Chapter 22 - Tsubaki Collbrande
Bell and Hestia stayed with the Hephaestus Familia for three consecutive days.
Bell chose a sword. Compared to knives and other weapons, he thought a sword would be better.
So, a legendary sword was about to be born.
Bell handled all the tasks that didn't require special skills during those three days, like pumping the bellows and keeping the furnace hot.
Of course, such chores weren't suitable for Hestia, who was good for nothing. So only Bell and Hephaestus were busy during those days.
Throughout the entire forging process, Hephaestus had to stay awake to monitor the weapon and not miss the best times to work on it.
Meanwhile, Bell couldn't sleep because he needed to keep the furnace for Hephaestus.
After three sleepless days, Bell, with his ordinary human stamina, had dark circles under his eyes.
He kept fighting the urge to sleep, almost giving in on the first day.
But knowing Hephaestus was forging a weapon for him, Bell forced himself to stay awake.
After three days of hard work, Hephaestus finally finished forging the sword, but it was only half-done.
"Phew..."
Even Hephaestus hadn't forged such a weapon by herself in a long time. But it wasn't just a weapon—it was like another form of life.
Hephaestus had never done this before; it was different from her usual definition of a weapon.
"It's finished."
After exhaling slowly, Hephaestus was satisfied with the result.
The sword, combined with Hestia's bodily fluids, was ready. All that was left was for Hestia to complete the final step.
Hephaestus glanced at the wobbling Bell.
"His perseverance is really something. He managed to keep up with me for three days. It's a shame he's with Hestia."
Even Hephaestus felt this way.
Bell took care of Hestia's moods, respected her, and worried if her requests were too much.
Hephaestus saw Bell's attitude and clear mind, even in their brief interactions.
As long as someone like Freya didn't interfere, Bell would be genuinely loyal to Hestia.
Hestia, who had been waiting, heard "finished" and hurried over.
"Is it done?"
"Last step."
Hephaestus picked up the sword. It didn't look impressive, just like an ordinary sword.
But its true nature was completely different. Now, this seemingly plain sword needed Hestia's divine blood to fully awaken.
"This is a sword that grows with its wielder, but it needs a special method to awaken."
"Hestia, use your blood to complete the final step."
Hestia pricked her finger with a silver needle, letting her blood drip along the blade. The sacred words of the Hestia Familia appeared on the blade.
Though nothing seemed to change, the sword was activated.
The sacred words on the blade glowed bright blue before disappearing, leaving the sword looking ordinary again, like nothing special had happened.
"It's complete. But Hestia, don't ask me to make a weapon like this again."
"I don't plan to forge a second one."
Hephaestus was satisfied with the sword but had made it according to Hestia's request. It was perfect for beginners and perfectly balanced.
The sharpness of this sword was unique, meeting all of Hestia's demands. Hestia carefully touched the sword. It was the best weapon Bell could ever hold.
The weapon was complete; next was to link the sword with its wielder.
The power of this sword would match the strength of whoever held it.
"This sword is perfect for Bell. His growth rate is incredible, and regular weapons can't keep up. This sword can grow with him, making it the perfect weapon."
It was surprising that such a weapon could be created. A weapon that even beginner adventurers could use, and one that grew with the user. It was one-of-a-kind in Orario, unless Hephaestus decided to make another one, which was unlikely.
Excitedly, Hestia almost wanted to jump up and celebrate.
She wanted to share this joy with Bell.
"Bell..."
But when she turned, Hestia noticed that Bell had stopped moving beside the bellows.
Exhaustion was written all over his face, his eyes bloodshot, and though his eyes were open, his mind had drifted away.
Hephaestus also noticed. Her eyes moved to the unconscious Bell.
"Bell has worked hard these past three days, and as a new adventurer who's only been in Orario for five days, this has pushed his body past its limits."
"Let him rest. Hestia, you need to take care of yourself too. You haven't rested for two days."
Hestia focused on Bell and shook her head.
Being a goddess, going without rest for a few days didn't affect her much, but it was a whole different story for Bell. Hestia gently approached Bell.
"He fell asleep standing up. He should've said he was tired. Pushing himself like this isn't good for his health."
Despite her words, Hestia's eyes were full of tenderness.
