Chapter 8 - Craft and Blessing
Dawn came with clear skies and cool air.
Leon woke, performed his morning routine, and climbed the stairs to the kitchen. Today would be different—no diving, just crafting. He'd decided last night that a proper bow was essential before pushing deeper into the Dungeon.
He prepared breakfast carefully. Rice with steamed vegetables, grilled fish, miso soup. Simple, balanced, properly cooked. The smell filled the church as morning light streamed through the stained-glass windows.
Footsteps on the stairs. Hestia appeared, rubbing her eyes sleepily.
"Morning," she mumbled.
"Good morning. Breakfast is ready."
Hestia sat at the table and blinked at the food. "This looks amazing. And nothing is burnt!"
"That's generally the goal when cooking."
"Hey, I tried my best yesterday!" She took a bite and her expression brightened. "Oh wow, this is really good. How do you make everything taste so perfect?"
"Practice. And proper heat control."
They ate together peacefully. Hestia chatted about her evening with the other gods while Leon listened and occasionally responded. The morning routine had become comfortable over the past few days—a small domestic rhythm in the chaos of adventurer life.
"What are you doing today?" Hestia asked. "Another dive?"
"No. I'm crafting a bow."
"Crafting? You can do that?"
"I made my own bows in the village. This will be similar, just with better materials."
Hestia's eyes sparkled. "That's so cool! You can hunt, cook, and craft? Is there anything you can't do?"
"I can't cook breakfast without burning it."
She threw a piece of vegetable at him. "Rude."
Leon caught it and ate it. "I'm going to the Guild first to exchange yesterday's collection. Then I'll buy materials and spend the afternoon working."
"Okay. I have errands to run anyway." Hestia smiled. "Maybe I'll bring home something nice for dinner."
"Please don't cook."
"I said bring home, not cook! I know my limits!" She finished her breakfast and stood. "I'm going to get ready. Thanks for the meal, Leon."
"You're welcome."
---
The Guild was moderately busy when Leon arrived.
He approached the exchange counter and placed his pouch on the surface. "Magic stones from floor four. And these drop items for appraisal."
The clerk emptied the pouch, counted the stones, then examined the drop items—three lizard scales and one claw.
"Thirty-two stones from floor four. That's six thousand four hundred valis." The clerk set the stones aside and picked up the scales. "Dungeon lizard scales, good quality. These go for five hundred each. The claw is worth three hundred." He made calculations. "Total is eight thousand six hundred valis."
Leon nodded. More than expected. The drop items significantly increased his earnings.
The clerk counted out the coins. "You're diving floor four regularly now?"
"Yes."
"How long have you been an adventurer?"
"Five days."
The clerk paused. "Five days and you're already farming floor four?" He studied Leon more carefully. "You're either very skilled or very lucky."
"Probably both."
"Well, don't get overconfident. Floor five is a big jump in difficulty." The clerk pushed the coins across the counter. "Be careful down there."
"I will."
Leon pocketed the coins and left the Guild. Eight thousand six hundred valis. Enough to buy quality materials and still have coin left over.
He headed for the market district.
---
The market was busy with morning shoppers.
Leon navigated through the crowds, looking for specific shops. He needed elderwood—flexible, strong, ideal for bow construction. And he needed proper string—silkbeast fiber if he could afford it.
After asking several merchants, he was directed to an elven shop on the eastern edge of the market. The sign read "Woodworker's Rest" in elegant script.
Inside, the shop was quiet and smelled of sawdust and oil. Shelves lined the walls, holding various types of wood, tools, and materials. An elf with long silver hair stood behind the counter, reading a book.
She looked up when Leon entered. "Good morning. Can I help you?"
"I'm looking for wood suitable for bow crafting. Elderwood if you have it."
The elf's eyebrows rose slightly. "You craft bows yourself?"
"Yes."
"Interesting. Most adventurers just commission them." She set down her book and moved to a shelf. "I have elderwood. Quality varies. What's your budget?"
