Chapter: 27
Pa/ t reon details below the chapter if you're interested in seeing some content in advance. I'll keep posting regardless. If you have any suggestions you would like to see added, I will try to incorporate what I can :)
(A New Weapon?)
-{Hestia}-
Hestia went onto her knees, hands clasped together as she stared up at the exasperated woman. her big blue eyes shimmering with desperation.
"Please! Please, Hephaestus! Just this once!" she begged, her voice trembling.
Hephaestus, who was seated behind her massive desk in the workshop, sighed heavily. The beautiful red-haired goddess ran a hand through her hair before giving Hestia a tired look, her lone eye filled with exasperation.
"No," she said flatly.
Hestia visibly flinched at the rejection but didn't back down. She bowed her head, pressing her forehead to the cold stone floor, her twin tails drooping.
"Please! I need this! Zephyrion needs a weapon worthy of him!" Hestia pleaded.
"Hestia," Hephaestus cut her off, crossing her arms. "You don't have the valis, and I don't work for free. Haven't I already given you enough?"
"But-"
"No," Hephaestus repeated, her tone firm. "I get you're excited about having a Familia member but I can't just give you a powerful top of the line sword for him. Especially one created by me."
She sighed at Hestia's frustration.
"Look. Start with making him take the starter package from the guild, then make him carefully take on the first floor, you've even managed to snag yourself two other children. So he will have backup. A few weeks of saving and you'll be able to afford decent gear in no time." She tried to offer.
"You don't understand." Hestia responded.
"I think I do." Hephaestus replied. Hephaestus watched as Hestia trembled slightly, her shoulders rising and falling with deep, frustrated breaths.
She wasn't giving up. That much was obvious. While she hid it, she truly didn't like seeing her long-time friend acting this way.
Hephaestus sighed again, leaning back in her chair. "Hestia, I get that you care about your new child, but weapons aren't just things you throw around. The best weapons are earned, not begged for. Your child is not an exception to this. Plus, having such a weapon as a new adventurer isn't needed and won't be able to be wielded properly."
Hestia's head shot up at that, and Hephaestus almost took a step back at the sheer fierceness in her eyes.
"Don't you talk to me about earning things when you haven't met Zephyrion!" Hestia's voice cracked with emotion. "He's already earned everything, Hephaestus! You don't understand, he's special. That's why I'm more than willing to do anything to obtain a weapon for him."
A silence briefly stretched between them. Hephaestus narrowed her lone eye. "Explain. Why are you so insistent? If what you say is true then he should be able to obtain a weapon of good quality within no time."
Hestia pushed herself up to her knees. "Because I haven't done anything for him. Instead of acting the role of the goddess I found myself thanking fates that someone like him dropped into my lap. In the short period of time I've known him, he's managed to already reach level two. He's already close to reaching level three-"
"Wait a second. You told me you only got him into your Familia a little over a month and a half ago." Hephaestus interrupted, her voice was filled with doubt and confusion. "How is he already level two and supposedly close to being level three?"
Hestia slumped. "That's what I'm saying. I hadn't even realised he was so abnormal until I asked you for advice. I am not allowed to say much but his heritage is… special."
"Special?" Hephaestus reiterated. "You're telling me this child of yours had power before gaining a Falna which isn't unheard of and then somehow in a month and a half is close to reaching level three?"
"Yes, he already had power before becoming an adventurer." Hestia replied.
Hephaestus remained quiet, watching the small goddess shake with barely contained emotion.
"And you know what? He's so strong, Hephaestus. Stronger than I ever imagined." Hestia huffed. "But he's reckless. He throws himself into fights without thinking about himself. You say he wouldn't be able to use such a weapon to his full capacity but I think it'll be the sword that struggles to keep up!"
Hephaestus raised an eyebrow, pushing down the odd competitiveness she felt at that. She knew Hestia wasn't baiting her and actually believed this to be true.
It was why she had suddenly grown so interested during the course of this conversation.
Her voice softened then, her hands resting over her heart as a small, almost broken smile formed on her lips.
"He's… he's wonderful." Hestia sighed.
Hestia had changed.
She should have noticed this at the start of their interaction. Hephaestus had merely thought that Hestia was here to beg again. Which was why she had been so harsh.
Hephaestus' expression didn't change, She had never seen Hestia like this before. Sure, the little goddess was always affectionate and playful, but this?
This was devotion.
Hestia wasn't just talking about her child. She was talking about someone who meant everything to her.
It was enough to make her go completely silent. Hephaestus let out a breath, closing her single eye. "You love him." She concluded.
Hestia stiffened. "O-Of course I do! He's my first child and very special to me."
"You love him, Hestia." Hephaestus rolled her single eye, crossing her arms.
This was unprecedented.
Hestia was notoriously cold to men. Many Gods and Heroes had tried to court her. Thousands of years. It had only been a few hundred years were the offers of marriage and courtship had slowed down.
The small goddess' face turned red, but she didn't deny it.
A month and a half. She had changed so much. Hephaestus had left Hestia to do her own thing since she didn't want the Goddess to keep trying to rely on her. Perhaps that was a mistake.
Hephaestus sighed again, this time more to herself. "...You're hopeless."
Hestia blinked. "Huh?"
The red-haired goddess shook her head and hesitated before standing up.
"I don't do free work, Hestia. Not for the sort of weapon you're asking for." Hephaestus finally said.
She beamed at her. Finally a chance.
Hestia took out a bottomless pouch.
Zephyrion had given her one and she had come prepared. She had brought three quarters of her savings. Her original plan was to get a price and use this as a down payment to show she was serious, but Hephaestus had refused to even entertain her.
She turned it over and coins of a large size poured out.
3,750,000 Valis. Zephyrion had mumbled about it being 75,000 USD. Whatever that meant. It was the total amount that Zephyrion had practically forced her to receive.
Hestia still believed it was too much.
While she liked having a little money, she truly trusted Zephyrion to receive the most of it. She had used to dream of having a massive house with powerful Familia members.
But… her priorities had changed. She had come to experience something she hadn't experienced during her long life as a Goddess.
Hephaestus' eyes widened, and she sent a subtle glance towards the Moleskin Bottomless pouch.
"H-hestia?" Hephaestus muttered. "Did you take out a loan!" She shouted. "Are you insane? The interest rates! I can't believe you would go this far."
Hestia bit her lip, her fingers clenching into fists against the floor. "It's not a loan, Zephyrion made it by dungeon diving. I told you he is special."
