The grey-robed figures who had scattered into the crowd after entering the town seemed to have decreased in number.
Or rather, they had removed their disguises, pulling back their hoods to reveal their demi-human faces.
Bai Xuan stopped thinking about them, deciding to solve his most practical problems first.
Just as he was about to continue forward, a particularly loud shouting match caught his attention.
“—What kind of garbage is this?! Sturdy? The tempering pattern on this blade is crooked to high heaven!”
“And this center of gravity—it’s shifted so far forward! Do you want us Dwarven warriors to twist our wrists with every swing?!”
The voice came from a blacksmith shop ahead, marked by a hammer crest.
At the entrance, a Dwarf about as tall as an average human’s chest but built like a solid block of granite was swinging a newly forged battleaxe.
His beard was a fiery red, braided into several thick plaits with small metal rings at the ends that jingled as he moved excitedly.
Beneath his bushy eyebrows, his bulging eyes were full of fury and... the pained disappointment of a craftsman seeing poor work.
Inside the shop, a shirtless human blacksmith, drenched in oil and sweat, wore a miserable expression as he tried to explain:
“Master Barend, this... this is already the best material we had. For the budget you gave... and the center of gravity follows the standard battleaxe blueprints...”
“Standard?! You’re giving us Dwarves ‘standard’?!”
The Dwarf named Barend raised his voice even higher, slamming the battleaxe onto the ground with a loud thud that seemed to vibrate the stone slabs.
“Are a Dwarf’s arm proportions and power delivery the same as you beanpole human brats?!”
“Blueprints! Blueprints are dead! Craftsmanship is alive! Your forge temperature was lacking, too; the impurities weren’t even fully removed...”
He spat out a string of criticisms, mixing technical terms with Dwarven curses, leaving the human blacksmith sweating profusely under the verbal onslaught.
A small circle of onlookers had already gathered, wearing the familiar, entertained smiles of people watching a show they’d seen before.
Bai Xuan also stopped to watch for a moment, gaining a direct understanding of a Dwarf’s fiery temper.
He glanced at the Dwarf’s information:
【Barend】
【Class: Axe Warrior Lv. 5 (Practitioner)】
He looked like a Dwarf who wasn't to be trifled with. Bai Xuan didn't want to get involved and was about to walk around them.
But Barend caught a glimpse of him out of the corner of his eye—specifically, his white robe and the staff in his hand.
The Dwarf’s bulging eyes suddenly lit up, as if he had found a new “witness.”
Before Bai Xuan could react, a thick, powerful hand covered in callouses and burn scars shot out.
It grabbed his wrist with such force that Bai Xuan was secretly startled.
“Hey! You... judging by your outfit, you’re an educated one! Come, come, you tell us who’s right!”
Without waiting for an answer, Barend pulled Bai Xuan toward the battleaxe and pointed at the blade.
“Look at this tempering pattern! Look at the metallic luster! And the wood treatment on this handle! Tell me, does this piece of junk deserve to be called ‘Fine’? Is it worth three gold coins?!”
The human blacksmith’s face turned pale. He frantically waved his hands at Bai Xuan, his eyes pleading, terrified that this unknown magic caster would say something to further provoke the Dwarf.
Bai Xuan’s wrist throbbed with pain from the grip, but he remained calm.
He did a quick scan of the battleaxe, focusing his mind as the interface appeared:
【Charon Battleaxe (Crude)】
【Texture: Ordinary Charon iron, mixed with a small amount of unrefined slag】
【Craftsmanship: Uneven tempering, forward-shifted center of gravity, handle wood not fully dried, prone to warping.】
【Evaluation: Below standard-issue weapon; risk of the blade chipping or the handle detaching during use.】
“This...” Bai Xuan organized his thoughts, deciding to take a relatively neutral stance based on the facts.
He reached out with his free hand and lightly tapped a section of the blade where the pattern was slightly chaotic—the spot the interface had flagged for uneven tempering.
Then he mimicked a grip on the handle and gestured a striking pose.
“I’m just passing through,” he said in a calm tone. “I don’t have a deep knowledge of forging.”
He lightly tapped the handle. “However, this area doesn't seem quite 'seasoned' enough. Its stability might be affected in humid environments or after intense vibrations.”
He didn’t directly say if it was good or bad, but pointed out objective risks.
After hearing this, Barend burst into loud laughter and slapped Bai Xuan hard on the shoulder. “Haha! Hear that?! Not seasoned enough! See, anyone with eyes can tell!”
“It’s not about the money; it’s about craftsmanship and integrity!”
The human blacksmith let out a sigh of relief. At least this gentleman hadn’t condemned the work entirely and had left some room for maneuver.
He quickly seized the opportunity. “Yes, yes, Master Barend, your guidance is correct. My skills are lacking, and the materials weren't up to par.”
“If you’re not satisfied with this axe, I’ll refund half your deposit and take the loss on the materials. What do you say...?”
“Refund?!” Barend huffed, blowing out his mustache. “Do I look like someone who lacks money? I want a tool that works! Forget it, I can’t get through to a pig-head like you!”
He irritably let go of Bai Xuan’s wrist and turned back to him.
He sized him up, his voice gruff but much friendlier. “You, kid—you’ve got a decent eye! Better than those thin-armed weaklings who only know how to read books! Hmph!”
Having said his piece, he ignored the repeatedly apologizing blacksmith and didn't spare another glance at the battleaxe.
Mumbling complaints in Dwarven, he pushed through the crowd and walked away with heavy steps.
The onlookers let out a final round of chuckles before gradually dispersing.
The human blacksmith wiped away his sweat and gave Bai Xuan a grateful yet apologetic look.
Bai Xuan rubbed his reddened wrist, gave the blacksmith a slight nod, and turned to continue on his way.
Soon, he found a clothing store.
The shopkeeper was a middle-aged man with shifty, bead-like eyes.
As soon as Bai Xuan entered—especially after the man took in his appearance and his old but clearly styled robe—an overly enthusiastic smile plastered itself onto the shopkeeper's face.
“Oh! Welcome, esteemed magic caster!”
“You certainly have an eye for quality! My shop just received several batches of fine fabrics, perfect for a magic caster of your distinguished temperament!” As he spoke, the shopkeeper quickly pulled a white robe from a rack.
The craftsmanship was indeed better than what Bai Xuan was wearing, with simple patterns embroidered in silver thread at the collar and cuffs that caught the light.
“Look at this Ethereal Silk blend. It’s light and comfortable to wear. I’ve heard it even provides a slight boost to mana perception!”
“In the entire Outer Town, only I have this! It’s only two gold coins, and it would suit you perfectly!”
Bai Xuan took the robe. The fabric felt smooth to the touch, but when he rubbed it slightly with his fingertips and concentrated, information visible only to him appeared:
【Ordinary linen robe dyed with low-quality fluorescent agent】
“He sees I'm young and wants to rip me off!”
He put the robe down and looked at the shopkeeper, his tone flat. “Ethereal Silk? Then how about I take a closer look at its elemental attunement with ‘Detect Magic’?”
As he spoke, he made a gesture as if to place his palm over the robe, a faint light seemingly gathering at his fingertips.
In reality, it was just a tiny halo of light from his Holy Light Catalyst that he was controlling, but to the shopkeeper, it was undoubtedly the prelude to casting a spell.
Rate on N.U.
