"Relax."
"Follow me."
"I guarantee you'll be satisfied."
The corners of Haimer's mouth rose, revealing a confident smile.
He tilted his head towards Hephaestus, signaling her to keep up.
Hephaestus watched Haimer's actions and raised an eyebrow.
"I hope you aren't just talking big."
Although she didn't know what kind of medicine this guy was selling in his gourd...
Seeing Haimer turn and walk towards one end of the corridor, Hephaestus still moved her long legs and followed him.
As a result.
After walking two steps.
They discovered the corner was a dead end.
"..."
Thus.
Out of helplessness, Hephaestus led Haimer through the complex and winding corridors of the Hephaestus Familia headquarters.
Along the way, no one dared to come up and disturb them.
Because the direction they were heading was precisely the forbidden ground of the entire [Hephaestus Familia].
——Hephaestus's private forging workshop.
Normally, aside from herself and Tsubaki, no one was allowed to enter.
"Click."
As a heavy door made of red copper was pushed open, a wave of heat even more scorching than the outside rushed over them.
A massive furnace stood silently, the dark red firelight pulsing within the chamber like breathing.
On the surrounding shelves, various rare ores and materials that were hard to find in the outside world were casually displayed.
"So, what did you want me to bring you here for?"
Hephaestus leaned against the doorframe, her arms crossed over her chest, signaling for Haimer to do as he pleased.
...
Haimer didn't beat around the bush either.
He walked straight to the shelves storing the top-tier materials.
His fingers swiped across those ores one by one.
Mithril, Adamantite, Orichalcum...
Every time Haimer's finger paused and he picked up a piece of ore, Hephaestus's gaze would slightly condense.
Because without exception, the ones he picked out were the pieces with the most perfect quality and the fewest impurities among their kind.
In less than a moment.
Haimer already had several pieces of ore emitting various halos of light in his hands.
He weighed them in his hand, turned around, and looked at Hephaestus, who had remained silent.
"These should be enough."
Hephaestus looked at the things in his hand, then looked at the furnace beside him.
Even the dullest person would have realized it by now.
Let alone her.
"You want to forge?"
Hephaestus straightened her body and raised an eyebrow.
"That's right."
Holding the ores, Haimer walked to the forging table and casually picked up a forging hammer to test its feel.
"After all..."
"In a certain sense, I also count as a God of Forging."
"Although my titles include miscellaneous items like War and Strife, when it comes down to it, weapons are the carriers of everything."
"If one doesn't understand the birth of weapons, how can one speak of dominating all strife?"
"Moreover, every God who understands forging has their own unique techniques."
"Mine is no exception."
"Your Familia doesn't lack weapons."
"If I want to pay the bill for tonight's big meal and those guest rooms..."
"As well as exchange for future equipment support for those children of my Familia."
"I think I still have to bring out something more substantial."
Speaking of this.
Haimer raised his head, looking directly into Hephaestus's exposed single eye.
"For example..."
"A weapon forged by another God."
"I will pay the price of infusing my hair, Divine Blood, and the [Hieroglyphs] that only I can inscribe."
"To forge for you..."
"A one-in-a-million Divine Weapon that can unleash specs-breaking power even without needing my God's Grace."
As soon as these words came out.
Hephaestus's breathing clearly stagnated for an instant.
Because she looked at Haimer.
Looking at this male God standing before the forging table with clear and confident eyes.
She was moved.
Yes.
As a Forging God who pursued the ultimate craft, nothing could move her more than "unknown Divine Techniques" and a "never-before-seen Divine Weapon."
What's more.
This was coming from the hands of this guy.
Although his reputation wasn't prominent in Orario.
In the circle of the Gods in the Heavens, who didn't know the weight of this guy?
After all, this guy wasn't exactly some well-behaved good God back in the Heavens.
A God who could be rated by the other Gods as a Scourge of War was no oil-saving lamp.
If it was a weapon personally forged by him and infused with fragments of his own divinity...
It would absolutely be a peerless treasure that would make countless God Familias go crazy for, even to the point of waging war.
Countless Gods would be willing to bankrupt themselves to collect such a work.
Thinking of this.
Hephaestus couldn't help but lower the arms she had crossed over her chest.
"It sounds..."
"Like a transaction that is indeed impossible to refuse."
"However."
