Reborn As a Pirate - Chapter 39

Chapter 39: Ferocious Ice Flower!
“Moon Wolf… Whirlpool Islands… Treasure… Intriguing,” Ryan mused aloud, piecing together the clues. The wheels in his mind turned as he nodded slowly, absorbing the significance of each word.

“Hehe, sir, why not claim your slice of the adventure?” Siman suggested, his eyes narrowing into slits, a sly grin spreading across his face. He rubbed his hands together eagerly. “Find anything of value, and the Black Onyx Chamber of Commerce will make it worth your while. We pay top coin for such treasures.”

“Easy to say, indeed,” Ryan chuckled, his smile masking the reservations he harbored. Internally, he grappled with the dilemma. The Whirlpool Islands beckoned, but the monstrous challenges that awaited were not for the faint of heart or skill. His abilities, he knew, were not yet a match for the fearsome second-level creatures rumored to roam there. Nonetheless, diplomacy dictated his response, “One can certainly dream, can’t they?”

As they continued their journey, Siman prattled on with local gossip, tales of pirate factions rising and falling. Ryan listened intently, filing away each tidbit, though he offered no comment.

Soon, the clangor of metal upon metal heralded their arrival at the entrance of a bustling workshop.

“Boom! Boom! Boom!”

The rhythmic hammering resonated deeply as they approached. The heat from the forge washed over Ryan as he stood at the threshold, feeling the intensity of the work within.

Above the entrance hung a robust sign proclaiming ‘Copper Hammer Blacksmith Shop.’

“‘Master Bronze Hammer’ Oruch works his magic inside,” Siman noted, nodding towards the doorway. “It’s been a pleasure, sir. Perhaps our paths will cross again soon.” With that, he executed a bow, his portly figure adding a touch of comical grace to the gesture.

“No trouble at all, thank you,” Ryan replied, acknowledging the farewell.

He stepped into the ‘Bronze Hammer Blacksmith Shop,’ greeted immediately by the relentless ‘Ding Dingdang’ of the hammer. The shop’s rugged, masculine decor contrasted sharply with the delicate figure of a young girl, perhaps fourteen or fifteen, seated behind the reception desk. Her smile was radiant as she welcomed him.

“Good evening, sir! What can we assist you with today? We offer a variety of weapons, and should you wish for something bespoke, I’m afraid there’s a bit of a queue,” she informed him cheerfully.

“Hello, is ‘Master Bronze Hammer’ Oruch available?” Ryan inquired. “I’ve brought with me some rare sea monster materials and wish to commission him to forge a great sword.”

“A great sword?” The girl’s eyes widened in surprise. In all her time at the Copper Hammer, such a request was unprecedented.

Lanya Island is notorious as a haven for pirates, a rough and unruly lot who eschew the use of broad swords in favor of quicker, lighter weapons.

Before the girl could respond to Ryan’s inquiry, a voice as deep and resonant as a tolling bell echoed through the workshop: “You mentioned using sea monster materials to forge a broad sword?”

Turning towards the source, Ryan was met by an imposing figure. The man, towering over two meters tall, strode forward with an assured gait. His upper body was bare, displaying rippling, bronzed muscles that shimmered under the workshop’s glow.

The man was none other than “Master Bronze Hammer” Oruch, known for his bald head adorned with a fierce, barbaric tattoo sprawled across his forehead. His eyes, large as copper bells, fixed on Ryan with a curious glint.

“…Yes,” Ryan replied, his voice almost meek in comparison. Standing at 1.8 meters, he felt diminutive next to the colossal blacksmith.

“A broad sword… Ah, such a venerable term,” Master Bronze Hammer mused, a wistful tone coloring his deep voice. “The first weapon my mentor taught me to forge was a broad sword. It’s the weapon of a true warrior.”

“I’ve been on Lanya Island long enough to only work on trinkets and daggers,” he continued, his voice tinged with a trace of regret.

“You’ve piqued my interest, lad. Show me these materials of yours.”

Eager and relieved, Ryan quickly retrieved the body of the ice-toothed saber-toothed fish from his spatial ring.

“Ah, well preserved, indeed,” Oruch remarked after inspecting the creature. He ran his large hands over the body, appreciating its form. “The spine of the ice-toothed saber-tooth fish is strong yet flexible, a fine choice for a great sword’s core.”

“I’ll take on your commission. The price will be 1,000 pounds. It’ll take about six hours. You’re welcome to wait here, or return later to collect it.”

Ryan glanced at the large clock on the wall; it read just past 7 PM. Calculating the time, he decided, “I’ll stay, if that’s alright.”

“Suit yourself,” Oruch responded nonchalantly, already busy hooking the fish’s mouth to transport it to his forge at the back.

With time to kill, Ryan turned his attention to the array of weapons displayed around the shop and struck up a conversation with the girl at the desk.

