The house feels empty when I wake up. It seems my brothers and father didn’t return last night, and my sister is still asleep. My arm is sore from the muscle aches. Yesterday I realized I need to increase my endurance if I want to handle a full day of work.

  Today’s plan is simple. Train.

  I start with a run. It’s early, so I go out before breakfast. I hate it. I can barely last 20 minutes before collapsing on the ground, exhausted. At least breakfast tastes better after the run. The worst part is thinking I’ll have to do this every day from now on.

  I’d like to practice with the sword again, even on my own. Too bad my arm disagrees. There are also several things I’d like to buy.

  “Good morning, Porten.” After looking for him around the house, I finally find him in my father’s study. “I was wondering if I could go down to the city today.”

  “I’m afraid that won’t be possible, young master. You’ll have to wait until one of your brothers needs to go. I’ll inform you when the opportunity arises.”

  “In that case, do we have any weapons I could inspect?” I ask after thinking for a minute. “It’s to get ideas for the forge.”

  “In the guards’ barracks there should be quite a few in storage. Along with some armor and other utensils that might be useful to you. If you’ll excuse me.”

  Porten leaves, and I head to the storeroom.

  “Hello. Mr. Porten gave me permission to inspect the weapons,” I tell one of my father’s guards as I approach the barracks.

  “Those weapons are for men,” he says with a disdainful look. “But my horse needs new horseshoes. That’s more fitting for someone like you.”

  “I see. Maybe I should mention it to my father when he returns.”

  “Tch. Go in. If I see anything missing, I’ll make sure you clean latrines for the rest of your life.” He hands me a key. “If I’m not here when you come out, give the key to whoever replaces me.”

  It hurts that I had to mention my father. Just a few days ago he would’ve treated me with respect. I clench my fists and go in. I really want to see those weapons.

  Yesterday I noticed that the “eyes of the artisan” talent was level 1. That means I can probably improve it. Since I can’t forge or train, the best option left is to try to level up the talent. If my assumptions are correct, my magical capacity will also increase in the process.

  I don’t expect much from the equipment stored here. Magical weapons and armor are expensive and difficult to make. The knights probably have some, but ordinary guards would never use gear of that quality. Exactly what I need.

  The barracks are surprisingly empty. It seems most of the garrison left with the knights yesterday to deal with the monster overflow.

  I enter the storeroom. It’s better stocked than I expected. There aren’t just swords—there are also spears and a couple of axes. I approach the nearest rack. The swords are displayed in a row. They’re practically identical. They don’t have interesting effects or a complicated forging process. They’re not even pure steel. By staring at them closely, I can see the details that reveal their imperfections. In short, there’s nothing surprising about them except their 150 attack.

  You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.

  Maybe the problem is that Aneth’s weapons are too good, or maybe it’s the existence of better metals. In this world, steel is considered just a base material and hasn’t been developed as much. It’s not as good as the steel I remember. That’s good news. With a bit of ingenuity, I could create something to sell at a good price. Once money starts coming in, everything will be easier.

  I manage to identify three swords before I start feeling the effects. Each of these swords is worth about 1 real. I didn’t really understand the value of money before, but after my visit to the blacksmith shop, I understand how generous my father has been. I can’t count on him continuing to give me money, but in a couple more months I estimate I’ll be able to support myself with my own materials.

  While rummaging through the storeroom as I wait to recover my mana, I realize how narrow-minded I’ve been. Until now I only thought about making weapons and armor.

  Of course that’s still my main goal if I want to explore dungeons, but for that I need money, and making a good sword is very expensive.

  Candelabras, lanterns, pots, cutlery, knives… The list of everyday tools people need is enormous. Not to mention most are made of iron, so they wear out quickly. If I can prove to Aneth that I can make those kinds of things, maybe I can get some orders from her. I might earn less than selling them myself, but it’s not like I’d have customers otherwise.

  Once I’ve recovered, I continue examining three more swords. My talent hasn’t leveled up, but I notice something. My brother already said it—I hadn’t managed to read everything from his sword. And the same thing is happening with these.

  I can see small differences between them. Almost irrelevant. But their effects remain blank. At first I thought they didn’t have any. However, I’m sure they contain magical ore. Even if they have high attack, something is missing.

  Clearly I need practice. I decide to make my visits to the storeroom a daily event. At least until I’ve analyzed all the equipment.

  If I’m not seeing the effects, I might be overlooking other things. Nothing says attack is the weapon’s only stat or that there aren’t other hidden qualities.

  I take a break to eat and then return to the storeroom. My shoulder feels less fatigued. That means tomorrow I’ll be able to light the forge again.

  There are four swords left to identify on this rack. I identify two and leave the other two for the end of the day. I rummage through some boxes without finding anything interesting until I’ve recovered and analyze the first sword.

  The feeling that there’s something I’m not seeing has been growing stronger. I feel like I’m close, but no matter how much I focus, I can’t figure out what I’m missing.

  Discouraged, I pick up the second one and repeat the process for the umpteenth time.

  And then I see it. A faint aura, barely perceptible, surrounding the blade as if they were one and the same. Even now that I know what to look for, it isn’t easy to notice.

  But it’s there.

  The information flows into my head, or maybe it’s simply the understanding I’ve been seeking all day.

  Effects: sharp blade, ****.

  Eyes of the artisan has increased to level 2.

  My hands tremble with excitement when I put the weapon back. I don’t feel as tired as before, but I still decide to call it a day and leave happily to return the key.

  I run into a boy a few years older than me, probably a new recruit.

  “Excuse me, what are those things for?” I ask when I see a box with various items inside.

  He looks at me suspiciously. I realize he doesn’t know me.

  “Sorry, I should’ve introduced myself. I’m Termin, the marquis’s youngest son.”

  “Sorry, sir, I didn’t know who you were.”

  “Don’t worry. You don’t have to be formal with me,” I add when I see him bowing.

  “Thank you. These are things to be thrown away. Most of it is equipment discarded by the adventurers who help the lord and by the knights.”

  “Do you mind if I take a look?”

  “Of course, though I don’t think you’ll find anything salvageable. It’s all broken gear.”

  Still, I kneel by the box when he sets it on the ground. As he says, it’s all destroyed and beyond repair. Most of it is leather with some metal details. There’s nothing that can be repaired. Nothing that can be reforged either.

  I’m about to give up when I see what used to be a leather bracer. What catches my attention is a dark blue gem set into it. It’s cracked, but when I examine it more closely, I notice a faint aura around it.

  It’s weak, but it’s a magical gem.