Goblin Dependency
Chapter 161 - 104: Scrapped

Chapter 161: Chapter 104: Scrapped

"Ding!"

The metal forging hammer, reflecting the flame, suddenly crashed down, landing on the anvil with a whooshing sound.

Sparks flew everywhere.

Under the scorching heat, the red-hot iron billet was compressed and deformed by the violent impact. Its originally loose internal structure gradually became solid and resilient under the rhythmic and powerful strikes of the forging hammer.

"Stop!"

A voice filled with dissatisfaction suddenly echoed in the room.

Barn, a "dwarf" with bulging muscles, looking two sizes larger and stronger than an ordinary Bear Goblin, was standing by the side.

His arms crossed over his chest, veins bulging under his skin. The muscular arms and chest muscles were solid and firm, and just by sight alone, one could feel the strength contained within.

His brows were furrowed, showing a serious expression rarely seen by most adventurers who visited the "Rock Hammer."

"Wrong again!"

"How many times have I told you to pay attention to the rhythm! Feel the rhythm of the steel carefully!"

"You mustn’t mess up your breathing!"

In front of him stood a young man who somewhat resembled him but with softer facial features.

He put down the forging hammer in his hand, slightly lowered his head, and remained silent in the face of his father’s teachings.

"In our line of work, you must be diligent, diligent, and diligent again!"

"You must ensure the quality and make everything perfect."

Barn’s tone was filled with the frustration of not meeting expectations as he grabbed a pair of tongs and submerged the still glowing iron billet on the anvil into water.

Rapid cooling.

Then he tossed it onto a pile of scrap metal nearby.

"Every moment of distraction in the forging process is a disrespect to the [Soul Forger]."

"Every mistake could mean the loss of a life that ought to continue."

"And any act of carelessness or indifference could get us thrown out, shunned even as beggars on the street."

"You..."

His words of reprimand fell like a torrential rain.

Behind him, the sound of the shop’s front door being pushed open could be heard, along with the faint, puzzled greetings of customers.

Barn’s chest heaved, and the emotions brewing within him made him unconsciously gasp for breath.

"Continue, don’t stop!"

After speaking, he turned and walked toward the front of the Blacksmith Shop.

The oppressive atmosphere in the air gradually dissipated as the torrential rain came to a halt.

After a long while, a barely audible sigh broke the silence in the room.

"Ding!"

The crisp sound of the forging hammer striking resonated again in a rhythmic pattern.

...

...

Standing at the counter of the "Rock Hammer" Blacksmith Shop.

Xia Nan looked at Barn, who had just hurriedly stepped out from the back room, puzzled.

He couldn’t help but feel puzzled.

The shopkeeper of the "Fairy Wind" was the same earlier; why wasn’t anyone tending the shop?

Could today be some special day?

"Sorry, sorry," Barn said, the high temperature from forging leaving sweat on his rugged face, and his smile wasn’t as natural as before.

Xia Nan didn’t ask for details.

He just handed over the two pieces of armor he had already taken off.

"Take a look, can they be repaired?"

It was the light plate armor once owned by Kalanfor’s sheriff, Ingram, which he wore over the outside layer, and alongside the chain armor Xia Nan had previously bought for 50 Gold Coins from the store.

In the battle with the Thorn Demon, they were pierced by the Flame Bone Spur shot by the enemy.

It was fortunate to have this double-layered armor for protection, which significantly weakened the power of the Bone Spur, greatly reducing the actual damage he took.

Otherwise, even if he had half a bottle of Healing Potion left, it would have been difficult to recover his combat strength so quickly and later fully master his Battle Skill to slay the Thorn Demon.

Armor, as the adventurer’s second life.

Repair it or scrap it, one ought to plan early after returning to River Valley Town.

Barn subconsciously glanced at the black-haired young man in front of him while taking the two pieces of armor.

His expression became strange.

He didn’t know what to say.

The "Rock Hammer," a well-reviewed Blacksmith Shop also featured in the [adventurer’s manual] in River Valley Town, was frequently visited by adventurers selecting equipment and seeing new faces every day.

Even with a good memory, it was difficult for Barn to match every name in his head with each face he saw.

He only remembered those who visited regularly or those who had attained a Professional Level.

Normally, he might find the black-haired young man in front of the counter somewhat familiar, but wouldn’t be able to recall his name.

But just now, even before speaking, the stern features of the young man’s face as it appeared in his sight suddenly struck a chord.

He recognized him almost instantly.

"Xia Nan."

As for the reason...

His gaze swept over the scars on the surface of the two pieces of armor in his hands.

Adventurer’s equipment changes rapidly, and this Barn understood.

The heavily magical particle-laden air in the Mist Forest, which accelerated the corrosion of ordinary materials, along with the plentiful dangerous Demon creatures within the forest, all influenced the lifespan of the equipment.

The vast market demand was what supported so many Blacksmith Shops in River Valley Town.

Yet even so, Xia Nan’s pace of changing gear was still somewhat absurd.

Through the detailing and usage marks on the armor, one could easily deduce the approximate number of battles it had endured.

Once? Twice?

At most no more than three times!

Implying that with each mission, he needed significant repairs or complete replacements when returning.

In a way, an old joke he once shared with Xia Nan had somehow become feasible.

"Since you have to buy new ones upon returning anyway, you might as well save yourself the trouble of maintenance and just get new ones after each mission."

But on the other hand, something more surprising was evident.

The armor, though broken, didn’t matter as much.

Yet each damage type was always different.

The leather armor purchased the first time from the Blacksmith Shop appeared to have been trampled by a Forest Elephant, its padding inside almost shattered, still lying in his back room’s junk pile;

The chain armor thereafter seemed like it had been roasted in a fire pit, even melting the lock clasps inside, requiring a half-day of hammer work to fix;

Now, on the third occurrence, after blunt and flame damage, it had turned into penetration-type damage.

It was hard to say if this kid was incredibly lucky, or if he truly had some knack.

Even viewed through the hole in the two-layered armor, one could see pedestrians on the street opposite, yet he still stood safely before him.

"He’s not even a professional; ordinary adventurers usually only chop goblins and catch a few grey furred rats. How could he have so many bizarre scars?"

Barn muttered in his heart, while his meticulous and serious gaze swept over the two pieces of armor countless times.

Reputation was undoubtedly more important than earning an extra dozen Gold Coins.

Without any intention of concealment, he gave Xia Nan his judgment:

"The chain armor has undergone major repairs once before, and while the defensive capability isn’t much weakened, its durability has significantly decreased."

"Now it’s sustained penetrating damage as well... I recommend scrapping it."

"As for the light plate armor, it’s relatively better, though it also has a large gash, the internal structure is barely intact."

"It can be repaired, but it would cost quite a few Gold Coins, and I can’t guarantee the defensive strength after repair."

"What are your thoughts?"