The Game Difficulty
Is Crazy
“I will go with you as well.”
Tasha spoke in her usual flat, emotionless voice.
She said it while grabbing Glenn, who was about to pass through the entrance of Avenue Fortress.
Glenn asked,
“Why?”
“I want to repay the kindness I received while serving you, Young Master.”
“Kindness?”
Glenn thought back, wondering if he had ever given Tasha anything.
But nothing came to mind.
If he had to guess, maybe it was just the sword sparring sessions they had done together.
“Is that really kindness? I only sparred with you a few times.”
“That alone is a great kindness you showed me, but that is not what I am referring to.”
“Then what is it?”
As Glenn watched, Tasha lowered her head and looked toward her chest.
Glenn was about to frown, wondering what she was doing, when a sudden change occurred near Tasha’s heart.
A dense yet gentle aura of holy power spread out.
Glenn’s eyebrows twitched.
“Don’t tell me…?”
“I have formed the third ring.”
“Oh?”
This was unexpected.
Reaching three stars at seventeen was an achievement almost equal to Tris, who had been called a genius.
‘But she wasn’t that talented.’
Glenn soon guessed the reason.
‘Did Tasha also receive the reward for exterminating the wraiths?’
There was no other way her holy power could have grown so dense in just one day.
‘So this is the kindness she meant.’
The sudden increase in holy power.
Since the turning point was the day they visited the Ronian Monastery, Tasha seemed to believe that this positive change was the kindness Glenn had spoken of.
‘Because of me… that’s not wrong.’
It was not intentional, but it was true, so Glenn nodded.
“I wish to repay this overwhelming kindness no matter what.”
Tasha spoke her original reason and looked straight at Glenn.
Glenn smiled faintly and placed a hand on her shoulder.
“The kindness I gave was only an opportunity. You were the one who seized it with your own ability.”
That was true.
Glenn had planned everything and given the orders.
But carrying out the mission despite taking an arrow to the shoulder, and securing the reward in the end, was the result of Tasha’s will and effort alone.
“You’ve already repaid me enough.”
By completing the mission.
By releasing the wraiths of the monastery and saving Glenn’s life from the demon race, Tasha had already repaid him.
“However…”
“Of course, that doesn’t mean I expect nothing from you.”
It was not as if Glenn had helped her with no expectations, telling her to just grow well.
“You have work to do here.”
“Work, you say?”
“Yes. Commander training.”
Glenn smiled.
Tasha blinked repeatedly, as if she did not know how to react.
After giving Tasha a few instructions, Glenn mounted his horse and left Avenue Fortress alone.
He arrived at his destination, Haven, three days later.
The mining city, Haven.
It was the largest city in the western territory of Wordsworth, close to the borderlands.
The reason for the city’s prosperity was a mine with a massive amount of iron ore.
Because there was so much high-quality iron, blacksmiths who dreamed of becoming master craftsmen gathered here and produced excellent weapons and armor.
And merchants gathered to buy those weapons and armor.
“It’s definitely big.”
Standing on a hill and looking down at the city, Glenn touched his lips.
The city was divided into circular districts.
On the western side were the mines and the Blacksmith Guild, while on the opposite side stood the Merchant Guild.
Because of its size, there must have been plenty to see and eat, but unfortunately, Glenn had no time to spare.
‘Too bad… but the places I need to visit are already decided.’
He had two main goals in Haven.
One was to help with the transport of war supplies and the recruitment of regular soldiers.
The other was to forge his own sword using the soul fragments infused with lingering thoughts obtained from hunting wraiths.
Glenn urged his horse down the hill.
At the city gate, many people were lined up, waiting for inspection.
Normally, Glenn would have had to wait in line with them.
‘There was a reason I spoke with Sir Jaber before leaving.’
Three mounted knights approached Glenn at the checkpoint.
Clack, clack—
Familiar gray armor and dignified faces.
They were Gray Wolf knights who had departed earlier with the transport unit.
“The Gray Wolves of Avenue greet the bloodline of Wordsworth.”
“Yes, it’s good to see you as well. Hm?”
Glenn raised his eyebrow.
“You are Sir Derek, correct?”
“Yes. That is correct, Young Master.”
Derek Bayro.
The sixth son of the prestigious Bayro knight family and ranked fifteenth in the Gray Wolf Knights.
The man who had challenged Glenn to a duel five days ago and lost.
“Thank you for remembering even the name of a defeated man.”
Derek bowed his head.
Glenn responded with a smile.
“Defeated, you say? Sir Derek’s swordsmanship is excellent. Please don’t belittle yourself.”
“You honor me. I will escort you inside. Baron Pebien is waiting for you.”
Soon, escorted by Derek, Glenn entered Haven.
The city inside was far livelier than it looked from the hill.
The wide main road was filled with people from all regions.
Some recognized Glenn and bowed their heads, while others paid him no attention and went about their own business.
‘So this is how it originally was.’
In Glenn’s memories, Haven was not a city, but a vast ruin.
