As soon as he finished speaking, Hephaestus's gaze fell back to the Leaping Necklace in her hand. Her fingertips brushed over its surface as if it were a precious treasure.
"Well, since we have the foundation of a partnership," the goddess said, looking up with the inquisitive tone of a professional, "would it be convenient for you to explain the principles behind this necklace? I can feel that the mana circulation within it is very unusual."
Beside them, Astraea was clearly just as curious. After all, she rarely entered Suren's workshop and had little idea of how he actually operated.
Suren organized his thoughts, trying to keep his explanation accessible.
"To put it simply, Goddess, my method isn't like a magic sword where you simply store a burst of mana that vanishes once used. Instead, I find a way to stably 'anchor' the rules of the magic and its activation sequence into the item itself, turning the spell into an innate ability of the object."
"A magic sword is like a high-capacity, single-use battery," Suren continued. "Once the energy is released, it's gone. It puts a massive strain on the blade itself, making them expensive and fragile. Within the Leaping Necklace, however, there is a small 'circuit' that slowly absorbs trace amounts of energy from the surrounding environment or the natural dissipation of the wearer's mana. Combined with a complete spell model, as long as the chain itself remains intact, it will continue to recharge and wait for the next use."
He gestured with his hands to emphasize the scale. "When activated, it allows a person to jump higher and farther. A commoner wearing this could easily leap several stories high. For an adventurer with strong physical stats, the boost would scale proportionally to their base, making the effect even more pronounced."
"You've solidified the 'rules' of the magic rather than just the energy?" Hephaestus accurately caught the key point.
Astraea also understood now, grasping the fundamental difference between this and a consumable magic sword.
"Yes. As long as the medium is sturdy enough and the internal magical structure isn't compromised, it will function indefinitely. It isn't a consumable," Suren confirmed. "Of course, achieving this kind of stable internal cycle and anchoring the magic rules requires much higher standards for materials, precision, and mana control than making a standard weapon. But once successful, its long-term value and utility are hard for a magic sword of the same rank to match."
"What is the current cost of producing such an item?" Hephaestus asked. This was a crucial metric for evaluating its value and market potential.
Suren did a quick mental calculation. "Based on my current process, including materials, reasonable loss, and the time spent, the cost per unit is roughly between one hundred thousand and one hundred and fifty thousand Valis."
Hephaestus nodded slightly. With her experience, she could tell Suren's estimate was largely accurate.
The cost is so low... she thought. When considering its reusability and potential breadth of application, her mind immediately began drifting toward the technical and practical implications.
She looked up, her gaze earnest. "Suren, if your schedule allows, I can begin crafting your weapon immediately."
"I accept that proposal. Additionally, I have an idea I'd like to share, if you're willing to listen."
"Please, go on," Hephaestus said, listening intently.
"Beyond forging a personal weapon for me," Suren's tone turned collaborative, "I was wondering if we could explore ways to merge my magic with your top-tier forging techniques and knowledge of materials. It's just a preliminary thought, of course."
Hephaestus listened in silence, her eyes gradually becoming deep and bright—the look of a master encountering a technical challenge worth her life's work. The collision and fusion of top-tier knowledge from two different fields to create new possibilities...
"I think that's an excellent idea, Suren." The genuine interest was palpable in her voice. "It is definitely a direction worth exploring in detail. I must say, Suren... I really wish you belonged to my Familia."
She turned to Astraea with a look of slight regret.
Astraea replied with a gentle, somewhat proud smile. "He has always been a thoughtful child who is willing to put in the hard work. As for the subsequent manufacturing, it is naturally for you two professionals to discuss and decide."
Hephaestus nodded. "Then, back to more practical matters. Suren, regarding the custom weapon you want—do you already have specific concepts or requirements in mind?"
Suren nodded and unbuckled the Mana-Flow Shortsword from his waist. It looked well-used, bearing several marks of repair.
"This blade is of good quality, but for my current combat style, it's reaching its limit. I want to replace it with a weapon that is more ergonomic, sturdier, and more reliable."
He handed the sword over and specified his needs. "I want a one-handed sword of appropriate length and weight. It must be able to function as a staff/catalyst. The durability of the blade itself must be extremely high—ideally, approaching the 'Indestructible' attribute. The grip and balance must be perfectly tuned to me."
Hephaestus's expression grew even more focused. She carefully examined the old shortsword—which was clearly a product of her own house—and then looked thoughtfully at the Leaping Necklace, as if cross-referencing the two in her mind and running simulations.
Internally, she was already calculating: Suren's ideas were novel, but to truly integrate them into forging, they had to start from the most fundamental level—the materials. If this first step wasn't solid, everything that followed would be for naught.
She paused for a moment, choosing her words carefully. Her tone became more grounded. "Come to my workshop tomorrow morning."
"Understood, Goddess Hephaestus. I will be there on time tomorrow morning."
Suren felt a wave of relief. With Hephaestus involved, at the very least, he would end up with a First-Tier Armament.
After Hephaestus left, Suren and Astraea began to chat.
Suren smiled and joked, "I might be asking for a First-Tier Armament. That shouldn't be a problem, right?"
Astraea thought for a moment before answering. "Theoretically, it isn't a problem. However, if you specifically want a First-Tier Armament... actually, you might find it better to approach the Goibniu Familia."
"The Goibniu Familia? It's not that I don't trust them, it's just..."
Suren gave a helpless smile. It wasn't that he questioned Goibniu's skill, but rather that this was the fastest way to build a relationship with Hephaestus. Based on his knowledge of the "original story," Hephaestus was likely the key to accessing that "Heaven's Fire."
He shook his head with a slightly conflicted expression. "It's simply because Hephaestus is easy to deal with, and I need to establish a connection with them for the future."
Astraea didn't press him further. She knew Suren had all sorts of hidden thoughts and information she wasn't privy to. She wouldn't interfere; these were Suren's affairs, after all. If he wanted to tell her, he would do so when the time was right.
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Danmachi: My Magic Style is Different from Yours (84 Chapters – Ongoing)
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