"Just wait a bit for me to change and close the shop." Said Hestia as she went to a changing room in the back.

"Okay."

'While he waited, Silver took a look at the gear in the shop.'

"30 Million Valis for a sword… Sigh, blacksmiths have it easy."

Although I guess it's a worthy price to pay for something that will save your life.

"A spear made from a Battle boar tusk and revested with a coat of Mithril for better magic conductivity… Good stuff but… It's advertised as Level 4 gear? Why? I mean, a Battle boar is a Deep floors monster but… That's all."

There was something I noticed in all of the equipment: they are normally made with lower-level materials, yet they are meant for higher Level adventurers.

A good example was Ottar's sword, it cost 400 Million Valis to make and it was made from Udaeus drop.

Udaeus is the monster Rex from the 37Th floor... However, Ottar is a pinnacle Level 7 and someone whose strength would easily overshadow the average Level 8 if he went all out.

How could his main weapon be made from a material found on the 37Th floor? He could go double that depth to look for materials.

Even if we consider that the core of the sword was made from this drop while everything else was made from rare materials such as Adamantite...

"It must be the blacksmith's development ability..."

The only explanation for this is that the blacksmiths know of ways to push the materials past their limits or to make the most out of them by adding special effects that wouldn't be possible only through hard work.

Otherwise, they would break.

'Silver picked a spear from the stands'

"This spear, in particular, doesn't come with Durandal, so it can break quite easily."

"However, it comes with the 'Extra sharp' and 'durable' effects. Whatever that means, is this enough for it to cost 25 M?"

Grandpa's main job was that of a swordmaster. Only when he retired to the countryside did he build a forge.

So he doesn't have the blacksmith development ability nor did he know how it worked.

'Silver took a look at each and every piece of gear in the shop as he waited for Hestia.'

'But she was taking a little bit too long'

Just what is she doing?

'Silver carefully used his abilities to try and pry into the room but he noticed Hestia wasn't alone as she seemed to be talking with someone else.'

A girl? Is that why she is taking so goddamn long?

'Silver made his way to the door and opened it without a care in the world.'

"It's been almost 20 minutes. Can you be a little faster?"

"..." X2

'In front of Silver were two girls, one with beautiful red hair and an eyepatch, and the other was the petite Hestia.'

"AHH! What are you doing here! What if I was changing!?" Screamed Hestia

'Silver scoffed at her.'

"If you were still changing I would have left on my own."

And there are many ways to spy on you if I wished... But that is better left unsaid.

"You are so rude!" Said Hestia

'Silver looked at the girl on the side and immediately recognized her, there weren't that many red-haired girls in Orario, much less those with an eyepatch.'

What is she doing here? Is she here to take a look at the shop?

Although… It makes sense, she is Hestia's best friend.

"Sorry for barging, I just had to check up on her, nice to meet you, I am Mellios Silver, Captain of the Hestia Familia." Said Silver as he did a small bow

'Hestia's anger was quenched when she heard that.'

"It's nothing, the fault should be on me since I was the one who kept talking with her. And nice to meet you too, I am Hephaestus, Goddess of the… Hephaestus Familia. I heard a lot about you from Hestia."

'The two shook hands.'

'Although Hestia couldn't help but feel left out.'

"Ho? What did she say about me?"

"OI! Don't say anything Hephaestus!" Said Hestia in embarrassment

'But she only smiled'

"Let's see... She said... Mhuph!"

'But Hestia jumped and closed her mouth.'

"..."

'Silver only watched the two Goddess fooling around with each other in a smile.'

'Hephaestus noticed his look was genuine and that he didn't have any bad intentions.'

(Just like Hestia, she is very sensitive to other people's emotions. This is from experience and not from her divinity like Hestia's)

"... Looks like you chose a good member for your Familia." She said

"Fufu! Silver is the best, he can cook, clean, wash and he alone can provide for me!"

"..."

Oi oi… Is that what I am for you? A housework robot?

"That's rare in boys..."

'Before she could continue her sentence, Hestia continued to brag.'

"He can also fight, forge, and he..."

'But Silver did a light tap on her head.'

"Please stop..." Said Silver

"..."

'Hestia was embarrassed from being treated this way in front of her friend.'

'Hephaestus was surprised as well, she didn't expect Hestia to act like this.'

'It was at this time that she remembered the first time she saw this boy and how Espínter praised the boy.'

Looks like you found what you were looking for Hestia… I can't help but be envious of this sort of relationship...

'She shook her head and said:'

"In any case, I won't take any more time from the two of you..."

"Wait."

'Silver stopped her before she could leave.'

"Can I ask you a question?"

