Ais as a Child

"Yo, Finn, you've finally arrived! I've been waiting for you for ages."

As Leo was sizing up Orario's strongest blacksmith, the man approached with a hearty smile and greeted Finn, who was leading the group.

The blacksmiths behind her also greeted acquaintances in Loki Familia. Although they belonged to different factions, their relationship seemed to be quite harmonious.

The Hephaestus Familia is originally a blacksmith's family, and the high-level blacksmiths within the family are highly sought after. Countless adventurers flock to them, hoping that they can forge weapons and armor for them. These high-level blacksmiths also have a special fondness for famous adventurers, hoping that their works can play their due role in the hands of these famous adventurers and make a name for themselves.

As a result, famous adventurers and famous blacksmiths often have a mutually beneficial and friendly relationship. In particular, famous blacksmiths often have considerable connections and have formed contracts with many powerful adventurers, tailoring weapons and armor for them. Such relationships are naturally quite good.

Many members of the Loki Familia have collaborated with the blacksmiths of the Hephaestus Familia and have used their work. In particular, the werewolf Bete Loga is currently using metal boots made by Tsubaki, Orario's strongest blacksmith.

So, when he saw Tsubaki approaching with a bright smile, Bete Loga pursed his lips and couldn't help but move his foot, which was equipped with metal boots.

"Thank you for your help this time, Tsubaki."

Finn said some polite words.

"Not at all, this is a rare opportunity for us as well. We should be the ones thanking you."

Although Chun is a woman, she possesses the passion and straightforwardness inherent in blacksmiths. She grins and doesn't care at all about Finn's polite words.

She wasn't just talking nonsense; this opportunity was indeed very rare for blacksmiths like them who rarely ventured into the Dungeon.

Because their main profession is blacksmithing, which involves forging weapons and armor for others, blacksmiths naturally have far fewer opportunities and less time to enter Dungeon compared to adventurers. Therefore, blacksmiths' levels are generally not very high.

However, if blacksmiths want to develop the "forging" skill and have the ability to craft special equipment, they need to reach at least Lv.2.

After all, development capabilities can only be acquired when leveling up, so if you want to become a high-level blacksmith with the "forging" development capability, you must find a way to level up.

In such circumstances, how to accumulate enough experience points to gain the opportunity to Level Ascension often becomes one of the most troublesome problems for blacksmiths.

Even if you level up and become a senior blacksmith, you still need to find opportunities to accumulate experience points and challenge great achievements to continue advancing.

As one of the largest blacksmith clans, the Hephaestus Familia is so large and powerful that it shouldn't be troubled by this problem.

However, the opportunity to go on an expedition with Loki Familia is another matter entirely.

The expedition of the city's strongest faction targets floors below the 50th Floor.

The items, rare materials, and unusual minerals that drop there are all high-end goods that are in short supply on the market, making them irresistibly attractive to every blacksmith.

Joining Loki Familia on an expedition allows you to venture into the deepest levels below the 50th Floor, broadening your horizons, accumulating experience points, and gaining opportunities for advancement. You'll also obtain extremely rare forging materials—why not?

Therefore, when Finn and Loki promised to hand over all the forging materials they obtained from the Deep Realm, both Hephaestus and Tsubaki accepted the invitation without hesitation.

This is a win-win situation, so there's no need to be polite.

"I look forward to your guidance from now on, everyone."

Tsubaki's gaze slowly swept over the Loki Familia members, then she burst into laughter and uttered these words.

The Loki Familia members were not opposed to this expedition with the Hephaestus Familia, and responded with smiles.

If their partner were a clan that might need their help or even hold them back, they certainly wouldn't be friendly. But the Hephaestus Familia is different. Every member is a high-level blacksmith, at least Lv.2, and Lv.3 and Lv.4 are not uncommon. Tsubaki, the leader of the clan, is a Lv.5 first-level adventurer. There's no way she could hold them back.