"Hestia. That doesn't explain anything and even a level three would struggle to make this alone." Hephaestus hesitantly replied.
She knew Hephaestus wasn't trying to be cruel. Hestia knew how she had been. Her concerns and doubts weren't unwarranted in the slightest.
Hestia smiled. She knew Hephaestus still cared despite how cold she had tried to act. "He's really strong."
"I think I need to meet this lover of yours Hestia." Hephaestus finally stated.
Hestia blushed slightly. "Does this mean you'll make him a weapon?"
Hephaestus paused. She was serious. Hephaestus rolled her eye. "Yes. I'll make the sword. But you owe me, big time."
Hestia nearly tackled her in a hug, eyes sparkling with joy. "Thank you, thank you, thank you!"
Hephaestus groaned, trying to pry the tiny goddess off her. "Yeah, yeah. Just don't regret it when I come collecting."
Hestia grinned. "Never!"
The forge master huffed, shaking her head. "You better make sure he knows the value of this weapon."
Hestia's smile softened, her grip on Hephaestus' sleeve tightening just a little.
"He'll know and he'll make it worth every bit." Hestia whispered, she became slightly nervous. "So, what's the cost?"
That was the biggest issue.
"It depends, do you want him to have an amazing sword or a masterpiece?" Hephaestus questioned her, almost challenging.
"A masterpiece." Hestia responded instantly.
"250,000,000 vali."
"…"
Hestia stopped herself from reacting at the absurd price.
1.5%
The Vali she had just given her had covered 1.5% of that price.
Hephaestus nodded, her crimson eye steady. "I'll be forging this sword myself. I've seen your dedication, and I respect that. You have two options, pay 2.5% of the total price each month, or work for me. The more you work, the less you'll owe, and I'll lower the fee to just 1%."
"I'll think about it." Hestia replied emotionlessly.
"You could start by selling me that pouch." Hephaestus spoke up, surprising Hestia.
She smirked, eyes glinting with curiosity as she leaned forward. "3,750,000 Vali wouldn't even come close to fitting in something that small. A dimensional storage artifact, huh? I've never seen anything like it. Frankly, I'm surprised you have something this rare…"
Hestia frowned, that had been a gift from Zephyrion.
That alone made her hesitate on the prospect but she knew it was an expensive item. The only reason she considered it was due to the fact that Zephyrion had given her two of them.
She wanted to sigh. Even now she was relying on Zephyrion.
Hestia puffed out her cheeks, crossing her arms. "Alright, how much are you willing to offer me for it?" she huffed.
She didn't want to admit that she had no clue as to what it was worth. Hestia only knew that the item was rare and not its actual value.
"I would be willing to pay 50,000,000 Vali for it or alternatively I would be willing to knock off 75,000,000 Million Vali from your debt." Hephaestus offered.
Hestia kept herself from reacting in shock.
That was a lot. 30% of the debt. Her eyes squinted slightly.
"150,000,000." She replied.
Hephaestus blinked.
"That's too much-"
"Is it?" She politely cut off. "An enchanted bag that could revolutionise dungeon diving. Did I mention that it stays weightless and has practically endless storage?"
Hephaestus narrowed her lone eye. Despite how it seemed, these were two ancient Goddess'
"100,000,000 Vali. That's final." Hephaestus relented. "That's only if you use it to pay your debt too."
Hephaestus drummed her fingers on the desk, her lone eye scrutinizing Hestia with a mix of frustration and begrudging amusement.
"100,000,000 is already generous," Hephaestus said, her tone edged with finality. "Even for something as ridiculous as this enchanted item you've somehow obtained."
Hestia leaned forward slightly, resting her elbows on the desk with an innocent smile. "Is it, though?"
Hephaestus narrowed her eye. "Hestia."
The busty goddess hummed, tilting her head. "I think you're underestimating how valuable an weightless bag with the ability to store so much is for dungeon diving and just in general. Imagine how much more resources and weapon your children could move around. How much safer adventurers would be if they didn't have to haul supplies…" She clasped her hands together, her voice taking on a mischievous lilt.
"Tsk." Hephaestus leaned back, crossing her arms. Hephaestus exhaled slowly through her nose. "110,000,000. Final offer."
Hestia's smile didn't waver. "120,000,000."
"Hestia." Hephaestus grouched.
"I think I'm being very reasonable." Hestia replied innocently.
She honestly didn't know its value, but Zephyrion had given it to her and she was going to make the most she could with it.
Hephaestus muttered something under her breath, rubbing her temple. "115,000,000."
"Deal!" Hestia happily replied, all defiance leaving her body.
Hephaestus blinked.
The forge goddess stared at her, completely thrown off. "Wait, what?"
Hestia beamed. "I said deal!"
For a second, Hephaestus just sat there, processing. Then her eye narrowed in suspicion. "You agreed too fast."
Hestia's expression was the picture of innocence. "Did I?"
"Yes."
The tiny goddess only smiled wider.
Hephaestus groaned, rubbing her face. "I swear, you're worse than Loki."
"Hey! I'm way better than her!" Hestia replied petulantly, a wide smile on her face.
She hadn't out anything else in the bottomless pouch so she didn't hesitate to place it on the desk.
"Your debt has been knocked down to 131,250,000 Vali. Congratulations." Hephaestus remarked.
Despite the dry tone, she excitedly inspected the Moleskin Bottomless Pouch.
"Seriously, Hestia. Where did you get such an item? It was only three months ago that you were couch surfacing at my house." Hephaestus shook her head.
"Familia secret." She stuck her tongue out.
"Ah, so it was this child of yours who obtained it." Hephaestus concluded.
Hestia merely smiled. "So when will the weapon be created?"
Hephaestus sent her an appraising look.
"Give me a day." Hephaestus replied.
-Scene Break-
Hestia stepped out of the building with a bright smile.
She could hardly contain her excitement.
A weapon for Zephyrion. A proper one, forged by a divine blacksmith. She knew Zephyrion mostly relied on magic since most normal swords couldn't keep up with his sheer strength.
This would be a good gift. Just imagining his reaction made her practically skip as she walked.
Her thoughts, however, came to a crashing halt when a sudden wave of screams filled the air.
She blinked.
Chaos erupted around her as people ran, shoving past in blind panic.
Stalls were overturned, crates smashed, and in the distance. A deep, guttural roar shook the street.
