Clang!
Clang!
‘Hm. It should be about time for a reaction….’
As usual, Edryn had opened the smithy in the morning. While repairing a regular customer’s sword, he kept glancing toward the entrance.
A few days ago, he had made an orb infused with the light attribute and sold it at half price to nearby adventurers—everyone except Thomas.
Most of them had been grumbling about their lanterns, so they had shown immediate interest in the orb Edryn made. Thanks to that, every single one of the first batch had sold out.
There was a reason he had sold them for half price.
In a world without social media or influencers, with no proper means of advertising, those adventurers would act as perfect salesmen, spreading the word for him.
That had been the deal from the beginning: half price in exchange for word-of-mouth promotion.
He had also promised to give small discounts to any of their colleagues or acquaintances they recommended.
Not that he sold only to adventurers.
Edryn had gone to Delmoor, the magic-item shop owner he was on good terms with, and showed him the orb.
When Delmoor expressed interest, they struck a deal—Edryn would sell it for 7 gold, cheaper than the market price of 10, allowing Delmoor to make 3 gold of pure profit just by sitting in his shop.
For Delmoor, it was a good deal. But since it meant a loss for Edryn, he had felt both grateful and guilty, initially refusing.
Edryn had insisted, though: “You helped so much when my master was sick. Think of it as me repaying that debt.” He’d refused to take no for an answer until the deal went through.
And so…
Today marked the fifth day since the adventurers who bought the first batch of orbs had entered the labyrinth.
Unless they were an experienced party delving into the lower floors, most would be finishing their exploration and returning to Belmar around now.
He had plenty of stock prepared.
He had spent sleepless nights crafting more.
Both his smithy and Delmoor’s shop were fully stocked and ready to welcome the returning adventurers.
By midday, a crowd began to pour into Edryn’s smithy.
“Edryn! Colin recommended you! You’ve still got some Light Stones left, right?”
“I came on Jackson’s recommendation. I’d like to buy a Light Stone.”
“Seinurak said to come here. I want shiny orb. Have plenty money.”
“My comrade Andrea told me you sell Light Stones here. I’ll pay in full—please sell me one.”
The adventurers who had bought them earlier had spread the word with overwhelming effect.
Thanks to that…
The headlamps and lanterns he had modified to hold the light-infused orbs—products he had worked on day and night—sold out within an hour.
“This is insane.”
Edryn looked at the empty boxes that had once held the orbs, laughing in disbelief as he nodded to himself.
He had expected a good reaction, but not this level of demand. It seemed the lower price really had done the trick.
‘Wait. This isn’t the time to sit around grinning.’
There was no time to relax.
In two days, the adventurers active on the fourth floor of the labyrinth would return to Belmar. Thomas was usually on the fourth floor as well, so he would be back then too.
Edryn would need to make enough for Thomas’s party as well, which left no time for rest.
Ideally, he could share the production method so others could help make more.
But unfortunately, the process required using his skill, meaning only he could craft them.
Still, it was manageable.
The supply of potions that allowed him to extract light attribute energy was already low. Unlike the past few days, there was no point in exhausting himself for extra production.
Not that he had much room to relax, either.
With potions scarce, he needed another source from which he could extract the light attribute.
‘What else could I use—something that contains as much light attribute as healing potions, and that can harm the undead?’
He hadn’t found a good candidate yet.
But Edryn wasn’t rushing. He continued calmly making the orbs he had named Light Stones.
Then, word of the Light Stones must have reached the blacksmiths’ guild, because someone came looking for him.
“I heard the news! You made something incredible, didn’t you?”
“Oh. You’re here?”
At the sight of the approaching woman making a fuss, Edryn smiled brightly.
A familiar, welcome face.
Melissa, the guildmaster’s daughter, an administrative clerk… and the only friend his age in Belmar.
Back when his master was still alive and Edryn had first tried to join the guild, Melissa had just started working there. The moment she spotted that they were the same age, she had declared them friends on the spot.
Since then, the two had become inseparable—recognized by everyone as Belmar’s closest pair.
They had met as adults, but because their friendship had begun so suddenly, there was never any hint of romance between them. They treated each other more like same-gender friends, a bond that transcended gender.
If anything, that had brought them even closer.
At any rate…
As soon as he saw her, Edryn stopped hammering and proudly explained about the orb.
“It’s an orb that shines permanently. The light also weakens the undead. Plus, it’s made of steel, so it’s durable. Impressive, right?”
“This works on undead? Ah! So that’s why everyone’s been clamoring to buy one… But how? You weren’t able to make things like this before.”
Melissa’s initial amazement quickly shifted to suspicion.
Just a few days ago, Edryn had been nothing but an ordinary blacksmith.
Now, out of nowhere, he had created a magic item that emitted light and harmed the undead.
Had Delmoor secretly taught him how to make magic items?
But Edryn had always complained that he lacked magical affinity. Could it be he actually had it all along?
Unable to reveal the truth about his past life and his skill, Edryn slowly came up with a plausible excuse.
“I don’t really know myself, but…”
Oh! A convenient excuse came to mind.
Bloodline abilities.
This world contained special powers passed down through bloodlines.
Inherited abilities, exclusive to family lines.
Not common, but not unheard of either. If he blamed it on that, it would sound believable.
“My parents mentioned something before they passed away… I was too young to remember clearly, but they spoke about some kind of ability.”
