"Goodbye, Mom," I said, kissing mother on her cheek.

"Goodbye, Arthur."

It was a much more confident me that headed to Jorn’s forge. Over my training years, I had opportunities to explore the town with mother. She agreed with me that I spent too much time indoors, so on the last day of the week (which counted 8 days in this world), we went outside. It was a chance for me, who, other than the residential area, only saw the market and the barracks. I was able to see the park, explore much more of the commercial area, not just the market.

The town had a circular shape and was divided into sectors, 5 to be precise. The noble area was situated in the center of the town, and clockwise, we had the military sector, the residential sector, the market, and the suburb. The commercial area contained all the markets, inns, and the guild. I still found it a good idea to put the suburb between the guild and the barracks; it at least reduced the criminality rate in the town.

My home was situated in the residential area near the border with the commercial sector. Apparently, it was chosen because mother wanted to be able to travel between her clinic and the house quickly. But when I was born, she was obliged to receive clients in a room at home because she didn’t want to leave me alone. She said that it caused them some problems because they are not authorized to practice commercial activity outside of the commercial sector.

"Good morning, Arthur."

"Good morning, Mr. Albert," I said to a merchant responsible for selling some magic items.

Since my birth, I had the chance to see the evolution of technology in this world, and I still thought that this world didn’t need my help. When I was born and in most of my early years, I could still see most people using lamps and oil. I couldn’t really understand why, in a world with magic, they still used it. But talking with Rita and using the fact that she traveled a lot and thus met many people and learned a lot about the kingdom, I started to understand the core of the problem. It seems that this world didn’t really have a real energy source better than mana. The problem is that mana is so important to increase the power of everyone that they don’t really want to use it for anything other than their jobs and their training.

Contrary to the cultivation world, it seemed that in this world, there didn’t really exist realms. To differentiate strength, we would most of the time use the classification system of the guild. To increase your ‘level,’ you needed to increase your control and capacity of mana, and this would most of the time cost all your mana at the end of the day. And seeing everybody like a butcher or a woodcutter reinforcing themselves and their tools to work, I understood that in this world, being able to become stronger or being able to use magic in a better way would most of the time mean that you can earn more. Considering the taxes of 1 gold coin, they really need to earn more, and it is not even talking about the rent of shops and stands.

So when magic items started to be produced, and everybody realized the nature of the energy source...

"Always up early, Hein?"

"Yes, always. Anything new in store?"

"If by anything new you talk about progress in mana storage, it is a no. Mana item is still new, and even if a breakthrough is made, it will take time before us commoners will be able to access it. Nobles are adamant to have a clear distinction between their lifestyle and ours."

Taking a magic lamp in his hand, he showed it to me and continued,

"What you see right now is something that has existed for some time now, at least a decade, but it only started to appear these last two years. It is clear that nobles find something much more convenient and keep it for themselves."

"And why are they doing it? It is not new that nobles keep us in the dark in many domains, but why here? I mean, whether it is a guard or an adventurer, commoners are the most represented, so why keep something hidden that could prove useful to people who are responsible for your safety?" I said, perplexed about what I was hearing.

"It is true, but considering the cause, you may be able to learn about it when you are a little older," he said, patting my head.

"Humph." It was really doubtful that I accept his response.

"Hey, Albert, can you tone it down? We all know your resentment for nobles, but it would be sad to learn about your disappearance tomorrow morning. And you, Arthur, will you not be late if you still learn about this old geezer?" said another man installing his stand. He had grey hair, some wrinkles on his face, blue eyes, and a gentle smile.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

"Who are you calling an old geezer? You are older than me."

"Here, take it and go." He gave me an apple he took from a cart and shooed.

Thanking him, I continued my advance through the market and the stands. I still looked over what was exposed. It was already four years since I started to work with Jorn. My inability to use mana eyes wasn’t a problem because Jorn chose to teach the traditional way so that we didn’t lose time. I was already able to create items and wasn’t even sweating near the oven. It seemed that my status as a novice was behind me now, but Jorn said that he wouldn’t let me become a senior apprentice if I don’t master that skill. I think that I have still some time before thinking about it; I could even go through

the quarter of the corridor, so I thought that this last year could prove to be decisive for my progression.

