A Will Kindled

[You have recovered. HP, MP & STAMINA is full]

Len opened his eyes and a blue panel appeared in front of him. Checking his status, all HP, MP and STAMINA were filled up. This is the first time Len ever woke up on a bed since coming to this world, 'I probably will see this notification every time I wake up…'.

"..."

Len rubbed his eyes and remembered what happened before. He facepalmed hard and rubbed his face. Why did I do that? Len saw himself slapping the food and felt the blood raising to his head. Getting up from the bed, Len searched around to find a mirror.

"...?"

But there's none. Perhaps because this is another world in a medieval kind of age, mirror would be a luxury few people own.

Looking down, Len noticed something odd. Since he woke up he felt a peculiar sensation on his whole body. The clothes he wore do not belong to him.

A brown plain shirt, and a blue pants. A bit loose, but the pants can be tied a little bit more tight.

'Whose clothes is this… wait, did they strip me naked…?'

Len grunted. He walked to the window and peeked outside.

"What the…"

Through the window a faint silhouette of a person stood quite afar. The figure was vague but judging from the hair color and clothes, Len could tell it was Novy. There were blue orbs appeared from the air and spiralled around her body.

It spiralled in a perfect harmony as the wind disheveled her hairs. The blue orbs glowed intensely and turned into a beam entering her body. For each beam being absorbed, Len thought faint glitter of light sparked from her.

Beautiful was the word Len wanted to say. He didn't understand what are the blue orbs or where they came from, but he knew it has to be magic.

Being mesmerized by the view, Len didn't notice the doorknob turned and a familiar figure appeared. Octo, still wearing the same clothes as yesterday grinned at him.

"Spying on my daughter after waking up aren't you? You've got guts!"

"What!? No, I was-"

"I'm kidding. Let's go."

Octo turned around and walked away while waving his hand.

"..."

…

"Follow me!"

Len jolted awake and realized what Octo just said. Tying his pants together, he stepped his feet outside the house.

The first thing he saw were the blue sky and the chirping birds. Bright and sunny sun overwhelmed Len. He couldn't help but to let out a subtle amazement.

"Ah."

The gentle wind blew upon him, tickling his nose and brushing his hair. Moving his eyes to the front, endless meadow extended towards the horizon as far the eyes can see. Moving his toes, he felt the faint coldness of the damp soil seeping into his skin and bones.

Walking another step, he saw the flowers danced together along with the grass. Len thought, 'Why didn't I see this before? How come I've never noticed?'. Stretching his arms out, Len inhaled deeply and exhaled heavily.

'What a fresh air.'

Finally, after everything he felt at peace.

Peace is a precious thing but always dull, gives temporary joy but also endless boredom. It's been hectic for the past week. After he went through death and life cycle, suffering the harsh environment, being alone and lost… savouring a little bit of peace could reduce his stress immensely.

Being so indulged in his fantasy and anger, he turned blind eyes to his surrounding. Now that he realized his own fault, it's too late for regret. What happened has happened. There's no going back.

Facing the reality, he must embrace this new world filled with magic and monsters.

"Hey!! Follow me I said!!"

Octo beckoned at him. Len followed him with a sheepish grin, he couldn't help but to. After all, he felt motivation begin anew inside him.

Catching up with Octo, he asked.

"Where are we going? And yesterday, I…"

"To the smithy."

"The smithy?"

Following from the back he thought, 'It seems Octo is fulfilling his end of bargain'. Len wondered what was Octo thinking about last night. What happened after he lost his consciousness? What were they talking about me? However, Octo didn't seems to care, so Len also pretended it never happen either.

The workshop wasn't far, less than 5 minutes and they've arrived.

"Wow."

The workshop was bigger than what he anticipated. Many foreign equipments scattered around, hammers, anvils, tongs and forges.

'Why there are so many of them? And why is it empty? Where are the others?'

Looking around, Len noticed Octo grabbed a slab of iron and fiddled with it. He said with a solemn tone.

"Blacksmithing is not something you learn in a day. It takes patience, hard work and perseverance. One last chance, I can give you 500.000 gills or you can learn [Blacksmith] skill."

Len pondered seriously while rubbing his chin. This was a big deal for Len, what he needed the most was money. Learning [Blacksmith] is good and all, but thinking it all over once again… it was not his top priority.

'But what is this feeling...?'

Len felt that he will regret it if he refuse. Something in the corner of his mind whispered to learn [Blacksmith]. What to do?

Taking a deep breath, Len closed his eyes and fell into deep thought. Being hasty in decision-making is a bad habit. He needs to weigh pros and cons, set his priorities, and grasp the situation he's in.

First of all, how did he ended up here? It was the quest that the sapphire monkey dropped. It said something about 'someone in Derdun village' and 'better alternative than money'. But is [Blacksmith] skill is far better than 500.000 gills? Again, Len didn't know how much value is 500.000 gills but…

Ting!

[Blacksmith Octo has offered you one last chance to take back your words! To be a disciple of Octo or 500.000 gills, the choice is in your hands.]

'Hmm? What do you mean 'take back my words'?'

