"I hit you to knock some sense into you."
"By a mine, I meant these children themselves."
"Every one of Haimo's children is a top-quality uncut gem."
"With just a little polishing, a Falna, and a spark of divine fire, they'll shine brilliantly."
"So calling them a mine isn't an exaggeration at all."
"If you'd spare even a little thought for observing the children of the lower world, you wouldn't still be staying here with me without a single follower."
Hephaestus shook her head helplessly, exasperated by Hestia's failure to get her act together.
Under the scolding, Hestia hunched her shoulders and didn't dare argue.
All she could do was stab a piece of steak with her fork, take a vicious bite, and mutter something like, "What's the big deal? I'm just not ready yet..."
"Speaking of which, since Hestia said you're newcomers who only just arrived in Orario..."
"Then..."
"Haimo, you haven't bestowed the gods' blessing on these children yet, have you?"
No Falna.
That meant no levels and no ability scores.
No matter how strong their foundations were, in Orario, they were merely ordinary people at Lv. 0.
"I haven't had the chance yet."
Haimo spread his hands.
"I'd only just brought them to the temple when Hestia dragged me here before I could even catch my breath."
"I didn't even get a sip of water."
With that said...
Haimo cast a pointed glance at Hestia, who was diligently demolishing the steak in her mouth.
"Mmph, mmph!"
Hestia made a couple of protesting noises, but with her mouth stuffed full, they were utterly unintelligible.
"In that case..."
"There's no time like the present."
Hephaestus looked around at the girls, then glanced out the window at the sky, which had already gone completely dark.
"Why don't..."
"You all stay here tonight?"
"With this many people..."
"That temple of yours, where even a mouse would feel cramped, definitely won't fit everyone."
"After all..."
Hephaestus pointed at the two black bears in the corner.
"Those two black bears alone would probably take up half your floor."
"My Familia's home may not be particularly luxurious, but we can easily spare a few guest rooms."
"And while you're here..."
"You can perform the ritual to bestow the gods' Falna on these children tonight."
At those words...
The girls' eyes instantly lit up.
Especially Kikakujō Mary, who had still been worrying about whether she would have to sleep on the floor that night.
"R-really?"
"Can we take hot baths?"
"Of course."
Hephaestus smiled generously.
"We may be smiths, but our standard of living is hardly poor."
"After all, you need a good rest to have the strength to swing a hammer."
"Then we'll take you up on your hospitality!"
Since she had gone that far, Haimo didn't stand on ceremony and accepted on the girls' behalf.
As for Hestia...
She finally swallowed the last mouthful of steak.
Her cheeks had been bulging like a hamster that had stockpiled food, and after laboriously swallowing it all, she wiped her mouth, still wanting more.
Her big blue eyes immediately turned toward Hephaestus at the head of the table, full of suspicion.
"Hephaestus..."
"You're not trying to poach them, are you?"
At those words...
The smile on Hephaestus's face froze.
Then...
She sighed helplessly and raised her hand again.
The movement was exceptionally practiced.
"Thwack!"
The crisp sound of another flick to the forehead rang out.
"Eek!!!"
"Ow, ow, ow!"
Hestia clutched her forehead.
Hephaestus withdrew her hand, her single eye filled with the resignation of someone who hadn't expected Hestia to be any smarter anyway.
"Idiot."
"Do I look like that kind of person?"
"Besides..."
"Even if I wanted to poach them..."
"That would still depend on whether Haimo was willing to let them go."
With that said...
Hephaestus gave Haimo a pointed look.
Haimo smiled faintly, neither confirming nor denying it.
Let them go?
Not a chance.
Even if the highest authority in heaven came down, they wouldn't take a single person from me.
However...
After dinner ended...
As they passed the enormous weapon display cases outside the dining room...
Haimo keenly noticed something.
Whether it was Onigawara Rin with her katana in her arms, Nemumeno Satori with her perpetually narrowed eyes, or even the usually carefree-looking Nemumeno Satori...
Their steps would unconsciously slow.
Their gazes clung as though magnetized to the weapons displayed in the cases, their edges gleaming coldly.
That look...
Haimo knew it all too well.
It was a swordswoman's longing for a keen blade.
Chapter 18: Inaba Tsukuyo, the True Meaning of Bearing a God's Name
From the moment humans learned to make tools, their fascination with weapons had been etched into their very bones.
Just as an ape without claws or fangs picked up its first sharp stone and gained the ability to tear apart its prey.
Weapons.
They had never been mere tools.
They were extensions of human limbs, tangible manifestations of will, and the sole means by which the weak could challenge the strong.
Just as humans had once hunted giant elephants for food.
For these girls, who had always relied on their bodies and ordinary steel to fight in a world with a low martial power ceiling...
Orario's weapons, forged from monster materials and even enchanted with special effects, were undoubtedly the deadliest temptation in the world.
Like travelers in a desert catching sight of a clear spring.
That longing was impossible to hide.
Especially for Onigawara Rin.
Even after reluctantly tearing her gaze away from the [Famous Sword: Black Crow], priced at several million Valis, she still kept looking back every few steps.
At the sight...
Haimo rubbed his chin thoughtfully.
"Um..."
Once the girls had disappeared around the end of the corridor...
Haimo turned to Hephaestus, who had yet to leave.
"Hephaestus."
"If you're not busy tonight..."
"I'd like to talk to you."
"Oh?"
"So you noticed too."
"The looks in those children's eyes when they saw my walls full of weapons..."
"They were practically wolves staring at meat."
Hephaestus studied Haimo with interest.
"However..."
"As you know..."
"Weapons bearing the Hephaestus brand don't come cheap."
"Given your current circumstances..."
"Are you sure you can afford them?"
"As for that, I naturally have something worth offering."
"So..."
"Wait for me."