Krovane placed the hammer back onto its rack beside the anvil and loosened his grip on the tongs. He looked at the molten metal he had been hammering for the past four hours, and it seemed… not much had changed in terms of its shape.

  Garreth only asked Krovane to adjust his movements and hammering technique from time to time, stepping in to correct him when needed. From there, Krovane slowly learned how to strike more properly, improving bit by bit.

  Compared to the beginning, Krovane could deliver twice as many strikes. He did so with better technique, cleaner movements, and far more controlled power.

  Judging by effort alone, this was already several times more than what he had been capable of when he first came here to take the test.

  The good news was that he no longer collapsed from exhaustion every time he finished his work.

  He began tidying up, making sure every tool was returned to its place. As he did, he glanced toward the other blacksmiths who had gathered nearby, drinking, laughing, their bodies drenched in sweat and glowing from the heat of the forge after a full day of work.

  “Krovane.”

  Just as he was about to take his leave, Garreth called out to him and lightly patted the wooden bench beside him, where two other blacksmiths were already seated.

  “You had something you wanted to ask, right? Come on, take a break for a moment.”

  “Yes, sir,” Krovane replied with a nod as he joined the other blacksmiths. Of course, he did not drink whatever strong smelling beverage they were having.

  He sat there for a while, letting Garreth, the bald blacksmith, chat with the others.

  After some time, the man finally turned his attention back to Krovane. “So, tell me. What is the problem?”

  Krovane nodded right away, not wanting to delay it. “Sir, I am currently training. Physical training, martial arts, and now weapon training as well. But I still do not know what weapon I should use. I was thinking about using a sword, since I feel it suits my body type. But I also started wondering if it would be possible to use a hammer for fighting. I heard that some people do use this kind of weapon in battle.”

  The other blacksmiths immediately stopped drinking and talking. They turned to look at Krovane, their expressions clearly surprised.

  Did he say something wrong?

  “What?!” Garreth replied. “You want to fight using a hammer? Ha ha ha!”

  Garreth burst out laughing. The others followed, laughing as well, before returning to their drinks.

  Why did adults always seem to find something to laugh at so easily? Was what he said really that funny?

  “And who exactly are you training with?” Garreth asked.

  “Mr. Rogan, sir. He works for Mr. Davon.”

  “Rogan?” Garreth replied. “That guy! Hah! Did he suggest that you choose a hammer?”

  “No, sir. It is more like… I have grown used to using a hammer. So I thought, if I am already learning blacksmithing, maybe I could also use a hammer for combat.”

  “Wait here,” Garreth said as he stood up. He gave Krovane a light pat on the shoulder. Even though it looked gentle, it still made Krovane’s already numb shoulder sting.

  A few moments later, Garreth returned, carrying a hammer that looked different from the ones used for forging metal. It had two hammer faces, both reinforced, with one side having a narrower striking surface than the other.

  Garreth placed it directly onto Krovane’s lap. Krovane startled and nearly dropped it as he struggled to hold its weight.

  Garreth said. “Take it and use it for training. Just make sure you return it once you manage to forge your own hammer here someday.”

  “I…” Krovane looked down at the hammer in his hands. It was well polished and clearly well maintained.

  “I am allowed to take this, sir?”

  “Yes. Now go home,” Garreth said. “Take it with you, and do not lose it. If you do, you will be working here for the rest of your life.”

  “But sir…” Krovane was still confused. Was he really being lent something that looked this valuable?

  “Use it against stage one monsters. They will be crushed easily. Even stage two monsters will not be a problem, as long as you have enough strength.”

  Garreth gave Krovane’s left arm another firm pat. “Keep training these muscles, alright, kid. Now go home.”

  **

  “Krov, show me the new toy you got.”

  A loud shout echoed through the room, making Krovane slowly crack open his eyes.

  It was Hugo’s voice, as loud and overly excited as ever. No matter the topic, he always found something to shout about first thing in the morning.

  This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.

  Krovane opened his eyes a little wider and felt something hard resting against his chest. More precisely, it was tucked inside his blanket, held tightly in his arms.

  “Show it already, your new toy,” Hugo said again.

  Krovane finally woke up properly. As the blanket shifted, the hammer was revealed, wrapped in dark leather. Its shape was still clearly visible, but the covering protected it well.

  “Look at you,” Hugo laughed. “You are sleeping while hugging a hammer. What, do you miss the toy from your old home?”

  Krovane yawned, his eyes still heavy. His body felt better, but the exhaustion from last night’s work still lingered.

  “Garreth lent me this hammer. I am going to use it to fight,” he said calmly.

  “What?!” Hugo looked shocked and immediately reached for the handle.

  Krovane slapped his hand away. “Do not touch it. You are not worthy to lift it.”

  “You are joking. I am stronger than you!”

  “Yes, but still, do not touch it.”

  Hugo tried again, and Krovane shifted his body to block him. “Keep your dirty hands away from my beloved hammer, Hugo.”

  “Krov, do not be so childish. I just want to touch what kind of hammer blacksmiths use to work.”

