"The headmaster?"

My eyes shot wide open.

"The SS ranked hero headmaster who never once showed up during my stay at the lock?"

Waylan almost spat out his drink. Giving me an odd look, he wrily smiled.

"Odd way to put it, but correct."

"...my god."

Leaning back on my seat, my brows furrowed tightly.

Although I knew that Waylen and the headmaster were on a mission together, I didn't actually know that they were in the dwarven domain.

This was because Kevin back in my novel only went to the dwarven domain after the conference that took place a couple of years from now.

That was also the first time the two properly showed up in the story.

Tap.Tap.Tap

Tapping on the table, I fell into thought.

'Who would've thought that he was here?'

The headmaster's presence makes things complicated.

Although he wasn't there during the tournament, most likely he was aware of me. After all, there was no way Donna wouldn't have told him about me.

Furthermore, as the headmaster, he was probably made aware of each death that occurred during that day.

Explaining to him how I was still alive was going to be really troublesome.

'ugh, how troublesome indeed.'

"Do you have any other questions for me?"

Waylan downed the whole drink and smacked the cup on the table. He then proceeded to wipe the foam that lingered on his lips.

Lifting my head, I nodded my head.

"Yes, one more."

"Go on, but make it quick I'm supposed to leave soon."

Waylan replied as he checked his watch.

Leaning forward, I asked.

"Have you perhaps heard of anyone called Malvil Ironhawk before?"

"Sir Malvil?"

An odd look flashed Waylen's face.

"Is there something wrong?"

From the look on Waylen's face, it seemed as though he knew him.

With a complicated look, Waylan scratched the back of his head.

"No, not really, it's just that...he's, mhhh, how should I say it."

Stroking his chin, Waylan tried to find the right words to say.

"...Let's just say that he's a very hard man to please."

"I figured."

Leaning back on my seat I let out a sigh.

Malvil was one of the few people that could handle Okleum properly.

He was a legendary craftsman. Without a doubt his standards for materials were high, and not just that, he was probably also very selective of his clients.

In no way would he craft artifacts for whoever asked.

But.

I still had to try.

"Even if he might reject me, I want to know."

I wanted to get stronger faster.

Surrounded by so many enemies, I had no choice but to get stronger.

It was a must.

At my response, a small smile appeared on Waylan's face.

"Mhm, if you insist."

Twirling his now empty cup, Waylan thought for a moment.

"Usually he's working at the fourth level, but you can find him on the first level from time to time. In fact, he's probably at his shop right now."

"Where exactly is that? Can you tell me the location?"

"...Sure, but I'll warn you beforehand. Don't expect him to make an artifact for you. No matter how rich you are, he won't do it unless he feels like it."

"Mhm."

Understandable.

Like I've said before if he just crafted for anyone, he'd have a line that would stretch all the way to the human domain.

"Pay close attention."

Tapping on his watch, a holographic map soon appeared before us. To my surprise, it was a map of the whole first level.

Waylant then pointed towards a certain area on the map.

"The shop is right here, if you follow this path over here, you should be able to get there in about ten minutes."

"I see."

My brows furrowed slightly.

The map was a bit of a mess since wasn't an official map, but it got to the point.

I now knew where to go.

"I have to go now."

Putting his hood back on, Waylan suddenly stood up. Before he left, he tossed me a dark colored metal plate.

"Hmmm, before I go, take this as well."

"What's this?"

Catching it, I curiously asked.

Pointing at the plate in my hand, Waylan explained.

"It's an identification badge. In case you want to meet me, you can just show them to the guards and they'll let you pass."

Staring at the green plate in my hand, I gratefully looked at Waylan.

"I see...thank you."

This might come in handy.

"No problem"

Flashing a grin behind the hood, Waylan gave a slight nod.

"Have to go now. Thank you again for telling me about Emma."

"No problem."

Recalling something, Waylan's footsteps suddenly halted. Turning around, he

"Oh, right, if we meet up again Dd tell me more about that guy you mentioned before. Very curious about him."

Sweat instantly dripped down my forehead.

"...sure."

"Good, good."

Satisfied, Waylan turned around and left the tavern.

Gazing at his back from where I was sitting, I closed my eyes and wished Kevin the best of luck.

Looks like he really couldn't get out of this one.

***

[Leviathan building, Lock.]

Every day at this hour, Emma and Kevin would train at the public training ground inside of the Leviathan building.

Not only was it bigger than their own personal training grounds, but it was also great for training with companions.

Training with his swords in the middle of the training grounds, Kevin suddenly sneezed.

"Achoo!"

"Kevin?"

Emma dropped her short swords and worriedly looked at him.

Holding onto his nose and raising his hand to gesture to her that he was fine, Kevin wrily smiled.

"Nothing, I just suddenly felt a chill run down through my spine."

"...got a cold?"

"Don't think so."

Excluding the fact that cold's didn't exist anymore, Kevin had been feeling good these days. His strength was progressing at an alarming rate.

He had just broken to <C-> rank not too long ago.

He was healthier than ever.

"It's probably just my imagination."

He muttered to himself before once again raising his sword.

Sha!

