They took two steps.
Then discovered that the corner led to a dead end.
"..."
And so.
Left with no other choice, Hephaestus.
Led Haimo through the maze of corridors in the Hephaestus Familia's headquarters.
Along the way, no one dared approach them.
Because they were heading toward the forbidden area of the entire Hephaestus Familia.
-Hephaestus's private forge.
Normally, no one but her and Tsubaki was allowed inside.
Click.
As a heavy red copper door swung open.
A blast of heat even more intense than outside washed over them.
An enormous furnace stood quietly, its dark red flames pulsing inside like breaths.
The surrounding shelves were casually strewn with rare ores and materials seldom seen in the outside world.
"So, why did you want me to bring you here?"
Hephaestus leaned against the doorframe with her arms crossed, gesturing for Haimo to help himself.
Haimo wasted no time either.
He walked straight to the shelves holding the finest materials.
His fingers brushed over the ores one by one.
Mithril, diamond, orichalcum...
Whenever Haimo's fingers paused and he picked up a piece of ore.
Hephaestus's gaze sharpened slightly.
Because every piece he chose was the most flawless of its kind, with the fewest impurities.
Within moments.
Haimo held several pieces of ore, each shimmering with a different glow.
He hefted them in his hands, then turned toward Hephaestus, who had remained silent.
"These should be enough."
Hephaestus looked at what he was holding, then at the furnace beside him.
Even the slowest person would have figured it out by now.
Let alone her.
"You're going to forge something?"
Hephaestus straightened and raised an eyebrow.
"That's right."
Carrying the ores, Haimo walked over to the forging bench and casually picked up a hammer to test its heft.
"After all..."
"In a sense, I'm a god of forging too."
"Though my titles include other odds and ends like war and strife, weapons are ultimately the vessels for it all."
"If you don't understand how weapons are born, how can you claim dominion over all conflict?"
"And every god who knows forging has techniques unique to them."
"I'm no exception."
"Your Familia doesn't lack weapons."
"If I want to pay for tonight's feast and those guest rooms..."
"And secure equipment support for those kids in my Familia in the future."
"I think I'll have to offer something more substantial."
At that point.
Haimo raised his head and looked straight into Hephaestus's one uncovered eye.
"For example..."
"A weapon forged by another god."
"I'll also contribute my hair, divine blood, and the Holy Script that only I can inscribe."
"To forge you a..."
"One-of-a-kind God-Forged Weapon that can unleash power beyond normal limits-even without my divine Falna."
At those words.
Hephaestus's breath visibly caught for a moment.
Because as she looked at Haimo.
At this male god standing before the forging bench, his eyes clear and confident.
She was tempted.
Yes.
As a goddess of forging who pursued the pinnacle of craftsmanship, nothing could move her more than "unknown divine techniques" and "a God-Forged Weapon she had never seen before."
What was more.
This would come from this man's hands.
Though he had little reputation in Orario.
Who among the gods in Heaven didn't know what he was capable of?
After all, back in Heaven, this man had hardly been a well-behaved god who kept to himself.
A god whom the others had dubbed War Calamity was no one to take lightly.
If it was a weapon he forged himself, infused with fragments of his own divinity...
It would absolutely be a peerless treasure that countless Familias would go mad over, even wage wars for.
Countless gods would willingly spend their entire fortunes to add such a work to their collections.
At that thought.
Hephaestus had already uncrossed her arms without realizing it.
"That sounds..."
"Like a deal I really can't refuse."
"But."
Hephaestus changed tack, studying Haimo with some suspicion.
"You may well have known how to forge back in Heaven."
"But..."
"Since descending to the lower world, in this body bound by its rules."
"Have you actually held a hammer yourself?"
"Are you sure you can finish forging anything without cheating with divine power?"
Faced with that soul-piercing interrogation.
Haimo simply chose to answer with shameless confidence.
"Of course I haven't."
"I only came down here recently."
"I have no money and no resources."
"I can barely afford to eat. Where would I get spare money for a furnace and materials?"
Hephaestus: "..."
The corner of her mouth twitched, and she was just about to retort, Then how can you make such bold claims?
But then.
Haimo promptly held out the forging hammer to her as though it were the most natural thing in the world.
"But."
"I've got you here, haven't I?"
"This sort of supervision, for Heaven's greatest divine smith..."
"Shouldn't be a problem, right?"
"Haah..."
After hearing that, Hephaestus finally understood. She sighed helplessly, took the hammer, hefted it twice, and studied him again with her one uncovered eye.
"Haimo."
"I honestly don't know whether you still haven't shaken off that madness from Heaven, or whether you've gotten even crazier since coming down here."
"You actually want to use my materials and my furnace, then make me your assistant to forge a weapon to settle what you owe me?"
"Only you could dream up a scheme to get something for nothing like this."
"Even Orario's most notorious swindlers don't do business the way you do."
"Still."
"Since you've gone this far, and even dangled something like that in front of me."
"I really am a little tempted."
As the goddess who stood at the pinnacle of forging in this city.
Hephaestus simply couldn't contain her curiosity about Haimo's techniques.
And so.
As she spoke, Hephaestus walked over to the furnace.
And worked the bellows herself.
Whoosh-
The dark red flames instantly surged, waves of heat rolling outward.
Their flickering light danced across her striking, heroic features.
Once the furnace flames rose in billowing heat.
Hephaestus turned and casually tossed the pieces of premium ore from Haimo's hands into the fire.
"All right, there's no backing out now."
"Let me make this clear up front."
"I may be willing to lend you all this."
"But when it comes to forging, I'm not nearly so accommodating."
"If you can't take my scolding, you might as well wash up and go to bed."