Appraisal Skill: 100% Accuracy

You, you, you, you...

Kogang pointed at Scribe with a trembling finger, his narrow eyes filled with disbelief.

Don't you feel hot?!

"It's fine. It feels like a hot water bottle."

After answering casually, Scribe asked Kogang another question.

"What quality of Crimson Iron Ore and Crimson Sulfur Stone can this piece of Tamahagane be smelted into?"

The moment the topic turned to his field of expertise, Kogang instantly shed his previous surprise and became extremely serious.

"There are many factors that affect the quality of Crimson Iron Ore and Crimson Sulfur Stone. The quality of the Tamahagane is only one of them."

Rubbing his chin, Kogang finally gave an impartial answer.

"On a scale of ten, this one can only score four."

Surprised by Kogang's assessment, Scribe raised his brows.

Although this was the first piece of Tamahagane he had ever seen, Kogang's score of four still greatly exceeded his expectations.

Just as Scribe was considering the reason, Motetsu and Inoue Mie approached.

It seemed Motetsu had already learned Scribe's identity.

"I apologize for my previous distrust of you."

Motetsu tilted his thick neck, intending to apologize to Scribe.

"I'll probably have many things to trouble you with in the future. Please take care of me."

With one hand braced against Motetsu's abdomen, Scribe stopped him from bowing.

Extending his right hand, Scribe met Motetsu's eyes.

"From now on, how about I call you Uncle Motetsu?"

Motetsu was briefly stunned as he looked at Scribe, who was only eight years old yet carried an inexplicable air of authority.

"Hahaha!"

Motetsu laughed loudly, helplessness appearing on his face.

He extended his thick right hand to shake Scribe's, grinning broadly.

"I like children with personality like yours. I'm definitely making you my friend."

Amid the laughter, the barrier between Scribe and Motetsu vanished.

"Uncle Motetsu, I want to learn how to judge the quality of Tamahagane. Can you teach me?"

To complete his mission, Scribe intended to learn from Motetsu how to assess Tamahagane.

"Sure. It's not some secret technique."

Agreeing readily, Motetsu gave Kogang a hard pat on the back.

"But there's probably a generation gap between an old man like me and you. Let Kogang teach you instead."

Completely ignoring his disciple's loud coughing, Motetsu grinned.

"Don't let his appearance fool you. He's learned all of it."

"In that case, I'll be in your care, Brother Kogang."

Turning to Kogang, Scribe wore an exceptionally sincere expression.

"Brother Kogang?!"

Hearing such a respectful form of address for the first time, Kogang immediately felt his head grow hot.

Scribe had Inoue Mie by his side and had even made his master apologize, yet he had called him brother.

At that thought, Kogang almost wanted to swear brotherhood with Scribe and become his sworn brother.

A puff of hot air burst from his nostrils, and he looked like a vigorous bull.

Kogang slapped his chest hard, full of confidence.

With Kogang's help, Scribe began studying Tamahagane appraisal.

At first, Kogang thought an eight-year-old child like Scribe might have certain weaknesses in comprehension.

Yet Scribe was like an indefatigable sponge, madly absorbing all the knowledge poured into him.

In just half a month, Scribe learned everything Kogang had to teach.

After all, this was the complete knowledge of Motetsu, one of the top masters in the smelting town.

It was entirely the essence of the whole town.

He's a monster.

After seeing off the fully trained Scribe, that was Kogang's final thought before closing his exhausted eyes.

Meanwhile, Scribe had already arrived at Motetsu's workshop.

Motetsu was somewhat surprised to see Scribe come looking for him again.

He had never heard of anyone learning all the skills he had accumulated over the first half of his life in only half a month.

Still doubtful, Motetsu posed several questions for Scribe to answer.

"In what location are ores more likely to produce high-quality Tamahagane?"

"Generally speaking, the closer to the mountaintop and the longer the area receives sunlight, the more likely it is to smelt high-quality Tamahagane."

"Correct."

Wiping away cold sweat, Motetsu threw out another question.

