Chapter 121: Celebration and Complications

*Date: 33,480 Third Quarter — Kingdom of Satar, Capital City Parthanon*

"Did you get the ten gold?" Demir asked.

Marven grinned. "Yeah."

The trio was in full celebration mode because they had completed the bead trap set up by the elven noble. Demir had made sure his method was correct. Now he could add value to his crafts and upgrade his gear as well.

Marven reached into her bag. "He even gave away his extra bead."

Marco clapped his hands together. "Yes! We're going to feast like kings today!"

Demir held up his hands. "Okay, okay. Before we celebrate like crazy tonight, let's work hard today as well."

"Come on, Demir. Learn to have fun."

Marven shook her head. "He's right. I'm running to the marketplace to buy beads and good, expensive metal alloy ingots."

Marco looked betrayed. "You too? I thought you were fun."

"Tomorrow we will be wasted, old man. Let's give our all today."

Demir looked around the workshop. Everything was starting to go his way. Now all that was left was to gather enough money to last long and train for the tournament.

By the time the forge reached a good temperature, Marven came back with six D-grade beads and different types of ingots. Each had traces of mythical, magical metals. Even a two percent orichalcum one was two gold. It made Demir realize how wasteful making his original sword had been. But thanks to that blade, he and some of his friends were alive.

---

Demir and Marco worked all day to turn ingots into swords. Because of the enhancing materials, they were harder to work than regular steel. Eventually, they made six swords, and five survived the cooling process. But Demir was beat, with no way of continuing.

They stopped by to see Asena and gave her treats. But she looked miserable living in the closed garden. Even though it was gigantic compared to the other pets' enclosures, she wasn't a pet. Demir apologized and promised they'd depart in a couple of weeks.

He started to notice the different pets in their different enclosures. Some were happy. Some weren't even bothering with the world anymore, just staring at nothing. Different colors of dogs, rabbits, cats, and foxes were waiting for their masters.

But one particular fox caught his attention. Muzzled and chained to a corner, it looked at the world with pure hatred. Demir felt that hatred as if it were tangible.

---

After the Asena visit, they bought so much meat and booze that they weren't sure how to cook it all or finish the drinks. Their landlord invited some other neighbors, and they threw a small-scale party.

Marco constantly bragged about how they were going to hit the jackpot from now on. "Every day Demir can produce a hundred gold worth of products!" he shouted to anyone who would listen.

He didn't stop even with Demir's constant shushing.

Singing and dancing filled the air. Demir even forgot they were trapped in this world. The music, the laughter, the warmth of good food and better company. It almost felt like home.

Demir leaned against a wall, watching the festivities. "I wish every day could be like this."

Marven appeared beside him, half-drunk, her face reddened from the alcohol. "It can be."

Demir turned to her. "Marven, I..."

Before he could finish, she kissed him.

It was quick, almost fleeting. But when she was about to pull away, Demir held her and continued the kiss. The world shrank to just the two of them, the noise of the party fading to a distant hum.

Eventually, the party members noticed and started clapping.

Marco yelled, "Kissing time!" and went and kissed the homeowner right on the cheek. Some other party members followed his lead, grabbing the nearest person and planting kisses wherever they could.

The night ended with everyone drunk and bellies full.

---

The next morning, their heads hurt and their stomachs ached, but they were grinning from happiness. They downed only hot tea and went to their rented workshop.

Velori stopped by to take her weekly rent.

She looked at them with narrowed eyes. "Why are you so happy?"

Demir smiled. "Nothing. I'm giving you only one silver. The rest will go to your grocery neighbor."

Marco couldn't help himself. "What do you mean nothing? We're going to be rich! Demir found a way to enhance the equipment!"

Marven grabbed the finished swords. "Don't start new swords. Rune the yesterday ones, and I'll sell them while you guys are working." But she couldn't look at Demir, her ears slightly red.

Velori glanced between them. "What's with her? She was like a storm all these days."

Marco pointed at Demir and Marven. "They kissed."

Velori's eyebrows rose. "So? Girl, don't let go of this guy. He possesses forging skill like my husband." She paused, a strange shadow crossing her face. "And definitely don't let him turn into a golem."

She took her single silver and left.

Marven finally looked at Demir. "Don't listen to her. I'm not expecting..."

Demir blushed furiously. "No, no. She might be rushing, but..."

