"The monsters on these middle floors..."
"their bones really are a bit hard."
"If we keep chopping like this."
"we probably won't last long before we're fighting monsters bare-handed."
"..."
Hearing this.
Tamaba Satori, who had been standing quietly to the side, also silently lowered her head.
Her fingers lightly stroked the blade of her own [Gray Snake].
Although she rarely clashed directly with monsters.
still.
that chaotic melee just now was simply too messy.
Inevitably, there were bumps and collisions.
A shallow scratch now marred the blade of [Gray Snake] as well.
...
"Let me see."
Just as Rin was still sighing over the nicks on her blade.
a figure jumped down from a higher platform.
Tsubaki walked up to Rin and held out her hand.
"Tsubaki... Tsubaki-senpai?"
Rin was taken aback for a moment, then hurriedly handed over the sword.
"Tsubaki-senpai, please take a look!"
"Can it be saved?"
"This is a weapon worth several million valis!!"
"Don't panic."
Tsubaki took the long sword.
Her single eye narrowed slightly, her fingers expertly gliding over the blade.
Her fingertips traced the texture of the chips and sensed the changes in stress within the blade itself.
As Orario's top Blacksmith.
this level of diagnosis was routine for her.
"Hmm..."
Tsubaki pondered for a moment.
But with each second of silence, Rin's heart sank further.
"That..."
"Miss Tsubaki..."
"It won't be..."
"...beyond saving, right?"
Rin's voice was laced with a sob.
"Who said that?"
Tsubaki suddenly raised her head, arched an eyebrow, and tossed the knife back to Rin.
"If this level of minor injury means being scrapped, then..."
"Then I might as well write my title, [[Cyclops]], backward."
"Really?!"
Rin snatched the knife, overjoyed.
"Of course, it's true."
Tsubaki crossed her arms, looking somewhat amusedly at the young girl who had been so dejected just moments before.
"But, well..."
Tsubaki's gaze swept over the weapons in everyone's hands, all bearing some degree of damage.
She let out a sigh.
"Although it's famous that the monsters in the Dungeon have tough hides, you rookies really don't know how to cherish your weapons; you're just hacking away with brute force."
"The efficiency with which you managed to wreck your weapons so quickly..."
"It's a testament to the sheer quality of the Hephaestus Familia's craftsmanship that this knife hasn't broken yet."
"..."
Except for Kirukiru Amou and Inaba Tsukiyo, everyone else sheepishly looked away.
"Waa..."
Rin shrank her neck, feeling guilty.
"Well, that's because there were too many monsters..."
"When we get into the heat of battle, how can we possibly worry about that..."
"Besides..."
Rin looked at Tsubaki somewhat aggrievedly.
"Aren't weapons supposed to be really sturdy if they're this expensive?"
"..."
Hearing this, Tsubaki took a deep breath, forcefully suppressing the urge to pin Rin to the ground and rough her up.
"Sturdiness has its limits! Even the best weapon won't last more than a few days with unrestrained, barbaric use!"
"However, there's no need to look so gloomy."
Tsubaki sighed, waving her hand at the group of girls who were all looking down, heartbroken over their weapons.
"Since I promised Lord Heimdall that I would be responsible for your logistics, this after-sales service naturally covers everything."
"When we get back, send all these weapons to my workshop."
"I'll repair them for you personally."
"And while I'm at it..."
Tsubaki glanced at the chip on Rin's knife.
"I think ordinary steel might not keep up with your fighting style anymore."
"Later, I'll secretly mix in some potent ingredients for you."
"As long as you don't use them to chop rocks, they should last a bit longer."
"Really?!"
"That's wonderful!"
"Hooray for Tsubaki-senpai!"
Rin and the others cheered, the previous gloom instantly vanishing.
...Meanwhile, on the other side...
Compared to Rin's group discussing weapon repairs, the Takemikazuchi Familia side was practically spinning like tops.
"Quick, quick, quick!"
"Asuka! There's another piece in that corner!"
"Mikoto! Stop daydreaming! Carry the big one first!"
"Chigusa! Strap on that rabbit pelt; the intact one will sell for a good price!"
Kashima had completely transformed into a ruthless foreman, commanding the others to frantically loot.
"So much..."
"So many Magic Stones..."
Mikoto, carrying a massive backpack already on the verge of overflowing, had her waist bent over by the weight.
But her face was beaming with happiness.
"Sakura-sama!"
"I did a rough count just now!"
"Just this haul alone..."
"It's at least equivalent to what we usually earn in a month!"
"A month?!"
Kashima flinched, almost biting off her own tongue.
"If that's the case..."
"Then let's hurry up and move it!"
"Yes!!!"
The others responded in unison, their movements becoming even faster.
Even the small bear that had been resting nearby seemed infected by the bustling scene, or perhaps it simply found it amusing.
It trotted over happily, carrying a Magic Stone in its mouth and offering it to Mikoto.
"Hoo-ngh~"
"This..."
Mikoto froze on the spot upon seeing this.
...Half an hour later...
The cavern was finally cleaned out completely.
-------------------------------
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