As mentioned before, most smiths in Orario don't use materials dropped by Floor Bosses directly. Instead, they first forge them into alloys with other metals and then mass-produce slightly inferior equipment to maximize their own profits.
But Levi was crafting his own equipment for one reason only: to gain the confidence to resist the Goddess of Beauty's Charm head-on.
Therefore, cost-effectiveness was never a consideration from the very beginning.
As for Hephaestus, who was watching from the side, she initially didn't grasp the boy's intentions as he hammered away at the Dragon Liver and Dragon Scale.
But she was, after all, the goddess of the forge.
As a pendant, inlaid with a large amount of Dragon Liver that had turned into gemstones, gradually took shape, an aura related to concepts like 'mental abnormalities,' 'triggers,' and 'auto-casting' began to emanate from it.
How could the red-haired, one-eyed goddess not understand the specific purpose of the equipment Levi was crafting with his own hands?
More than five hours later...
The sky outside began to darken, and the Magic Stone lamps lining the streets had all been lit.
Finally, with a cry of "Done!", Levi, who had been standing at the workbench for a long time, put down his chisel and hammer.
Hephaestus walked over and, after getting his permission, picked up the pendant named 'Strong Charm Resistance' and began to examine it closely.
After about half a minute, she let out a soft sigh.
"A completely new script, and one that carries 'Power' within it."
Levi wiped the sweat from his face with a towel and explained with a light chuckle, "It's a magical script called 'Runes.' It comes from the same plane as the Class Card you took to study yesterday, Lady Hephaestus."
Hephaestus nodded. "This script... it seems you haven't learned it completely?"
As a goddess, she could of course see the issue: some of the runes engraved inside the pendant were overly simplistic, while others were quite complex.
Levi didn't deny it. "I wouldn't say I haven't learned it all. It's just that I've only mastered a third of the more powerful version. I've learned all of the weaker version, though."
"No wonder, then." Hephaestus said, motioning for Levi to step back. She then picked up a hammer and began to refine the pendant. "Though the two sets of runes share the same origin, they still have some compatibility issues. With your skill level, you probably can't resolve it. I'm in a good mood today, so I'll give you a hand."
Seeing the goddess of the forge willing to lend her own hand, Levi immediately replied sweetly, "Thank you, Lady Hephaestus. If I ever get anything new and interesting in the future, I'll be sure to bring it to you to study right away."
He thought there was nothing wrong with his words, but the next second, the goddess holding the hammer suddenly stopped her movements.
She turned her head and gazed at the boy beside her with a strange look.
"Do you think I'm being close to you for your otherworldly items? Or is it for Hestia's sake?"
Cold sweat trickled down Levi's forehead. He swallowed hard and struggled to speak, "Lady Hephaestus..."
He had barely spoken a few words before he was abruptly cut off. "Hephaestus."
"What?"
"Call me Hephaestus!"
"Uh—"
"What's wrong, can't you say it?" the goddess asked, her gaze calm.
Levi wasn't one to hesitate. After taking a deep breath, he adjusted his mindset. "Hephaestus."
Seeing him catch on, the smile on Hephaestus's face deepened. "Good boy."
With that, she even raised her hand and caressed his cheek.
Then, as if she had forgotten everything that had just happened, she started hammering the pendant again while steering the conversation toward the Goddess of Beauty, Freya, whom Levi was so desperately guarding against.
"If Freya knew you were this wary of her, she might go hide somewhere and secretly shed a few little pearls~"
Levi's eyes quickly scanned his status panel, where 'Hephaestus's Protection (Gain Swordsmith G, Fire Resistance greatly increased)' had somehow become Level III. Hearing her words, he calmly replied, "Whether she cries or not has nothing to do with me."
"Oh?" Hephaestus's eyes crinkled at the corners. "You really dislike Freya that much? I've heard that those she takes an interest in all have rather beautiful souls."
Levi corrected her, "It's not Freya I dislike, but all Goddesses of Beauty."
Hephaestus was no fool; she immediately understood the subtext. "I see. So it's 'Charm' that you despise. In that case, Freya really doesn't stand a chance."
Despite saying so, she didn't show the slightest sadness for her fellow goddess. In fact, she seemed to be gloating.
After hammering the item on the workbench a couple more times, she said, "Alright, put it on and try it out."
Levi raised his hands, ready to take the pendant, only to hear the red-haired goddess command, "Turn around."
Helpless, he could only comply.
"And take off your clothes while you're at it."
Levi: "Huh?!"
"Oh, I misspoke. I just meant for you to pull your collar open a bit."
Levi was slowly starting to understand. "...Lady Hephaes— no, Hephaestus, are you teasing me?"
The red-haired, one-eyed goddess narrowed her left eye upon hearing this. After putting the pendant on him, she suddenly said, "Did you know? The male gods in Tenkai are all lolicons, and the goddesses are all shotacons."
The beautiful, rosy-cheeked young man with short, crimson-gold hair fell silent.
He felt that if this conversation continued, he might not be able to walk out of the workshop today.
So he decided to play ostrich.
Hephaestus also knew when to quit while she was ahead. After all, a god's time is infinite.
"It's getting late, Hestia is probably getting worried. I'll stop teasing you."
Levi considered himself quite loyal to Hestia. Even though this world didn't forbid powerful men from having multiple wives, he had never thought about hiding anything from his goddess.
So, as soon as he returned to their base, he reported to her about Hephaestus's increased affection for him.
Originally, Levi had prepared himself for a lecture from Hestia.
Who would have thought...
"I knew it, Hephaestus was about to lose her patience." After hearing about his interaction with Hephaestus during the day, the twin-tailed goddess wasn't angry at all. Instead, she looked as if she had expected it all along.
She then threw her arms around the boy beside her, rubbing her cheek against his. "Hehehe~ It's because my Levi is just so full of mystery, so lovable~"
Levi's mouth fell open in surprise. "Hephaestus made a pass at me, and you're not jealous?"
"Oh, I am jealous. A little tiny bit."
Hestia said, making a gesture for a 'bi-llionth' of a bit.
"But if it's Hephaestus, I don't mind~"
"You're certainly good-natured. If it were me..." Levi's eyes darkened. "You might have to spend a very long time in the basement."
"Mmm~~~"
____
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