'Hephaestus stopped, this time, her carefree eyes changed to serious ones.'

"Of course, but I can't answer just anything. I don't normally do this but consider it a gift since you are the first Member of Hestia Familia."

"Just don't go telling others that I gave you a gift..."

"Silver wouldn't do that!" Said Hestia

"..."

She is very serious as I expected... I just wanted to ask a question...

I can't blame her, she has a lot on her back as the Goddess of the forge.

"I grew up learning blacksmithing under my grandfather, but no matter how much I try, I can't understand just how some blacksmiths can do some of these works."

"Even after reading some books, I still can't seem to understand just how someone can add 'Effects' onto objects."

"... So it was that."

'She seemed to think for a while before walking to the side.'

"Come with me."

'She went to a door and opened it, revealing a rather small workshop.'

"Your question is similarly hard and easy to answer. Do you know about Development abilities?" Asked Hephaestus as she grabbed a small hammer.

"Yes I do, I imagine there's something to do with the Blacksmith development ability?"

'She seemed surprised.'

"So you know, this is easier then."

"Let's go over the development ability first. There are many development abilities that can affect the processing of materials, quality, and the success rate of forging in general."

"Mixing, metalworking, metal shaping and specific material abilities such as Ironworking. The list is endless. But these tend to be additional ones to pick from in the career of a blacksmith."

"But for a blacksmith, the development ability of the same name is without a doubt the most important."

"It allows them to add these very 'effects' to a piece of gear, as for the process… That can be complicated. Things such as materials, the techniques, and the very will of the blacksmith can change and affect their overall potency."

"For example, Durandal can only be applied to an object if it's made from a rather pure Adamantite and a little bit of Orichalchum."

"The Level of the development ability can also affect the strength and types of 'effects' they can add. It also increases the success rate and quality of the end products."

'Silver seemed pensive.'

"... So it's impossible to add these effects without the development ability."

"In a sense, yes."

"However, in ancient times, there were many methods to make weapons."

"If I am not mistaken, the method to process Orichalchum was made in the Ancient times, right?" Asked Silver

'She nodded her head in surprise.'

Few know about this, looks like he made his homework.

"That's right, however, as I said before, the development ability is necessary to add the attribute of Durandal onto the object. But there are other ways..."

"Some are still used to this day, so I would say there are two main methods to add effects apart from relying on development abilities."

"By controlling the magical power in a similar way to a mage and by inscribing runes onto said objects. Or, you can learn how to read the Hieroglyphs and inscribe them."

"The first method is incredibly hard and it requires a lot of knowledge, it even requires multiple rituals to be performed just like the Elf's traditional magic, so I doubt you would be able to get such information out there."

"And even so, the results aren't nearly as potent as what we can already do, so the method isn't practiced anymore..."

Although some parts of it are still used in the confection of magic swords... But that is classified information.

"As for the second one, even if you can read and inscribe the hieroglyphs, you can't finish the item on your own as you would need Falna from a God. It's a redundant way of making weapons in my opinion since it works in a very similar way to the development ability."

Although... If you know how to perfectly use it, you can make a gear capable of surpassing everything... But that's not possible for a normal man...

(I took inspiration from Bell's knife)

"But I guess it's better than not having one on your gear." She said

"I would say there are other methods, but they go over other areas such as potion making and item making. And I can't say anything about Magic swords, sorry for that." Said Hephaestus as she took a stop to rest a little

'Silver was downcast.'

'The first method was impossible since he couldn't use magic, and the second method would take a long while.'

It will take at least a year for me to get a basic understanding of the Gods' language and even longer for me to properly inscribe them onto objects.

There is also a lot of research since I doubt I can just inscribe any hieroglyphs and hope that the effect I want is going to appear.

"You can still make incredible gear without those Effects, but normally in Orario, people tend to prefer items with at least one effect."

"This situation is pretty similar to how magic operates in the world."

"The traditional magic of the Elves requires a lot of effort and training to work, but it loses in every single way when compared to magic acquired through a Falna."

'Hephaestus didn't want to discourage this young man, but if he wishes to go on the blacksmith path, he will need the development ability.'

"I see, thank you for the information." Replied Silver with a bow.

(Note n1)

"Sorry if this wasn't what you wanted to hear..."

"It's ok, I am a little disappointed, but I am still Level 1, if the opportunity shows itself, I may have the chance to select the blacksmith development ability."

If nothing better appears that is... I want to become a fighter, but I can't guarantee that something good will appear in every Level up, so if the situation calls for it, I will choose the blacksmith DA.

The thing is... How will my achievements be counted?

Will it only count the ones from after I became an adventurer, or will it consider everything I did in this life?

And what about my past life?...

