In the corridors of the Hephaestus Familia.
*Yawn—*
A very unrefined yawn sounded.
At the end of the corridor,
A figure was leaning against the wall, idly tossing a gold coin in hand.
This was a grown woman with wheat-colored skin.
She wore an eyepatch over her left eye, had long hair cascading over her shoulders with a prominent ahoge, and was dressed in a practical work skirt and chest wrap, revealing the solid and powerfully built lines of her shoulder muscles.
—Captain of the [Hephaestus Familia], Lv.5.
—'[Cyclops]', Tsubaki Cobrand.
Though she possessed Dwarven bloodline,
Her physique was even more tall and slender than an average human's, completely lacking the short-limbed characteristics typical of Dwarves.
Consequently, her height had often been the subject of envy from other Dwarves.
...
Catching the gold coin, Tsubaki glanced at the tightly closed guest room door and couldn't help but scratch her head.
"Seriously..."
"Lady Hephaestus too..."
"Locking herself in her private forge first thing in the morning, and even specifically instructing me to take these newcomers to pick out weapons."
"And on top of that, ordering them to choose freely, all complimentary?"
Though she complained verbally,
There wasn't much actual dissatisfaction in Tsubaki's eyes.
Instead, there was more curiosity.
After all,
As the Familia member who had followed Hephaestus the longest,
She knew her patron deity's temperament all too well.
That Hephaestus, who cherished every weapon like a child, could be this generous?
This wasn't just giving away weapons.
It was practically throwing open the family vault for people to help themselves.
Not only did the iron rooster pluck its feathers, it stewed itself into soup and delivered it to your doorstep.
...
*Click.*
At that moment,
The guest room door opened.
Heimdall was the first to step out.
Followed by the group of girls who, after a night's rest, were now full of energy.
Of course,
Along with those two Black Bears that still looked somewhat simple-minded even after being cleaned.
"Morning."
Seeing Tsubaki, Heimdall greeted with a smile.
"It seems Hephaestus has already briefed you."
"Yeah, briefed me crystal clear."
Tsubaki straightened up, placed her hands on her hips, her single eye sizing up Heimdall thoroughly before sweeping her gaze over the girls behind him.
Although these children were still Lv.1 novices for now,
However,
As an Lv.5 powerhouse, Tsubaki keenly sensed an unusual aura emanating from them.
"As expected..."
"Lady Hephaestus's eye has always been sharp."
Tsubaki grinned, revealing a mouthful of white teeth.
"Since it's the patron deity's order, I won't waste words."
"Lord Heimdall, follow me."
"Let me show you what the strongest armory in Orario looks like."
...
After passing through several corridors,
When Tsubaki pushed open the heavy double doors,
*Hiss—*
A collective intake of breath sounded from behind.
Even the worldly-wise Kirukiru Amou couldn't help but slightly narrow her pupils at this moment.
What came into view was a vast space.
More like a museum than a warehouse.
Thousands upon thousands of weapons were neatly displayed on racks, stretching from the ceiling all the way to the floor.
Greatswords, spears, battle axes, crossbows...
Every single weapon gleamed with a cold light under the illumination of magic stone lamps.
One could even faintly sense the weak flow of magical energy pulsating in the air.
"What's displayed here are all the masterpieces our Familia has forged over the years."
Striding inside, Tsubaki casually picked up a dagger from a shelf and twirled it in a beautiful flourish.
"Everything is here, from beginner gear for those just starting out, to high-grade items only those Lv.4 and above can wield."
"Lady Hephaestus said,"
"As long as you can carry it and it feels right in your hands, take whatever you want."
As soon as these words were spoken,
The movements of several Hephaestus Familia members organizing shelves nearby froze.
"C-Captain?!"
A young blacksmith holding a bundle of spears widened his eyes, almost dropping what he was carrying on his feet.
"Is it really permissible to let outsiders take things freely?"
"Just like that... for free?!"
Not just him,
The other few Familia members also exchanged bewildered glances, their faces filled with confusion.
"Stop your nagging!"
"This is an order from Lady Hephaestus."
Tsubaki turned around and dismissed her subordinates.
Then she looked back at the group of eager young women.
"Alright, don't be polite."
"Choosing a weapon is all about first impressions."
"However..."
Tsubaki's gaze fell upon Rin.
"You there, little girl in the mask."
"Haven't your eyes been glued to that sword since we walked in?"
