Bab 31: Tranquility Brush
'22 gold… That's more than four times the price of the most expensive equipment I saw in the blacksmiths I visited.'
No matter how amazing the sword is, if no one dares to buy it, it can only be used as a display.
It was the first time his Appraisal skill has given him a recommended selling price. It might be because the materials are provided by the System itself. Recommended it may be, but Brian cannot lower the selling price any further. He can only increase it.
Since there was nothing he can do, he gave up and prayed that the next item will not be recommended at a higher price.
Looking at the much smaller object and even less intimidating one, Brian wondered how something that looks just like a hairbrush can be a recommended blacksmith item by the System.
<Tranquility Brush>
<Description: A simple wooden brush that has the effect of soothing one's soul. A soft stroke of it can even calm the angriest beast, and it can only be achieved using the best materials. Bristles made from the mane of a Sky Griffin and a handle carved from the indestructible wood of Narra, each one of the components has been properly processed until perfection>
<Potential: SS->
<Recommended Price: 5 gold>
'This is an overkill!' Brian wanted to curse out loud but avoided doing so.
Brian never heard a tree named Narra in Auzeweth or Soliel, but what he can never forget is the name, Sky Griffin.
These creatures rarely show themselves in their continent. It has been decades since the last visit of a Sky Griffin in Auzeweth. But everyone in the empire can only pray that it will stay that way because in every visit of a Sky Griffin, massive destruction is left behind.
And somehow in a way, the mane of the feared beast is used as a bristle for a hairbrush. No one will believe it even if it was told by a man who can never lie.
The other two beside him seem to be more focused on the majestic sword. Since they do not have the Appraisal skill, they can only ask themselves why their Boss placed a hairbrush as a specialty product.
Brian really wanted to try the soothing effects of the self-proclaimed first SS rank treasure of the System. Unfortunately, the items on the wall are only used for display. Only until Richi physically made one for him can he experience its value.
And speaking of Richi, he can barely contain his desire to press the button and watch again. So Brian did not stop him and let the system avatar show the process once more.
"Put your practice of using rarer materials for a while. For this day, I want you to focus on creating these specialty products… And don't forget to create the first batch to be sold starting tomorrow."
He left the two of his employees in the workshop. Lucy said she wants to experience the world-level magic of time manipulation so she stayed. Little does she knows it was not his magic.
If nothing goes wrong, then Nova Blacksmith will be able to start selling its products starting tomorrow. But it would also be the toughest day for any startup shop.
Gaining customers at first without any background and connections is proven to be difficult. Especially when there are barely any people passing by on their location. Brian thought of many plans for how to solve it.
Word of the mouth will be the simplest and cheapest way although it is most effective when customers spread it using that way. Doing it himself is an option but he has a better plan in his mind. And it will depend on Richi whether he can forge a satisfactory weapon.
So with that in mind, the next day came…
"Father look, I can count one to ten with Auntie Raine words."
While Brian was dressing his daughter in the best dress she currently has, Paia was showing her improvements in monster language. Brian rubbed her to show how he is delighted by it.
Paia was not the only one wearing their best outfit. Brian also made sure he looks good for the opening day of his first shop.
He knows there was a slim chance they will be getting a customer today, but it is an owner's job to be confident and look like one on the very first day of their business.
They woke up earlier than usual this morning. Brian specifically wanted all members of his shop including him to be present an hour before they open. And his blacksmith really took his words in his heart because Richi was already waiting in front of the blacksmith's doorstep.
"Good morning, Boss Bry."
"Were you able to finish all the things I ask you to do yesterday."
"Yes, but about the specialty products… It's still far from the standard of teacher." By teacher he means the System avatar.
He would be lying if Brian told himself that he was not disappointed although he already expected it will be impossible to learn it flawlessly in a few days.
"For the Makaze, I was still able to achieve an S- rank grade. It was just one level below compared to teacher but I feel like it is more than that."
"S-?! How about the other one?" Brian did not expect a high grade since Richi told it dejectedly like he was not able to create it at all.
Even if the difference between an S- and S may comparable to heaven and earth, it is already more than enough for the System to accept it as a product worth selling in Nova.
Brian feels like the one who benefited the most in the past few days was Richi. His skills in forging drastically improved in just a matter of three days in real-time.
The news about being able to produce Makaze in the S tier already satisfied him. It is what Brian needs for his plan to work.
"I am ashamed how I cannot craft a simple hairbrush… It barely reached A grade." Richi was already depressed so early in the morning.
"That's almost two letter grades down. Nevertheless, it is not your fault. In the first place, I am the one asking you, a blacksmith, to create a hairbrush."
The words of his boss cheered him up a little bit. It did not dawn to him yesterday that it was not listed on his imaginary resume the skill to attach the sensitive bristles one by one.
If it was any other blacksmith who has a customer that asked them to create a hairbrush, they will think this customer was stupid and ignore it. However, instead of sticking to the norm, Richi is willing and motivated to challenge himself.
His motivation was noticeable when he was helping Brian place and arrange all equipment they would be selling. As the most gifted person in Nova Blacksmith in terms of strength, he was more than willing to fulfill the request of his Boss.
And after the standard weapons and armors have been placed, it was finally for the Makaze to debut in the shop.
A meter-long blade made out of metal with a tint of blueness was displayed in the middle of the room. Like how museums exhibit their most prized artifacts, Makaze was enclosed in clear glass with a plaque underneath introducing only its name and price.
This extravagant part of the shop is part of the design the System provided specifically for Specialty Products. Although it only appeared when a Specialty Product is introduced so the maximum for now is two. Also, The System limited it so that nothing besides Makaze or Tranquility Brush can be placed inside the glass box.
'No matter what angle you look at it, this is a treasure.'
Compared to the steel weapons and plate mails surrounding it, everyone who enters the shop will have their eyes fixated on it first. They will surely be interested in it but the price is the greatest repellant.
Despite being a grade lower, the System will not allow any decrease on its recommended price.
"For now, we cannot display the brush the same as this. Two reasons. I want you to craft it until it at least reaches S-. And second, it will be weird first impression if a hairbrush is displayed on the same level as Makaze."
"Ok, Boss. I also forged another Makaze as for your request. It is behind the workshop."
"Good. Did you also tell your father to pass by here first?"
Status Power Mingguan
-- Peringkat
Power 
-- Power
stone