Darkness as far as the eyes see. All were asleep but the moon and stars in the sky, sh dowle light across the nds. Birds of all kinds and critters of all shapes and sizes roamed the sky and forests as if they were kings. It was a deep and silent night.

  The colors of crimson and amber emanated as the fires crackled. They could be seen like tiny grains of sand in a desert, far and few iwee illuminating eae and providing each family with warmth.

  "Are you sure you won't be staying over for the night? It's already quite te, you know?" ［Kus］

  "No, we 't impose on you any further, Chief. Besides, there are some people waiting for us. They might get worried." ［Grey］

  "Well... I suppose that's true..." ［Kus］

  A few hours have passed sihe little feast Grey and Yuna atte the Feros vilge and they have now returned back to the Balta vilge. With it, their escort quest has finally been pleted.

  Due to the unforesees Grey and Yuna attended, a lot of time had passed and it was almost midnight. While legal curfews do in Galderia, it was still very te. Especially with the presence of beasts and monsters. It was very dangerous.

  "Then I hope you drop by for some tea ime. I'll make sure to brew you anood one." ［Kus］

  "Hahaha, then we'll be looking forward to it." ［Grey］

  "Goodbye, Chief～! And goodnight!" ［Yuna］

  "Yes, yes, good night as well." ［Kus］

  The Chief waved his hand slowly as he saw off Grey and Yuna. It didn't take too long before their silhouettes slowly faded into the darkness. Once again, silence has returo the night.

  With no peering eyes, Grey and Yuna didn't mind the surroundings too mud ran at high speeds. The cold ale night breeze caressed their skins as they went about their ways.

  "By the way, Yuna... When I was smithing, how did I look like?" ［Grey］

  On the middle of their journey, Grey asked a strange question with a flicted expression on his face. While he wasly gloomy, his expressions weren't bright either, as if he was ihought.

  "How did you look like...? Do you mean your expressions?" ［Yuna］

  "Yeah, that." ［Grey］

  "Well... You looked serious and focused... That and... you looked like you were enjoying yourself." ［Yuna］

  Yuna's words rang clearly inside Grey's ears. The tter already khe answer deep i wao ask Yuna what she really thought. The flig emotions he once had were now gone.

  While he was smithing, an overwhelming joy surged inside Grey's heart. He was like a child who had just found his passion. With each strike, the happiness inside his heart only bloomed rger. Just like Yuna said, he was enjoying it.

  Although Grey enjoys adventuring, it has bee repetitive after months of doing it. It was the reason why he loves cooking. It was a hobby which breaks his daily routine of adventuring. Now, he fou another hobby to spice up his way of life.

  "Yuna, I've thought about it... About adventuring... Will you hear me out?" ［Grey］

  "Un! I'm all ears!" ［Yuna］

  Aic reply came out of Yuna's mouth as she beamed a bright smile trey. It was only at this moment that he once again realized how fortunate he was to have such a siderate and thoughtful partner and girlfriend.

  Carefully, Grey expio Yuna his thoughts. Rather than adventuring most of the time, about 6 times a day, he wao reduce it to only about 3 or 4 times. For the remaining days, he wao spend time on their hobbies and enjoy their time together.

  "What do you think?" ［Grey］

  "Mnm... I like it! Now I spend more time with you!" ［Yuna］

  A smile quickly bloomed on Yuna's face as she heard Grey's words. She has been wanting to spend more leisure time with Grey but didn't want to sound selfish. She was happy that Grey had brought it up first.

  tally, by the time they fiheir talk, they had arrived at the gates. After a short iion of IDs, they were able to get inside Galderia. They quickly went straight to the "Rabbit's Den" aired for the day, sleeping soundly in each other's warm embrace.

  A new m quickly arrived soon after, but uheir usual days, Grey and Yuna didn't get up early. Brought about by their te sleep, they slept soundly, tucked in their beds until the sed bell rang.

  The breakfast they had was good as usual. It filled their empty stomachs with warmth as they e together. Of course, it went without saying that they ate quite a lot. They are Grey and Yuna after all.

  After their breakfast, the two shortly headed to the Adventurers' Guild to quickly process the escort quest they had the day before. They didn't take any new quests and just went about their day.

  It was her the market nor the "Rabbit's Den". Grey and Yuna's destination ce they have never set foot to before. It was in a district far away from the residential district because of the hat it makes day and night.