“A bloodline ability!?”
Melissa didn’t even let him finish. Her eyes widened as she pressed him excitedly.
Encouraged, Edryn nodded.
“Yeah. I think what they told me back then was about this ability. I didn’t understand at the time, but now… it just comes to me. Like it’s surfacing in my mind on its own.”
“Incredible! I heard there are quite a few cases in Belmar, but this is my first time actually seeing one.”
“…Don’t grope me so much, alright?”
Annoyed at Melissa patting him all over like a specimen, Edryn snapped. She quickly pulled back and gave an awkward laugh.
“Ah! Sorry. It’s just so fascinating. Anyway, you’re saying you made the orb thanks to a bloodline ability? Do you have any other powers?”
“Not sure yet… I don’t think I’ve fully awakened it. I’ll have to wait and see.”
“Fair enough…”
Melissa nodded.
Most people with bloodline abilities had someone to explain them.
But Edryn’s parents had died long ago in the plague that swept through the city, so he had no guide.
He would have to figure it out himself.
Melissa, realizing he might be recalling his parents, quickly changed the subject.
“Anyway… isn’t 10 gold way too cheap? You said it works on undead. And with adventurers lining up for it, it clearly does work. With performance like that, you could easily sell for at least 50.”
“But the magic orbs are easier to use. Mine will probably break during battle with monsters. If I want to build a reputation, it’s better to sell cheaply for now.”
True, the Light Stone was less convenient than the floating orbs, since you had to wear it on your head or carry it like a lantern.
But unlike those, Edryn’s orb had the unique power to repel undead.
Honestly, he could have split its two functions and sold each separately for at least 10 gold apiece.
“You’re not wrong, but since it works on undead, you could still charge more. Even double. And if you sell it too cheap, then… Never mind. I’ll handle that part. You don’t need to worry.”
Melissa had started to voice a concern, but then waved it away.
It didn’t sound like anything serious, so Edryn nodded.
“Hmm. Alright. I’ll think about it.”
“Good! Anyway, your bloodline ability awakening, making things like this… I’m so proud of you. I’m glad you’re my friend! Ha!”
When he finally agreed to reconsider the price, Melissa laughed with pure joy, as if it were her own success.
“Thanks.”
“Don’t thank me! Anyway, I’ve got to go. Hang in there!”
Smack! Smack!
“Oof. R-right. Take care.”
“Yeah!”
She gave him a hearty slap on the back before leaving.
To Edryn, her cheerful encouragement only reinforced the sense that she was a lifelong friend, someone he wanted to share eternal camaraderie with, not romance.
But Melissa…
“Haa…”
Once outside, she clutched her pounding chest and let out a shaky sigh.
‘Once again, I couldn’t say it…’
She hadn’t confessed. That she liked him as more than a friend. That she had liked him from the very start.
She had gone there to say it, but left without a word.
‘The sky looks just like it did back then…’
She lifted her gaze to calm her heart, but seeing the sky only made her recall the moment she had first met Edryn—and her pulse quickened further.
The sky had been just as clear then, sunlight streaming down… the kind of day she loved most.
A day when simply looking at the sky filled her heart with a ticklish warmth.
On that day, she had seen Edryn standing in a shaft of light through the window, and fallen for him instantly.
She had managed to stay by his side as a friend for six years, but had never been able to move beyond that.
She couldn’t summon the courage to confess, nor did she know how to tempt him into confessing first.
She had even tried, as her adventurer acquaintances suggested, wearing low-cut clothes. But Edryn hadn’t spared her a glance, eyes only fixed on the Light Stone he was crafting.
If anything, that had made her like him more.
Because his indifference to her outfit and his dedication to his work made him look all the more admirable.
“He really is cool…”
Just like she had fallen for him at first sight back then, she found herself falling for him again today.
As she pictured him working intently at the forge, unaware of her visit, she smiled faintly.
At that moment—
“Melissa! Where have you been, leaving your post unattended!?”
Her father, Headwok, the guildmaster, scolded her harshly.
She replied casually, as if she had a solid excuse.
“I just came back from Edryn’s smithy. He’s made a magic item called a Light Stone. I saw it myself—it gives off light. Since it’s a magic item, I think the guild needs to protect it.”
“You mean it’s valuable enough that the Magic-Item Guild would covet it?”
Catching her meaning instantly, Headwok asked.
Melissa nodded without hesitation.
“Yes. Not just the Magic-Item Guild. Every guild will want it. Please protect Edryn. Don’t let him get hurt because of other people’s greed…”
As Edryn’s friend, as someone who liked him, and as a fellow guild member, Melissa formally requested her father, the guildmaster, to protect him.
Headwok burst out laughing and pointed to himself.
“Of course! No matter what anyone says, Edryn belongs to our blacksmiths’ guild. If I don’t protect him, who will?”
“…Thank you.”
“My daughter must have been really worried! Don’t worry. I’ll protect him no matter what it takes!”
He would protect Edryn.
Not because his daughter asked him to, but because Edryn was a guild member.
To him, every member was family.
And for family, he would do anything.
That conviction was what made the blacksmiths’ guild the most tightly bound organization in Belmar.
It was also why Edryn’s master, John Eric, had registered his apprentice with the guild before his death.
Because he knew Headwok would protect him to the end in his place.
And at that time, John Eric’s choice had been nothing short of perfect.