In his dream, Smith stood alone in a place where nothing existed.
No, perhaps it would be wrong to say there was nothing.
In a strange situation where he could not tell whether he was floating or standing in midair, countless screens flickered past before him.
On one screen, dozens of knights were being slaughtered by a single monster.
On another, a knight with flames rising from his entire body was fighting a giant.
On another, a bare-chested man climbed a tower, breaking twelve swords one by one.
On one screen... on another... on yet another...
Every screen showed something different, and they shared only one thing in common.
They were the [fantasies] he remembered.
Knight Run, Dark Souls, Katanagatari, and... and... and...
Countless screens and scenes swept by.
Then all of it stopped.
Only a single screen floated before Smith.
It was neither a memory of the past nor merely an image that had been drawn.
It was the bonfire sword he had once again kindled in Orario: the [Greatsword of the Firelinking Rite].
Beyond the screen, it appeared exactly as he had completed it.
.
.
.
.
And then he awoke from the dream.
As he slowly opened his eyes, he saw the familiar ceiling of the workshop.
"A familiar ceiling..."
"What are you talking about? Stop talking nonsense, and if you're awake, get up already."
At the sudden sound of a familiar voice, he turned his head and saw that Hephaestus was sitting beside the workshop's cot, looking over design blueprints. He had no idea when she had arrived.
"What are you doing there...?"
"Hmm... There are so many weapons here with fascinating designs. Can I take a few of these?"
"If you're fine with selling anything you make under my name, then sure."
"Never mind."
Without even a trace of regret, the goddess set the blueprints down and turned toward him. Damn, and here he had thought he might make some money...
"So, how is it?"
"How is what?"
"Are you pretending not to know, or do you really not know? The world looks different to you now, doesn't it?"
"...Everything definitely looks new. I can't really explain it in words, but..."
Smith continued after lightly closing and reopening his eyes.
"It feels like the very way I perceive the world has changed... I suppose. Even that feels insufficient, but no matter what words I use, they won't express it properly. This is probably the closest I can get."
"Hmm, that's a more refined way of putting it than Tsubaki's."
"What did she say?"
"Something about it feeling like she'd grown another eye?"
"What is that even supposed to mean...?"
He let out a hollow laugh, but he agreed with Tsubaki's expression as well. It truly did feel as though he had gained another eye through which to see the world.
"So, are you happy to have reached the realm you longed for so desperately?"
"Of course I am. Who wouldn't be? But now that I've reached it, I understand something."
"What?"
"The place where I stand is only the starting line. The finish line I must run toward and reach is still far, far away."
"Heh... You really are all the same. Over the long years, there haven't been many who stepped into the supreme realm like you, but there have been some.
Whether they rose through talent alone, through a suitable combination of talent and effort, or despite lacking talent by forcing themselves upward through effort upon effort... all of you said the same thing.
That you still had a long way to go. That the real beginning was only now. So then, where is your finish line...?"
"You already know. You really do have a nasty personality."
"Still, it feels better to hear it directly from one of my children, doesn't it?"
"Sigh... My true goal is the place where you stand, Hephaestus. To challenge the divine throne as a human. That is the final destination that awaits me, and the goal I will never abandon."
"Then come on. A new challenger is always welcome."
"By the way, what about the [Greatsword of the Firelinking Rite] and Lady Hestia...?"
"If you mean the weapon you made, Hestia said, 'This thing belongs here more than anywhere else!' and planted it in the furnace before heading back to the Familia by herself. She said she'd put your name on a tab at the Hostess of Fertility on the way, too."
"She worked hard, so that much is fine. Drawing out her Arcanum must have scared her stiff, so putting a meal on my tab is nothing... Hup."
He turned, climbed out of bed, and headed toward the forge.
"So, is this one definitely a magic sword?"
"Hmm... If a sword that uses magic counts as a magic sword, then I suppose you can call this one that. But it's pretty difficult to meet the cost... I'm probably the only one in Orario who can use it."
