Chapter 20: Daybreak Hunt. Welf

The streets of Orario.

During the break of dawn, walking down a quiet and peaceful road, a red-haired man who was visibly tired only wanted to rest.

'...I wanna sleep'

The man was Welf Crozzo, a runaway noble from the warmongering familia nation of Rakia, and a descendant of the Crozzo line who were known for their ability to craft mighty magic swords.

'...I want to sleep...but I have to send another batch of weapons and armor to the familia shop at babel...'

Though the man was blessed with a talent that numerous blacksmiths envied him for, he refused to make use of it at all.

Welf learned the cold horrible truth about the way his abilities were intended to be used in his home country...as a means to further propagate Ares' obsession with war.

Slaughtering thousands of men and women in pursuit of perverted pleasure from invading other countries and achieving conquest.

Welf couldn't stand idly by. He didn't wish to become a complicit cog in the machine which took away the lives of many and broke the hearts of many more. So, with the help of his goddess Phobos, he was able to escape from his near-certain life as a weapon of war in Rakia...

...But it came at a cost. Welf was only able to have escaped with his goddess distracting his pursuers...and being sent back to Tenkai at the hand of Ares for her betrayal of Rakia.

'But I'm glad to know that Lady Hephaestus is doing alright now...sick criminal familia bastards...'

Welf thought to himself, he was greatly relieved knowing his benefactor was safe and sound.

After Welf continued escaping whilst mourning the sacrifice his goddess made for him, he eventually made it to Orario and obtained refuge under the Hephaestus familia as a Crozzo.

However, when he stated his desire to not make magic swords, Tsubaki Collbrande, the captain of the familia, became annoyed with his arrogance.

Welf had foolishly clung onto the title of master smith that his countrymen in Rakia had given him, but Tsubaki quickly humbled him by showing that his skills in smithing outside of magic swords were below novice through a weapon-making competition.

'Never thought I would see 'ol Tsubaki cry so much like that...her and Lady Hephaestus really are close'

Welf thought as he saw his captain's relief when Hephaestus arrived safe and unharmed.

Though his pride was shattered by the half-dwarf, it reignited a new goal he strived for himself. To become a well-known blacksmith through his own merit, rather than through his bloodline.

'Gray Ghost huh...I'll toast a drink to him when I get the chance...heard that's popular with people indebted to the guy...but I have to prep my work first...'

Welf massaged his head as he entered his workshop.

This has been his entire life in Orario. Increasing his skills as a smith without relying on his talents. A way to spite those he hated in Rakia for being so cruel to him and to his now-gone goddess.

'Hammer...hammer... where's my hammer?'

Welf began to look for his hammer, wanting to begin his work day in spite of the tiredness he felt after participating earnestly in the search and rescue efforts for his familia's goddess.

But in instant, he froze.

"..."

'Fuck-'

A sensation he had been familiar with during his days on the run crawled up his spine.

One he didn't expect to experience within the walls of the dungeon city. Especially now that he was in the Hephaestus familia.

'Damn Ares...does he not care about angering Hephaestus and her familia? Magic swords can't supply your stupid standing army!-'

The Hephaestus familia were allied with many other smithing familias all across the world, to anger the Hephaestus familia would mean to sour your relationships with all their allies, which would become detrimental for a warmongering buffoon like Ares.

Welf angrily thought about the current situation, he could deal with Rakia's spies and the familia politics, but having his magic sword-making abilities be reminded so blatantly caused the majority of his anger.

"..."

Though his heart was fuming, he kept his expression cool.

He couldn't allow the spies he felt approaching him to notice that they were caught.

Welf began approaching a box he kept at the corner of his workshop, a box he had never used in a long time, evident by the numerous dust and cobwebs found on its surface.

"Yikes...how long has this been sitting here?..."

Welf continued to fiddle with the box, the Rakia spies were now closing in on the entrance of his shop...

"I'm really glad I kept this around..."

The sound of glass bottles clinking against one another could be heard from Welf's hand.

"Specifically to mess with bastards like you!-"

Welf threw three glass bottles filled with transparent liquid at the two Rakia spies, before covering his eyes.

"?!-"

The Rakia spies were too surprised to deal with the projectiles, and suddenly, the glass bottles broke, producing a brilliant light that stunned them.

