Just after defeating God [Sagittarius] and becoming a 6th rank soldier, we decided to go to Iwa’s friend, a blacksmith named Arjen so I could obtain a weapon and an armor. But Arjen gave me a condition if I want to get the strongest weapon and that is to get the necessary ingredients needed to make that. With me agreeing on his terms, we decided to enter [Harlequin Valley].

"…check. Iron feathers…check. Crackeroak wood trunk…check. Fallery's claw...check. Ruby gem…check. As for this one, I already have this at my shop. And this too. Harlequin Valley herbs…check. I already have this too. And that leaves only one left: Serpent's Horn, the most important material to complete it," Arjen said and folded the small scrap of paper on his hands. He then put it back to his pocket and gave me a lifeless stare, probably asking me if I have some questions.

This is now the second day of our search here in [Harlequin Valley]. I can’t remember how many monsters I’ve defeated and retreated from. The only thing inside my mind is getting the necessary ingredients that Arjen wanted.

"So what's the next monster's name?" I asked seriously.

"[Horned Serpent]: a green-scaled reptile with an average length of around 24 foot long," Arjen answered.

"Then, let’s finish this," I said without changing my expression and started heading deeper the Valley. Arjen stared at my back for a while before carrying his big backpack again.

[Harlequin Valley] is so much different compared to [Crimson Forest]. If [Crimson Forest] looks only the same wherever part you go (excluding the banapple fields), [Harlequin Valley] is different. There are different kinds of plants and some areas don’t have grasses unlike the [Crimson Forest] with only one kind of tree and grass. Also, the weakest monster that can be found here is already at level 20.

“I think this is it,” I said to Arjen behind me after arriving at the lair of the [Horned Serpent]. It is inside a cave.

“Don’t be so sure yet. There are still lots of caves here in this Valley.”

“Are you saying that we will all check those caves one by one until we find that serpent?” I asked with a surprised face.

“If you want to have the ‘strongest weapon’ that is.”

“Fine. Let’s hurry up so we can go home as fast as we can.”

After Arjen brought out a lamp-like device, we decided to enter it. Inside, there are stalactites, stalagmites and some other strange rock formations. There are no monsters that can be found in the area though.

*Hssssssssssssssssssssss*

“It’s here,” Arjen whispered.

“!”

Suddenly, a big green snake with a glass-like horn appeared. Its glare is enough to intimidate us.

Hey, hey. This snake is level 40!

“Can I beat it with an ordinary weapon?” I asked to Arjen after making a fighting stance with my borrowed dagger.

“That is the reason why ‘you’ can beat it. The [ability] of that monster is [magic reflector]. Any [special attacks] of any [beast weapon] will just be reflected by that horn.”

“So…with this ordinary weapon, there’s nothing to reflect, huh,” I muttered seriously.

*Hsssssssssssssssssssaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!*

In an instant, I almost got bitten by the snake after it extended towards me. Luckily, I managed to jump up in time.

“It can extend like rubber?” I reacted while still in mid-air.

“Yeah! So be careful!” Arjen reminded, still in a monotone way.

“Tell me that beforehand! [Wheel Blade]!” I retorted and started circling as fast as I can. I then landed at its body and rotated like a big shuriken continuously.

*Hsaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!* the monster screamed in pain.

*slam*

Huh?

Before I know it, I hit the cave’s wall and fell on the ground. What just happened? I’m the one attacking, right?

“Watch out for the tail!” Arjen shouted.

So it hit me using its tail.

I then stood up and returned the Serpent’s glare.

“You’re…strong,” I said and smiled.

*Hssssssssssss*

Afterwards, I ran towards it and my dagger and his metal-coated tail clashed with a spark. We exchanged blows, with each hit getting stronger every clash.

“Haaaaahhhhhh!!!” I shouted.

*Hssssssssaaaa!!!*

*booooom*

The final clash created an explosion of smoke.

“Raikey!” Arjen called with a worried face while covering his face with two arms.

But when the smoke lifted, only the [Horned Serpent] can be found.

*Hsss?* the monster reacted, looking around for me.

Arjen immediately looked above but there’s no one there.

“Where did he go?” Arjen whispered.

“Here!” I shouted and jumped out of the swamp behind the serpent.

*Hssaaa!*

I immediately brought out a filled-up vial and threw the content’s on the serpent’s eyes.

“Hssaaaaa!*

I need you to be blind just for a split second!

“Raikey, the tail!” Arjen yelled.

Its tail is now approaching me head-on! But…

I somehow dodged it in mid-air and shouted, “[Counter Kick]!”

*pow*

*Hsaaaaa!!!!”

That kick is strong enough to draw his head towards me!

I then used its body as a stool and jumped towards the top of its head. After I landed on top of it, the serpent collapsed on the floor.

“With this, it’s the end!” I shouted and held the dagger with both hands, up in the air.

Knowing its faith is sealed, the serpent closed its eyes.

*crack*

Huh?

When I looked beyond the cave, I saw a big nest. There, you can find less than six big eggs, one starting to crack.

“Don’t tell me…” I whispered with a surprised face.

“Raikey…” Arjen muttered after figuring out what’s on my mind.

So this [Horned Serpent] is there mother and if I killed her…

I immediately jumped away from the serpent’s head and said, “Sorry, Arjen. I really...can’t do it after all” with a smile.

