Chapter 12

Chapter 3

Pagma's Sword Dance

"La la la~"

A tune naturally flowed from my lips.

Even after getting out of the capsule and sitting on the toilet.

"Rururururu~"

While eating cold rice with water in the kitchen.

"Rarararara~"

Even when lying on the sofa watching TV.

The tune never stopped. A chuckle also kept escaping.

Because I was so happy!

Thanks to the hidden quest I accidentally obtained, I learned a battle buff skill, and by successfully completing the quest, I opened the path to a linked quest. As a bonus, I leveled up rapidly in a short time.

"To think I reached level 21 just by killing a few thugs, it's really a windfall! I guess my luck is just too good these days?"

A hidden quest is not something that can be easily obtained.

Even after playing Satisfy for over a year, this was the first time I encountered one. Perhaps, out of the hundreds of millions of people currently playing Satisfy, only a handful have ever obtained a hidden quest.

Since becoming a descendant of Pagma, many things have been going well.

It's truly a blessing in disguise.

"All the misfortune I've endured until now must have had a reason. It was a divine message to endure the time of hardship for today's good fortune. Ahahaha~!"

What kind of quest will the blacksmith Kan give me? And what will the reward be?

Perhaps it could be those incredible unique items I briefly used earlier...

If that's the case!

"I can become a billionaire! Kukukukuk!"

The performance of Dainsleif and Valhalla is almost on par with the unique grade of the 'failed works' I designed.

However, unlike the failed works, their usage conditions are very normal, making them tradable among players, and their value is astronomical.

'These items reminded me again why the failed works are called failed works.'

Albantino, the blacksmith, is truly remarkable. He inspired the legendary blacksmith Pagma to such an extent...

"Even though such a remarkable person couldn't become a legendary blacksmith, I, who knows nothing about blacksmithing, became a legendary blacksmith due to a well-encountered quest... The world is truly unpredictable."

I feel grateful again for the legendary job I accidentally obtained.

"Yawn."

Checking the clock, I realized it had been two hours since I got out of the capsule.

"Eight hours have passed in the Satisfy world. It's about time Kan wakes up, I guess."

According to the doctor, Kan's health is in a serious condition due to alcoholism and excessive stress.

However, if the quest story progresses as planned, Kan will overcome his alcoholism and regain his health. So there's no need to worry.

With a light heart, I logged into Satisfy.

"Login."

The view darkened, and after a moment, warm light poured in, and my eyes opened.

"...It was the clinic."

The last place I logged out was the clinic where Kan was admitted.

I immediately went to find the doctor, Simon.

"How is the old man doing?"

Simon smiled kindly.

"I thought his sudden rise in blood pressure due to his weakened state was dangerous, but he recovered much faster than expected. He's well enough to be discharged. Perhaps it was the grace of God..."

"That's a relief."

"From now on, if he stays away from alcohol, he can become even healthier."

I headed to Kan's room with Simon.

A moment later, Kan saw me and smiled widely.

"Oh, you're here. I owe you a lot, my friend."

I responded with a smile.

"We have to help each other in tough times. Come, let's get you discharged. And I've already billed the treatment fees to you, so please settle them."

"..."

What's wrong with this old man? Why isn't he answering?

I felt an inexplicable discomfort and became cautious.

Then Kan said something like a bolt from the blue.

"I'm sorry, but... I'm a penniless old man right now..."

This... can't be!

A shock like being struck by lightning pierced my mind.

"Surely... you're not saying you won't pay the treatment fees?"

"It's not that I won't pay, but I can't. I'm a penniless old man, so I have no money."

"Then what are we going to do? Can the clinic provide credit?"

I subtly glanced at Simon. He had already completely dropped the kind expression he had maintained since we first met and spoke in a purely businesslike tone.

"Credit is not possible."

"..."

I wanted to just leave this old man and go on my own, but if something went wrong and I didn't get the quest, it would be a disaster.

"Damn... What a mess! My luck is terrible!"

I had no choice but to pay 1 gold, which was like blood, for Kan's treatment fees.

The expenses for today are so high that I'm afraid to calculate them.

Kan's blacksmith shop.

"Let me thank you again."

As soon as we arrived at the blacksmith shop, Kan bowed 90 degrees and expressed his sincere gratitude.

Fortunately, he is a man with a conscience. He doesn't seem like someone who would take 1 gold for treatment fees.

"Thank you. Really, thank you. Thanks to you, I can see hope again. I can reverse the foolish act of abandoning the family business that has been passed down for seven generations. I don't know how to repay you..."

Kan shed hot tears. Despite his robust build, he is quite emotional.

"Old man..."

I firmly held Kan's rough hands.

