Chapter 48 - #48 Upgrade for Special Class? (1/2)

After we left the Palace, we made a quick stop at the bakery near the shopping district to buy some cookies. Then we returned home and Kurome started her daily training while I went back to my room just to discover numerous books lying on my desk.

Nice, looks like father already took care of what I have asked from him.

I thought and went to sit down and look through all the books on my desk.

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After 3 days spent being locked up inside the room, reading books.

”*Yawn* Finally done! I hate books.” I muttered when I closed the last book and started stretching my arms.

”You have done well, young master!” Aiko who was standing next to my chair immediately praised me and poured me a tea into my teacup with a bright smile on her face.

You don't need to praise me for something like that...it's only embarrassing.

”Thank you, Aiko. You have been here with me for the past few days from the early morning till the late at night, you should get some rest.” I thanked her for tea and suggested her to rest a bit.

I only want you to take one or a few days off...you won't lose your job. *sigh*

Alright, for the rest of the month, I will dedicate myself to practical blacksmithing. I already know a lot of theory but I also need to practice. I guess I won't have any time to go hunt any Danger Beasts until Esdeath's ceremony to select her Teigu.

”Aiko, I will be going out for a few next days in a row and I will come back quite late too.” I said with a smile as I stood up from my seat.

”Oh? Understood! I will inform your father and mother.” Aiko seemed a bit disappointed but in the end, she nodded her head with a smile.

Alright, the prescriptions from Babara already arrived and I let Ichika take care of everything. I told her to not buy anything on big scales, we need to be as discreet as possible. Plus it's something I will be using only for myself, Ichika, Kurome, my parents and that should be all for now. When I will have a stable income of money I will start using it also on our other loyal guards but not now, I will have a problem sustaining it only for 5 people not to mention more than 20...

I disguised myself in some rags and went to the different part of the city just to make sure no one recognizes me. I also used coal to make my face a bit dirty.

...

”Hey mister, don't you need any helper?” I asked with a little forced smile.

*Clang* *Clang*

”I know something about blacksmithing and it's not just a few things. You can try me out with a few questions. If I get anything wrong, I will give you this gold coin, these are my last money. I am dead serious.” I said with a serious expression.

He looked slightly surprised by my words so he stopped hammering once again and put his hammer aside to look at me more closely. He looked at the golden coin in my hand and immediately gestured me to hide it away.

”*Are you nuts, kid? Don't go taking out money like it's nothing. And what you are doing is pretty stupid, I could just trick you and take your money.*” He whispered to me while looking around and then shook his head.

”*I have a good eye when it comes to someone in need of help. You would rather take capable helper instead of 1 gold coin, isn't that right?*” I said with a silly smile.

”Haha, you are really nuts but you have guts, I have to give it to you. I am indeed in big need of help, I have a contract with a few Empire's soldiers but I am not capable enough to make it in time all alone. You are really interesting kid and you also look hardworking so I will give you just a few easy questions.” He laughed aloud and stopped whispering, he explained the situation with a forced smile.

I nodded my head with a determined expression.

”Kid, tell me what is slag.”

”Leftovers from the smelting process.” I instantly responded.

”Hm, good. Now, tell me what would you do if I told you to ”quench” something” He nodded his head with closed eyes and then asked another question.

”...Good, at least you aren't a complete idiot and since you look interesting and confident, I can accept you as my helper. Do you need a place to sleep or do you already have a place to stay?” He said with an appreciative nod and then asked with a small smile.

”Hm, yes, I have place to stay at.” I replied with a grateful nod and smile.

We started discussing my pay and other things until we spent more than 1 hour of talking. When he noticed how long we were talking, he wanted to pluck out all of his hair but unfortunately, he was already bald and the only thing he could pluck out was his beard.

And like that...I started helping that man every day in his shop.

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”Jack, can you sharpen that sword for me?” The man who accepted me as his helper shouted at me.

”Sure thing, consider it done, Zak!” I shouted back and started sharpening the sword on the grinding wheel. It has been already a few weeks since I have started ”working” here. Most of the time, I was just observing Zak. Although I can't say that I would be able to create a great sword right now, I can easily say that I would create a much better sword than the one I created in that cave.

”Thanks for everything, Zak.” I thanked him when I was about to leave for the good.

”Here you go, kid!” He said and threw at me a smaller bag filled with coins.

”Hm? I have already got my pay” I looked at him with a confused expression.

”That's just a little bonus. You were a good helper so take it with you!” He said with a wide smile, showing off his teeth.

”Hmph, I don't need it. You better use it to buy more materials, haha!” I completely changed the tone of my voice and simply said that I have no need for it before throwing it back at him. While he was preoccupied with catching the bag, I already disappeared from the street when he looked up with his dumbfounded face only hearing my laugh in the distance.

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GOLD: 6120

My money is slowly disappearing, sustaining all 5 people regularly taking these medicines each day is truly expensive but I already noticed small changes on Kurome. It was almost the entire month since she started using them and I must say that she looks less troubled than before. She must have been thinking about her sister a lot but right now it looks like her mind is becoming clearer and clearer.

Anyway, I also asked my father to build a little forge down in our cellar so I can keep on practicing in peace without anyone spying on me.

Tomorrow is the day when Esdeath will choose her Teigu. I should go to sleep earlier today...

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