Goblin Dependency
Chapter 68 - 68 48 Consolation

68: Chapter 48 Consolation 68: Chapter 48 Consolation [Avery Rose Combo]

[Heavy Dance Step Slash]

[Royal Cross]

[…]

Xia Nan stared at the Battle Skill Book in his hand, eyes wide as if he could see some magic flowers on the dust-covered book cover.

“Where’s my Golden Finger?”

“Come on, do something!”

He concentrated all his attention, focused fully.

But those familiar translucent characters didn’t appear before his eyes as they usually did.

Having been in this world for so many days, he has basically confirmed that his “attribute panel” Golden Finger is only effective for changes in weapon equipment and his own specialty attributes.

But when he came to the general store with the hope of picking up a bargain, trying to use the Golden Finger to find a few usable Battle Skills, he came up empty-handed.

He couldn’t help but feel disappointed.

“Maybe it’s because these are knock-offs, so I can’t see the attributes?”

With a hint of consolation, Xia Nan murmured to himself.

The air in the general store fell silent.

Beside him, very considerately pretending to be busy with his own things, was Kukunur, who was actually observing Xia Nan for quite some time out of the corner of his eye.

His well-groomed face showed a touch of hesitation.

His emerald green eyes glanced at the empty doorway of the general store, seeing that there was currently no one around, what he was about to say shouldn’t offend the black-haired young man before him.

He sorted out his wording again in his mind before slowly speaking:

“Sir, judging by your attire, you should be a respectable adventurer.”

“No offense, but…

judging from the price I offered, you can probably guess that the quality of these cheap goods is indeed varied.”

“If it’s just to take back for reference, as a pastime, it’s perfectly fine to buy a few books.”

“But if you truly want to find those prerequisite Battle Skills necessary for professionals inside, even if your luck is good, it’s indeed a bit difficult.”

Saying this, he seemed to think he was still being too blunt.

The Dwarf Kukunur nervously fiddled with the buttons on his vest and added:

“Mainly, I’m worried you might get hurt because many training methods in these Battle Skill Books are not quite standardized.”

“If you don’t mind, I can give you a few books as a gift, but please don’t practice them as genuine ‘Battle Skills’.

”

Xia Nan naturally didn’t feel any strange emotions towards the shopkeeper’s reminder.

He just shook his head with a smile as if to indicate he was fine, while implicitly rejecting the offer.

A few days ago, he learned some knowledge about “Battle Skills” from Wood and the Half Elf.

In the market, where it’s impossible to precisely distinguish real from fake, 99.99% of the so-called “Battle Skills” are traps that senselessly consume the time and energy of adventurers.

The cost of trial and error is too high.

A few months or even half a year could be wasted in the blink of an eye.

If there are no other opportunities or the help of related professionals, wanting to master formal Battle Skills with just a simple skill book from a roadside general store is undoubtedly a pipe dream.

Xia Nan asked Kukunur for prices partly to test whether the Golden Finger could be effective and partly to see if he could try his luck.

Now, the answer was clear.

But leaving without buying even one book seemed a bit of a waste.

Thinking for a moment, Xia Nan squatted down and picked out two Battle Skill Books from a cardboard box.

He shook off the dust by flicking the spine of the books in the air.

“These two then, how much?”

“No need, sir, consider it a gift from me.”

“No problem.”

Not intending to owe such favors, and not wanting to take advantage of a few copper coins either.

Xia Nan stuffed some copper coins into Kukunur’s hand and walked straight out of the general store.

From countless novels he read in his past life where the protagonist finds hidden treasures, he instinctively avoided the fancy-titled Battle Skill Books thicker than half a finger.

He chose the two thinnest, seemingly straightforward ones:

[Front Thrust] and [Block and Slash].

He casually stacked them in his backpack.

Xia Nan glanced at the bustling, lively street ahead and pondered:

“Well, next up…”

“I should make a trip to the Blacksmith Shop.”

…

…

Being highly praised in River Valley Town and even making it into the [Adventurer’s Manual], “Rock Hammer” is a fine Blacksmith Shop that could never be short of business.

When Xia Nan arrived at the door with his backpack, the shop owner “Barn Steelbeard” was entertaining a middle-aged man with a simple appearance.

He was holding a long-handled double-handed weapon, inspecting it carefully from the butt end of the handle to the very tip of the weapon.

He occasionally swung it a couple of times, seemingly testing its feel and weight.

After a few price negotiations with Barn, he reluctantly counted out four gold coins, along with some loose silver and copper coins from his pouch, and handed them over with both hands.

Of course, after the transaction was completed, the look of pain mingled with a touch of delight showed that this simple-faced middle-aged man was extremely satisfied with the long-handled weapon in his hands.

When he passed Xia Nan, he even nodded somewhat embarrassedly, as if apologizing for delaying his time.

Just treating him as a passerby, Xia Nan nodded in return and then walked straight to Barn, the owner of “Rock Hammer”.

“Oh?”

With just a glance, this burly man, who considered himself to have Dwarf heritage but was a head taller than the Bear Goblins, recognized Xia Nan.

However, compared to the changes that happened to the other person, his focus was slightly different.

“This mission was pretty dangerous, huh!”

Barn surveyed the ragged leather armor still stained with blood on Xia Nan with a meaningful sigh.

After all, it was not long ago when he personally sold the leather armor to him, and its Good quality for 10 Gold was now in such condition, how could he not be concerned?

“Indeed, I encountered a tough opponent; it’s thanks to your leather armor, or I might not have returned.”

Xia Nan didn’t reveal specific information, just laughed it off with flattery.

It was as if his words hit the spot, and the Blacksmith Shop was filled with Barn’s hearty laughter.

“Haha, that’s good!”

“It’s probably no longer wearable; take it off, and I’ll give you three silver coins for it!”

His expression was filled with pride and a sense of achievement.

As a blacksmith with aspirations, having his forged items sell at a high price may attest to others’ recognition of his skills.

But what truly moved him was feedback like this, after his equipment had been tested in real combat.

Even if the meticulously forged equipment had turned to scrap, as long as it fulfilled its purpose and allowed its owner to stand safely before him…

Barn felt happier than selling hundreds or even thousands of gold worth of goods.