Gazing at Octo's deadpan face. It was subtle, but Len felt Octo was being condescending to him. As if he were offering to teach a cripple to run, Octo felt disinclined to teach such inexperienced youth like him.

'Are you kidding me? Just because I'm inexperienced and weak, you…'

However, was that really the case? Flashback to few hours ago before Len woke up, Octo was drinking coffee together with Novy.

"Gulp! Fuh, winter isn't that far anymore. It will snow soon."

"..."

"Hm? Is there something bothering you, Vy?"

"Sigh…"

"It's the kid, huh?"

Rubbing his beard, Octo took another sip of his coffee and also sighed.

"What do you think of him?"

"...He's different."

"And?"

"...I don't know."

Novy shook her head while holding the warm coffee cup. Putting few sugar cubes into the cup, she stirred it and took a sip before answering.

"Nobody in this village favours an apostle. Especially, a kid like him."

"Uhuh."

"Why was such weak person like him appeared in this small village? Why not in Lothrigen? I can't wrap it around my head."

"Unlike in Lothrigen, average level of monsters here are around 30 ~ 70. An apostle always started from level 1. Technically, unless he has someone that helped him to level up, he has no chance of survival, yet he slew the sapphire monkey."

"I don't get it. How did he do it?"

"He's an apostle, they revives after death. He probably hunted it over and over after each revival."

Shaking her head, Novy disagreed.

"That's absurd. I never heard of such thing before. Have you? Anyone would go insane dying over and over without food and drink for days."

"But he achieved the absurdity."

"..."

"I'm guessing he's above level 15. It's still low, but his odds are increasing for the better."

Finishing her drink in one shot, Novy asked.

"Are you going to teach him how to be a [Blacksmith]?"

"It's what I promised, so yeah."

"You never teach anyone before. You sure you can do it?"

"Who do you think I am? Of course I can! It will be a cinch, but…"

"But…?"

"I want to test his skill."

"..."

Novy rolled her eyes and washed her cup.

"Don't over do it."

"Hoh, I never thought the day where you worry for an apostle would come."

"As if!"

Slamming the door, she went outside briskly.

'It's not that I worried about him…'

Novy stood outside in the middle of the meadow. Feeling the gentle wind, she closed her eyes.

What that kid said last night still echoed in her ears. He screamed his heart out and drowned himself in self-pity. Her impressions of Len was-

'Weak and pitiful.'

She empathized with him and that fact shocked herself.

Not even once she ever thought apostles as a 'real' being. They murder and pillage whatever they wanted. No matter how many times they were killed, they always comes back. A cursed beings that never die and haunt Orion.

A slave to desires and lusts. Apathetic, they are.

Then why did she felt pity for him? She hated them with a passion, but when she saw his face there was no hate or anger. He's just a kid that has the same ability as them. What she saw in his eyes were different from the apostle she met.

'He is the same like us. A human with feelings and soul. Not an artificial being that exists to be a slave of lust and greed.'

Slapping her cheeks, she shook her head.

'No, that might not be the case. I can't let my guard down.'

…

Peeking through the window, Octo sipped his coffee.

To be honest, Octo also felt the same way as Novy. That kid, Len gave a different vibe from the other apostles. Most of them apostles saw the people of the land like an object, not a living human being as if they were a moving doll.

But this kid made Octo questioned himself. Perhaps that kid was just an enigma of apostle.

"Hoh…"

Len might just be the anomaly that the world needs.

Apostles, a mysterious being of another world that came into Orion for reasons unknown.

"Alright…"

Gulping down his coffee, Octo made up his mind. He will give the kid a choice. He probably wasn't in the right mind yesterday and just made a casual answer. But if he decide to learn under me, then he better be prepared for the challenge ahead.

…

Unknowing to Octo and Novy's high opinion of him despite being an apostle, Len was infuriated in his heart.

The condescending look was just his imagination. Octo was actually being considerate and Len thought he underestimated him. It was all the system's fault.

He always got bullied and mocked in his childhood. People underestimated him and rejected him, thus forming a low self-esteem personality. However, ever since he used [Berserk] skill in an abnormal state of mind, his personality changed bit by bit.

As if his fear were being suppressed by fury, he blinked his eyes hard and said.

"...I've decided."

"What would it be?"

"I want to learn [Blacksmith]."

[Intimidation Level 5 has been activated!]

[Intimidation] Level 5

Intimidates the enemy for 7 minutes. Decreasing their stats for 10% and less likely to resist your will.

*Has very low probability to intimidates enemy 10 levels higher

*Has 50/50 probability to intimidates enemy 1 ~ 9 levels higher

*Has decent probability to intimidates enemy 1 ~ 19 levels lower

*Has very high probability to intimidates enemy 20 levels lower

*Cannot be activated on command

*Will activate on its own when specific condition(s) are fulfilled.

[Octo's stats has been decreased by 10% for 7 minutes!]

[Octo has resisted intimidation!]

[Your determination and passion for blacksmithing has touched Octo's heart!]

[Octo is impressed and motivated to teach you blacksmithing!]

"Eh?"

"Hahahak!! Alright!"

Throwing the iron slab on the air and catching it, Octo turned his back toward Len and said.

