Eina was happy, too.
Her first adventurer had asked the kind of questions that proved he wasn't some reckless idiot charging forward with nothing in his head. That meant the work ahead would likely go smoothly.
Sure, it also meant her workload was about to increase—but to someone desperate to prove herself, that was like sweet rain on dry ground.
Honestly… she couldn't wait.
"Don't talk nonsense," Nasha said with a laugh. "I'm just telling the truth. He chose you specifically, you know. Don't let him down."
"Yes. I won't. Absolutely not."
Now that she was officially an adventurer advisor, her wages would rise. That meant she could send a little more money home each month.
Her mother's illness… her little sister…
They'd have it easier.
Thinking of that, Eina looked at the distant departing back and her eyes filled with gratitude.
He really is an Astraea Familia member…
He'd only just become an adventurer, and he'd already helped her solve a huge problem.
She had to work harder, too.
Then, quietly, the system notifications surfaced:
Improve a specific person's circumstances: Interference +50
Join Astraea Familia: Interference +100
On the street, Alise suddenly began teasing him again, completely off-theme as always.
"Didn't expect this. So young, yet you already know how to charm girls."
"First time meeting her, and you're already holding her private magic communication beacon."
"Are you secretly some kind of natural playboy?"
"..."
Xien didn't even know how to respond to this red-haired menace. He could only stare at her with dead fish eyes in protest.
"Captain," he said flatly, "she's eleven or twelve. What exactly is going on in your head?"
"And you watched the whole conversation. Did I do anything inappropriate?"
Seeing him push back—pretending to be offended—Alise raised her hands in surrender.
"Alright, alright, my bad. I'll stop teasing."
"But for her… meeting you probably felt like meeting a hero."
"You might be oddly talented in that department."
Alise had a feeling this kid had the makings of an "hero."
Somewhere inside, the orange cat strongly agreed.
"I don't even know what you're talking about," Xien muttered.
A hero? Him?
He knew exactly what kind of person he was—barely able to take care of himself, let alone others.
"Never mind," Alise said, waving it off. "Next stop: Hephaistos Familia. We'll pick out your gear."
Xien's eyes lit up instantly, like some dormant genetic switch got flipped.
"Captain, you're the best. I love you."
"Hahahaha! You brat—asking for a beating!"
"Haha! You can't hit me!"
Laughing and bickering, they headed toward the famed smithing familia's territory, and without realizing it, their relationship drew a little closer.
It took a bit of time, but they finally arrived at the largest weapon shop operated by Hephaistos Familia.
Even though it was the domain of the goddess of forging… it was ridiculously big.
A massive sign overhead bore the striking mark: "Ηφαιστος".
Look closer and you could see careful design everywhere—this wasn't a "shop," it was basically an otherworldly luxury mall.
Which made sense. As Orario's most famous supplier of weapons, how could they afford to fall behind anyone in beauty—or wealth?
Orario's two most famous smithing familias were Hephaistos Familia and Goibniu Familia.
Goibniu's emblem was three hammers. They specialized in repairs, renovations, maintenance, and production of weapons and armor.
Their fame and scale were smaller than Hephaistos Familia's, but their craftsmanship was comparable.
The key difference was style:
Hephaistos Familia mass-produced finished goods and stocked weapon shops across the city.
Goibniu Familia mainly forged on commission—custom work, often cheaper than an equivalent service from Hephaistos, and therefore especially popular among high-tier adventurers.
In short:
One was premium mass-market with higher prices; the other was high-value custom.
They stepped inside.
The interior was so lavish it bordered on criminal.
Glass display cases lined both sides—and the frames looked like they were gold-inlaid. That was just the "appetizer."
Inside the cases were gorgeous, practical-looking gear… and if Xien could just ignore the price plates beneath them—strings of zeros long enough to resemble telephone numbers—he might have been happier.
Honestly, it put even big-city luxury malls from his old world to shame.
He got a full eye-feast out of it.
As for wanting anything… sure, a little.
But he knew his own weight.
He was clueless about equipment—so the optimal solution was letting the captain decide.
"See anything you like?" Alise asked.
Xien answered honestly.
"No. I'm leaving it to you."
"Not even one piece makes your heart race?"
"Lying would be pointless," Xien said. "Of course I'm tempted."
"But the best gear is the gear that suits me. If it's too advanced for me to use, then it doesn't matter how expensive it is."
A divine weapon in the hands of a ten-year-old… first question wasn't "can he use it," it was "can he even lift it."
"Mmm. That's a sharp take, kid. I like it."
A new voice cut into their conversation.
They turned.
A mature woman stood there—healthy wheat-colored skin, long black hair, muscle lines honed by endless work, a distinctive single eye, and a free-spirited, rough-and-ready style that screamed her identity even before she spoke.
"Tsubaki," Alise said, surprised and pleased. "Rare to run into you directly. I was planning to look for you."
That was right.
This woman was the captain of Hephaistos Familia, the top smith under the goddess herself—
The famed 'One-Eyed Master Smith':
Tsubaki Collbrande.
"Good timing," Tsubaki said. "I just finished an experiment and came out to breathe. Someone said you were here, so I figured I'd take a look."
"What is it—weapon not fitting again?"
Astraea Familia was one they watched closely. After all, Astraea's people often ensured safe logistics routes for materials—and because they were constantly in action, they were reliable major customers.
With time, the two captains had become fairly close.
"No," Alise said. "This time, I'm here to pick a beginner set for this kid."
