15 Rest to Rise

Heiner opened his eyes slowly. He remembered that he fainted somewhere in the forest, once opened his eyes he should see the ground or the sky but a roof. Realizing it instantly, someone helped him. This wooden hut should be that one's place. The room was roughly eleven square meters. There were few pieces of furniture in this room; a bed he was sleeping, a table that carried his equipment, and a small chair next to that table. 'Where did the benefactor sleep when I was here?'

Getting up and taking his belongings, Heiner activated <Minor Heal> to make his almost-healed wound disappeared and then walked outside. Looking to the sky, Ii was night. He saw an old man sleeping at the hut's wall, hugging a wooden spear, annoying and uncomfortable with insects. His age was around Heiner's grandpa. Family, Heiner thought of it in a sudden, looking at the old man with his warm eyes.

"Grandpa, did you brought me here?"

Hearing a young man's voice, the old man turned his head to see who was speaking. He looked happy once seeing Heiner saved and sounded.

"Oh! You awoke!" The old man replied happily. "I saw you in front of the village, then I brought you here. Are you hungry? Your face is pale, and your body does not look good as well. Come. Come. I have fine cooked meat for you."

Gripping Heiner's wrist, the old man dragged him to sit around a campfire in the middle of the courtyard, slicing a piece of meat and serving in a plate as steak. Unable to wait anymore, Heiner grabbed a delicious smell steak and swallowed like a wolf. Seeing a young man's action, the old man roared with laughter. After Heiner filled his stomach, he sighed with satisfying and ready to talk.

"Who are you, grandpa? Did you hunt the boar?"

"How can a slim old man like me go hunting? I collected herbs and exchange some of them for living. This meat is also part of it. I found you on the way back here. Then I call a strong man to carry you to my house. It's about eight hours since then."

"My name is Heiner, a blacksmith."

"Blacksmith? Huh? Such a rare to had a blacksmith at your age. I am Eadda, a herb collecter."

"Why don't you sleep inside, it's better to live in a shelter."

"I will do it in a normal situation, but There are some goblins sneak around the village recently. So, I have to stay outside to guard you."

"Goblins? Did they appear often?"

"No, this is the first time we see them. We don't know those monster's intention, but we must stay alert for our safety. Monsters are dangerous for us all, but we are poor, this is the best weapon we can provide villagers." Eadda showed his wooden spear.

"Don't worry about it. I have just crafted plenty of weapons and armors, gifting all of you some won't hurt. You save my life; now it's my turn to show my gratitude." Eadda was about to refuse, but Heiner firmly stated his intention. "Do not reject it. I used to have a village, home, and family, but they are all gone by the hands of monsters. As humanity, I can't overlook human lives. I failed to protect my village last time and fled like a dog but not this time."

"You..." Eadda tried to speak something but he could not, looking at a young man with teary eyes. He had lived for seventy-six years. It was the first time he saw an outsider who really cares about his life and villagers'. He could not express how he felt into words, no regretting if he died today. The world was silent. It took about five minutes for Eadda to speak another word. "You should rest today. I will bring you to discuss this issue to village chief tomorrow."

"Okay, gramps, but if you see monsters, don't fight. Wake me up, if you see something wrong. Ahh...before that. Here you are." Heiner gave an iron spear and a metal armor. Eadda stunned, looking disbelief. "Here, take it. I crafted them from free materials, losing nothing for giving away."

"THANK YOU!!" Eadda's eyes brighten, happily receiving items.

"Hephaestus." Heiner called the system once he got inside the hut. " Are there anything I can learn to get better?"

[You crafted rare-rated equipment and got 21 reputation points. The lowest skill price...]

The lowest skill price is 20 reputation points. It's <LV1 Enlightenment> skill, consuming blueprints to increase chances for crafting higher rate equipment but duplicated blueprints cannot be consumed. Do you want to buy this skill?]

"Yes!"

[Ding! Congratulations. You have bought <LV1 Enlightenment> skill with 20 reputation points.]

Heiner activated new skill to consume two blueprints he had. Having blueprints did not increase crafting chance but consuming it, Hephaestus was shame enough to tell him just one part and another part was just told that he needed to consume to make what the system said at the first time came true. 'What a thick skin system.'