Chapter – 131 (First contact with Hephaestus and Hestia)
(*A/N: Here goes 2/4 chapter of this week. Please Enjoy.)
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*A/N: For every 100 power stones extra chapters will be released on the last day of each month. Extra chapters that will release on 30th September = 0.
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'Primis: Anyways. Despite being stupid, I am sure she will look after Lili and Haruhime wholeheartedly and will provide them the warmth of a family.'
Primis: Why don't you both take seat first.
Hestia snapped out of her thoughts and sat down. Hephaestus sat beside her. Then Primis also took seat in front of both. While Ais stood behind him like a guard. Before Primis eyes was closed so they didn't saw them but now, seeing those blood-red eyes in which 3-tomoes were rotating, there visions started to blur so they hurriedly shake their head and stopped looking into them. Remembering how they almost fell in sort of illusion they both felt a chill down their spine.
'Hestia & Hephaestus: Great Eyes.'
Primis: I came here today because of two reasons. First, Hestia no one has joined your yet, right?
Primis words sober them out. Hestia thought that Primis want to join her, so she agitated and enthusiastically nodded her head. Hephaestus also thought so and became depressed inwardly. She also wanted Primis to join her Familia, but it appeared impossible now.
Primis: I see. Then I have a request.
Hestia: Sure. Sure. I will be more than happy with you joining my Familia as the first member.
Primis: ...
Primis looked at Hestia with deadpan expression. Realizing that Hestia misunderstood his meaning, he decided to correct it.
Primis: Sorry, but I have no such intentions.
Hestia: Huh?
Hestia got stunned and her smile froze. Everyone thought they heard heart-breaking sound. As for Hestia, she became depressed and gloomy aura started to come out of her. Hephaestus showed a wry smile looking at Hestia. Although, she took a sigh of relief when Primis said that he didn't have an intention of joining Hestia Familia. Even being depressed, Hestia still opened her mouth.
Hestia: Then.... what request?
Primis: There are two people whom I want to join your Familia.
Hestia: Two peopl?
Hestia mood became better again. She started to daydream again.
'Primis: People recommended by "The Black Swordsman" himself. They must be very strong.'
Hestia: How strong they are? Level 3, Leve 4, or Level 5.
Primis: Neither. They haven't even become Adventurer yet.
Hestia: ...
Hephaestus: ...
This time even Hephaestus became confused. Why do "The Black Swordman" wanted them to join Hestia Familia? Shouldn't it be better to make them join a stronger Familia so that High-ranking members could keep them safe in case a dangerous situation occur. Hestia also perceived that. Even though she acted like an idiot, she was by no means fool.
Hestia: "The Black Swordsman", what is the main reason that you want them to join my Familia?
Primis: They both are teenager, but they never once received the warmth of a family. Since the day they born, one was used as a tool to make money by their parents while other was educated how to be dignified young lady of a noble family. In other words, they don't know what family 'truly' is.
Hestia and Hephaestus face turned grave. From Primis words they can already guess how much they must have suffered.
Primis: If I make them join stronger Familia then it's useless. Why? Because stronger Familia concentrate more on their High-ranking members. They won't waste their time on looking after those who are barely Level 1.
They both nodded in confirmation.
Primis: And even if they look after them, it will be because I asked them to. Hence, they will try to use them to curry flavor me so that they can get my favor or something.
Hestia: Then isn't joining Hephaestus Familia a better choice.
Primis: No. It's true that Hephaestus can take care of them. But as a Blacksmith Familia, she can't be away from her job all the time. Sometimes, it even takes days to forge an equipment. And while forging all your attention should be at it otherwise materials will get destroyed by a mistake. In case they oin Hephaestus Familia, then when Hephaestus was away and making equipment, she will keep on getting distracted of their wellbeing. Because of that there are extremely high chances of making mistake. That's something even a Master Smith like her could not avoid.
Hestia become silent listening this. Even Hephaestus nodded her head after listening to Primis reason. Right now, they need someone who can look after them all the time. Well, except when they were doing their dungeon expenditure.
Primis: What do you say.
Hestia took a deep breath before getting up. Then she hit her chest before showing proud expression.
Hestia: Leave it to me. I will definitely take care of them.
Primis: *nod* It will be better if you will know more about their past. But instead of me telling you about it, I am sure they will tell you about it when they will open up to you. Hence, it depends on you how you make them trust you.
Hestia: Sure, leave it to me.
Primis showed at small smile then turned to Hephaestus.
Primis: Now. The second reason I came here is to meet you, Hephaestus.
Hephaestus: Me?
Primis: Yes.
Hephaestus got startled a little. When Primis said he wanted some people to join Hestia Familia, she thought he only came here to meet Hestia. Still, it was easier for her to guess why he came to meet her. Why someone want to meet Hephaestus, of course to make a weapon or armor of some sort.
Hephaestus: What can I help you with?
Primis: I want you to create weapons for those who are going to join Hestia Familia.
Hephaestus: I see. So, what kind of weapon you want me to make. Are they Magic swords?
Primis: You will need Hestia help for that.
Hephaestus: Hestia?
Hestia: Me?
Hestia pointed at herself in confusion. While Hephaestus also looked at her weirdly.
Primis: Yes.
Hestia: Wait. Wait. Wait. How can I help Hephaestus? In the first place, I don't even know anything about forging.
Primis: The weapon I want to be created are growth weapon.
Hestia: Growth Weapon?
Hephaestus: I see. That make sense. It really required Hestia help.
Hephaestus nodded in understanding. Though Hestia still had confused expression. Well, it can't be helped. Bell Cranel was the only one in the story to use the growth weapon. A long time, blacksmith also had a talk about creating growth weapon among themselves but then they didn't create them in the end.
