And then, with heavy, deliberate steps, he emerged from behind the divider.
CLANG... CLANG... CLANG...
The metallic sound echoed like a war bell, resounding through the forge and drawing every gaze toward him.
There stood Luki, clad in steel from head to toe. The armor seemed forged not only for protection but for display.
The plates fit together seamlessly, every curve and fold adjusted to his body as though it were a second skin. Overlapping like gleaming scales, the broad shoulders and sturdy chest gave the impression of a living fortress — unbreakable.
The narrow helm, with its sharp visor, hid his face but magnified his presence. The dark cloak flowing from his back completed the image — an imposing shadow trailing behind him, raising his knightly figure even higher.
[Image here]
For a moment, silence ruled the forge. Hestia, Hephaestus, and Tsubaki no longer saw just the boy they had guided up to this point.
What stood before them seemed like a hero from forgotten ages.
— So... how do I look?! — Luki asked, excitement in his voice.
Tsubaki was the first to react.
— How do you look?! You're a monster, kid! But of course you are, I'm the one who made that armor, Ha-ha-ha! — She laughed proudly.
Hephaestus, in contrast, only let out a faint sigh and folded her arms. Her eyes traced every detail of the armor, evaluating carefully. After a moment, she gave a slight nod of approval.
— Fits like a glove. — she said with her usual serenity, though the small, almost imperceptible smile at the corner of her lips betrayed her satisfaction. — If you can actually move properly with all that weight... then yes, it will serve you well.
Hestia, on the other hand, stayed silent for a few seconds, her eyes wide and sparkling as though she were watching a falling star. Her smile was bright and radiant, almost childlike, yet deep inside she felt something far greater: relief.
'Relief that I can finally see you like this, protected... my Luki, now you're truly safe.'
— Uwahhh! — she suddenly burst out, running up to him and circling around to admire every angle. — You look amazing, perfect, wonderful! My Child looks just like a real knight!
She nearly jumped in place, clapping her hands in glee. But behind that exaggerated display, only she knew how comforting it truly was to see her little adventurer wrapped in steel, strong and imposing.
His expression couldn't be seen behind the helm, but Luki was smiling too.
'Now I really feel like I'm living in a fantasy world… all that's left is to learn some magic, and I'll be complete.'
But along with the euphoria came the weight...
Not just the weight of the steel, but the weight of its price.
Maybe because this is a medieval fantasy world, where rare materials are common, blacksmiths are countless times stronger thanks to the Falna, and mass production doesn't exist, armor isn't as overpriced as you'd think. By local standards… this was actually cheap.
Still, when the one forging it is the Captain of the Hephaestus Familia, you're not just paying for the steel. You're paying for the name. Just like Supreme or Prada back on Earth, that name alone drives the price sky-high.
So, just to get an idea of what this outfit is worth…
1. Gambeson (padded base layer)
Weight: 4–6 kg
Price: 100,000 valis
The foundation of any real armor. Without it, the steel becomes your enemy.
2. Full Chainmail (shirt, pants, gloves and coif)
Weight: 15–20 kg
Price: 1,000,000 valis
Thousands of steel rings, hammered by Tsubaki herself. Complete protection even before the plates.
3. Plate Armor (Full body set)
Breastplate & Backplate
Weight: 8–10 kg
Price: 1,500,000 valis
The heart of the armor. Molded steel layers to guard the torso without killing mobility.
Pauldrons (Shoulder Guards)
Weight: 4–5 kg
Price: 500,000 valis
Massive, imposing, giving that towering knight silhouette.
Vambraces & Gauntlets
Weight: 3–4 kg
Price: 400,000 valis
Arms to fists, fully covered. Protection without losing sword dexterity.
Cuisses, Greaves & Sabatons (Leg and Foot Armor)
Weight: 10–12 kg
Price: 1,200,000 valis
From thighs to toes, thunder echoes with every step.
Great Helm (Closed Helmet)
Weight: 3–4 kg
Price: 600,000 valis
The finishing touch: intimidating, heavy, worthy of a knight of legends.
4. Quality bonus
Hephaestus Brand PremiumJust carrying the goddess symbol increases the price.