Hestia's breath hitched as she turned, her eyes widening.
The massive, dragon-like creature stood in the middle of the street, its normally black scales now emanating a sickly glow. Its body had swollen unnaturally, veins throbbing and muscles bulging.
Its wild, reptilian eyes swept across the fleeing adventurers and civilians until they landed on her.
The Monsters nostrils flared, and its lips curled back, revealing rows of jagged teeth. Then, with a low snarl.
She took a step back, and it took a step forward.
Only for a gigantic ball of fire to form and quickly smash into the monster's side.
-{Zephryion Gremory}-
I frowned deeply. After defeating the Monster that had escaped, I had been set to go back and find Bell along with Lili.
That had been stopped as someone had shouted of another monster.
I already knew someone was behind this, the guards had even said they had been fed monster stones. Explains why they were so strong. Due to that, I hadn't wasted time in searching within the general direction I had been given of the monsters whereabouts.
My eyes narrowed and I pushed down the rage that was gathering in my chest. It had been a while since my primary sin had activated.
A shockwave ripped through the street as my fist connected with the monster's jaw, sending it skidding across the stone.
The mutated monster snarled, shaking its head as rubble crumbled around it.
Its scales had cracked where my fist landed, but the sickly glow beneath them pulsed stronger. The monster's veins bulge and its body twitches, as if trying to move in multiple directions at once.
It lunged.
An arc of wind carved through the air and sent its head whipping around as I stepped forward, grabbing its thrashing head and slamming it into the ground. The stone cracked beneath the force.
A pillar of fire erupted from my palm, engulfing the beast. Its muffled screeches filled the air, its body convulsing wildly before turning rigid. The glow beneath its scales faded, leaving behind nothing but charred flesh.
I took a breath, for once I had been ramped up to full power before the battle even began.
The monster was dead. But the battle had done nothing to cool the fire burning in my chest.
"Hestia," I turned quickly, searching for her.
She was standing a few feet away. Her wide blue eyes locked onto me, flicking briefly to the smoldering corpse behind me.
"Zephyrion." She smiled, and I sighed.
I pulled her into a hug.
"What's going on?" She questioned.
"Two monsters escaped their confinement from the monster festival." I explained. "One of them attacked me and I came to hunt the other one."
"Ah. How did they escape?" Hestia asked, hugging me back tightly.
I grimaced.
"I'm not sure what the official reason is yet, but I suspect someone had a hand in this. To be more specific, the people that were watching me." I replied thoughtfully, hiding my anger.
Which didn't seem to work as Hestia gently nuzzled my chest. I could see the look of concern.
"Why do you think it's them? You said they could have attacked you when you were weak right?" She replied worriedly. "Could it have been a genuine mistake?"
"Well, I'm not completely sure." I affirmed. "But I felt myself being watched just before the attack."
"They could have been merely watching." Hestia thought before shaking her head. "Wishful thinking."
"There's also the matter that someone fed it monster stones, which is probably how they both escaped." I summarised.
Before she could respond, the sound of hurried footsteps reached us. I turned just in time to see Bell and Lili sprinting into view, both looking mildly winded.
"Goddess!" Bell skidded to a stop in front of Hestia, eyes darting between her and me. "Are you hurt?"
"I'm fine," Hestia reassured, smiling. "Zephyrion got here in time."
Bell exhaled in relief, his shoulders slumping. Lili, however, was still tense, crossbow drawn as she scanned the area.
"That thing wasn't normal," she muttered. "It shouldn't have been up here, and it definitely shouldn't have been that strong. Not according to the guild books. We saw the destruction it had wrought on its way here."
"Yeah, one of the guards said it had been fed magical stones. Meaning someone had deliberately done this." I informed them.
They both looked shocked.
Why would someone do that?" Bell replied in disbelief.
"I'm not sure, I think it was targeted at me though." I replied.
Lili crossed her arms, her eyes studying me carefully. "Do you suspect the people who were watching you had a hand in this?"
"Yes, I was being watched just before it happened and they were fed monster crystals. So it was done by someone." I responded.
She nodded. "We will have to be careful."
The streets were still recovering from the attack, adventurers and guards working to clean up the destruction.
"Let's go home," I finally said after a moment.
Bell hesitated for a second, glancing back at the destroyed market before nodding. "Alright."
Before we left, I quickly cut a hole in the large monster's corpse and removed its magic stone for myself. A powerful magic stone would give my Familiar a good boost in strength. It took a minute to search for it. I would have liked to have gotten the other but its corpse was likely seized already.
As we walked through the streets, I caught sight of a man strolling past us with an easy-going smile, his golden hair catching the light of the setting sun.
His white and gold robes were pristine, draped elegantly over his frame, and his every step carried a lazy confidence as if he owned the ground he walked on.
The moment he passed, his amber eyes flicked to me, and his smile didn't waver. But his gaze was calculating as he appraised me, his eyes lingered for just a second too long and I boredly regarded him.
I didn't look away. He wouldn't find the first.
His steps slowed ever so slightly before he finally moved on, his smile never fading.
Weird.
We made it back to the house. The house was still new. We'd only just moved in which was why I had been too distracted to properly secure it.
As soon as we stepped inside, i moved.
Hestia blinked as I strode toward the center of the room.
"I'll need to set up the wards again, with my new Familiar we can be confident in our current defences as he can act as a guard for the front gate." I spoke, mainly towards Hestia.
Lili had taken to sitting down and Bell was watching with interest.
I briefly wondered if they could learn magic, since they had their own version of it.
It wasn't long until the house was fully warded once more with the addition of a new powerful ward: Protego horribilis. It created a powerful shield around all of the walls, meaning they couldn't simply break in. Not without difficulty anyway.
"There we go." I finished.
"What are we meant to do now?" Hestia frowned. "I don't like the prospect of my Familia being in danger."
"From now on you'll take Vermisynth with you, he's a level five threat and he's continuing to grow stronger with the amount of magic stones in stuffing him with. He will serve as a good protector." I commanded. I turned towards Lili and Bell. "If you can, try stick together when you leave the house or better yet go with Hestia as extra protection."
They both nodded.
"That won't be a problem, we normally spend time dungeon diving or going with our Goddess anyway." Lili replied.
I smiled, "Good."
Hestia sent me a subtle look and I nodded.
"Me and Hestia need to speak about this further, try not to worry too much. I don't think they're actually trying to kill it but stay alert." I concluded.
