All three against one

Located around 2 kilometres away from Rockberry City within the kingdom of Heoryn, was a village in the name of Varaan.

It was a small village numbering less than 50 people in total but was a peaceful place where one could enjoy hunting, fishing, and drinking. With a forest next to the village and a river near it, hunters could hunt in the woods and fishers could go fishing in the river at their need.

In that small village, two young boys were running at full speed through the houses. One of them has dark brown hair and blue celeste eyes. He was none other than Theo Regnard, the son of Joe and the daughter of Solene Girault, a simple villager of Varaan.

Behind Theo, a white-haired boy with dark pink eyes was trying to overtake him but to no avail. He was at the same age as Hiro and was his childhood friend who lived two houses next to him, Clark.

Stopping in front of a blacksmith shop, Theo entered the shop. It was the only blacksmith shop in the village and Theo wanted to learn from the shop owner who was a dwarf as well as an experienced blacksmith.

Arriving in front of the shop, Clark saw Theo entering the shop. ‘Why is he so determined?’ Clark thought. He couldn’t understand his childhood friend at all. After taking a few breaths of air due to the fatigue from running, he entered the shop as well.

Upon entering the blacksmith shop, Clark heard the shop owner laughing loudly.

“Bouhahaha! You sure are stubborn. I already told you that unless you become a bit taller and sturdier, I won’t take you as my disciple.”

“But I’m already five years old now, and I can also correctly use a hammer. You are the one who’s stubborn there! I already told you, I don’t care about becoming your disciple. Just let me regularly use the forge every day!” Theo argued.

After two years of coming to the blacksmith shop, the shop owner didn’t let him used the forge once. With [Gaming World] passive skill, Theo learned blacksmithing two years ago and since then wanted to train it but the shop owner has rejected him for two whole years.

Amused by Theo’s request, the shop owner retorted,“If you want to use the equipment in my shop, you need to become my disciple. Just wait a few years until that you’ve grown up enough to be called a man before coming back!” before resuming his work.

*Clang Clang Clang*

Carefully observing the work of the shop owner, Theo harrumphed, “You don’t even know how to forge a good weapon, yet you wanted me to become your disciple?” It was only an act to provoke the shop owner, but he ignored him and remained focused on his work.

“It’s inappropriate to talk to an adult like that Theo. Just give up and let’s go to mister Hudson’s house.” Clark said, trying to convince Theo.

“I’m not leaving until that old geezer taught me blacksmithing.” Theo pouted. He then noticed a broken sword, walked towards it and took it out from its barrel.

Approaching the shop owner with the broken sword on his hand, Theo said, “Old geezer, at least give me a hammer and let me train with that broken sword. You’ll throw it anyway, so you don’t mind me deteriorating it right?”

Stopping his work, the shop owner turned his head towards Theo. After a sudden thought, he let out a depressed sighed and said, “Alright. But don’t blame me if you get hurt by hammering the word.”

Even if he was to refuse Theo, he was probably going to come back tomorrow harassing him again. He thought that maybe after giving him a try, he'd eventually give up on blacksmithing. If that could work, then he will be finally free from this brat and could concentrate on his work.

Getting the shop owner’s agreement, Theo joyfully pumped one of his fist, the one who held the broken sword as if he has won a boxing competition. Receiving a hammer from him, he directly walked towards the second anvil next to the shop owner and started hammering the broken sword on his hand.

Amazed by Theo who managed to obtain what he came for, Clark watched him with widened eyes. Until now he never succeeded once to forge a weapon after visiting every day to annoy the shop owner. And today, he quickly convinced him.

Clark learned from that moment that one who was determined and never gives up one something could obtain what he wanted one day. He kept that motto deep in his memory to never forget about it.

*Clang Clang Clang*

After hammering the broken sword for thirty seconds, the blue screen that Theo was waiting for finally appeared.

The Crafting Skill 《Blacksmithing》 has levelled up to the level 1!

‘Nice! It’s only on the first level, but it should be quick to level up.’ Theo thought. Thanks to the 《Rapid Growth》 given by the title [The Reincarnated], Theo received 200% experience points instead of 100%. It was an unbelieved passive cheat that he received after reincarnating and probably one of the most useful to become stronger.

With 《Gaming World》 passive skill, Theo could learn any skill by a simple glance, and with 《Rapid Growth》passive skill, he could easily level up the skill he learned. Both of them was the most cheated combination possible. Thanks to those two passive skills, Theo believed that defeating the demon king was only a piece of cake now.

Resuming his hammering, Clark sat on the corner of the room as he watched Theo levelling his blacksmithing. He didn’t know much about blacksmithing, but he was glad for his childhood friend who was hammering the broken sword with a joyful expression on his face.

