It was late noon, and the sun had already begun its slow descent toward the horizon, painting the city of Yargan in long, stretching shadows. The evening was getting closer, but since dinner time was not yet imminent, I decided we had enough time to make a productive stop. We turned our steps toward the cluster of equipment shops situated near the dungeon entrance, an area perpetually filled with the rhythmic clanging of hammers and the scent of coal smoke. After walking for a while among the various storefronts, each boasting its own array of iron and leather, we stopped in front of a familiar workshop.

  “Hi, Yorik. How are you doing?” I called out, waving as we crossed the threshold into the heat of the forge.

  Yorik is a friend I’ve gotten to know well over the past months. He was one of the first people I interacted with for business, selling him the loot I dragged out of the depths and occasionally buying a piece of gear when I didn't feel like looting it myself. As we traded and interacted more frequently, our professional relationship evolved into something closer to a friendship. I knew he was quite close to reaching the next stage in his blacksmithing progression. I couldn't help but wonder if his job level had finally reached the threshold for an upgrade.

  ***

  Yorik

  Race: Human

  Sex: Male

  Status: Normal

  Equipment:

  Leather Footwear

  Job: Blacksmith Lvl 40

  ***

  Looking at his current job level, I was certain he had reached the point where he could upgrade to a higher-tiered profession. In this world, a level 40 Blacksmith usually has the choice to branch out into more specialized roles like Master Blacksmith, Arcanesmith, or Enchanter. I haven't acquired any of these crafting jobs myself—my focus remains on combat and utility—so I only possess a general understanding of how they function.

  The Master Blacksmith is the logical evolution of his current path; it allows a smith to work with significantly higher-quality materials, such as orichalcum, which would otherwise be impossible to shape. The Arcanesmith is a bit more unique. It’s a job where the person maintains their core blacksmithing abilities, but their potential shifts toward the creation of artifacts. From what I’ve heard, Arcanesmiths are held in extremely high regard in the Almiranth Kingdom, respected by both human scholars and dwarven masters alike for their ability to weave magic into metal.

  Then there is the third option: the Enchanter. This job is the bottleneck for high-level professions because it requires adding skill crystals to equipment. An Enchanter can still craft basic gear like a normal blacksmith, but their advancement in the job doesn't improve their forging skills; instead, every new level helps them develop the precision needed to implant more crystals into a single item without it shattering.

  I already have long-term plans to add skill crystals to all of my equipment. Up until now, I’ve mostly kept that thought in the back of my mind since I felt strong enough on my own. But I know that feeling is a bit of an illusion. I haven't even reached the truly high floors of a major dungeon yet, nor have I faced an opponent with a tier 4 or 5 job. In the higher tiers of this world, raw stats aren't always enough.

  Having Woya and Wyn around has also changed my perspective. Even if I don't prioritize crystals for myself right away, I can use them to bolster the girls' defenses and ensure they stay safe while they level up. Getting my hands on a real skill crystal today was the perfect reminder that I need to start taking enchantment seriously.

  “Of course, I am working as always, doing real labor as a blacksmith,” Yorik replied, his voice gruff as he wiped soot from his brow. He looked at me, then at the two sisters standing behind me, and smirked. “I’m not spending my days hanging around with beauties like you are.”

  He said it mockingly, even though it was perfectly obvious that the girls and I were fully geared for combat and coming straight from the dungeon.

  “Don’t be too petty, Yorik,” I countered with a grin. “I know you have a huge stash of gold hidden under your pillow. If you're so jealous, just use it to buy yourself whatever you want instead of belittling the possessions of others.”

  “Hmph… Whatever, it is none of your business,” he pouted, clearly not wanting to admit I was right about his savings. He set his hammer down and crossed his arms. “Talk about your own business. What brought you here today? Looking to sell more scrap?”

  “Okaay~” I drawled, leaning against a nearby anvil. “You see, I was originally thinking that maybe you’d know a good enchanter I could visit. But now that I’ve seen your status, I think it’s about time for you to change your job to a better one yourself. Am I right?”

  I explained the purpose of my visit, watching for his reaction.

  “You know how much I love the craft of making items from scratch,” Yorik said, his expression hardening slightly. “I have no interest in merely adding bits and pieces to someone else’s finished work. It feels... unearned. What, did you buy some cheap trinket thinking it would change my mind? You know it’s no use.”