"Right." Bell said determinedly, I could see his fists clenched.
Lili simply opted on nodding in acceptance.
With that, me and Hestia found ourselves heading to the master bedroom.
"You're going away in a few days." Hestia stated.
"I am." I confirmed.
She sent me a worried look.
"Is that a good idea? Having people watch us is one thing but they've potentially made a move against us. One that could have seriously hurt or killed any of us." Hestia replied worriedly.
I thought about it seriously.
I couldn't ignore the benefits. Then again, did I want to temporarily leave this world while we were being watched by multiple mysterious entities. I exhaled.
Hestia had a point. Leaving now, when unknown forces were clearly moving against us, carried risk. But that didn't mean it wasn't the right move.
"It's actually the best thing I could do," I said finally.
Hestia frowned. "How?"
"I'd be securing us. Look at what happened today. We don't even know who's behind it, let alone what their next move is. Staying here and waiting for another attack isn't a plan."
I gestured to the house as we approached. "Right now, our defenses are strong but breakable by any adventurer above level four."
"Wards, enchantments, protective charms, if I can bring those back here, we'll be untouchable."
Hestia furrowed her brows. "You think that's enough?"
"No," I admitted. "Which is why I won't just be bringing back magic. I'll be bringing people. A few trusted ones. I've already secured a power base in that world. Through rather unconventional means I will admit."
Hestia bit her lip. Hestia looked away, clearly torn. "I don't like it, then again. I never like you leaving me so that isn't much of a change."
"There'll be a time I can take you with me, but right now even pulling just myself will consume most of my demonic energy. So I can't bring you." I responded with a sigh.
Even the power my strange eyes gave me was uncontrollable as of now, the cooldown period was still a week away from finishing. I could feel it instinctively.
"If that's what you think is for the best, I'll trust you." She replied.
Her lips quivered slightly and she stared up at me with hooded eyes.
Thoughts about the wizarding world could take place later.
-{Reginald Greengrass}-
Reginald studied through the book, before dropping it onto his desk with the already stacked pile with a sigh.
Gremory.
A name that the world should know, yet, no records show anything.
Lord Zephyrion had stated he was a pureblood.
Naturally, Reginald wanted to search further into the powerful being he had decided to serve. Yet, he had found nothing. So he had gone further, perhaps a foreign pureblood?
France, America, Japan.
Nothing.
He had even searched into myths.
Now, he was only left with a few books out of the hundreds he had searched into.
His Lord would be coming back soon. Clint was practically buzzing with excitement.
Recruitment had gone… too well.
Turns out that the Dark Lord Voldemort he had once feared was a bit of an idiot. Then again, he had been of the same mindset. It was easy to overlook the masses.
He could take on multiple wizards, perhaps even five or seven one a good day at once.
Reginald was considered a powerful wizard in his own right. But could he face twenty? Or a hundred?
Wizards and witches were joining in flocks, weak, unassuming and overlooked.
Reginald glanced over to another book.
He might as well finish all of them, he thought.
Picking up the book based on the concept of Demons. An amusing race the muggles had made up to stop people from committing crimes with the threat of 'Hell'
His eyes flicked through the pages, skimming past the names with idle disinterest.
Bael.
Phenex.
His gaze drifted past another name before something in the back of his mind screamed at him to stop.
A cold prickle ran down his spine as his eyes slowly traced back up the page.
There, nestled among the rest, was a name.
A familiar name written as an innocent piece of text.
Gremory.
He stared at the name uncomprehendingly.
The first mention of his name. A pureblood but not in the way he knew. Contracts…
His eyes widened.
Had he made a deal with a Demon?
-END-
Chapter: 28
Pa/ t reon details below the chapter if you're interested in seeing some content in advance. I'll keep posting regardless. If you have any suggestions you would like to see added, I will try to incorporate what I can :)
For anyone wondering, the weapon that Zephyrion has received is incredibly stronger than Bell's dagger. The currency is different from the original Danmachi timeline. So it can't be compared.
For a bit of context on this.
3000 Vali = 60 USD.
9000 = 180 USD
10500 = 210 USD
(The Merchant?)
I yawned, turning slightly to the naked Goddess wrapt in my arms. I pulled her a bit closer to me and enjoyed the feeling of her body pressed against mine for a few minutes.
The warmth she was radiating was… addictive.
She grumbled lightly, and I pulled her into a deep kiss that she reciprocated a few moments later.
The bed we slept on was extremely comfortable and with my Goddess laying in it, the appeal of simply going back to sleep and into Hestia's arms was increasing by the moment.
That's why I pulled myself up.
Hestia stared at me hazily as I stood up.
I glanced down back at her and admired her curvy body before pausing as I felt one of my contracts activate.
In fact, it had been activated multiple times but I had been asleep so I didn't answer it.
My contracts had become more popular, most contracts I had weren't exactly noteworthy compared to my first one. I'd probably not do anyone like that, I had been a bit too eager for my first contract.
Not that those men hadn't deserved it, but I wasn't really in the business of playing hero for random people.
I guess I had some time to spare.
I chucked on top and tried to fix my wild hair with only some success. I rolled my shoulders as I stepped into the summoning circle, my vision briefly shifting as the contract pulled me across space.
A familiar sensation, one I had grown accustomed to over the past months since I had been here.
The moment my feet landed on solid ground, I found myself in a clearing?
A caravan stood in the center, a few wooden wagons circled hastily for some kind of last-minute defense.
A handful of panicked-looking guards, barely armored, gripped their weapons while a frantic merchant in fine but travel-worn clothes gawked at me like I had just fallen from the sky.
Which, in a sense, I had.
Interesting. This was a lot more lively than my normal contracts.
Everyone always looked equally as shocked that the contract actually worked, but word about it had naturally spread. Among the lower levels of Orario anyway.
I barely had time to take in the scene before my ears caught the telltale rustling of something moving in the nearby grass.
Small, fast movements. Multiple sources.
Needle Rabbits.
Not exactly a threat, but the sheer number of them would overwhelm even an adventurer. To which I could see none around.
We weren't close to Orario.
That much I could sense.
"So, I take it you're the one who summoned me?" I questioned calmly.
The merchant blinked, still processing my sudden arrival, before snapping out of it and scrambling back a bit. "Y-Yes! You actually came?! The contract worked?!"
"Yeah, yeah, congrats," I said lazily, giving my arms a quick stretch. "What do you need?"
