The one-eyed man, bare-chested and trembling violently, curled up on the ground as he watched the carriage fade into the distance. Suddenly, grief overwhelmed him.
"I'm supposed to be the one doing the robbing!"
"You monsters… perverts…"
Recalling everything those two boys had done to him, a deep sense of humiliation welled up in him. He nearly cried from indignation. Back in the day, even when he robbed someone, he would at least leave a piece of clothing behind.
But these two… they hadn't even spared a single thread. Not only had they taken his clothes, but they apparently hated the smell and burned them!
Every time he thought of it, a wave of humiliation surged from his core.
"Beasts…"
After half a month on the train, Ur and a thoroughly exhausted Natsu finally returned to Magnolia Town. Upon arrival, Natsu vomited for a full half-hour before finally regaining his energy.
The two of them drove their carriage into the center of town.
They entered Dingley's Blacksmith Shop, where Master Dingley had just completed a commission for a customer. Upon seeing Ur, he froze for a moment, recognition dawning on him.
"Ah, it's you! How's it going? What brings you here this time?"
Ur didn't bother with pleasantries. He pulled out his nearly ruined Dark Dragon Fang and tossed it across.
Dingley shuddered as he caught it.
"Ur, what did you do?" Seeing the blade's state, Dingley nearly fainted. After all, this was a weapon he had personally forged. He knew exactly how sturdy it was. Even if he himself wanted to destroy it, it would take considerable effort.
He was genuinely curious.h How could Ur have damaged it to this extent?
He could almost feel the blade crying.
"Can it be repaired?" Ur asked directly.
"Well… that might be difficult," Dingley hesitated. "You see the condition of the blade. The main issue is materials…"
Before he could finish, Ur tossed a package across.
Dingley opened it and shuddered uncontrollably. This time, he could not stop.
"Y-you… where did you get these?" Dingley's voice trembled.
"Can you fix it now?"
"Yes!" Dingley replied decisively.
"Not only repair, but with these materials, we could even upgrade it once more." Dingley's heart quivered at what he saw.
The two fist-sized pieces of mythril and adamantite were impressive, but not shocking.
It was the remaining items that shook him.
Dragon teeth! Dragon claws! Dragon bones! Dragon blood!
These were far beyond mere rarity.
Dingley had heard rumors of "dragon slaying," but had treated them as just gossip. Even having some dragon blood in the past, he was among the few who truly understood a dragon's power and the significance of slaying one.
Yet, in just a few days, the "dragon slayer" had appeared in front of him—with undeniable proof.
Though Dingley knew Ur was not to be trifled with, he had never imagined him to be this terrifying.
This… is a werewolf-level being!
"Oh, by the way, do you know how to work with this?" Ur pulled something from the carriage and handed it to Dingley.
Dingley's heart skipped a beat as he looked.
"Dragon hide?"
Even though he had guessed Ur had slain a dragon, seeing so much dragon material in succession made his heart nearly collapse.
Yet, he immediately responded with determination: "No problem. I'm not skilled in this, but I can find someone to help craft it."
No matter what, Dingley could not let these rare materials slip away.
Even if he had to ask for assistance, he needed to hold the dragon materials himself.
After all, for a smith of his caliber, having a whole dragon to forge weapons from was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
"Alright, I'll leave it in your hands!" Ur said.
"No problem. In a month… no, a month and a half, you can come pick it up." Master Dingley fawned over Ur as he left.
His apprentices, curious about what Ur had brought, were about to ask when they heard their master's commanding voice. "For the next month and a half, the blacksmith shop is closed. You're all on vacation."
With that, Dingley carefully carried the dragon materials into the back courtyard.
He needed to write to his friend immediately. After receiving such a boon, he would not step foot in his friend's house without securing some rare liquor in return.
After leaving Dingley's forge, Ur and Natsu returned to the guild.
"I'm back!" Natsu kicked open the door violently and shouted at the top of his lungs.
"······"
The guild fell strangely silent at the sight of Ur and Natsu.
Then, the crowd erupted, rushing forward and encircling them.
The guild instantly went wild.
"Wahaha!"
"Ur, Natsu, Happy! You guys really did something huge this time!"
"Dragon Slayer, what a cool title!"
"By the way, what does a dragon look like? Show me!"
Chatter filled the air, leaving no room for Ur or Natsu to speak.
Finally, a cough came from behind the crowd. Slowly, the guild members parted, revealing Master Makarov.
He stared at Ur and Natsu for a long moment before speaking slowly.
"Natsu, Ur, come with me."
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