"That’s not what I said—"

Before Alex could further explain himself, Yoru stepped closer and yanked him by the collar with fury burning all across his face.

Alex’s eyes turned cold and he stated flatly, "Let go."

Hearing his icy voice, Yoru shivered yet didn’t release him. From the moment he had seen Alex, he was feeling as though something was terribly wrong with this guy.

He didn’t know why he was feeling that way but he was sure not to ignore his instincts so all he wanted was a reason to kick him out.

He was going to deny him at the door but unfortunately, Alex had a Holy Token which meant someone from the church had connections with him.

And that someone was Paladin Ystella Ember... he could do anything but anger that creepy woman so he decided to play along for a while and now he had the reason he needed.

Don’t resent me too much. He thought and growled, "If you cannot appreciate our craft then — leave."

Hearing those words, Alex’s face darkened and he mumbled, "I’ll leave once I have a worthy sword."

"No," Yoru muttered and moved his head closer. "You are getting nothing from here."

Alex peered into his eyes and placed a hand on his shoulder.

"What?" Yoru muttered in confusion.

Alex leaned forward and whispered in his ear, "I had warned you."

The next moment, mana coursed through Alex’s body and he pushed down on Yoru’s shoulder.

Yoru felt as though a boulder had been placed on his shoulder, veins bulged across his face as he tried to fight the pressure and his knees buckled and gave way, sending him crashing to the ground while growling like an injured beast.

"Ahh! Ugh! Y-You bastard!" He screamed as Alex pushed him further down. 𝐟𝕣𝗲𝕖𝕨𝗲𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝗲𝚕.𝗰𝚘𝐦

Yoru’s groans and short screams filled the room and suddenly the door behind flung open.

Countless pairs of eyes glared at him in fury and only one at the center was looking at him with mild annoyance and contempt.

Alex let go of Yoru and looked at the man in the center.

The man seemed to be in his fifties, scars were running across his bronze face and his grey eyes seemed as though they could see beyond the surface. He had a white beard and mustache with his grey hair having multiple white and grey strands.

He was the Forge Master and owner of Haestus Forgery – Bron Haestus.

Before things could escalate further, Bron stepped inside the room and asked in an unhurried tone, "What are you doing to my boy?"

Alex looked at Yoru and muttered with clear indignation, "He grabbed my collar and told me to leave just because I gave him a valid criticism."

Bron examined him for a while and said, "Tell me, what did you say to him?"

Alex nodded and walked over to the sword he had picked up before then he channeled his mana into it.

"What is he doing?"

"How dare he touch our sword after doing that to Yoru?!"

The blacksmiths behind Bron murmured and Bron raised his hand to silence them.

After a few moments, Alex lowered the sword and said the same thing as before, "Although the sword is well-crafted. Its mana conductivity is not up to par. I lost more than half of the mana I had channeled into it."

Hearing his words, Bron frowned and said, "I don’t see the problems. All weapons are made for aura infusion not mana so why would that be a problem?"

"This guy is stupid!"

"Is he slow? Why would a mage even use a sword?"

"He just wants to get punched. I bet he is into that kind of stuff!"

Alex put the sword aside and muttered, "Maybe I had too many expectations after Ystella recommended this place to me."

Just as that name left his lips, the oppressing mood vanished and a few of the blacksmiths in the back gulped nervously.

"That demon sent him here?"

"She is trying to cause trouble again!"

Alex stepped before Bron and bowed, "I apologise for weighing your capabilities too high."

Everyone suddenly fell silent. Bron’s fist bulged with veins and Alex continued, "If I had known that your forgery is only good at shaping metal then we could’ve saved our precious time."

"..." Bron stared him down with a blank expression and heaved a sigh. "Are you trying to wound this old man’s pride?"

Alex raised his head and asked with a tilted head, "Why would I do that?"

Bron shook his head and turned around. "You should wipe that smug look off your face before saying that."

"Ahh..." Alex scratched the back of his head with an embarrassed face.

"Usually, I would’ve kicked you out but as that girl has sent you here, I’ll forge for you," Bron said while walking out of the room.

Alex’s eyes shone with delight and he muttered, "What materials do you want?"

Bron stopped at the door and said without looking back, "You don’t have to worry about it... Instead, just do me a favor."

The joy instantly vanished from Alex’s face and he muttered, "What kind of favor?"

Bron continued walking and said, "Don’t worry about it. It won’t be something too dangerous."

So it will be dangerous... Alex weighed his options for a while.

He could just leave and have his sword crafted somewhere else but Bron was the best blacksmith within the whole inner city and he needed him to get the perfect sword.

The original Alex also had his initial sword forged by Bron but there wasn’t much revealed about Bron.

Though he already knew what the favor would be.

Alex followed behind Bron and remarked inwardly, Well it aligns with my plans so there’s no need to decline the sword.

A few moments later, the two of them stood some steps away from a roaring kiln and Bron held a hammer in his hand.

"Let’s start," Bron muttered as he pushed a large metal rod into the blazing kiln.