"This issue is not some kind of secret. The entire Familia is currently producing equipment and magic swords at full capacity. Anyone can tell that something big is happening."
"And then, I heard… the enemy this time is those villains who are trying to destroy the entire city," Welf's voice sounded a little heavy.
The goddess Hephaestus also solemnly nodded, "That's right."
Welf was silent for a moment, seemingly thinking, and then he spoke, "I'm willing to contribute my strength."
Welf, whose level was only Lv.1, said these seemingly overambitious words, yet Hephaestus and Emiya both grew serious.
"You mean…"
"I-if it's for the safety of the city, I'm willing to create Crozzo Magic Swords."
"Welf, I'm very curious."
Emiya opened his mouth and asked: "Why have you always resisted making Crozzo Magic Swords?"
Crozzo Magic Swords' power far surpassed that of magic swords made by ordinary high-level smiths. Among all the smiths in the city, only Emiya and Tsubaki could create swords stronger than Welf's.
Despite possessing such a divinely gifted talent, he refused to use it. Welf's actions were something most of Hephaestus Familia couldn't understand.
Welf slightly lowered his head, silent for a moment, as if recalling some past event.
"I don't want to forge weapons that will leave their wielder," He said softly.
As a descendant of the noble forging family Crozzo, and currently the only person with the ability to forge Spirit Magic Swords, Welf was once greatly anticipated by the kingdom of Rakia.
In the kingdom, everyone hoped he would inherit the family's tradition and continue crafting those powerful Crozzo Magic Swords.
But Welf resisted this expectation from the depths of his heart. He didn't want to serve the kingdom. He didn't want to see the weapons made by his hands used as disposable tools, constantly expended on meaningless battlefields.
To escape this heavy shackle, Welf decisively left the kingdom.
And in Hephaestus Familia, Welf's actions also made some fellow smiths hostile toward him. Because in their eyes, Welf possessed such an extraordinary forging talent, yet refused to use it. It was truly ungrateful.
"I really don't like that kind of magic sword… Those weapons that are destined to break… That's not what I want to forge," Welf clenched his fists, "I hope to create truly indestructible weapons, ones that won't easily break no matter how many battles they endure, no matter how many storms they go through. Not those magic swords that shatter after just a few uses."
Emiya nodded, "I understand now, Welf."
Welf unclenched his fist and gave a wry smile, "My thoughts… do they sound weird, especially to someone like you?"
He lowered his head, his eyes revealing complex emotions.
Emiya didn't reject making magic swords. He had also forged some weapons that lacked durability and were prone to breaking.
Moreover, in Welf's view, Emiya's Projection Magic, at its core, was also about repeatedly creating weapons that would disappear in battle, essentially no different from the disposable Crozzo Magic Swords.
From a smith's point of view, Emiya's philosophy seemed completely opposed to Welf's insistence.
Emiya thought for a while, then frankly said, "To be honest, I really don't quite understand your thinking."
In his eyes, weapons were made to be used. Whether it was a magic sword or holy sword, as long as it could slay the enemy before breaking, it had value.
When on the battlefield, even the one wielding the sword must be prepared to lose their life, let alone the sword itself.
However, Emiya's tone contained no criticism at all, rather, sincere respect, "But I respect your choice and persistence. And now, that you're willing to forge magic swords to protect the city, I'm deeply grateful."
Welf's expression wavered slightly. Hearing Emiya's recognition, he subconsciously clutched the corner of his shirt.
Strangely enough, even though he and Emiya held completely opposite forging ideals, hearing affirmation from the city's strongest blacksmith still filled his heart with excitement.
Looking at Welf's slightly shy expression, Emiya smiled and said, "If we have Crozzo Magic Swords, our odds of winning will increase… Welf, I'll be counting on you."
Welf nodded seriously: "Yes!"
"…Welf, you still can't accept everyone's philosophy, can you?", The goddess Hephaestus slowly spoke, asking.
