Athena in Tower Defense Game! [LitRPG]

0050 – Athena Found A Blacksmith

Unexpectedly, the goblin didn't agree; instead, he shook his head, seemingly afraid of Athena misunderstanding. He hurriedly explained, "It's dark now, and no one is open for business. We just have the habit of keeping the doors open. If you come knocking now, no one will attend to you."

"I'll take you to the Third Hall. Tomorrow, when daylight comes, I'll take you to Uncle Gowther's workshop."

As the goblin explained, he led the way. Despite the shops around having their doors wide open, just as the goblin said, all the goblins were busy and ruthlessly turned away any customers.

"What is the Third Hall?"

"How should I put it? The Third Hall is specifically built for people like you from the Third World. My grandfather said that people like you come every so often, so this hall was specially built."

Athena remembered what the goblin chief said before. She was the sixth person from their group to arrive here. Did that mean, before her, there were others?

"Your grandfather seems to know a lot."

"Of course, my grandfather is the chief. Let me tell you secretly, he's actually a messy old man, not very clean!"

When they arrived at the chief's residence, the goblin didn't need to announce them, and the guards stepped aside. Athena began to have some suspicions.

As they chatted, Athena felt something. There was an outdoor stall where a middle-aged goblin sat. He was short, with greenish skin, wearing a tattered robe and a sweat rag around his neck. His unabashed gaze fell squarely on Athena, making her uncomfortable.

Athena, walking behind the goblin, stopped unknowingly and glanced back in the direction of the gaze, but there was nothing there, just an empty stall.

She withdrew her gaze but remained vigilant, signaling the goblin who had stopped with her to continue leading the way.

When they reached the block on the left, Athena finally saw the Third Hall the goblin mentioned, unlike the rustic charm of the goblin city. The Third Hall exuded a modern hotel atmosphere with chandeliers on the ceiling, modern minimalist decoration, and marble floors.

The goblin led Athena inside and asked her to place her hand on the unmanned front desk.

"Yes"

With the system's prompt, a wooden card appeared out of thin air on the front desk, with the number 69 engraved on it.

Seeing that Athena had successfully obtained the card, the goblin said, "I'll leave now. I'll wait for you outside tomorrow and take you to Uncle Gowther's blacksmith shop."

Seeing Athena nod, the goblin left.

Following the directions on the wooden card, Athena found her room on the second floor. It was a standard single room with only a white single bed and a bedside table, though small, it had an attached washroom.

The wooden card placed on the bedside table would display system prompts.

It was nearing dawn now. Athena felt the opportunity was rare, so she diligently washed up, changed into the pajamas prepared in the room, then threw her clothes into the washing machine at the end of the hallway, washed and dried them, before finally going to sleep.

Outside the Third Hall, the middle-aged goblin, wearing tattered old blankets, walked around and around before deeply glancing at the Third Hall and leaving.

Athena stood by the window, watching below. When she saw the figure leave, she finally pulled down a corner of the curtain.

Even in the goblin city, brightly lit by overhead rocks, the system dutifully reminded her, indicating she was still in the battle zone.

The goblin arrived punctually as agreed. When he arrived, he saw Athena leaning against the door frame waiting for him.

Seeing him, Athena stood up and said, "Let's go."

Seemingly surprised by his early arrival, the goblin took two quick steps and caught up with her pace, leading the way.

The market in daylight was indeed much busier than in darkness. The once empty stalls were now filled with a variety of goods. All kinds of armor and weapons were available, though they all seemed to be of ordinary quality at first glance.

The goblin led her to a stone house, lifting the cloth door curtain. Inside were weapons: knives, swords, bows, daggers, spears, and various quality shields hung on the walls.

Inside, the continuous clanging of forging resounded. The goblin carefully pushed open a crack in the door. The middle-aged goblin inside was fully focused on forging iron blocks, each strike carrying a weighty force, gradually shaping a weapon in his hands.

His muscles tensed, the iron hammer in his hand swung up and down, the sound of forging like a musical composition. The arrival of the goblin didn't interrupt him; his gaze was fixed on his creation, sweat dripping from his forehead.

The goblin closed the door again and said to Athena, "We might have to wait a while. Uncle Gowther is busy now."

Athena nodded understandingly. She surveyed the array of weapons in the room, finally setting her eyes on a pile of weapons. From the pile, she pulled out a long spear.

The spear had a cold metallic texture throughout, with an exceptionally sharp and pointed tip, seemingly capable of piercing through anything with ease.

Swinging it, she created a graceful arc through the air. The tip vibrated, causing the entire spear to tremble slightly.

A good weapon, she thought. The "Uncle Gowther" the goblin mentioned must be a master. To craft such a weapon required not only accumulated time and experience but also exquisite skills.

She then turned her gaze to the bows and arrows hanging on the wall. Among the cold metallic-colored weapons, there was a bright red bow and arrow, particularly eye-catching. The bow had a perfect curve, and when the string was pulled slightly, it exhibited excellent flexibility and resilience.

"...?!"

This prompt surprised Athena. Since she obtained the Moonlight Bow And Arrows, she had considered the implications of a growth-type weapon, but until now, there had been no change in her weapon.

Unexpectedly, the growth of the Moonlight Arrows and Moonlight Bow required fusion with other tools.

"Creak."

The heavy wooden door was opened from inside, and the blacksmith walked out. He was short, wearing a tattered robe, with a sweat rag around his neck. At this moment, he wiped the sweat from his forehead with the rag, revealing the middle-aged goblin who had followed Athena last night...

And upon seeing Athena, there was a momentary stiffness in his body, and he turned around for some reason.