Just an Ordinary Blacksmith

"Uncle Andre, your boxing skills are amazing! Can you teach me?"

"It's just a normal punch, you can do that too."

Outside the Rogue's dilapidated house, Kunan kept circling around Andre, seemingly trying to learn powerful fighting techniques from him.

Unfortunately, Andre's fighting style actually just seems to be ordinary fighting techniques: straight punches, uppercuts, punches in succession, flying kicks, each of which is just an ordinary technique when taken out individually.

So why is he able to overpower the Grafted Noble when he's playing? Probably because his stats are just too good.

However, Kunan firmly believed that he must have mastered special power generation techniques to be able to unleash powerful force with every punch. After all, professional fighters in this world do rely on special power generation techniques to unleash their fighting spirit and cause powerful destructive effects.

"I am just an ordinary blacksmith."

When asked, Andre simply repeated the sentence, making full use of his "afterimage" identity, leaving Kunan with no choice but to give up.

Just then, the Rogue brought out a large pot of cooked shrimp and crabs, using the crab shells as plates. The bright red food filled the shells, and the presentation was quite elaborate, making it look very appetizing.

This was the gourmet feast he had promised. Although it was just ordinary boiled shrimp and crab in salt water, the amount of salt used was quite particular, bringing out the freshness of the ingredients just right, so you could eat as much as you wanted without getting tired of it.

To enjoy such a delicious meal in the cold Lake Liurnia, especially after a tiring adventure, is a true comfort to both the mind and body. If one could also have a warm cottage, a roaring fireplace, and the songs of a bard, it would be the life of an adventurer's dream.

The encounter between Andre and the Rogue only triggered a few brief exchanges, like small talk. The sole purpose was to let people know that the two knew each other or were familiar with each other. The Rogue even asked Andre to buy some salt from Ka Lie and bring it over.

Andre then naturally assigned the task to the elves.

This is a limited-edition mission; it will be discontinued soon, and you'll never encounter it again.

"Call"

Mei Erjia licked the crab roe clean from inside the Crab Shell, making a satisfying sound. It was indeed an incredibly fulfilling meal.

Besides feeling full, she also noticed subtle changes in her body.

I feel like I've gotten a little stronger?

Although it sounds strange to describe it this way, the feeling is similar to the boost she received when she spent her soul at the campfire to level up her strength attribute.

It's probably the effect of the food; anyway, it will dissipate in a while, so there's no need to worry about it too much.

Compared to the significantly high physical damage reduction provided by [Cooked Shrimp], the increase in strength from this feast is rather ordinary.

After finishing their meal, it was time to continue their adventure. Before leaving, they received a Great Lobster material from the Rogue. This glowing material could be used to forge weapons with the Felyne blacksmith in the Forest Area.

For adventurers, these are invaluable monster materials, but for Rogue, they are just useless scraps.

Andre walked steadily on the road to the Academy Gate Town, with the elves following closely behind. The fog in the lake area was slowly dissipating, which was a good sign; it was better to be able to see the road clearly than not.

Occasionally, you'll encounter monsters on the road. Whenever this happens, the boxer—no, the blacksmith—will swing his fists and beat the monsters into a rout, sending them fleeing in disarray. He only chases away the monsters; he doesn't actually kill them.

As creations of the same dungeon, they can just fight and put on a show; they won't actually fight each other.

But his acting was also very realistic. The feeling of each punch landing was something that ordinary people could not show. Every punch was full of hormones, which made the elves' blood boil. In particular, Kunan couldn't take his eyes off him.

He wasn't male; he was just admiring the muscles. Really, after all, excessive bodybuilding can attract the same sex.

"Bang!"

A Jyuratodus that was charging towards them was knocked to the ground by Andre's punch, causing the ground to tremble.

As the monster howled and fled, Kunan's mouth had barely opened when Andre spoke first:

"I am just an ordinary blacksmith."

"."

Yes, yes, you're the most ordinary, I won't argue with you.

Kunan wisely chose to keep quiet.

In his eyes, Andre had long since become a reclusive master like the Sweeping Monk. He even said he was a blacksmith, so what could we do?

I'll just have to comply.

With the help of this Andre, the journey was smooth and unimpeded, as if even the heavens were helping them. It was as if the underground city also wanted the elves to return to the Academy Gate Town as soon as possible, which was why it reduced the number of monsters that came to harass them.

The weather was getting better and better, and as the fog gradually thinned, the surrounding scenery gave the elves a familiar feeling.

They knew it so well, it was like they had just walked this road.

"Have we been going the wrong way all along?"

This was the first time Wei En Ma had shown a look of self-doubt in the dungeon.

When she clearly saw the corpses of the monsters they had killed earlier by the roadside, she became even more certain that they had been happily eating lobsters and singing songs all the way when they took the wrong turn.

If they hadn't met Andre, where would they have ended up? They might have wandered around this vast lake region for a long time.

Thinking of this, she couldn't help but feel grateful that she had met Andre.

The further you go towards the Academy Gate Town, the fewer monsters you encounter, and the weaker they become. Even ordinary people can wander around nearby.

When the blurry silhouette of the town appeared in the distance, the elves all breathed a sigh of relief; they had finally arrived!

For some inexplicable reason, the moment we saw the town, everyone suddenly felt incredibly tired, as if we had finally come home after studying at Heng O for a month.

"Why hasn't the power boost effect worn off yet?" Mei Erjia clenched her fist. Almost an hour had passed since she finished the Rogue's seafood feast, and the power boost effect still hadn't disappeared.