Hephaestus: Hestia, growth weapons are completely different than normal weapons. These weapons are alive and will become stronger according to the wielder's status, so long as the wielder is a member of some Familia. That's why to create these weapons you need the help of the God of your Familia.
Hestia: Weapon who grow stronger with their users. It's Amazing. Then why I have never heard of it before.
Primis: Because no one use them right now.
Hestia: No one? Why?
Hephaestus: Because it has many problems.
Hestia: Problems?
Seeing Hestia like this, Hephaestus sigh before continuing.
Hephaestus: Like cost. Not everyone could afford it. They are growth weapons; Hence they will become stronger time to time. Therefore, the materials needed to create them should be all top-notch. Otherwise, they will break if they can't handle the increase in power. So, the least price to create one went as high as 100 million valis.
Hestia: 100 MILLION VALIS!!!!!!
Hephaestus: Yes.
'Primis: Well, Hestia Knife cost was 200 million Valis.'
Hephaestus: And since they are growth weapon, at the beginning they are very weak. Compared to them, it's a lot better to buy Magic swords which not only costs in some millions but can also be used to kill stronger monsters.
Hestia: Oh...
'Primis: I wonder how they will react if they know that my "Elucidator" and Ais "Lambent Light" provided/provides us with the attack power of 1000 at Level 1. Which was/is the max strength a Level 1 Adventurer can reach.'
[HAHAHAHAHAHAHA. I am sure they will cough blood on the spot.]
'Primis: I also think so.'
Then Primis glanced back at Ais. Coincidentally Ais was also glancing at him. Both of their eyes met and understood that they both were thinking the same thing. They came to conclusion of remaining silent about that.
Primis: Ahem. Growth weapons also came with many restrictions.
Hestia: Restrictions?
Hephaestus: Yes. First, only its wielder can use it. For example, suppose I created a knife for you. In your hand, it's a very sharp knife but the moment someone else hold it then it will be dullest knife. In other words, only you can use it.
Hestia: Isn't that a good thing?
Hephaestus: Not every thought so. To go in deeper floors of dungeon, party is a must. Otherwise, your chances of surviving are very slim. Assume that you are fighting a strong monster. All your party members are down except you. Then even your weapon break. The first thing that will come to your mind is to borrow the weapon of your party member. In case that weapon came to be a growth weapon then it's over for you. After all, in your hand it's just a useless weapon. That will be same as having no weapon.
Hestia: Oh...
Primis: Another is Familia.
Hestia and Hephaestus turned to Primis when he opened his mouth. Hephaestus became silent and let Primis took over from where she left.
Primis: Since the weapon is made from God's ichor, the blessing of that God's is also a must. Means you need to be the member of that God's Familia. If you left that Familia to join another one, then that weapon will become useless again. Even if you are the wielder of the weapon yourself.
Hestia: So that's how it is.
Hephaestus: Yes. That's why the talk about them was closed. To be honest, I was surprised when "The Black Swordsman" said the name of growth weapon. Not everyone knows about it even among blacksmiths.
Hephaestus then turned to Primis again.
Hephaestus: Since you knew about it you should know much it will cost you.
Primis: Money is not an issue. I will pay the whole up front. Not only that I will even provide every material that will be needed in the process. What I want from you is that you give forging of these weapons your main priority.
Hephaestus became silent before continuing.
Hephaestus: That's a very tall demand.
Primis: Don't worry you won't lose anything here. The penalty you need to pay for late deliveries will all be covered up by me. So, what do you say.
Hephaestus smiled after listening to this.
Hephaestus: Can I take this in writing?
Primis: No.
Hephaestus: Huh? But didn't say you would pay.
Primis: Give me estimate value tomorrow when I will provide you the materials. I will pay it before you even start my order.
Hephaestus: Then I will take your word on that.
Primis: Anyway, that's that for today. I will contact you both tomorrow since it's almost time for you both to take rest for tonight.
Hephaestus: Ok.
Hephaestus then got up and Hestia also followed. She held her hand towards Primis who grabbed it after standing up and shakes with her.
Primis: One more thing.
Primis hand then moved swiftly and suddenly something back appeared in his hand. When Hephaestus saw it, she became shocked because that's her eye patch. And when she felt a breeze at her right-eye she became even more certain. Means her distorted right eye was in full display.
Ascertaining this she looked keenly at Primis. Everyone who saw her right eye except for Hestia till now became scared and ran away in horror. So, she's very conscious of it. Therefore, when she saw Primis didn't have any change in expression after seeing her eye, her heart tremble and she felt like crying.
Primis: Take it as an apology for barging in your workshop.
Primis hand then covered her right-eye entirely. Hephaestus felt a burning sensation on her right eye before Primis removed his hand. Hestia mouth opened wide seeing Hephaestus face. Let alone her even Ais who was looking from behind also opened her eyes wide. As Hephaestus was showing confused expression because of Primis action, mirror appeared in his hand suddenly and he showed Hephaestus her face in it.
Hephaestus: !!!!!!!!!!!
Hephaestus as if struck by lightning stay rooted on her spot. She then touched her now perfect right eye. Realizing that it wasn't a dream, her body tremble violently as tears started to flow out of her eyes like stream. Primis then grabbed the back of her head before pulling it to his chest.
Primis: No need to hold back.
Primis words were like the last straw that broke the camel back.
'Primis: No more chance for you, Welf Crozzo. I am taking Hephaestus.'
Once this thought passed through Primis head, Hephaestus cries filled the whole workshop.
Hephaestus: WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!