Looking at the bearded gentleman who was currently looking lovingly at me as though he wanted to hammer me into a block of metal, especially with the large hammer that he was stroking caringly at his side; I gulped.

The sound travelled far within the forge that I realized was quite spacious, and it echoed for a long time as I stared at the man who stared at me.

I took a step backward, and the man took a step forward.

I took a step forward, and the man took another step forward. Bringing us closer to each other.

Summoning my courage, I squeaked out, “Ar-armor?”

The man stared at me.

Squeaking more manlier than before, I tried again, “Armor!”

Disappointment flashed in the man’s eyes before he jerked his head toward a bin to the side and turned away.

Heaving a sigh of relief, I stood there for a moment while my legs ceased trembling, and then made my way to the bin.

Reaching in, I pulled out leather armor… that was… plain. It was as plain as though a deliberate effort had been made to make it look as unappealing as possible.

But, I was drawn in by it. Feeling the texture, the stiffness, the pliability; I marvelled at it for it was good quality stuff, plain though it might be.

Sifting through the bin, I quickly found a pair of leather leggings, chest armor, arm armor, pauldrons, and a gorget.

Raising them, and looking inquiringly at the blacksmith who grunted in response, I quickly donned the armor and moved around experimentally.

Marveling at the range of movement, and the flexibility that it afforded me, I pushed my body through its paces and at the end; I fell in love with the armor. Plain though it might be.

Hesitantly, I asked the price, and the man raised up two fingers, and I ventured, “Two Gold?”

Nodding, the man went back to his work.

I had just been trying my luck, and lo-and-behold, he actually said two gold coins.

Stupefied, I looked at the man, for the armor was definitely worth at least 10-no, 20 gold.

Then the man looked at me again, and with a critical eye, he paced back and forth before he grunted again and went to the bin.

Pulling out armor and throwing it randomly around, he picked out a few pieces and carried them over to a table before jerking his head at me.

Approaching cautiously, I saw leather greaves, thigh armor, bracers, and studded gauntlets.

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Confused, I looked at him because the full armor set that I had taken already had all of those built into it.

Picking one up nonetheless, I gasped at how light it was.

Wearing the studded gauntlets over the armor’s gloves, I whistled in appreciation as I traced the seamless line where the gauntlets ended over the gloves.

Excited now, I quickly wore the rest of the armor pieces that the man had taken out, and flexing; I almost hugged the man at how they integrated with the rest of the armor.

I would have hugged him too, if not for the eyes that seemed to spit fire at me, even now.

Asking him how much everything would cost, I again fell silent as he raised 3 fingers in total for 3 gold.

Counting out the money, and seeing three more gold protons lying in my pouch… I decisively took them out and passed them to the man and said, “Two sets of everything!”

Looking at me appraisingly, the man with a gentler expression on his face walked over to the bin again, where he did his magic while looking at me now and then appraisingly.

Finished, he handed over the pile of armor to me, and I was now the owner of two amazing leather sets.

Elated, I was about to thank him when he tossed another object at me.

Reflexively catching it, I saw it was a sheath for the sword at my waist.

Looking at him, I choked up.

At this forge, I had gotten a bargain deal with a sheath thrown in for free.

At the luxurious shop, I had spent 15 gold for a sword that almost poked me in the royal behind as I flew through the doors of the shop.

The comparison was incomparable!

Almost falling down at the man’s feet, I reluctantly dragged myself out of the forge and stood outside.

Then, checking my coin purse, I smiled a wry smile as I saw a single gold proton along with a few silvers and coppers lying sparsely within.

Taking out the silvers, I headed to the market, and purchased as many supplies as I could, along with a tome on the monsters near Yamal, and a questionable map of the forest of death.

Armed thus, I trotted to the adventurer’s guild, greeting Farrah, before going to the notice board and scanning it with glee.

For I could go on solo adventures now, and I could put my plan into action without any repercussions.

I was, in a nutshell, prepared.

Prepared for what was to come, and brimming with excitement for it.

Grabbing a bunch of quests and contracts from the board, I walked over to Farrah before cockily sliding them across the table.

Raising his eyebrows, Farrah looked at the pile that I had passed on, and said, “Taking the whole forest for yourself, aren’t you?”

Grinning, I replied, “For now, and for the future!”

Laughing, Farrah said, “You wish. Just be careful that the monsters don’t eat you up. They won’t even leave any bones for a skinn- wait, did you put on weight?”

Confused, I looked at myself, and I realized I had grown larger without noticing.

Furrowing his brows, Farrah spoke, “You were definitely smaller when you left with Duncan and the rest.”

Scratching his head, he shrugged as he said, “Might be a growth spurt, I suppose.”

Nodding along, I thought it was a growth spurt too, and shoved it out of my mind.

Collecting the proof of contracts from Farrah, I went back to the Hoard and waited impatiently for a new day to dawn.

I thought I’d be too excited to sleep, but events proved otherwise, and within a moment; I was snoring away.

And my dreams were fixed on the forest.

And more importantly, on becoming an iron rank.