--------
--------
"You always read such weird gossip... Dan is just Dan!"Astraea puffed up her cheeks and insisted.
"Hehehe, the Lower World really is full of interesting surprises~"Hephaestus chuckled playfully."Even someone as pure as you ended up taking in a boy... I bet a bunch of gods are crying their eyes out right now!"
Hephaestus had clearly taken the upper hand and was now teasing Astraea in return.
Astraea tossed her chestnut-colored hair.
"Ugh... I don't care what those idiots think. Are you gonna take the commission or not, Hephaestus?!"
"Well, if it were anyone else, I might turn them down... but if it's a request from Justice, then I could never refuse~"
Astraea smiled with her eyes, clearly delighted, while Hephaestus raised a finger as a reminder.
"But it's gonna cost you. I might be willing to waive the crafting fee out of friendship, but if you want top-tier weapons, you're still gonna need premium forging materials."
She had heard a little about Astraea Familia's financial situation, so she gave the warning up front.
"The kids are already doing their best in the dungeon... but honestly, it probably won't be enough."
Astraea showed her resolve, clenching her little fists and giving a small swing.
"But it's okay! I'm ready to go get a part-time job too!"
Hephaestus widened her eyes in shock. After seeing how serious Astraea looked, she couldn't help asking in disbelief:
"You let a boy join a Familia that used to only take in girls, and now you're going out of your way to get him a custom weapon? What kind of magic does this kid have to make you treat him so special?"
"I love all my kids equally... but Dan is... a little different."
"Oh? Care to explain?"
Astraea gave her a sly wink and made a little hand gesture.
"If you promise to keep it a secret, and maybe cut the cost just a little bit... I might tell you~"
"....."
Hephaestus rolled her eyes at the grinning, fox-like goddess of Justice and muttered irritably,"So this is where you were going with all this..."
"Well? What's your answer?"
"Hmph. Do you really not understand what kind of beings we gods are? But fine—if your explanation doesn't satisfy me, don't think I'll let you off easy!"
Then Astraea chuckled quietly before revealing Dan's secret: That he couldn't receive a blessing or engrave a falna at all.
Since they were asking a godly blacksmith to make a custom weapon just for Dan, there was no way they could keep that detail hidden. It was better to come clean now and try to gain more support for him.
Besides, Hephaestus was someone Astraea could trust.
Bringing her into the fold would give Dan even more protection.
Gods love their children in all sorts of ways—some twisted, some indulgent—but most have at least some sense of possessiveness toward them.
Astraea was no different.
Even though she couldn't bind Dan to her through divine blood, she already saw him as part of her family.
But... Dan's uniqueness made it impossible to just keep this rare gem all to herself.
After some brief hesitation and inner conflict, the goddess of purity and justice reluctantly let go of her selfishness and chose to share this treasure with a trusted god who could truly help Dan.
If there's anyone who could make a goddess like Astraea suppress her own desires, it had to be Dan.
After hearing the whole story, Hephaestus's eyes lit up with an uncontrollable mix of excitement and curiosity.
"Hehehe... someone who can't receive a blessing to awaken their potential... so that kind of existence really does exist! No wonder you're taking this so seriously!"
"Hey, Astraea—please, let me meet that boy!"
"I want to observe him myself and create a fully custom set of gear just for him!"
Hephaestus started pacing back and forth in the room, her left eye gleaming with anticipation.
"No divine spark, no falna, and yet he's pulling off feats on par with heroes... how the hell does he do it? I'm insanely curious now!"
"....."