Additional: +1.200.000 valis
Handmade by Tsubaki (Captain of the Familia)Exclusive work by the best mortal blacksmith working in Orario.
Additional: +2.000.000 valis
Total Outfit Value
Total Weight: ~45–55 kg
Total Cost: ~8,000,000 valis
'Yeah... apparently besides being poor I'm in debt, but what a good transmigrated life, i'm not even counting the price of that mermaid blood... Now that I think about it, it seems like the Hestia Familia is destined to live in debt, no matter the protagonist.'
— Hey, boy. — Hephaestus cut in with her usual calm tone. — Aren't you forgetting something? I also made something for you.
— Ah! My bad... I got carried away and forgot. — he admitted sheepishly. He reached a hand toward the back of his neck out of habit, only for the gesture to be stopped by the helmet, leaving him even more flustered.
Laughing at himself, he instinctively turned toward the table. But instead of the sword, he found only the white cloth that had once covered it.
— Huh? Where is it?
— Oh, that. — said Hestia, hiding her hands behind her back suspiciously. — While you were wrestling with all those buckles, Hephaestus and I finished the final step of the forging.
— Final step...? But wasn't it already done?
Hephaestus shook her head, her gaze momentarily lost in distant memories.
— The body of the sword was. But something was still missing. To finish it, I had to merge Hestia's divine blood with mine. Only then would the blade take on its final aspect.
She paused, as if weighing her words.
— My weapons are different, Luki-kun. After... eons of hammering iron, I finally discovered how to give them "life." These blades grow alongside their owners. They strengthen as you do. They never abandon the one who wields them.
Her eyes narrowed.
— But it comes with a price: each weapon recognizes only one master. They never truly break, rarely need repairs... and if such weapons were common, no other blacksmith would stand a chance in this world. That's why I swore never to sell them. I'd rather my Children grow on their own merits.
Luki blinked a few times, lost for words.
— Wow... I... I don't even know how to thank you.
A faint smile curved the goddess-smith's lips.
— You don't need to. For you... I suppose I can make an exception. — she murmured, looking aside. — Besides... if I didn't, someone would nag me about it for eternity.
For a brief moment, Hephaestus's gaze flicked toward Hestia, her expression shadowed by old memories, before she refocused on Luki.
Meanwhile, Hestia stepped forward, holding the sword horizontally with both hands as though presenting something sacred.
How she had managed to hide something nearly as tall as herself behind her back was anyone's guess.
Luki stood frozen, his chest rising and falling quickly, wordless. Each breath came heavy — not from effort, but from sheer anticipation and emotion.
— Can I... hold it? — he finally asked, his voice almost a whisper.
— Of course. — Hephaestus replied with her usual serenity, though her eyes shone with approval. — It's your sword. Who else should wield it?
Hestia chimed in eagerly:
— Go on, Luki-kun! It's heavy, you know!
With trembling hands, Luki stepped forward. Slowly, almost reverently, he grasped the hilt of the blade. The feel of the firm leather beneath his gauntlet made his heart race.
For an instant, it seemed as though the sword responded to his touch, its blade glowing faintly.
It was a Greatsword, classified among two-handed weapons, though not the widest kind, still usable with one hand if the wielder was strong enough.
Its total length was about one meter and forty centimeters, with the blade itself measuring one meter and ten, straight and double-edged. The simple crossguard spanned twenty centimeters, enough to protect the grip without unnecessary adornments. The grip, wrapped tightly in navy-blue leather, was thirty centimeters long, perfect for two-handed use or more flexible handling.
Its apparent weight seemed five or six kilos, but in truth it was closer to triple that, between fifteen and eighteen kilos. Heavy enough to demand strength and technique, but not impossible for someone trained.
The blade measured about five centimeters wide at the base, tapering slightly toward the tip, with an average thickness of half a centimeter, balancing resilience and sharpness.
Despite the minimalist design, it could never be called ordinary. The metal held a cold, almost matte sheen, and along its length faint runes were engraved, subtle enough to be mistaken for natural forging marks, only revealing themselves under certain angles of light, as though they were part of the steel itself.