A flashbang equivalent in the world of Danmachi.

It was a magic item commissioned by Hephaestus to the item-maker Perseus for Welf.

Should he ever encounter his pursuers, he was given a box of these items to aid in buying enough time to call for help.

"See 'ya!-"

Welf then sprinted out of his workshop, leaving the Rakia spies to recover from their dazed states.

'Focus. You have the route memorized to the nearest Ganesha familia outpost. You just have to outrun them-'

Welf was instructed by his captain Tsubaki to get into contact with the Ganesha familia should he ever get pursued. If his pursuers were able to infiltrate Orario, they were no doubt capable individuals.

The Hephaestus familia wouldn't be able to mobilize their warrior smiths so quickly in response to such an occasion, so the Ganesha familia, with their numerous patrol squads, was the first thing Welf needed to reach to assure his safety.

"...!"

Welf began moving deftly across the numerous alleyways of the district in Orario where he lived.

Numerous branching paths are laid between buildings.

Welf memorized the path he needed to take by heart.

But it would seem it was not enough, as he was soon attacked by his pursuers, tumbling into the ground as he was struck in the leg with the throwing knife.

"FUC!-"

Welf wasn't given time to process the pain he had just experienced, as one of the spies immediately mounted him and placed a device around his neck.

'I need to shout! I need to let someone know!-'

He readied himself to shout the loudest shout he had ever made but was shocked as he did so.

".....!....?!-"

'My voice is gone?!-'

As if to enlighten Welf about his current predicament, the man who had mounted him began to speak.

"Don't even try dear traitor. That collar you're wearing is a cursed item specifically designed to make my job very...very easy. It marks you to a related cursed item that will be able to track you down...and it will make you complicit to the owner of the collar..."

The figure spoke as he removed the mask which had obscured his face up till that point.

"So you can't scream...much less fight back... it's taken a while...but I have you now, you traitorous bastard!-"

Welf's eyes widened as he recognized the man who was on top of him.

'Martinus Rakia!-'

Martinus Rakia, a descendant of the royal family, but due to issues with his mother, was not even in consideration to inherit the throne.

Disqualified from becoming an heir, but required to bring honor to his homeland as a relative of the royals, he was soon placed into the secret police division of the Rakia Kingdom.

Acquainted with Welf as he was responsible for leading the search party during his escape...and for personally handing his goddess Phobos to Ares for her punishment.

"...."

Welf glared in hatred at the man who had made him experience the loss of the mother figure of his life.

He was bound, and no doubt slated to suffer immense pain, but Welf could care less about his suffering. He simply focused on the man he despised with his entire being.

"?...pft-HAHAHAHAH- Do you still hate me for sending your goddess to Lord Ares for her betrayal?~"

Martinus laughed in a humorous fashion at the sight of Welf's intense glare, but quickly shifted into an expression devoid of emotion, as he pulled a knife from his waist and put it against Welf's throat.

"She got what she deserved traitor. All traitors to the glorious Rakia Kingdom are deserving of punishment...Lord Ares was merciful ending it with one swing of his sword...if it were me..."

Welf's eyes of hatred began to show disgust as he remembered the sick bastard Martinus was.

'The fact they can do that to their own relatives...disgusting'

Put into the secret police at a young age, Martinus developed numerous mental issues by being constantly exposed to expectations imposed by his royal blood and the cruel acts he witnessed as a leading figure in the secret police.

'Even brainwashing children...their own child relatives for the sake of war...that bastard of a king really is a fool'

Rakia was a nation scorned by many others across the world.

Ares shifted the entire industry and economy of Rakia into one which depended on constant conquest, and the king stand idly by as his subjects suffer. Subserviently obeying the god like his alias implies "The Foolish King".

The nation was only kept afloat by the miracle of having extremely competent personnel throughout generations, and their geographical location serving as a major trading point for many merchants.

This mish-mash of an idiot ruling class equipped with a majorly important role on the world stage is what has dissuaded people like Loki and Freya from destroying the kingdom in retaliation for their endless invasions.

The collapse of what Rakia currently is would bring about financial and welfare destruction worse than any of Ares' idiotic military campaigns.