In such situations, drama protagonists usually say something like, "I just did what any human would do. Helping a neighbor in need is only natural. Please don't be so formal, sir. I feel embarrassed. I didn't help you expecting any reward."

But I am not a drama protagonist! I am just a cruel and cold-hearted loser in the modern world, far from the natural order of the Serengeti! I want a reward!

"If you truly want to thank me, please give me something in return. Hurry up."

"Yes, you're right. It's only natural to repay a favor. But the favor you did is so great that I, a penniless old man, don't know what I can give you."

I realized now, is this guy a drama king? He uses the word 'penniless' very appropriately.

I need to stay alert. If I let my guard down, I might not get anything.

"Old man, if those thugs had taken over this blacksmith shop, you would have never escaped the clutches of alcohol and eventually died from poor health, right?"

"Yeah, that's right."

"When you suddenly had a stroke, you could have died. But thanks to me taking you to the doctor and paying the treatment fees, you survived, right?"

"Exactly."

"So, I am your savior, right?"

"Right."

I argued logically.

"To a savior, it's only natural to give a treasure as precious as life!"

Kan, who had stopped crying, looked very regretful.

"A treasure as precious as life... I, a penniless old man, don't have such a thing. How can I be so regretful? Ugh..."

"Don't look so regretful. I am very kind, so I don't expect a treasure as precious as your life. Look, that."

I pointed to the second floor.

"Giving me Dainsleif and Valhalla would be more than enough."

My heart was pounding with excitement.

I had a glimmer of hope that I might actually receive them as a gift.

But of course.

The world doesn't work according to my desires.

"That is our family's most precious heirloom. It is a treasure of incomparable value, far more valuable than my life. I would give my life to you, but I cannot give you that."

He firmly refused.

If you don't want to, that's fine, but why do you have to be so serious about it?

Seeing my flustered expression, Kan, perhaps feeling sorry, cleared his throat a couple of times and explained.

"Those treasures were crafted by my ancestor Albantino, who poured his soul into them. As a descendant, I cannot treat them carelessly. I have the duty to protect them as our family's heirloom until the day I die. But there is an exception."

Kan is a descendant of Albantino? Blood is thicker than water. After treating his alcoholism, he might at least be able to demonstrate the skills of a high-level blacksmith. What about the exception?

"What is the exception?"

Kan's eyes became serious.

"There is something I really wanted to ask you. How were you able to use those treasures? And how did you recognize their value at first glance?"

After asking, Kan continued.

"Dainsleif and Valhalla are tragic weapons. They possess performance beyond imagination, but due to their high requirements, no owner has appeared in the hundreds of years since they were made. No hero has been able to use them. For hundreds of years, they have just occupied a corner. As a result, they have faded into history, and now no one even knows of their existence."

Kan and I went upstairs. We stood in front of Dainsleif and Valhalla.

Kan reverently caressed them.

"I wanted the world to recognize the value of Dainsleif and Valhalla. That's why I displayed them in such a prominent place. However, to fully understand such an extremely excellent work, one must have the same level of discernment as the creator. For decades, no one has appeared who could understand their value."

Kan met my gaze.

"But you appeared."

A long story began.

"There is a legend in our family. About 130 years ago, a man named Pagma came here. He discovered Dainsleif and Valhalla, which were left in a corner of the shop, covered in dust, and wept. He recognized their value at first glance..."

Kan's eyes were red.

"Pagma marveled at the craftsmanship of Dainsleif and Valhalla and paid his respects. He then performed a sword dance with Dainsleif, which no hero had ever been able to handle. The beauty was extraordinary, and the momentum pierced the sky, causing thunder and lightning."

I was amazed.

There is such a bizarre and exciting fairy tale!

Did he read the interest in my eyes?

Kan became even more engrossed in the story.

"Seeing the sword dance, my ancestor was captivated and knelt before Pagma, pleading with him to take Dainsleif and Valhalla. He said it was what his ancestor had always wished for."

"Oh! Unlike others, he had a big heart! So, did Pagma take them?"

"No. If Pagma had accepted then, Dainsleif and Valhalla wouldn't be here now. Pagma replied, 'These works contain the spirit of Albantino, like the sun. Their power is too overwhelming for a small person like me to handle, so I must refuse.' Pagma's resolve was so strong that my ancestor had no choice but to give up."

Pagma, you are really frustrating and hard to understand. Why refuse something given for free? You could have sold it for a fortune.

'Ah, Pagma must have been incredibly rich. That's why he had no greed?'

While interpreting it in my own way, the story continued.

"Pagma left a message before leaving. 'Although there is no hero who can handle these weapons now, in the