  "What's wrong?" ［Grey］

  "No, it's just... It's much rger than I thought... It's amazing..." ［Yuna］

  ented Yuna as she gazed upon the building in front of her. While it bore resembo the Adventurers' Guild, it has a much more intimidating atmosphere around it. A pce where tless hammering strikes echhout the day and fmes burn endlessly. The Bcksmiths' Guild!

  One of the five majuilds, the Bcksmiths' Guild deals with all sorts of items and equipment not only from minerals, but also from monster drops, mana crystals, leather, fiber, wood, and many more. Another name for it is the Craftsmen's Guild.

  Surrounding the Bcksmiths' Guild building were dozens of smithies, each produg intense heat and deafening sounds all the time. They are the busiest distri the city which works night and day.

  Full of curiosity, Grey and Yuered the guild. trary to its outer appearahe inside was much cooler and weling. Just like the Adventurers' Guild, there are also reception desks and request boards where bcksmiths take requests and create the ers' needs.

  "Good m, how may I help you?" ［Receptionist 1］

  A professional smile bloomed on the receptionist's face as she weled Grey and Yuna. It was a smile the two were all too familiar with. It remihem of Tilda the very first day they ehe Adventurers' Guild.

  "Are you here to order equipment?" ［Receptionist 1］

  Asked the receptionist as she looked at Grey and Yuna's attires, all the while maintaining her professional smile. With her experie only took a single go tell the two youths in front of her were adventurers.

  While adventurers mostly buy their equipment and items in stores, some head to the Bcksmiths' Guild, either for referral to a reputed smithy or p order for a ade item. It was a very on practice.

  "Ah, no... I'm here to take a registration exam." ［Grey］

  "Then please head to the ter on the right. There, you will be given a registration form to fill up. Your exam will en examiner is free." ［Receptionist 1］

  The receptionist gently poio another ter just a few meters away. There was no sho her face even when such a young man wished to take the exam. After all, young bcksmith apprentices aren't unon.

  "Oh, thank you." ［Grey］

  "I'm gd to help." ［Receptionist 1］

  After bowing their heads slightly to the receptionist, Grey and Yuna then headed to the registration ter. Oher hand, the receptionist just went on with her work aertained yet another er.

  "Good m, I'm here to take the registration exam." ［Grey］

  "Good m as well. Please fill this form up with the necessary details marked with red dots on the right and pay the examination fee of 100 kiels. Will the Young Miss be taking up the exam as well?" ［Receptionist 2］

  "A-Ah, n-no... I'm just here to apany him. A... Am I not allowed to?" ［Yuna］

  Panicky, Yuna tried to expin herself to the receptionist. She didn't know what the right processes are in taking up the registration exam and was a little nervous if she was breaking any rules.

  "Not at all. As long as you don't cause issues during the exam, you are allowed to spectate." ［Receptionist 2］

  "O-Okay... Thank you..." ［Yuna］

  With the receptionist' reassurance, Yuna quickly settled down. Meanwhile, Grey who was filling up the registration form couldn't help but chuckle inwardly, thinking how cute Yuna was.

  The registration form requires two types of information to be filled up. Ohe required information like name, sex, ac., marked by a red dot on the side. The sed type was the optional information which the registrant could just leave bnk. Of course, Grey only pced the necessary amount of information.

  "Here you go. I'm finished. And here's the examination fee." ［Grey］

  "Thank you... Mmm... Everything seems to be filled up correctly. I have a verified ID for firmation of your identity, please." ［Receptionist 2］

  "Ah..." ［Grey］

  Grey froze on the spot as soon as the receptionist asked such a question. After all, every rea of those who saw his guild card had always been the same. It was one of great shock. One which is usually eye-catg.

  While Grey is still in possession of the temporary IDs Dale issued them on their arrival in Galderia, it was only useful for 2 weeks. In other words, it had already expired long ago.

  "Is something the matter...?" ［Receptionist 2］

  "Ah, no... You see... Please don't get too surprised..." ［Grey］

  Timidly, Grey showed his guild card to the receptionist. And like what he expected, traces of shock quickly showed up on the receptionist's face. The tter quickly verified the legitimacy of the guild card, being even more shocked after realizing it was indeed a real one.

  "P-Please wait a moment, You Excellency! I-I'll go get the Guildmaster!" ［Receptionist 2］

  The receptionist tried to act as polite as possible, bowing her head before leaving for the Guildmaster's office. It was a rea Grey and Yuna knew all too well. One which easily caught the attention of many curious eyes.

  Thankfully, it was only Grey who had shown his guild card. If Yuna had dohe same, it would have caused an even bigger otion. As for their privilege cards... it was better not to talk about what effects they could have.

