It's said that our thoughts during the day often influence our dreams at night.

Yesterday, I finally had a dream where I became a village passerby!

When the hero visited my shop to buy weapons, suddenly a terrifying monster attacked the village. I was killed, but the hero saved everyone else. What a nice dream that was.

By the way, for some reason, the monster in my dream was a silver donkey.

I would have been grateful if the dream had ended there. However, it continued.

I dreamed that without my help, little Ilan couldn't survive. She spent her days wandering and praying in the village, eventually falling into despair when she couldn't find enough food or clothing and had to go to the red-light district.

Oh my god! This dream was so horrifying. Even after waking up, I still felt uneasy.

I stared at little Ilan, who was working diligently to clean.

Although Ilan behaved very obediently and happily when we were alone, she would cry when she got nervous, and her words would come out stuttered. If one day I wasn't there, Ilan definitely wouldn't be able to survive on her own. In other words, Ilan would be useless without me!

I remember in my previous world there was a type of Ethiopian red wolf that would drive its offspring out of the den so they could grow stronger by enduring adversity.

Of course, I couldn't just kick little Ilan out like that. The reason was simple: the wolf pack had the snowfields and food around them, while Ilan's place was surrounded by her natural enemies, humans.

So, I decided that I would teach little Ilan my forging skills.

If anything ever happened to me, Ilan could inherit my shop and at least make a living.

How smart am I...

Once I resolved to pass on my techniques, I couldn't wait to get started.

"Little Ilan! Today, I'll be teaching you my secret techniques!"

"Oh!"

Her eyes instantly lit up.

Her tiny fists raised high, then she pressed her index finger to her lower lip.

"But, why do you suddenly want to teach me?"

"Well, I won't always be around to protect you. One day when you become independent, you'll have to take care of yourself. So it's better to learn something first...”

"Are you going to leave me? Do you hate Ilan?"

"No, no, it's not like that at all. It's just to be prepared, just in case."

"Hmm..."

Though she seemed reluctant, she agreed.

After hanging up the "closed" sign, I took Ilan to the forging room and lit the lamp.

Even during the day, the forging room was very dark and cold.

However, once the fire started, it would become warm and cozy, and sweat would bead on our foreheads.

"Now, watch carefully, Ilan. Pay attention to how I do it."

Since Ilan is a beginner, let's start with a simple iron sword.

I lit the furnace, melted the iron, and pulled the bellows continuously.

Injected magic, guided the molten iron into the air, shaping it and cooling it down.

"Haah!"

In one breath, I decorated it with patterns and sharpened the blade.

I jumped up gracefully and caught the sword in my hand.

Perfect! How about that, Ilan?

Ilan stared at me blankly, looking utterly confused.

"Can you do it?"

I asked her.

"No..."

She said after trying with the remaining molten iron.

"How is that possible?! How do you guys usually forge weapons in your place?"

Ilan made a hammering motion.

"Normally, we first make molds, then mix the ingredients, melt them, pour them into the molds, and finally refine them."

Hold on a second. What Ilan said made sense. It seemed that in the original world, that was how things were done.

However, since coming to this world, I found a very convenient magic that allowed me to manipulate materials easily by injecting magic into them. For instance, removing impurities, shaping, and so on. Wasn't that how it worked?

"Um, brother, what's your 'innate magic'?"

Innate magic? Come to think of it, I did have a magic spell I could use since the moment I was reincarnated.

"'All Things Forging.'"

Ilan held the hem of her apron.

"That's, that's it. Only you can do such a thing, brother."

Is that so?!

Thunder in a clear sky. I knelt down weakly on the ground.

"Done, done for... Ilan... will go to Hualiu Street..."

"Hualiu Street?"

Ilan looked at me with confusion.

"No."

I put my hand on my forehead.

"I mean, once I'm gone, Ilan, you won't have any food to eat."

Ilan laughed.

She was taller than me kneeling on the ground, so she spread her arms and hugged my neck, putting all her body weight on me.

"It doesn't matter. As long as you stay with me, brother."

Well, there's no good solution at this stage, let's train Ilan little by little in the future.