  He was already preparing to reject the idea of becoming an enchanter, but I didn't let him finish. I reached into my pouch and pulled out the Turtle Skill Crystal we had looted from the earth turtle earlier today. The rhombus-shaped crystal caught the orange light of the forge, glowing with a dull, earthy luster.

  “No, I didn't buy it,” I explained. “It dropped from an earth turtle in the dungeon today.”

  Yorik stared at the crystal for a long second, then looked back at me with a smirk. “So, you brought this here just to show off, huh? How cheap can you get, Han?”

  “What are you talking about?” I snapped, genuinely a bit annoyed. “Do you realize this is the first skill crystal I’ve seen drop in over a year? Why on earth do you think I’d come all this way just to show off over one drop?”

  “So what if it's the first in a year?” Yorik said, his tone turning more serious as he stared at the crystal again. “Do you really think a skill crystal is easy to come by? Even a common one like this is worth more than 10 gold on a bad day. Do you know why they’re so precious? It’s not just the rarity of the drop. I’m not even mentioning the risk of failure during the implementation.”

  He gestured vaguely to a pile of scrap in the corner. “If an enchantment fails, it’s not just a puff of smoke. Both the skill crystal and the equipment it was being placed in are destroyed. Gone. If the gear already had other crystals in it? They vanish, too. It’s an all-or-nothing gamble.”

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  I sighed, realizing he was right. The high stakes made the profession of enchanter both lucrative and incredibly stressful.

  “Yes, yes, you’re right. Stop trying to educate me,” I said, admitting defeat in our little verbal sparring match. “Anyway, regardless of the risk, isn't the profession profitable? Don't you want to earn the kind of money that comes with high-end enchanting?”

  “No, I don't want to,” he replied firmly, his pride as a pure blacksmith winning out.

  “Fuu… Okay, fine. If that’s how you feel,” I said, deciding not to push that particular path any further. “What about becoming a Master Blacksmith, then? I’m certain you’re qualified enough to take the job.”

  I wanted to give him a nudge toward growth, even if it wasn't the path I had hoped for. Yorik looked at me, his eyes searching mine for a moment before he finally nodded.

  “I don’t think I’m quite as qualified as you seem to think, but… I’ll give it a shot,” he admitted.

  “I got it,” I said, satisfied that he was at least moving forward. “Then, since you're in the mood to work, can I look at some new equipment for the girls?”

  Yorik raised an eyebrow, his gaze shifting to Woya and Wyn. “Hmm? It hasn't even been two weeks since you bought their current sets. Are you sure about that? They haven't even grown out of the leather yet.”

  “Yeah, well, things have progressed much faster than I expected,” I said, feeling a bit of pride. “They’re already performing better than most novices. They’ve already reached the eighth floor, you know?”

  “No kidding?” Yorik let out a boisterous laugh, his belly shaking. “Hahaha! You girls are really something else, aren't you?”

  “Thank you, Sir Yorik,” the girls replied in unison, bowing elegantly.

  I knew that if we were alone, Woya and Wyn would probably be pestering me about how unnecessary the expense was. They were always trying to save me money. But since we were in front of a third party, they remained the picture of the perfect, obedient maids, not questioning my decisions for a second.

  I asked Yorik to bring out a variety of high-quality equipment. I wanted sets that offered more protection as we moved into deeper floors. He brought out several leather helmets that had been reinforced with steel plates, leather armor with integrated steel guards over the vital organs, and sets of strengthened leather gloves and footwear. I also requested a few one-handed steel swords and medium-sized iron shields.

  I had him bring out as many versions of each item as he had in stock. My goal was simple: I wanted to select the ones with the most "symbols"—the small circular marks that indicate how many skill crystal slots an item can support. Since the price remains the same regardless of the number of slots, it's always more efficient to buy the gear with the highest potential for future upgrades. Even if I haven't found a permanent enchanter yet, I want the gear ready for when I do.

  This is the selection I eventually finalized for Wyn and Woya:

  ***

  One-handed Steel Sword○○○

  One-handed Steel Sword○○○

  Strengthened Leather Helmet○○

  Leather-Steel Armor○○○

  Strengthened Leather Gloves○○

  Strengthened Leather Footwear○○

  ***

  ***

  One-handed Steel Sword○○○

  Mid-scale Iron Shield○○

  Strengthened Leather Helmet○○

  Leather-Steel Armor○○○

  Strengthened Leather Gloves○○

  Strengthened Leather Footwear○○

  ***

  I’ve always paid attention to these symbols from the start, keeping the future in mind. I’m currently torn between continuing the search for an established enchanter or perhaps even finding a way to develop the job myself, though that would be a significant time investment.

