Rock Hammer Blacksmith.
Shopkeeper Barn stood behind the counter, gazing at the black-haired youth in front of him.
The middle-aged man claimed to have dwarf blood, stood six feet nine inches tall, and had a build even more burly and powerful than the average Bear Goblin.
At that moment, the expression on his face looked a little strange.
It was not his usual astonishment at the extremely high scrap rate of Xia Nan's armor, nor was it doubt over the quality of the equipment he had forged.
Rather, it was a complicated look that seemed to say, "That's more like it," and "It finally happened."
The Plate Chain Composite Armor made from "Malan Pattern Steel" was far stronger in both defensive effect and durability than ordinary equipment.
Thanks to Barn's outstanding forging skill and the exceptional qualities of the material itself, the equipment even carried slight resistance to "slashing," "piercing," and "fire."
During the month and a half he had spent with Sea Thorn Squad, even after many battles, it had remained in quite good condition, allowing Xia Nan's not-very-practiced maintenance skills to improve somewhat.
During that time, he had visited the blacksmith a few times, so naturally he had spoken with Barn as well.
And every time they talked about the Plate Chain Composite Armor he wore, the man always gave the impression that he wanted to say something but stopped himself.
Only now, when Xia Nan once again returned to Rock Hammer Blacksmith wearing that armor of his, with deep claw marks left across the chest and almost torn to shreds.
Only then did Barn finally reveal a strange sort of relief.
It was a little like the expression on his face back when Veris, whom Xia Nan had secretly suspected for so long, finally made her move