Chapter 78 Zimmers

As the first rays of sunlight filtered through the buildings, Suzuka made her way toward Walter's blacksmith shop. She couldn't wait to show him the rusty sword she had looted from the goblin leader on her last quest.

The blade was covered in rust and dirt, but Suzuka had a hunch that it might be worth more than just scrap metal. She hoped that Walter, the seasoned blacksmith, could shed some light on its true value.

As she approached the blacksmith's forge, Suzuka could hear the familiar clang and hiss of metal on metal. She pushed open the door to the shop and was greeted by the warm glow of the forge and the smell of burning coal.

Walter was hard at work at the anvil, hammering away at a glowing piece of metal. Suzuka waited patiently for him to finish his work, admiring the intricate tools and weapons that hung on the walls of the shop.

Finally, Walter set down his hammer and turned to Suzuka with a smile. "Good morning, young adventurer. Next time, don't just stand there and wait, speak up. I am more than happy to stop my work and assist you. So? What brings you here today? Looking to buy? I can offer you some good deals and discounts, Hmmm?"

With a grin, Suzuka pulled out the rusty sword while saying, "No, I am still low on funds, nothing to buy. But I found this on my last quest, and I was wondering if you could tell me anything about its value."

Walter took the sword from her and examined it closely, running his fingers over the pitted and rusted metal. The blade was crafted from the finest 5160 steel, a material that would ensure its durability and sharpness. As he scrutinized every detail, he could see the years of use and wear that the weapon had endured. It was clear that the sword had seen its fair share of battles and had come out victorious in most of them.

Walter turned to Suzuka, who was waiting for his verdict. "Ah, this is quite an interesting find," he said, nodding his head thoughtfully. "I think I might be able to tell you a thing or two about its value." 

"This is a remarkable piece," he said, "One that has seen its fair share of glory." He paused for a moment before continuing, "But it has also suffered its fair share of damage. If you were to sell it in its current state, you might fetch around 10 silver. However, with some restoration work, this sword could be worth two gold coins."

Suzuka listened intently, knowing that Walter's expertise was unparalleled. She could see the potential that lay within the weapon and knew that with Walter's skill, it could be brought back to its former glory. 

Walter continued, "But the restoration would cost you 30 silver, and if I were you, I would keep this sword as a backup. I assumed you only have your one and only sword. Just think, what will you do if your only sword breaks? You buy a new one, now, do the math. The cheapest sword cost 30 silver coins, but to be fair, cheap swords break easily. They are made from iron. So! You lose more money. Now think, Helen, think. You restore the sword for 30 silver, this sword will last you longer than ten cheap swords at least, so you save money by investing money, eh? So what ya say? Should I shove it into the hot coals and start banging at it?"

Suzuka looked at Walter with slanted eyes and said, "Jeez! Walter, people told me you have the tongue of a devil, that you can squeeze every last coin out of me until I am naked. But, you tell no lie, I do need a backup sword in case I lose or break it. I use my box power on it, sometimes. That way I increase the force of my swing. So yes, please, restore the sword for me."

Walter rejoiced, yet again he wiggled some money from the well-paying customer. Walters's quick and well-trained eye counted her funds when she was last time here so he is well aware of how much more money he can squeeze out of her.  

Suzuka paid the silver, knowing that Walter's expertise was outstanding. She could see the potential that lay within the weapon and knew that with Walter's skill, it could be brought back to its former glory. As she left the forge, she knew that she had entrusted the sword to the best blacksmith in the town. Suzuka's funds are 66 silver coins.

Suzuka and Walter had come to an agreement that she would pick up the sword at a later time. After their brief meeting, Suzuka made her way to the guild to complete her other tasks. She was eager to hand over medical herbs to her quest coordinator, Lisanna.

Upon arriving at the guild, Suzuka noticed that Lisanna was nowhere to be seen. She made her way to the reception desk, where a friendly attendant directed her to Lisanna's office. Knocking softly, she entered the cozy room and was greeted with a warm smile from her coordinator, "Hey! Good to see you again, Helen! I did not expect you so early, I was about to go to the reception desk."

"Sorry for coming so early, I was just really eager to turn in my quests, also have some kill proofs as well. Had trouble, while gathering herbs, goblin trouble." Suzuka said with a smirk.

"Oh my! Are you alright? I mean, did they hurt you?" Lisanna asked with concern.

Goblins were known as notorious creatures, women were a delicacy to them and not in the food way.  

"No worries, I'm totally fine. It was not much of a fight." 

"I'm glad you're okay, but let's go to the reception desk, I will check the herbs and finish the quest paperwork." Lisanna stood up and escorted Suzuka to the reception desk. 

Suzuka gave the medicinal herbs she had gathered. Lisanna complimented her, saying "Great job, Helen. These are high-quality herbs and will suffice. You completed all five quests in one attempt, which is very impressive. You will receive the following title on your card 'Herb Collector'. Now you only need to complete two more quests to reach Rookie Rank 2, and then you'll be eligible for a higher-paying assignment."

After examining the kill proof, Lisanna expressed admiration, saying, "You've done an impressive job by single-handedly defeating 21 goblins. However, without any quests, the kills won't yield any rewards. They will only contribute to your kill count, which will help you earn a title."

"Yeah, I assumed as much, but I'm striving for some titles," Suzuka stated.