"Cost? A sacrifice?"
"Well... something like that. Besides, while this is technically a weapon, it isn't a weapon made to be swung. It's more like a staff."
"It does look that way. The blade is all twisted up, so it looks like it could only thrust, and since it's solid metal all the way through, balancing its center of gravity would be difficult too."
The moment they opened the workshop door, they were in the forge. By the time they had exchanged a few words, they had already arrived before the hilt of the greatsword jutting out from the furnace.
"Would you like to grab it and pull it out once?"
"...This has been inside the furnace the entire time, you know? Do you hate me?"
"I know what you're worried about, but nothing you're worried about will happen."
"I'll trust you...?"
The goddess cautiously grasped the twisted hilt, but before long, her face filled with surprise.
"W-What is this?"
"What is?"
"It's not hot at all. Not even a little."
She pulled out the [Greatsword of the Firelinking Rite] and even gripped its twisted, red-glowing blade with her bare hand, but it was not hot in the slightest.
"Does it absorb heat?"
"No."
"Does it reject heat?"
"That's not it either."
"Tell me while I'm asking nicely."
"Yes, ma'am."
After briefly clearing his throat, he continued.
"It simply means that the flames of an ordinary furnace were not enough to heat the [Greatsword of the Firelinking Rite].
This is a sword that accompanied the journey from the first flame's ignition to the last dying ember.
To put it in terms of this world, the [Greatsword of the Firelinking Rite]'s ability is to offer flames as a sacrifice and continuously restore the HP, Mind, and mental strength of everyone within a certain range.
Even if their stomach is pierced through, their legs are severed, or their windpipe is cut, so long as they do not die, they will rise again.
Even if they collapse from Mind Down, as long as they remain within its range and the flames offered as sacrifice are sufficient, their Mind will continue to recover.
And then there is the most fundamental function of the place where this sword is planted: the recovery of mental strength.
No matter how often they are brought back from the brink of death, no matter how often they collapse from Mind Down, their minds will return to how they were at the beginning without ever wearing away."
"...And the price?"
"Sharp as always. Only one person needs to bear the price. While the sword absorbs flames hot enough to heat it, its owner must grip the sword and pour magic into it."
"How hot do the flames need to be to heat that sword?"
"Well... at the very least, I'd say something on the level of a double chant of Rea Laevateinn?"
"So that's why you said only you could use it. You're the only adventurer who can withstand heat of that level—heat concentrated into a single point—because you have extreme heat resistance."
"Well, if we're only talking about enduring it, [Mighty One] could probably do it too. But heat doesn't only affect the outside of the body, does it? His eyes would melt away, and the instant he opened his mouth, his lungs would be roasted."
My Skill filters the heat from flames before it reaches me, so I'm fine. But I could not imagine anyone else surviving after taking a double chant of Rea Laevateinn concentrated onto one point.
"It really is a weapon made only for you... So when are you going to use it? There aren't any monsters that can unleash flames on such a massive scale, and even among magic users, the only one capable of it is Riveria from the Loki Familia."
"Well, I'm sure the day will come eventually."
...There was that absurdly long flame spell used by the corrupted spirit. I could bring it along then.
"Hmm... There's a strange certainty in your voice."
"Hihaha... Anyway, let's head back to the Familia and update my Status today. If I've reached the supreme realm, then my level-up is basically guaranteed, isn't it?"
"Well, just as you expect, you'll probably level up. Think about your next alias, then. Last time, Freya happened to help us out, but there's no guarantee she'll do so again."
"An alias... an alias... Can't I just use the one I used back then?"
"What? Ah, that one?"
"Yes. Wouldn't Talos be a safe choice?"
"Well, let's keep it as a candidate. Come on, let's go."
"Yes!"
I pushed the [Greatsword of the Firelinking Rite] back into the furnace and left the forge. The furnace was still the place that suited a bonfire sword best.
And that day, a new Level 4 was born in Orario.