"I can spend up to four thousand valis on materials."
"That's reasonable." She pulled down several pieces of wood, laying them on the counter. "These are all elderwood, different grades. This one"—she indicated the leftmost piece—"is standard quality. Fifteen hundred valis. This middle one is superior quality, more flexibility, fewer imperfections. Three thousand valis. And this one is premium, but it's forty-five hundred."
Leon examined each piece carefully. The standard quality was acceptable but had visible grain irregularities. The superior quality was smooth, consistent, nearly perfect. The premium was flawless but outside his budget.
"The superior quality," Leon said. "And I need silkbeast string. About two meters."
"Silkbeast string is expensive. Eight hundred valis per meter."
Leon calculated quickly. Three thousand for wood, sixteen hundred for string. Forty-six hundred total, leaving him four thousand for other needs. Acceptable.
"I'll take both."
The elf nodded approvingly. "You know your materials. Are you experienced with bowcraft?"
"I've made hunting bows before. This will be my first with these materials."
"Elderwood is forgiving if you understand the grain. Work slowly, follow the natural curves." She packaged the items carefully. "If you need tools, I have carving knives and files."
"I have basic tools. Thank you."
She handed him the package. "Good luck. I'd be interested to see the finished product if you're willing to show me."
"I'll consider it."
Leon paid and left the shop, materials secure in his pack.
---
Back at the church, Leon cleared space in the main room.
He laid out his materials on a clean cloth—the elderwood, the silkbeast string, his tools. Then he pulled out his hunting knife, a small file he'd purchased days ago, and a piece of cloth for polishing.
Hestia had left for her errands, so he had the space to himself.
Leon studied the wood first. Every piece had a natural curve, a grain pattern that indicated how it wanted to bend. Fighting that natural tendency resulted in weak bows that broke under stress. Working with it created strength.
He began carefully, marking where he would cut, where he would shape. His movements were methodical, precise. Each stroke of the knife removed only what was necessary, following the grain, respecting the wood's nature.
Hours passed. The morning light shifted to afternoon. Leon worked without stopping, completely focused.
The [Enlightened Spirit] skill helped—his enhanced learning capability let him instinctively understand how the elderwood responded to his tools. His muscle memory from years of bowcraft in his previous life guided his hands even though this body was younger.
By early afternoon, the basic shape was complete. Leon had fashioned the wood into a recurve bow—slightly curved at the tips for increased power. The grip was comfortable, the limbs balanced, the overall form smooth and natural.
Now came the string.
Silkbeast fiber was stronger than regular bowstring but also more delicate to work with. Leon attached one end to the lower limb, carefully measured the length, then secured the upper end. The tension had to be perfect—too loose and the bow lost power, too tight and it would snap.
He tested the draw slowly, feeling the resistance. The wood flexed smoothly, the string held without stretching. Good.
Leon made minor adjustments, shaving small amounts here and there, perfecting the balance. Then he applied oil to the wood, working it into the grain, protecting it from moisture and wear.
By late afternoon, the bow was complete.
Leon took it outside to the small courtyard behind the church. He nocked one of his iron arrows, drew the string back, aimed at a mark on the far wall.
Released.
The arrow flew true, striking exactly where he'd aimed. The draw was smooth, the release clean, the power significantly greater than his old hunting bow.
Leon tested it several more times, adjusting his aim for distance and angle. Each shot confirmed what he already knew—this was a proper weapon, crafted correctly, balanced and powerful.
Satisfied, he returned inside and began cleaning up his workspace.
---
Evening arrived with the sound of the church door opening.
"I'm home!" Hestia called. She carried several packages, looking pleased with herself. "I bought ingredients for dinner! Well, ingredients that need minimal cooking. I'm not risking another burnt breakfast situation."
"Good plan."
She set down her packages and noticed the bow leaning against the wall. "Is that what you made?"
"Yes."