"Alright, you're only 9 goblin kills away from the next title. You've already submitted 41 proofs of killing goblins, and you need 50 kills to attain the title. Good luck, you're almost there! Additionally, here are 5 silver coins for the herb quests. Don't blow it all in one place, haha!" Lisanna jokingly explained.

Suzuka inquired, "Are there any available quests for me? I have some spare time and would love to take on a task today."

 Regrettably, Lisanna responded with a touch of sadness, "I'm afraid there aren't any quests currently open for your current rank. However, do check back tomorrow, as quests are constantly appearing and vanishing."

Suzuka and Lisanna were engaged in a lively conversation when a sudden burst of noise echoed through the guild hall. It was unmistakable - the thunderous laughter of none other than Laughing Larry.

 Swaggering through the main hall, he emanated a contagious charisma and joy that was noticeable to all. With a booming voice, he greeted every guild member in the hall.

"Good day, my fellow adventurers!" he declared, his words carrying a sense of excitement and anticipation. "Laughing Larry has arrived, and he is ready to bring some serious fun to the party! Who's with me? Who's ready to explore the unknown, brave the dangers, and emerge victorious on the other side? Adventure is calling, my friends, and I'm here to answer that call. So come on, let's seize the day and make some memories that we'll never forget!"

 With a confident stride, Laughing Larry sauntered towards Lisanna, exuding an air of charisma and joie de vivre. He was positively radiant, beaming with enthusiasm and contagious energy. 

As he made his way toward Helen, his energy seemed to intensify. "Helen my dear, how lovely to see you again," he exclaimed, taking her hand in his and planting a kiss on it. "And what of you, Lisanna? I trust you're keeping this place in order!"

With a mischievous glint in her eye, Suzuka turned to Larry and purred, "Well, well, well... someone is in an exceptionally good mood today. Care to share your secret?" Lisanna chimed in, curiosity evident in her voice as she asked, "Hey Larry, what are you bringing in today?"

Larry's response was nothing short of charismatic, his voice a smooth and alluring blend of honey and silk. "Ah, my lovely and beautiful Lisanna," he began, "Laughing Larry and his dear friend David are embarking on a thrilling kill quest, and we are in dire need of one more warrior to join our ranks."

Larry turned his cheeky gaze at Suzuka and continued, "I couldn't help but think that you would be the perfect addition to our team. What do you say, are you ready for an adventure like no other?" With a sly grin and a wink, he awaited her response, his charm impossible to resist.

The entire delightful and cheerful ambiance was obliterated by the mere mention of that insufferable name, David. Lisanna visibly recoiled the instant she caught wind of it, "Gross! Larry, you are a real vibe-killer." 

Suzuka, disgusted, chimed in, "Ugh, not David again. What's with him? Why don't you just dump him and leave him behind for good? We don't need that creep, we can do the quest just two of us."

With a twinkle in his eye and a lopsided grin, Laughing Larry tried to charm the lovely ladies with his magnetic personality. His smooth and suave voice cut through the tension in the room as he exclaimed, "Ladies! Ladies! No need for such hostility! Cut some slack for the man, won't you?" 

His words were like music to the ears, soothing and persuasive. "Sure, at first glance, he may seem like a bit of a creep, but trust me, when you get to know him better, you'll see that he's actually a really nice guy. Give him a chance, ladies. You won't be disappointed." With a final wink and a playful grin, Laughing Larry tried to win over the hearts of the ladies.

Suzuka was waiting for the opportunity to go on a quest with Larry, not so much with David, regardless, she accepted the invitation despite the presence of David.

Larry and Suzuka met David outside the guild building, he was checking the supplies. Obviously, Larry was paying out of his pocket for the supplies David brought.

Larry recapped the details of the quest to Suzuka, "So! Here it goes," he began, "The mission is a nest-clearing quest, the extermination of a dangerous creature known as the Zimmers."

 He went on to explain, "The Zimmers are living in a nearby mine, which the local nobleman was thinking about mining. So, our job is to clear the mine of the Zimmers and any other threats inside."

He then turned serious and explained the details of the reward, "We will split the spoils equally, with each person receiving a share of 40 silver. Also, if we find anything useful in that mine it is ours to take. I mean crystals, gems, kill-proofs, loot, and other good stuff. If we are lucky we can come back with more than a few gold coins each." As he spoke, Larry's confidence never wavered, and he exuded an air of competence. 

Larry mentioned the trip, "We will need to spend the night in the field. However, we are prepared for this eventuality, we have everything we need to make the journey. How about you Helen, are you ready? I have a spare sleeping bag if you need it, we won't be bringing all the camping gear, we will travel light."

Suzuka was prepared with her backpack, a raincoat cape purchased from Walter, and potions obtained from the alchemist, "I am all set, I came prepared for the quest. We can go if you like."

Larry looked at David, "Is all good? We are ready?"

"Yeah! We are ready. We can go at any moment, Larry."

And with that note, they set out on their quest. Suzuka enjoyed the scenery around them, which was breathtaking, with rolling hills, verdant forests, and sparkling rivers.

After a half of day traveling, they finally reached their destination, a mysterious cavern deep in the heart of the mountains. The entrance to the mine was clear but they could hear the voices and growls of Zimmers coming out of the abandoned mine.