Chapter 56
“Strong Smith?
Ming Hu muttered Strong Smith under his breath, then looked at Tilto with a strange look in his eyes for saying that he was a legend among the blacksmiths. A legend in his own words?
“Hmmm.”
Tilto coughed, a little embarrassed by what he had said, and looked at Ming Hu.
“Actually, I’m not a legend yet, but I will be. I make an unbelievable amount of armor. I can make more than ten armor pieces when most blacksmiths can make one. In other words, I can mass produce armor.”
“…!”
“That’s not all. The quality of the armor is not even close to that of the court smiths!”
“Yeah… But why would you want me to…?”
As you listened, something was off. I didn’t understand why I was saying this to myself.
“You… you ever think about being Strong Smith?”
“…What?”
Tiltho’s next words prompted Ming Hu to reflexively ask a question. Tilto’s reply resumed his speech, and by the end of it, Ming Hu had received a quest.
Tilto is a Strong Smith who would become a legend among blacksmiths. The first Strong Smith and Tilto’s mentor worked at the palace. His armor was faster than anyone else’s and of superior quality. The other smiths were jealous of him, and he was eventually framed. With no connections and no power, he was forced out of the palace. He was furious. Tilto’s master told him that one day he would return to the palace. But he couldn’t, and he left Tilto to keep it. But Tilto followed in his master’s footsteps. He excelled and became the court blacksmith, but it wasn’t long before he was framed and forced out of the palace. Tilto was angry, but he became a court blacksmith to keep the family name going, not for any other reason, and he has no intention of returning to the palace. But resentment is resentment. Titto is looking for a strong successor, someone who will be able to turn the noses of the court smiths upside down, someone who won’t be intimidated by any accusations. That is you, and you must choose. Will you follow in Tilto’s footsteps and become Strong Smith, or will you continue to live as you have always lived.
