The Hephaistos Familia and the Goibniu Familia could be considered the two largest weapon makers in Orario.
Genichi had already learned that from Demeter before coming here.
But the two factions had completely different approaches.
The Goibniu Familia specialized in high-end custom work.
Their workshop didn't accept bulk orders. They only took clients with enough money and enough status.
Each weapon was personally forged by Goibniu himself or one of his direct disciples. From design to material selection to forging, every step was handled with meticulous care.
Naturally, the prices were astronomical. Supposedly, even the cheapest weapon started at ten million valis.
And you had to wait. A wait of a year or more was completely normal.
The Hephaistos Familia, on the other hand, served the masses.
After forging their weapons, they placed them directly in their own shops for display, letting customers browse and choose freely.
From entry-level gear that cost a few hundred thousand valis, to top-tier divine weapons worth hundreds of millions, they had everything.
As long as you could pay, you could walk out with it on the spot.
That business model made Hephaistos Familia weapons the first choice for Orario's adventurers.
Whether you were a rookie just starting out, or a veteran hardened by countless battles, you could find something that suited you here.
Of course—
From the start, Genichi had no intention of buying anything high-end.
He stepped into the Hephaistos Familia's main store and swept his gaze across the rows of display racks.
Longswords, daggers, battle axes, spears, shields, armor…
All kinds of weapons and equipment were arranged in neat lines, their cold metallic sheen glinting under the glow of magic stone lamps.
Beside each item was a placard listing its name, material, special properties, and its price.
When Genichi saw the numbers, his mouth twitched.
The cheapest ones were already in the tens of millions.
He quietly looked away.
Buying high-end gear was impossible.
Wouldn't that be a blatant announcement to everyone that he was special?
A LV.1 adventurer strolling around the Dungeon with a weapon worth tens of millions of valis… that was basically a sign that read: Come rob me.
His goal was simple—
Buy something passable for now. Something usable.
It was just a temporary measure anyway.
With the speed his stats were growing, he'd be LV.3 in at most a week.
By then, whatever he bought now would be obsolete. Unless it was the kind of growth-type equipment that could improve alongside its owner, there was no point in buying anything too good.
He walked up to the consultation counter, where a clerk in uniform with a badge on her chest was standing.
"Hi. I'd like to ask about weapons."
The clerk looked up with a professional smile. "What kind of weapon are you looking for?"
"Swords. A one-handed sword."
Genichi paused, then added, "Or a katana is fine too. The main requirement is durability. Something sturdy that won't break easily."
The clerk nodded and pulled out a thick catalog, flipping through it.
"What's your budget?"
"Around five hundred thousand valis."
The clerk's finger traced down the page. After a moment, she stopped.
"With that budget, there are a few options that fit what you want, but…" She looked up, her smile turning even brighter. "There's one item that's a bit more expensive, but it fits your durability requirement extremely well. Would you like to consider it?"
Genichi stared at her, a bad feeling rising in his gut.
"How much?"
"One point two million valis."
Genichi: "…"
Oh, so that's how it is.
This was what being sold to felt like.
You say your budget is five hundred thousand, and they recommend something that's more than double.
Genichi's mouth twitched.
Of course he knew this was standard sales technique—test the customer's real bottom line, then recommend something slightly over budget but "better value."
But the problem was—
1.2 million was more than double what he planned to spend.
And he had no intention of buying something that good in the first place.
"No, thanks."
Genichi shook his head and turned to leave.
For an ordinary LV.2 adventurer, a 1.2 million valis weapon was already a pretty solid setup.
But for him, it was a disposable item he'd use for a week at most.
Spending 1.2 million on something he'd replace in a week…
He wasn't that extravagant.
He headed toward the exit.
Just as he was about to step out—
"Wait."
A voice came from behind him.
Low and powerful, carrying an authority that didn't allow refusal.
Genichi stopped and turned.
Standing there was a tall woman with an imposing presence.
She had long black hair. An eyepatch covered her left eye, and her remaining right eye burned like molten lava as it fixed on Genichi.
Tsubaki Collbrande—the captain of the Hephaistos Familia, the one-eyed master smith, the strongest forge-master beneath the gods of Orario.
"…You just said you want a weapon with high durability. Something that won't break easily?"
Tsubaki finally spoke, her voice low and rough, with a metallic texture to it.
Genichi was silent for a beat, then nodded.
"Yes."
"Why?"
Genichi blinked.
"Why do you need that kind of weapon?"
Tsubaki took one step forward. The light in her lone eye sharpened. "Most adventurers prioritize sharpness. You only care about durability."
"Because I'm a rookie adventurer. I don't have much money to spend on equipment. A weapon that can last longer saves me valis."
Genichi, naturally, didn't tell her the real reason.
Tsubaki didn't press him.
She only turned and walked toward the back of the shop.
"Come with me."
Genichi hesitated for a moment, then followed.
Tsubaki led him past the front hall and into the storage area behind the shop.
There were even more weapons and pieces of gear piled back there. Some hadn't even been wiped down yet, still coated with black oxidation from forging.
She stopped in a corner and pulled a blade out from a heap of miscellaneous items.
It looked like a katana. The blade was a deep, dark gray, so dull under the dim light that it barely reflected anything.
It looked like something that had been forgotten back here for ages, unwanted and untouched.
Tsubaki handed it to Genichi.
"Try it."
Genichi took the blade.
The instant it settled into his hand, his expression changed.
Heavy.
Very heavy.
Much heavier than any beginner weapon he'd used before.
It wasn't just weight. It was the kind of heaviness that felt like three severed heads were hanging off the hilt, dragging the whole weapon down with brutal, oppressive mass.
(End of Chapter)
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