Furthermore, since the two sides were already quite familiar with each other and could be certain that the other was a trustworthy person, everyone's attitude was amiable. Even Bete Loga, who was always looking for trouble, didn't say anything and lazily stayed to the side, looking like he was saying, "Stop talking nonsense and let's get going."

However, since the two families are reunited and will be embarking on a joint expedition, they should at least exchange information beforehand.

Finn then began calling for a headcount of both sides' supplies, and together with Riveria Ljos Alf and Gareth, they reassessed combat strength and formations.

Tsubaki, the leader of the Hephaestus Familia, acted like a hands-off manager, leaving everything to Finn and the others to handle, and then walked straight towards Leo and Ais.

"Long time no see, [Sword Princess]."

Chun greeted Ais first, with an overly familiar expression.

No, they weren't exactly fast friends; they already knew each other.

"----haven't seen you for a long time."

Ais nodded slightly shyly to Tsubaki, which made Tsubaki show an expression of great interest.

"I heard you've reached Level 6, congratulations!" Chun said with a touch of emotion, "That little girl from back then has now become such an amazing adventurer. Life is truly unpredictable."

Hearing this, Ais didn't react yet, so Leo asked a question out of curiosity.

Have you known each other for a long time?

Leo, sensing this from the atmosphere between the two, had this question.

Although he knew the original story, he didn't remember everything. Tsubaki wasn't a particularly important character, so Leo only had a vague understanding of the relationship between Ais and Tsubaki, only knowing that they were old acquaintances.

This is what Tsubaki said.

"It has been a long time indeed. I first met this young lady when she first arrived in Orario Loki Familia," Tsubaki said cheerfully. "It seems like ten years, right? --- No, it should be nine years."

"She was terrifying back then. She always looked like she had a deep-seated grudge against everyone, as if she might pounce on someone and bite them at any moment. To say she was sharp and aggressive would be an understatement."

When an old acquaintance suddenly revealed her dark past from her childhood, Ais was visibly uncomfortable. Her awkward and hesitant manner was quite unusual, which amused Tsubaki.

"Were you really that fierce when you were little?"

Leo couldn't help but tease Ais, making the blonde girl blush.

"Back then, I was too young to understand things..."

The girl mumbled something in a low, mosquito-like voice, it was unclear whether she was explaining something.

In fact, Leo also knew that at that time, Ais had just lost her loved ones and was filled with hatred and sorrow. She only wanted revenge and to become stronger, so she acted recklessly at that time.

Riveria Ljos Alf once said that back then, Ais would disappear into who-knows-where if no one was watching her. Once she entered the Dungeon, she would fight like her life depended on it. As soon as she saw a monster, she would rush up to kill it with bloodshot eyes, completely disregarding her own life or death. To say that she was risking her life was an exaggeration; she was practically trying to commit suicide.

[Avenger] is a skill that backfires on herself. Back then, Ais would use it whenever she wanted, without any restraint, which caused her to walk on the edge of life and death every day. She wouldn't stop until she was covered in wounds.

In that state, Ais wouldn't likely leave a good impression on anyone.

"Back then, you were like a sword without a sheath, fighting on no matter how chipped or broken the blade was. I thought to myself, you're bound to die in the Dungeon sooner or later."

Perhaps it was because she was thinking about the past, Chun became very talkative and began to chat.

"She was such a petite girl. Back then, I really couldn't understand why you would work so hard, even recklessly. It made me not want to forge weapons for you at all."

Upon hearing this, Ais fell silent.

Generally speaking, when a blacksmith sees a promising adventurer, a genius who is expected to shine in the future, he should be eager to forge weapons for them, establish a long-term cooperative contract, and let them use his works to make a name for themselves. However, when Tsubaki saw Ais, who had unlimited potential at the time, she had no intention of forging weapons for her at all. It is conceivable how little Tsubaki thought of Ais at that time.

Even with great potential, such reckless actions would inevitably lead to its demise. With this in mind, Tsubaki lost interest in Ais, not wanting her work to fade into obscurity along with Ais.

