"How did you come up with that name? Is it because Edmund Aschwin became Edwin?" Sera asked jokingly.

Edwin was startled. He had never thought about it that way.

The name had simply crossed his mind for no reason while he was thinking of names that started with "Ed."

There was Edrin, Edward, and also Edwin. In the end, his choice still landed on Edwin.

"That’s not important," Edwin replied. "What I need to think about right now is how to register as a Highborn Instructor."

"If you want, I can help lobby them, especially Master Silvana," Sera answered.

"Sorry for troubling you again, Sera."

"It’s fine, Edmund. Eh... I mean Edwin."

Sera looked ahead and noticed Edwin had nothing with him except his clothes.

He had already left his sword behind at the Aschwin Mansion.

A knight would not be considered a knight if they had no sword to hold.

That was one of Sera’s plans to make Edwin look promising while also preventing people from getting suspicious.

"Besides that, you need equipment, Edwin."

"You’re right. I’ll buy a suitable sword tomorrow," Edwin replied.

"No need to wait until tomorrow. We can do it tonight."

The woman stepped away from the backyard toward the front yard, stopping right outside the gates of her residence while watching the servants and guards carry out her orders properly.

"We’re done here. You can all go back."

They opened their eyes and turned toward her. Sera had arrived with a man they did not recognize.

His face looked unfamiliar to them, as if they had never seen him visit Sera’s residence before.

"I’m going with my distant friend to Hughes’ equipment shop. You all get some rest," Sera said firmly.

"We understand."

Sera glanced to the side, and Edwin responded with a short nod. The two of them walked away from Sera’s residence, traveling alone along the city’s main road.

Edwin glanced to the left and right. Every shop had already closed and turned off their lights.

He was a little confused about where Sera planned to take him.

When he asked about it, Sera explained that Hughes was her friend.

They had met at the Ulrich Adventurer Guild. Hughes’ specialty was blacksmithing.

As for tonight’s situation, Sera already knew Hughes had definitely closed his equipment shop.

Still, she was sure he would open the door once he realized Sera was the one visiting.

Edwin listened carefully, having never heard of Hughes before. Even so, Sera looked confident and certain, so she probably knew what she was doing.

Their steps came to a halt once they reached the outermost district of Ulrich City, still inside the city walls.

Edwin stopped walking when Sera stopped, and the two stared straight ahead.

A wooden house stood before them. It was neither small nor luxurious.

Faintly, Edwin could see blacksmithing tools placed in front of the house, such as tongs, anvils, and hammers.

Sera stepped into the yard and knocked on the door without making much noise.

Edwin continued waiting, hearing nothing from inside the house.

"Hugh! It’s me, Sera!" the woman shouted.

The moment Sera yelled, Edwin heard cursing from inside the house.

It was a heavy and hoarse male voice complaining about Sera.

"It’s the middle of the night, witch! People are trying to sleep."

"Did you already forget who saved your ass from that two-headed lion?!" Sera shouted back.

"You always bring that up!" the man complained.

Not long after, the door opened and a middle-aged man appeared with sleepy eyes.

He looked ahead and saw Sera standing in front of the door with a man waiting outside the yard.

"I’m not making magic staffs anymore, you know!" he complained.

"Not for me, but for him," Sera said while pointing at Edwin. "He’s a knight."

Hughes turned and narrowed his eyes, examining Edwin’s build and face. "Doesn’t look promising."

"Come in," Hughes said.

Sera nodded and stepped inside, followed by Edwin behind her.

Once both of them entered, Hughes immediately shut the door and walked toward a wooden table.

"Here... take this."

"That’s the cheapest sword. Ten copper. Fits him perfectly," Hughes replied.

Sera instinctively turned around. Edwin walked closer and grabbed the sword with his right hand.

It was far lighter than his old sword, reminding Edwin of a soldier’s blade.

"What do you think?" Sera asked. 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝘦𝓌𝑒𝑏𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝘭.𝒸𝘰𝑚

"I don’t know," Edwin replied. "I’ll try it."

Hughes sat back casually, resting his head against his hand while continuing to observe Edwin.

He allowed the man to test it however he wanted.

"However... if you break it or dull the blade, you’ll have to—"

CLANK!

Without even swinging the sword, the blade snapped cleanly in half, shocking Hughes.

He stared at the sword, and before it broke, the blade had emitted a white glow.

"Sword energy?!" Hughes exclaimed in shock.

"But how is that possible?" Hughes asked.

"Who exactly are you, Sir?" the man asked.

Edwin placed the broken sword on the wooden table, then turned and looked at the other swords displayed on the wall.

Judging from the blade sizes and thicknesses, they were cheap swords, not enough to withstand Edwin’s sword energy.

"Do you have an Epic-grade sword?" Edwin asked.

"Epic? You want an Epic-grade sword? But can you even use it?"

The drowsiness vanished from Hughes the moment he heard Edwin ask for that kind of sword. Edwin nodded in confirmation.

With his abilities, he could easily wield that sword and even channel his sword energy without breaking the blade.

"Yes."

Hughes nodded and hurried into the back room, returning with a sword that had a black blade and black hilt, still sheathed.

"Here. This is the only one I have. Black Raven!"

Edwin fell silent for a moment, gripping the hilt tightly before pulling the sword from its sheath.

The sword named Black Raven was far heavier than the previous sword that had broken, but it also felt more stable.

"I’ll try channeling my sword energy into it. Pray that the blade doesn’t break," Edwin said.

The man channeled mana from his body into the sword, causing white light to radiate from the pitch-black blade.

They waited for more than ten seconds, but there was no sign of the blade breaking.

Even after more than a minute passed, the blade remained intact.

"This is good."

"I’ll take this sword," Edwin said.

Sera nodded in agreement, then turned to Hughes and asked him for the price.

"Since it’s Epic-grade quality, I’ll sell it for fifty gold coins."

"All right," Sera said.

Right before Sera could take out her money, Edwin threw a pouch of coins onto the table, shocking them, especially Sera.

"You—"

"This is my sword. I should be the one buying it, not you," Edwin interrupted.

Hughes accepted the pouch and counted the contents. The amount was exactly fifty gold coins, matching the price of the Epic-grade sword.

"Thank you. What’s your name?" Hughes asked.

"I’m... Edwin."

"Thank you, Sir Edwin. If you need anything, come to my shop."

"But please come in the morning or afternoon, not in the middle of the night," Hughes complained while glaring sharply at Sera.

Sera let out a quiet sigh. "I should’ve just let that lion eat you back then."