Arriving at the shop, I directly headed to the forge. Some years have passed, and apprentices come and go. Charles has already ended his apprenticeship and headed to another town to start his business. I even had the chance to talk to him before he left.

"You are quitting the town?" I said, surprised by what I just heard.

"Yes, I already talked about it with my father, and I will go at the end of the week."

"Is there a reason other than your fear to work against Jorn?" I said, teasing him.

"You can laugh now, but soon it will be your turn, and I think that you are aware of the quality of Master Jorn. To start a business, I don’t really want to have him as a competitor," he said, smiling.

Now Charles appeared much more accessible than before; years of talk improved our relationship so much that I can call him a friend now.

"I know the number of times he asked me to make copies of the same sword because he always said that it was off-balanced," I said, dropping my shoulders, remembering the hell I went through since Jorn started to let me forge.

"But honestly, I don’t think that it is still enough to make you quit the town leaving your father behind," I said, inspecting his expressions.

Charles lost his mother when he was young, so he was always close to his father. It was difficult to imagine him leaving him just for this.

"Actually, there are many more reasons, the first being taxes."

"Yeah, I figured as much."

My parents found it difficult to pay taxes themselves for three people, following what they used for my apprenticeship. At the times I learned it, I still found it doubtful because my father, being a guard and a C-rank adventurer, earned at least a gold coin per month. It is not even counting what he gains for the corpse of high-rank monsters I bring back. If I recall what father talked with his colleagues sometimes at home, it was said that they can’t claim all the price of those monsters, just a part because it was part of their contract. Yeah, nobles being assholes all the way.

Adding the fact that mother can also gain a gold coin per month depending on the period, I thought that they were at ease. But it changes when mother explained all the expenses they had. Father is a guard, but he repaired his equipment at his expense, and mother needed to buy plants to make potions or continue her research. They also needed to pay the rent for mother’s clinic and our daily necessities.

Father, being a C-rank adventurer, can earn much more if he decided to work as an adventurer, but he chose to settle in this town to be with mother. Being an adventurer, he could gain more, but he would be more absent, and he chose to abandon all of it to be with his family. So yes, I understand for a single father to struggle to pay his taxes and even more pay for two.

"Life in a huge town as this one has many advantages, but you should not forget that, for a novice like me, competition is already present. In this case, Master Jorn is already present in the town for more than a decade; his fame grows every year, and his ability is indisputable. But it is naïve to think that he is the only good blacksmith in the town."

"It is true, I recall that Mr. Jorn said that the quality of Mr. Patrick's works has increased, and he will not be surprised if he starts to try to produce magic weapons," I said, recalling a conversation I had with Sir Jorn.

"If I stay here, I will have to fight against two great blacksmiths and against the apprentices who will come next. But the real problem is that here rents are really pricey. Most of the people who try to start a business in a big town face the same problem; they weren’t able to sustain all the expenses. If I try in small towns like the town where there are guilds and starting points for new adventurers, I can will Master Jorn teacher settle and earn something at the start. It will be difficult, but I am sure that I can become one of the best blacksmiths of those towns within five years."

"I see that you have already done research beforehand. It reassures me to at least know that you still decided to continue your journey of improving your blacksmithing skills. Maybe someday I will pass by your town and see how much you have improved."

"I expected nothing less coming from you. Don’t worry if you come by I will repair your equipment with a good discount."

It is already two months since then; he said that he will send me a letter when he will be settled and sure that he will stay in that town. For now, let’s focus on what I have on hand.

"Good morning, Mr. Jorn."

"Morning, lad."

"I have something to show you," I said, using mana eyes. Looking at Jorn, I realized that he himself directly used it; it was evident by his eyes, which were having a certain glow. Maybe it is the same for me right now; I didn’t really have time to look at me, especially when I used it last night.

"Oh! I see that you finally were able to learn it. I really thought that you would not be able to use it, but you proved me wrong. Good, good."

I was glad that I didn’t betray Jorn's expectations. Since I thought that I could use it, it would be really a shame to fail him like that. Enjoying myself, I realized that the gaze of Jorn changed little by little.

"Ah, ah, ah! You didn’t disappoint me, lad," he said, slapping my back with a little too much strength.

"So, now we can become serious," he suddenly dropped.

"Wait, what?"

You remember when I said that it took me time to be able to recognize flaws in weapons or differentiate ore, now it is not a problem with mana eyes. But at what cost?