He pushed back her face, which had come far too close.
"Don't celebrate just yet."
Haimo changed tack.
He cut Loki off before her excitement could fully take flight.
"Before that."
"You need to do something for me in exchange."
"Huh?"
"In exchange?"
"I came here to help you!"
"But go on, what do you want me to do?"
There weren't many things in the Lower World that could make Haimo, who was so quick to throw hands, ask for something.
Loki's interest was immediately piqued.
"I want materials."
"A large quantity of high-grade materials."
"High-purity ore from the Dungeon's deep floors, materials dropped by deep-floor monsters. I want all of it."
Loki listened in bewilderment.
She instinctively scratched her red hair.
"What do you need so much high-end stuff for?"
"Didn't Hephaestus already give you equipment?"
"Yes."
"But what Hephaestus gave them won't last them their entire lives."
"Don't tell me..."
"You're planning to make it yourself?"
"Exactly."
Haimo didn't deny it, nodding openly.
"So help me get a forge set up, too."
"Who knows, I might even use the leftover materials to make a few pieces of equipment for your children."
At those words.
The atmosphere throughout the hall suddenly grew exceptionally quiet.
Loki stared hard at Haimo.
This guy.
Was he actually serious?
For a few children he'd only just taken in down in the Lower World.
"You really..."
Loki swallowed.
"All right, fine. You win."
Loki scratched her messy red hair.
"There's some stuff from the Frontline Expedition piled up in Twilight Manor's storeroom."
"Once we finish picking out clothes, I can take you around. Just take whatever catches your eye, okay?"
Loki put on a pained expression, as though she were paying through the nose.
"But!"
"If my children run into any trouble in the