The blue sky had been stained red, the buildings lining the roads were reduced to debris, and every person in the city had become undead.
The contrast between memory and the current peaceful, lively scenery made his heart feel complicated.
Following Derek’s guidance, Glenn headed to the mansion of Baron Pebien in the center of the city.
At the grand mansion’s front gate, a plump middle-aged man waddled out to greet them.
Baron Pebien Rotmeier.
The mayor of the mining city Haven and a vassal who served Wordsworth.
“Welcome to Haven, bloodline of Wordsworth.”
Pebien gave a light bow.
His exaggerated movements were rather comical.
“May the blessings of God be with you this afternoon, Sir Pebien.”
“Oh ho ho ho! Just as the rumors say, you are a man of deep faith. In any case, welcome from the bottom of my heart!”
“Yes. Thank you for welcoming me, Sir Pebien. Since no one came out to greet me, I was wondering if I should find my way to the reception room myself.”
Glenn replied with smiling eyes.
A brief silence followed.
Caught off guard by the response, Pebien rolled his eyes around.
“Ah, ahahahaha! I apologize for my rudeness. I had urgent business and could not come out. Please, come inside. We have prepared Haven’s finest delicacies for you! Kehahaha!”
His obese body.
His awkward way of speaking, his foolish laugh like a clueless village man, and the way he wiped sweat with a cloth.
‘It’s clear now.’
Glenn let out a heavy sigh.
This man was hopeless.
Glenn’s evaluation of Pebien did not change much even after they sat down for the meal.
“Haven’s potential is truly limitless. The iron buried in our mines could be dug for hundreds of years…”
“Of course, a city does not prosper just because it has a lot of iron. It’s embarrassing to say this myself, but I…”
Thirty minutes into the meal.
Pebien went on and on, boasting about himself and Haven.
Even though Glenn barely responded, he could not contain his excitement and kept talking.
Glenn briefly considered playing the role of a fanatical holy executioner to straighten him out.
But the problem was that, strangely enough, there was no malice in Pebien’s words or actions.
Most nobles brag to put others down and establish superiority.
But this man was not bragging for that reason.
‘He’s just talking.’
Pebien was an incredible chatterbox.
And a clueless one at that.
Looking closely, he was not talking to brag, but simply to move his mouth.
He spoke about anything at all, and since this was his first meeting with Glenn, he ended up talking only about himself.
It just happened that his stories sounded like boasting.
Even the fact that he had not come to greet Glenn at the city gate was not to show authority.
He had fallen off his horse while trying to come out and was being treated, so he waited at the mansion entrance instead.
‘With a body that fat, no wonder he fell.’
Glenn pressed his forehead.
Between the Gray Wolf Knights baring their fangs at their own master and people like this, he wondered what was wrong with Wordsworth’s territory.
“And also, Young Master, this is a story from when I used to do business in Elaine. Back then, the cargo on the wagon was…”
Even then, Pebien’s mouth showed no sign of stopping.
Only after enduring Pebien’s nonstop chatter for two full hours was Glenn able to discuss the recruitment of soldiers and the supply of weapons.
Fortunately, Baron Pebien was on good terms with Jaber and promised full support regarding the demon race’s attacks.
‘This went more smoothly than expected.’
As the mayor of Haven, he could have easily acted arrogantly and ignored Glenn.
But Pebien showed no such disrespect.
‘He must be quite close with Jaber.’
Since he did not appear in the original story, there was no way to know the details.
Still, his promise of support was definitely good news.
Escorted by Derek, Glenn headed straight to the Blacksmith Guild.
Clang— clang—
The sound of hammering grew louder.
Turning into an alley, intense heat assaulted his face.
“This is the guild where the finest blacksmiths of Wordsworth gather.”
Heat filled the narrow alley.
Inside, muscular men with bare upper bodies repeatedly swung their hammers.
They paid no attention to those passing by, focusing only on the red-hot iron.
“Oho…”
The flames roared silently.
Life returned to Glenn’s eyes.
“Ahem. I’m glad to see you like it, Young Master.”
Derek smiled slightly beside him.
Only then did Glenn realize he was staring at the blacksmiths with a captivated expression.
“All swords, shields, and armor sent to Avenue are made here. The production quantity should be sufficient. However…”
Derek’s expression darkened.
“The amount that transport wagons can carry is limited, so I’m not sure we can deliver as much as you suggested before.”
“So production itself isn’t an issue?”
“Yes. Yes, that’s correct for now.”
Glenn shrugged.
“Then that’s fine.”
“What do you mean?”
“Nothing at all. Just continue as you are. I’ll take care of the rest.”
Derek frowned.
He had no idea what Glenn meant by that, but Glenn did not explain further.
“…Understood.”
Derek had no choice but to agree reluctantly.
“Oh, right. Sir Derek. Is there a blacksmith here named Felix?”
“Felix is quite famous here. Why are you looking for him?”
Glenn smiled meaningfully.
Why would one look for a blacksmith?
“There’s some work I’d like to commission.”
