Tsubaki secretly breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing Rod's assurance.
At least this guy has some sense...
The next second, however, she heard words that almost made her heart stop.
"My only simple and easy request is to transform the bullets used by the pistol into 'Magic Guns' of different attributes~"
"How about that? It's not as harsh as what I asked of Hephaestus, right?"
Heh, heh heh...
To compress a Magic Sword, which is already extremely difficult to manufacture, to the size of a bullet, and also to have different attributes?
Tsubaki stared blankly at Rod, who was smiling encouragingly, then broke down, hooked her arm around Rod's neck, shook him vigorously, and shouted through gritted teeth.
"...You call this unprecedented and heaven-defying request simple and easy?! Huh?!!"
Tsubaki wished she could go back a few minutes and kick her past self, who had spoken so casually, into the forge to be remade!
Why did you have to keep this guy around!
It turns out she was just bored and looking for trouble, right!
After forcibly pushing the grinning Rod out the door and sending him away, Tsubaki slumped over the craftsman's table, cursing incessantly in her mind, yet efficiently disassembling the pistol into parts of varying sizes.
What a hateful client!
I'm putting you on the permanent blacklist!
"Tsubaki-sama.... Uh...."
Lili returned from the Dungeon exploration with the main group, intending to report the progress to Tsubaki, but when she opened the door, she saw the valiant captain scribbling furiously on the table as if possessed.
"If a Magic Sword can truly be compressed to that extent, first, its stability must be ensured without excessively reducing its power...."
Lili blinked blankly, only hearing Tsubaki, seemingly lost in her own world, muttering incomprehensible words.
"For safety, the barrel needs to be replaced with a more robust and durable material. Would Orichalcum be too heavy? The magazine, however, could be made of Mithril to ensure the magic sword's shelf life… "
"Damn it! He said only one request, but it's equivalent to remaking all parts of the entire weapon!"
Though she said this, Tsubaki herself probably didn't realize it.
The fervent look in her eyes, and the corners of her mouth that she simply couldn't keep from turning up!
If an adventurer's great achievement is to defeat stronger enemies, then a blacksmith's great achievement is undoubtedly to forge stronger weapons, surpassing their own limits!
The more demanding and difficult it was, the more she wanted to try it deep down.
Ultimately, a self-respecting blacksmith is, to some extent, no different from someone with masochism.
Lili quietly retreated, gently closing the door to avoid disturbing Tsubaki.
Tsubaki suddenly spoke without turning her head.
"Take that backpack by the door. You absolutely cannot lose anything inside, or I'll be smithing by your ear while you sleep tonight!"
"That's a gift Brother Rhode left for you. You can practice privately at the training ground, but it's best not to use it casually in public unless it's a critical moment."
Ugh… what a terrifying threat!
Lili trembled with fear at this terrifying threat, at one point thinking it would be better not to touch such a valuable item, but when she heard the next sentence, her eyes immediately sparkled.
"A gift from Brother Rhode for Lili?!"
Lili danced with excitement, her little face flushed.
She happily picked up the heavy backpack, thanked Tsubaki, and was eager to open it and see.
But then Tsubaki shouted loudly from behind.
"Oh, and tell everyone in the Familia not to disturb me during this time. Unless Orario explodes, all the Dungeon monsters rush out, or Goddess Freya goes crazy, absolutely do not call me!"
Lili was stunned for a moment, then quickly turned back and asked anxiously.
"Eh? What about the Familia's usual affairs?"
Tsubaki waved her hand casually.
"Whatever, just do things as usual. There won't be any problems!"
"B-but what if something unexpected happens… "
"Then I'll leave it to you to command. Hmm, I trust you. If you still can't solve it, then call for help! That scoundrel Rhode owes me!"
Lili was instantly bewildered, standing dumbfounded on the spot.
"…Huh?!"
What do you mean, I command?
Captain, I really wasn't coveting your position!
The Pallum, suddenly burdened with a great responsibility, was on the verge of tears, feeling overwhelmed.
Lili looked back three times, and only after confirming Tsubaki's resolve did she reluctantly leave.
Tsubaki glanced at the retreating back of the Pallum.
You are the one Rhode chose.
That guy's judgment isn't bad.
Since he said you have a talent for command, let me see how far you can go.
Whether it's weapons or people, they always grow fastest in adversity.
Don't disappoint Rhode, Lili.
Tsubaki chuckled, then immediately rubbed her hands, her eyes shining as she threw herself into the great task of modifying the pistol, sometimes laughing loudly at a sudden inspiration, and sometimes muttering curses when she encountered a difficulty.
"Hmm, how should I modify this spring structure… "
"Ahhh, I feel like my brain is growing. Rhode, you hateful man, I hate you, I love you!"
