Chapter 50: Shield

I approached the choice of armor with utmost caution.

Even with the [Iron Sinews, Steel Bones] feat granting me some physical damage reduction,

a direct hit from a sharp weapon or a strong blow would likely overwhelm me.

For a low-tier adventurer, a suitable set of armor was practically a second life.

Thus, upon realizing I couldn’t choose between the two medium armors,

I promptly asked Barn, the blacksmith shop owner beside me, about their pros and cons, seeking his advice.

“Hm, weight is the first thing to consider,” Barn said, stroking his chest-length beard braid as he addressed me. “Though they’re the same type, scale armor is noticeably heavier overall.”

“Defense is crucial, but it shouldn’t compromise your mobility.”

I took his advice to heart.

With his approval, I tried on both sets of armor.

No issue.

With my current physical condition, the weight of these medium armors felt only slightly heavier than the leather armor I bought before my second mission.

It was far from affecting my daily movements.

“Then, you need to consider your specific circumstances,” Barn added.

“If you’re a bounty hunter taking guild missions targeting bandits or rogues, I’d recommend scale armor.”

“It has broader coverage and effectively blocks arrows and spears, making it especially useful against intelligent enemies.”

He glanced at the beheading longsword on my back.

“But if you mainly hunt monsters in the Mist Forest for a living, the chainmail shirt is better.”

“It’s quieter when moving, less likely to attract monsters, and its simpler structure makes maintenance easier. Even after ten days or half a month in the forest, its defensive strength won’t degrade significantly.”

With Barn’s explanation, my indecision cleared.

Compared to facing cunning bandits who used traps and sinister tools, I preferred dealing with the green-skinned goblins in the Mist Forest—one slash, one kill.

“I’ll take the chainmail shirt.”

No need for packaging; my old leather armor had already been sold to him.

After paying the gold, I put the chainmail shirt on directly.

Feeling the distinct weight of metal against my skin,

a subtle sense of security welled up in my heart.

“If I forgo dodging and trade blows head-on, I wonder how many hits I could take from a bear goblin.”

I mused inwardly.

Having updated my armor, I didn’t leave “Rockhammer.”

I still had one crucial matter to address.

“Hm? This is…”

Barn’s eyes fixed on the glossy black scale glinting under the sunlight, a trace of surprise on his rugged face.

His years of forging experience told him instantly this was a monster’s scale, but—

“Ding!”

A delicate hammer tapped the scale’s surface, producing a crisp, metal-like sound.

Even without thorough testing, his rough hands, which had handled countless materials, could feel the astonishing hardness and resilience of the scale.

“Where did you…” Barn looked up at the black-haired youth before him, starting to ask but abruptly stopping mid-sentence.

He swallowed the question on his lips.

In his line of work, especially with adventurers as customers, it was best to speak less.

“How about it? Can you craft a piece of equipment with this scale as the main material?” I asked calmly, keeping my expression neutral.

I hadn’t forgotten the serpent scale I found in the cave.

In some ways, it held a higher priority in my mind than the sheath or armor.

After all, I had used all my strength, even unleashing [Whirlwind Slash], and failed to leave a mark on that serpent’s body.

Its unimaginable defensive strength made me ponder, almost immediately upon returning to River Valley Town, how to use it to craft suitable equipment.

“Give me a moment to study it.”

Entering his professional domain, Barn’s demeanor turned serious.

Suppressing his curiosity, he held the scale up to the sunlight outside the shop, squinting.

“Maybe embed it in the center of a breastplate for vital protection. Even with a plate armor model, it could reduce weight while maintaining performance.”

“But that might be underusing it.”

“Or split it to make scale armor?”

“The edges are sharp—maybe a dagger or short sword?”

“No, no, that’s too wasteful.”

Suddenly, noting the scale’s wide-sided, narrow-centered diamond shape, Barn’s eyes lit up.

With the fervor unique to a craftsman, he asked:

“An arm shield! How about an arm shield?”

He hurried to the rack, pulling out a finely crafted, silver-gleaming round metal shield.

“Something like this!”

“Of course, with this scale as the main material, the arm shield’s shape wouldn’t be round, and the color would likely differ.”

I was intrigued.

I knew a bit about “arm shields” as defensive gear.

They were like small shields strapped to the arm.

Compact and lightweight, even with my primary weapon being the two-handed beheading longsword, it wouldn’t hinder me in combat.

When defending, I could raise the shield on my arm while my other hand could still seize opportunities to attack.

It also spared me the awkwardness of using my sword to block attacks in some situations.

All in all, given the diamond shape of the scale and my fighting style, crafting it into an arm shield seemed the best choice.

“Alright, let’s go with an arm shield,” I nodded to Barn.

But he looked somewhat regretful.

“It’s a pity. The guild’s orders have been heavy lately, and I’ve used up a lot of materials.”

“Otherwise, with the strength of this scale, after careful inspection, I might’ve been able to craft a magical piece of equipment.”

“Magical equipment!?”

I froze, then reacted swiftly.

“No problem, I can wait!”

“How much?”

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