'That bastard of a war god doesn't realize his success only comes from his idiotic luck-'

Seeing the look on Welf's face, Martinus recognized it immediately. The face he saw on numerous people he was responsible for "questioning".

"Hey...hey...Welf...you aren't thinking...treasonous thoughts are you?..."

"?!-"

Martinus had an obsession with purging traitors to the "glorious" cause of Rakia, which he had gotten from his brainwashing and unkept mental issues.

Because of this, he was feared even by his coworkers in the secret police for what he called..."extolling justice against blasphemers"...

"My dear eldest brother told me not to mess you up too much in this mission...you have to supply endless magic swords for our noble soldiers...but-"

Martinus held his hand, and the other spy which was standing behind him handed out a number of vials containing numerous differently colored liquids.

"He never told me I can't expel the traitor out of you...so...it'll be fine right?...you can still make swords after a few months of recovery in the psych-ward right?"

"!-"

Welf gazed in shock as Martinus opened his mouth forcefully, preparing to pour the suspicious liquids into his system.

Welf could only brace himself for what was to come next. Apologizing to the people who had to help him so far for being caught.

'I'm so sorry Miss Tsubaki...Lady Hephaestus...Phobos...my mother...'

The red-haired man closed his eyes as he prepared for the worst, but he wasn't met with the vile taste of the liquid in Martinus' hands...he only heard a noise...

'...chains?'

Welf opened his eyes to see Matinus bound in chained, equally shocked as him at what had just happened.

"Eh?-"

Martinus was denied his chance to react, as his body was violently pulled by the chains wrapped around his body.

A black shadowy figure passed by quickly in his eyes as he faintly heard what he spoke.

"..seismic..toss?-"

Martinus' body began to be pulled by the chains until all he saw was the blue-orange sky of the sunrise.

"..."

He appreciated the sight...until he was violently pulled once again by the chains, downwards instead of upwards this time.

Martinus violently crashed into the ground, being knocked out in the process, but relatively unharmed due to his high status.

The figure which had violently taken out Martinus landed proficiently on the ground.

Bell spoke as he saw what was left of the Rakian inquisitor.

"...huh...so Rakian spies have a weakness against fighting types...neat"

Bell joked, he was extremely tired and quipped as a way to entertain his mind away from passing out to sleep.

"You bastard! What did you to Lord Mati!-"

"Wake-Up Slap"

Bell slapped the approaching Rakian spy. His status was much lower compared to Martinus', so such a maneuver was enough for Bell to incapacitate the foe.

The Rakian spy fell to the ground as he fainted, and Welf could only stand in a daze as he witnessed the scene.

'The Gray Ghost...'

Bell, seeing the dazed Welf on the ground, recognizing the presence and general purpose of the cursed item on his neck, began approaching him.

"?!-"

Welf naturally became unnerved as he approached, Bell could only sigh and explain his desire not to harm the Crozzo.

"I don't want to hurt you alright? I don't know if you know this...but saving people is kind of my thing..."

Hearing Bell speaks, Welf naturally calmed down but made an observation.

'The Gray Ghost...is more relaxed than I imagined him to be...'

Welf was not wrong in his observation. Reports and accounts of the Gray Ghost's ruthlessness and dedication to justice have painted him as an uber-serious crime fighter.

And Bell is that type of person when he deals with situations like the Gray Ghost, but in his defense...it was 5:30 in the morning...and he spent the entire day exercising to train Lili in the morning...and fighting criminals at night...he was too sleepy to act serious.

Bell knelt down closer to Welf as he began inspecting the cursed item around his neck.

'...production of magical effects through oscillations of mind...that should do the trick...but I need time to analyze it first'

Bell began analyzing how to deal with the cursed item but recognized that it would be awkward to simply work in silence, so he decided to put his other plan into motion now that he was with Welf.

'Might as well give it a shot...if it works, it can become a massive boon for my plans...'

"Welf Crozzo. Child of the cursed family of swordsmiths, who miraculously recovered their family's ability to make magic swords...right?"

Welf froze as he heard what Bell said. He naturally grew suspicious of a person who extensively knew his identity.

'...don't tell me this guy wants me to make a magic sword as compensation?...'

Welf was naturally very cynical towards people who approached him with the knowledge of his family background.

Tons of people continue to bug him every day to request a magic sword in order to progress their dive into the dungeon.