For a couple of seconds, Arjen just stared at me seriously and after awhile, he gave me an unexpected facial expression.

“I see. Then, let’s go back,” he replied after smiling gently for the first time in front of me.

While walking towards the outskirts of [Harlequin Valley], I decided to break the silence by talking to Arjen next to me.

“Arjen, sorry about all of this. In the end, I couldn’t get all the ingredients you want,” I muttered sadly.

“Raikey, what do you think is the [strongest weapon]?” Arjen suddenly questioned me with a serious look.

“A weapon that can’t lose to any kinds of [weapon], right?”

“That’s right but strength…comes from the heart of the wielder and today, I saw how strong you are. That is why no matter what kind of weapon you will wield, you can make it the [strongest weapon].”

“Arjen…” I whispered, slightly surprised after hearing those words from him.

“I’m sure that one day, that kindness will be your strength,” he continued with a smile.

“Can I…ask you something?”

“What is it?” he asked after returning to his usual poker face.

“Can you…give me this dagger? After fighting with it the whole day, I somehow got attached to it. Can I…keep it?”

“Are you sure? I mean, that’s my first work so I’m not that confident in that in terms of durability and strength.”

“It’s fine. I like it after all,” I responded with a cheerful smile.

“I…see. Then, suit yourself,” he replied. “Just try your best not to shatter the blade.”

*Rooooooooooooooooaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrrrr!*

Suddenly a big monster appeared before us.

“Arjen, fall back!” I shouted and protected Arjen after getting behind me.

“A [Berser King]!” Arjen reacted, surprised.

“Its name is quite intimidating…if you didn’t notice those multiple puns that is,” I muttered to myself.

It’s a big Bear-like creature, 12 foot in height. There are some scars on its body, probably the proof of battling strong monsters before. It looks really ferocious.

“A [Berser King] looks for strong opponents in its turf. You should be honored that it appeared before you,” Arjen said to me.

“I might cry out of joy then,” I retorted with a smile.

“But be careful. Its strength is equal to that of the [Horned Serpent].”

“Just as how I wanted,” I said and jumped up.

*Roooooooaaaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrrrrrrr!!!!*

“[Wheel Blade]!”

After being hit by my rotating saw-like attack, the monster screamed out of pain.

*bam*

When it collapsed on the ground, I immediately jumped away and pointed the dagger towards him.

“If you want to be the King of this Valley, you still got a long way to go, Monster,” I said with a confident smile.

Suddenly, the blade of the dagger got shattered into pieces and fell on the ground spectacularly.

“H-h-h-huhhhhhhhh?!” I reacted with wide open eyes.

“My worst fear became reality,” Arjen replied with a face palm.

“Hey, why did it crumble so suddenly? I mean just look at it! All that is left is the handle! How can I fight with this?”

“It’s because of your [physical attack], [Wheel Blade]. That attack puts so much strain on the blade that an ordinary weapon will be destroyed if used continuously,” Arjen explained.

“Then, can you fight instead of me?”

“Of course not. I’m just an ordinary [blacksmith].”

“We can’t get out of this place if I can only use [Counter Kick]! This situation is hopeless! I should’ve brought Ciana or Iwa with me!”

*thump*

“!”

“!”

After just some couple of seconds, the bear-like monster is now standing with eyes ready to fight again.

*roaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrrr!!!*

*We’re…dead,” I whispered in despair.

Suddenly, a familiar tail hit the monster’s face, making it flew away and hit a nearby tree.

“That’s--!” Arjen and I reacted and both of us looked behind.

“[Horned Serpent]!!!” I shouted with a slight surprised face.

*Hssssssssssss*

“Why are you here?” I asked with a smile.

*Hsssssssss, hsss, hssaaaaaaaaaa*

“You’re here to repay your debt?” I asked, surprised.

“Wait. You can understand monsters?” Arjen reacted with a surprised expression.

“Nope. I just got a feeling that that is what she’s saying,” I responded to Arjen.

*Hss, hssssssaaaa, hsa,* she said and tossed a glass-like egg-shaped gem to me. It is as big as my fist.

“A…farewell gift?” I asked and looked at the warm gem. It is like this thing is alive.

“That’s a…[reflector egg]!” Arjen reacted, slightly shocked.

“What’s that?” I asked curiously.

“It has the same properties as the horn of that serpent. Sometimes, this gem is included when a female [Horned Serpent] lay its eggs so getting one proves how lucky you are in [loot hunting]."

“Woah! Lucky, huh. Thanks, Emerald!” I said with a smile to the [Horned Serpent].

*Hsaaaaaaaaa!*

“Wh-what did it say?” Arjen asked with a slight intimidated expression.

“She said to get out of here before the Pseudo-King recovered.”

“Then, hurry up and let’s go!” Arjen said and yanked me once again.

“Thanks again, Emerald. I hope we see each other again in the future!”

*Hsaaaaaaaaaaa~”

“Raiki,” Arjen said while we are still running.

“Why?”

“I properly received all of the ingredients I needed. I’ll make the [strongest weapon] so look forward to it,” he said seriously.

Arjen…

“Yeah. I can’t wait anymore!” I replied enthusiastically.