-
After Rhode left the Valka Red House, he turned off the main road into a small alley and walked aimlessly.
The two girls, as if having received some message, simultaneously and silently emerged from their hiding places and quietly ran in Rhode's direction.
Ke Luoyi, wearing a hooded robe, lay on a rooftop, squinting as she watched Rhode from afar.
"Is he the assassination target, meow?"
The hood, pulled low to cover her eyes—its twin peaks, formed by her cat ears, were the symbol of the [Black Cat]—now swayed in the gentle breeze.
"Hearing the mournful prayer of the Pallum, he single-handedly infiltrated the Soma Familia… he's practically a modern hero… "
The thin tail behind her swayed unnaturally.
Completely lacking the sharpness she had when bargaining with Witt, Ke Luoyi, her tone entirely different, let out a deep sigh.
"A cat whose hands are stained with blood, to strike at such a fellow, meow?"
It wasn't because of the opponent's strength, but for the first time, because of his deeds, she questioned whether she should really do this.
She thought of the Pallum saved by Rhode, and couldn't help but think of her past self.
Ke Luoyi originally belonged to a criminal Familia, mastering poisoning, resilience, and knife skills shortly after her birth.
Born into such an environment, the young girl had no normal sense of ethics.
As long as she pretended to be an innocent child and killed an unfamiliar target, she would be rewarded; as long as she voluntarily took poison and survived, she would receive praise… In her ignorant childhood, this was her most enjoyable play.
Her disgust for this criminal organization only arose when the assassin she admired like an older sister—who was actually her mother, who had given birth to her but kept it a secret until then—failed a mission and was directly executed.
She defied the organization's rules and ultimately died protecting Ke Luoyi.
Ke Luoyi, who learned for the first time that tears were salty, then applied to her patron deity for retirement, completing an enormous challenge to finally leave the organization and become a stray cat.
She took on assassination requests along the way, eventually arriving in Orario.
She had actually grown tired of this life.
But a strange thought—that saying "one more job and I'll quit" might lead to her downfall—and not knowing what else she could do besides killing, made her reluctantly plan to resume her old profession in Orario.
Out of professional integrity, Ke Luoyi thoroughly investigated Rhode's past, and her interest in this fellow grew stronger.
As for the strength he displayed, it was indeed as Witt said: he only had some specialty in speed, and his combat power was at most Level 2, so he was indeed nothing to fear.
"But the cat always has a strange feeling that she can't quite explain… and… "
Ke Luoyi showed a frivolous smile.
"This guy is a beautiful young man who perfectly fits my ideal, meow. I feel like if he could just rub my belly button and tail every day, I'd die without regrets."
But then her voice deepened, and a chilling smile spread across her lips.
"But that's two hundred million Fali. Anyone would be tempted, right… "
On the other side.
Runova hid in the shadow of a pillar, covering her mouth and nose with a scarf, her peripheral vision subtly sweeping over Rhode nearby.
"The one that guy wants me to kill is actually someone from a righteous Familia… "
Runova was a bounty hunter who had once voluntarily joined a Familia for Grace, but because of her exceptional strength and rough nature, no one liked her, and in the end, she never made a single friend, always alone.
Her former patron deity was a fun-loving god who enjoyed playing coup d'état games, often having people tattoo "anti-X" and "pro-X" on the soles of their feet and sending them to repeatedly cause trouble, resulting in the Familia being overthrown and dissolved by combined enemies.
From then on, she began to wander the world, until she unknowingly arrived at the legendary center of the world.
The chaotic scene here initially shocked her, but she couldn't help but secretly mock that Orario was nothing special.
However, when she was forced to take on an assassination request and investigated, she unexpectedly learned of the existence of a righteous Familia.
In this disgusting era, there was actually a group of pure and foolish girls who would selflessly and desperately strive to protect the smiles of others…
While showing a disdainful and mocking expression, her heart was secretly touched.
Runova had always followed the principle of doing business for money and had never considered giving without compensation.
And the order and justice sought by the girls were things she had never experienced in her past life!
But that overly brilliant and dazzling ideal made the realistic Runova almost foresee the girls' tragic end.
However, as her investigation deepened, she eventually changed her view.
Perhaps these girls would truly continue to smile purely and flawlessly as they pursued their ideals…
Because she saw that person quietly protecting them behind the scenes.
"Rhode… "
Runova uncovered some street legends.
Those who had once imperiously scolded the girls and morally blackmailed them would one by one be swallowed by darkness, until not even their bodies could be found…
· · · · · · ·
"Walking in darkness, yet guarding the light."
This, in her opinion, was a justice even greater than the justice of light!
Runova tightened her gauntlets, her eyes becoming sharp and filled with killing intent.
"But in this world, money is the most realistic."