  Not long after, a man of simir size to Gaston came out alongside the receptionist from before. If Grey didn't use his appraisal and firm he was human, he would have thought he was just an oversized dwarf because of his thid bushy beard.

  "It's a pleasure to meet you, Your Excellency. I am called Chiron, Bcksmiths' Guild, Galderia branch Guildmaster. I wele you." ［Chiron］

  As one would expect from such a rge man, his voice was very deep and husky. Thankfully, he wasn't a bad person or it would have been troublesome. Though his formality was enough to make Grey and Yuna's heads ache.

  "Please raise your head, Guildmaster. I'm here to take the exam so please feel free to treat me like you would any other examinee. o be so formal." ［Grey］

  "A-As you wishー Ah, I mean, sure!" ［Chiron］

  It was only after he raised his head that the Guildmaster noticed hoeople were gazing at them with puzzled eyes. After all, he was the highest ranked person ihe guild, and for such a person to bow his head to a youngster, it was natural that it aroused the others' i.

  "It seems that... we've garnered quite the attention, haven't we...? Should we tinue our talk somewhere else, Lad?" ［Chiron］

  "That would be most wele." ［Grey］

  A wry smile rey's face, he and Yuna followed the Guildmaster to the employee-only se. On the way to their destination, the two couldn't help but hear g sounds of metals hitting one another.

  While many bcksmiths are affiliated to a smithy, there are also others who work solo, unaffiliated to any. The guild also taiable workshops which these bcksmiths could use, hehe eg sounds Grey and Yuna could hear.

  Su issue wasn't a problem frey. While he doesn't have his own workshop, he could use "Sanctuary" and perform his fs. Yuna could also use it to perform her alchemy rather thaing a boratory from the Alchemists' Guild.

  After all, today, it won't only be Grey who will be taking a registration exam. After the bcksmith registration exam, they are pnning to head to the Alchemist Guild for Yuna to take her Alchemist registration exam. As for the Enters' Guild, Grey decided he would take it at a ter date.

  "Here we are." ［Chiron］

  The sound of footsteps stopped eg the hallway as the three of them halted in front of a certain room. Inside was a rge open area filled with state of the art facilities and tools to be used in f. It was one of the many examination rooms there are.

  In the ter of the room was a rge table with a variety of low-grade metals oop, and a couple of middle-grade metals. In the far back was a rge furh an anvil, a grindstone, a water tank, and other work tables. There were also a good variety of tools present.

  While not as advanced as Grey's "Divine Bcksmith Toolset" which has been granted by God, the equipment present in the room were all of high-quality. It was of much better quality than those found oh during medieval times.

  "What do you think, Lad? Pretty sweet, isn't it?" ［Chiron］

  "Yeah. There isn't a single piece of equipment missing. I'm sure it costs quite a lot to make." ［Grey］

  "Hehe, seems like you have a good eye, Lad." ［Chiron］

  Led by the Guildmaster, Grey and Yuna toured the room with their eyes, iing the equipment and materials present. Slowly, they approached the anvil where Grey would be perf his f.

  "Now, since we're already here... I guess I'll be ag as your examiner. Well... I should probably expin the rules first before we start." ［Chiron］

  cisely, the Guildmaster expined what the tents of the exam will be. It was quite simple. The examinee only o create the best piece of equipment they within 8 hours' time.

  As the exam was quite long and there are multiple examinees in a single day, the examiners are allowed to exit the examination room while the examinees do their best and tinue f.

  It was an exam impossible to cheat as newly fed items have traces which are not easy to replicate. One could not just bring equipment from outside and cim it as their own. There was also the option of using a modified heartstone which detect lies instead of criminal records.

  "Hmm... Looks like the exams will take long. Yuna, sorry... I don't think I apany you in your exam." ［Grey］

  An apologetic faed rey as he faced Yuna. They have fotten to take into at the tents of the test and because of it, their pns for the day have been somewhat ruined.

  "No, it's alright... I go on my own." ［Yuna］

  "Sorry, really... Here, take this with you. It tains all the ingredients and materials you need." ［Grey］

  Said Grey as he handed a ste ring to Yuna. It was the same ste ring Yuna used when Grey was away. Inside of it were a lot of herbs and materials which are all useful iing potions and the sort.

  "Hey, Grey..." ［Yuna］

  "Hm?" ［Grey］

  "When you're done, fetch me, okay? I'll be waiting for you." ［Yuna］

  Slightly embarrassed, Yuna asked for such a request from Grey. A sweet and sappy atmosphere had enveloped the room as the two showed their affe for one ahey have pletely fotten the Guildmaster was still there.