  “These should be fine,” I said, looking over the pile of steel and leather with satisfaction.

  “Hmm… Okay. I’ll pack them up,” Yorik said. He paused, looking at the items I had specifically set aside. “But I have to ask... what is with your attitude toward choosing? You spent forever looking at similar pieces. Even I can't see much of a difference between them.”

  He was questioning the logic behind my specific choices, unable to see the system-level "symbols" that I was focusing on.

  “Oho, are you curious?” I asked, a mischievous smile crossing my face. “It’s a secret, but I might be willing to tell you... that is, if you ever decide to become an enchanter.”

  “Ah… Forget it then,” Yorik grumbled, looking a bit pissed off that I was holding out on him. “You can keep your bullshit to yourself.”

  “Bullshit, you say?” I laughed. “As you wish. So, how much do all of these cost?”

  Since he clearly had no intention of hearing my explanation, I decided to stop teasing him and get down to the final transaction.

  “Hmm… Let’s see,” Yorik said, rubbing his chin as he did the mental math. “Let’s say... a total of 80 gold coins.”

  “Uh, umm…”

  The moment the price left Yorik’s mouth, I heard the girls start to quiver. They began to murmur something under their breath, their eyes wide. To them, 80 gold coins must have sounded like a king’s ransom—more money than they had likely seen in their entire lives before being sold.

  “... Okay,” I said, looking at them for a second before turning back to Yorik with a smile. “I agree.”

  I pulled the coins from my pouch and set them on the counter. “Here. But aren't you being a little cheap today? I was honestly expecting you to ask for at least 90 gold for this quality.”

  “What? You want to pay more?” Yorik said, his smirk returning. “I won't deny it if you want to add another 10 gold as a tip.”

  “This rascal…” I muttered. He was a good friend, but he certainly knew how to maintain the line between friendship and business. I, however, knew where to draw my own line. “No thanks. It was good to see you again, Yorik. See you later.”

  Before he could actually try to squeeze any more gold out of me, I took the girls and made a quick exit.

  After I had tucked the new equipment safely into my inventory, we began our walk through the city to pick up some groceries. The girls still looked visibly uneasy; I could tell they were dying to say something about the 80 gold I had just "wasted" on them, but I ignored their worried looks. I knew exactly what they were thinking, but their safety in the dungeon was worth far more than a pile of gold coins.

  We visited several stalls, buying fresh vegetables, fruits, milk, a large cut of meat, and several loaves of crusty bread. Once we had all the necessary ingredients for a proper meal, we finally headed home.

  The sun was just beginning to dip below the horizon as we entered the house. After we had unequipped our gear and put it away, the girls disappeared into the kitchen to start cooking. Since it takes me quite a bit longer to step out of my full plate harness, by the time I had changed and made my way downstairs, they were already well into the process.

  They were preparing a hearty main dish of boiled vegetables with meat, a light soup with a few other garden greens, and a dessert made from fresh milk and fruit. The kitchen was filled with wonderful, savory aromas. I stood near the doorway for a moment just watching them work; they were so synchronized that they didn't even seem to notice me observing them.

  Once everything was ready, they set the table with their usual precision, and we sat down to eat. The meal was as delicious as the presentation suggested. Every bite was a testament to Woya’s crafty hands and Wyn’s assistance. We ate in a comfortable, quiet atmosphere, enjoying the fruits of our labor.

  The dinner was incredibly enjoyable, but like every good thing, it eventually came to an end. Once the table was cleared, it was time for the next part of our nightly routine. I went up to my room and waited for the girls to finish the dishes and change into their soft nightdresses.

  Once they were ready, we performed our ritual of cleaning ourselves thoroughly, the warm water and quiet intimacy helping to wash away the stress of the day. At this rate, the routine had become so established and comfortable that it felt like we had been living this way for years. We went to bed together, just like the day before—a fulfilling end to a long day of labor.

  [Edited]

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  Heroes:

  Aymeric Petiaux

  Koreyn