When he first arrived in Orario, there were even people who faked being friends with him in order to use their connection to get a Crozzo magic sword for themselves.

Because of this, Welf grew very distrustful outside of people he already knew. Gaining a reputation in his familia and in Babel as a stubborn anti-social blacksmith.

But Bell knew Welf would react negatively to what he said, so he immediately followed up on what he said.

"Tell me Crozzo...what is a sword in your eyes?"

'... what's a sword in my eyes?'

Welf grew naturally confused at what he heard, Bell only continued to analyze the collar as he continued to speak.

"A sword. A weapon to cut down foes that hinder your path...a weapon of tyranny in the hands of those who wish to oppress others with its blade...but in the same vain it can be viewed as a weapon of protection in the hands of those who wish to defend those they love from harm..."

'...'

Welf grew pensive as Bell continued speaking.

"But a sword remains a sword. When a smith forges it into creation, unless they wield it personally or give it to someone they trust, there's a good possibility that their efforts might be used for...unsavory purposes..."

Welf narrowed his eyes, agreeing with what Bell had just said. Even if people told Welf that they wouldn't use his magic swords for evil or to harm others, he simply couldn't take their word for it.

Extenuating circumstances can force even the most peaceful pacifists into murderers, and he didn't wish to cause a bloody death with the deadly effects of a magic sword.

Bell continued speaking.

"Next...what's a magic sword in your eyes?"

"..."

"A weapon that produces magical effects using the innate mind constructed into itself until it breaks from overuse, a blade which spirits despise with their entire being...a blade which makes any task trivially easy...a cheap way to become stronger...a partner weapon which would leave their user behind as a weak warrior...having their skills rot as they depended on the magic effects of their blade'

Welf naturally agreed with what Bell had said. He grew inspired by the weapons he saw Tsubaki and Hephaestus produce. Weapons that would allow their users to grow. Weapons that wouldn't leave them behind with the help of enchantments like 「Durandal」.

Comparing such weapons to his magic swords, which made users depend on their effects rather than their own strength, and broke away easily. He couldn't help but despise them.

"But what if they were empowered by their user instead of their innate mind?...the disappearance of the utilizing of innate mana in the magic sword would increase its durability by a lot...it would also require the user to improve their own strength as well instead of simply swinging it without consequence"

'A magic sword...that used the user's mind instead of its innate mind?...'

The concept was something Welf had never thought of previously. He needed to study it to be sure, but using what he knew and the principles of the concept...

'...it could work-'

But Bell quickly stained the idea.

"But though it would require the user to improve their mind capacity, they would still forego training sword techniques or general fighting prowess...there's also the issue that even though its durability would increase, it wouldn't compare to regular weapons with enchantments of 「Unbreaking」or the famous 「Durandal」.

Welf quieted his thoughts at Bell's observations.

'He's right...at most... it's just a compromise...why is he telling me all of this?'

Bell had just outlined the reasons for Welf's original growth in the story of Danmachi. He overcame his hesitance to forge magic swords in order to protect his friends and developed a magic sword that used the user's mind in order to diminish the qualities he hated about magic swords.

But Bell pointed these out to him because just as he said, these were all merely compromises.

'Though Welf began to utilize magic swords personally, and forged some new ones...he still naturally hated his blood'

And Bell couldn't be satisfied with such a conclusion for a man with his skill set. He knew the backstory and creation of his despised skill, his past life as the progenitor of his bloodline.

He couldn't just watch as his legacy became tainted by Ares. Him wanting to use it for his perverted military conquests, and his desire corrupting the possible last holder of the skill to despise it in its entirety.

Bell also knew a different pathway Welf could develop. One which was brought to him through his connection to Emiya and UBW. His possession of the skills naturally couldn't allow him to not pursue such a path.

"Welf...what is it that a sword must cut?"

Welf broke out of his thoughts with the question posed by Bell.

'what a sword must cut?...'

Welf thought the question was ridiculous. It was obvious what it cuts.

'The inanimate...dead...or the living'

Welf naturally knew due to having to confront the reality of his weapon-making, but Bell broke his thoughts as he told a story.