"Ah! Yes, I need protection!" He hurriedly replied.
"What's your name?" I asked, taking out a contract.
Names were important. More than just a title, it was an identity.
"Balsen Argis." He replied quickly, sending a worried glance to the guards who had engaged the monsters.
His face twisted in panic. "They're almost here!"
-{Balsen Argis}-
Balsen had to admit, he hadn't expected the contract his brother had given him to work. It had been a last ditch attempt.
This entire trip had been different. Monsters had long since wandered the lands. Through dungeon breaks or secret tunnels that had made their way to the surface that linked to the dungeon.
Monsters roaming the lands had been around since the Labyrinth City or as we knew it, the Dungeon had come to form. That's why as a merchant, he took certain paths that were known to be safe.
Hiring adventurer's costs… a lot. Considering you were taking their time away from the dungeon and they were worth a dozen men even at level one. It was understandable.
Rather than take a considerable dip in his profits, going on the longer, safer route with normal mercenaries was always easier. That had been the case.
He was heading back from Alvéria.
This trip had been different. Monsters had been attacking them all the way back and each attack simply seemed to draw in multiple more monsters.
The main monsters had been Horned Rabbits.
A mercenary could deal with one, even two and perhaps even three. But when dozens upon dozens attacked it was easy to get overwhelmed. Multiple guards had already died.
In a last ditch attempt, he had used the flyer his brother had told him about when he was last in Orario. Honestly, it was one of those moments where you tried out everything you possibly could in a last ditch attempt at survival.
The fact it had worked was… surprising but seeing what he could immediately tell was a powerful adventurer made him relax. The way he sent a bored glance towards the monsters was more reassuring than he could possibly imagine.
"What is that you desire?" He finally questioned.
He was about to ask him to kill all of the monsters before he paused, another idea coming to his mind. One that would benefit him more.
"Safe passage to Orario." Balsen quickly said.
The crimson-haired man seemed to do something with the parchment, and he held it out.
A quick glance showed it was a contract that his request had been written out and in return for his service a favour would be paid, one that wouldn't put his lifestyle in jeopardy.
He quickly signed, if it hadn't been for that last part he may have hesitated but he was glad that the Adventurer didn't try to extort him.
Balsen took a step back, sending him an urgent look as the contract glowed.
-{Zephyrion Gremory}-
This would be useful.
I hadn't really encountered any merchants in this capacity before, but I had been meaning to expand my influence in Orario. I had multiple sources that I could draw income from.
The terrified merchant had a large carriage, multiple carriages in fact. So he should be relatively well connected.
What a stroke of luck. I was glad I answered this call. That favour would be put to good use.
I took a step towards the dozens of Horned Rabbits and they seemed to finally notice me.
Their small eyes stared at me and in an act that surprised me all of their heads lowered as they backed away.
I paused the magical attack I was about to obliterate them with. I watched them back away into the treeline in bewilderment, this hadn't happened before.
What has changed?
My mind instantly went to the now broken seal.
I knew that seal had been holding back more than I thought. I had felt a massive change when it had been broken, a change that I had just associated with my bloodline power.
My demonic power had reached the high-class. I was sure of that. It had changed from a mass of energy into a pulsing ball of demonic power within me.
Was my presence intimidating the monsters? Or was it something else?
Everything since my birth had been linked to the seal, my lack of strength. The late start in magical tutoring. I felt myself grow annoyed.
I let out a breath, clearing my mind and focusing back on the present.
The merchant was staring at me like I was some sort of Angel as he stayed close to me while the mercenaries all looked suitably intimidated.
I gave an easy smile. "Let's get back on the move shall we?"
The merchant nodded. "Yes!"
"How far away are we from Orario?" I questioned, I needed to be back in an hour tops.
"A few days." He responded.
"Yeah, that's not going to work." I hummed.
He sent me a confused glance.
I told him to wait as I went about drawing a truly large demonic circle.
This was my last day here before I should be summoned back to the wizarding world, I needed to prepare. I had offered Hestia to come with me despite the potential danger but she said that she felt more comfortable staying back for now.
So I didn't push.
I carved the final strokes of the demonic circle into the dirt, watching as the symbols pulsed with demonic power. A faint glow was cast.
The merchant and his men looked on with a mix of awe and apprehension, still intimidated from how the monsters had fled at my mere presence. Which was a fair reaction.
"Hold on to something," I said lazily, flexing my fingers before channeling my demonic magic.
Teleportation could be disorientating.
The air around us warped as light consumed our vision, space bended as the magic took hold. A heartbeat later, the entire caravan was gone from the clearing.
When we reappeared, the men stumbled, eyes wide as they took in their surroundings.
The familiar large walls of Orario stood in the distance, but we were still a fair distance away.
It was close enough to reach the city within half an hour, far enough to keep my teleportation a bit of a secret from the general populace. Sure, they would talk but rumours are rumours and they are good for my reputation.
Teleporting was extremely rare from what I knew.
"How... what?" Balsen stammered from the ground, his mind racing to comprehend what had just happened.
"Figured it'd be easier than walking for days," I shrugged, moving the topic along. "Now, about that favor..."
That gained his full attention as he looked noticeably tense, I was the advantage due to the power I had displayed. It was safe to say he probably wouldn't decline anything I had to say.
I reached into my bottomless mokeskin pouch and pulled out three artifacts from the wizarding world.
The only three I had on me.
"How much would these go for?"
Balsen's eyes sharpened with interest, all confusion momentarily forgotten. "Depends on what they do. I'm assuming these are magical artefacts?"
"Yes, how did you know?" I asked curiously.
"A merchant needs to have a keen eye, I've traded in magical artefacts before. They fetch a high price in most cases, depending on their ability." Balsen replied, a certain confidence in his tone that keyed me in on the type of merchant he was.
"This one." I held up a silver ring with etchings, "resists minor mind-affecting magic. Makes it harder to manipulate the wearer."
He looked at it appraisingly. "Powerful, an effect like this is rare, but ultimately not many monsters can use mind-based attacks. Still. This would fetch a good price for the more powerful and well-prepared Familias."
I listened to him, and nodded.
I brought out the next item. Next, I revealed a small brass orb. "This absorbs a single spell and releases it on command. Good in a pinch."
His eyes gleamed. He hummed thoughtfully. "A rare trait for an accessory and incredibly powerful for non-magic users. It could store a life-saving spell assuming it can store high-tier spells?"