She was already physically and mentally exhausted from the day-to-day fighting and wanted to find a place to settle down, with a considerate employer, so she could relax by rolling around in a cramped room…
But with two hundred million Fali, she could easily get all of these!
Witt watched as the two assassins quietly approached Rhode, narrowing his eyes and gleefully anticipating Rhode's end.
"Two battle-hardened Level 3s, who have never failed, killing the same target. As far as funerals go, that's pretty luxurious, wouldn't you say?"
"Hehehehe… No one will save you this time. Let me leisurely enjoy your fear!"
At the same time, the Alise group and the Kaguya group, who had gone out and intended to meet Rhode, were in a critical situation!
"Ugh!"
Alise was simultaneously struck hard by the heavy swords of three Lizardmen, forced back several steps.
She gritted her teeth, stabilized her posture, and plunged her sword into the rocky ground, using the leverage to stop her momentum.
Before she could catch her breath, she looked up to see several Wyverns flapping their broad wings in the sky, their giant mouths spewing a surge of scorching breath, aimed directly at the center of the crowd!
Alise reacted quickly, immediately raising her hand towards the Wyvern and shouting.
"Blaze!"
The crimson explosion in the air timely diverted the direction of the breath, but then she noticed Ryu's crisis.
"Ryu, watch your back!"
Ryu heard Alise's shout but did not turn back, her body suddenly leaning forward, then gracefully leaping backward.
… …
The moment she flew off the ground, a huge battle-axe, with a whistling sound, cleaved down from behind, narrowly grazing her and heavily striking the ground!
As Ryu landed, her foot happened to land on the Minotaur's axe handle.
Her gaze was sharp. Using the leverage, she stepped, her body agile as wind, swiftly moving up the axe handle and the Minotaur's thick arm. Before the Minotaur could react, she leaped high, and a cold flash of a blade—
"Hah!"
The blade sliced through the air, the Minotaur's head splattered with blood, and its massive body crashed down.
Ryu landed steadily, without any pause, immediately turning to support Alise.
"I'm here to help you, Alise!"
Suzuki Jun was protected between the two, her gaze calmly surveying the surrounding environment.
This was not the main road, but there were many stalls along the roadside. At this moment, they were screaming and fleeing in panic.
Not long ago, just after they successfully completed their discussion with the Ganesha Familia and were looking for Rhode, a large number of monsters suddenly ambushed them from the shadows!
"There are about thirty in total, with something like collars around their necks. Are they being controlled by someone?"
Alise drew out her magic, intending to chant a spell and clear the monsters in front of her with her proud flames, but the Wyverns in the air immediately seized the opportunity to breathe fire and interfere.
And once Alise tried to deal with the Wyverns first, those creatures would immediately fly high, giving her no chance to retaliate.
Alise's pupils were stained with shock, and her expression became solemn.
"Such coordinated combat, there must be a Beast Tamer nearby!"
Ryuu, like a Wind Waltz, weaved back and forth through the monster horde. Upon hearing Alise's words, she immediately prepared to jump out and search for the person controlling them from behind to kill them.
However, when those monsters saw Ryuu leave, they turned their heads to harm the fleeing passersby.
Ryuu had no choice but to abandon the idea of leaving temporarily, clenching her teeth behind her mask, filled with anger.
"Damn it, what exactly does the guy behind this want to do?!"
"If they are from the Dark Faction, they should know that these monsters can only cause trouble, but they can't kill us!"
As Ryuu said, although these monsters were powerful, they were still within their ability to handle.
Suzuki Jun noticed a somewhat formidable-looking low-level adventurer nearby attempting to help, only to be instantly punched by a monster until he vomited blood, allowing her to roughly assess the monsters' strength.
"They are roughly on par with Alise and her companions, considered evenly matched opponents."
"But because they are also the strongest at their current level, they can be dealt with given some time."
"Although the enemy considered this and added a significant number, this is Orario, and powerful adventurers could arrive as support at any time."
Suzuki Jun pushed up her glasses on the bridge of her nose.
"In other words, if the enemy isn't trying to exhaust our stamina and then deliver a final blow when the opportunity arises, then they simply want to delay us here for a period of time."
""It's Rod!""
Alise and Ryuu reacted simultaneously, both exclaiming in surprise.
Although they believed in Rod's strength, they couldn't help but become anxious.
"Damn it, there are too many, and we have to be wary of them using residents as hostages. We can't solve this in a short time!"
"The Evil One's flames have no effect on me at all, but Wyverns outside the Dungeon, when controlled by someone, are truly annoying!"
The large number of monsters, coupled with their coordinated efforts to restrain them, actually managed to tie up Alise and her companions for a while.
Suzuki Jun's gaze constantly swept over all the panicking passersby nearby.