When the next morning came, Arwin found that he’d mustered enough self-control to keep himself from showing anyone else the abilities of his bow. [Arsenal]’s powers returned and he dismissed the weapon. Letting Lillia see it had given him all the dopamine he needed for the time being. Instead of showing the others a half-finished weapon, he decided to get his hands on a string and an arrow. Then he’d be able to show it off as an entire piece rather than taking away from the final reveal. Arwin headed out into the common room, clad in his greaves. It wasn’t like he had a choice. It was wear it or carry it around until he reached the next rank – which, all things considered, he suspected likely wouldn’t be too far away. Reya and Rodrick were both eating breakfast when he stepped out. They were dressed for the road and their faces told the stories of a pair that were preparing to set out. “What’s going on?” Arwin asked. “I was thinking it would be a good idea to check up on the forest,” Rodrick said. “We don’t know how long it’ll be until that Wyrm horde pops up, assuming it actually will. Looking into it a bit more would do a world of good.” “And also be incredibly dangerous,” Arwin said with a worried frown. “What if the Wyrm sees you? Or if the horde is already there and just waiting?” “It would be a bit too fast for the horde to already have matured,” Lillia said as she walked out from the kitchen behind Arwin. “But I agree that it might be dangerous. Why go alone?” “We’re going together,” Reya said. “That’s the point.” “I take offense to that,” Reya said. “Good,” Rodrick said. “It doesn’t change anything, though. Let’s get to it.” He and Reya waved and headed out the doorway. Arwin watched them leave, a twist of trepidation knotting his stomach, but it fell away. Rodrick and Reya could both handle themselves. “Back to working on the bow?” Lillia asked. “No,” Arwin said reluctantly. “I want to, but I don’t know where I’ll get the string. Buying one might end up being my best option. We need money either way, so I’m going to make some armor to sell instead. I’d like to learn how to make boots and gauntlets, but I don’t know if I’ll have time to figure it out before the horde. I might get a helm made for Rodrick and you, though.” “Just Rodrick,” Lillia said with a shake of her head. “The armor you got me is already more than enough. I’m not going to be on the front line like he will be. Might as well get him a good set of armor that actually manages to survive one of his fights.” “Given his current track record, that doesn’t seem likely,” Arwin said with a chuckle. Making Rodrick more greaves was definitely at the top of his priority list. The previous set had perished beneath the Crystalline Bonehemoth’s fist. “I’ll be in my little smithy. I assume you’ll just be upgrading the inn?” Lillia nodded. “I should have some people coming today with pieces I had Reya buy yesterday. I need to get more boons from the Mesh, and the only way I can do that is upgrading the inn or cooking food to advance my tier.” “Do you get more magical energy for making meals from more exotic ingredients?” Arwin asked, a thought suddenly striking him. “Yeah,” Lillia said. “Why wouldn’t I? There’s a reason I haven’t been just trying to get stuff from inside the city every time. It’s no different than any other crafting class. Weirder ingredients, more challenge. More challenge, more reward.” “I suppose I should have been able to tell that on my own.” Lillia shrugged in response. “Sometimes the obvious answers are the ones we look right over. See you tonight?” “Tonight,” Arwin agreed with a nod. He headed out of the tavern. Ridley was already hard at work outside, standing beside the plot of the smithy. The mason had made good time and was well along in his construction. It looked like Arwin was going to need the money sooner rather than later, but he wasn’t concerned about not being able to make gear fast enough. Basic breastplates weren’t all that difficult to craft anymore. The hearth waited expectantly for Arwin when he stepped into the building. He greeted it with a ball of [Soul Flame] before taking inventory of what he had left to work with. There was still some of the Brightsteel – enough to make a breastplate and a helmet if he was judging it correctly. I think I start with a basic set of stuff to sell, then use that money to get more metal and make Rodrick some greaves. That was as good a strategy as any. He could then build up excess money and pay off Ridley. When Olive got back, he’d ask her to show them the dungeon she was running and he could look for materials or money to make the rest of his bow there. It was the plan that relied on the least amount of ‘if’ statements that Arwin could come up with. He would have preferred to finish the bow today, but that wasn’t how life worked. Arwin shrugged to himself as he set about putting metal into the hearth to heat. Something shifted behind him. Arwin suppressed a sigh. He hadn’t seen who it was yet. There was no need to. There was only one person he’d met in recent time that had a penchant for showing up out of nowhere without making a single noise. “Do you ever announce your arrivals like a normal person?” Arwin asked as he turned. The drunkard leaned against the wall and took a sip from his mug. “No.” “Have I done something to make you feel like I enjoy company while I’m trying to work?” “Not particularly, no.” “Then why are you here?” “There really isn’t much else to do on this street. You’re a decent source of entertainment. It’s better than sitting around and waiting for something to happen.” “Is that what you normally do?” Arwin asked. “You could just… find a different street.”