A Blacksmith at Work

Ding!

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[An Experienced Blacksmith's Suggestion (2)] (Linked Quest)

Difficulty: D

As you have met the ideal requirements Tristan has for any person that wishes to embark on the path of blacksmithing, he has introduced you to the system any blacksmith would eventually become well-acquainted with, the Technology Tree.

Since you have shown a spectacular performance in the previous quests he has given you, he is certain that you'll be able to surprise him one more time. However, unlike the previous quests, there's no race against time. He knows very well that what he asks for is beyond what you can currently do, but he's certain that, with enough time, you'll be able to do it.

Depending on how well you succeed in your task, he might give you more than what you bargained for.

Quest Requirements:

> Forge a piece of equipment (0/1)

Quest Rewards: Affinity +80 with Tristan, 5,000 XP, 25 Technology Points, a set of Common grade blueprints

Quest Penalty: Affinity -100 with Tristan, Level -2, end of the quest line

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"Is there something wrong with the quest?" Tristan asked as he slightly tilted his head in confusion. In his mind, he was certain that Valyr would receive the quest he had just given him quite well. In fact, he thought that Valyr would be eager to start as soon as possible. However, the shock written all over the latter's face as he frowned said otherwise.

"There's nothing wrong with the quest." Valyr shook his head, taking in a few deep breaths to calm himself down. "But don't you think it's too early to give me a quest like this? Shouldn't I have gotten a quest from you where I hone my hammering skills first or something? I haven't even wielded a hammer before."

"To be honest, that was what I planned to give you as my second quest," Tristan said in response, heading towards the furnace to start a fire. Kneeling to get deeper into the furnace, he continued, "But then I thought, since you've completed all of the quests I've given you so far in a small amount of time, I eventually thought a quest like that would seem useless for you."

"With that, I've decided to skip the part where I have you become familiar with wielding a hammer and have you start forging a piece of equipment instead." As he said this, a small fire finally started to burn inside the furnace, prompting him to take a few steps back before chucking a couple pieces of firewood into it. After nodding in satisfaction at the current size of the fire, he turned around to look at Valyr. "Of course, no race against time for this one. People have their own pace when it comes to finally learning a new craft."

"So, how about it? You up for the challenge?" Tristan asked as he headed to another part of the smithy, rummaging through boxes to eventually find a piece of metal that suited his needs. "If not, I could modify the quest for you."

"Thank the heavens I already know how to forge, then," Valyr could not help but murmur in response.

"What was that?" Fortunately, as Tristan was in the middle of find a perfect piece of metal to forge with, he did not hear the words Valyr muttered.

"I said sure. I'll accept the challenge." Valyr let out a light sigh after that.

"Glad to hear." Tristan laughed as he made his way to the anvil, dropping the metal he had chosen on top of it before picking it up with a pair of tongs. Chucking the metal into the ripping hot furnace to heat it up, he placed the tongs to the side as he asked Valyr, "Have you finished unlocking all of the necessary advancements yet?"

"Just about… finished," Valyr replied, a notification screen appearing in front of him a few seconds later.

Ding!

[You have unlocked the following advancements: <Basic 1 Fire Control Lv.>, <Basic 1 Material Knowledge Lv.>, <Basic 1 Equipment Knowledge Lv.>, <Basic 1 Forging Lv.>, <Basic 1 Enhancement Lv.>.]

[Since you do not meet the minimum class rank, Intermediate advancements on the Production Technology Tree have been sealed for the meantime.]

[As you have unlocked <Basic Forging>, you have gained the passive skill 'Basic Forging Mastery'.]

[As you have unlocked <Basic Fire Control> and <Basic Forging>, you have gained the active skill 'Basic Equipment Creation'.]

[As you have unlocked <Basic Material Knowledge> and <Basic Equipment Knowledge>, you have gained the active skill 'Basic Equipment Modification'.]

[As you have unlocked <Basic Enhancement>, you have gained the active skill 'Basic Equipment Enhancement.']

After closing the notification screen, Valyr went ahead and opened up his skill list, a light chuckle escaping his mouth as he looked at the four additional skills he had obtained. Although all of them were still at Level 1, he could not help but feel like he was getting even closer to ascending to his desired Rank 1 class.

"Finally feeling like you're getting one step closer to becoming an actual blacksmith, huh?" Tristan said as he heard Valyr chuckle, letting out a chuckle of his own soon after. "I know the feeling. Back when I unlocked those skills from the Technology Tree, I couldn't help but feel excited as well."

"Oh, it's ready." Just as he was reminiscing about his past, Tristan picked up the metal he was heating up in the furnace with the tongs he had placed by the side earlier. After that, he placed it on the anvil, sitting in front of it as he picked up his trusty hammer.

Ttang!

Soon after, the sound of metal clashing against metal could be heard filling up the entire smithy, which had a somewhat melodic tone to it. While hammering away, Tristan looked at Valyr and asked, "Hey, Valyr. If you're not busy today, wanna watch me forge a weapon from scratch? After all, that's the task I've given you on the quest."

"Sure, why not? I'm free for the whole day anyway." Valyr shrugged his shoulders in response, standing beside Tristan to get the best view of the entire forging process. While watching Tristan work the metal, he could not help but compare it to how he worked with metal in his previous life. 'He's definitely not wasting any movements whatsoever. On top of that, I could feel his enthusiasm and passion for blacksmithing with each hit.'

"Before forging a weapon out of metal, you first have to heat it up in a furnace so it becomes more malleable. After that, you hammer away on it, gradually molding it to take on the form of the weapon you want," Tristan said in the middle of him hammering. "Of course, after some time, the metal eventually cools down, so you have to put it back into the furnace before repeating the same process all over again."

"All in all, that's the essence of blacksmithing," he said as he shrugged his shoulders, placing the metal he was hammering on back into the furnace. "For now, you should focus on those parts, the heating and the hammering, I mean. As for tempering and other processes, I'll teach you that at a later time."

"Speaking of which, once I'm done with this one, how about you try your hand at forging?" Tristan asked soon after.

"Sure, why not?" In response, Valyr shrugged his shoulders. "Now that I think about it, why are you forging another weapon? Haven't you forged a lot already?"

"That may be true…" Tristan nodded. "However, I'm forging this weapon in preparation for the upcoming monster tide. Damian specifically requested me to forge one for him."

"Eh? How did you know about the monster tide?" Of course, after listening to Tristan's answer, Valyr's focus wasn't on the purpose of the forging anymore.

Of course, in response to Valyr's question, Tristan could not help but look at the young man beside him as if he was an idiot. "Valyr… you do know I'm a Rank 2 class holder, right?"

"…ah."

Only silence met Tristan's question after that.