Free Web NovelChapter 11: 11. Zavier The banned Blacksmith
AN HOUR LATER
ALEXANDER
The sword pulsed once more before finally calming down in my hand, not asleep, just watching quietly. I still hated that description. The dwarf pushed himself away from the anvil with a grunt.
"Well." He muttered. "Nobody exploded, better result than expected."
"THAT was your success condition?!" I stared at him.
"Reasonable standards." Noa said.
"I hate this place."I sighed.
"Thank you for helping Master."Scarlet stepped closer to the dwarf and bowed politely.
"Bah. I just opened the forge."The old dwarf waved his hand dismissively.
"No." Zavier said calmly from behind us. "You protected it."
The dwarf froze for half a second then grunted awkwardly and looked away.
"Still talk too seriously."He said.
Zavier ignored him completely, instead, his eyes moved toward me again. The sword reacted instantly, a faint pulse. Like a dog noticing its owner and I absolutely refused to think about that comparison further.
"You’re synced faster than expected." Zavier said.
"Is that bad?" I asked immediately.
"Probably." The dwarf answered before Zavier could.
"THAT IS NOT REASSURING."I said.
"Master survived."Scarlet gently touched the sleeve of my coat.
"That feels like the bare minimum goal."I said.
"It usually is."Noa nodded once.
"You are all terrible at comfort." I stared at her.
A few minutes later we finally left the forge. The moment the cold city air hit me, the sword at my side hummed softly, like it was aware of the outside world now.
"Please don’t become haunted." I muttered quietly
"It answered."Scarlet looked fascinated.
"No it DIDN’T."I said.
"It definitely did." Noa confirmed.
"I’m ignoring both of you."I sighed.
The dwarf locked the workshop door behind us then paused. freeωebnovēl.c૦m
"Huh."He said.
"What?"I looked back
He pointed down the street, and people were staring. Not at me, at Zavier, An old merchant froze mid step. A passing adventurer dropped an entire basket of apples. One older man near the road slowly widened his eyes.
"No way." He whispered.
Zavier didn’t react and the dwarf groaned immediately.
"Oh no."He said.
More people started stopping. A woman carrying supplies covered her mouth.
"That’s him..."She said.
"No chance..."An adventurer whispered.
"I thought he disappeared..."Another one added.
The atmosphere changed instantly. Recognition spread through the street like fire.
"IT’S ZAVIER!"Then someone shouted.
"No way!"One villiger screamed.
"THE FORGE MONSTER?!"Another one joined.
"THE IRON TYRANT?!"Third one added.
"THE LIVING ANVIL!"A kid gasped in surprise. "I HEARD HE DIED!"
"I HEARD HE FOUGHT A DRAGON WITH A HAMMER!"Another kid said.
"I HEARD THE DRAGON APOLOGIZED!"A kid nearby added.
"I hate rumors."Zavier closed his eyes slowly.
"THEY CALLED YOU THE LIVING WHAT?!"I stared at him.
"Master, he appears respected."Scarlet looked strangely impressed.
"Feared. Slightly worshipped. Possibly illegal."Noa crossed her arms.
The crowd grew instantly. Several adventurers shoved through the road trying to get closer. One blacksmith nearly tripped over himself.
"M-Master Zavier!" He shouted.
Zavier visibly twitched at the word ’master’.
"You’re alive?!"He asked.
"W-WAIT! HE FORGED AGAIN?!"Another blacksmith pointed at the sword on my waist.
Everything stopped, every eye landed on me. Then the weapon, then back to me again.
"Why are they looking at me like that?" I asked carefully.
"Oh, this is gonna become a disaster."The dwarf slapped a hand over his face.
The first blacksmith stepped toward me slowly. Eyes locked onto the sword.
"You." He whispered.
"I what?" I asked nervously.
"You are carrying one of HIS weapons."A blaksmith said.
The crowd collectively inhaled then the chaos happened.
"Nope. No. Absolutely not. I reject all of this."I grabbed my head immediately.
"Master is famous."Scarlet smiled softly.
"I WANT TO BE LESS FAMOUS."I groaned.
"Too late."Noa looked at the crowd calmly.
"DING."Then the system chimed.
"Why do I hear boss music."I said.
"SOCIAL RECOGNITION EVENT DETECTED. REPUTATION INCREASED. TITLE UPDATED: BEARER OF THE LIVING FORGE."The system said.
The closer we got to the adventurer guild, the worse things became, people kept noticing Zavier. Not slowly, instantly. A blacksmith apprentice carrying tools froze in the middle of the street then dropped everything.