Rin froze.
Her gaze had indeed been stuck on the crystal case in the very center of the hall.
Inside that case was the [Famous Sword · black crow] she had seen when passing by last night.
"Not bad taste."
Tsubaki walked over, opened the case directly, and took out the tachi worth several million currency.
"Catch!"
"Eh?!"
Rin fumbled and caught the thrown sword.
A heavy weight settled in her hands.
She drew the blade from its sheath.
"Zheng—"
A crisp sword cry echoed.
Cloud patterns flowed across the pitch-black blade, radiating piercing coldness.
"Is this... the feel of this sword..."
Rin's hand trembled slightly.
It wasn't fear.
It was excitement.
"This sword is forged from Obsidian Steel unique to the Middle Floor. Its hardness is extremely high, and it provides a special boost to slashing attacks."
Tsubaki crossed her arms and spoke expertly.
"For a swordsman who follows a path of hard striking, this is a fine blade."
"This is the one!"
Rin swiftly returned the sword to its sheath, her eyes filled with unwavering determination.
"As for you..."
Tsubaki looked toward Inaba Tsukiyo standing to the side.
The girl stood quietly with her eyes closed.
"Are you blind?"
Tsubaki's question was very direct.
Even a bit offensive.
However, there was no malice in Tsubaki's tone, only pure inquiry.
Inaba Tsukiyo nodded.
"Then don't use such a heavy weapon."
Tsubaki turned and took a long, sheathed sword from another rack.
This sword was slightly thinner and longer than a regular tachi, and its scabbard was pure white.
"This one is called white egret."
"It's light, fast, and makes almost no sound cutting through the air when swung."
"For someone who fights relying on their sense of hearing, it won't interfere with their judgment."
Inaba Tsukiyo took the sword.
Her fingers gently stroked the hilt.
"Thank you."
The girl's voice was light, but the fingers gripping the sword were very strong.
Immediately after,
"What about me? What about me?"
Kikakujuo Mary couldn't wait any longer. She squeezed to the front and pointed at herself.
"You..."
"What kind of weapon do you want?"
"A Western sword type!"
"A Western sword type? That's quite rare."
Tsubaki stroked her chin and pointed in one direction.
"The Western swords are over there, on the third shelf."
"There's one called Rose Thorn there; it comes with a bleeding effect, making stabs very painful."
"Stabs are very painful?!"
Kikakujuo Mary's eyes lit up.
"I want that one!"
This was practically tailor-made to complement her 'Noble Judgment' skill!
...
Thus,
Under Tsubaki's guidance, the selection continued.
"You there, little girl with green hair."
"What do you want?"
"Mmm~ Little Satori wants a weapon that can turn defeat into victory!"
"In that case..."
Tsubaki pointed to a row of swords on a shelf in the corner.
"The stock over there is more suitable for someone who likes to ambush others."
Tamaba Satori heard this, and her eyes immediately curved into crescent moons.
She hopped over, her fingertips gliding over rows of blades, finally stopping at a seemingly unremarkable tachi with a dull gray blade.
"This sword is called [Gray Serpent]."
Tsubaki glanced at it and introduced it casually.
"The blade has been given a matte finish, so it barely reflects light in the dark."
"Moreover, the edge has extremely fine guide grooves pre-cut."
"If you were to coat it with something..."
Tsubaki didn't finish her sentence, merely shrugging her shoulders.
"Aiya~ How thoughtful~"
Tamaba Satori snatched up the sword, fondling it lovingly in her hands, a pure smile spreading across her face.
...
On the other side,
Kirukiru Amou didn't bother looking at the dazzling array of weapons.
She walked straight toward the armor section.
Although she possessed the skill [Incarnation Blade], which treated her flesh as a weapon,
That didn't mean she liked running around naked to get beaten up.
"I want that set."
Kirukiru Amou pointed to a set of light armor hanging on a mannequin.
It was protective gear woven from black leather and metal plates, ensuring flexibility at the joints while providing sufficient defense for vital areas.
"Good eye."
Tsubaki walked over and patted the armor set.
"This is woven from the hide of a Middle Floor'Shadow Leopard' and refined steel wire. It's light and abrasion-resistant."
"Wear this, and even if you roll on the ground, you won't scrape your skin."
Kirukiru Amou neatly took off the armor and put it on herself.
She moved her arms and legs around.
"It fits perfectly."
...
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