For Ais, who was naturally a little slow on the uptake, overly complicated forging theories might be difficult to understand.
But there was one thing she could understand.
With this property, this sword would be able to stay with her forever.
At that thought, Ais recalled the etiquette Riveria had taught her. She clasped her hands in front of herself, lowered her head slightly, and solemnly bent her slender waist in a bow to Haimo.
"Please."
"Mm."
After hearing Ais's choice, Haimo nodded and agreed.
He picked up the heavy hammer on the workbench again.
"But before we get started, we need to sort out the heat."
With that said,
Haimo turned his head, looking past the workbench straight at Loki, who had just taken a beating and was hiding behind Hephaestus like a turtle retreating into its shell.
"Loki."
Haimo spoke, tipping his chin toward the enormous metal bellows lever.
"Get to work."
When Haimo had been making those boots for his Familia earlier, Loki had been pressed into service against her will and was full of complaints.
But now,
when she heard that he would be upgrading Ais's Sword of Despair next,
Loki's response was exceptionally enthusiastic.
"No problem!"
"Watch closely, Ais-tan!"
"So you can slaughter your way through the Dungeon, I'll keep this fire roaring today even if these bellows kill me!"
With that said,
Loki deliberately swiped her nose in front of Ais and struck a pose she thought was incredibly cool.
Then she lunged straight for the bellows and gripped the metal lever tightly with both hands.
"Haaaaah!!!"
She let out an absurdly exaggerated roar.
Loki practically hung her entire body from the lever, her arm muscles taut as she used every ounce of strength to pump it furiously up and down.
Whoosh-roar!
An