  "Sure, I'll get you as soon as the exam is over." ［Grey］

  Grey replied, patting Yuna's head and cheering her up. With the atmosphere of the room getting sweeter, the presence of the Guildmaster only became thinner. He felt like he had bee like air, prese unnoticed.

  With Grey's words, Yuna waved her hand goodbye to Grey before exiting the room. On one of her fingers was the ring Grey had just given her.

  "You two... You sure are bold to flirt in front of me, huh..." ［Chiron］

  "Ahahaha..." ［Grey］

  Awkwardly, Grey respoo the Guildmaster's ent with a dry ugh. It was only after the tter talked that the former remembered that he was still present. It made the atmosphere feel a little weird.

  "Well, no matter... Why don't we start the exam now? Lad, show me what you got." ［Chiron］

  A rge smile appeared on the Guildmaster's face as he lit on the fmes on the furnace abze. On one of his hands was a heavy hammer which he swiftly threw to Grey, the tter catg it without any problem.

  "Yes." ［Grey］

  Following the Guildmaster's words, Grey stepped up to the front and once again ied the equipment present. This time, he used his "Divine Eyes" to see the range of capacity they could perform.

  After the equipment, Grey then headed to the table where the materials are located. A ed expression stered on his face as he did so. Uhe equipment, he did not find the materials satisfactory.

  "Guildmaster, I use my own materials?" ［Grey］

  "Hm...? Sure. Do whatever you want." ［Chiron］

  The Guildmaster's permission acquired, Grey quickly took out a small pitch bgot from his "Iory". The moment the Guildmaster's eyes saw the ingot, his eyes widened in surprise. The ingot Grey took out was made of Noirite, the highest quality metal within the "High-grade" minerals.

  While there have been a lot of examinees who took out high-quality ingots before, they only did so so that they could get a higher grade equipment even if they are bad at f. But somehow, the Guildmaster khat that wasn't the case frey.

  The Guildmaster's intuition roven right the moment Grey delivered the first strike. The moment Grey's hammer ected to the ingot, a loud bellow echoed all over the room as the ingot was subjected to raw ford mana.

  Each of Grey's strikes produced an ear-deafening sound, yet there was no disfort to the Guildmaster who listeo it. Rather, he found it rexing to hear the rhythm Grey made with the strikes that he made.

  In, out, in, out. The ingot has been tinuously taken out of the furo be hammered again, only put ba when it has cooled down. There were no gaps. Grey was sistent iing and hammering the metal.

  With the sparks produced by Grey's strike, the ragi of the furnace fmes, and the burst of wind after each impact, the room seemed like it had been devoured by a grueling firestorm. Yet in such a chaotiviro, Grey remained calm as he tiriking the metal.

  The Guildmaster, who had initially po leave and e back when the exam was over, was now frozen as he watched such a mesmerizing sery unfold. He couldn't stop grinning from excitement.

  As a Tier-6 bcksmith himself, the Guildmaster could tell Grey's skill was on par, if not above his. The bcksmith blood inside of him couldn't stop boiling iement from seeing such a talented young bcksmith.

  Time passed by quickly and six hours had epsed. After Grey was doh hammering, he then proceeded to the steps. The product was a beautiful pitch bife. Grey had even dohe courtesy in engraving golden patterns on it for aesthetic purposes.

  "Phew... Guildmaster, I'm finisheー Woah!" ［Grey］

  Grey was very caught up with f that he didn't even realize the Guildmaster had already approached him. The momeurned his head, he was greeted by the tter's face, very close to his. Grey almost had a heart attack.

  "Lad..." ［Chiron］

  A stern and dark expression ainted over the Guildmaster's face. He only said one word, yet it was enough to scare the living daylights out of a normal person. Grey did not know what he was thinking of.

  "Where did you learn such skills?! Don't tell me... are you an apprentice of a Legendary Bcksmith?! No, are you perhaps Lord Fvio's desdant? e on, don't just stay quiet! Let's talk more about smithing!" ［Chiron］

  An ued outburst. That was what the Guildmaster did. His facial expression has pletely turned 180 as he interrogated Grey for every siail whilst grabbing his shoulders. He has bee a total smithing fanatic.

  No choices left, Grey answered the overexcited Guildmaster's questions, untruthfully of course. After all, who would believe the real story whivolved God and reination. In the end, Grey mao acquire a Tier-6 Bcksmith guild card. It was a tiring day, in ways more than one.

  CHAPTER 117 END