Watching the little brat’s expression from the corner of his eyes, the shop owner recalled the first time he hammered a sword. With a smile, resumed his work and decided to let that little brat train blacksmithing from now on.

*****

Two hours have passed since Theo started hammering the broken sword. Of course, he used several other broken swords and not the same one since the first one has already reduced to fragments of metal after hammering it for hundreds of times.

After breaking dozens of broken swords, Theo left the blacksmith shop satisfied accompanied by Clark, his childhood friend. His crafting skill 《Blacksmithing》 reached the level 3, and he could now forge any weapon made from mithril. The reason for that was simple.

Not only did the passive skill 《Gaming World》allows him to learn any skill after watching someone using it in a single glance, but it also gives him the knowledge necessary to the related skill based on the level of the learned skill. Which means that if he learned a combat skill like 《Fire Magic》, the more level he has on the combat skill, the better he becomes regarding 《Fire Magic》.

“Why are you so much resolved to learn blacksmithing, Theo? Didn’t you said that you wanted to become an adventurer?” Clark asked Theo during the travel to Hudson’s house.

Hearing Clark’s sudden question, Theo looked at the sky. Remembering the reportage of a champion of kendo in his former world, he said, “The better the sword, the stronger the swordsman. In my sword, I trust, in the victory, my sword will bring me.”

After a pause, he continued, “I’d rather craft my sword and trust in my sword than choosing a sword that someone has crafted. Because the sword is your soul and your own will, a weak soul and a weak will are only going to pull you down.”

“I see…” Looking at Theo mesmerised by what he said, Clark couldn’t believe that such profound words came out from a boy having the same age as him. After a thought, Clark declared, “As long as you are the one who’s gonna craft my future sword, I’ll trust your sword, Theo.”

“Of course. As long as I’m the one who crafts your sword, you’ll become the strongest swordsman in the world.” Theo proudly said before turning his head towards Clark and continued. “Which is why you need to become stronger, to fit the sword I’ll entrust you.”

With a smile, Clark answered, “Of course.” Before promising to himself deep in his heart that he’ll become strong enough to match Theo’s expectations towards him.

Approaching Hudson’s house, a young petite girl was waiting in front of the house. She has long light brown hair and eyes. With her soft and cute face, she seems like a little angel who could charm anyone with her voice.

Noticing her, Clark approached her and said, “Hey Elena, sorry to make you wait for so long. We were at the blacksmith shop.”

Seeing Clark and Theo approaching her, Elena turned her head away pouting. She was mad at them for making her wait for so long. Hearing that they were at the blacksmith shop, she said to Theo in a mocking tone, “I’m pretty sure Theo got rejected by the shop owner once again.”

Forming a V sign with his hand, Theo smiled and said, “He let me use the hammer on a broken sword.” And I also levelled up my blacksmithing he wanted to declare, but he refrained himself from doing it.

Elena harrumphed and coldly said, “Humpf, so what? You think you are going to make a good weapon by hammering a broken sword? Dream on!” She became a little more angered compared to before.

Knowing that Elena and Theo were going to argue for the whole afternoon if he let them like this, Clark entered the conversation by asking Elena.

“Is your father there? We wanted to practice swordsmanship under his guidance.”

Elena’s father was a former knight and was now one of the current patrol guards of the village of Varaan. He was knowledge regarding swordsmanship and Theo, and Clark often comes to Elena’s house to train under his guidance.

“Yeah, he just came home thirty minutes ago. He was waiting for you two to come.” Elena said before guiding them into her house. Once they entered Elena’s house, Elena’s mother, Lena Hudson welcomed them with a smile as she asked.

“Oh, good afternoon Clark and Theo. Are you there for the swordsmanship lesson?”

“Good afternoon Mrs Hudson. Yes, we are here to ask for Mr Hudson’s guidance.” Both of them replied politely.

Hearing the conversation, Elena’s father, Peter Hudson closed his book and put it on the table in front of him before standing up. Approaching Elena, he patted her head and said, “Alright, let’s start the swordsmanship lesson then.” Before leaving the house.

Following Elena, Clark, Theo and she took out each of them a wooden sword inside the barrel next to the fireplace. Leaving the house, they went behind the house, which was the usual training place for the swordsmanship lessons.

When they arrived, Elena’s father was already there, waiting for them with his wooden sword in his hand. Looking at them with a smile, he confidently said, “Today, all three of you are going to fight against me.”

'That is why I hate to train with father...he is even more childish than Theo when he started fighting...’ Shaking her head as if she has given up on her father, Elene silently thought.