There can't be a Harvest Moon in the RimWorld.

I patted him on the shoulder.

"Weapons are not tools with only one purpose. They can be used for the purest purpose of killing, or they can combine many different functions. But think about it, why can't they focus on concealment? Focus on portability? Focus on versatility?"

"Only when your ideas and weapons are combined can you be called a weapons maker, and only when the weapons you forge perfectly embody your brilliant ideas can you be considered a weapons master!"

After I finished speaking, Gray fell into deep thought once again.

“Marcus, I understand. I will carefully study the ideas you mentioned and integrate them with the technologies I have. Trust me, we will succeed!”

…………

Dart's Tavern.

"So, you successfully persuaded Gray?"

Mr. Dart was using a slightly worn white cloth to continuously wipe the glasses, making one worry that their final fate might be to become eyeglass lenses.

"You could say that."

I thought about it with a bit of a headache.

This young man has successfully focused his attention on forging, but it doesn't quite match Sebala's expectations. There shouldn't be any problems... right?

"Next, he'll learn blacksmithing properly from Sebala, and then we'll debut as Batman's successors and start our heroic deeds..."

"Wait a minute, wasn't that just a joke you were making with Gray?"

"But Gray really took it seriously! If I don't quit being Batman, he'll have to go and fight crime himself! What can I do? I'm desperate too!"

Mr. Dart, both amused and exasperated, offered his advice.

"Then you also need to know when to stop. If you really do something outrageous, I'm afraid Sebala won't be able to stay calm."

"He entrusted his grandson to me. I'll try my best to dampen his enthusiasm. Hopefully, before I go crazy, he'll lose interest and go home to work as a blacksmith."

"Okay, Marcus, lunch, set meal or something else?"

"Could you please add an egg?"

Chapter 41 A Calm and Tranquil Daily Life

The afternoon wind was still unforgettable, and the flowers and trees along the road seemed to melt into the warm afternoon sun.

I walked along the stone-paved path in the town, slowly strolling past Rose Square, and lingered at the fork in the road.

Turn left, and there's an endless sea. The wind at the seaside is probably stronger than I imagined; if you stand there for a while, everyone except a big guy like Zack would be blown away.

Ahead lies Father Carter's church. Given the weather, even I'm feeling drowsy; that unscrupulous priest must have been called by God long ago. Going there, aside from experiencing the solemn and sacred atmosphere, would be better spent going back to the ranch to do some work.

Or perhaps I should go and explore some places I've never been before?

"Marcus, what are you doing here?"

At the other end of the road, a pink-haired girl in a dress ran briskly towards me, carrying a ball in her hand and her little leather shoes clicking as she walked.

"It's Poppy!"

I greeted her warmly; it was a pleasant surprise to bump into this girl when I was bored.

"I was just strolling around. What are you doing here?"

Before Popuri could speak, two little kids popped out from behind her and greeted me from the left and right.

Hello, big brother!

Isn't this the church duo? I even gave them a last-minute lesson, but I still don't know their names.

"You two are here too. I didn't ask you last time, what are your names?"

“My name is You!” the little boy said.

“I am Mei,” the little girl said.

"Haha, hello everyone~" I quickly greeted them.

Poppy, who was watching our interaction from the side, added.

"Yu is Grandma Ellen's grandson, and he usually lives in town. His sister, Ellie, is a nurse in Mineral Town. You'll be able to see her when you get sick."

"Thank you, but I don't want to get sick unless it's absolutely necessary," I said, covering my face.

"Mei is Grandpa Muqi's granddaughter, and she lives with him on the ranch. If the ranch needs to buy cattle or sheep in the future, they can contact their ranch. And they're right next door to me!"

"Okay, okay, I understand. It's my fault for not coming to see you. I've been a bit busy lately."

I could tell Poppy was upset that I hadn't contacted her since we finished eating that day. But what could I do? I was juggling running the ranch (though I wasn't making any money) and playing a superhero (though I almost messed up), my days were packed with tasks (and I accomplished nothing)!

