The Strongest Smith

Labyrinth City, Northeast Street.

This was Orario's proud manufacturing hub for magic stone products, a manufacturing district adjoining the industrial zone.

Led by Finn, Riezel entered the area.

Unlike Northwest Street, which was filled mostly with adventurers, most pedestrians here were laborers dressed in work clothes.

Muscular middle-aged humans carried equipment.

Beastmen walked alongside merchants, talking with them about something.

Sturdy dwarves argued and cursed at one another.

Smiths carrying weapons shouted loudly, seemingly introducing their proud creations to others.

The sound of hammering was everywhere, and the scent of metal permeated the air. This was an entirely industrial street, with hardly any buildings besides factories, workshops, and smithies. There were not even any women or children in sight.

Walking down such a street, Riezel and Finn, dressed somewhat more finely than those around them, looked utterly out of place.

Fortunately, neither of them cared about such trivial matters. They were both strong-willed people, so even under the curious and appraising gazes of others, they remained natural and composed as they made their way toward the center of the street.

Before long, the two arrived in front of a workshop.

It was a one-story building.

The building was obviously rarely cleaned and covered in coal dust. The hammering inside seemed fiercer and louder than anywhere else.

"We're here."

Finn stood before the workshop and spoke to Riezel.

"Here?"

Even though he had already guessed as much, Riezel was still somewhat surprised upon learning that this was their destination.

It could not be helped. This workshop truly did not look like a facility that an important member of the Hephaestus Familia would use.

As a commercial Familia of smiths specializing in the sale of weapons and equipment, the Hephaestus Familia's reputation in Orario and even throughout the world was no less renowned than that of the Loki Familia.

The reason was simple.

If the Loki Familia was one of the strongest exploration Familias, then the Hephaestus Familia was the strongest smithing Familia.

The patron deity of this Familia was the forging god known even in Heaven as the God of Fire—Hephaestus.

The Familia founded by this god of forging had not only attracted a great number of smiths, but also possessed a complete system for training talent. Calling it the foremost school of smiths would not be an exaggeration.

With so many smiths gathered there, including high-level smiths who had acquired the "Smithing" ability, it was easy to imagine just how exceptional the weapons and equipment produced by this Familia were.

By now, the Hephaestus Familia had become a premium brand across the world. Its works enjoyed the highest prestige even among those in the same trade. Any weapon or piece of equipment bearing the label "Produced by the Hephaestus Familia" would immediately be sought after by countless people, its value increasing severalfold out of thin air.

Under such circumstances, the person who could make Finn personally come to commission an order had to be one of the Hephaestus Familia's upper ranks.

Yet an upper-ranking member of the world-famous Hephaestus Familia was staying in a place like this?

No wonder Riezel was surprised.

Finn gave a wry laugh at that.

"Don't mind it. Famous smiths are basically all like this. They would rather hole up in a dirty workshop and hammer iron than sit in a luxurious office. The person we're looking for is the best of them." Finn said, "If we arranged to meet anywhere else, who knows when that person would be free? But if we arrange to meet here, she'll definitely be around."

With that, Finn stepped forward and pushed open the door.

"Come on. We already notified her beforehand. Since she didn't come out to greet us, we'll go in ourselves."

Finn took the lead, motioning for Riezel to follow.

Riezel immediately followed behind Finn and entered the workshop leading to a spacious forge.

The space, lit by only a few Magic Stone Lamps, was shrouded in darkness. Only a hazy red furnace fire glowed in the depths, while the air was thick with the smell of iron. It truly was the kind of place that made people want to keep their distance.

"Tsubaki! Are you there?"

Finn paid no attention to the environment as he called toward the forge.

The next second, a voice answered him.

"I'm here!"

Along with the vigorous reply, a figure emerged from the forge where the firelight seeped out.

It was a woman.

She had a delicate face, long limbs, black hair, and red eyes. She wore Far East-style work clothes, with bright crimson hakama trousers on her lower body, while her upper body was wrapped only in white cloth, making her rather eye-catching.

Her skin was brown, darker even than the wheat-colored skin of the sisters Tiona and Tione. She wore an eyepatch over one eye, and both her attire and appearance were highly distinctive.

This beautiful woman greeted Finn with considerable enthusiasm.

"Long time no see, Finn!" She smiled and opened her arms toward him. "You still look like such a kid, but you're pretty cute. Come here and let me hug you!"

She really did move in for a hug, completely disregarding the fact that someone else was standing nearby.

"I'll pass." Finn casually dodged her and calmly asked, "Is Goddess Hephaestus not here?"