"After Tamahagane has cooled, how do you smelt it into Scarlet Scarlet Sand Iron and Crimson Sulfur Stone?"

"First... then..."

"Correct again."

No matter what question Motetsu asked, Scribe could always answer it within three seconds.

His answers were so precise that even Motetsu himself could not think of a better response.

It seemed that even if Motetsu refused to accept it, he had no choice.

Waving his hand, Motetsu had been completely convinced by Scribe.

Not only was Scribe powerful in combat, as Inoue Mie had said, but he was also a monster when it came to learning.

Compared to Scribe, Motetsu suddenly felt that the younger self once called the Smelting Prince was not even worth a speck of dust.

Scribe smiled faintly without showing any pride.

"You're flattering me, Uncle Motetsu. There's one more thing I need to ask of you."

"Go ahead."

Sitting upright, Motetsu looked at Scribe with his arms folded.

"I learned from Kogang that Uncle Motetsu's family is running low on ore reserves."

"I imagine you'll be heading up Sunlight Mountain in the next few days to mine new ore."

Motetsu nodded without denying it.

Mining and smelting were the daily lives of Motetsu's family, and indeed the entire town.

When raw materials ran short, they naturally had to replenish them.

"In that case, could you take me with you?"

Interlacing his fingers, Scribe revealed his true purpose.

Appraisal Skill, 100% Accuracy

"Take you up Sunlight Mountain?"

Motetsu frowned slightly, looking somewhat hesitant.

It was not that there were any regulations against it; Motetsu simply wanted to know why Scribe wanted to climb the mountain.

"I have a special ability that allows me to judge the quality of Tamahagane through the outer layer of ore."

"Of all the Tamahagane we mine, I only want three pieces. The rest will all belong to you, Uncle."

Scribe smiled faintly, his smile carrying a deeply suggestive meaning.

He did not believe Motetsu would still refuse under such circumstances.

"You can judge the quality of Tamahagane through the surface of the ore?!"

Motetsu's bell-like eyes widened round, his face filled with disbelief.

"Of course. If you don't believe me, we can try it after we get up the mountain."

"In that case, we'll go up Sunlight Mountain three days from now."

Without asking further, Motetsu agreed to Scribe's request.

There was no point doubting Scribe here. Once they reached Sunlight Mountain, they would know whether it was true.

"In that case, I'll come find you again in three days, Uncle."

Scribe rose and left Motetsu's house.

Three days was neither particularly short nor particularly long. There was always something to do.

Scribe kicked open the door to Kogang's room and directly woke Kogang, who was still asleep.

"Brother Kogang, wake up! Time to study!"

"No!"

Amid a pained howl, Kogang was dragged up by Scribe.

Though Kogang struggled with all his might, Scribe still hauled him into the study.

Another three days passed, and with Kogang's help, Scribe fully integrated all the knowledge he had learned.

If the previous Scribe had merely memorized the knowledge in his head,

then now, Scribe had become a genuine master.

Even if he were asked to smelt ore himself, there would not be the slightest problem.

Of course, as the price, Kogang had already collapsed unconscious in the study.

"Are you ready?"

As he asked Scribe, Motetsu tossed one of the two large backpacks behind him over.

"This trip up the mountain will probably last about a week. It contains the daily necessities I prepared for you."

"Thank you, Uncle Motetsu."

Scribe took the backpack and slung it over his back before asking another question.

"By the way, Uncle, do you have a Nichirin Blade here?"

"No. Only Swordsmith Village can produce those. But I do have a sharpened blade here."

Motetsu tossed the sword to Scribe, looking somewhat puzzled.

"What do you need a sword for? There aren't any demons on Sunlight Mountain."

Scribe merely chuckled and did not answer.

Motetsu scratched his head and did not ask further, leading Scribe toward nearby Sunlight Mountain.

Although the smelting village looked as though it was located at the foot of Sunlight Mountain, it was actually still half a day's journey away.

The closer they got to Sunlight Mountain, the hotter the air became.

By the time the two reached the foot of the mountain, Scribe could clearly feel that the temperature there was more than five degrees higher than in the smelting village.