Chapter 26: 🤓 👆 I Have an Idea

A Brilliant Plan Winger had a brilliant idea. She stayed home out of worry. But what if she expanded her territory? Everywhere would feel like her backyard. Handing tasks to Rhine was right. She needed to test [Forging]’s effects. At the workshop, she found Finrod smoking by the river. His back looked lonely. He didn’t react to her approach. Yet he answered her questions patiently. Cracks from long use could be fixed with localized forging. Minor damage needed light polishing. Major reshaping was tricky—inexperience could ruin weapons. When asked about enhancement, Finrod turned serious. “Enhancement” wasn’t simple. Smiths contributed only 20% to it. Special materials required specific crafting. Compatibility with weapons mattered. Flame iron ore, for instance, added “burning” traits. Special tools could boost materials or trigger law-based changes. Traditional methods harmonized materials for peak performance.

Understanding Enhancement Enhancement adjusted an item’s limits. It synced with the user. Legends said divine artifacts amplified beyond expectations. Enhanced items boosted user stats directly. These gains stacked with skills like a cleric’s buffs. A two-point stat could jump to two-point-five with a 25% boost. Stacking was powerful. But failure risked breaking the item. High enhancement needed many low-tier materials to offset errors. Finrod came for her promised high-grade mine. Winger nodded, absorbing new details. She could grind [Forging] for better quality. Joking aside, time was short. A near-guaranteed baseline was reassuring. Optimism wouldn’t hurt. She headed to the mines. Workers awaited her orders. She isolated the rift area, overseeing it herself. This freed others for regular tasks. Her mental senses pierced solids, but mountains limited her range. She set basic mining plans, focusing on self-improvement.

Entrusting the Village Veyi and Rhine handled the herb garden and village construction. Winger trusted them. Her thoughts drifted to the dream and vision. Sitting at the rift’s edge, she drew the plain sword. A hunch lingered. She was being set up. Someone had orchestrated this. The sword held secrets, but offered no clues. Its weight felt heavier in her hands. She couldn’t shake the unease. The village needed her focus. She’d strengthen it, step by step. The mines would fuel her crafting. Enhancement could wait, but not too long. The Church’s slow response hinted at deeper motives. Winger stood, ready to act. She leaped back to the village. Her plan was taking shape. Expanding influence meant safety. She’d make Maple Whisper Village thrive.

Journey to Seyang City Outside Seyang City, a cramped carriage held four. A boy hugged his sword, nudging a resting girl. She smacked his head with her staff. “Marianne, you’re so rough! Who’d like you?” “Shut up, Lucas! You’re so annoying!” Two others exchanged amused glances, staying out. The curtain lifted. The driver, a boy, called, “We’re here!” “Claude, isn’t Lucas annoying?” Marianne asked. “He’s… fine. Time to get up.” Claude dodged the question. Leaving the village, he felt useful. Now, he led these “slackers” to the city. Teacher’s term, probably. A month of clearing monsters was exhausting. They gained combat, friendship, growth, and coins. Noisy chatter crossed the city walls. Guards checked them, then let them pass. Claude gripped the reins, heading in. The crowd hushed, staring at the gate.

A Grand Arrival Two figures rode out of Seyang City. A holy knight bore a cross, fully armored. The other, cloaked in black, showed an authoritative face. Claude didn’t know them. Their presence screamed importance. As they left, order returned. Claude exhaled, driving into the city. Seyang glowed under sunlight, grand and golden. The carriage’s occupants peeked out, curious. Buildings rose like a pyramid at the center. A faint jasmine scent lingered. Claude recalled Teacher planting one. Seyang, Glennmbak’s main city, thrived. They stopped to rest and check guild tasks. Their team hadn’t planned beyond simple jobs. This journey exceeded expectations. Parting here wasn’t a bad idea. First, they’d settle. They handled monster corpses at the guild. Then, they lodged at a tavern.

Dreams of the North Claude planned to write home. He’d tell Teacher he was safe. Gazing north through the window, he thought of the kingdom’s edge. Imyrmic, the “Snow-Welcoming City,” saw snow each winter’s start. Its name echoed a mysterious eastern land. No records remained. Going there was risky. Teacher said training wasn’t about comfort. Danger and opportunity coexisted. He was just thinking. For now, he’d focus on the present. Seyang’s bustle awaited them.