"In a time infinitely distant from today, in a land infinitely distant from Orario, there once lived a swordsmith"

"He lived his entire life to perfect the art of sword smithing. Creating countless weapons that would cement his place in sword-making history"

"But his legacy was a cursed one. His swords were so ravenous and cruel, that they became feared as cursed weapons. The blades he forged spilled the blood of masses of warriors, even those of figures thought to be invincible..."

Welf listened in silence as Bell recounted a story of a swordsmith he never heard of.

"He was despised as a demon in disguise, forging weapons to wreak havoc upon the lives of mortals. His legacy was disdained, often retold among future generations as the work of a vile and cruel villain"

"The swordsmith was just a regular man. But he bore the weight of numerous sins and hate as he pursued his passion. The world cursed him for pursuing his dream..."

Welf sympathized with the swordsmith in the story. He was intimately familiar with blacksmiths retiring or losing passion after witnessing their works being responsible for tragedies. It was a profession that requires one to separate themselves from their work, lest they become ridden with guilt.

"But the swordsmith didn't stop forging swords"

"..."

"He kept forging and forging. Gathering metals and sand to create another blade. Purchasing hammer after hammer, anvil after anvil, after each one broke under his endless pursuit"

"Many ridiculed him as a fool...many more called him insane...because he didn't wish to forge a blade which cut through the physical. Not to cut through bone, nor flesh, nor life..."

"He wished to forge a blade that could sever the intangible"

'...the intangible?'

Welf became perplexed at hearing what Bell had said. He didn't even know where to begin visualizing such a sword.

"Let go of excess...let go of weight...let go of speed...to understand oneself"

Welf began to quiet once more as Bell spoke.

"Unravel the essence...perfect the ideal...amass your experience...let your techniques reach the absolute brink of capability"

"Countless years of learning...countless years of training...working atop a tomb of endless blades"

"Converge it all...to forge a blade that cuts through bonds...through destiny...through fate"

"The exoneration and severing of karma itself"

"Such was the ideal blade this blacksmith wished to forge...such was the target he wish to cut with his sword"

"Such was the life of the foolish but admirable swordsmith, Senji"

Welf didn't know how to react to such a story. He didn't know what to make sense of it...why he was told of its existence.

"You must be wondering why I told you such a story right?"

Welf was a bit shocked at Bell predicting his thoughts, but he nodded in reply. His soul as a blacksmith...as a sword maker...he felt as though he would endlessly regret it if he didn't follow through to where this conversation went.

"It's because...I want to show you...the limitations you have imposed upon yourself as a forger of weapons"

'The limitation...I imposed on myself?...'

Bell has finished analyzing the magical frequency of the collar on Welf's neck. He needed it destroyed, lest Welf constantly is tracked by Rakia and be subservient to their forces.

'This will be a scuffed imitation...but it should work in principle...I wonder if I should apologize to Medea for this?'

Bell idly thought as he finished the mental image he wished to project.

「Trace on」

Welf stood in awe at what he saw, blue light flashed in the hands of the Gray Ghost.

Once it dissipated, it left only a knife in its wake. One that was unique in design.

'Rule breaker...it really is a scuffed imitation'

A dagger with a curving blade was held in Bell's hand. Its hilt radiated an almost arcane feel to the weapon, the metal of its blade radiating in numerous colors but predominantly purple.

'Magical and cursed items work through oscillations of mind to create their unique effect...so in theory...if I reinforce this false Rule Breaker with my mind...then vibrate it to a certain frequency...'

Bell thought to himself. He spoke to Welf before he did what he was planning to do, hoping the demonstration will be able to enlighten him.

"Watch Welf Crozzo...at the limitation that has hindered your growth"

"?!-"

Welf saw Bell prepared to strike his knife at him, but before he could react, it was over.

"..."

The knife was wedged into the cursed collar around his neck...and shattered into numerous pieces...

"..."

His voice has returned to him...he was back in control of his body...he was no longer being tracked...yet he remained silent, processing what had just happened, on the brink of realizing what Bell wanted him to learn.

Bell saw that Welf was on the cusp of grasping what he wanted to convey and thus decided to give him one last push as he prepared to disappear from the scene using 「Transient」.

"The knife I made is pretty shitty at cutting enemies, its form factor and design make it very impractical...but I didn't make it to cut flesh or to end the lives of my opponents...I made it cut away at the curse which wrapped around your neck"

"?!-"

Welf instantly realized what Bell wanted to convey, but he continued speaking.

