Roland stopped in his tracks and slowly looked back, scanning the area behind him with a wary gaze. He let out a sigh of relief.
It looks like that troublesome Goddess didn't follow me. Honestly, even with her own Familia guarding her, couldn't she just let him handle it? Pretending she couldn't react in time just to lure me into acting... either that, or she had absolute faith her guardian would intercept the bottle at the last microsecond.
Roland grumbled internally about the encounter as he walked down North-East Main Street, heading toward the heart of the second industrial district. After about fifteen minutes, he reached his destination.
He pushed open the wooden door. A Hephaestus Familia crest hung above the entrance, shimmering slightly in the sunlight. As he stepped into the workshop, before he could even spot the smith, a boisterous, hearty voice rang out.
"Yo! Finally decided to show up?"
The voice carried an invisible force that seemed to vibrate through the entire workshop. The female smith, who hadn't yet started her daily forging, was sitting quietly in the center of the room. She looked up at Roland and beckoned him over with a friendly greeting.
"You're quite early today—[Morning Star]?"
Tsubaki was actually wearing a proper outer garment today, though her exposed midriff and shoulders still made Roland wonder if she ever worried about sparks burning her skin while she worked.
Roland quite liked the title he'd received at the Denatus, but he didn't hesitate to fire back with the knowledge he'd recently crammed into his head. "Then should I call you [Cyclops]?"
Tsubaki Collbrande was not just the leader of the prestigious Hephaestus Familia; she was one of the few top-tier master smiths in the entire Labyrinth City. Yet, no matter how Roland looked at her, he couldn't see any dwarven traits in this tall woman. Even though there was a dwarf girl in his own Familia who was no taller than a Pallum, Tsubaki was a stark contrast.
"My bad! My mistake," Tsubaki said, scratching her cheek and bowing slightly. "Please, just call me by my name. I'm not fond of that monster-like title."
She quickly shifted the topic. "Still, I didn't expect you to be so famous in Orario. Even Lady Hephaestus herself has been paying attention to you."
"Is that so? I'm honored." Roland hadn't met the deity yet. Hephaestus was a true blacksmith who rarely left her forge unless absolutely necessary.
As a non-combat-focused Familia that didn't participate in War Games, the Hephaestus Familia held an unshakeable position in the city due to its massive population of craftsmen. That achievement was inseparable from the Goddess of Smithing herself.
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My : https://[email protected]/AuAuMon
Danmachi : Mage's Infinite Journey (168 Chapters – Ongoing)
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Tsubaki didn't mind his calm reaction. Most adventurers couldn't understand the sheer reverence smiths held for their goddess. While Roland respected her ability to forge weapons that grew with their masters, she wasn't his goddess. The only goddess Roland truly loved was Astraea.
"Let's see the finished product first!"
Tsubaki looked toward a piece on a side table covered with a thin cloth. Her face was full of confidence. "I believe this will satisfy all your requirements!"
At her gesture, Roland pulled back the dust cloth.
A faint golden light seemed to flicker in his vision. The blade was a two-tone blend of gold and silver, noticeably superior to any one-handed sword he had used before. The blade was wide and thick at the base, tapering to a razor-thin point with a shimmering ripple effect across the surface. Its sharpness was evident without even a test.
The Adamantite blade shone in a brilliant, untarnished silver, accented by intricate golden patterns—clearly the result of the materials Roland had provided. The golden crossguard was etched with blue lines and featured a small, special gemstone in the center that pulsed with a faint light. The hilt was white with deep blue accents, tapering from thin to thick to provide a secure grip.
"This special equipment has received a Grade 2 evaluation from my Goddess. It's the highest level I can forge given current constraints," Tsubaki said, rubbing her thumb and forefinger together to signify those "constraints."
"Whether it's the steel sold by those crooks in Rivira or the Adamantite I dig up myself, the quality hasn't hit 'top-tier' yet. So, while it lacks the [Unbreakable] attribute, it will serve you well until you reach Level 5."
Forging Adamantite—the hardest of the rare metals—was a massive challenge for even a high-level smith. To make it this beautiful while maintaining such functionality was a feat of both strength and aesthetics.
"Also, I mixed in a small amount of Mithril."
She had deduced from his broken sword that Roland frequently imbued his blade with magic.
"With this high-conductivity metal, the sword can handle your self-buffing magic and elemental attacks without internal strain, greatly increasing its durability against mana."
Even though Roland hadn't explicitly asked for it, her attention to detail proved her status as a top smith.
"That's why it's a 'Special Armament.' Though the amount is small, it provides a slight boost to the power of any magic added to it."
"Truly worthy of a master smith. This is a magnificent weapon," Roland praised.
The weight felt reassuring the moment he gripped it. The hilt fit his hand perfectly. Aside from the colors being a bit flashy, there was nothing to criticize. Roland felt the new sensation in his palm, lifting the blade to eye level to see his dark eyes reflected in the steel.
"Does it have a name?" he asked.
"Mmm... no. I thought about a few, but I decided to leave the naming to you," Tsubaki said. "For reference, my favorite blade is named 'Red Crimson Rain.' How about 'Golden Rain'?"
Roland shook his head with a look of rejection. "That doesn't match the style of this sword at all. No thanks."
Alise's rapier is 'Scarlet Order.' Given that this looks a bit like the Sword of Promised Victory (Excalibur), I'll call it...
"...Then it shall be named [Justice Vow]," Roland said.
Completely ignoring Tsubaki's suggestion, he nodded in satisfaction, stroking the blade with his hand.
Justice Vow. I shall uphold the justice I swore to protect.
At the very least, the name matched the color scheme and the shape of the sword.
"Ignoring my advice entirely, I see. But as long as you like it," Tsubaki said with a shrug. "Ah, right! I almost forgot your bracers!"
She pulled a box from the back, revealing a pair of pitch-black bracers. "Made from lightweight steel and the materials you provided. They should fit you perfectly."
Tsubaki didn't act like a stranger; she reached out, grabbed Roland's arm, and expertly strapped the bracers on, tightening them with practiced ease. Roland lifted his arm, gripped his hilt, and gave the air several sharp test swings.
The added weight of the bracers was negligible to him. He nodded in satisfaction.
"These are perfect. Thank you so much." Roland sheathed the sword into the scabbard Tsubaki had included for free.
Tsubaki laughed and slapped him on the shoulder. "Don't mention it! Come back if you ever need more work done."
Roland reached into his tunic and pulled out a piece of parchment. It bore an intricate seal—the sword and wings of the Astraea Familia.
"I've talked to my family. You can send someone to our base to exchange this for the Valis," Roland said, handing it over.
"No problem! Thanks for the business." Tsubaki tucked the voucher into her belt. It was a formal document Roland had struggled to write in the common tongue, his handwriting slightly shaky but official.