Magnus here, I miss my robe of infinity. It's literally the most powerful magically enchanted cloak in the whole multiverse. It had the ability to absorb any attack no matter how powerful, even the kinetic force from a god's physical attacks rendering them worthless and a plethora of other abilities but that's not the reason why I miss it right now. All this blacksmithing, moving and literally being a mortal accumulates a lot of dirt. I wish I could clean myself faster. Then I'd have more time to do other stuff.

*Inside Magnus' Room*

Inside my room, I'm lazily sleeping on my bed.

While sleeping, I suddenly sense danger and immediately wake my senses.

I almost don't notice the incoming hammer going for my head.

*Swing!*

I immediately open my eyes and dodge.

*CRASH*

The top of my bed breaks under the force of the hammer as it collides with the bed.

I manage to land on the floor with a prepared stance.

Before I could prepare to dodge another attack, I see Darius holding a hammer over my bed...

"Darius?"

"Where's your work..."

A hoarse but definitely livid voice comes from Darius.

"What?"

Darius' eyes look crazy as he shouts with force.

"WHERE'S YOUR WORK?!"

He charges me with his hammer and swings it with extraordinary speed.

Not this again!

[Limit Break]!

With my enhanced speed, I barely dodge Darius' superhuman blow.

*CRASH!*

I ignore the destroyed furniture as I make distance from Darius.

*Sniff* *Sniff*

I stare at Darius as I smell an acrid odor in the air.

Alchohol?

His face is a little red underneath all his bushy beard.

He's been drinking.

"I SAID WHERE'S YOUR WORK!"

He charges me again and I dodge but he's getting closer and closer.

I need to finish this before he starts bashing my head in with that hammer.

*Swing*

I dodge again and immediately rush towards my destroyed bed.

I dive and shove my hands beneath my bed.

*Swing*

I feel the wind behind me rush towards me but I manage to turn around with my hand in front of me.

I see the hammer stop just a few centimeters away from my outstretched hand.

Whew.... A second later, and I would've become a cripple.

The crazed eyes of Darius suddenly mellow as he sees the object in my hand.

It's a dagger.

I made it from the leftover materials I got from the swords. After I finished the alchemical blade, I stayed up the whole night to replicate the process with the dagger.

I succeeded.

"You finished it?"

"YES!"

I answer immediately just in case he changes his mind about hitting me.

He stares at it for a while admiring its form and design, then he takes it with a gentle hand and his eyes water for a moment.

"..... It's beautiful."

He runs his fingers on the dagger's blade and caresses it.

The dagger has two mini alchemical circles embedded onto it.

The first one is while the second one is the new circle I applied yesterday.

I practically had 0 mana the whole night but after a few minutes of meditation, I managed to recuperate all of my mana.

I admit that I was a little surprised at how fast my mana regenerates. I recall that an average magic practitioner would at least need 24 hours of relaxing rest to regain their expended mana but it only took me a few minutes.

I stand up and dust myself then I see a shocking sight.

Darius is hugging the dagger and quietly sobbing.

I look surprised as I see this old man sob.

I start panicking.

I've never been in such a situation like this.

I've had people cry for my name and for my mercy but never like this.

I stiffen and I open my mouth over and over but no words come out.

I settle by putting my hand over his shoulder and let him cry his heart out.

After a few minutes he stops sobbing and he wipes his face.

"Magnus... I'm sorry you had to see that... It's disgraceful of me as a teacher to show such a weak side of mine."

I shake my head.

"No sir, there is no such thing as weakness in weeping."

I don't pry because I respect Darius' will.

Despite my age, this man has taught me a lot unlike my stupid sisters.

Their skill in blacksmithing obviously eclipses anything Darius can do but Darius is undoubtedly a better teacher.

That's why I'm thankful and respectful towards this old man.

Darius nods and he looks at the door.

I study him and notice his knuckles are slightly swollen again.

He must've been hitting Jonathan again.

"Jonathan must've been assigned another mission. That means they'll be leaving again?"

Is it time for me to leave?

I dwell on the thought of exploring but resign myself to the fact that I'm not strong enough.

So no, I'm not going to go with them, not yet.

Darius doesn't answer but his rough looking expression says it all.

Darius stands up and leaves the room.

Once he's gone, I start cleaning up.

I tried to salvage everything that wasn't fully demolished by Darius and throw the ones that can't be saved anymore.

I finish up and leave the room.

I see people staring at me again.

I start walking towards the living room.

"Hey!"

I hear a voice behind me and I turn around.

I see an unfamiliar man approach me. I study his appearance. His gruff look, callus filled hands and dirty overall, I'm guessing this person is one of Darius' apprentice or workers.

Although, I've never seen him before.

Or have I? I never took notice.

Once he's near me, I nod to give him acknowledgement.

Hmmm his forehead has a bulging vein, he should have that checked up.

"Is there a problem?"

After I asked the man, he immediately replies.

"Yes there is. You are the problem."

The man says that with an extremely angry tone.

Absolution starts a fit once she hears the rude fellow.

'He's being rude Magnus! Show him that no one should mess with a god.'

'What are you talking about? I'm not a god right now. I can't just go an offend everyone that finds trouble with me. If you ask me, anyone that offends someone that's too strong for them is stupid.'

I recall a summoned hero that was too arrogant for his status as a hero and a dragon king destroyed him.

Instead of being a stupid idiot like those individuals, I'll tread carefully.

"Why am I a problem?"

I ask him respectfully because it seems the man was somehow incensed for reasons I am not aware of.

