I Refused To Be Reincarnated

Chapter 236: A Questionable Provenance

"You don't know?" Julius gazed at his big brother with a frown. How ironic was it for someone to possess two legendary weapons but not know why they reached that rank?

"Well, it's nothing too hard to understand," said Durgrim, pointing his index at the armor. "The tier is obviously related to the material, while the rank has to do with the craftsman and enchanter's proficiency."

Then, he retrieved a set of plate armor from the showcase and continued under Adam's interested nods, "I created the first one's soul flawlessly, preserving its natural strengths. But the most important part is the intricate engravings hidden in the interior.

They allow the base materials to absorb more pressure without breaking, meaning the end product can carry more potent or a higher number of enchantments."

After hearing the explanation, Adam's eyes glowed in realisation, 'So that's why the beast bane dagger only had two enhancements while the Ethereal Radiance had three.'

But something made no sense. Some of his mythical items only had four enhancements when they should have five.

"Is it possible for some items to carry less enhancement than what their rank allows them?" He asked, wanting to understand the reason.

"Easy. It means the space required for enhancement is saturated already. It happens when some of them are too powerful for the material, making them too heavy," Durgrim answered, happy to see people interested in his job.

"I see," Adam said with gratitude before asking about the difference between regular and soul items.

"As you know, most ghosts can't carry physical items, yet spells and some artefacts are still effective against them. Thus, ghosts developed soul armaments to protect themselves against those threats," Durgrim replied before pointing at his plate armor, adding with a show-of smile, "Wanna try this one? It is of the legendary rank."

For such an unknowledgeable ghost, he was sure the rank would impress him enough to flatter his ego. However, Adam disappointed him.

"Hum. I don't really like the heavy ones since I'm a mage. Even in melee, I rely on speed and counter-attacks," he responded, shaking his head. Despite the increased protection of plates, they would slow him down, making him easier to hit. If he had to choose one, he would go for a light one made of leather or similar materials.

His response shocked everyone present. Even the soul reaper wore epic armor, dreaming of buying a legendary one day.

A brief instant later, Durgrim exploded into laughter. "You are right! Your equipment should fit your style, not the other way around," he giggled before asking. "So? Do you want to buy armor or a weapon? I'll find the most suitable for you."

"I don't know," Adam said, smiling wryly. He had used all his money to buy the eleven talismans and finance Julius' cultivation to the middle of the second tier with cores. He also didn't ask Asha for his shares, thinking the handbag venture flopped since she never spoke of it again.

"If you worry about the price, I can offer you a promotion. What about ten percent?" Durgrim said, knowing his items were expensive for ordinary citizens. Then, he added, "For a tier four epic item, I'll only charge 499 soul coins. For a legendary 999. What do you think?"

Upon hearing the price, Adam raised his brow in confusion. "Soul coins? Not gold?" He asked, causing Julius to remember Morgane's finding.

"We have a pouch filled with those coins. Morgane found it in the dullahan's habitation!" Said the boy excitedly. Then he added, "She also found a booklet, but we haven't checked it yet."

"Can you return after bringing the pouch?" Adam asked, his eyes glowing with greed. He would, of course, spend it all on those helpful items!

"If you swear not to leave this place until we return, I'll accompany the boy," the soul reaper said, unwilling to forgo his duty.

"I promise. Get the booklet, too. I'm curious about its content," Adam said, raising his right palm to show his sincerity.

"Ok. See you later," Julius said, accompanied by the guard's brief nod. Enjoy exclusive content from M-V-L

After they left, Durgrim said, "I bet you want to wait for them to discover how much you have, right? So, in the meantime, tell me why my legendary armor didn't impress you?"

"Because I have two legendary weapons already," Adam answered dismissively. Why would legendary items impress him when even Julius had one?

Durgrim's eyes narrowed in response. "Show them!" He said, his tone commanding and his face distorted into a grimace.

"Hee? Sure, look." Adam answered, shocked by the vivid reaction and wondering why the old smith seemed angry.

In a second, the Luminous Wildblade and the Blade Of Adapataion materialised in his hand out of thin air, causing Durgrim's pupils to narrow.

With trembling hands, he examined the weapons briefly before placing his armors back on the shelves and approaching, his hands extended.

After Adam handed them over, Durgrim moved the weapons around, analysed the engravings with eagle eyes, and suddenly struck one of the armor. The dark blade cut through it like butter while the Luminous Wildeblade left a mark followed by an explosion of radiant light. Then, he stood quiet under Adam's bewildered eyes.

"A tier four legendary bastard sword and a tier three long dagger," he said, recognising their strength before looking at Adam like a wounded wild beast. "Who crafted them? You'd better not lie, or I'll ban you from my shop."

After all, he was a proud smith, hating nothing more than to see his clients buy from others. This trait came from the brutal competition he faced in Durazmarn, where every crafter fought for clients using their skills and renown as their weapons.

Yet, these blades' construction was flawless. The engravings' depth, width and size were a work of precision he had never witnessed before, challenging his competitive spirit. 'I have to know who made them!' he screamed inwardly, unwilling to let the matter rest.

"..."

'How can I explain I got one from the tower and the other the fusion pool?' Adam thought, avoiding the dwarf's eyes by looking at the ceiling.

Then, he closed his eyes and said, "I found them in strange places I explored previously."