I nodded in confirmation. By wizarding world standards anyway.
"This will go for a lot." He muttered.
By now his eyes were basically shining with greed and he looked at me eagerly.
I reached into my pouch once more, retrieving the final item. A small, obsidian pendant engraved with runes.
Balsen's breath hitched as his eyes locked onto it. "What... does this one do?"
I smirked. "I believe this one stores a certain amount of kinetic energy. Any physical impact absorbed by the pendant can be released in a single, devastating burst. It can be added on to armour."
The merchant swallowed, fingers twitching with the urge to reach for it. "That... that is beyond rare. Defensive enchantments are one thing. This will sell for an absurd amount. It could be considered a life-saving move, how much energy could it store?"
"I'm not sure. It should be useful arounds the level of one or two though. Beyond that I'm not sure if it would be of any use." I replied truthfully, I had done research on it.
I tossed the pendant lightly in my hand before closing my fingers around it. "Now, about that favor. I need you to sell these for me. Discreetly. I don't want some random street vendor handling them."
Balsen blinked, then nodded quickly. "Of course. I have connections in the higher markets, private buyers who specialize in rare magical artifacts. If you give me some time, I can ensure they are sold at the best possible price."
I studied him for a moment before extending my hand with the artifacts. "Good. You handle the sales. In return, keep five percent of the total earnings for your troubles. Consider that my way of making this fair."
His lips parted in pure shock before he schooled his features and accepted the items with a respectful nod. "You have my word, Zephyrion. I'll get the best price possible."
Being a Devil was incredibly fun. Just like that, for something so simple. Without cost. I had made a valuable connection.
Getting connections in this world and the other was good.
I did intend to go back to my original world, but that didn't mean I would neglect my new home here and if I was going to go back to such a powerful world I would make sure I had multiple secure power bases.
The wizarding world was useful, despite its relatively low power. The spells were unique and helped my imagination magic grow. This world had become a second home. I honestly wasn't sure when I would get back to my original world.
The cooldown period of my eyes seemed long and I was no closer to mastering it then I had been before my jump to the wizarding world. One thing was for sure, amassing wealth in all these worlds was something I wanted to do.
It was natural for a young devil to be ambitious and my ambition had been halted for far too long due to the seal placed on me.
As he carefully stored the artifacts, I allowed myself a small smile.
A merchant like Balsen was an asset. Not only was he useful, but ensuring he profited from this exchange meant he'd be more eager to work with me in the future.
"I'll check in soon for any updates," I said casually, stretching my arms. "In the meantime, don't do anything foolish."
Balsen gave a quick, eager nod. "Understood. You won't regret this."
I strolled back to our newly-purchased house.
Opening the bedroom door, I paused as I spotted no Hestia. Blinking, I turned around and went back downstairs.
Bell was relaxing on the couch.
I raised an eyebrow at Bell, who looked completely at ease, lounging on the couch with his arms behind his head.
His white hair was slightly ruffled, and his red eyes glanced up at me with curiosity as I stepped inside.
"Hey, Bell. Where's Hestia?" I asked as I moved into the living room.
Bell blinked before sitting up properly, resting his elbows on his knees. "Oh, she said that she would be going to the Hephaestus shop in the Tower of Babel."
Good, she told him where she was going.
I frowned slightly. "Alone?"
Bell hesitated, rubbing the back of his head. "Not exactly. She took your Familiar with her. She said she wanted to check on something important."
That eased the tension in my shoulders, though a small part of me still felt a bit uncomfortable. I wasn't about to take any chances. If she had my Familiar with her, she'd be fine but I still wanted to check on her.
Stepping back outside, I made my way toward the Tower of Babel.
The massive structure was easily noticeable and I didn't need to ask for introductions as it stood over the entire city, its height so absurd that it cast a large shadow on part of the city.
Its pristine, polished white walls gleamed under the midday sun.
I did wonder how they kept it so clean, did they have some sort of wall-scaling cleaners?
As I approached, the streets grew busier. Babel was at the heart of the city, and adventurers of all levels passed through its enormous gates, seeking equipment, supplies, or access to the dungeon below.
Merchants called out from stalls, hawking everything from potions to low-tier magic items. The scent of grilled meat and fresh bread drifted through the air, mixing with the faint tang of metal and oil from the many forges that lined the area.
It wasn't long before I was at my desired location. Stepping inside the Hephaestus shop, I noticed the temperature in the air become a bit warmer
The shop was large, lined with rows of weapons and armor. Swords, spears, and axes rested on polished racks. The shop wasn't too crowded, but a few adventurers milled about, inspecting gear and discussing potential purchases.
I walked past a display of daggers, my gaze sweeping across the room, searching for Hestia.
My attention was drawn to a commotion playing out in one of the corners.
A red-haired young man stood with his arms crossed, his expression dark with frustration.
Two adventurers stood near him, sneering as they inspected weapons on a nearby rack. One of them picked up a sword, turning it over in his hands before scoffing.
"You need more material for what? This? Tch. No wonder it's collecting dust. Why would we waste giving you more when you can't even make magical weapons?" One of them asked.
The other smirked, shaking his head. "Who'd want a sword from a failure? Tsubaki's little toy."
Welf's fists clenched at his sides, his jaw tightening as he struggled to hold back his anger. His eyes burned with restrained fury, but he said nothing, standing stiffly as the words dug into him like daggers.
I watched the exchange in silence.
"Go ask someone else, Welf." One of them laughed.
Welf?
That rang multiple bells.
Welf Crozzo.
We had already purchased some of his gear and it was of extremely high-quality.
My gaze shifted. I stared at him with interest.
Another canon member? At this rate he wouldn't become a Familia member of Hestia. I had already collected Lili.
Do I go after another one? I had mostly kept recruitment low to people I already knew because it was easier to trust them. I'd probably broaden that view soon though.
I needed a smith anyway I suppose.
"Welf Crozzo?" I mused aloud.
His head snapped to me.
Welf's head snapped toward me, his red eyes narrowing. His fists clenched as though he were seconds away from lashing out.
"And who the hell are you?" His voice was just a bit shaky.
I ignored the hostility, stepping forward slightly. "Just someone who's familiar with your work," I said smoothly. "I saw your name on some of the armour I bought."
He was in the Hephaestus Familia right?
Time to play the Devil's advocate.
One of the adventurers snorted. "Familiar with his work? What, you like collecting garbage?"
