"Getting straight to the point, he wanted her to do something for him."
Scylla frowned, staring directly at him. "Mr. Dantalian, I know you're an important person, but I still have many requests to fulfill."
'Liar...' Maintaining a serious expression, he reached into the bag he held with his other hand.
Scylla was a woman who maintained the facade of a good person, but deep down, she was a pervert who hated being beneath others. That was the main reason why she worked in an ordinary blacksmith shop in this town instead of in the capital. She was afraid of encountering someone superior, and that's why she didn't like him, as he was technically superior to her in wealth and influence.
As he pulled out one of the volumes of the bestiary from his bag, Scylla's expression of disgust vanished.
"I can't believe it, is it a genuine copy, Mr. Dantalian?"
Scylla was a pervert. A true pervert who enjoyed monsters, or rather, enjoyed studying them. Each new type she encountered, she killed and then studied.
"Yes, all of them, including volume ten."
Volume ten, unlike the other nine volumes, had been distributed only once, with few copies, less than a hundred. The only intact copy of volume ten was at the protagonist's guild, and one could say it was a clear case of plot convenience.
"So, am I still unable to be served?"
Scylla crossed her arms and tilted her head to the left, with a confused look.
"Do I have some work? I don't remember."
"Damn, I guess I'm hearing things then."
"Dear customer, the journey must have been hard. Would you accept a massage? While we discuss your request?"
Scylla was an opportunist, acting like a loyal servant as long as he could give her what she wanted. It was expensive to keep her by his side, but he knew how to deal with her.
After all, in the game, it was a mandatory quest to obtain the hero's sword. An exclusive weapon for the protagonist made from various rare minerals, but it was actually junk considering the abilities of the Divine Hand.
Scylla stood behind him, staring at the book in his hand while massaging his shoulders.
"Let's do this, once we've decided all the details of my request, I'll give you volume one."
Scylla smiled and continued the massage.
"So, tell me what is your request? A weapon? Or armor?"
Scylla pondered for a few seconds.
"I can make anything for you as long as it's related to the art of blacksmithing."
"I already know that, after all, that's why I sought you out."
"Hoho, really? Is my name that well-known? Even with just a dagger I made?"
'This dagger you made is going to give me a lot of trouble...' he thought, recalling a livestream where it took him an hour just to pass the first stage of the Boss.
Turning his head up and looking directly into her eyes, he spoke:
"Not exactly, it's just that I can tell your ability is out of this world."
Scylla's silver eyes darkened for a few seconds. The reason was her passive ability, which allowed her to see what she called the 'heart' of people, that is, to know if what they said was true or not.
"Like, for example, I know the truth about you."
Scylla stopped the massage and squeezed his shoulder tightly.
"Interesting, but so far we're just talking nonsense. Could you tell me what you want?"
"It's simple, I want you to use this material to make a stinger for me."
He opened the bag and took out the flaw, placing it on the table. At that moment, Scylla's eyes gleamed.
"You truly are a man full of surprises. First the bestiary, now one of the legendary flaws."
Scylla stopped the massage and took the flaw, examining it from every angle, inspecting every piece of it. Having seen one hundred percent of the flaw from the outside, she gave a smile that stretched from ear to ear.
"It would be a waste to make just a stinger with such a special material. I will make the perfect weapon for your hand..."
Scylla took his hand and examined it, wearing a confused expression.
"My hand is too clean for a warrior?"
Scylla became slightly annoyed by the comment, after all, she was practically an open book to him, which made her want to kill him and use him as bait for monsters.
"Yes... Can you read minds, by any chance?"
"Of course, if you're referring to mine, I can."
"You really are a funny guy."
"Scylla, I have something to ask you."
Scylla turned her back and began to distance herself.
"If you know everything, why do you need to ask me something?"
Scylla stopped and turned to face him, holding the flaw in one hand.
"From now on, I'll be busy, so I can't have distractions."
"No problem, I'll save volume one for you."
Scylla gestured with her other hand, indicating the number four.
"I'll need at least four of them if you want the masterpiece I'm going to create."
He stood up, activated the Divine Hand, and appeared in front of Scylla, who was just a few meters from the door leading to the central forge room.
He placed his hand alongside hers, their fingers interlocking, and with a smile on his face, he spoke:
"Four? Why would I give so little for a weapon made by a goddess?"
The compliment boosted Scylla's ego.
"You'll see a weapon so good that it will make you give me all your possessions."