Equipment Upgrade

Rain noticed it at once: a new Spell-Like Ability had appeared—Silencing Scream lv1.

Silencing Scream lv1. Effect: unleashed a sonic shriek that could disrupt or interrupt spellcasting within ten meters.

"Interrupt spellcasting!"

Though the spell came from a monster, and Rain had no idea what spells orthodox mages in this world used to interrupt casting, he understood how important this Spell-Like Ability was.

"Not bad. I finally have a way to counter an enemy's spells."

"And it gives me a measure of defense against monsters that can cast spells."

Rain quickly thought of several uses for Silencing Scream. It would work not only against spellcasting monsters but also against hostile spellcasters.

"Huh? The Giant Vampire Bat Leader has Robust lv1 too?" Rain glanced over the passive abilities among his bloodline talents and suddenly spotted it.

"In that case... I can remove the Goblin Warrior Bloodline, can't I?" Rain raised an eyebrow, delighted.

The Cold-Enhanced Goblin Bloodline also granted Dim-Light Vision lv1.

As for the Goblin Warrior Bloodline's one level-three talent, Rapid Reproduction lv3, a man without even a girlfriend had no use for it.

And now he had another source of Robust lv1...

After a moment's thought, Rain placed the Mutant Goblin and Boarfolk Warrior Bloodlines in his bloodline slots, but did not put the Goblin Warrior Bloodline back.

Since bloodlines could not be fused a second time, he also cleared the remaining five Giant Vampire Bats out of his sixteen-slot bag.

That left only Common Boarfolk Bloodline ×1 and Goblin Warrior Bloodline ×1 in his sixteen-slot bag.

His equipped bloodlines were now:

[Equipped Bloodlines: Cold-Enhanced Goblin Bloodline ×1, Boarfolk Warrior Bloodline ×1, Giant Vampire Bat Leader Bloodline ×1]

[Bloodline Talents: Rapid Reproduction lv2... Dim-Light Vision lv1... Frost Affinity lv1... Brute Strength lv2... Thick Hide lv2... Keen Scent lv2... Hammer Proficiency lv1... Keen Hearing lv2... Robust lv1]

[Spell-Like Abilities: Freezing Ray lv1, Savage Charge lv1, Sonic Location lv1, Silencing Scream lv1]

One of his four bloodline slots, previously all occupied, was now free for a monster bloodline he might acquire later.

Early the next morning.

Rain arrived at Ironforge Workshop bright and early.

The slightly plump old man, who always greeted people with a smile, came forward as soon as he saw Rain. "Welcome, Rain."

"Hello, Feod. I'm here to replace my shield," Rain said with a smile.

After buying three pieces of equipment on his last visit, Rain had gotten to know Feod, the man in charge of Ironforge Workshop's Mill Town branch.

Rain had practiced Shield Bash so often lately that even his cross-rim-reinforced Kite Shield was struggling to withstand the frequent use.

Both the added striking boss and the grip behind the shield had grown a little loose.

It was not that Ironforge Workshop's equipment was poorly made. A shield worth only a dozen or so silver coins simply was not meant for an aspiring Professional to practice Combat Techniques with at such intensity.

Now that he had mastered Shield Bash, Rain felt he needed a thick, durable metal shield more than a Shoulder Guard with a striking boss.

He clearly remembered the prices he had been quoted last time: thirty-five silver coins for a riveted metal shield, and eighteen for a cross-rim-reinforced Kite Shield. This time, he had earned twenty-one silver coins.

If what Feod had said last time was true—that the workshop bought back equipment originally purchased there at a good price—Rain should have enough.

"By the way, Feod, you said your shop would buy back an old shield?"

"Of course. May I take a look at your shield? If there's nothing wrong with it, we should be able to buy it back for eighty percent of the original price..."

Feod's words trailed off as he inspected Rain's shield. His eyes widened, and he looked up at Rain in disbelief, then gave a rueful smile.

"Rain... have you been fighting an ogre?"

"I remember you bought this shield only half a month ago. How has this Kite Shield worn down so much?"

"Given the quality of our work at Ironforge Workshop, there's no way it could have worn down this quickly without repeated heavy impacts."

As he spoke, Feod pointed out several fine cracks in the wood on the shield's surface.

"Well..." Rain found himself at a loss for words.

After all, the eighty percent Feod had initially offered really was a generous buyback price.

And Feod had good reason for what he said.

Rain's frequent use of Shield Bash lately was indeed what had worn the shield down so quickly.

"Then... what's the most you can offer for it now?"

"Now? Sixty percent at most... No, I'll give you seventy," Feod said with a sigh.

"I hope you'll continue to visit our shop, Rain."

Rain hesitated.

He did not have enough money.

Seventy percent of the shield's original price came to twelve silver and sixty copper. Added to the twenty-one silver he had just earned, that gave him thirty-three silver and sixty copper—one silver and forty copper short of thirty-five silver.

He still had two silver coins at the inn, but that was all he had left for living expenses.

He could not spend every last coin on a shield.

"I'll come back in a couple of days. I didn't bring enough money today." Rain turned to leave.

Just then, a young man beside him tapped him lightly on the shoulder. His voice was full of surprise. "Rain! It really is you!"

"If your voice hadn't sounded familiar, I never would've recognized you."

"Wow, your build has changed so much."

"Robin! It's been a while!" Rain was delighted to see him too.

The cheerful, round-faced young man was Robin, Rain's sparring partner when he had first started training under Humbert.

"Buying equipment too?" Rain asked, noticing the gleaming new short spear in Robin's hand.

"Yeah. I'm getting a new short spear and shield," Robin said with a smile. "Oh, I heard you're short on money. How much do you need? I can lend it to you."

"Well..." Rain hesitated.

"Would five silver coins be enough?"

"I don't need that much. Two will do," Rain said, waving a hand.

"Rain, why not have this young gentleman buy it for you?" Feod murmured in Rain's ear. "Three items bought together qualify for a ten-percent discount."

As the person in charge of an Ironforge Workshop branch, Feod might seem to be acting against the shop's interests. But he had his reasons.

To Feod, Rain was clearly no ordinary fighter. He might well become a Professional before long, and building a good relationship with him now could bring the shop a major customer for high-end equipment later.

That was also why Feod had raised his buyback offer by ten percent.

"Haha, he's right! Leave the purchase to me, Rain!"

Rain was delighted. Not only would he save three silver and fifty copper, but Robin would get the ten-percent discount on both his items as well.

It could not have worked out better.

Before long, Rain and Robin walked out of Ironforge Workshop side by side. Rain's new metal Kite Shield remained inside to have three diamond-shaped spikes fitted to it, a job that would take a day.

"Rain, I'm off to do a quest. We got lucky yesterday—our team picked up a Kobold-clearing job."

"Kobolds? Those jobs do get snapped up quickly." Rain nodded with a smile.

He knew how sought-after Goblin- and Kobold-clearing jobs were among lower-ranked Adventurers.

"Yeah. Once we finish this job, I should have just about enough saved up. I'm planning to take my sister to Dorn City and find a priest to treat her eyes."

Robin smiled brightly, his eyes shining with hope for the future.

"Your sister must be lucky to have you as her brother," Rain said with a sincere nod.

"Haha, I'm not that great!" Robin scratched his head, looking a little embarrassed by the praise.

At the far end of the street, a group of young people dressed as Adventurers waved to Robin.

"Well... they're waiting for me. See you around, Rain."

"See you!" Rain waved with a smile.