I regarded him briefly. "Did you make that sword on your waist?"
He grinned. "Damn right."
He pulled out the sword and handed it towards me.
"This is real work." He chuckled.
Welf scowled.
I examined it, and gave it a swing. The blade came loose and flew into the wall.
I flinched as if shocked. "Oh, is it meant to do that?"
His cheeks flushed. And he snatched the weapon from me. Looking at it with an admittedly expert gaze. "T-that shouldn't have happened."
"Oh? Ah, forgive me. I thought with all that talk that it'd be quite strong." I replied with a wince.
Before he could reply in defence, I pulled Welf by the arm. "Nice meeting you, but I'm busy. I need some equipment and I'm sure you'll be busy fixing your sword."
I got a sputtered reply.
I dragged Welf a few steps away, ignoring his surprised resistance until we were far enough from the other adventurers.
When I let go, he scowled, rubbing his arm.
"What the hell was that?" he demanded.
"Just saving you from wasting your breath," I said, glancing over my shoulder.
The adventurers had started arguing over their broken sword, and I smirked. "Seemed like they weren't worth your time."
Welf crossed his arms. "I didn't need you to intervene."
He didn't seem unhappy about it though.
I shrugged. "Maybe not. But I do need a blacksmith."
That made him pause. His red eyes narrowed slightly. "Yeah? And who are you?"
"Zephyrion. Captain of the Hestia Familia." I announced proudly
He blinked, before scoffing. "Never heard of you."
"Not surprising," I admitted easily. "We're small but strong. But that's not really important, is it?"
He frowned. "What do you want from me?"
I grinned. "I told you already, I need a blacksmith. Someone who can actually make quality weapons, not ones that fall apart after a single swing."
"Yeah, I doubt that. While they may be annoying. Both of them are good smiths. You did something." He concluded.
"I swung the sword, yes." I replied with a nod.
"That's not what I mean-"
"Anyways, as I've said, I bought armour from you before. My lieutenant wears it. I like your style." I responded, cutting him off.
"If this is some ploy to insult me-"
"I'm serious." I interrupted smoothly, watching his reaction. "You made the armor I bought. And it was damn good work."
That caught him off guard. His posture eased, just a fraction. "…You actually think so?"
"I know so," I said. "Which is why I have to ask. What are you wasting your time here?"
His brow furrowed. "What?"
I gestured toward the adventurers. "They don't respect you. They mock your name. They act like you're some charity case. Is that what you want?"
His fingers curled into fists. "…No."
"Then why stay?" I pressed. "You're a smith. You have talent. And yet, you're struggling to get materials because no one here values your work." I leaned in slightly, lowering my voice. "But I do."
Welf swallowed hard, he could see where this was going.
"I need a smith, a good one," I continued, "and you need materials along with a place that won't stop your growth."
His eyes flickered with something unreadable. "You… you want me to join your Familia?"
"Why not?" I said smoothly. "The Hephaestus Familia clearly isn't giving you what you need. You could be doing so much more."
He hesitated. "It's not that simple, I've just met you! This isn't normal."
I rolled my eyes, pulling out one of the ingots I stole from Gringotts. Casually, I tossed it over to him.
He inspected the metal curiously before his eyes widened. "I've never seen this type of metal before but I can tell… it's strong."
"Yeah, it's a special Ore that not even Hephaestus herself has access to." I proudly announced.
"Join me," I said, voice smooth and sure. "I'll make sure you get the respect—and the materials—you deserve."
Welf was silent for a long moment, his fists slowly unclenching.
"This is such a crazy idea." He sighed. "To just switch Familia's due to the words of someone I just met."
His eyes trailed down to the metal with barely restrained excitement.
"I wouldn't say it's that crazy, you aren't getting any by the bare minimum from here. Take a jump, fortune favours the bold."
Another pause. Then, with a slow, almost reluctant smirk, he held out his hand.
"Alright, Zephyrion. You've got yourself a smith."
"Oh? Such a jump in faith. For a rare metal I supposedly don't have." A feminine voice said from behind me.
Welf went slightly pale.
I turned around and met eyes with a busy red-head with an eyepatch on one of her eyes.
She tilted her head in response.
Hestia was next to her. "Zephyrion?"
"Hey, Hestia." I greeted, ignoring the admittedly hot red-head.
She was carrying what I could identify as a knife wrapped in cloth.
"What's that?" I questioned curiously, a weapon for Bell?
She beamed.
"A work of art." The bombshell next to her stated.
She was ignored, her eye twitched minutely.
Hestia unwrapped it.
It was a knife? A golden knife with words inscribed onto its surface.
The knife levitated into my hand, I gripped it and felt a prick of blood get taken. The knife glowed a moment later. I felt a connection form.
This was an ultimate-tier weapon. Made by a god with a domain in blacksmithing. This was honestly above all the swords I had seen during my time with my Devil Family.
Its form shifted. A long, golden shaft was formed, lined with golden engravings.
The head wasn't a simple point but a three-pronged design, the central blade sharp and deadly, while the curved extensions looked razor sharp. Glowing blue words were written along its entire length.
I felt that it had another form, and the spear shifted again. The middle of the pointed blade had already looked like something akin to a sword. That was made more prominent as its hilt elongated
A sword formed, and Welf visibly gawked.
I hope this didn't hurt my negotiations.
"Pretty cool." I nodded.
Though… something was more worrying. Just how much did a weapon of this calibre cost?
Hestia jumped in happiness and wrapped around me in a clingy hug.
"Pretty cool?" Hephaestus muttered in disbelief.
Her eyes narrowed at me.
"Cool?!" She growled.
"Could be improved, but that's just a material thing. I like it." I smiled down at Hestia. She didn't seem to mind my shit-talking. "How much did it cost?"
Hestia froze. "A lot…?"
"How do you intend to pay this?" I questioned.
Don't let yourself go into debt. Let others go into your debt. It was a way of life.
"With my income." She shyly replied.
I sighed, smiling. I doubted I could have gotten the Goddess over there to make me a weapon herself. I was pretty sure she only took rare requests from her friend.
"You are certainly cocky aren't you?" Hephaestus asked, crossing her arms.
I did see her eyes travel to the ingot and widen as she got a closer look.
Hephaestus crossed her arms, her single visible eye locked onto the ingot in Welf's hand. A slow smirk curled at the corner of her lips.