— I'll admit, I'm surprised. — said Hephaestus, resting her chin on her hand. — The weapon best suited for you ended up being a simple Greatsword. Usually, when I say "ideal weapon," it's something far more unique and stylized.
— Hunf! Of course! My Luki is very humble. — Hestia lifted her chin proudly.
— Don't talk as if that's your achievement... and besides, this has nothing to do with humility, so be quiet. — Hephaestus retorted, annoyed at the interruption.
She straightened her posture, crossing her legs and interlacing her fingers over her knee.
— In any case, this sword will grow with you. Once the bond is established, half of all the Excelia you gain will automatically be absorbed by the blade.
Luki's eyes widened in shock.
— You mean... it "evolves" with me? Like, changing form and all that?
— Exactly. Just as Hestia updates your Falna, she'll be able to update the sword. But in this case, a drop of your blood will also be required every time you do this, since you are its master.
She paused briefly, as though recalling something.
— Ah, speaking of which... we still need to establish the bond with the weapon.
— Establish a bond? But hadn't I already done that, when you asked me for all that blood from time to time? — Luki asked, frowning.
In truth, the process had been quite different from what he imagined. Hephaestus's evolving weapons didn't come into being solely from the goddess's skill; the wielder had to participate from the very beginning.
His presence had been required at almost every stage of forging. Even if all he did was stand near the furnace while the metal melted, his proximity alone was enough for the blade to begin "recognizing" him.
But the central element was always blood.
At Hephaestus's request, Luki had been forced to give several liters over the course of the process. Part of it was mixed directly into the molten metal. The rest was poured onto the glowing blade as it was hammered, drop after drop fusing into the steel.
Not that the two materials are being mixed, with his craftsmanship skills that Luki doesn't remember, Hephastus removed any impurities from the metal. It's more like, by bathing the blade with your presence, in this case, blood, it helps the process in some way that only Hephastus knows how.
It was grueling, exhausting, and anything but glamorous. Between sessions, he nearly fainted from blood loss and had to down healing potions one after another just to stay standing.
In the end, there was nothing mystical about it, only sweat, pain, and persistence.
Hephaestus's answer was blunt:
— Not exactly. All that blood was only to increase compatibility between you and the blade. Not an absolute requirement, but it helps greatly in strengthening the bond. Necessary? No. Recommended? Yes.
— Huh... so what do I need to do now?
— Nothing complicated. Just hold the sword to your chest while Hestia updates your Falna. After everything you've already given, the bond will form easily.
— I see... wait a second! — Luki blinked rapidly as realization struck. — That means I'll have to take the armor off?! Why didn't you say so before?!
— You didn't ask. — Hephaestus replied with a straight face, though the corner of her lips betrayed a playful smile.
Beside them, Tsubaki burst into raucous laughter.
— Hahahahaha! Oh, my god! After all that work putting the armor on, now you have to take it all off again! Hahahaha!
Even Hestia, who should have been on his side, was laughing while trying to hide her mouth with her hand.
'That's right, Hestia, keep laughing... vengeance comes on horseback.'
...
Since it had to be done eventually, and with the Dungeon ahead, Luki just sighed and accepted his fate. With Tsubaki's help, he began removing the upper half of the armor.
When his back was exposed, Hestia started the process of updating the Falna. She let a drop of blood fall onto his back and another onto the blade, which Luki repeated himself.
In that instant, the Falna's seal lit up, and the runes on the sword glowed as well, pulsing in sync.
— Just a moment... I'll need to adjust the Falna's script a little. — Hestia warned.
The light on his back grew brighter, and then the markings began to expand. Once limited to his back, the lines spread across his shoulder, down his arm, until they covered his entire right arm. The final stroke ended at his hand, forming a pattern of concentric circles on the back of it.
— Aaaand... done! — Hestia said, satisfied. — Anyone got paper?
— Here. — Tsubaki handed her two sheets without explanation.
Hestia quickly transcribed the Falna's data. When finished, she handed both pages to Luki. He took them, confused — and then his eyes widened as he read.
— Ah... honestly, I wasn't expecting this.