Decision

Decision

Back kitchen.

The kitchen at Old Ke Smithy was a separate large room. Upon entering, one saw a long table covered with several basins. Two large basins held prepared white-flour rice balls and rice, while two smaller plates held large bowls. The rest were several pots containing vegetables and meat dishes. At this moment, Dole noticed that some dishes were for the apprentices and some for the masters, clearly marked. After looking them over, he nearly cried. There was no meat for him, only vegetables and rice balls.

Still, having rice was good enough. He had eaten vegetable balls for years and had nearly forgotten what rice tasted like. When had he started forgetting? It seemed to have been when his parents died.

Thinking of this made him feel a little sad. He wondered whether his parents in heaven were well, whether that place was good. Ah.

Sensing Dole's low spirits, Verek patted him on the shoulder and said, "Don't overthink it. Only when you're full will you have the strength to work. Come, eat." He fetched two bowls for Dole before going ahead to serve himself some rice.

Only one chef was watching over the kitchen. When he saw Dole come over, he smiled. "A newcomer? Why do you look a little familiar?"

Dole raised his head and said, "I'm from the slums. I live right nearby and used to come here to play often."

The chef immediately remembered something. He nodded without saying anything, then pointed at the large pot of meat dishes. "Since it's your first time here, you can take some meat."

Dole was immediately overwhelmed with gratitude. He was practicing martial arts, and this was exactly when he needed meat. He had been eating vegetables lately, and his nutrition could barely keep up.

"Rice and rice balls are unlimited. Eat as much as you can. Don't worry about going hungry." After filling his own bowl, Verek handed the rice ladle to Dole.

The dining arrangements were casual; people could eat anywhere. However, most blacksmiths took their food over to the forge so they could keep an eye on the fire and prevent the temperature from dropping too low. Otherwise, they would have to spend time relighting it later.

After a hearty meal, Dole felt incredibly happy. Full and satisfied—this was what a human life was supposed to be.

He decided not to go to the mines. He would work here instead. So what if he earned one less copper coin a day? At least he could eat his fill. For Dole, being full was what mattered most. It concerned whether he could become a qualified warrior in the future. If he could become a warrior, who would still want to be a miner?

With that thought, his mind became active. As he ate, he carefully sounded out Verek.

Verek was not the owner, so he could not make any promises. He could only tell Dole about everyday matters. After all, there were many smithies in Duomeng City, and they were always short on apprentices. All he could say was that as long as Dole came every day, he would have food every day. That much was certain.

Hearing this, Dole became very excited. He worked with more and more energy that afternoon, much to Verek's satisfaction.

Verek sighed. Children from the slums were easy to support. Give them a meal, and they would work this hard.

Demon County lay in the north-central region of the Northern Kingdom and was geographically closer to the north. Though the weather had begun to warm at the end of winter, it was still chilly. The rain continued for three days, and by the third day, the temperature had plunged to an extreme. It felt as though winter had returned.

On the morning of the third day, Dole woke from the cold. His blanket felt as though it were not there at all, and his whole body shivered. Seeing that the sky outside had already brightened, he rubbed his hands, greeted Aoduo, and headed straight out. The smithy was warmer. As for Aoduo, there was no need to worry about him. His fur was so thick that the temperature barely affected him.

Aoduo watched Dole's departing back with some amusement. Frail human.

The past two days had been quite comfortable for him. A few nights ago, he had gone looking for ore veins and really had found two more. So what if it rained? After absorbing the Magic Crystals, he could even catch some wild game in the mountains. Not bad, not bad. His life was much more enjoyable than Dole's.

Still, he had seen that Dole had found work at the smithy. Combined with the care Aoduo gave him at night, things were passable.

Dog Aoduo had thought of many things these past few days. Through Dole, he had gained some understanding of the human race and even the Northern Kingdom as a whole.

The rain stopped today. The temperature was very low in the early morning, and some patches of the ground were even covered in something white.

Dole left the slums and followed the little canal to the smithy without even washing his face. The smithy had just opened. The apprentices were sweeping and lighting fires. Everyone greeted one another, and Dole began preparing as well.

Only when the flames in the forge rose did he feel a faint warmth seeping in from outside and gradually entering his body. His body slowly warmed as he worked the bellows and glanced around.

He was looking for Verek. At this hour, Verek had yet to arrive.

Just then, Ha came out from inside and called to Dole from a distance, "Dole, Verek is sick and won't be coming today. You'll follow Prado today."

Dole froze. Prado? Didn't he already have apprentices?

Prado was also a Level Two blacksmith and had two apprentices, both older than Dole: Eric and Yudo. Wouldn't that make three apprentices if Dole joined them?

Dole was somewhat dazed.

Seeing Dole standing there blankly, Ha shouted again, "If I tell you to go, then go. Are you afraid you won't get food or wages? What are you spacing out for, brat?"

After being scolded, Dole hurriedly nodded. "Yes, Ha. I'll go right away."

He set down the bellows, scooped some water from the nearby pool, and poured it onto the blazing fire. A cloud of smoke rose, and the flames gradually died out.

Only after finishing all that did Dole walk over to Prado's forge.

Prado looked at Dole and smiled. "You may be small, but you're quite strong. You'll work the bellows today. I have a lot of work, and Eric and Yudo can't handle it alone."

Dole did not particularly care whom he followed. He had merely spent two days with Verek and grown attached to him, so Verek's absence felt a little strange.

He nodded and smiled honestly. "I'm only trying to earn a meal. As long as Boss Prado doesn't mind having me around."

Eric and Yudo, standing nearby, laughed together. "We're all just trying to earn a meal here."

Prado nodded. "Our smithy has been tasked with making eleven steel swords today. They were ordered by the city lord's guard. The four Level Two blacksmiths each have four—I've got three. But mine are for the captain of the city lord's squad, so they need to be more refined and may take longer. I'll have to trouble the three of you today. Dole, the fire must be hot enough. Do you understand?"

Regardless of their level, a blacksmith could produce at most one iron item in a morning and roughly three in a day. The higher the level, the finer the forging and the slower the work. Under normal circumstances, a Level Two blacksmith could easily forge three or four Level Two iron items a day. If some steps were reduced, they could even make five. However, no Level Three weapon could exceed three per day. To make four, they would have to work overtime. So the moment Prado spoke, Dole knew he would have to put in serious effort today.

Sure enough, from the moment they began forging, no one stopped. Dole's hands gripped the bellows handle and barely paused. He kept at it for the entire day.