"MASTER ZAVIER?!" He screamed.
"I told you to stop calling me that." Zavier replied calmly without slowing down.
That somehow made the apprentice look even more emotional. Another man near a weapon stall nearly fainted.
"No way..."He gasped.
"The banned forge king is alive..."Another one added.
"Why is he walking around openly?!"Second one added.
"Who’s the kid beside him?!"Third one asked.
Unfortunately, seeral people answered immediately.
"THAT’S THE HOLY SAINT GUY!"A man nearby me screamed.
"THE BERRY HERO!"Another one added. "THE GACHA SUMMONER!"
"I HATE THIS CITY." I muttered.
"Master continues gathering titles rapidly."Scarlet looked thoughtful.
"I DON’T WANT THEM."I groaned.
"Current probability of peaceful life remains zero."Noa walked beside me calmly.
"STOP REMINDING ME."I groaned.
The sword at my waist pulsed softly again and a nearby blacksmith noticed immediately.
"No."His face went pale.
Another one looked closer then physically grabbed the first blacksmith’s shoulder.
"WAIT."I said.
They both stared at me, then at the sword, then at Zavier and suddenly both men looked spiritually devastated.
"He forged again..." One whispered.
The other looked like he was about to cry.
"After all these years..."He whispered.
The crowd exploded even louder. By the time we reached the adventurer guild doors, at least thirty people were following us.
"WHY ARE THERE MORE OF THEM?!"I pointed behind me in horror.
"They appear emotionally invested." Noa answered.
"THAT ISN’T BETTER."I said.
"Master inspires people."Scarlet smiled softly.
"I inspire migraines."I said.
Then the guild doors opened and complete silence hit instantly. Every adventurer inside turned toward us, one mug shattered somewhere in the back. A swordsman near the request board froze mid drink.
"No way."Then slowly pointed.
"THAT’S ZAVIER."Another adventurer stood up so fast his chair flipped backward.
Panic, actual panic. Several blacksmith type adventurers immediately straightened their backs like royalty had entered. One older craftsman literally saluted.
"I am leaving." I whispered.
It was too late, Michael spotted us from upstairs. The guildmaster leaned over the railing lazily at first then froze completely. His eyes locked onto Zavier and for the first time since I met him Michael genuinely looked shocked. Not annoyed, not confused, shocked.
"No." He said slowly.
The entire guild stayed silent. Michael blinked once, twice, then pointed directly at Zavier.
"YOU."He said.
"Me."Zavier looked up calmly.
Michael stared at him like he had just watched history climb through the front door.
"You’re alive?!"Michael screamed.
"Currently."Zavier said.
Michael grabbed the railing so hard it cracked slightly. The guild collectively inhaled.
"THEY KNOW EACH OTHER?!"One adventurer asked.
"WHY DOES THE GUILDMASTER LOOK SCARED?!"Another one added.
"THAT’S ACTUALLY HIM?!"Third one asked. "THE LIVING FORGE?!"
"I THOUGHT HE WAS EXILED!"Someone asked.
Michael jumped down from the second floor instantly. Again. Because stairs apparently remained his mortal enemy, he landed directly in front of us, then stared at the sword on my waist, then at me, then back at Zavier again.
"Kid." He said.
"Yeah?"I already hated that tone.
"Why is the banned blacksmith walking around with you like you adopted a natural disaster?"Michael pointed weakly toward Zavier without taking his eyes off him.
"I DIDN’T MEAN TO."I said.
"That sounds believable." Michael admitted immediately.
Zavier crossed his arms.
"I was invited."He said.
"No you weren’t." I said instantly.
"You entered my forge."Zavier said.
"THAT IS NOT THE SAME THING."I said.
"Master accidentally acquired another dangerous companion."Scarlet nodded seriously.
"I NEED EVERYONE TO STOP SAYING IT LIKE THAT."I said.
"Too late."Noa tilted her head slightly.
Michael finally rubbed his face slowly then looked at Zavier again.
"Do you have any idea how many kingdoms banned this man from forging?" He asked me.
"Several?" I guessed weakly.
"Nine."Michael said blankly.
The entire guild went dead silent.
"NINE?!" I blinked.
"One of those bans was political."Zavier looked mildly offended.
"YOU MADE A SPEAR THAT DEVELOPED TRUST ISSUES."Michael pointed at him immediately.
"It was emotionally complex."Zavier sighed.
"IT ATE A CASTLE WALL."Michael added.
The guild exploded into screaming again.
"I JUST WANTED A NORMAL WEAPON."I grabbed my head.
I needed to find a way to escape before I do something I might regret.