"That's the spirit!! I like that passion burning in your eyes kid!! I will teach you blacksmithing as best as I can!!"

Ting~!!

[Quest [Trial of a Passionate Blacksmith] has been activated!]

[Trial of a Beginner Blacksmith]

Difficulty: A

Your determination and passion to abandon 500.000 gills away to learn blacksmithing touched Octo's heart! After three weeks he want to see the prove of your dedication to blacksmithing!

Completion Requirement(s):

Forge any item with at least [Rare] rank

Reward(s) on Acceptance:

[Blacksmith's Eye of Appraisal] Lv. 1

[Blacksmith's Craftsmanship] Lv. 1

Reward(s) on Completion:

Affinity with Octo +100

Affinity with Novy +50

Reputation with Derdun village +50

[Blacksmith's Eye of Appraisal EX] MAX

[Blacksmith's Craftsmanship EX] Lv. 1

[Blacksmith] Class

If you fail/abandon the quest then affinity with Derdun village, Octo and Novy will decrease by 100 and you will be kicked out for being incompetent.

"Arghhhh…"

A quest appeared! Looking at the rewards, Len was ecstatic but then depressed after reading the completion requirement and failure penalties.

'What am I getting kicked for being incompetent?'

Crafting a [Rare] ranked weapon? That seems impossible for him. He's going to be 19 year-old this year and not even once he ever watch any documentary series regarding blacksmithing. He doesn't even know the process or the techniques name. He's nothing but an ignorant layman.

How can I do this quest?

'Why all the quests I've received always puts me in a tight position?'

First quest was to get into a village where he has hostile relationship with and now this. Len screamed internally his heart, 'How unfair this world is!!'.

Taking deep breaths, Len calmed himself down. At this critical juncture, he must think it over carefully so he wouldn't regret it later.

'No, let's think it carefully. The difficulty is A, it is supposed to be hard. It says if I accept the quests I will receive the blacksmith's eye of appraisal and craftsmanship level 1 but it doesn't says that I will lose them if I fail.'

Free skills, who would refuse such thing? But if he fail, he's gonna get kicked and his reputation will become hostile with Derdun village again. Len would kill just to avoid that scenario.

He painstakingly accomplished a good relationship with the village and gained a free pass to enter any city in the kingdom. What if the relationship become hostile? Would the pass become void?

'Ughh, my stomach hurts.'

It happened a lot. Whenever he felt nervous for whatever reason, his stomach will rumble and drowned in pain.

Ting~!

[Octo is waiting your answer. If you do not say anything within 10 seconds, he will take your silence as a 'YES']

[10…]

[9…]

"What's wrong? Your stomach hurts?"

"Uhh…"

Len cursed in his heart. Trapped in a dilemma, he wished could turn back time and punch himself. Why make matters more difficult than it already is?

Staring at the merciless time counter, Len steeled his heart. Worst case scenario, he would just go to another city and hunt monsters on the way.

'If I fail so be it! I won't take back my words!'

Gulping his saliva, Len declared with bloodshot eyes.

"Let's start!"

"As expected! I know you won't back down from this!"

Ting~!

[You have received the quest!]

Ting Ting~!

[Blacksmith's Eye of Appraisal Level 1 will be unlocked after the training begin!]

[Blacksmith's Craftsmanship Level 1 will be unlocked after the training begin!]

Satisfied with Len's answer, Octo picked up a tong and lit up the forge with charcoal. Stepping on the bellows, the flames ablazed. The temperature rose bit by bit and Len started to sweat.

"First, we will learn about smelting."

Picking an iron ore with a tong, Octo said with a pensive tone.

Seeing his silhouette before the flames, the image of a legendary blacksmith appeared in Len's mind.

'Who is this old man, really?'

Then it struck him.

'The quest rewards!'

Blacksmith's Eye of Appraisal and Craftsmanship EX

'What does EX mean? Extra? Extended? It has to be Extended.'

EX is a gaming terminology which commonly signify an upgraded version of an item. For example, [Blue Jeans EX] or [Dark Knight's Helmet EX], usually the differences can be seen in the stats.

Realizing this, Len was sure that the old man in front of him is no ordinary blacksmith. How can some random blacksmith give such rewards? EX items in video games were extremely rare and usually can only be crafted by some NPC that plays an important role in the story.

Following a particular pattern, an EX item will only be given to a player when they are close to fighting the final boss or a reward after completing the game.

With this Len became determined. [Blacksmith's Craftsmanship EX] must be related to crafting such items! And that's not everything, he will also gain a class and affinity with everyone!

Flame of passion lit inside him and ignited his will to succeed!

Just imagine how much money such item will fetch! 500.000 gills? Once he mastered the [Blacksmith's Craftsmanship EX] Len is confident he could make more that!

Quietly, Len vowed to himself.

'I will complete this quest no matter what it takes!'

Clenching his fists, Len activated [Hawk Eye], observing every single movement Octo made.

'I won't repeat the same history. I will pave my own path and live my life in this world!'

Len's first objective was to become a blacksmith and make money to support himself in this new world filled with magic and monsters.

'My journey has just begun!'