Clad in a simple beige tunic, I bounced toward the closest blacksmith shop I could see in the village square, as if I had springs in my legs.
The feeling of finally able to buying a sword left me completely exhilarated. In my entire previous life, I had dreamed of owning a flashy sword, and now it was finally time to live that dream.
The last stop on my "adventurer starter pack" tour was the village blacksmith. The building smelled of molten metal and soot, the clang of hammer against anvil echoing through the small street. I pushed the heavy wooden door open, and a wave of warmth—and noise—hit me.
A large man, arms thick as tree trunks, lifted his gaze from the sword he was shaping. Sparks flew with each strike of his hammer, glinting like tiny stars in the dim interior.
"Morni- Afternoon," I said, stepping forward cautiously, trying to appear both respectful and competent.
The blacksmith grunted in acknowledgment, wiping sweat from his brow. "You new in town?" His voice was gravelly but not unfriendly.
"Yeah… kinda. First day, actually," I replied, brushing a loose strand of black hair from my face. "And I kinda need a… sword. For, uh, fighting stuff."
He snorted, setting the half-forged scrap down and leaning on the anvil. "I get it. You're a beginner. New blood. Fine. You want something light, easy to handle, not a deathtrap in your hands?"
I nodded eagerly. "Exactly. Light and sharp. I mean, I'd like to survive, thank you very much."
He scratched his beard and gestured toward a rack of swords hanging on the wall. "These are standard beginner swords. Nothing fancy, but they get the job done. I don't think so you have every used a sword." His said his eyes darting on my lean and small teenage body. "You will get your suitable stuff on the left rack."
I walked over slowly, my fingers hovering over each hilt. Leather-bound, simple designs, some with faint carvings. My eyes landed on a slender katana, its steel gleaming faintly under the light streaming through the window.
"Ah… this one," I said, lifting it carefully. The balance was perfect, almost as if it had been made for me. The weight felt right in my hands, not too heavy to tire me, yet solid enough that I could trust it in a fight.
Katana was always every protagonist first choice, and I being the best protagonist- katana is for sure gonna my first weapon.
"Good choice," the blacksmith said with a nod. "A katana's a fine weapon for beginners. Light, easy to swing, fast. You'll learn form, timing, and precision with it. Don't worry—it's sharp enough to cut clean, but forgiving enough that you won't chop your own foot off right away."
He leaned forward slightly, grinning. "But let me warn you—its blade is sharp. You'll need precision in your strikes, or you'll end up as beast food. Hehe!"
I chuckled nervously, adjusting my grip. "Noted. Safety first."
He gave me a genuine smile. "Name's Harken. Been swinging steel for thirty years. If you break it or injure yourself too badly, don't blame me. But… you'll do fine if you listen to your instincts."
"Thanks, Harken. I'll try not to butcher myself," I said, bowing slightly.
The smith weighed the sword in his hands briefly, then handed it over. "Price is 3 silver coins."
What the—?! Did he lose his balls or something? That price is way too damn high!
He raised an eyebrow seeing me suddenly shocked. "Problem?"
Time to channel my inner merchant protagonist. I rubbed my chin thoughtfully. "Hmm… fifty, huh? How about…" I held up a single finger dramatically. "One bronze coin!"
Silence.
The blacksmith blinked once. Twice. "…You trying to buy a sword or a potato, kid?"
"Okay, okay," I said quickly, holding up both hands. "That was just a warm-up offer. What if you are dumb and accepted that price you know, shooting in black. How about five bronze coins? Final deal."
"Five?" His eyebrow twitched. "You planning to pay me in air for the other two silver andninety-fivebronze?"
I scratched my cheek, pretending to think deeply. "What if we, uh… throw in some exposure? You know, I'll tell everyone you're the best blacksmith in the world! You can't buy that kind of publicity."
He stared. "Kid, this is a village. Everyone already knows who I am."
"…Oh."
"Three Silver."
"Thirty-five?"
"Three."
"Forty-nine?"
He leaned forward slightly, eyes narrowing. "Three."
"…How about One Silver?"
He reached for his hammer.
"Three it is!" I said immediately, fumbling into my pocket.
With a thought, a shimmer rippled through the air, and bronze coins appeared in my hand — thank you, inventory system, babe. I slapped them onto the counter with a nervous grin.
He grunted, taking the coins. "Congratulations. You're the worst haggler I've met in twenty years."
I swung the sword experimentally once. The air cut sharply, a satisfying whoosh following the motion. I grinned. Yeah… this is going to be fun.
"Take care of it," Harken said, returning to hammering a piece of metal. "And don't overestimate yourself. Being alive is the first step to being strong."
"I hear you loud and clear," I said, sheathing the katana. My new weapon at my side, boots laced tight, clothes settled, I felt… ready. Not invincible, not hero-level yet, but ready to survive and learn.
Stepping out of the forge, I let the sunlight hit me, the warmth energizing my tired muscles. Today, I would explore a bit more of the village, maybe see where the shops and streets led, and—most importantly—plan my next move carefully.
But before I could even take a proper breath, voices drifted from across the streets.
A group of villagers stood near a well. Their faces were tight with grief, eyes hollow, shoulders slumped like people carrying something far heavier than water buckets. Their tones were laced with fear, disgust… and a quiet, simmering rage.
"They found her floating in the river this morning," one of the men muttered, his voice shaking as though each word clawed its way out of his throat. "Alen's wife- or what's left of her. They say she committed suicide after coming back alive."
"She was pregnant with one of those monsters."