The Tower of Babel... the world's most famous landmark.
A symbol of the City of Heroes, it had stood tall ever since the founding of Orario.
Built to seal the Dungeon and prevent monsters from escaping, the Tower served as both a lid and a shield... protecting the surface world since ancient times.
Now owned and maintained by the Guild, it stood as humanity's watchtower over the abyss below.
Babel boasted a total of fifty floors.
The first twenty housed Familia businesses, facilities, and currency exchanges.
From the fourth to the eighth floor, every shop was owned by the Hephaestus Familia... renowned for their craftsmanship.
Above the twentieth floor lay the Private Rooms, exclusive residences of Orario's most influential gods.
To navigate such immense height, Babel was equipped with elevators... advanced technology that would've been impossible in the Middle Ages if not for divine knowledge of the Gods.
When Judas and Rose stepped out of the elevator, they were greeted by a bustling sight.
Rows of glittering storefronts, the hum of adventurers chatting, and the clinking of metal on display.
'It's livelier than I expected.'
For Judas, who'd only been in Orario for a little over a week, this was his first time inside the colossal tower.
"Follow me."
Rose said, taking the lead as she guided him through the equipment and armor shops.
Along the way, Judas couldn't help but glance at the displays they passed.
'That sword... 250 million?'
'That spear... 170 million?'
'That golden armor set... 300 million?!'
'What the hell!? Why is everything so expensive!?'
He felt dizzy just looking at the price tags.
The two million valis he'd earned from his recent dungeon dives suddenly felt laughably small.
For someone who'd never cared much about money, the reality of his situation hit him all at once.
"Don't even bother looking at the high-end gear."
Rose said, noticing the distress on his face.
"We're not here for those. Equipment made by famous smiths tends to be overpriced."
"What we want are works from skilled smiths who haven't made a name for themselves yet... their prices are much more reasonable."
Judas nodded, following her deeper into the shopping district.
Soon, the atmosphere shifted.
'A dagger for 300,000... a chest plate for 500,000... and that sword... only 100,000, yet it looks well-made.'
Even though most of the items were designed for Level 1 or Level 2 adventurers, their quality was undeniable.
"We can split up from here."
Rose said.
"Find whatever gear suits you best. I'll do some searching on my end as well."
"Let's meet up here in half an hour."
"Alright."
Judas nodded before heading off on his own.
"Excuse me."
He called out to a nearby storeowner.
"Do you know where Welf Crozzo's shop is?"
The bearded dwarf turned, eyeing Judas for a moment before speaking.
"If you're planning to buy one of his magic swords, don't bother. And besides..."
He said, pausing to scratch his beard.
"The lad's probably in the dungeon right now."
"Then do you at least know where his shop is?"
Judas pressed.
"Stubborn brat, aren't ya?"
The dwarf sighed, shaking his head.
"Fine. If you insist, turn left... his place should be right around that corner."
"Thanks."
Judas said, giving a short nod before walking off.
There was a reason he was searching for the red-haired smith from the main cast.
Beyond simply wanting to see his craftsmanship, Judas was intrigued by the man's bloodline... one that bore a direct connection to the spirits.
'Crozzo blood... a gift from an ancient spirit that once blessed Welf's ancestor.'
He was using this visit as an opportunity to find the prideful blacksmith, all while checking out the shops around him in the process.
After a few minutes asking other shopkeepers along the way, he finally stopped in front of a closed door.
A small sigh escaped his lips.
"So it's true..."
He muttered quietly, feeling disappointed.
"I heard that there was someone snooping around looking for Welf... but I didn't think it was you."
Just then, two familiar presences appeared behind him... one belonging to a seasoned adventurer, the other to a god.
'A first-class adventurer...'
He turned around, and his eyes widened slightly.
"Tsubaki Collbrande and Goddess Hephaestus?"
Two of the most renowned figures in all of Orario's blacksmithing world stood before him.
"Oh? Most adventurers call me by my alias, but I suppose that's fine."
Tsubaki said with a teasing grin.
"So tell me, why's Orario's newest rising star snooping around for one of our familia members?"
"I'm just looking to buy some new gear."
Judas replied.
He noticed Hephaestus's gaze shift toward his hands.
"That black gauntlet... is that Járnglófar?"
"Yeah."
Judas said, glancing down at the worn but sturdy armor on his arm.
It had scratches from his previous battles, but nothing too serious... not enough to rush for repairs.
"What about it?"
Hephaestus folded her arms, curiosity glinting in her eye.
"To think that ended up in your possession... I'm guessing Astraea's children gave it to you?"