"That's the spirit!" Said Hestia as she smiled

"Are you one to talk? Sleeping like a log every day."

"HM?! How rude! I come to work on time every day!"

'Without waiting, Hestia jumped towards Silver, but he easily avoided it with a step to the side.'

'But…'

/BAM!/

'She ended up crashing against Hephaestus.'

"Ouch! My head..." Said Hephaestus.

"A-Are you okay?! I am sorry for this..."

'It was then she noticed...'

"! Silver! Don't look!"

'But it was too late, after all...'

"..."

'Silver was holding Hephaestus' eye patch in his hands.'

"..." x3

'It took a while for Hephaestus to understand the situation, but she soon placed her hands on her right eye and noticed her eyepatch wasn't there.'

'Hephaestus has a severe trauma due to her eye… According to her, it is disgusting and ugly, so much so that everyone that looked at it said it was so.'

'Apart from her best friend, Hestia. No one that saw it reacted in a natural way.'

'Hence, she is afraid of showing it to anyone else in fear of their reactions.'

(N2)

"AH!"

'She desperately tried to cover her eyes, while Hestia tried to help as well.'

'But Silver just watched.'

"Wh-What are you doing?!"

'Without saying anything, Silver went to Hephaestus and gave her the eye-patch, saying:'

"To be released next week"

.

.

.

Notes:

.

.

.

("PFFT! Sorry sorry… MUWAHAHAHA!"

'The author laughed as he finished the chapter. Satisfied with his villainous deed.'

/BAM!/

"GIVE ME THE CHAPTER!" Said the readers with a gun in hand as he breached through the door to his apartment

"AHHH! NO PLEASE, MERCY!")

.

.

.

"Wh-What are you doing?!"

'Without saying anything, Silver went to Hephaestus and gave her the eye-patch, saying:'

"Is that why you hide it? Well… I can understand now since if you didn't, other girls wouldn't even have a chance. You look even more beautiful without your eyepatch."

"!" x2

'Silver's expression was calm and he seemed to have an embarrassed smile on his face as he said that awkward line. Nevertheless, it wasn't forced, he was truly just being himself.'

'But Hephaestus knew he was being honest, she couldn't see any sort of disgust. Just the normal embarrassment many boys show her when they try to approach her.'

'Hestia on the other hand ignored Silver's words, she would properly teach him a lesson later.'

'Under the strange situation, Silver gently helped the stunned Hephaestus put on her eyepatch again.'

"..."

'By the time he was done, Hephaestus's face was as red as her hair.'

"I am sorry for my goddess' lack of manners."

"HEY!"

"Who was the person that jumped and ripped her eyepatch?"

'Hestia was stunned, a lot passed through her head until she finally decided to say:'

"Urg… It was your fault! Humph!"

"Next time I will make sure to stay on your way so you don't cause trouble." Said Silver

"..."

You will see...

'Hestia turned around and left. But she didn't do that purely out of anger.'

'She was also very embarrassed for what she had done and she knew what this event signified for her friend, so she just wanted to give her some time… Alone with Silver, so that they could talk.

Even though she hated this development!'

"Sigh… Looks like I will have trouble today. Thank you once again for the help and for giving Hestia a place to work" Said Silver as he gave his hand to help Hephaestus get up.

"It-It-Its nothing..."

'Hephaestus was having difficulties speaking, although this passed as strange to Silver, he attributed that to her trauma.'

'Silver wasn't dense, but the prospect of having a girl falling in love with you the first time they met, just because you saw her trauma seems too far-fetched for him.'

She must be having trouble knowing I saw her eye… Tsk.

It was truly an interesting and beautiful sight.

Her eye was crystal clear… Really, it looked like a translucent glass ball leading all the way to darkness.

But if you were to watch really close, you would notice a small red flame burning deep within.

I wonder what that was. Why would the Gods in heaven think this is ugly? I think it's rather exotic and interesting but in no way a turnoff.

Do they see something I don't? I could ask Hestia later.

"In any case, it's getting late. Until next time…"

'Silver turned around after waving at her and went after Hestia.'

'Hephaestus looked at the man leaving the room and she instinctively reached for his shirt with her arm.'

"!"

'But she stopped mid-way and watched the man close the door…

She was alone once again.'

'Even after Silver left with Hestia, she remained on the ground.'

'After a few minutes, she started to cry, but quickly stopped.'

"What am I doing..."

'She got up and gazed at a nearby mirror.'

"..."

'She removed her eyepatch and gazed at her true self for what seemed to be ages...'

"Is that why you hide it? Well… I can understand now since if you didn't, other girls wouldn't even have a chance. You look even more beautiful without your eyepatch."

