Chapter 16: Work

"I choose the bow!"

In the end, he still choose the long range bow weapon.

"Are you sure? It will be made of iron you know, it's surely gonna be heavy with your skinny body."

Albert looked at him up and down before he shook his head and said without an ounce of pity.

Juan wanted to cry but had no tears to shed. Still he thicken his face and act like nothing happen.

"Sorry, I...got that wrong. I got too excited and said it accidentally..."

"Okay, so what is it then?" It seems Albert didn't care.

Juan thought once again, and this time calm down a little.

"Then how about a javelin?"

A javelin is used for throwing, lightweight and used a lot during wars.

It's a deadly weapon that took the lives of countless because of its unpredictable range and speed timing.

"A javelin?"

Juan saw that Albert was confuse so he told him what a javelin was and it's description. As it looks like javelin isn't that popular to them.

"Ah I see, I remember having that kind of weapon in the storage but it wasn't used anymore."

Albert nodded and the continued.

"It's a javelin, so the head will be made of iron while the shaft will be wood. I'll add some ropes to make it's cold grip."

Albert muttered before he looked at Juan and said.

"Alright, I already understand. I'll make one for you. Come back here this afternoon and take it."

Those words means he will make it so you must go now and don't disturb me. Come back in the afternoon to receive it.

Soon, after thanking him. Juan left the forging room and met up with Von, the birthday boy.

"Here!"

Von passed Juan the empty parchment and a piece of charcoal on hand with excited expression.

Looks like this kid didn't talk on their first meeting because it was just shy of stranger. Only when he, Juan got to show he was easy going that he started to open up.

Juan nodded as he received it, then he found a table and started drawing a cold weapon blueprint.

'If there is a weapon I want to draw and could be forge plus it's a practical one. Then the weapon made from a certain country is a good one. Ah, I really wanted to have one.'

A few minutes after.

"Here, it's called a 'Katana'. How about it, has a long range for swinging and also lightweight and design for speed."

Looking at the drawings in the parchment, Von's eyes lit up as he nodded.

"I'll make it someday! I'll give you one after I made it. Thank you, Juan."

After saying that, Von entered the forge leaving Juan standing for a while.

Seconds after, he walked out of the smithy feeling hot and sweaty all over.

"Ah, so hot. I don't want to enter this place again. I might die from heatstroke instead."

Suddenly, a hand took a hold of his shoulder which cause Juan to shudder in surprised.

"Yoh! I been searching for you just now. So you been in the smithy all along huh. That's why I haven't found you even after I search around."

It was a familiar voice of mixed mischievous and easy going mature man.

"Sir Jura? Your also taking the job?"

Juan soon found out who it was and couldn't help but relax.

"Yeah, although it's not for money. I just want to join the fun you see and earn along the way."

Then as thought he remember something, he stepped aside and motion Juan to come along.

"Let's go. My brother is looking for you."

"Ah, I see. Then let's go."

Juan nodded as he followed along. That must be the reason why Jura was searching for him just now.

"Sir Jura, sorry about that."

Hearing him suddenly said that, Jura was taken aback and turn to looked at Juan confused.

"It's about running around searching for me. Hahaha."

Juan naturally answered him for that. That is, if he's guess is correct.

Jura's eyes widen for a bit before he suddenly laughed.

"Ha ha ha, I see. Yep, your apology is accepted. It's really tiring to run around in the village searching for you."

"So you better said something before disappearing like that. I might be called again and just so you know, my knees won't be able to bear it."

Juan nodded, smiling wryly at that.

"I will."

"Oh right, what are you doing inside the smithy anyway?"

Jura asked, he has been curious what Juan who had just arrived two days ago has anything to do in the smithy.

"Ah, about that. A blacksmith child name Von has his birthday today. His father Albert decided to give his son a birthday present."

"And that birthday present has something to do with you?"

"Hm, the birthday present is for Von to choose someone in the village. And that chosen will have his weapon of his choice to be forged for free by Von's father."

"Oh! I remember! It's the blacksmith tradition during their young ones birthday. I almost forgot about it. Juan, you got lucky huh."

Juan just let out a smile and then said.

"Yes, just a coincidence. Also, I ask for a javelin if your curious."

"I was just about to ask but you beat me to it huh. But still, a javelin. You can't fight nor hunt with that in the narrow forest you know."

"I'm not going to the forest. I just want something to use and practice while I have a huge and spacious grassland around the village."

"Well if you say so."

Soon, Juan and Jura arrived at the river. It's near the forest edge so Juan could finally see the forest up close for the second time.

The first one was when he went to the mine which is located at the edge of the forest.

Now here he was standing on the carve and spacious river bank where the water flows as it enters the forest.

"So many people."

Juan muttered, wherever he looked, he could see men doing three different things around.

Some are lifting up pails loaded with water, sand, lime, and rocks found around the river bank.

"This [River of Guidance] sure is rich in resources."

The two soon found Garu supervising around while Menmo was recording the amounts being carried inside the village.

"Brother, I found Juan. Hahaha, he was inside the the smithy all along..."

Jura immediately recounted what happened and also share Juan's lucky event.

Hearing him getting chosen to have a free weapon to forged. Garu and Menmo looked at Juan with surprised.

"You're really lucky, Juan. Not just escaping out of the grassland, you even get a free weapon of your choice on the third day of your arrival."

"Actually, just you being a young man is already considered lucky for me. Ha ha ha."

Just the usual laugher after saying so much from Garu. The latter didn't seems to mind his disappearance just now which relieved him.

"Now that your here, come and help me count that area."

Menmo did not say much, just give Juan a parchment with a list and a charcoal to mark check.

"Yes." Juan nodded and immediately walked to his designated area of responsibility.

As for Jura, he chatted with Garu for a few minutes before he was sent to help on the stone area.

The sun rose and noon came. Juan and the others were current resting under the shade of the trees after a busy work under the sun.

Though most of their work were actually just standing or sitting by while doing paper work.

It was the labourer who work under the heat of the sun while lifting rocks, pouring and lifting water, shoveling sands and mining limestone.

"...so hot and tired. I wanna sleep for a while, please don't wake me up." Jura lazily laid down and close his eyes to sleep.

Menmo looked around him before he returned his focus on his drawing.

As for Garu, he stood up and stretch his limbs before he cheerfully said.

"There will be free meat and soup tonight so don't tire yourself too much everyone!"

Soon the men resting with them by the side heard this and immediately perked up at the word 'meat' will be on the plate tonight.

"Village Chief, is what you said true?"

"It's meat right?! It's free right?"

"Hey, there's also free dinner after a day of work? Village Chief, awesome!"

Juan looked at Garu who started laughing once again. The latter stopped and then said with full confidence in his tone.

"Well be having mutton soup for tonights dinner! Though, only for this day okay?!"

Woah!

The tired and sweaty mean immediately rise up and cried out their amazement and happiness.

"Awesome, Village Chief! Ha ha ha!"

"There's indeed a meat after work! Long live the Village Chief! Long live!"

"Ha ha ha, I didn't expect this at all. I just came here to earn money to buy meat and here I heard there would be free one soon."

Everyone stood up lively, they were once again full of energy.

"Uh, huh? What's going on? Juan, what did my brother did again?"

Jura woked up feeling confused by this sudden rowdiness.