"It's far from what I want to achieve...but you have the talents to improve upon where I struggle in...you have the ability to do so"

"You cannot deny your blood forever... it's tangentially linked to who you are, to deny it is to deny yourself...you will never reach your ideal in such a half-assed state"

Welf became pensive at Bell's observation of himself. He would normally retaliate at such an accusation, but after what he saw, he couldn't deny it.

"... that power... it's yours is it not?...not Ares'...nor your relatives'...nor the victims of your ancestors... it's yours and yours alone...so why let them affect how you perceive and use it?"

Welf looked at his hands which he used to forge weapons, the glimmer in his eyes shining with the epiphany given by Bell.

"You hate magic swords that can be used for war? magic swords that only take away? who leaves their partner a weakened mess with rotted skill?...a magic sword is magical for a reason...so why should it be defined by the expectations of regular swords?"

Welf turned around to look at Bell, but his body was already fading into the air, but he left one last word for the crozzo before their parting.

"So make it yourself...the magic sword which encapsulates your ideal"

Welf now stood alone in the alleyway, similarly to his goddess hours prior.

"...my own magic sword..."

He contemplated what the Gray Ghost had left for him, but noticed he left something else as well. A letter that had a note attached to it.

'These are the details for the kidnapping of yourself and your goddess. I would really appreciate it if you can hand it to your goddess. Being a hidden hero doesn't exactly make it easy to deliver a letter to a prominent goddess without being caught'

Seeing the note, Welf's serious contemplative mood was broken in an instant.

"pft- HAHAHAHAHAH-"

Welf laughed at the dichotomy of tones, but he also laughed for another reason.

He laughed at himself, for being so foolish as to limit himself to the people he hated so much.

"You're right Gray Ghost. For limiting myself to those bastards, I wouldn't mind it if you had just punched me in the face for my idiocy HAHAHA"

The young Crozzo recalled the words his goddess spoke to him which reignited his passion as a smith when he had lost everything.

"Blacksmiths are creators...we create what we want to create...fuck it- I'll do it! My ideal magic sword! One that doesn't simply cut at flesh! Bring it on!"

Welf Crozzo stood back up on his own two feet, feeling the most motivated he had been in his entire life, perhaps even in his past life.

'Why the hell should I make weapons that people expect of me? A new kind of weapon...I can't wait to get back to my forge!-'

Welf thought to himself as he headed for the Hephaestus familia home. He had to drop off the letter and request some materials. A long period of experimenting awaited the young Crozzo.

A future he dearly looked forward to as the sun rose above the horizon. The brilliant rays of possibility shone down on him.

...

..

.

In the mansion of Hephaestus, in the halls decorated with red floors and beige walls, Welf Crozzo stood in front of a door, visibly nervous.

'Calm down...I know it's been a while since you met Lady Hephaestus...not exactly leaving on the best terms...'

Welf recalled the last time he entered this office.

He got into a heated argument against Tsubaki and the goddess about his refusal to use his skills, resulting in him storming out of the mansion in a rage.

'Tsubaki and Lady Hephaestus are forgiving people...so even if you were rude...extremely rude...they should forgive...me'

As Welf continued his thoughts, he only felt worse as he realized he was exploiting the patience and kindness of his benefactors for his own gain.

'Agh!- Just accept any beating the captain might give you or any disappointment Lady Hephaestus might have! I need to deliver this letter...and ask for assistance with my new goal...'

Firming his resolve Welf knocked on the door and announced his name.

"Excuse me Lady Hephaestus. It's me, Welf Crozzo. May I be given permission to enter?"

After doing so, Welf became concerned as he heard a series of noises from inside the room.

"H-HUH?!-"

The surprised exclaim of his goddess was accompanied by the sounds of some things falling.

"Yes! Come in! Please!-"

The desperate cry of acceptance of his captain.

"W-WAIT!-"

And the responding rebuttal of his goddess.

'What the hell is happening in there?'

Welf couldn't help but worry, but simply chose to wait for the confirmation of his goddess.

Though Tsubaki accepted his entry, she was outranked by her goddess who seemed to not accept such a decision.

Eventually, Hephaestus cleared her throat from beyond the door and allowed his entry.

