Noah stepped out of his shop into Sin City’s bustling plaza.
The sounds of demons haggling and cart wheels on cobblestone filled the air.
Time to explore beyond my comfort zone.
Before he could take more than a few steps, a voice called out with a surprised tone.
"Noah? I don’t usually see you at this time. Is the shop open for sales?"
Noah turned to find one of his regular customers, a middle-aged demon with small horns and the expression that suggested today hadn’t gone according to his plan.
"Yes, it’s open. Would you like to buy something?"
The man nodded with obvious relief.
"Yes, yes. I was unable to come early today, so I thought I would have to wait until tomorrow. It seems like I was wrong."
Lucky timing for both of us.
Noah returned inside his shop, checking his current inventory. Two glasses of iced tea and four loaves of bread sat on the shelves. He had enough time for one more transaction before his adventure began.
"I would like a loaf and a glass of iced tea."
Noah placed both items on the counter and accepted the thirty golden coins.
"Thank you for your patronage," he smiled as the customer departed with his provisions.
Now for the real question...where exactly am I going?
Noah’s destination remained completely undefined.
He had no map, no guide, no understanding of what lay beyond Sin City’s borders.
The place Lola had taken him before was definitely off-limits; it was way too dangerous for someone whose combat experience consisted of a few sparring sessions and one terrifying encounter with extremists.
If I encounter another powerful group of extremists, I’ll most likely not make it out alive. Best best-case scenario is becoming a slave.
The thought sent unpleasant chills down his spine.
Noah approached a nearby demon merchant who was arranging colourful fabrics on his stall.
"Excuse me, could you recommend somewhere safe for new adventurers to practice? Somewhere with monsters but not... You know, certain death?"
The merchant looked up with amused understanding.
"Ah, first hunting expedition? You want the Crimson Mountain range, about an hour north of the city. Open fields, basic monsters, plenty of other beginners around."
"It’s a relatively safe territory; extremists never venture there."
Perfect. Monsters without the risk of encountering extremists.
"Any recommendations for weapons?" Noah asked.
The merchant pointed toward a building with smoke rising from its chimney.
"Korgan’s Forge, three streets over. Best blacksmith in the district. Tell him Vexis sent you."
Noah nodded with an appreciative smile before he focused his attention on the clothes that the man in front of him was selling.
I need some local clothing. I completely forgot to buy some in Esta, I can’t make the same mistake again.
The man asked for a total of five golden coins for the clothes, which Noah accepted without any haggling. The price was reasonable in his opinion, and the man had helped him with his inquiries.
The outfit was unlike anything he was used to.
Instead of long trousers and sleeves, he now wore a sleeveless draped tunic that slanted across one shoulder, secured with a minimal clasp near the collarbone.
The hem dropped unevenly to the thigh, with one layered panel hanging longer on the right side.
A wide sash, wrapped tightly around his waist, held the tunic in place. Beneath the tunic, loose-fitting shorts gathered just below the knees gave the outfit a grounded, practical look while preserving its flow.
It was clearly designed for comfort in heat, airy and unrestrictive. A slim scarf was looped lightly over one shoulder.
The forge announced itself through sound before sight.
The sound of the hammers was clearly professional, carrying a rhythm of serious craftsmanship.
It’s like it’s mirroring the beats of the heart.
Noah pushed through heavy wooden doors into an environment that assaulted all his senses simultaneously.
Heat from multiple furnaces erupted, and the scent of hot metal and coal smoke created an intense atmosphere that very few could handle for long hours.
I can barely stay here for five minutes...yet, he is here doing it for hours whilst working.
Weapons lined every available wall surface, whether it was swords, axes, spears, or crafts whose purposes Noah couldn’t immediately identify.
Behind the main anvil stood a demon whose physical presence could only be described as monumentally intimidating.
Muscles that belonged on construction equipment and hands that looked capable of crushing stone.
This guy could probably bench press my car.
But when the blacksmith looked up from his work, his expression carried unexpected softness.
"A human? That’s surprising, I’ve never seen one of your kind in the kingdom. Well, it doesn’t matter. Welcome to my forge, young man. What can I create for you today?"
His voice was deep, just like his appearance suggested, but his tone held genuine friendliness that completely contradicted his appearance.
Gentle giant. Got it.
"I’m looking for a sword," Noah said, glancing around the forgery.
"Something suitable for a beginner who’s just starting to hunt monsters."
The blacksmith, presumably Korgan, like the man had said earlier, set down his hammer and wiped his massive hands on a leather apron.
"First weapon purchase? Excellent! Do you know the classification system?"
Noah shook his head with a wry smile. "I don’t, sorry for the trouble."
"It’s fine, young man, everybody learns new things. Nobody is born with knowledge. Let me explain our classification system so you understand what you’re buying."
He gestured toward a display case containing weapons of varying shapes and sizes.
"Weapons range from Tier 0 to Tier 9, then advance to Uncommon classifications and beyond."
Korgan’s enthusiasm for his craft was immediately apparent by his smile.
"Tier 0 represents basic functionality, you know, sharp steel, some decent balance, but nothing fancy.
"Tier 9 incorporates significant enhancements in quality and durability. The weapon would have self-sharpening edges and perhaps elemental properties of the user."