"You know," she mused, "that ingot of yours is quite the rare find. If you let me take a look, I could use it in your favour. maybe even upgrade that fancy weapon I made for you."
I didn't take the bait.
"Who are you again?" I asked, tilting my head slightly.
Silence.
Welf went stiff, his face turning several shades paler as he slowly turned his head toward me, eyes wide with disbelief. Hestia buried her face in her hands.
Hephaestus' eye twitched. "You can't be serious."
I knew what I was doing, but I was still a bit resentful that she kicked Hestia out. Then again, she didn't have to put up with her either. I wasn't being logical about this. I calmed myself down and decided to dial my resentment down.
A Goddess smith was an invaluable connection.
Welf made a strangled noise in his throat, torn between horror and hysterics. "Zephyrion… She's Hephaestus. Goddess of the Forge. The best smith in the world."
Hestia sent me a small frown, she knew what I was doing and why I was doing it. I gave her a comforting squeeze.
I blinked. "Oh." Then, I turned back to Hephaestus and smirked. "It's nice to meet you."
Welf looked like he was about to collapse.
But then, realization dawned in his eyes as he processed my words. He turned to Hephaestus, hesitant yet eager. "Wait… if you really don't have access to this metal, then that means…" He trailed off, looking down at the ingot with barely restrained excitement.
I could see it. The decision was already made.
She sighed. "You're annoyed at me?"
"No." I shook my head.
She decided to move on after a moment of staring at me.
"Well, if you don't want a free upgrade, that's your loss. But," she added smoothly, "you could always use it to pay off a significant chunk of Hestia's debt. I imagine she'd be very grateful."
I turned to Hestia, raising an eyebrow. "Is that what you want?"
Hestia flinched. "No! Absolutely not! I gave you that weapon because I wanted to! Don't you dare use that metal on my behalf!"
"Alright then," I said easily, tucking the ingot back into my coat. "Apologies, Hephaestus, but this is Familia property. Only for Familia members."
She laughed, shaking her head. "You interest me."
Hestia stiffened up for some reason.
"Okay…"
She smiled, before turning and walking away. My eyes briefly dipped towards her wide hips before coming back to look at Hestia.
She gave me an amused look and led me away, back home. With a new smith in toe.
-Scene Break-
I sat down, reading a magical book next to our newly gained Familia member. Welf.
A pull on my demonic power made me pause.
It was time.
Clint had followed my orders to the very letter.
Welf already knew about my trip, he was a bit confused but overall happy. I'd given him a large sum of money and a Familia that didn't treat him like trash. We had even set up a small forge for him. It had only been a day but he seemed happy with his choice.
Let's hope Bell could continue in my stead.
I sent Hestia a look and she frowned.
She pulled me into a needy kiss. "Come back safely, okay?"
"Of course." I replied confidently. "I won't be long."
I made sure to have my new weapon with me, something she noticed with a bright smile.
She nodded, "When things are more safe here, I hope you'll allow me to come with you."
"You need only ask." I whispered into her ear.
With that, I vanished.
-{Ajuka Beelzebub}-
He had found something.
The puzzle that was the missing Zephyrion Gremory had gained its first clue.
He walked into the room and met the eyes of his long-time companion. Her eyes were cold. Just like they had been back in the civil war days.
Ajuka understood. She had always been connected to her family. It was what dragged her out of the deep scarring of killing so many people. That had a toll, no matter how cruel or kind a person was.
He knew how connected she was to both her younger sister and especially her younger brother.
As Rias had grown she had become a bit more distant as tended to happen to most Devil girls.
Zephyrion had always been more inquisitive due to his weakness compared to other children due to the seal placed on him. The late start in magical tutoring hadn't helped either, but with two overprotective Satan's worried for his safety it had been rather hard.
"You've found something?" She questioned, tapping her throne, one of the four around the currently empty conference room slowly.
It was just them, as he had wanted to keep his revelation a secret for now.
"Yes." Ajuka replied coolly.
He had been working on this case with more focus than he normally gave to cases outside his projects. Zephyrion had annoyingly become someone he liked.
A very select few. That was due to the apathetic life path he had taken.
It was… annoying.
"Tell me." She replied with a hint of annoyance.
It was best not to keep a Devil who's primary sin was wrath waiting.
"Multiple searches have been conducted within Zephyrion Gremory's room, the suspected infiltration and kidnapping of Zephyrion has yielded no results. The wards remain intact, unbroken with no small pathways or temporary infiltrations." Ajuka listed. "The flash of light that Serafall saw remains a mystery. That had been the case as we searched through all types of artefacts and teleportation techniques that could have been used."
She listened intently.
"A new type of energy has been found, a rare, almost unheard of energy. Which would explain why the wards didn't stop it from happening. It simply wasn't built to protect against or from." Ajuka explained. "Dimensional energy, an energy mostly found within the dimensions gap. A rare few Pantheons even possess constructs to use this type of energy."
"So what?" She said, her lips morphing into a barely restrained scowl. "Another Pantheon had kidnapped Zephyrion?"
"That… could be the case as loathed as I am to admit it. We have a lot of enemies. Our predecessors have done a good job of making Devils hated around the world." Ajuka replied with a sigh. "Even now, the Evil Pieces are abused and used to unwillingly reincarnate members from other Factions. Despite our attempts. The Devil society has a long way to go."
"Do they plan to use him as blackmail then?" She asked, her eyes containing a worrying amount of rage.
"Well, maybe. It may not even be a Faction, it could be an individual. Worst case is they use him as a way to teach us a lesson." Ajuka stated, his eyes widened slightly as even he felt a bit of anger at that. He really didn't care for Devil society or anyone really.
He only cared about his parents, his fellow Satans who were more of his best friends than anything else and a select few Individuals who had caught his attention over the years.
Ajuka sighed as the room was destroyed in an instant, a barrier forming around the place that would at least contain the copious amounts of demonic energy that would frighten half the underworld into a panic.
She reigned in her anger the next moment and let out a sigh. "So how do we find him?"
"We can start by checking in other dimensions and sending out probes to other Factions. I can't pinpoint where he is based on what I have but I do have a sense for the dimensional energy used. I could find the exit." Ajuka calmly answered.
"Do it, use all the resources you need. Just get him back." She replied softly.
Ajuka nodded, leaving the room.
He was one step closer.
While he didn't think they were responsible, he would start with the Old Satan Faction.
They had been getting too bold as of late anyway.
-END-