Chapter 256 - The Tanned Blacksmith... Woman
The rewards were usually the part of the games and exactly what made those exciting.
Kyoya proposed a reward that would probably entice anyone as he wanted to take one lady with himself to the blacksmith.
Blacksmiths were also the believers and they used various means for their job. It was not only the rough hammering near the hot furnace, but each element had to be enhanced differently.
"Hehe… We have already made plans for the blacksmith bullying."
"It doesn't sound like you are going to bully someone."
"Because our bullying will be beneficial for another party. That's why."
Kyoya and Noe were already on the move.
They were close to leaving the territory of Wings Free's adventurer party, but then the familiar faces entered their eyes. It was the couple that looked exhausted and the aura of adventure still lingered on their bodies.
"Josef! Maria! It's been a while."
""Ah, the husband!""
Both of the good friends rushed forward to grab the husband's tightly. It made Noe to get pushed a little to the side, but no way she would mind that. Being hugged by Josef and Maria in the entrance, Kyoya awkwardly looked around then took them to the side.
"Guys, I am going outside, so we will speak later. Is it serious, though?"
It wasn't like the couple missed the husband that much. There had to be another reason for them being so clingy and happy to see him! Kyoya found many emotions within their eyes, starting from genuine happiness to relief and then to some fear…
"It is, the husband!"
Maria grabbed Kyoya's collar then shook him a few times while quietly whispering.
"It's your enemies!"
"Hey, Maria… It's our enemies now. Right? Let's not bother Kyoya for now…"
Josef grew more decisive and pulled Maria out from the husband, then excused themselves with a small smile. He didn't want to disturb the husband's plan, but their destination was naturally the husband's house.
It looked like Maria wanted to speak with Xaya now!
"Don't waste all your time outside! It's serious."
"Okay, I know… it…"
Pulled by her boyfriend, Maria shouted at the husband and the silence finally ensued. It left Noe speechless a little as the couple just greeted her a little. This told her that the situation was truly severe.
But who could possibly target the couple and what was their connection to the husband?
"I wonder…"
Noe uttered, but Kyoya just stroked Akaro's cat head.
"We will find out later. Let's go with the blacksmith plan."
"Yes."
-
The Grooma Kingdom and its capital were always busy with crowds going around the streets. Going through the streets was also the battle on its own and it was the worst during the afternoon.
Kyoya held Noe's hand tightly, his other hand keeping Akaro's cat form close to his chest. Another reason for the bustling crowd was obviously the blacksmiths that were one of the popular people on every floor.
They were useful in many environments.
"T-this place… Isn't it the most prominent street?"
"One of those… I want to bully the blacksmith with the potential."
"Wow… We are really going this high…"
"Haha, that's how it is with me! We always should aim high!"
The husband encouraged his partner with a powerful boost of confidence and the husband's aura! No one should look down on this charm as ladies in his way stopped and looked at him for a while.
It meant that Kyoya and Noe got an easier route to the blacksmith's building.
A long queue just spread for the husband and the man who were with their women looked at Kyoya with the dangerous eyes. Some of them knew him from the husband's early times and just uttered, 'The husband is here… Another woman already… He got so strong. That chick can no longer stop him.'
"Who are they? What are they talking about?"
Noe even asked, but he just shrugged. The combination of the husband and a yandere wife was quite influential and adventurers from early floors knew the husband and his struggles. Xaya's dangerous aura was still deeply etched within them.
But the husband broke through it and took another woman on the date.
He has grown stronger and more decisive.
"And we are still on the 10th floor. Damn it!"
"Shut up… Don't bring it up… The blacksmith's are going to present their goods soon, so let's wait."
"Goods."
Kyoya was also waiting for this. The blacksmiths were proud and often showed off their greatest creations. This was the good chance for any people to look at those weapons that not only looked cool, but also let out an impressive aura.
If one could comprehend this aura, then concept would be born within them.
But the blacksmiths weren't charitable people. On the other side of the street was the building that was like a restaurant. It was bigger than any blacksmith facilities and people on the highest floor usually were from noble families with bags full of money.
No one could peek at those, on the other hand, such people were looking down on everyone!
"How cool. Would you like to sit here and enjoy this restaurant's dishes?"
"If it was possible, then I would like to try it. Maybe in the future?"
"Haha, maybe. But one thing is certain, we will be higher someday."
"I look forward to it…"
The presentation of blacksmith's goods got heated up as bulky people began to take out more powerful items. They displayed those at the highest podium, then some less experienced and certainly weaker blacksmiths showed off.
A crowd's eyes followed them relatively quickly as no one really believed they would be able to comprehend such high weapons.
Kyoya's eyes lingered on the golden dagger for a while, then he also followed the crowd.
"That blacksmith."
"Which one?"
"That woman."
'Woman…'
Noe's eyes rolled as she heard the husband mentioning the woman. She found the tanned woman with a big chest wrapped in nothing more than bandage. This blacksmith also wore short black pants and boots. Nothing else could be seen on her, but it was a pretty hot environment, so Noe felt like it was not that bad.
But the fact that she had a big chest already made Noe feel like the husband followed his male instincts.
The bandage looked like it was on the verge of being torn and it couldn't contain all this flesh…
"She has one item and it's not a flashy one."
"That's… true. I am sorry."
"Hmm? Why are you apologizing?"
"..."
Noe apologized as the husband didn't follow his instincts nor he was guided by his title. He found the blacksmith whose displayed item was one and only one. The target audience was adventurers around 20th floor strength, so it was the trick to create flashy weapons.
Most people around this strength knew that there was no way for them to go higher. They resolved to work on the 20th floor with their best and 'be the strongest' here.
So the trick was to create flashy equipment and let them feel like the strongest, from the equipment to their strength and resolve.
However, this lady just went with one item and the one that looked normal. But even if it was looking plain, Kyoya could see that it was done well. He found the weapon good and it was enough.
"She is lucky to meet us."
"Oh… Why is that so?"
"Our bullying will be beneficial after all. The fact that she went with such a weapon means that she wants to focus on her abilities first. The decoration and other stuff can be done later on. Honestly, I also would prefer to have the flashy equipment at the top of this world pillar. For now, I am content with what I have."
Xaya and Xiaoxiao's stuff was the equipment that was tailored for them, so it was getting stronger with them. It also could use the boost, so it was just a difference in the origins! But if the husband's party had the blacksmith, then it would be a good boost to their strength.
"It means that you only find it appropriate to look cool at the highest peak of this world pillar?"
"Hehe. Honestly… I saw a very strong guy. He wore nothing more than just black suit, but his looks and that aura were far more impressive than those guys with flashy armor. I believe I will have a bit of that at the top, but I do sometimes feel like I still look good. Though, keep that for yourself."
"Master Xaya always shouts that the husband looks the coolest."
"That's how she is. Hmm, that's the love. For me, Xaya and Xiaoxiao always look the best no matter what they wear. Hmm."
"One is gorgeous, the other is cute. That's obvious."
"Thanks, haha! Well, Noe. You also look good… in the black suit…"
"..."
"..."
"Do I remind you of that very strong guy?"
"No, no, no. Haha! That's just the genuine feeling. Let's go and bully the blacksmith now. Look what do I have here."
Kyoya changed the topic the best, but the black suit was the first clothes that he saw Noe in and it was just deeply engraved within him. She looked good in this kind of serious equipment, but what the husband took out caused Noe to stop thinking about that.
Her blush also disappeared.
"It's carved in wood… hand? How are you going to bully a blacksmith with it?"
"Hehe, You will see. We are going to get the boosts!"