"... Do I?"

'The only person that had actually ever said that to her was Hestia, the other Gods in heaven only wanted to...'

"Am I truly beautiful?..."

'her cheeks got red as she thought about what had just happened.'

"... Perhaps I can..."

After I finish these commissions, I am super busy right now.

But once I am free…

"What should I wear?..." She said with a smile on her face

'She seemed overly excited.'

…

'Silver made his way back with Hestia, she wanted to go back walking today since last time, her… Her ass hurt from the bumping?'

'0_0'

'Is this right? Was there a mistake or...'

(Just follow the script!)

'...'

"It's getting late, how about we eat outside today?" Asked Silver

"..."

'Hestia didn't respond but she nodded.'

"..."

What is she upset about?

"Is there something bothering you?"

/Freeze/

'Hestia froze in place for a second before she continued to walk.'

"I was just thinking about some things back in heaven"

'She seemed to stop and think for a bit while longer'

"What you did there… Thank you, Hephaestus needed to hear that from someone else… For a long while already."

"..."

"But… That doesn't mean I approve! You will soon see what happens to men that..."

Men that play with the heart of Goddesses!

I can't let the first member of MY Familia be a womanizer like those Gods!

"Sheesh, decide if you are going to praise or punish me..."

...

'Silver and Hestia passed by in front of the HF, Hestia smelled the good food in the air and decided to stop here to eat.'

"What a good smell! Let's eat here, Silver!" She said

"The Hostess? It's a good option."

'She was surprised'

"Do you know this place?"

"Yes I do, I pass by here every so often. They make some..."

'But Silver couldn't finish his sentence because Hestia suddenly pinched his sides and pulled him inside the Pub.'

"Humph, hiding such a good place from me. Let's see what's so good about this place!"

'Silver removed Hestia's hand from his side and opened the door for her.'

'The place was filled with people like always.'

"Table for two… It's Silver nya!" Said a catgirl with black hair.

'It was Chloe, the playful cat girl.'

'She looked at Silver and then at Hestia and said:'

"Your girlfriend? HIHI, are you cheat..."

"It's my Goddess, Hestia, this is one of the waiters from the Hostess of Fertility. Chloe, the playful cat."

Stop talking before you cause trouble...

'Chloe smiled and bowed.'

"Nice to meet you." Said Hestia in a stiff tone.

This girl is dangerous!

'Chloe noticed this behavior however, she did nothing apart from smiling.'

"In any case, can we get a table for two?" Asked Silver

I just wanted to eat in peace...

"That will be a problem Nya, we are quite full… But we have some seats at the counter!"

"That's fine, I quite like those seats anyway."

'Chloe led the two to the counter where Mama mia was currently mixing some drinks.'

"It's you kid! And you're not alone this time… Good! You are finally bringing in more customers!" She said

"How's it going?" Asked Silver

"Just like always. Money is flowing in like water! HAHA..." Replied Mia

"Not going to present me to your friend?" She asked as she looked at Hestia

"Oh. Of course, this is Hestia, my Goddess, and Hestia, this is Mia, owner of the Hostess of Fertility... Can I eat now? I am starving..."

/Pinch/

'Hestia pinched Silver's side, although it didn't hurt at all.'

"Don't be rude!" She said

'Mama Mia looked at the scene and smiled'

"HAHA! That's what I like to hear! Don't be so strict with him!"

'Silver took this chance to order:'

"I will have today's plate and some spaghetti. Just give me some juice as a drink."

"Tsk! Aren't you of age? Order some wine, will you?" She said with a smile

"..."

Just because it's more expensive, right?

And I am not a fan of drinking alcohol while I eat… Unless it's with some snacks.

'She looked to the side and gazed at Hestia.'

"What about you little Goddess?"

"I will have the same as Silver!... And a bit of wine." She said with a smug smile

'Silver was surprised.'

"Are you sure… It's a lot."

"I will be fine!"

"..."

…

'Although Silver did not believe Hestia, she did end up eating everything and even some more, but after this feast, Hestia couldn't even properly walk so Silver had to carry her all of the way back.'

"...."

/ZZZzzz… Snore.../

'Hestia slept soundly as Silver continued on his march towards home.'

"What a busy day."

Tomorrow I will go to the Guild and collect a part of my reward.

Since I have one as Silver and one as the Red knight.

"How much was it? 50K for the info and 1M for taking down the monster right?"

Although the price of the things should have changed...

'Silver was deep in thought as he walked under the moon.'

...

'Later on he would suffer the wrath of his goddess as she would force him on a shopping spree across Orario, unfortunately for her, Silver stamina was too high and she collapsed first, her anger wasn't quenched...'

.

.