  “No. No!”

  They both broke into laughter after that. Krovane even carried the hammer with him into the bathroom so Hugo would not touch it while he was distracted.

  No one was allowed to lay a hand on this precious hammer except him.

  Krovane really did bring the hammer with him to their next training session with Rogan. The moment Rogan saw it, his expression shifted in clear surprise.

  “Garreth lent you that? No way,” he said.

  “Yes. He said I could use it for training, and even for fighting monsters if needed.”

  Rogan let out a long sigh and rubbed his forehead. “Then make sure you train seriously. And do not get yourself killed while using that thing.”

  “That… sounds like you are trying to scare me.”

  Rogan sighed again. “You are training to fight, not to play around. So from now on, you need to train properly. For real.”

  Train properly? Had they not already been serious, after all the punishment and hardship they had gone through so far?

  When Krovane tried to ask how valuable the hammer actually was, Rogan did not respond at all.

  From that point on, Krovane truly focused on learning how to use this type of weapon more effectively.

  Rogan began explaining the core concept of fighting with a hammer.

  “You already have an advantage,” Rogan said calmly. “You have trained yourself through refining work. Your grip is strong, and you are used to handling repeated impacts. You also know how to control the shock when the hammer strikes something solid. That alone puts you ahead of most beginners.”

  He then continued, pointing at the hammer in Krovane’s hands. “A hammer is a very powerful weapon. Its strength lies in raw impact. You do not need sharp edges. One clean hit is enough to break bones, crush armor, or shatter defenses. Against monsters with tough hides or shells, this kind of weapon works especially well.”

  “But,” Rogan added, his tone sharpening, “you must understand its weaknesses.”

  He paced slowly as he spoke. “A hammer has a short attack range. You need to get close to your opponent. It is also heavy. Compared to daggers, which are short but light, you cannot rely on speed alone. Your movements must be deliberate. Every swing must have purpose.”

  Rogan stopped in front of him. “If you miss, you will be open. If your footing is bad, the weight will pull you off balance. This weapon does not forgive sloppy technique.”

  “So the technique is simple, but strict,” Rogan continued. “You do not swing wildly. You use your legs, your waist, and your shoulders together. Let your whole body move with the hammer. Control the weight, do not fight it. Short, efficient strikes. Aim to end the fight in as few hits as possible.”

  He looked directly at Krovane. “If you can master that, this hammer will be terrifying in your hands.”

  “Yes, sir!” Krovane nodded firmly.

  The first day passed. Then the second. Then the third.

  Krovane fully focused on training with the hammer. He learned basic attack patterns, proper stances, footwork, and how to control the weight of the weapon during each swing.

  He trained how to strike without overextending, how to recover after a miss, and how to maintain balance even when using full power.

  It was there that Krovane truly realized something important. Just because he used a hammer in the smithy did not mean he already knew how to use one in combat.

  The two were clearly different. Refining metal required steady rhythm and controlled force, while combat demanded timing, positioning, awareness, and the ability to react instantly. Even though both relied on repeated strikes and strength, the purpose and movement behind each swing were not the same.

  Still, Krovane felt that he was slowly synchronizing with this hammer. It felt different from the one he used at the smithy, heavier and more balanced for impact, but he was beginning to understand its weight and behavior.

  And then… one week passed.

  The time they had set and aimed for finally arrived.

  That morning, Krovane, Hugo, and Emily gathered and prepared themselves. This would be an important moment, the point where they would truly step into the next stage of their journey in this world.

  “Hugo, level seven. Krovane, level six,” Emily said with a flat expression. “Slow progress for Hugo.”

  “I focused on physical training,” Hugo replied confidently. “Just wait until I start crushing monsters. I will have a much higher level than both of you.”

  Emily could only let out a quiet sigh.

  “What about you, Emily?” Krovane asked, genuinely curious about what she had achieved so far.

  From what he knew, Emily did physical training too, but at a much lighter pace compared to the two of them. She had also said that she was focusing on studying magic and learning how to make use of her affinity with the four basic elements.

  Emily smirked at the question. “You will be surprised. But fine, I will tell you. Level nine. Pretty good, right?”

  “You are lying!” Hugo exclaimed. “How can someone who is just relaxing have a higher level than us?”

  Emily crossed her arms. “That is where you are wrong, Hugo. Cultivating a mana core is not only about physical training. I explained that clearly from the start. You also need to train your mind, your soul, and your understanding of yourself.”

  “That really stresses me out,” Hugo replied with a laugh. “I will just smash through everything with my strength. You will see.”

  Emily let out a quiet sigh after hearing that. “Just remember that you can truly lose your life in this world if you are careless and treat everything like a joke. This is not a video game. This is the real world. Be more serious.”

  “I am, Emily,” Hugo said with a grin, trying to ease the sudden tension between them.

  Krovane could only smile as he watched the two of them, who always seemed to be at odds with each other.

  “Today, we are registering at the Adventurers’ Guild,” Emily said next, a smile forming on her face. “At last. We have been waiting a long time for this. Let’s go.”