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Miracle potions were among the rarest and most valuable concoctions in all of Orario. Very few potion makers had the skill or knowledge to brew them, and as a result, they were often priced exorbitantly, assuming you could even find one.
Thankfully, the Dian Cecht Familia had a long-standing cooperative relationship with the Loki Familia. Because of this alliance, miracle potions were regularly supplied and even came with a discounted price. Other Familia would have to fork over at least six hundred thousand valis per bottle.
After sifting through the potions and finishing up, Ryoji turned to Tiona and asked her to take him to the Familia's smithing division.
"That's easy! Our Loki Familia's got great ties with a top-notch forging Familia too!" Tiona puffed out her chest proudly, then tilted her head. "But are you planning to have a powerful weapon made for yourself?"
Among top Adventurers, having a signature weapon was practically standard.
Take Tiona, for instance; her enormous double-bladed sword was forged from ultra-hard metal sourced from deep within the Dungeon. Its hardness and sharpness were second to none, and its value was estimated at over one hundred and twenty million valis.
"It's not exactly a powerful weapon… you'll see when we get there."
…
"What a gloomy place."
They had arrived at a narrow alley tucked between the northern and northwestern districts.
The buildings lining the way were uneven and mismatched, and the path was barely wide enough to walk comfortably. Sunlight barely reached the ground here, and the air was thick with a damp, musty odor.
There's a saying: "Fine wine doesn't fear a deep alley." But in reality, shops buried this deep had trouble attracting fresh customers.
Not that Goibniu Familia cared.
Unlike the Hephaestus Familia, which offered equipment to Adventurers of all levels, the Goibniu smiths catered exclusively to elite Adventurers. Their craftsmanship rivaled that of Hephaestus's finest, and as a result, they had more than enough loyal clients to stay afloat.
"Whoa! It's Crusher! Why's she here again?!"
At the very end of the alley stood a sturdy stone house, marked by a sign with three hammers, the emblem of the Goibniu Familia.
The moment Tiona stepped inside, several Blacksmiths jumped in surprise.
"Oi, can you not yell out my nickname like that?" She said with a sigh.
"What brings you here this time?"
"I've brought a friend to commission a weapon."
"Wait, you're not the one forging this time? That's a relief! Do you know how much hell we went through forging that monster sword of yours…"
The Blacksmiths visibly relaxed, some even looking ecstatic.
Forging with ultra-hard metal was a nightmare, it required constant attention, relentless hammering, and meticulous work. The Goibniu smiths had practically worked themselves to collapse before finally completing her weapon. So even though her requests meant a huge payday, they also came with a heavy dose of dread.
"What kind of weapon do you need forged?"
"A sword."
"...Huh?"
Ryoji stepped forward, describing what he had in mind.
He didn't need a handle, nor did he want the blade to be too long. It had to be double-edged, with a sharp tip. And more importantly, he needed a lot of them.
"So… just a double-edged blade?"
"No. It's a sword piece."
'If I say it's a sword, then it's a sword!'
Ryoji wasn't budging on this matter.
"…Another weirdo."
"I knew anyone brought here by Crusher wouldn't be normal!"
The Blacksmiths exchanged muttered comments under their breath as they prepared to begin the job.
Forging and alchemy Familias were both heavily dependent on Adventurers. Without them, their work had no real purpose.
That's why these production Familias often maintained good relationships with exploration-based Familias. Refusing a commission from one of Orario's powerful Adventurer groups could mean losing future business and potentially going bankrupt.
And when it came to influence, the Loki Familia sat at the top. They were not just high-ranking, they were a dream client. Plenty of other Familias would give anything to sign a long-term contract with Loki's group.
So, of course, the Goibniu smiths had no reason to turn them away.
Fortunately for them, Ryoji wasn't requesting anything extravagant. He didn't care about rare materials or premium quality; he just wanted a large quantity made from standard metal. With some effort, the order could be completed in just a few hours.
"Let's head out for now and come back later to pick them up." Tiona paid half the fee in advance and then left the Goibniu workshop with Ryoji in tow.
"Do you need to get anything else?" She asked.
"Hmm… If we're heading to the Middle Floors, we definitely need to buy Fire Dragon Armor."
"Then let's go grab that next!"
The rest of the day was a blur of shopping. Tiona escorted Ryoji across nearly half of Orario, spending close to two million valis by the end of it.
Yet the Amazoness girl didn't mind one bit. She was completely content, actually happy, spending that much for Ryoji. And every time he complimented her, her heart fluttered just a little more.
She even caught herself thinking, 'Have I been brainwashed?'
But if this was brainwashing, she was more than willing to let it happen again.
...
The next morning.
"Phew…"
After completing his morning sword drills, Ryoji let out a long, steady breath.
Thanks to the boost in his physical stats, his movements flowed far more naturally than before. Techniques that used to feel stiff or lacked power were now smooth and precise, each swing sharper, each step lighter.
In the end, physical ability was the core of all combat.
With stronger fundamentals, everything else came easier.
"…Good morning."
Just as he sheathed his blade, a soft voice came from the side.
A girl with golden hair had quietly approached. Her lips moved awkwardly, eyes flickering with a hint of nervousness.
It was the first time Ais had spoken to Ryoji since their initial meeting.
"Good morning."
He glanced at her and answered calmly.
Without another word, Ais unsheathed her sword, a slender, silver rapier that shimmered faintly in the morning light. Its elegant design and aura clearly marked it as a high-tier weapon.
Under Ryoji's gaze, she raised the rapier.
In an instant, she struck out at the air with a burst of blinding speed. The rapid thrusts tore through the wind, creating sharp pressure waves that trembled in the air. Her sword was nearly invisible, leaving countless afterimages as it danced.
"…What do you think?" She asked.
"Hmm?"
"My sword technique."
"You're practicing swordsmanship?"
"?"
"I thought you were trying to kill someone."
"…Why would you say that?"
Ais quietly sheathed her rapier. She didn't look away, her golden eyes locking onto Ryoji. Her expression was serious, unmoving.
Is she nervous?
'Socially awkward, maybe?'
'Must be tough for her to speak so rigidly.'
"You're pushing yourself hard to see results, aren't you?" Ryoji said casually.
That hit her like an arrow straight to the chest.
'He'd seen through her with a single glance.'
"People's thoughts are often reflected in how they fight," He continued. "Someone with a calm and cautious personality will lean toward defensive styles, blocking, dodging, waiting for the right moment. But your sword technique…"
He paused, his voice quiet but firm.
"It's like a storm. You pour everything into each strike, like you're desperate to win. Like you want to get stronger, fast. That mindset shows in every move you make."
This boy…
Truly incredible.
(End of Chapter)