Armory Inspection and the Shadow Forest Hunt
"We're here. This is the armory."
After a short conversation with his father, Erwin guided Evan inside. Evan looked around the armory, pulling out weapons from the racks one by one and inspecting them without hesitation.
"The city made a fortune holding back the monster floods, huh. Yeah, there's definitely a ton of weapons made from monster parts."
"Yes. Monsters and magical beasts from the Shadow Forest have no waste—every bit is useful."
Rimhold's monsters absorbed the life mana of the Shadow Forest, making them tougher than those from other regions. Weapons blended with ogre skulls, already durable on their own, gained even greater endurance from that life mana. Forest leopard fangs, simply processed, outperformed standard daggers.
"And the byproducts aren't just for weapons—they sell well as alchemy ingredients too. Especially Rimhold potions; they're really popular."
"Potions? They worked great when I tried one, but yeah... it's because of the Shadow Forest trolls, right?"
"Exactly. Troll blood soaked in life mana trades for at least five times the normal price."
Erwin handed Evan a prepared potion.
"Here—this is one of the highest quality ones. The alchemist called it the reincarnation of an elixir."
This potion, made by processing highly concentrated troll blood with special magical catalysts, could only be produced two or three times a year. Erwin gave it to Evan without a second thought.
"They say even if your limbs get blown off, slap this on and it'll reattach in seconds—no need for a priest."
"Yeah. Thanks."
I figured he'd react more, but Evan showed zero interest in the potion, focusing solely on the weapons. How the hell is this guy a hero? I couldn't believe it.
The conversation he'd overheard between his father and this man had painted Evan as someone worthy of respect in many ways. But to Erwin's eyes, the guy in front of him was just a wastrel.
As Erwin swallowed his dissatisfaction, Evan pulled out a one-handed sword from the ones he'd been checking.
Ting! Evan flicked the blade with mana. He smiled in satisfaction at the mana waves rippling across it.
"Every single one's top quality. I like how they stick to the sword's core function."
Evan ran his hand along the sharp edge and swung lightly at the air.
"Weight balance is solid too. Not overly rigid—nice flexibility. Only gripe is the sacrificed mana conductivity."
"...Impressive. Figuring out a sword's traits in one touch and swing like that..."
Erwin was awestruck. With just a flick and a swing, Evan had analyzed it perfectly—showing the eye of a master smith or knight commander. He might look like a thug, but the skill was real. Erwin raised his internal opinion of Evan a notch.
"Spears are a must, obviously. Daggers come in sets of twelve, huh. This one's a prototype? Still not bad."
Finished evaluating the swords, Evan started taking everything in the armory. To Erwin, it looked like over twenty weapons vanishing into thin air.
"Your sub-space must be huge. It's the largest capacity I've ever seen."
Evan smirked at Erwin's admiration for the endless void swallowing weapons.
"This is way smaller now. It used to fit a whole small city."
Erwin's face crumpled.
"Aren't you being too reckless with them? Where the hell does a sub-space like that even exist?"
"I'm just stating facts. Don't wanna believe it? Don't."
Erwin shook his head at Evan's casual tone. Ignoring him, Evan scanned for more to take.
"What's with this sword?"
Erwin followed Evan's gaze. It was the one-of-a-kind sword in all of Rimhold.
"This was a gift to my father from a craftsman from the Clockwork City."
Undoubtedly a masterpiece. The craftsman had said it was a legacy work passed down from his master's master.
"Father took it when he was still active, but after he fell... we had no choice but to store it here."
Too exquisite for anyone to touch. Even Derek, the eldest son, had tried once—but the retainers' fierce opposition killed that idea.
"You taking that too? Father was unconscious then, but he's awake now... He said to empty the armory, sure, but..."
Even if this thug was a hero, Father's friend, and savior, it still hurt to lose it. Not just the territory's sole treasure vanishing—but anyone who wielded a sword would covet a Clockwork City master's masterpiece.
"Hm, Clockwork City, huh. Never imagined they'd actually rebuilt a city from those ruins."
"Ruins...? You know about the smiths' holy land, the Clockwork City?"
"Roughly. Got some ties there. Anyway, good for them."
Evan gazed into the distance, lost in memories. After a brief silence, he stepped back from the sword.
"...Not taking it?"
"Kid, hide your glee a bit. Where'd that old-man-in-a-kid's-body act go? Amon wakes up and you flip instantly."
"..."
Erwin had no retort—hit right on the mark.
"It's unique grade or higher. Can't use it anyway—too damn well-made for its own good."
"How's that a problem?"
"It just is."
Erwin couldn't grasp how a perfectly crafted sword could be an issue.
"Alright. Got all the weapons I need. Potions too—decent haul."
"Leaving already?"
"Nah. Still got some questions for you."
"For me, not Father?"
Evan nodded. Why ask me when you're Father's friend?
"He's been down a long time. And the old fart's gotten sly in his age—talking to him's a chore."
He added that Amon seemed to be hiding info too.
"Talking smack about Father in front of his son? Is that hero behavior?"
"Jealous? Be the hero yourself."
Erwin's head throbbed at the man's unyielding comebacks.