***
When Bell woke up, he saw an unfamiliar ceiling.
"This isn't the abandoned church."
He immediately realized he wasn't in the church. He remembered forging the weapon at Hephaestus's place, but he couldn't recall if the sword had been completed; he must have fainted before it was finished.
"I haven't slept for several days. No wonder I passed out. With my previous physique, it would have been a miracle if I woke up at all."
Bell sat up and looked around. There was a window beside the bed, and the sky outside was already dark. He didn't know how long he had slept, as he had no idea when he had fallen asleep.
Listening carefully, the sound of metal striking metal reached his ears, confirming his location.
"I'm still at Hephaestus's store."
His head still hurt, likely from the side effects of sleeplessness. His body was strong, but the toll of three sleepless nights had been severe. Pulling off the quilt, Bell sat up straight. Now wasn't the time to sleep.
Just as he opened the door, he heard footsteps outside. The footsteps were heavy, indicating that the person was likely substantial in build. The wooden stairs amplified the sound, making Bell slow down and stop.
He wasn't too worried, though, because this was Hephaestus's place. He was confident the person outside wasn't a threat. Bell didn't think anyone would dare act recklessly on Hephaestus's territory, so he quickly opened the door.
Standing outside was a tall girl with tan skin and a blindfold over her left eye. If it wasn't just for show, then the eye was probably blind. Despite this, the girl's presence was undeniable.
Facing her directly, he felt an overwhelming aura. It was subtle but unmistakable—a reminder of the vast gap between himself and the person before him.
'Level 5? Although she's not a combatant but a smith under Hephaestus, her aura is still terrifying.'
Tsubaki noticed Bell's reaction. He clearly sensed the difference between them. She found it curious, as she usually hid her aura well. What could this boy feel?
Despite being a smith, Tsubaki was confident in her ability to conceal her presence. However, she wasn't too curious; adventurers often had unique talents, and he might possess exceptional perception abilities. She had come to check on him on Hephaestus's orders and relay some information.
"You're awake. Good. I can now pass on Hephaestus-sama's message."
"Hestia-sama is resting with Hephaestus-sama. If you want to see her, you'll have to wait until tomorrow."
"Excuse me, but when did I fall asleep?"
"Oh, that was this morning. I brought you here."
Bell nodded slightly, realizing he had likely slept the entire day. He thought he should avoid deep dungeon dives in the future unless he could reach the 18th floor in a single day.
The exhaustion he felt taught him a harsh lesson.
"Thank you. By the way, who are you?"
"I'm Tsubaki Collbrande. Just call me Tsubaki."
From their conversation, Bell sensed Tsubaki's straightforward nature. She seemed like the type who was easy to get along with, probably a big sis figure. Bell didn't mind this kind of character.
After a brief introduction, Tsubaki handed Bell a prepared contract. She had been surprised when preparing it—not because of the debt, but because it described the weapon forged by Hephaestus.
This was the first time in years Hephaestus had forged a weapon for an individual.
Though Tsubaki didn't know what kind of weapon it was, it was undoubtedly first-class. The weapon was meant for the boy before her, Hestia's first child. However, first-class weapons had high requirements for their users. No rookie adventurer could typically handle such a weapon.
Yet, since Hephaestus specially made this weapon, it was free from such restrictions. Still, it seemed extravagant for a Level 1 adventurer to wield this.
"This is the contract. It details the cost of the weapon and the debt terms."
Bell took the contract and glanced at it briefly, confirming the amount. He wasn't too surprised, but he noted that the agreement didn't specify interest or a repayment date, showing Hephaestus's generosity.
"You're not surprised by the 200 million debt?"
"It's not that I'm not surprised, but I'm amazed the cost is so low."
A weapon created by Hephaestus herself is undoubtedly one of Orario's strongest. If not for Hephaestus's generosity, the price could easily be 2 billion valis.
Tsubaki's interest was piqued. The weapon forged by Hephaestus must indeed be extraordinary. She would love to see what kind of weapon Hephaestus had crafted if given a chance.
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Doing some of the character building. And I've decided with the first heroic spirit template.(Sasaki Kojirō)
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(IMG of Tsubaki)
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(If you loved reading this then I for every 500 Power Stones received would grace you with 1 extra chapter.)