"You may enter Welf"

"Excuse my intrusion"

Welf looked at the surroundings of the office.

'It looks...normal...as usual'

There were no signs of any unusual activity in the room...except the fact, his goddess was lightly sweating with a faint flush on her cheeks, while Tsubaki was grinning as she looked upon Hephaestus.

"Did I...disturb something?"

Welf curiously asked, to which Tsubaki replied.

"Hm? Oh. Just this goddess gushing about her first cru-"

But Hephaestus cut her off before she could finish her sentence.

"SILENCE TSUBAKI!-"

Welf became startled at the loud tone his goddess took. She never spoke so loudly unless she was greatly offended, but she seemed more...

'Embarrassed?...'

This confused Welf greatly, but Tsubaki just laughed at the red-haired goddess' outburst.

"HAHAHAHAHAHA. Y-you're just too precious Lady Hephaestus...pft- HAHAHAHAH"

Welf simply stood in confusion while Tsubaki laughed. Eventually, Hephaestus tried to forcibly change the subject by bringing up the reason for Welf's visit.

"A-anyway. What's the reason you visited me today Welf? Especially so early?

Tsubaki's laughter died down as she concurred with the sentiment of her goddess.

"Yeah, you rarely visit. And I thought you would be sleeping after the search and rescue last night"

Welf began thinking about their replies.

'So they don't hold what happened last time against me...I really fucked up by being so stubborn...'

But he pushed aside his self-reflection to bring up the reason for his visit.

"Well first, I should just mention that some spies from Rakia tried to kidnap me earlier today-"

"WHAT?!-"

Tsubaki and Hephaestus both cried out in unison.

The invasion of Rakian spies into Orario is an issue of border security, one which could affect the whole of Orario. This is not to mention the fact a member of the Hephaestus familia was about to be napped by Rakia.

But Welf dissuaded their sudden outburst immediately

"B-but the Gray Ghost helped me and I'm perfectly fine now because of him!-"

Hearing the mention of the Gray Ghost immediately resolved most of the concerns of the two, but their reactions were rather unique.

"Him again..."

Tsubaki spoke in a tired tone. As if his name was already worn out in her ears.

"G-Gray Ghost?!"

Meanwhile, Hephaestus spoke in a loud tone just as she did earlier, but now with a slightly higher pitch and redness apparent in her cheeks.

"...and he asked me to give this letter to you Lady Hephaestus...he said it will contain the necessary information for both of our incidents..."

Welf handed out the letter to his goddess, which she grabbed rather excitedly, anticipation apparent in her eyes.

Tsubaki could only sigh seeing the starry eyes on her face, but Welf contemplated the reality of the situation.

'...so she likes him...Lady Hephaestus...likes Gray Ghost...'

Welf contemplated the end of his first love.

The young Crozzo was enamored by the goddess since they had met.

Her beauty which many disdained, he adored.

Her craftsmanship was something he idolized.

And the kindness in her heart which took him in despite the dangers of his identity and the difficulty of his personality.

It was a no-brainer for him to fall in love with such a woman.

'The entire reason I wanted to improve...was to earn her recognition...so that I could confess my love'

Welf was determined to become a better blacksmith without relying on his ability to spite his enemies, but also largely to become a worthy person to pursue her affection.

But though his first love was broken...he didn't feel heartbroken...he felt free.

'Perhaps I would've cried if I still limited myself...but now that I have a new goal...I feel okay with it all...as if my infatuation with Lady Hephaestus...was just a phase I grew out of...'

Welf definitely knew he needed to contemplate these feelings more.

Perhaps he would cry in the future as he tried to accept the reality of the situation, but he definitely knew he would come out the other side better than before.

'Maybe it's because I can't seem to bring myself to hate the person who stole my first love away...he can't have possibly done this without knowing about my crush 'cause I never told anyone about it'

Bell, "The reincarnator", Cranel sneezed out of the blue as he tried to sleep at the inn.

His heart was heavy with guilt after talking with Welf, he had just stolen the guy's crush after all.

'The man gave me a new perspective on my entire trauma and a new goal...I have to be a whole other level of asshole to hate him despite that'

'...and I know he's a good match for Lady Hephaestus...I'll just beat his ass if he breaks her heart by cheating on her or something'

Bell, "Harem Protagonist", Cranel sneezed once more out of the blue.

