Chapter 20 – Steel and Resolve
The warm bath had done wonders—washed away grime, blood, and the weight of the past few days. The home-cooked meal that followed reminded Ethan of things he had long forgotten: warmth, peace, and the scent of grilled meat laced with herbs.
But such comfort couldn't last. Not yet.
After thanking the woman and the little girl, he stepped out into the town, the cobbled streets already glowing faintly under the descending sun. His first stop: a clothing store.
Nothing extravagant. Just a simple black tunic, reinforced leather trousers, and a traveler's cloak that hid just enough of his presence without making him look suspicious. A few copper coins lighter, he moved with purpose toward his next destination—the Adventurers' Guild.
This time, he didn't browse or hesitate.
> [Quest Accepted: Goblin Subjugation – Area 4]
[Quest Accepted: Goblin Subjugation – Area 7]
[Quest Accepted: Goblin Subjugation – Area 11]
There were more goblin nests than anyone cared to admit, but that suited Ethan just fine. With ruthless efficiency, he cleared one after the other—his blade dulled slightly with each encounter, and his arms ached, but his movements grew faster. Sharper. More natural.
By the time the sky began to bleed orange and purple, he returned to the town with light wounds, dust-covered clothes, and the faint green blood of goblins on his boots.
> [Current Balance: 7 Silver, 76 Bronze Coins]
[SP Gained: 57 (Goblins) + 3 (Hob Goblins)]
[Total SP: 280]
[Level: 3 (125/529 EXP)]
---
System Shop – [Browsing Available Equipment…]
🔹Rusted Short Sword (Durability: Low) – 150 SP
Barely functional. Not worth long-term use.
🔹Worn Leather Vest – 220 SP
Basic protection. Better than nothing.
🔹Minor Healing Potion (x1) – 60 SP
Heals light wounds over time.
🔹Sturdy Iron Dagger – 200 SP
Reliable but short-range.
🔹Tattered Hooded Cloak – 90 SP
Increases stealth slightly. No defense.
He scrolled through more, but each one seemed lacking—either too overpriced or worn-out junk. With a frown, he closed the system interface.
"Not worth it."
Instead, he turned toward a blacksmith's forge he remembered seeing on his way to the guild earlier. Smoke still rose from the chimney, and the rhythmic pounding of metal echoed as he stepped in.
Inside, rows of weapons and armor lined the walls, though most had seen better days. Behind the counter stood a broad-shouldered man with a soot-streaked beard, wiping sweat from his brow.
"Need a blade?" the blacksmith grunted without looking.
Ethan nodded. "Something long. Not too heavy."
The man tilted his head toward a rack by the wall. "See for yourself."
Among the weapons, one caught Ethan's eye—a longsword. Its edge had a faint silver sheen, and the handle was bound in fresh leather. The guard was simple, yet well-forged, and a small wolf insignia was carved into the base of the blade.
> [Wolf Fang Longsword – 5 Silver Coins]
Type: One-handed longsword
Weight: Moderate
Durability: 100%
Description: A well-balanced iron longsword forged by a retired knight-smith. Slightly heavier than standard, but reliable and solid.
He gripped the handle—and grimaced. Just a little too heavy for now. But… he wanted it.
"Five silver," the blacksmith said, eyeing him. "And no, I'm not shaving off a single bronze."
Ethan hesitated—then exhaled. He opened his Hollow Crown System and distributed some of his stat points.
---
> [Stat Points Allocated]
+2 STR → Strength: 4.4 → 6.4
+1 VIT → Vitality: 4.0 → 5.0
+1 CON → Constitution: 4.8 → 5.8
---
He swung the sword again.
Perfect. The weight settled naturally in his palm now. He handed over the coins, the metal clinking heavily as the blacksmith took them.
"Keep it clean," the man muttered. "And don't die."
Ethan gave a faint smirk. "I'll try not to."
As he walked out of the shop, the first stars began appearing in the dusk-lit sky. His new sword rested against his back, and his eyes were lit with a quiet fire.
"Time to grow faster..."
Ethan stepped out of the gear shop with a new set of clothes bundled under his arm—toughened fabric tunic, dark linen trousers, and light arm guards made of padded hide.
He glanced at the coins left in his pouch and muttered under his breath, "Damn… I need clothes that don't get ruined in a single run."
The goblin blood, soot, and grime from even one fight seemed determined to reduce everything he wore into a rag. At this rate, he'd go broke just trying to look presentable.
Still, for now, it would do.
