We were still in Bildirweight District, the part of the city where Northwood stood, and the street we were walking through was alive with noise from every direction. It was a broad road, wide enough for carts to pass through without forcing pedestrians to squeeze against the edges, and it was lined with shops on nearly every corner.

The blacksmiths’ hammers rang out in steady bursts, tailors had mannequins and folded clothes displayed right outside their storefronts, and a small food stall farther down the road was busy with a cook scraping fish bones into a wooden bowl while talking to a customer at the counter.

People moved in all directions, some carrying bags, some hauling goods, some simply walking and talking in groups. Compared to the academy district, this place felt louder, busier, and a lot more alive.

"See the guards?" Ken asked as we walked. "Normally they wouldn’t place this many here."

"Yeah," I replied with a shrug. "Probably because of the elf attack."

Ken nodded slowly. "Gods, elves showing up in one of the most prestigious districts in the city. What a time to be alive."

I let out a quiet breath. "Yeah... I know that feeling."

We turned a corner a minute later, and Ken immediately pointed at a blacksmith shop across the street.

"There," he said. "Jengo works there. He used to change my diaper, you know?"

I gave him a side glance. "You really just throw random facts out like that, huh?"

"Not random," Ken said, sounding far too pleased with himself. "I’m saying he knows me, and he usually gives me a discount when I buy things. That is why I always come here."

"Is he any good?"

"He’s decent," Ken replied as we kept walking. "Not some world-famous craftsman, but decent enough that I trust him."

"That’s enough for me, then."

The blacksmith shop came into view a few steps later. It was a sturdy building made of dark stone and reinforced wood, with a wide open front so the heat from the forge could spill out into the street. The smell of metal and coal hit me first, followed by the rhythmic clang of hammer on steel. Just outside the door, on the right side, a man in his sixties stood over a forge with dark hair that had gone gray around the temples and a thick build that made him look like he had spent half his life lifting anvil weights.

He was working a blade over the forge right then, pumping air into the fire with a bellows until the metal glowed hot enough to shape. Then he pulled it out with a pair of tongs and laid it onto the anvil, hammering it with force while the sparks flew around his arms.

"Jengo, Jengo!" Ken called with a grin. "How are you?"

The blacksmith looked up from his work and squinted for a second before recognition hit him.

"Ken!" he said, visibly brightening. "Gods, how are you? I heard the elves attacked the academy."

Ken waved a hand like it was nothing. "Ah, that was nothing. I’m fine. I just came by to buy some stuff. Oh, and this is my friend, Ace."

Jengo glanced at me and gave a small nod. "Jengo. Nice to meet you, kid."

"Likewise."

He picked up the blade he was working on and plunged it into a barrel of water. Steam burst upward instantly with a hiss, filling the air around him before fading into the street.

"So," he said, looking between us, "what are you two after?"

"I’m looking for armor," Ken said. "What about you, Ace?"

"I’d like to sell some stuff," I replied. "And maybe buy a dagger or a sword. A decent one, if you have it."

Jengo narrowed his eyes slightly and looked me over. "Where’s your divine mark, kid? Don’t forget to wear it. The guards are nervous after the elf attack."

"Yeah, sorry about that." Ken and I exchanged a look, and I cleared my throat before reaching into my inventory. "Anyway, here’s what I want to sell."

I had already lost one of the crude swords in the arena, but I still had a few things left that I could get rid of. I willed the system open, and the translucent UI appeared in front of me. From the inventory, I pulled out the items I had stored there. The longbow appeared first, followed by the crude leg plates and the two crude swords. None of them looked special, but they were better than carrying junk around for no reason.

The items floated into the air with a faint golden glow before settling at my shoulder height. I picked up one of the swords and set it down on the counter, then laid the rest beside it.

"I’ve never seen a spell like that," Jengo said, studying the system’s item transfer with visible interest. "Useful."

"Yeah," I muttered. "I guess so."

He picked up the longbow first and examined it carefully, turning it in his hands and checking the string, the limbs, and the grip. Then he moved to the swords and the leg plates, inspecting each one in turn with a practiced eye. He bent the blades slightly, tested the balance, and tapped the armor with his knuckles like he was listening for hidden flaws.

After a moment, he straightened up and put the items down.

"The longbow is in good condition," he said. "I can give you two gold for that. The rest is junk, but I can still give you one gold for it all together."

I nodded. "Three gold total, then."

"Three gold total."

"Nice. I’ll sell them."

"Good." Jengo grinned and jerked his head toward the back of the shop. "Help me carry these inside and I’ll give you both a ten percent discount."

"Deal!" Ken said immediately, crouching down before I had even answered.

I grabbed the longbow and slung it behind my back, then picked up the two swords. Ken took the leg plates and the other bits without complaint, and the two of us followed Jengo through the open doorway into the shop.

Inside, the space was smaller than I expected but packed with useful-looking gear. There was a counter along the back wall, and off to the right was a separate room filled with stacked crates. Through the doorway, I could see spears, helmets, and parts of armor poking out from the boxes inside. The place smelled strongly of hot metal, oil, and old wood.

We set the items down on the counter, and Jengo immediately reached for a pouch hanging from his belt. He pulled out three gold coins and handed them to me one by one.

I took the coins and sent them straight into my inventory. There was no way I was keeping money on my person if I could avoid it.

╔═════════════════╗

> INVENTORY

╠═════════════════╣

> EMPTY

> EMPTY

> EMPTY

> EMPTY

> EMPTY

───────────────────

> Coin: 75S

╚═════════════════╝

"Thanks," I said.

"No problem, kid," Jengo replied. "Now, you said you wanted a sword, right? Or was it a dagger?"

"I haven’t decided yet," I said. "What do you have?"

He smirked and wiped his hands on a rag. "Wait here."

Jengo disappeared into the back room, leaving Ken and me standing at the counter while the noise from the forge continued behind us. Ken stretched both arms behind his head and let out a long groan.

"Hey," he said after a moment. "You still have my dagger, right?"

"Yeah," I replied. "It’s in the room."

"Good." He exhaled with obvious relief. "I thought you lost it. I paid five silver and two bronze for that thing."

I gave him a flat look. "Relax. I still have it."

A minute later, Jengo returned carrying two weapons in his hands, one dagger and one sword. The dagger looked simple at first glance, but the handle was thicker than most daggers I had seen, which made it look sturdier and easier to grip. The blade itself was slim but cleanly shaped, with a sharp edge that caught the light nicely as he held it up. It was not flashy, but it looked reliable, the kind of weapon that would not betray you in a fight.

I focused on it, and the system opened a small notification panel above the weapon.

╔═══════════════════════╗

> Decent Work Dagger (Uncommon)

╠═══════════════════════╣

> Type: Weapon - Dagger

> DMG: 5-10

> Durability: 20 / 20

> Req. Level: 5

────────────────────────

> Upgrade Level

> □ □ □

────────────────────────

> [ UPGRADE ] [ UNEQUIP ] [ BACK ]

╚═══════════════════════╝

I nodded slowly as I read it.

That was definitely better than Ken’s old dagger. I could not remember the exact numbers on his, but I was pretty sure it did not hit five to ten damage. With this one, at least I would not feel like I was trying to stab someone with a butter knife. In this world, weapon damage mattered a lot, especially when people walked around in armor.

"This is pretty good," I said, keeping my eyes on the dagger. "How much?"

"With the discount, it comes to three gold and five silver."

I nodded. "Alright. What about the sword?"

"Oh, this one?" Jengo said, smiling a little more proudly. "This is my best work yet."

I reached for the sword and took it into my hands.