He was beginning to feel as though he was being talked about.

...

..

.

Welf, Tsubaki, and Hephaestus discussed the details of the letter in depth and decided on a course of action.

Though most of the other gods wanted to arrange an emergency Denatus, Hephaestus opted to postpone it by a month, letting it occur on the planned schedule.

"We will need to conduct our own investigations...this letter alone won't be credible for the Denatus given it came from a vigilante...as much as it pains me to accept that"

Said Hephaestus. The gods and goddesses would question the veracity of the information provided by an unknown figure running around Orario.

"I'll arrange some of my contacts in the guild for a private investigation. I might also go to the Hermes familia just in case"

Said Tsubaki, being intimate with how such a scenario would go, given her experience as a seasoned familia captain.

"I appreciate Tsubaki"

Hephaestus thanked Tsubaki for her initiative, to which she just replied with a smile.

"If we are finished with this topic Lady Hephaestus...I have one more reason for coming here today"

Welf spoke out, and hearing such a thing, Hephaestus naturally asked what it was.

"What is it Welf?"

"...I'm planning on making magic swords"

"Huh?!-"

This proclamation from Welf shocked both the goddess and the familia captain greatly.

They both knew Welf and his hatred of magic swords throughout the years they have known him.

No matter the arguments or protests made against him, he was adamant about never using his Crozzo blood.

So they both wondered what caused a change in heart in him, but before they could, Welf stated the catch of his proclamation.

"I need your support for materials to forge with...however, I won't be making traditional magic swords...I will be making my own magic sword!"

Welf stated his goal with conviction.

"You're own...magic sword?"

Hephaestus murmured, before being interrupted by Tsubaki.

"Do you even know the gravity of what you're asking right now Welf Crozzo?"

Tsubaki gazed at Welf with immense pressure, the tone of her voice serious and stern. Welf began to sweat in the aura Tsubaki began to exude.

"The costs of the materials you would consume...the cost of the commissioned adventurers and suppliers to provide such a supply of material for your experiments... it's not cheap"

Tsubaki enunciated each word clearly and with distinction, making sure it all came clear to Welf.

"This is not to mention your impression on us. What reason do we have to invest such resources into you, Crozzo? How should we believe you'll pull through after all the shit you put us through?"

Tsubaki's glare radiated anger and annoyance, something Welf knew was warranted for his behavior throughout the years.

The room was quiet, the goddess and familia captain continued staring at Welf who held his head down.

Tsubaki was about to sigh in disappointment at Welf's weak will, but he suddenly grasped his fists, tensed his muscles, raised his head, and stared Tsubaki and Hephaestus in the eyes.

"BECAUSE I SAID SO!-"

The room became quiet once more are the remnants of Welf's shout stopped resounding across the room.

He was sweating in anticipation, but he didn't weaken the resolve his gaze and body gave off.

Tsubaki was the first one to break the noise.

"ha...haha...HAHAHAHAHAHAHAH- Because you said so huh? Couldn't have said it better myself! Welf Crozzo!"

Tsubaki laughed as she expressed a wide and wild smile. She wasn't let down by Welf, he obtained the purposeful grit and stubbornness every great smith had.

Hephaestus reacted to Welf's proclamation with a smile of her own, her soul as an artisan of the forge had been roused by the promising youth in front of her.

"I see you have taken my words to heart Welf...we blacksmiths...we create what our vision shows us...we create what we want to further improve our craft...to hone our life's purpose!"

Hephaestus stood from her table with gusto and proclaimed with equal determination as Welf.

"I'll bite. So make sure to show it to the world Welf Crozzo...your own magic sword"

With the resources to embark on the new road provided to him by Bell, Welf readied himself to go where no other smith has gone before, not even his famed and reputed ancestor.

A fate irreversibly altered into something which it was never meant to be.

A smith who tore down the preconceptions of a sword to make way for his own creations.

Someone who trailblazer a path numerous artisans after him will spend their life learning and improving upon.

This was the day the hammer of destiny began shaping and molding a figure who would be considered the backbone of Bell's adventures.

A legend to surpass the first Crozzo.

Welf Crozzo,「The Living Forge」.