Chapter 94: Chapter 93: Good "Helper

Sutton was clearly pleased that Jon wanted to learn the blacksmith’s craft.

As he put it, "Since you managed to find these rare ores, kid, you must have an affinity for the forge! Come on, let’s see if you’ve got any talent!"

To that end, he even paused his research on the crystalline ores to teach Jon a few things. He taught him several basic blacksmithing Skills, such as Hammer Forging and Stacked Strike.

However, it wasn’t a good time for a lesson. The class between the old man and the young one hadn’t been going on for long before the young guardsman in charge of gathering supplies, Alek, came rushing over.

"Uncle Sutton, how are the spikes for the railings coming along? We need to have the area around the tavern roughly fenced off by tonight—"

The young guardsman’s tone was urgent, but his voice slowed involuntarily when he saw the two people by the forge.

The old blacksmith stroked his beard in embarrassment, glanced at the unruffled Jon, and then waved his hand.

"Right, well, don’t you worry. It’s just a few little things. I’ll definitely have them done before tonight! I won’t hold up your work, I promise!"

"Ah... ah... Okay..."

Alek glanced timidly at Jon, who stood expressionlessly holding a hammer and was clearly "displeased" about being interrupted. His voice grew quieter and quieter.

"It’s not even noon... so it’s not that urgent..."

But when Jon turned his head to look at him, Alek leaped up as if he’d been stung on the butt by a hornet, spun around, and fled!

"Sorry, I’ll come ask later! Gotta go!"

After that interruption, the forging lesson naturally couldn’t continue.

Sutton clicked his tongue regretfully, let go of his tongs, and looked at Jon.

"As you can see, the whole village is in an uproar because of the news you brought back about the wolves."

"Once this whole thing blows over, I’ll teach you for real. I’ll make a proper blacksmith out of you yet!"

Jon nodded, his expression calm.

"You’re right, Uncle. This isn’t the right time. But don’t you worry, this business with the wolf pack will be over soon."

"Be over soon?"

The Old Dwarf wiped his hands on his apron and took a sip from his mug—which was filled with water, of course.

"What makes you say that? Did you and Basque cook up some crazy scheme, kid?"

"No. It’ll just be over soon."

Jon didn’t explain further. He just set down his hammer, wiped his hands, and picked up the fur cloak from the pillar where the great snow fox pelt had once been. Draping it over his shoulders, he waved to the Old Dwarf.

"I’m off, Uncle! I’ll be back to learn Forging from you later!"

"Alright, then..."

Sutton wasn’t the type to dawdle, and since Jon wasn’t talking, he didn’t press the matter.

After watching the transformed young man depart, he returned to his unfinished work, hammering away at those boring little trinkents.

It was the kind of work he could do without thinking, relying purely on muscle memory.

And that gave him time to ponder other things.

And as he thought, the parts of Jon’s explanation that had been left unsaid began to seem suspicious.

’That kid said he found those crystalline ores in the mines...’

’But judging by their shape, they’re obviously the kind of crystalline ore that only grows on the carapace of a monster like the Scorpion Mother. The color and properties are just a little different.’

’Scorpion Mother... the mines...’

The Old Dwarf mulled over those two words. Then, as if waking from a dream, he brought his hammer down with a mighty CLANG!

"That rascal! He goes away for one trip and comes back having learned the bad habit of lying from those detestable nobles!"

However, the "lying" rascal he was complaining about was already long gone.

Jon returned to the village entrance. Under the awestruck gazes of the onlookers, he collected two large chests from beside a packhorse and made his way back to his Hunter’s Cottage.

The cottage on the edge of the village was as quiet and deserted as ever, but there were several relatively fresh footprints by the door.

Jon raised an eyebrow. He carried the chests inside and saw a neat pile of supplies in the corner.

After a quick look, he understood.

’Basque must have sent this...’

’But I won’t be needing these anymore...’

After pocketing the few Silver Coins from the supplies, he turned to the two large chests he had brought back.

He had said, "When it comes to killing the wolves, I’m all that’s needed," but that didn’t mean he didn’t have "helpers."

It was just that his helpers weren’t human.

The stranger opened the chests, revealing precisely arranged mechanical components and a box of dazzlingly bright crystals. His gaze was profound.

’Even a basic Mechanical Body, when enhanced with Crystal Energy Technology, is something no ordinary beast can stand against...’

’This is the Power of progress...’

...

After a full night and half a day of deep sleep, Reya awoke.

The girl’s face was pale and frail, her gaze unfocused.

Yet the first name she called upon waking was not for Rosalind, who had been watching over her bedside, but for the man who had stolen her heart.

"Mr. Jon... Mr. Jon...?"

"Well now, you little rascal, your heart has already flown off to the Tina Goddess. Rosalind and I looked after you all night, and you don’t even think to spare a word for us?"

Ivory, who was sitting on the other side of the bed reading a book, said with a light laugh.

"We’ve spoiled you for nothing!"

Teased like this by someone so close, the red-haired girl was clearly shy.

She pulled the blanket up to cover the lower half of her face, leaving only her emerald-green eyes visible, and whispered her thanks.

"Auntie Ivory... Thank you for taking care of me..."

Hearing what Reya called her, the smile on the black-robed woman’s face vanished instantly.

"Call me sister."

"Guh..."

Overwhelmed by the fearsome aura, Reya could only "submit."

"Sister Ivory..."

"Mm, that’s more like it..."

Ivory nodded in satisfaction, then jutted her chin toward Rosalind, who was bringing water and food to the other side of the bed.

"As for where your Mr. Jon has gone, you’ll have to ask your Sister Rosalind."

Reya immediately turned her head to look at the tall, silver-haired, silver-eyed beauty, her face full of expectation.

Facing such an earnest gaze, Rosalind was silent for a moment before she finally, slowly spoke.

"Mr. Jon... he’s gone."

"Gone...?"

Reya was stunned for a moment, then immediately tried to sit up.

"What do you mean, he’s gone—Ouch!"

She clearly failed. Her lingering weakness made her unable to "sit up" on her own; she only made it halfway before falling back onto the soft bed.

But she couldn’t be bothered with that now and asked anxiously.

"Where did Mr. Jon go? Is he not coming back?!"

"Sister Rosalind, please, just tell me!"

Rosalind sat on the edge of the bed and stroked Reya’s head comfortingly.

"Mr. Jon just went to take care of some personal matters. He’ll be back soon."

"He also left some things behind."

As she spoke, she pointed to a corner of the room.

Reya’s gaze followed, and she saw two silver-white Mechanical Bodies. Her eyes were immediately captivated.

Unlike the rigid, unrefined, and "clunky" models currently on the market, these were utterly unique.

Their chassis had flowing, humanoid lines, exuding a sense of exquisite industrial design.

And their "eyes," which glinted with a crystalline blue light, along with the "shields" and "crossbows" on their arms, radiated an inexplicable aura of intimidation.

"Are these... Mechanical Bodies? Did Mr. Jon make them?"

"Mhm."

Rosalind nodded and placed a bracelet inlaid with a dazzling crystal into Reya’s hands.

"He left this for you. Only you can control them."

The red-haired girl clutched the bracelet tightly, a goofy smile spreading across her face.

"Only I... can control them... hehe..."

Watching from the side, Ivory couldn’t help but sigh and press a hand to her forehead.

"This silly girl... She’s a lost cause..."

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