relief and quickly stored the staff carefully back into the depths of his backpack. “Understood, Instructor. I just thought it was a novelty.”
The two chatted for a few more minutes about trivial village matters, such as how Matthew might have to accompany the village logistics team to town once the weather cooled down in a few days, and the need to seize the time to increase his strength and become a Black Iron Rank Class holder as soon as possible.
As they were speaking, a sudden, muffled, and labored cough came from the inner room. It was Hal waking up.
Calm immediately stopped talking, his thick brows furrowing slightly as he turned and walked toward the room. “Hal's injuries are acting up again. I'll go take a look.”
Seeing this, Matthew also stood up. “Do you need any help?”
“No need, just focus on your own business.” Calm waved his hand, his footsteps never stopping. His tall figure lifted the coarse cloth curtain and entered the inner room.
Matthew was left alone in the courtyard.
Watching Instructor Calm's figure disappear behind the curtain, Matthew's gaze fell upon the items on the stone table in the courtyard, and he quickly got to work.
He placed the items that needed to be handed over to the instructor in the latter's room.
Having resolved the major matter of his weapon, Matthew stood in the courtyard and took a long, deep breath, feeling a sense of relief wash over his entire body.
What followed was an irrepressible surge of excitement and anticipation.
Instructor Calm agreeing to help meant that he would soon possess a Blue quality weapon that truly belonged to him!
“I probably won't even have to wait until I promote to the Brass Rank to use a Blue weapon...”
“Though a Black Iron Rank Class holder wielding a Blue quality weapon is a bit like Lu Bu riding a dog.”
This comparison flashed through Matthew's mind, making him smile.
But this was precisely his unique advantage. Anyone else with only Black Iron Rank strength would likely find it difficult to even wield a Blue quality weapon.
Matthew calculated silently in his mind, the anticipation diluting the slight depression brought about by his previous setback with 【Energy Missile】.
However, aside from the excitement, his current financial embarrassment quickly surfaced.
Money came fast, but it went even faster.
He subconsciously touched the money pouches in his shirt and backpack. The originally substantial sum of gold coins and loose silver coins was now almost depleted after the transactions just now.
He did some quick mental math and realized that the cash he could immediately use was probably only about two gold coins' worth of hard currency.
And this was still the money Instructor Calm had given him earlier to purchase the “Green bow”.
Going from having the potential net worth of the “richest man in the village” to instantly feeling his wallet deflate was quite a dramatic drop.
But it wasn't a big deal. Matthew still had some beast hides, as well as the venom sacs and carapaces of the corrosive lizards in his backpack. Selling them would net him about three gold coins.
This would be enough to support the food he needed for his training over the next period, as well as any ordinary training equipment and herbs he might need to replenish.
“It's enough,” he muttered softly to himself, his eyes regaining their determination.
Money could always be earned again. Opportunities and ways to increase his strength were the most precious things right now.
At this thought, an idea popped into Matthew's mind—exploring the kobold nest!
Even a goblin nest had yielded so many rewards, though the crystal cluster and the black iron bar he obtained later were partly due to luck.
But the kobold tribe was an extraordinary settlement that possessed a “priest.” The accumulated wealth and rare items they held would surely far surpass those of a goblin nest!
More importantly, the kobolds' fighting force had been almost entirely wiped out during their fierce battle. Their nest was very likely empty right now...
At this thought, Matthew's breathing quickened slightly, but he quickly calmed down.
“But I can't rush this right now,” he thought to himself. “Although the kobold nest's strength is greatly reduced, there are bound to be remnants left behind, and they might even have other traps or defensive measures hidden away.”
“I should at least wait until I reach the Black Iron Rank before making plans.”
Moreover, the anomalies in the forest had not been fully investigated yet. The kobold tribe had been forced to leave their original nest and migrate to the outer areas of the forest.
He had to think twice before acting.
Matthew took a deep breath, suppressing the slight ripple of excitement caused by his fantasies of wealth.
“Strength... in the end, it all comes down to strength.”
“The top priority is to reach the Black Iron Rank and master a combat technique. Only by crossing this threshold will I have the right to face more complex situations, whether it's exploring the potentially empty old kobold nest or dealing with any potential threats from the Fiery Lion family in the future.”
With this in mind, Matthew stopped lingering. Just as he was about to leave, a faint sound of footsteps and the creak of a wooden door opening came from behind him.
Matthew turned around and saw Sierra walking out of the side room where she had rested last night.
The young girl had already changed into a clean, neat set of coarse cloth hunting attire, her long hair simply tied back.
Her face was still a bit pale, but her spirits were much better than last night. She had clearly rested well.
Seeing Matthew in the courtyard, Sierra was slightly taken aback before walking over.
Hearing the noise, Matthew turned around. Seeing Sierra, he proactively greeted her and asked out of concern, “You're awake? Are you feeling any better?”
He knew that after a battle, the body would suffer some wear and tear. If not handled properly, it could lead to hidden injuries.
Sierra walked up to him, gently rotated her shoulders, and nodded. “Yes, much better. My body is still a bit sore, but it's nothing serious.”
Her gaze swept across the courtyard. Seeing only Matthew, she asked, “Where is Instructor Calm?”
Matthew gestured toward the inner room. “Hal woke up. The instructor went in to check on him.”
He paused, his tone filled with concern. “This battle took a lot out of you, and you're still injured. Get some rest over the next few days. Don't rush to train or head into the mountains.”
Hearing this, Sierra's lips curved slightly into a gentle smile. “I know. Thank you for your concern.”
She hesitated for a moment before adding, “Speaking of which, I do plan to return to town once my body is fully recovered.”
Hearing this, Matthew's heart stirred, and he immediately suggested:
“Coincidentally, once the weather cools down in a few days, our village's logistics team will also head to town to purchase winter supplies. You can travel with them. You can look out for each other on the road, and it will be much safer.”
Sierra's eyes lit up, clearly pleased with this arrangement. “That's wonderful! I was just worried that traveling alone might not be safe. When exactly are you leaving?”
“The exact date hasn't been set yet, but it should be within the next few days. Instructor Calm or the village will notify you then. Just be prepared in advance,” Matthew replied.
“Is there any place you'd recommend in town for selling materials or buying supplies?” Matthew asked as the opportunity arose.
Sierra thought about it and replied, “If you're just selling ordinary beast hides or monster materials, you can go directly to the adventurer guild. The prices are fair, and it saves trouble.”
“If the quality of the items is decent, or if you have specific needs, you can go to specialty shops...”
“If... some things are not very convenient to sell openly, or if you want to fish for some special information, there are some private trading spots near the base of the old city wall on the south side of town.”
Afterward, Matthew asked a few more questions, including but not limited to the details of the black market, things to watch out for, and so on...
Rate on N.U.
