Back in his room, Roland opened his interface.
Personal InfoName: Roland Age: 13 Level: 32 (System Level)
Adventuring for a few days only netted me two levels, he mused. As his level increased, the experience required grew exponentially, and monsters needed to be more challenging to count.
Looking at the pile of broken swords in the corner, he realized he needed a custom, durable weapon. He lay on his bed, arm over his eyes, planning to go deeper into the dungeon tomorrow and visit the Hephaestus Workshop. He soon drifted off to sleep.
The next day, Roland arrived at the Loki Familia gates only to be told by the guard that Ais had been taken by Loki for some business. Riveria had left a message saying they would冒险 (adventure) together another time.
"Looks like I'm going solo today," Roland thought, looking toward the Tower of Babel. "Time to catch up on my leveling speed. But first, I have an errand."
He headed to the Industrial Area. This was a place of clanging metal and bustling workers—mostly humans and demi-humans. There were few women or children here; it was a district of heavy industry and craftsmen.
He recalled seeing a Hephaestus Workshop here earlier. He spotted the building with the Familia's crest and stepped inside.
The sound of rhythmic hammering met his ears, accompanied by flying sparks. The forge was spacious and dim, lit only by the glowing furnace. Following the sound, he saw a tall, brown-skinned beauty with long hair. She wore red hakama pants, but her upper body was bound only in white cloth.
Despite being drenched in sweat, she didn't stop. A black eyepatch covered one eye, but it didn't detract from her striking, heroic features. With one final strike, the red-hot metal glowed with a faint light before settling.
This was the [Smithing] development ability—infusing the metal with the same "Excellence" as a Falna to elevate it to a higher tier.
"Can I help you?"
The woman turned. She was a half-dwarf of Far East descent. Despite her height, she was known as Orario's greatest blacksmith—someone who had accidentally reached Level 5 just by testing the weapons she forged in the dungeon.
"Can I commission a custom weapon?" Roland asked, placing his bag of materials on the stone table. He opened it to reveal a massive dragon horn and a heap of rare materials. "Do you have time to take an order?"
The smith looked at the materials, then at Roland. "A custom order? You're a new face. Are you a lower-class adventurer?"
"No, I'm Level 2... Roland, from the Astraea Familia."
"So you're from the Astraea Familia? You should have said so sooner! I'll take your commission," she said, suddenly shifting into a boisterous mood. She slapped her chest heartily and introduced herself.
"I am a smith of the Hephaestus Familia, and also the Captain—Tsubaki Collbrande. Just call me Tsubaki."
"But Roland... is there someone like that in the Astraea Familia?" Tsubaki paused, falling into thought. Roland being part of the 'Justice Familia' caught her off guard. Realizing her slip of tongue, she quickly added, "Ah—sorry! I usually spend all my time cooped up in the workshop forging, so I'm a bit out of the loop with recent news."
------------------------------------------------
Make this Valentine's special.
Join our Patreon family and enjoy 15% OFF.
Available starting today!
https://[email protected]/AuAuMon
My : https://[email protected]/AuAuMon
Danmachi : Mage's Infinite Journey (168 Chapters – Ongoing)
------------------------------------------------
The sweat dripping like rain had soaked her chest binding, revealing a hint of her figure that should have been quite provocative. However, her cheerful and unrefined personality completely neutralized any feminine allure. She didn't seem like a Half-Dwarf; she felt more like an Amazon.
Tsubaki took the one-handed sword Roland had brought—a standard blade clearly purchased from one of her own branch shops—and examined the damaged weapon.
"It's just a fine-grade sword, but man, you really put it through the wringer," Tsubaki thought, offering a blunt evaluation. "Another unloved weapon."
The edge, which should have been sharp, was notched in several places. The tip was blunted, and the blade was covered in nicks and tiny internal fractures caused by magical resonance. As a master smith, Tsubaki could easily deduce her client's combat habits just from these clues: he was the type who didn't care about his blade's durability once the fighting started.
"Well, luck is on your side since you ran into me. What kind of weapons and armor do you want?" Tsubaki grinned heroically, inviting Roland to state his requirements.
Roland adjusted his gaze. When this mature woman laughed, her figure trembled in a way that rivaled even his Goddess, and the sweat trailing down her neck added a dangerous layer of lethality to her effortless beauty.
"Just another one-handed sword. My main requirement is durability. As for armor, I can use these scales to make a small bracer," Roland replied.
"I see. I'll need to study these materials first." Having decided on the type, Tsubaki reached out to touch the hard dragon horn and scales. "Green Dragon horn? Did you hunt this alone?"
"Yes," Roland nodded.
"Alright then." Tsubaki dove back into her storage room, muttering to herself. "A shame I don't have enough high-grade steel right now. I really need that—Adamantite."
Adamantite produced in the Dungeon is a top-tier material among rare metals. However, because it is found on different floors, its purity varies, leading to different grades.
"What specific steel do you need? If you're short, I can go gather it now," Roland suggested.
"Eh? How could I push my troubles onto a customer? I'm a Level 5, after all." Tsubaki waved him off, grabbing a katana she had forged and hanging it at her waist. She shifted instantly from smith to adventurer.
Since the owner of the workshop was heading to the Dungeon, Roland had no reason to stay behind. The two walked down the main street toward the Tower of Babel. Tsubaki's goal was the depths below, but she wore no armor—just her katana, red hakama pants, and a short top that exposed her midriff.
Suddenly, Tsubaki had an epiphany. "Do you need a Magic Sword? I successfully forged a few recently. If you buy one now, I can give you a discount on the custom blade's forging fee."
Roland shook his head. "Thanks, but I can already use magic. Buying a Magic Sword would be a waste."
"I see... Tsubaki-san, just out of curiosity, how much does a typical Magic Sword cost?"
Tsubaki narrowed her eye and held up three fingers, smiling. "Three million each. Quite a bargain, right?"
"Ahaha, yeah... a bargain," Roland gave a forced laugh.
Tsubaki blinked, then leaned in close, whispering in a low voice, "Wait, you haven't asked about my forging fee yet, have you?"
"How much?" Roland paused, bracing himself.
"About ten million..." Tsubaki noted the look of relief on Roland's face and felt a bit deflated. This wasn't the reaction she expected.
However, she threw an arm around his shoulder and laughed. "That includes the cost of the Adamantite! It's a steal. I'm glad you're okay with it."
"Yes, thank you for your concern. That price is no problem for me," Roland replied, not minding her casual intimacy.