"Yeah, our goddess isn't around." The brown-skinned woman missed her hug and looked thoroughly dejected as she complained, "She's been in a bad mood lately. Apparently, a friend she's been hosting at home has been eating and lazing around all day. Our goddess has built up a lot of resentment toward that friend living like a parasite, so she probably won't have time to bother with us until she settles it."

Hearing that, Finn showed no reaction. Only Riezel, standing beside him, raised an eyebrow almost imperceptibly.

Unfortunately, neither of the two noticed it. Only after exchanging a few words did they turn toward Riezel.

"Let me introduce you."

Finn smiled at Riezel and introduced the woman before them.

"Tsubaki Cobalund, captain of the Hephaestus Familia. She is Orario's strongest smith, standing at the pinnacle of countless high-level smiths, and also a Level 5 First Class Adventurer. In terms of fame alone, she is no less renowned than I am."

After saying that, Finn was about to introduce Riezel to Tsubaki, but Tsubaki interrupted him.

"Riezel Brihaut, the newcomer to the Loki Familia and a rising star who climbed from Level 1 to Level 4 in just over a month. How could I not know you?" Tsubaki stared at Riezel, looking delighted. "Orario has become incredibly lively because of you, especially among the gods. I heard they've all been trying every possible way to learn more about you. Even my goddess has been keeping an eye on you. At last, I get to meet you."

"Hello." Riezel nodded to Tsubaki in greeting, his expression calm and without the slightest trace of smugness at her praise.

"Oh my, you seem like a very steady person." Tsubaki scratched her head, as though finding herself unable to get a rise out of him. "I'm not good at dealing with this type."

"Don't worry, Tsubaki." Finn took the opportunity to tease him. "Don't let his appearance fool you. When this kid goes crazy, even I have to be on guard. He's not as steady as you think."

"Oh? Is that so?" Tsubaki's eyes lit up, and she laughed heartily. "That's better! If he were as lifeless as you old folks, how boring would that be?"

As she spoke, Tsubaki wrapped an arm around Riezel's neck without the slightest concern for the difference between men and women.

"A newcomer should act like a newcomer—be more energetic, be a little reckless. That's what makes them cute." Tsubaki said with a grin. "Why not stay with me for a few days? I'll take very good care of you."

"Cut it out, Tsubaki. You just want free labor to swing your hammer for you, don't you?" Finn unceremoniously slapped Tsubaki's hand away. "Don't ruin the future pillar of our Familia. If something happens to him, be careful Loki and Riveria don't come after you."

"I'll pass on that." Tsubaki immediately behaved herself and muttered, "If that prankster god whom even the other gods fear and the famous elven Princess start watching me, I probably won't have a peaceful day for the rest of my life."

Finn gave Tsubaki a look that said, "Good that you know," making her raise both hands in a gesture of surrender. Riezel, who had nearly failed to keep up with the situation, rubbed his nose.

Still, to be honest, that tight embrace just now had felt rather nice. Soft, too.

Unaware of what Riezel was thinking, Tsubaki finally put her hands on her hips and got down to business.

"Alright, enough joking. Give me the order." Tsubaki held out her hand to Finn. "You came to have our Familia forge spare weapons and equipment for you. You're preparing for an expedition, right?"

Bulk orders of spare weapons—this was precisely the purpose of Finn's visit.

Although each member of the Loki Familia had their own preferred weapon, weapons wore down, and the weapons needed in different situations varied greatly. Therefore, aside from medicine, the most necessary thing to prepare for an expedition was spare weapons.

Bows in particular, which could be put to great use in group combat and help organize effective offense and defense, had to be prepared in large quantities every time.

Because of this, every Familia ordered a large batch of weapons as spares before an expedition. A large Familia like the Loki Familia, preparing to battle in the ultra-deep floors below Floor 50, needed even more.

Thus, every Loki Familia expedition involved a major order commissioned to a commercial smithing Familia, and the Hephaestus Familia often took on those orders.

It could be said that the Loki Familia was practically an old customer of the Hephaestus Familia, and it had close dealings with Tsubaki, the captain of the Hephaestus Familia.

Naturally, Tsubaki knew why Finn had come.

But today was definitely a little different.

"Here's the order. Finish it as quickly as you can." Finn handed Tsubaki a piece of parchment, then added, "Besides that, I need you to forge a weapon for the rising star you just mentioned."

"Oh?" Tsubaki accepted the order without looking at it, turning instead to Riezel.

More precisely, Tsubaki looked at the sword hanging at Riezel's waist.

"Fine workmanship, but it seems to show a lot of wear. You must have had it repaired quite a few times, right?"

Orario's strongest smith had an exceptionally sharp eye, and she grinned.

"Looks like this Third-Class Armament is no longer worthy of its user."

"You want to commission me to forge a new one especially for you?"

"Fine. Tell me what you need."

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