(Kazese and Aoi walking around the streets of the village)

“Forget about it Kazese. It’s only a beginner quest since we are actually beginners!” (Aoi)

“But that’s not fair! Delivery quest? Are they thinking that I’m a joke?”

“Well... This happens to every new adventurers in a guild so it’s obvious that it would happen to us too”

“I know but it just doesn’t make me feel all adventury”

‘That’s not even a word, Kazese”

“I know... but the point is, this quest doesn’t interest me”

“I feel the same but there is something that interest me in this”

“What do you mean? Are you trying to convince me in thinking that there is a very good back story to this?”

“I’m not sure but there must be a back story here”

“And what exactly makes you feel that?”

“You were supposed to be smart according to the stats result”

“What??”

“Didn’t you notice a very big thing on this quest?”

“What are you talking about?”

“I mean this!” (Handing out the quest request form to Kazese)

“Okay, what about it?”

“Look at the quest reward”

(Kazese looks at the quest request and suddenly looks surprised)

“Well, now you see” (Aoi)

“Well, it is quite surprising that they would reward you 20 silver coins just for a delivery”

“Right? But I can’t make it out why they would do such”

“There could be only one reason to explain this....” (Kazese)

“Oh.. I get it! Let me!” (Aoi’s eyes glimmered with confidence as she said)

“Okay, Aoi. What is the reason?”

“They must be filthy rich! And they didn’t know how to spend their money”

“Nooo! It’s not that! Not even a rich person would spend as much as 20 silver on this type of quest”

“Well..well..What do you think Holmes?”

“The possible reason with high probability is that the delivery parcel maybe very important”

“If it’s so important than why let the adventurers do it and not their private servants”

“Well, we need to find it out ourselves”

“How are you gonna do that?”

“It’s pretty simple.....ask them”

“Ask them? I thought you were smart but this is just dumb”

“Oh..shut up! I am smart. If the parcel is kind of the national treasure like we think then they wouldn’t tell us but if it’s something almost everyone knows, they would not be troubled to answer us”

“You are right at some point”

“I know, let’s keep moving. We need to meet the blacksmith”

(Kazese and Aoi takes a right turn then a left and walk for a while until they reach an old small hut)

[Knocks at the door. The door did look quite fragile but it would withstand a lot]

“Is anyone here?” (Kazese)

“Yoho! Anybody home?”

After standing outside the door for a while they look at each other and move backwards trying to leave but suddenly they hear a loud ‘Thud’ inside and push the door entering the old hut.

They were inside but could not see a thing since it was dark and there were no light to enter the hut except the door.

“My.. my.. I haven’t had a guest in a while... (Coughing)” (Said a voice a bit deeper than Kazese’s from the dark shadow)

Kazese and Aoi freeze for a while staring at the dark figure as the figure slowly approaches them and the light entering from the door slowly unmasks the dark figure. A man about the age of thirty to forty walks towards them. His light blue eyes looking at the invaders, piercing through them, giving them a chill down the spine.

As he comes near, his appearance gets a bit calmer than before. He doesn’t look scary after all.

“Who are you? Wha....Why are you here?” (The stranger)

“Um.. We’re looking for the blacksmith who lives here but looks like he’s not here..so bye!” (Kazese turns around to walk through the door outside)

“Wait! What do you want?” (Stranger)

Kazese turns around quickly and looks at the man.

“We came here because we were told that you are the best blacksmith in Oshiro” (Kazese)

“Well, if that’s all that you came here to say then please leave” (Stranger)

“uh.. no! We need your help! We will pay!” (Aoi)

“Hahaha! Pay? You think that wealth is what i seek and nothing else? I’ve no greed for such thing. Tell me, what can I do for you?”

“So you are the famous blacksmith...” (Kazese)

“Blacksmith...Yes!..Famous?... not anymore!”

“What do you mean? Mr. Hisashi told us tha....” (Kazese)

“Ah! so, Hisashi sent you two? We are old pals. Now.. let me ask again, what do you want?”

“Oh..sorry. We would like an upgrade to our weapons, sir.” (Kazese)

“Kimura...”

“I’m sorry, i don’t understand” (Kazese)

“Call me Kimura, okay?”

“Yes..” (Kazese)

“Let me see your weapons...give them to me!” (Kimura)

Kazese and Aoi hands over their weapons to Kimura as he looks at them carefully.

“Ah... training materialized weapons” (Kimura)

“Yes, can you upgrade them?”

“No.. they are made only for training”

“Really? It was hopeless to come here without a bag of money after all” (Aoi)

“I wouldn’t say that though” (Kimura)

“Huh?” (Kazese)

“This thing can’t be upgraded but I can tweak it enough for you to slay a Level 20 demon or monsters” (Kimura)

“Really? Thank you, So, how much will you charge us?” (Kazese)

Kimura stares at Kazese’s sword and then to Aoi’s bow and looks at Kazese with another piercing stare.

“I’ll take 5 silver for this” (Kimura)

Kazese gets stuck in his previous expression for a while and unfreezes again when Kimura continues.

“Since you two look like a very good people, I’ll break it down to 200 copper coins which actually means 2 silvers” (Kimura)

“That’s still a lot for us but thank you for considering it. We’ll leave.” (Kazese)

“What’s the hurry? You are my first customers in the last eleven months, I’ll do it if you promise to pay me later” (Kimura)

“Really? Thank you a lot. I’m so glad you understand” (Kazese)

“Since you lack even such a small amount, I guessed you are new here” (Kimura)

“Yes, you got that right” (Aoi)

“Excluding business, you two are being very impolite to me” (Kimura)

“I’m sorry, My name is Kazese Kajou and this is my adventurer companion Aoi, nice to meet you”

“Mmm.. nice to meet you too. Well, you can watch me work on your weapons, it won’t take long” (Kimura)

“Yes, sure. I’m pretty much interested in watching how you do it.Can you tell us what happened to you before you became what you are?” (Kazese)

“I won’t mind, everyone knows here in the village” (Kimura)

Kimura starts heating up the coals as he starts telling his story.