Welf decisively shook his head.
Currently, the smiths in the goddess of fire's Familia were generally influenced by Emiya, tending toward crafting blade-type weapons. Also, many were researching techniques that sacrificed durability to enhance sharpness.
[Adventurers need sturdy, durable main weapons, and also god-tier blades that can reverse the tide at critical moments], this was the advertising slogan in the Familia's weapon shop.
But Welf couldn't accept such a philosophy.
Hephaestus could clearly sense that Welf still resisted forging Crozzo Magic Swords. It was just that now, his yearning for justice and peace outweighed his emotional inclinations.
"I understand," The goddess sighed softly, "As compensation for breaking your principles this time, starting today, you'll receive special treatment as a [High-Class Smith] in the Familia."
"And in the future, if you find a more suitable home and make a firm decision, I'll permit you to leave Hephaestus Familia."
"My only condition is that your transfer cannot be to an enemy of the Hephaestus Familia, or to an immoral faction."
Welf froze for a long time, then finally nodded lightly, "Understood."
That evening, in the bustling [Hostess of Fertility] tavern, Emiya, after a long time, saw the two elves of Dionysus Familia, Filvis and Aura.
"Filvis, Aura, it's been a while," Emiya smiled and greeted them.
A joyful smile appeared on Aura's face. She stepped forward and spoke with determination in her voice, "Lord Emiya, I've already heard about the upcoming plan. I'll also join the operation to assault the dungeon entrance. Please let me fight alongside you."
However, Filvis expressed completely opposite emotions. Her eyes were filled with worry and unease. She cautiously looked at Emiya and said in a low voice, "Shirou… that place feels really dangerous. I truly don't think you should go… could you-could you not participate in this operation?"
Emiya looked at the two elf girls in slight surprise. One had firm eyes and clear intent, Aura. The other had a nervous expression, not wanting him to be in danger, Filvis.
Aura glanced disapprovingly at Filvis and said calmly, "Captain Filvis, as adventurers, our mission is to eliminate monsters and evil forces that threaten the city. Now is the time Lord Emiya needs us most, we cannot retreat."
At this point, Aura seemed to no longer hate Filvis, but she certainly didn't like her either. The relationship between the two remained awkward and discordant.
There was always a subtle sense of estrangement in the air between them.
Especially since Aura somewhat suspected that this [White Witch] might harbor certain improper feelings toward Lord Emiya.
Filvis seemed to sense Aura's discontent. She lowered her head, avoiding Aura's scrutinizing gaze. Her hands tightly clutched the hem of her clothes, looking rather helpless.
Emiya stared at them, seemingly deep in thought. After a moment of silence, he finally spoke, "Filvis, Aura, let's move together when the time comes."
Filvis's shoulders suddenly trembled. She raised her head and blurted out, "No!"
Aura frowned, her voice clearly displeased, "Why? This is Lord Emiya's command. Are you trying to defy his orders?"
Filvis panicked at her rebuke. Her voice was full of pain and struggle, "If I go with you… nothing good will happen…"
However, this time, Emiya's attitude was firmer than ever, utterly non-negotiable, "Filvis, I understand your worries and thoughts, but this operation is extremely dangerous. If you truly want to join, you must follow me. That's an order."
His voice was resolute, with no hesitation, "Otherwise, I'll directly request Finn to ban you from participating in this operation."
Emiya's words sent a heavy shock through Filvis's heart. She looked at the boy in front of her, her spirit wavering.
The core of their allied Familia was Emiya and Loki Familia. The Hermes Familia, Apollo Familia, and Dionysus Familia were merely supporters.
Emiya's attitude was firm. He seemed absolutely determined to have Filvis go with him.
"…I understand,".Filvis lowered her head and softly spoke.
Standing to the side, Aura saw this scene, a smile appearing at the corner of her lips. Her hands gently rested on Filvis's shoulders, and she softly said, "That's right, just obediently listen to Lord Emiya, Filvis."