Hestia walked over, examining it carefully. "It's beautiful. The wood is so smooth, and the curves are perfect." She looked up at Leon with admiration. "You really made this yourself today?"
"Yes."
"Can I try drawing it?"
"Go ahead."
Hestia picked up the bow, positioned it like she'd seen archers do, and tried to pull the string. It barely moved. She pulled harder, her face reddening with effort. Still nothing.
"How... how strong... is this?" she gasped.
"About sixty pounds of draw weight."
"That's... that's insane!" She set down the bow, breathing hard. "How do you pull that?"
"Practice. And higher Strength stat."
Hestia shook her head in amazement. "You're incredible, Leon. You really are." She smiled warmly. "Okay, let's eat dinner, and then I'll update your status. I want to see how much you've grown!"
They prepared dinner together—simple food that Hestia could help with without burning. Bread, cheese, cold cuts, some fruit. More like lunch than dinner, but it worked.
After eating, Leon lay face-down on his bed while Hestia sat beside him.
"Okay, let's see..." She placed her finger on his back, activating the Falna.
The divine script appeared, glowing softly in the dim room.
Hestia gasped. "Leon, your stats!"
"What about them?"
"They jumped significantly!" She grabbed her status sheet and began writing quickly:
**Leon Fury - Level 1**
**Strength: D-556**
**Endurance: D-641**
**Dexterity: C-673**
**Agility: C-655**
**Magic: I-0**
**Skills:**
**[Enlightened Spirit]**
**[Battle Clarity]**
**[Unwavering Foundation]**
"Look at this growth!" Hestia's eyes sparkled. "Your Strength increased by thirty-two points! Endurance by thirty! And your Dexterity and Agility are solidly in C rank now!"
Leon considered the numbers. The growth made sense. Floor four monsters required more strength and endurance. The bow crafting had exercised his dexterity and fine motor control. His body was adapting to the challenges.
"At this rate, you'll be ready to level up within a month!" Hestia said excitedly. "Your stats are growing so fast!"
"Is that unusual?"
"Very! Most adventurers take months to see growth like this. But you're diving every day, fighting tough monsters, and pushing yourself constantly." She smiled proudly. "You're doing amazing, Leon."
"I'm just following the routine."
"You're too modest." Hestia patted his back. "Come on, get dressed. Let me put this in your record."
Leon pulled on his shirt while Hestia carefully recorded his updated status in her logbook.
"I'm really lucky," she said softly. "Getting you as my first child. You're strong, dedicated, kind, and talented. Any other god would be thrilled to have you."
"But I chose you."
Hestia looked up, eyes shining. "Yeah. You did." She smiled brightly. "Thank you, Leon. For choosing me."
"You're welcome."
They sat together for a moment in comfortable silence.
"I should sleep," Hestia finally said. "Tomorrow I'm meeting Hephaestus again. She wants to hear about how my Familia is doing."
"Tell her it's doing well."
"I will!" Hestia stood and stretched. "Good night, Leon. Thanks for another good day."
"Good night, Hestia."
---
Alone in his basement room, Leon examined his new bow by lamplight.
The crafting had taken most of the day, but it was worth it. This weapon would serve him well on deeper floors. Combined with his improved stats and growing experience, he was ready to push further.
Tomorrow, he'd return to floor four, master it completely, then attempt floor five. The progression was steady, controlled, building a solid foundation for future growth.
Leon thought about Hestia's words. His stats were growing unusually fast. Part of that was his past life's discipline and knowledge. Part was his natural talent in this body. But most of it was simply consistent effort—diving every day, learning from each fight, never becoming complacent.
In his previous life, he'd reached the peak through eight decades of dedication. In this life, with Falna amplifying his growth, how far could he go? What heights existed beyond mortal limits?
The question excited him in a way little else did.
Leon set aside the bow, performed his evening meditation, and prepared for sleep.
Tomorrow would bring new challenges. He would meet them with discipline, skill, and the weapon he'd crafted with his own hands.
The journey continued, one step at a time, building toward something greater.