"But you've changed now."

Chun's tone shifted, and her expression softened.

"Um?"

Ais looked up, somewhat confused.

"What I mean is, you are no longer a sword without a sheath, but a divine weapon that has found its sheath." Chun pointed a finger at Ais's forehead and smiled, "You may not look expressionless now, but that also means you no longer need to keep yourself sharp all the time. You only draw your sword and unleash your edge when you encounter an enemy you must kill. This is how you look like you have a future."

"A sword must have its own sheath, and you too should have your own place to rest."

"If I had known that the girl who looked like she was about to kick the bucket would turn out like this, I probably would have made my move much earlier and made you a regular client."

Chun laughed as she spoke, and it was clear that while she said that, she didn't really feel any regret. On the contrary, she was genuinely happy for Ais's change.

"I'm sorry to have worried you."

Ais spoke these words cautiously, which earned her an even more hearty laugh from Tsubaki.

"I haven't done anything wrong. It's Finn and Riveria Ljos Alf who should be worried about you," Chun said with a smile. "And your companions too. You should thank them."

Ais turned to look at Tiona, who was arguing with Bete Loga; Tione, who was pestering Finn Riveria Ljos Alf, who was instructing Lefiya Viridis on something; and Gareth, who was leading Raul and the others to count the supplies. Finally, she turned to look at Leo beside her and gradually lost in thought.

At this moment, Tsubaki finally focused her attention entirely on Leo, and her eyes began to shine.

"Speaking of which, you must be that monstrous newcomer of the Loki Familia who's been all over the city lately, right?" Tsubaki looked Leo up and down with the eyes of someone eyeing a rough gem, her gaze intense as she said, "You rose from Level 1 to Level 5, a first-class adventurer, in just three months. When I first heard about it, I thought someone was joking with me."

Despite Tsubaki's scrutinizing gaze, Leo showed no discomfort and spoke calmly.

"To be honest, I was quite surprised myself; I never imagined I had such abilities."

This is true.

At first, Leo never imagined he could achieve such incredible results. He only wanted to steadily accumulate experience points, slowly become stronger, and see if he could stand out and become a first-level adventurer like Ais and the others.

He never considered himself a genius, much less that he could grow at a speed that would astound even the Chief God, like Bell Cranel, and eventually become a hero admired by all.

Unexpectedly, as a visitor from another world, he ended up discovering the overpowered skill of [People of the Alien Star], which made him a monster rookie in the eyes of others. In less than three months, he achieved a goal that he could only dream of at the time, making him sigh countless times at the unpredictability of life.

"How about we sign a long-term cooperation agreement?" Chun extended an olive branch directly, saying impatiently, "Your growth rate is so fast, you must be quite troubled by the fact that your equipment can't keep up with your strength, right?"

"If you enter into a long-term cooperation agreement with me, I will always create the most suitable equipment for you based on your strength, no matter what."

An invitation from the city's strongest blacksmith must be an extremely rare opportunity for many adventurers who yearn for fame and powerful weapons.

In the past, Leo might have actually been tempted.

Unfortunately, Chun arrived too late.

"I already have a weapon that suits me."

Leo shook his head and said those words.

Chun then shifted her gaze and saw the sword that Leo was carrying at his waist, hidden by his hooded robe.

Upon seeing this, Chun's gaze was immediately fixed on it.

"This sword—"

The One-Eyed Master Smith unconsciously widened his exposed eye slightly, as if he had seen something incredible, or something he had longed for. He suddenly closed the distance between himself and Leo, coming right up to him.

What are you doing?

Leo was startled and involuntarily took a step back.

"Tsubaki?"

Ais also exclaimed in surprise, seemingly somewhat puzzled.

Chun ignored the two of them completely, staring intently at the sword at Leo's waist, and even squatted down, looking at it carefully.

"This... this sword—!"

Chun suddenly spoke up, somewhat excitedly.

"May I take a look?!"

Sky Elf Swordsman