———
Five days later, the adventurers once again arrived at the depths of Orario's underground sewer system, before that adamantine gate.
The metal door remained as it was. The gash made by Emiya's axe last time was clearly visible. Aside from that, there were no changes.
During this time, Finn had specially stationed someone to guard this area, maintaining close surveillance, but no one entered or exited.
Loki Familia's adventurers assembled here. The second-tier adventurers led by Raul brought specially prepared equipment.
This door was certainly made from the hardest metal, [Adamantite], and was nearly indestructible.
However, the fact that the enemy used the hardest metal didn't matter. Hephaestus Familia also stored a large quantity of [Adamantite] and was skilled at using it to craft gear.
The second-tier adventurers used drilling equipment jointly crafted by Emiya, Tsubaki, and other smiths.
These tools were made from the hardest metal, [Adamantite], and the materials dropped by the deep-layer monster [Black Rhino] on floor 51, its Black Rhino Horn.
The drills slowly and steadily pressed and bore into the door, producing dull grinding sounds as they gradually eroded the sturdy gate.
"This huge chunk of Adamantite… if we used it for forging, how many top-tier weapons could we make…?", Looking at the metal gate, someone couldn't help but sigh.
His words made several adventurers nearby secretly nod. This was top-tier metal, precious material countless smiths dreamed of.
But they didn't have time to sigh for long, because with a heavy breaking sound, the door finally collapsed under the pressure, letting out a deafening crash.
Ais and the others widened their eyes and looked past the fallen gate, into a dim, spreading passage.
Magic stone lamps glowing with blue phosphorescence stretched along the corridor. Their ghostly glow flickered through the air like eerie will-o'-the-wisps, enshrouding the entire tunnel in an ominous atmosphere.
"Shirou…", Riveria called softly.
Emiya's gaze was fixed on the depths of the corridor, "Yeah, I saw it."
He slightly turned his head and murmured, "A masked figure… probably the one Wiene mentioned."
The moment the gate fully collapsed, Emiya's sharp eyes caught a shadow quickly retreating into the darkness.
That person wore a blue-purple hooded robe and a mask covered in strange patterns.
Her blurry silhouette flashed and vanished into the thick darkness.
This mysterious masked person was likely the one who had previously hunted Wiene.
As they whispered among themselves, Finn calmly gave orders, "Bete, Cruz, you two scout ahead, but don't go too far. Come back quickly."
He ordered the first-tier adventurer Bete and the second army's Cruz to act as scouts. Bete was a Lv.5 werewolf, and Cruz was a Lv.4 Chienthrope. Usually quiet, he was a well-trained, calm adventurer.
Bete and Cruz said nothing. They nodded and immediately entered the dim tunnel, their figures quickly swallowed by the blue glow.
———
A few minutes later, the two returned.
"No signs of people or monsters near the inner entrance."
Cruz reported steadily, "But going a bit further, the path becomes convoluted and branching. It's like a maze… No, it's just like a dungeon."
The group exchanged glances after hearing the report, imagining what the passage's interior might look like, it was like a fortress defended by soldiers.
"Like a dungeon…", Finn muttered, repeating the words with a furrowed brow, deep in thought.
Raul couldn't help but wonder, "Could this be part of the dungeon? But… it doesn't look like a floor from the upper levels."
Emiya shook his head, "It shouldn't be."
After speaking, he entered the corridor, projected a battle axe in his hand, and suddenly swung it at the tunnel wall.
With the massive noise of the axe impact, stone chips flew. The sudden action startled Lefiya and Line, who flinched.
"This is… could it be [Adamantite]?"
Seeing the hard metal beneath the stone slab, Tiona exclaimed in surprise.
"The outer surface is covered with stone slabs, but the entire corridor may be built from this rare metal."
Emiya looked at the exposed section of the wall and said.
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