Hephaestus changed the subject, sizing Haimer up with some suspicion.
"Although you might indeed understand forging in the Heavens."
"But..."
"Since you descended to the Lower World, inside this body restricted by the rules."
"Have you personally held a hammer?"
"Without using Divine Power to cheat, are you sure you can complete a forging session?"
Facing this interrogation that struck straight at the soul.
Haimer simply acted righteously self-assured.
"Definitely not."
"Didn't I just come down not long ago?"
"No money, no resources."
"I can't even eat my fill, where would I have spare money to buy a furnace and materials?"
Hephaestus: "..."
The corner of her mouth twitched. She was just about to retort, "Then you still dare to boast shamelessly."
As a result.
Haimer immediately handed the forging hammer in his hand to her in an extremely natural manner.
"But."
"Aren't you here?"
"This kind of supervision phase, for you, the number one Forging Artisan God of the Heavens..."
"Shouldn't be a problem, right?"
"Sigh..."
After hearing this, Hephaestus finally understood. She couldn't help but sigh helplessly, taking the forging hammer with the flow, weighing it twice, and re-evaluating the other party with that single eye.
"Haimer."
"I really don't know if that crazy streak from when you were in the Heavens hasn't passed yet, or if you've become even crazier after descending."
"You actually want to use my materials and my furnace here, and finally have me act as an assistant to forge a weapon to pay off my debt?"
"To think you could come up with such an operation of getting something for nothing."
"Even the most notorious profiteers in Orario don't do business like you."
"However."
"Since you've said this much, and even brought out such a gimmick."
"I am actually a little tempted."
As the God standing at the pinnacle of forging in this city.
Hephaestus couldn't hold back her curiosity regarding Haimer's skills at all.
Thus.
While speaking, Hephaestus walked to the side of the furnace.
And personally pulled the bellows.
"Whoosh——"
The dark red furnace fire rose instantly, heat waves rolling.
It illuminated her heroic face, making it flicker between light and dark.
...
Waiting for the heat waves of the furnace fire to rise.
Hephaestus turned around and casually threw the few pieces of top-quality ore in Haimer's hand into the furnace fire.
"Alright, you can't go back on your word now."
"I'll say the ugly words first."
"Although I am willing to lend you these things."
"When it comes to forging, I am not that easy to talk to."
"If you can't handle my scolding, you'd best wash up and go to sleep."
"Even..."
"You'll have to compensate me for the cost of these top-tier materials at full price."
With that said.
Hephaestus walked to the side, pulled over a chair to sit down, and crossed her legs, assuming the posture of an overseer.
"Relax."
"If I really mess it up."
"You won't need to say it."
"I'll package myself up and send myself to your Captain, Tsubaki, to work as coolie labor."
"In that case, begin."
After hearing this, Hephaestus threw the forging hammer back to Haimer.
...
With this.
Haimer walked to the forging table.
No extra nonsense.
His hand reached directly into the high-temperature furnace flames that were hot enough to melt steel instantly.
Under the gaze of Hephaestus's slightly contracting pupils.
He grabbed those rough ores that had already begun to soften and emit blinding light directly out.
And placed them on the anvil.
"Clang——!"
The first hammer blow fell.
Crisp, steady.
Sparks flew in all directions.
...
Time.
Passed amidst this sound of striking.
From deep night until dawn.
When the first ray of morning light spilled into the Hephaestus Familia workshop through the vent, dispelling the heat of the night.
"Hiss——"
As the white smoke of the final quenching rose.
A longsword, its entire body presenting a dark golden luster, appeared on Hephaestus's forging table.
Its blade was slender, and upon it were lines of complex patterns as fine as gossamer.
——These were precisely the Hieroglyphs Haimer had inscribed using his own "Divine Blood".
"It's done."
"Is it enough?"
Haimer put down the forging hammer in his hand.
"Enough!"
Actually, there was no need for him to say more.
As early as the instant the sword took shape, Hephaestus could no longer conceal her fondness. She walked up and snatched the sword directly.
"This sword belongs to me."
"As for the equipment issue for those children of yours..."
"Except for those few shop treasures I have hanging on the display wall which aren't suitable for your children anyway."
"Any other weapons are free for your children to choose."
"I will instruct Tsubaki to coordinate with you."
Hephaestus spoke with heroic generosity.
____
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