Slashing down, a beautiful yet deadly arc drew in the air.

"...I'm feeling great, probably just my imagination"

"That's great."

Emma sighed in relief before suddenly her face turned serious.

"By the way, Kevin, did you finally make up your mind?"

But at that moment, Kevin's focus completely scattered and he turned to face Emma.

"...Regarding?"

"Regarding what you told me not too long ago."

"Ah, that."

Lowering his sword, Kevin's face distorted. Clenching tightly onto his sword, he softly muttered.

"Mhm, I have decided to go through with the offer."

"A pity."

A look of disappointment flashed Emma's eyes.

"Well, it's not like I can stop you since I also think that this decision isn't a bad one."

"I know, but..."

Kevin's fists clenched tightly.

From Ren's death to Emma's problems. Kevin realized that he was still too weak.

If only he had been more powerful, or had someone backing him up, of the problems would've ever occurred.

Never again did he want to feel so helpless.

Lifting his head and raising his sword, Kevin once again slashed down.

Sha!

"Joining the Union is the fastest way to make up for my shortcomings."

***

With the city built directly inside of a mountain range, the only indication I got that it was nighttime was the slight chill that travelled in the air.

Even then, it quickly disappeared as the thermal system built underground turned on, warming up my shoes, and the air around me.

"This should be the place right?"

Lifting my head, I stopped in front of a fairly large shop.

Compared to the other shops that I saw, this shop was the shabbiest looking one. Yet, despite it being the shabbiest looking one, it somehow felt like the most premium one.

It was hard to describe.

Was it perhaps its atmosphere? Or just my imagination?

Wasn't sure, but I was just about to find out.

[The Golden Hammer.]

A shabby looking insignia hung outside of the shop.

Turning around and finally taking notice of my surroundings, to my surprise, I barely found anyone frequenting the place.

It was as though everyone was avoiding the shop like plague.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

The rhythmical, steady sound of metal being pounded was the only thing that indicate to me that I was in the right place.

Taking a step forward, I knocked on the door.

Knock! Knock!

"Hello? Is anybody here?"

No response.

Knock!

I once again knocked. This time, I raised my voice a little bit more, just to make sure that they heard me.

"Hello? Is there anyone in the shop?"

Clang! Clang!

"Hmmm, strange."

Yet again no one responded. However, the sound of metal being pounded was unmistakably there.

Was he perhaps too into it? Maybe that was why he didn't hear me.

"Well, whatever."

Shrugging my shoulders, I pushed the door open and entered the shop.

"Ugh."

As soon as I entered the shop, a wave of hot hair brushed past me as the heavy scent of iron invaded my nostrils prompting my nose to momentarily close up.

It took me a couple of seconds to get adjusted to the smell, and once I looked around, I found myself inside of a nicely decorated shop filled with all sorts of different artifacts.

From all kinds of weapons ranging from swords, axes, spears, and much much more, to bracelets, and other different accessories were put on display around the shop.

From a distance, I could tell that they were of a different quality.

"Come on, put more strength into it."

"I'm trying!"

Clang! Clang!

As I was observing the artifacts, in the back of the shop I could faintly hear two voices.

Turning my head and walking in the direction of where the voices were coming from, I curiously peeked from the side.

And there I saw it.

"Steady your arm!"

"Ok!"

Two dwarves fully focused on hammering a small piece of metal.

Sweat trickled down the side of their faces, and their focus never left the piece of metal before their eyes.

In fact, they were so focused that they did not notice my presence.

Of the two dwarves, one was evidently older whilst the other was much younger. Furthermore, observing from the side, I could tell that the older one was trying to coach the younger one.

Clang! Clang!

"no, nae, nae! harder! tha'ss'a too soft!"

The older looking dwarf shook his head in disappointment before pointing at a specific section of the metal.

"Idiot, ye did nae hammer this part enough. Look, tha shape be aff!

"Im trying ye old bastard."

Smack!

Raising his hand, the older looking dwarf suddenly smacked the younger-looking dwarf in the head.

"who ye calling bastard ye bastard."

"Oy that hurts!"

Letting go of the hammer, the younger dwarf screamed in pain and held the back of his head in pain.

This enraged the older looking dwarf who raised his voice.

"you idiot, why did ye let go o' tha hammer?"

"because ye hit me!"

The younger dwarf cried out in grievance.

Unfortunately for him, the older dwarf had no sympathy for him as he once again smacked him in the head.

Smack!

"A good blacksmith can work under any conditions. Now look, ye failed. What a waste o' good materials."

Covering his face with his hand, the older dwarf muttered out loud.

"What did I do ta get such an incompetent disciple..."

"Maybe if ye were nicer ta me, i wou''ve made it."

Raising his hand, the older dwarf threatened.

"Oy shut up 'afore I smack ye again."

"..."

The threat seemed effective as the younger-looking dwarf instantly shut up and covered his head with his hands.

"hmm? Who be ye?"

Finally taking notice of my presence, the older looking dwarf turned his head and looked at me straight in the eyes.

"Hey."

I awkwardly waved my hand.

"Are you perhaps Sir Malvil?"