"Oh?" Tsubaki's gaze landed on Xien. "So this sharp-tongued kid is…?"
"Hello, Ms. Tsubaki," Xien said politely. "My name is Xien. I'm a new member of Astraea Familia."
"...?"
Tsubaki froze.
Then she turned toward Alise.
Alise didn't deny it.
After a few seconds, Tsubaki finally accepted the unbelievable reality.
"Alright," she said decisively. "Come with me. We'll talk somewhere else."
Understanding the weight of this situation, Tsubaki moved immediately.
The three of them entered a luxurious reception room.
"Sit. What do you want to drink?"
"Tea."
"Same as Captain."
"Alright. Give me a moment."
She instructed an attendant at the door, and they took their seats.
Tsubaki spoke first.
"Honestly… I still don't quite believe it. Lady Astraea choosing to recruit someone now, of all times…"
It was blunt—but not without reason.
This was a dangerous period. Astraea Familia was already under the gaze of "those bastards." If news of a new member leaked, it could become a crack—an opening—for enemies to exploit.
"So you understand," Alise said calmly, "how much weight this visit carries."
Xien immediately adopted the correct posture for a beneficiary with survival instincts:
He became air.
At times like this, his job was to shut up and listen to the grownups.
Tea arrived. The door closed.
The real discussion began.
"…Yeah," Tsubaki said. "That's a huge challenge."
"What do you want?"
That question meant she was willing to take the commission.
Alise answered without hesitation:
"At minimum—equipment that can withstand a Level 3–4 adventurer's short-term assault."
"..."
That was a brutal requirement.
"Second-class adventurers" meant Level 3 and 4.
For gear to resist that kind of pressure, even briefly, wasn't a small ask.
"If I do it personally, it can be done," Tsubaki said slowly. "But the cost—"
"Budget is ten million valis."
"Pff—!"
Xien, who had been trying to remain invisible, instantly sprayed half a mouthful of tea.
Thank the gods there was no one sitting directly across from him.
"Sorry—Captain…?"
He turned to Alise with a look like he'd seen a ghost.
He hadn't misheard, right?
Ten. Million.
In a city where a luxury meal cost a few hundred valis, ten million sounded like you could buy part of a district.
Alise beamed at him.
"Relax. This was decided together—by the Familia and Lady Astraea."
So he had heard correctly.
Then Alise added something that made him go still:
"Don't worry. With your abilities, you'll earn it back quickly."
"Oh?" Tsubaki's interest sharpened. "Now that's intriguing."
A boy whose "abilities" could justify this kind of spending?
Alise glanced at Tsubaki. "That number works for you?"
"Of course. More than enough."
Then Tsubaki leaned in slightly, a smith's instincts itching.
"But I'm curious—what exactly can this kid do?"
"If you satisfy my curiosity, I'll cut it in half," she said with a confident grin, "and I'll personally forge him a full custom set."
"How about it?"
Alise hesitated, but only briefly.
"Fine. We'll have to tell you sooner or later anyway."
She turned to Xien.
"Xien."
"Yes."
"Show her your ability."
"Understood, Captain."
Xien raised a hand and released Breath of Abundance.
In his palm, a green mass of life energy bloomed.
In an instant, overwhelming vitality flooded the room.
The potted plants erupted in growth. Wooden furniture began to sprout and bud as if it had come alive.
Remembering last time, Xien held it for only a single second before shutting it down.
"That's… life-type?" Tsubaki stared, her one eye wide. "Healing?"
Xien glanced at Alise.
She nodded.
So he stepped forward.
"Sorry, Ms. Tsubaki—may I touch you?"
"…Ah. Sure."
Tsubaki extended her right hand without hesitation. It wasn't bravado so much as confidence—confidence in herself, and in the goddess behind her.
Xien took her hand.
His first impression was immediate:
Rough.
No softness, no delicate smoothness—only thick calluses, heavy with time and labor.
So this was what a master's hands felt like.
He activated his skill—quietly, carefully.
"Mm…!"
Tsubaki shuddered.
Life force poured into her body.
Fatigue drained away. Energy surged back. The sensation was so comfortable she let out an unguarded sound.
And—more importantly—
Old hidden injuries inside her body… seemed to ease. Even heal.
Impossible.
A moment later, she came back to herself.
Alise didn't waste the opening.
"Satisfied? So about the deal?"
Tsubaki flexed her hand, now brimming with strength, and laughed.
"Yeah. I'm in."
"And as repayment for that treatment—this forging job will cost only materials."
"How's that?"
"Of course," Alise answered, delighted. She hadn't expected such a windfall.
Tsubaki shook her head, still half-amazed.
"Alise… you really did strike gold. Healing on this level is unreal."
By her estimate, it could let a heavily wounded main combatant recover fighting capability in an extremely short time.
"Then remember: keep it secret," Alise said flatly. "You know what happens if this leaks."
"Obviously."
Tsubaki's expression twisted into something between pleasure and unease.
"…But honestly, I kind of want another hit. That felt too good. Something about it doesn't feel normal."
Alise understood immediately—this wasn't lust, it was caution.
Fear of addiction. Fear of dependence.
So she explained what Lady Astraea had already warned them at the banquet:
"Lady Astraea said it's simply life craving life force."
"Like hunger. Like needing food."
"Your body tasted 'food' for the first time, and your appetite woke up."
"There's nothing to 'fix.' You just have to control it."
"If you don't believe me, ask your goddess."
That was one of the key precautions from last night's feast.
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