“I’m Ryan,” he introduced himself. “And you are?”

“Just call me Millie,” she replied with a warm, inviting smile that lit up the dimly lit front of the shop.

“Miss Millie, it seems curious that you would choose to live on Lanya Island,” Ryan began, his tone laced with concern. “Given its reputation as a pirate haven, it seems rather perilous, especially for a young woman.”

He paused, considering the stark contrast between her delicate appearance and the rough backdrop of the island known for its lawlessness. “Pirates often live on the edge, indulging in whatever pleasures they can find. It must be daunting to be surrounded by such danger.”

Millie’s response came with a soft chuckle, her hand covering her mouth in a genteel gesture. “Thank you for your concern, Mr. Ryan,” she said, her smile reassuring yet mysterious.

“But I’m quite safe here, thanks to my father’s protection. There’s no need to worry about me.”

“Your father? Do you mean Master Oruch?” Ryan asked, a hint of surprise in his voice. The idea that the burly, intimidating blacksmith could be the father of such a graceful young woman was almost beyond belief.

“Yes,” Millie affirmed with a nod, her eyes twinkling with pride. “Now, about your needs, what other weapons are you interested in? I’d be happy to assist.”

Ryan thought for a moment before responding. “Actually, I’ve been considering acquiring some long-range weapons. My skills have always been more aligned with close combat, which can be a limitation.”

“Have you ever handled long-range weapons before?” Millie inquired, her curiosity piqued as she stepped around the counter to join him.

“No, I haven’t,” he admitted.

“In that case, I’d recommend a crossbow,” Millie suggested with professional confidence. “Unlike bows, crossbows don’t require extensive training to use effectively. They’re quick to master, highly accurate, and pack a significant punch at close range, almost comparable to a flintlock musket.”

She paused, then added, “Using monster materials, we could craft a crossbow of rare item quality, which would enhance its effectiveness significantly.”

“Unfortunately, we don’t have any rare item quality crossbows in stock at the moment. However, this pair here is among the best of the standard low-level options available,” Millie said, pointing towards a pair on the display shelf.

“Alright, that’ll do for now,” Ryan decided, nodding. “I’ll use these, and perhaps later, I can commission Master Oruch to craft a rare item quality crossbow.”

He understood well that even a small crossbow could prove invaluable in a pinch, particularly when aiming for vulnerable spots on larger foes. The potential to exploit such weaknesses, even in formidable adversaries, was not something he could overlook.

“Okay,” Millie replied with a cheerful smile. “That will be 300 pounds, and each crossbow bolt is an additional 5 pence.”

Ryan, recently enriched by 3,000 pounds from his share of a ship sale courtesy of his companion Freni, felt little pinch from the expense. “Let’s add 400 more crossbow bolts to the order, to round it all out,” he decided, confident in his investment.

“You’ll need to wait a little for those,” Millie advised, as she began processing the order.

With his new long-range weaponry secured, Ryan’s spirits lifted. Yet, something else caught his eye, a neglected, worn-out big sword resting against the corner of the shop. “Miss Millie, might I borrow that broad sword?” he asked, pointing to the relic.

“Of course,” Millie responded, always happy to accommodate a good customer’s request.

Permission granted, Ryan approached and lifted the sword. Its substantial weight was instantly comforting, grounding him in its tangible history and potential.

Stepping outside the ‘Bronze Hammer Blacksmith Shop,’ Ryan found a spacious area where he began practicing the [Storm Sword Skill]. To any onlooker, it would appear he was merely standing, lost in thought, as he held the sword motionlessly for a long stretch.

But in reality, Ryan was deep in spiritual practice, a process that was both intensive and introspective. He was only drawn back to the present by Millie’s gentle voice calling him back.

Drenched in sweat and with his hands trembling from exertion, Ryan felt the physical toll of the [Storm Sword Skill]. Thankfully, the ten “Pearls of Fertility” he carried allowed for swift recovery, without which he’d have surely collapsed from fatigue.

Returning the Broad sword to the shop, Ryan’s attention was immediately captured by a magnificent new sword before “Master Bronze Hammer” Oruch. The sword’s silver-blue body contrasted sharply with its dark gray guard and hilt. It was an exquisite blend of elegance and simplicity, its blade emitting a faint chill, promising lethality in its sharpness.

“It’s a good day indeed. The quality of this broad sword ranks high among the low-level rare items,” Oruch remarked with a proud chuckle, admiring his handiwork.

“Seems your luck is quite extraordinary,” he added, looking at Ryan with a twinkle in his eye.

“Let’s take a closer look,” suggested Oruch, his laughter echoing around the metallic confines of the shop.

Ryan, unable to resist, stepped forward and cautiously touched the blade of the great sword. As he made contact, a description materialized in front of him, as if by magic: [Low-level rare item · Big sword · Ferocious ice flower]!