After defeating the extremely tough bull monster ,I felt a slight smile on my face as I reached a new level of my Nail Arts skill.
Even without a status update ,I could feel new techniques and experience flowing into my mind.
With the upgrade in skills ,I could feel it even more clearly than before that this old and broken nail was holding me back.
If I wanted to reach further in the dungeon ,I need some upgrades. I'll have to ask Lady Hestia.
.....
After selling our spoils of battle ,we left the guild loaded with valis. We hauled in a total of 200,000 valis this time with the Minotaur core and all the other monster cores and drops.
Then Bell and I returned to the church and entered the basement together. Ever since we hired Lili ,we've gained the financial stability to allow Lady Hestia to stop working at the fried potato ball stall.
So Lady Hestia was waiting for us at home to return from the dungeon. Seeing her face lit up ,I walked forward to ask her.
"Lady Hestia. I have a question."
She tilted her head in confusion before smiling.
"Of course Holo-kun. Ask me anything ,as a goddess ,I will resolve all your worries!"
I nodded and then voiced my concerns.
"Is there anyone I can go to and have them fix up and upgrade my nail?"
I pull my nail off my back and with a closer inspection ,there were a few fine chips and cracks along the blade.
"Uh~ ,we can see if anyone at the Hephaestus Familia can work on it? But I'm not sure their smiths have any experience with this kind of weapon."
"Worth a shot."
I replied solemnly. If I can't find anyone ,I can always try fixing it myself.
.....
All three of us went to the Hephaestus Familia together to see if anyone can work on my nail.
We brought along most of our reserve funds and equipment funds that we managed to save up.
It all totaled up to 1.2 million valis. Even I was surprised ,I didn't realize we were bringing in that much money.
It looks like we've officially exited the poverty stage of life and entered the 'golden age'.
Anyways ,after entering the mansion known as the 'Etna Volcano' we were brought by Lady Hestia to meet with the esteemed goddess of the forge. Hephaestus.
The moment we entered Hestia hugged the stoic looking goddess of the forge. Is this a trait of my Lady Hestia?
She seems to often attach herself to people taller than her. Like Bell and Lady Hephaestus.
She also hugged me when we first met as well. I guess my Lady really loves hugs is the final conclusion here.
While I was lost in my philosophical spiral ,Lady Hestia had detached from Lady Hephaestus and began frantically ask about my if she could find someone to work on her child's weapon for a small discount.
I was shocked ,1.2 million valis and we still need a discount. What kind of inflated currency system is this.
Clearly ,the shock in my eyes did not go unnoticed by the goddess of the forge in front of us.
She chuckled for a moment.
"Your kid seems a little shocked by the price of my Familia's smithing work."
Lady Hestia kindly turned towards me and explained that the quality of smiths in the Hephaestus Familia were second to none in all of Orario.