"What are you guys playing? Can I join in?" Since they've gathered here, they must be having some kind of activity, and I don't mind spending some time playing with them.

"We want to play football, big brother, do you want to come too?" You said, jumping up and down, holding up the ball in his hand.

"Playing football? That's what I'm best at! Bring it on!"

This activity is no challenge for me at all. I only need to use one-tenth of my strength to defeat these two little brats.

But Poppy said with some concern, "Marcus, you have to be careful, those two are really strong!"

I thought Poppy was just trying to cheer them up, so I didn't take it to heart and confidently said, "We'll guard the goal, you guys kick it, come on!"

I stood in the center of the square, using the lampposts on either side as the goal area, clapped my hands, and beckoned to them.

"Then I'm going to play football!" Mei walked forward energetically, doing warm-up exercises.

It's actually quite impressive, but unfortunately, it poses no threat to professional players like us...

"Tiger Shot!"

Mei kicked the ball, and it landed heavily in my arms. My expression instantly changed to:

°(°ˊДˋ°)°!

"Big brother, are you alright?" Mei ran over with concern.

I clung to the ball, slowly scrambling to my feet, and managed to say, "I'm... totally fine! This ball is child's play; I could catch it with my stomach!"

"As expected of the big brother! So amazing!" This time, Huanyou came over, ready to start the game. "Okay, I'll begin!"

"A bicycle kick volley!"

The ball was nimbly propelled into the air by You, who then jumped upside down and slammed his foot into the ball.

The ball headed straight for my... face?

"puff!"

"Big brother, are you alright? Did I hit you too hard?"

"Hmph... Is that all... I could catch this with my face, you're far from being good enough!"

"But Marcus, you have a nosebleed!"

"No way!" I wiped away the blood from my nose and replied, "It's just youthful passion!"

"So handsome! Big brother is so handsome!"

The two children cheered and expressed their admiration to me.

Ahhhhh!

But it hurts so much!

Why do these two kids have such deadly soccer skills?!

When you grow a little older, will you be able to kick me into the goal too?

Coach, someone committed a foul here!

"Hmph, I must be cursed by the Chinese national football team... I refuse to believe it, I can do it!"

I silently cheered myself on, and saw that the two children opposite me had already joined together and were close to the ball.

"Then, big brother, let's go together!"

"Come on...come on!"

Yu broke through from a distance with the ball, creating a whirlwind on the ground that made the trees on both sides rustle.

A shot?!

I saw Yu unleash a powerful long-range shot, but at the last second it grazed my ear and hit the lamppost next to me!

That was close! We almost got breached!

But before I could even relax, the shot that had gone wide bounced back and flew back towards You.

But the angle was too high! No one could possibly catch it! Especially those two kids!

Yu stood still, bending over and forming a hand bridge. Mei appeared from behind him, stepped on Yu's hand with her toes, and used her shoulder for leverage, soaring into the air...

Oh no, this move uses the ball's rebound off the goalpost...

"Triangle shot!"

Using the force of the rebound, the ball paused in mid-air for a moment, and Mei reached the same height, kicking it with a flying kick!

"puff!!!!!"

.........

"Marcus, you're awake! I'm so glad you're alright!"

An unfamiliar ceiling.

I found myself lying in a completely unfamiliar place, and Poppy next to me shouted excitedly.

"Ouch, ouch, ouch... Popuri, is that you? Where is this?"

I felt a heavy blow to my head, and the image that flashed through my mind was a ball growing bigger and bigger in front of me...

“You’ve been unconscious for two hours. I brought you to the hospital, and the doctor said it was just temporary dizziness and you’ll recover.”

"Thank you so much, Popuri, for carrying me all the way to the hospital."

I thought to myself with a touch of emotion, "Publi is definitely the most reliable person when it matters."

"Hehehe~ It's nothing~"