Marco threw his arm around both of them. "Come on, say it! You two like each other!"

Marven couldn't take the cringy, squirmy energy anymore. "I will be perusing other marketplaces and prestigious equipment shops to determine value!" She rushed away from the shop.

Demir turned on Marco. "Keep your mouth to yourself!"

Marco was unrepentant. "If it's up to you, the next kiss will happen six months later. You need a catalyst."

"Shut up and hand me the chisel."

---

Demir started to concentrate. With full focus, he etched power runes onto the swords. Then he embedded four damage-increase beads into the blades. By the time he finished, it was afternoon.

Demir and Marco's stomachs were finally feeling better, so they were eating soup when Marven arrived.

"Good news and bad news."

Demir set down his bowl. "What?"

"The swords, even the basic steel ones, will be worth ten gold."

Marco pumped his fist. "Yes!"

"But the market stalls are impossible to sell them in. So I looked for respectable high-value equipment store owners, and they insisted on only taking guild-approved weapons and armor."

Demir frowned. "What does that mean?"

Marco explained. "It means they don't believe our quality is worth paying huge money for, so they want us to get a quality check from experts at the guilds."

Marven nodded. "Which also means paying the experts, and the shop owner never pays full price since they're going to sell it themselves."

Demir sighed. "What are we going to do?"

Marven started to answer. "It's their world now. We have to follow their..."

The door of the workshop opened with vigor and harsh noises.

"Where is he?"

Demir spun around. "What's going on?"

The noble Frolin dropped his blades and entered the shop along with his guards and a weasel-looking elven man with sharp features and calculating eyes. Frolin's arms were spread wide.

"There he is! My most trusted man!"

He continued speaking to the short man, clearly trying to boast about his friendship with Demir. "Like I said, he's a hard worker and an excellent smith. Oh, these are new! What do we have here?"

Demir stepped forward cautiously. "What's going on, sir? Is there a problem with the blades?"

Frolin leaned close to Demir. "What is your name?"

"Demir."

Frolin straightened and gestured grandly. "My friend Demir! This is..." He pointed at the man beside him. "Rising star merchant Quarnion. He was expanding his trade business to good quality equipment, and I instantly brought him here. He wants to open a huge player and local-friendly shop near the arena before the tournaments start."

Quarnion examined the workshop with barely concealed disdain. "Yes, I'm looking for new investments, but Frolin, are you sure this tiny workshop can give me expensive equipment?"

Frolin leaned over and picked up a freshly runed sword. "As you can see, he just finished these, and I'm sure their buyer is ready."

Demir started to speak. "Well..."

Frolin kicked the legs of the table and shot Demir a look to silence him.

"They even made my family heirloom daggers more valuable with mere low-grade damage beads."

Demir caught on. "Yeah, in fact, those aren't even finished. I'll add beads to them also."

Frolin beamed. "You can? Excellent!"

Quarnion's eyes gleamed with interest. "Will you show us how you're doing it?"

Marco intervened smoothly. "I'm afraid that's our trade secret. But after we finish, our friend could bring them to your establishment, and we can agree on a deal. We can also make discounts for future promises."

Quarnion frowned. "It's not ideal, but I'll hire an expert to evaluate."

Frolin waved dismissively. "Nonsense! No need to pay huge sums to experts. My expertise and my head guard Augustus's expertise are enough." He pressed a note into Demir's hand. "My friend Demir, please send these to this address tomorrow morning."

It wasn't his estate this time but apparently Quarnion's place.

When Quarnion and most of the guards left, Frolin's fake smile vanished. He dropped the idiot noble act entirely, his eyes turning sharp and cold.

"Look. Everything you sell to this guy, I will take twenty percent."

Marco opened his mouth.

Marven started. "But—"

Frolin held up a hand. "No. No. I will not expect any negotiation. I found the guy, and in fact, I taught you how to use the beads."

This time Demir opened his mouth.

"Shut it." Frolin's voice was ice. "I can also supply you with better quality beads, but those are kind of property of the Empire, so it has to be secret. Above a certain grade, they're worth hundreds of gold." His eyes bored into Demir. "Remember that when asking for them."

Frolin extended his hand for a deal.

Demir hesitated, but then he grabbed the noble's hand and smiled while shaking it. "If you try to screw us..."

Frolin's smile returned, but it was genuine this time. "Don't worry. I won't cut the rope I'm tied to."