"Hoo... Fine. What do you want to know?"
"Amon's first wife. And everything about that mage and priest the bastard called in."
Evan's playful vibe shifted instantly. Erwin recalled the killing intent from Father's room. His body reacted on instinct—curling up, breath halting briefly.
"Hang in there, kid. Better than before. Gotta toughen up past this."
"Kgh... Suck... Hoo..."
As Evan said, it was more bearable than the first time. Forcing steady breaths, he refocused. In his peripheral vision, Evan grinned approvingly.
"Good—not a total weakling. Remember that feeling. You'll need it someday."
"Kgh... What kind of hero pulls this shit..."
Erwin wiped cold sweat, grumbling. A few deep breaths, and he was steady. He steeled himself.
"So, answers?"
"Hoo... I only know Lady Stepmother was from a minority tribe."
"Tribe... You mean Spilvena's druid tribe?"
Erwin nodded.
"Yes. Not sure if true or not... but I overheard her and my brother—Derek—talking once. Heard something about a 'druid ritual.'"
"..."
Evan stroked his chin thoughtfully. After a wait, he nodded at Erwin.
"The priest and mage... sorry, I don't know much. Digging into her back then would've been too dangerous for me."
Back when every day was agony for Erwin, probing the ringleaders would've been suicidal. He'd scraped by on the streets just to survive.
"Got it. Can't be helped. But now that those two are dead, you can dig, right?"
"Yes. I'll look into it, but it might take time."
"That's fine. Tell me next time. We gotta find them—could knock your father down again. Got it?"
Erwin's face hardened at Evan's words. He couldn't let his revived father fall again.
"Yes. I'll track them down. Ugh—why are you messing up my hair all of a sudden?"
Evan had started ruffling his hair right after his answer. Something Father had never done. Felt weird.
"Cut it out—I'm not a kid!"
"Yeah, yeah, old-soul Erwin Cornen. You'll have a fun rivalry with Rapi."
"What the hell does that mean... Ugh—stop it!"
Evan chuckled and pulled his hand away.
"Anyway, I'm out. See ya."
"Before you go, Father said he prepared a gift."
"Gift? Already got the weapons and potions."
"He said you'd find out when you get back to the Adventurer's Guild."
Amon, you bastard. So this was the gift you prepared.
"Alright! Everyone here? Anyone still here accepts the commission."
Back at the guild, the bear had assembled the members. Participants were red-rank or higher.
"You all know about the lord's manor intrusion, right? Don't? Doesn't matter. Anyway, secret commission from the manor—details are—"
Before Spilvena finished, an adventurer cut in.
"Knights not moving means the intruder fled to Shadow Forest, right?"
"Interrupting me...? Want some 'education'?"
"...Ahem."
The bear flexed his fist, and the guy backed off fast. If you're gonna fold, why pipe up?
"Pay's the highest in guild history. Not just cash—the lord's offering a masterpiece sword from a Clockwork City craftsman."
"...Insane."
"Fuck. For real? Spilvena, I didn't mishear? A fortress-worth sword as reward?"
Definitely the unique-grade one from the armory with Erwin. Didn't take it, and Amon dangled it as bait. Wanted it, sure—but as told to Erwin, too perfectly made. Drift locked unique-grade items; couldn't use its functions. From a quick look, it hid anti-demon sword vibes at minimum. Nice bait, Amon. Big balls.
"But pay like that's got risks. No—definite danger. Anyone bailing, leave now."
"Hah! C'mon, branch chief—which of us dodges danger? Spill it."
Grumbles rose; the bear spoke.
"Fine. Target's the Dark Lord in Shadow Forest."
Heavy silence fell.
"..."
As eyes darted, Spilvena continued.
"Heard the details? No backing out! Oh, and I'm going too."
"...Phew. Say that first! Thought we were suicide-bound, chief."
"Was gonna bail from Rimhold, but you joining changes everything."
The adventurers seemed to have infinite trust in Spilvena. That good, huh? The bear had some ace up his sleeve.
"Good. Depart in three days. Details later. Dismissed!"
Adventurers dispersed. Soon, only the bear, Rapi, and me left. Rapi had huddled behind me, clutching my clothes amid the crowd. Once clear, the kid sidled up.
"Spilvena. Remember our deal? Finish the commission with Rapi, and I tell you the Dark Lord's location."
"Yeah. Sit in my room first. Follow."
The bear's butt wiggled as he beckoned. In his room, his eyes gleamed.
"Red-rank elites are different. Finishing commissions this fast."
"Location?"
"No chit-chat, straight to business? Kinda sad."
The bear fake-cried.
"Tch. Stalling? Should I yank those teeth?"
"Krahaha! Don't glare. Didn't trick ya."
Spilvena stood, unrolled a map.
"We weren't sitting idle since the Dark Lord showed. Manor's commissioning us 'cause of this."
The bear's claw stabbed a Shadow Forest spot—farthest from Rimhold, bordering the burned Great Forest.
"Don't know exact spot. But guild searches point here."
"Why?"
"No death mana in Shadow Forest. To block that creepy death vibe? Gotta be the thickest life mana zone."
The bear grinned, teeth bared.