The next morning, Colin finished his breakfast and set out for Horn Castle with Kase.

The Half-Orc spoke up, "I noticed you’ve gotten sturdier again today."

"Oh really?" Colin shook his Leather Armor.

After gaining a point in Power yesterday, the difference was quite noticeable.

He woke up feeling much nimbler in his arms and legs, as if he had just removed sandbags he’d been wearing for a long time.

An increase in Power wasn’t as easy to control as Constitution or Intelligence. While brushing his teeth this morning, Colin had accidentally poked his gums. ’I guess that’s a happy little problem to have,’ he thought.

After all, there probably wasn’t another human in this world whose body was still developing at the age of twenty.

While getting dressed this morning, Colin took a moment to inspect his Leather Armor.

The spot where the Carrion Insect had struck wasn’t damaged, merely showing a few white marks. Lashing attacks weren’t very effective against Armor. Besides, the Corpse-eating Worm Slime had already dried. ’Nothing to worry about now,’ he figured.

Since he hadn’t unlocked the Specialty for his Dwarf Armor Technique yet, Colin decided to dump all one hundred and fifty Skill Level points into it.

His Dwarf Armor Technique Skill Level was now at 313 points.

He was less than half a progress bar away from the 500-point upgrade.

While they were on their way, Kase pointed at Horn Castle in the distance and asked, "I’ve been meaning to ask, is that where your chief lives? How tall is he? How sturdy?"

"Well, how should I put this..."

Colin thought for a moment before explaining, "Thousand Masts City operates under a kind of council system. That castle isn’t so much a residence for a single chief as it is a place for the surrounding nobles to meet with the Lord of Thousand Masts City and discuss policy."

"Huh? So does that mean all those villages we visited before are under the jurisdiction of Thousand Masts City?"

"That’s right. The City Lord bestows their titles."

"So is the City Lord the strongest human?"

"No, the position is decided by a council vote. It could even be an eighty-year-old man for all we know. How do you not know any of this?"

"Don’t want to worry my head about it. The stuff you human tribes come up with is weird and complicated," Kase grumbled.

Chatting like this, the two soon arrived at the entrance to Horn Castle.

The two Spear Guards standing at the gate were different from before.

"Name and purpose!"

Before Colin could speak, the other Guard cut in, "Isn’t this ’Colin with the Orc’?"

"What?" Colin frowned.

It took him a few seconds to realize the man was referring to his new nickname.

Kase protested indignantly, "You make me sound like some kind of animal."

"Apologies, Mr. Half-Orc."

After saying that, the Spear Guard turned back to Colin. "Someone from the City Guard came by yesterday to talk about you. Thank you for everything you’ve done for the city, sir."

"Er, thank you too." Colin was momentarily at a loss for words.

Just then, an officer wearing Half-plate Armor walked over. The two Guards’ faces instantly paled.

Colin shrugged at the Guards and led Kase quickly toward Edwin’s office. 𝘧𝘳𝘦ℯ𝓌𝘦𝒷𝘯𝑜𝑣𝘦𝓁.𝒸𝘰𝓂

’That old Guard from yesterday sure works fast,’ Colin thought.

’The nickname feels a bit strange, but having a good reputation is a good thing for an Adventurer. After all, reputation is the first thing most employers look at when hiring.’

’Taking a step back, being famous for heroic deeds is a good thing for anyone, right?’

Pushing open the office door, he found Edwin sitting at his desk, writing and drawing on a large pile of documents.

He looked up, saw Colin, and said with a smile, "Good morning, our hero. I’ve already heard about your heroic deeds in the sewers. Facing a Carrion Insect is no easy task. I’m glad you were ultimately successful."

"The two City Guards also deserve a great deal of credit," Colin said humbly.

"Here is your payment." Edwin immediately took a Gold Coin from his drawer and handed it to him.

As Colin took the coin and put it away, Edwin carefully studied Kase, who was standing to the side.

"What are you staring at?" the Half-Orc said, a little annoyed.

"I heard from Colin that you’re from the north? Are you from near the World’s Roof?"

"You mean ’Yatas-Muuk’? World’s Roof is a weird name. My tribe lives in the caves at the foot of the mountains." Kase crossed his arms.

Edwin smiled. "Just curious."

Colin thought back for a moment.

’The World’s Roof was said to be the largest mountain range in the world, and it was quite far away. That region was very close to where the Winter Calamity appeared.’

After exchanging a few more pleasantries with Edwin, the two left Horn Castle.

As they walked, Colin thought about the Corpse-eating Worm Slime he had.

’This stuff probably counts as a monster material. I wonder if those Dwarves want it.’

With this in mind, he strode toward the sewage outlet where the Dwarves were located.

A short while later, the two arrived at the edge of the outlet.

"You haven’t been around much for training this week, big guy," said Dorn, the bald Dwarf guarding the entrance, by way of greeting.

"I had a job in the city recently. I already told Donkexes. He said there weren’t many materials in town, so he didn’t assign me any tasks."

Dorn waved his hand. "Not that I was doubting you. Go on in."

"Well, have a good day." Colin went around him into the sewer, making his way to the Dwarves’ herb shop.

Donkexes was still behind the counter, tinkering with his herbs.

"What can I do for you today?"

"Does this count as a monster material? You guys want it?" Colin placed the glass tube containing the Corpse-eating Worm Slime on the table.

Donkexes uncorked the vial, sniffed it, and said, "Corpse-eating Worm Slime. Did you scrape this directly off the tentacles?"

"Yes."

"No wonder it has so many impurities. Besides, this is too small a quantity. I can’t offer you much for it."

With that, Donkexes pulled three Gold Coins from the counter and placed them on the table.

’From the way you were talking, I thought it’d only be worth three copper pieces...’ Colin grumbled inwardly as he stuffed the Gold Coins into his pouch. He only had a little over six Gold Coins in total now; three Gold Coins was definitely not a small sum.

Donkexes continued, "This amount is originally worth nine Gold Coins, so I plan to make up the difference with a Magic lesson. You can refuse, of course."

"I accept," Colin said with a smile. "But speaking of which, aren’t I supposed to provide you with materials for free?"

"You’re supposed to provide the materials we request. Obviously, I never asked you for Corpse-eating Worm Slime."

"You’re pretty decent, in that regard."

"We are Dwarves. Iron-forged Dwarves. Every word we speak is imprinted on molten iron. Once it cools, it won’t change for a thousand years, not for ten thousand," said Donkexes. "This is fundamentally different from you humans and those Elves, not to mention that Half-Orc lunk next to you."

"And that part’s pretty obnoxious."

Donkexes looked at Kase. "Do you have any on you? Corpse-eating Worm Slime."

"I’m gonna sell it to someone else. You guys are too poor."

"Suit yourself," Donkexes said.

Kase shrugged. "By the way, where’s your boss? The black-haired one. Are my Magic Items ready yet?"

"Durkin and Langgrin? They’re off processing your materials. Have a little patience. You should know that crafting Magic Items is no easy task. And I can guarantee you, the result will not disappoint," said Donkexes.

’He has a point.’ Colin was instantly lost in fantasies about the Magic Equipment.

’What kind of effects would items worth several hundred Gold Coins have? What would they feel like to hold? Would they look special in some way?’

’As a Transmigrator, he had seen the concept of "Magic Equipment" in many games, movies, and TV shows.’

’Now that it was his turn to be on the verge of acquiring a piece of Magic Equipment, it was impossible not to be excited.’

"Hey, kid."

Donkexes’s shout pulled Colin back to reality.

The Dwarf was standing next to him, yelling, "Are you going to your Magic lesson or not?"