Chapter 49: Selection 2

I was surprised by the craftsman’s reaction before me.

Given the “battle-worn” state of my leather armor, not even a roadside general store would give it a second glance, let alone offer to buy it back.

I had thought it could only be scrapped, but to think I could sell it at “Rockhammer,” renowned for high-end quality, was unexpected.

Naturally, I couldn’t refuse.

I took off the armor and handed it to Barn.

Speaking of which, this leather armor lived up to its hefty 10-gold price tag.

When hit by the petrifying lizard, it was shattered on impact, but it undoubtedly absorbed a significant amount of damage.

Had I cheaped out and bought shoddy gear,

I probably wouldn’t have lasted until the half-elf and his team came to my aid—I’d have been crushed by the lizard.

Three silver coins pocketed.

Barn Steelbeard, his reddish-brown beard braid swinging down to his chest, grinned as he stored the armor behind the counter.

Catching a glint of iron-gray in the corner of his eye,

he looked up at the beheading longsword on my back and asked tentatively:

“How’s that sword holding up?”

I didn’t hold back, answering frankly:

“Very good. Sharp, sturdy, and far better than the weapon I used before.”

As I spoke, I observed his expression, carefully phrasing my words to avoid exposing my golden finger, subtly hinting:

“I don’t know if it’s because of the gray steel mixed in, but I feel this sword is tougher than others.”

“If you recall the details of its forging, you might be able to develop a solid product.”

Hearing this, Barn’s deep, hearty laughter echoed through the blacksmith shop again.

His broad hand clapped my shoulder heavily.

“Hahaha, you’re too kind! But be careful not to let this weapon put you at a disadvantage in battle.”

He clearly didn’t catch the hint in my words.

“We only make quality goods here! Equipment with uncertain quality details can’t be mass-produced.”

“Besides, even if I accidentally crafted something decent,” Barn’s eyes glazed slightly, as if recalling the forging of the beheading longsword, “it was just a fluke, not something I can replicate.”

With the conversation reaching this point, I couldn’t say more.

I nodded.

Pulling the [Qingsong] wooden sword from my back, I handed it to him.

“I need you to custom-make a sheath for this. Name your price.”

Barn took it with both hands, his gaze scanning the sword without asking why I wanted a sheath for a wooden sword.

As he examined it, he muttered to himself:

“Hm… dark brown wooden material, tougher than ordinary wood. Is it iron oak from Ivelius? Or perhaps sparrow willow from Velvet Lake? No, the color’s too dark…”

He retrieved measuring tools from the storage cabinet behind the counter, asking without looking up:

“Any specific requirements?”

I thought carefully for a moment.

“Durable, not too flashy in color, and a simple, low-profile design will do.”

A sword sheath, as a tool for storing weapons, might not stand out in combat.

But for an adventurer, a proper sheath was crucial.

Beyond the common perception of protecting the blade and preventing rust or moisture, it could also affect draw speed and maintain balance during daily activities and battles.

I’d heard drunken boasts in the tavern about high-level professionals with vast wealth hiring spellcasters to enchant their sheaths for automatic maintenance or faster drawing.

Of course, that was far beyond my reach for now—no need to dwell on it.

Barn, hailing from a dwarven clan, had skills among the best in River Valley Town.

In just ten minutes, he finished measuring.

Handing the wooden sword back to me, he said gravely:

“The sword’s style is a bit unusual, but making a sheath isn’t difficult.”

“I plan to use rock carbon steel. It matches the sword’s color, won’t stand out, and has good moisture resistance, suitable for wooden weapons.”

“Come back in three days. Labor and materials… you know, custom work is pricier.”

“10 gold.”

“Deal.”

I nodded.

The same price as my previous leather armor, and a necessary expense.

Skimping here would be gambling with my life.

I placed the wooden sword back on my back, my gaze shifting to the array of armor on the display rack.

Having ordered the [Qingsong] sheath, my next task was to buy new armor.

Feeling the hefty weight of my coin pouch, I steeled myself, ready for a big expenditure.

The battle with the petrifying lizard and the high-pressure environment of the Mist Forest made me realize:

To survive as an adventurer through mission after mission,

my margin for error had to increase!

High offense, low defense might work for professionals with sufficient “killing power.”

But for a low-tier adventurer like me, with only a few basic combat skills, sacrificing defense for offense was a trap that drastically raised the chance of death.

Thus, I planned to buy armor that wouldn’t significantly hinder my agility while offering decent defensive strength.

I had made up my mind before my first visit to “Rockhammer,” when I bought the 10-gold leather armor.

My gaze skipped the lightweight but insufficiently protective “light armor” and the heavily defensive but mobility-limiting “heavy armor.”

It landed on the middle of the rack.

“Chainmail shirt,” medium armor, made of tightly interwoven metal rings embedded in leather, covered with a layer of flexible fabric for decoration.

“Scale armor,” medium armor, also leather-based, with overlapping fish-scale-like metal plates, including two greaves.

Both were priced at 50 gold.

Though the same price, each had its strengths and weaknesses.

The chainmail offered better protection against slashing attacks, was easier to maintain, and quieter in movement, but its uneven weight distribution required sufficient muscle strength and was weaker against blunt damage; the scale armor had better resistance to piercing attacks, performing well against arrows and spears, with greater coverage, but it was costlier to maintain and noticeably heavier.

Clearly, despite the identical price, both suits had distinct advantages and drawbacks.

To choose the one best suited for me, I needed to consider my specific circumstances and make a practical decision.

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