---
With the sun dipping low and the exhaustion in his bones starting to whisper, he found his way back to Amelia's house. The door creaked open before he could knock.
"Big brother!" The little girl beamed up at him, arms swinging as she bounced in place.
Her smile—so simple and genuine—caught him off guard. For just a moment, the weight he carried felt lighter.
Amelia peeked from the kitchen. "Welcome back. Hungry?"
Ethan nodded. "Starving."
The evening passed in warm silence. The scent of warm broth, roasted root vegetables, and soft bread filled the air. The little girl sat beside him, excitedly talking about nothing and everything. He didn't catch half of it—but he didn't mind.
After washing up, he excused himself early and went straight to bed. The mattress was thin, but softer than the ground he had been sleeping on. The blanket had a faint lavender scent, and the room was still.
Sleep came quickly.
---
The first light of morning filtered through the window. Ethan's eyes opened on instinct.
Quietly, he stepped into the courtyard, still barefoot, sword in hand. The cool morning air kissed his skin as he faced the rising sun and took a stance.
His grip tightened around the handle of the Wolf Fang Longsword. He exhaled—and swung.
Whiff—thud.
The movement was controlled, but…
> "Tch."
It wasn't fluid. His feet placement was off. The swing lacked flow. Sure, the strength was there now, but his body didn't know how to use it properly.
His expression soured. He swung again. Then again. Then paused.
"Oi, system."
A familiar chime echoed in his mind.
> [Hollow Crown System Interface – Active]
"Is there a way… to actually learn how to use this sword properly? Not just swing it like a club?"
> [Searching: Longsword Combat Proficiency]
Result Found – Sword Talent Tree Unlockable]
→ Sword Mastery Talent: S-Rank (50,000 SP required)
→ Sword Mastery Talent: SS-Rank(100,000 SP required)
→Sword Mastery Talent: SSS-Rank(500,000 SP required)
→ You currently lack prerequisites for lesser talents. System recommends: Practice or find a mentor.
Ethan stared blankly at the glowing message.
"Damn..SSS-Ranked!!"
"…Five Hundred thousand?"
He lowered the blade with a sigh. "Of course it is."
Still, a small fire sparked in his eyes.
He wasn't there yet.
But someday…
He would be.
After finishing his morning swings, Ethan washed up, strapped the Wolf Fang Longsword across his back, and stepped out.
The sun was still low, casting long shadows down the stone-paved streets as he made his way to the Adventurers' Guild.
His eyes were steady. Today was about one thing—
"Hardcore grind," he muttered, pushing the door open. "Time for powe leveling."
He approached the quest board directly, ignoring the murmurs and sidelong glances. Most of the guild regulars were still sipping morning ale or nursing hangovers, but Ethan's focus was razor-sharp.
[Quest Accepted: Goblin Subjugation – Area 8]
[Quest Accepted: Goblin Subjugation – Area 10]
[Quest Accepted: Goblin Subjugation – Area 5 – Hob Variant Alert]
He avoided anything higher-tier. His current strength and gear wouldn't survive an elite beast or a proper dungeon dive.
Goblins were enough—for now.
As he was about to turn and leave, a familiar voice rang out.
"Yo, kid."
Ethan turned to see Brad, the seasoned B-Rank adventurer who had advised him a few days back. The man looked as gruff as ever, but his steps were calm and deliberate as he approached.
"Looks like you're grinding hard," Brad smirked, clapping a firm hand on Ethan's shoulder. "That's good."
Ethan nodded with a slight grin. "No shortcut to strength."
Brad gave a pleased grunt. Then his expression turned a bit more serious.
"The expedition's getting ready—will probably depart in a week or so. Some bigshots from other cities are expected to join in. But you… you focus on your thing for now."
Ethan raised an eyebrow. "You're going?"
Brad chuckled. "Of course. But that's not the point."
He leaned in slightly, voice low but direct.
"Listen, Awakened like you? You guys can grow at a ridiculous pace if you push yourselves. Not like us. A normal adventurer takes years to reach C-rank. But you—if you're sharp—you could reach it in weeks if not months"
He tapped two fingers on Ethan's chest.
"But only if you put your whole damn soul into it."
There was no mocking tone. No sarcasm. Just a sharp glint of expectation in Brad's eyes.
"I have high hopes for you, Ethan. Don't let me down."
With that, the older man turned and walked off, leaving behind a silence that felt heavier than it should have.
Ethan stood still for a second… then exhaled slowly.
"Don't plan to."
He tightened the strap of his sword and stepped out of the guild.
His next hunt awaited.