"That's right."
Judas answered. Then a thought struck him.
"Wait... did you make this yourself, Lady Hephaestus?"
A weapon made by the goddess of smithing herself, only a select number of individual had the honor of owning one.
Any weapon made by her were guaranteed to be top-notch.
"You guessed it."
She said, nodding her head.
"Although that one's only a prototype."
'A prototype?'
Judas raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued.
"If it's alright with you Lady Hephaestus."
He said after a pause.
"Could you show me the completed version?"
The two smiths exchanged a knowing glance before Tsubaki smirked.
"Interested, are you? Too bad. The materials were too rare and too costly... not to mention the effort it'd take to forge one. The project was scrapped years ago."
Her words hit like a splash of cold water. Judas couldn't hide his disappointment.
"You said the materials were expensive..."
He asked, curious.
"How expensive are we talking?"
Hephaestus tapped her chin thoughtfully.
"Let's see... with the adamantite, orichalcum, rare materials and specially processed magic stones needed, plus the help of several alchemists for the final phase..."
She looked back at him and smiled faintly.
"You're looking at around four hundred million valis, at minimum."
Judas froze. His eyes twitched, and beads of sweat formed on his forehead.
"Four hundred million... at minimum?"
He muttered, feeling his heart drop.
Suddenly, his curiosity vanished completely.
"Hahaha! That look on your face... it's priceless!"
Tsubaki burst out laughing, her voice echoing boisterously through the corridor.
Hephaestus, on the other hand, simply shook her head, clearly embarrassed by her follower's behavior.
"Judas Spade."
The goddess of smithing began, her calm voice cutting through the laughter.
"I take it this is your first time shopping inside Babel?"
Judas nodded silently.
"Then tell me..."
She continued with a gentle smile.
"What's your budget, and what kind of equipment are you looking for? Perhaps I can help you find something suitable."
Her offer caught him off guard.
He scratched the back of his head awkwardly, feeling somewhat out of place.
'After seeing all those ridiculous prices... I feel like a peasant who wandered into a royal boutique.'
Even so, he couldn't just refuse the kindness of one of Orario's most respected goddesses.
Unlike the ever-mischievous Loki, Hephaestus exuded a calm, mature grace... serious, steady, and composed.
"Hmm... two million, you say?"
She mused, resting her chin thoughtfully on her fingers.
After a few moments of consideration, she led him to a display of armor sets... not high-end, but finely crafted and reliable.
The light-weight armor before him could withstand blows from a second-class adventurer.
It wasn't as good as his previous gear, but more than adequate for now.
"I'll take it."
Judas said without hesitation.
For 1.5 million valis, the set was a bargain.
He handed over the money and received the armor, neatly packed in a carrier bag.
"Good choice."
Tsubaki grinned, patting his back with enough force to make him stumble slightly.
"Now go tear it up in the Dungeon, rookie."
After thanking the two smithing legends, Judas left and soon spotted Rose waiting nearby... carrying what looked like a folded piece of fabric.
"Oh? Seems your little trip was a success after all."
Rose remarked, her eyes flicking toward the bag in his hands.
"I had some help."
Judas replied before his gaze shifted to the cloth she held.
"What about you? Did you buy that?"
"I know you said you dislike robes and tunics."
Rose said softly, holding it out to him.
"Which is why I got you this."
He took the garment from her hands and examined it.
"An undershirt?"
"Not just any undershirt."
She corrected, a faint smile forming on her lips.
"It's a protective cloth woven by special materials."
Judas blinked.
"Wait... you bought this for me? Why?"
He wasn't focused on the shirt's properties, but rather on her.
"Hmm... think of it as a gesture of goodwill."
She said, brushing off the question.
"I can't possibly let a lady pay for me—"
But before he could finish, Rose stepped closer and placed her finger gently against his lips.
"You can keep it."
She said quietly, her golden eyes meeting his.
"Whenever you go down into the dungeon..."
"Just promise me you'll always come back alive."
Judas froze.
The concern in her eyes was real, not the kind that came from obligation as an advisor, but from the heart.
"Alright... I promise."
...
By the time they exited Babel, it was already 9:45.
"Heading to meet Alise and the others at the Stardust Garden?"
Rose asked as they walked side by side down the street.
"Yeah, I don't want to be lat—"
The words died in his throat.
He felt it.
A powerful presence drawing near.
He turned around.
And there she was.
Eyes of two colors.. one green, one gray... locked squarely onto him amidst the crowded street.
"I finally found you, Judas Spade."
Her voice was soft, feminine... yet it carried the chill of a devil's whisper.
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