So long?

At this point, someone else raised the same question.

"After eating, I felt like my legs were a bit faster. Have any of you experienced the same thing? Why hasn't the buff disappeared yet?"

The speed has increased?

Upon hearing this, Mei Erjia asked the others and discovered that everyone had received a boost, and the nature of the boost was random.

I've never heard of magic or magical items providing an amplification effect that lasts for more than an hour!

Could it be that—

"Permanent upgrade!?"

After realizing this, she wanted to turn back and find the Rogue immediately.

If it really is a permanent upgrade, then she'll cling to that Rogue and live off him no matter what. No, we can't call him that Rogue now, we have to call him Lobster Bro with respect!

Unfortunately, she would only find out later that this seafood feast, which randomly upgrades the diner's level by one, would only happen once.

In the end, no one went back to find the Rogue; instead, they followed Andre into the Academy Gate Town.

When they stepped onto the dry ground, everyone felt an indescribable excitement. They were finally free from the damp environment, their shoes and socks were soaked.

But compared to their excitement, the scene before them fell silent.

"This place looks a bit, uh, I can't describe it," the elves complained.

Because the scenery of the Academy Gate Town was somewhat different from what they had imagined.

Before entering the underground city, Si Telan had described the general scenery to them. They knew that large areas were occupied by collapsed houses, and the view wouldn't be very pleasant.

Can anyone tell me what's going on with all those colorful tents and adventurers sleeping everywhere?

Those who think about setting up a tent are considered respectable people; the majority of adventurers simply find a flat surface and fall asleep.

Mei Erjia had something to complain about. I understand you're tired and want to rest after your adventures, but don't sleep around everywhere. Aren't you afraid your valuables will be stolen?

You are adventurers, not vagrants!

Carefully stepping over the sleeping adventurer in the street, the elves followed Andre toward his blacksmith shop.

By this time, most people had finished the first half of their adventure for the day, and most of the damned ones had died back at the campfire, so they were resting here.

However, most people who have arrived here have forgotten to bring enough supplies, only a few have brought tents, and most can only find a corner to sleep in.

They don't want to leave, why?

After several days of adventure, those who did not leave have accumulated a considerable number of souls.

If you leave the dungeon, the accumulated souls will be cleared, which many people are reluctant to do.

Especially those who are just a little bit away from leveling up are even more reluctant to leave the dungeon, and they are also hesitant when going out on adventures, for fear of accidentally dying somewhere and causing their souls to explode.

It's worth mentioning that adventurers have discovered that the number of souls required to revive in the Lake Liurnia region has decreased, and the negative effects such as dizziness after revival have also been reduced, which makes it much easier to accumulate souls.

This also put pressure on them, psychological pressure.

This has only been open for less than two weeks. What will people's mindset be like when it's been open for a longer period of time?

Could it be that they don't want to leave the dungeon anymore?

"The buff hasn't disappeared yet, so I think it's permanent," Kunan said.

"What an unexpected bonus," Mei Erjia exclaimed. She needed over 20,000 souls to level up, which was no small number.

Then she grinned mischievously and said:

"I wonder where Si Telan ran off to, but she's not as lucky as us."

"Yeah, I guess they're struggling to survive somewhere. It's so pitiful that they got separated from us during the teleportation."

"How about we give her a shrimp as a token of our appreciation? We're not exactly stingy elves."

"I think it's a good idea."

Just as the elves were discussing this, Andre stopped and found his blacksmith shop.

A group of adventurers tilted their heads to look at the burly man, sensing that he was no ordinary person.

Ka Lie also poked his head out, because Andre's blacksmith shop was in the house next to his.

And this room.

Andre stared blankly at the anvil and forging tools lying on the street, listening to the laughter and chatter coming from inside the house.

Without a doubt, his blacksmith shop had been taken over by someone!

The elves grinned wickedly. Whoever was in the room was in for a world of trouble; the boxing champion might just unleash a few straight punches on them!

"Bang!"

He forcefully opened the door, and the person inside turned around, meeting the gazes of Andre and the onlookers.

"Clatter!" The spoon in Si Telan's hand fell onto the table.

"Who are you, uncle?" Lu Lu Wo stood up, holding a half-bowl of stew in her hand. Upon closer inspection, she realized that the New Strategy Team had transformed the place into a kitchen, which was filled with food.

"."

Looking at the large pot of stew bubbling in the middle of the room, the oil stains on the walls, and the interior layout that has been completely altered, and then thinking about the anvil that has been left outside.

Andre gave a kind smile.

One day later.

"Have you heard? A blacksmith suddenly appeared next to the merchant. He can use Forging Stone to enhance weapons!"

"I heard from others that you can only enhance weapons produced from the Zane Dungeon."

"Who said that? They can all be enhanced, it's just that non-dungeon weapons require more materials. Believe me, every soul you spend on the blacksmith is well worth it. I will never forget the wonderful feel of the enhanced weapon."

"Is it really that amazing? I'd like to go see for myself."

"Oh, right, there's something fun I have to tell you. The blacksmith shop was taken over by the Skyrim Strategy Team and used as their kitchen, but the original owner came back, and guess what happened?"

"What's wrong?"

"Hey, they're working as laborers in the blacksmith's shop now! Let me tell you, when they tried to rebel, the blacksmith beat them all down with one punch each!"

"So powerful!?"

"Everyone outside is saying he's a hidden boss monster. How could a blacksmith be that strong?"

Did he say anything?

He said, "I'm just an ordinary blacksmith," and that was it.

"This is too ordinary."