I find mortals confusing.

They're too emotional if you ask me.

"Yes you're a problem! You're a fucking parasite!"

What?

I must've looked confused because the man suddenly grabs me by the collar.

I reflexively slap the man's hand because my body starts to hurt a little.

"What?..." He looks surprised as I make space between us.

I feel some aching due to [Limit Break] but not enough to prevent me from fully functioning since I only used it for a very short amount of time.

Once the pain disappears, I speak.

"First of all, I did not ask for this. I did not ask to be here nor did I ask to be a student. I was brought here because those people wanted to thank me and I became a student because Darius saw that I had talent. If you're displeased by my appearance then you should ask Darius."

I stretch my back a little and leave, ignoring the rude man.

"Hey! Come back here you!"

I sense the man approaching me again and I sigh.

I prepare to intercept him.

"What are you doing?!" The man suddenly jerks back as I hear the voice of a familiar acquaintance.

I turn my head and see Jonathan, Darius' rebellious son, coming towards me with large swollen lumps on his head.

The man earlier scowls as he sees Jonathan but immediately pretends to look happy.

Hmmm people around here don't seem to like Jonathan... I can understand that but why do they dislike me?

Ever since I started smithing, I haven't wasted any materials although those other swords I made were obviously not up to standard for me.

Are the standards here higher than mine? If that's the case, I just need to better myself.

Maybe I'm not good enough yet.

"Jonathan... You're here. I thought you were going to leave?"

Jonathan immediately joins my side and says.

"What do you think you're doing?"

Despite the man's respectful words towards Jonathan, his next words are laced with poison.

"Jonathan, I'm just giving advice to my junior. It is not something you would understand since you're not a blacksmith."

Jonathan's face becomes grim and I immediately see him tense up with anger.

Before Jonathan could retort, I push him away.

"Is your problem a lack of attention? If so, what is your name?"

The man looks confused.

"My name is Gardo! And I am the head apprentice of Darius. If you think you can start acting arrogantly just because you were pitied upon by master, then you're wrong! I'll have you know that once you become an actual apprentice here, you'll have to fill a quota and since you're not really learning anything, you should you leave."

I can feel Jonathan slightly angry behind me but I speak before he says anything.

"I always found that insecurities are the loudest."

I turn to Jonathan and ask him to lend me his blade.

"Magnus! You can't kill someo-

"Quiet, I don't plan on spilling blood in the home of a good teacher."

Jonathan goes quiet and nods.

He hands me his blade and I hold it in a way that showcases its whole length.

An idea suddenly appears on the top of my head and I internally laugh.

I study the sword and notice that it is a well crafted sword but compared to my other garbage swords, this blade falls short.

Jonathan must've bought it somewhere.

The others look at me with disdain while I'm holding the sword.

"Stop trying to look at that sword too much, you'll never reach that level."

I ignore him and ask Jonathan.

"You were planning on leaving right Jonathan?"

Jonathan is suddenly put on the spot as I ask him.

"Y-yes why?"

"Then you'll need a new weapon!"

Jonathan's face becomes pale and the others suddenly start laughing.

I raise an eyebrow but ultimately ignore the jeering primates.

"You mean to tell me that you plan on surpassing Jonathan's weapon?!"

I take a look at Jonathan and ask.

"Jonathan, you still have time right?"

Jonathan weakly nods but he shakes his head quick.

He pulls me away, so that the others can't hear his voice.

In a quiet voice, he says.

"Magnus, what are you thinking?"

I give him a smile.

"I don't like being pushed around and I can't properly show my gratitude to Darius, if I don't show any improvement."

I think my craft isn't that good yet but I don't say it outloud.

"But you want to surpass my current sword?"

Jonathan says this with urgency.

I don't understand the reason for panic. I can easily replicate and even make a better sword than what Jonathan currently has.

I nod nonchalantly.

Jonathan sighs.

"I don't suggest that Magnus-"

"Hey! Are we doing it or not?"

I turn around and hear Gardo calling me out.

"In a week from now! Our annual blacksmithing competition will be held here in Barkenvall. You will join and meet me at the finals."

I raise an eyebrow.

"What if you don't reach the finals?"

Gardo laughs and everyone else.

Jonathan sighs besides me.

"Me?! Not reach the finals?"

Gardo laughs again as one of his lackeys taunts me.

"Gardo has always reached the finals and he hasn't lost even once! He's one of Darius' most talented apprentices!"

Hmmm... It seems It'll be harder than I thought.

"It's okay."

I give Jonathan a reassuring smile, unfortunately it's effect is lost upon Jonathan.

I look towards Gardo and his retinue of annoying servants.

"Let's meet at the finals then, it'll be a month from now right? We'll be making the weapons in the event itself correct?"

Gardo chuckles.

"Of course! Are you an idiot?"

I ignore his tasteless jeers and nod.

"We'll meet there then."

I walk away with a quiet Jonathan following behind.

Child the god-kin is going out.

Darky is this really necessary?

Yes! Once we absorb the god-kin, you will be able to do anything you ever want.

Even bring back my father?

Of course...

I recall my father's face just before the demon attack and I steel my resolve.

I pull out the dagger I stole from the adventurer that used to protect us.

He's spending all his time in the tavern, drinking his sorrows away.

Do not pity the weak child! You've lost so much more and you will continue to lose more. Such is the way of life.

Pushing my emotions down, I nod.

'You're right. Let's do this.'

I start to stalk the God-kin with my weapon prepared.