Chapter 44: What An Oddball
"Y–You’re already an E-Class?! And almost at the edge of breaking through to the level of D-Class?! H–How?!" Denvar stammered.
"Yes," Derek said with a grin, scratching the back of his head again. "I told you, didn’t I? I can help you defeat your brother in blacksmithing."
"Th...." Denvar tried to respond, but the words caught in his throat. He simply stared at Derek for a long moment before finally letting out a deep sigh.
’I don’t know what kind of wild, hellish ride I’ve just agreed to,’ he thought. ’I just hope my heart can take it.’
"Is that weight suitable for you?" he asked at last. "If it is, I’ll make the sword one level heavier. It might feel heavy at first, but with your monstrous growth rate, anything lighter will become useless soon enough."
"Oh, okay. I’ll go with that then," Derek replied without hesitation.
In his previous life, Derek had already reached A-Class by the time Denvar forged a sword for him, so he hadn’t needed to go through this testing process. But now, in his smaller frame and at only E-Class level, things were far more complicated. Forging a sword for someone growing at his rate was tricky. It might not even last two months before he outgrew it.
"Good. Come back after two weeks. It’ll be ready by then." Denvar then started heading toward the door to see him out. After all the shocks, he was desperate to have a moment alone to let his thoughts settle.
But Derek didn’t move immediately. "Two weeks is too long," he said. "I have to leave for Hunter Academy in one week. You’ll have to finish it before that."
Denvar’s eyes widened. "You rude brat! You want me to work overnight now? And you’re already admitted to Hunter Academy? Why am I not even surprised!" he barked.
"Umm... it’s a request, Mr. Denvar. Please," Derek said sincerely.
Denvar sighed, rubbing his temple. "Alright, alright. I’ll see what I can do."
"Thank you. I’ll come again soon," Derek said with a grateful nod before heading out.
Denvar didn’t close the door immediately. He stood there for a while, watching Derek’s figure disappear into the distance.
’What an oddball,’ he thought, shaking his head with a faint, reluctant smile.
Derek soon climbed the stairs and returned to the upper floor.
Daisy, Arthur, and their mother were sitting in the chairs inside the shop, waiting anxiously. When Ronald had come back earlier, they had immediately asked about Derek, but the only reply they got was, "He’ll be back soon. Ask him whatever you want to know."
Seeing his sour mood, they hadn’t pressed further.
Now, as the door to the side opened and Derek stepped out, all three of them rose to their feet at once.
"Little one! How did it go?!" Daisy asked eagerly, wasting no time.
Arthur, on the other hand, braced himself to comfort Derek and pay off the money for the bet if things had gone badly.
But Derek’s following words left him speechless.
"We’ll have to come back before going to the Hunter Academy," he said calmly. "I just hope it’s finished by then."
"Really?!"
"What?!"
"Thank God..."
Three different voices rang out at once, each filled with a different emotion.
Daisy’s face lit up with pure joy, while Martha finally let out a sigh of relief. And Arthur.... he just stood there, utterly dumbfounded.
’So... he actually did it,’ Arthur thought, a storm of emotions swirling inside him. Was he happy? Absolutely. But the shock was far greater than his joy.
’I have no idea how many more surprises this kid has in store for me,’ he mused, before finally letting out a quiet, disbelieving chuckle.
Meanwhile, Ronald could only stand there silently, watching the family from where he was.
Soon, the family of four stepped out of the shop.
"What should we do next? Now that the sword matter is settled, we’ve got a few days left before Derek leaves. Maybe we should spend them sightseeing a bit," Daisy suggested with a grin. "I’ve heard that once the kids join the Academy to be hunters, their freedom becomes really restricted. Isn’t that right, Arthur?"
Arthur nodded. "Yes, that’s true. So, Derek, if there’s anywhere you want to visit or anything you want to try, now’s the time. Once you’re at the Academy, things will get intense. Your limits will be pushed, no matter whether you’re in the elite class or normal."
Derek smiled faintly. "We can go exploring tomorrow. But today’s already been a long day.. First, the Hunter Academy test, and then the test to prove my worth for having a sword forged."
"True enough," Martha said warmly. "Let’s head home for today. You can start your little adventure tomorrow."
"Alright then, let’s go home first," Arthur agreed.
With that, they all headed back together.
Though Derek had agreed to relax and enjoy a few peaceful days with his family, he still didn’t neglect his training.
After they reached home, everyone freshened up first before gathering for dinner. The atmosphere was warm and lively, filled with laughter and cheerful chatter.
Later that night, when the others had gone to sleep, Derek sat cross-legged and immersed himself in cultivation, letting his energy flow quietly through his body.
During the following days, the family spent their time together, exploring the city, visiting different places, doing a bit of light shopping, and trying new dishes at various taverns. But every night, once things grew quiet, Derek returned to his training with unwavering focus.
Meanwhile, far away in the Arcadia Hunter Academy, inside a large chamber, a man in his fifties sat in a chair, a list spread out before him on the table. He wore blue and white robes that carried the air of nobility, and his sharp, cold eyes revealed a strict temperament.
As he scanned through the names on the list, his brows suddenly furrowed. "A cultivator in the Elite Class? You’ve got to be kidding me," he muttered, irritation flashing across his face. With a swift motion, he struck out the name that displeased him and rewrote it under the Normal Class.