Seeing the elf girl frozen in place, Roy asked, "Well? Does the weapon feel right in your hand?"
"Thank you. I am... more than satisfied!"
The weight, the grip, the sharpness—everything was flawless. Ryu gripped Alfar's Lumina: Dragon Staff like a precious treasure, her eyes filled with gratitude and complex emotions. It wasn't just a weapon; it contained Alise's legacy and Roy's feelings. To Ryu, it was priceless.
"Think of it as the reward for finding that location," Roy said with a wicked grin. "Though, if you really want to thank me, I wouldn't say no."
Ryu knew that smirk all too well. It was the face Roy made before he started being a rogue. Her face turned as red as a ripe peach as she lowered her head. "If it's just... holding hands for a moment..."
Roy looked speechless. "Lord Goibniu, did you hear that? I spent a fortune in materials and 30 million Valis in labor to forge a First-Class Armament, and all I get is to hold her hand? If the profit margin is this good, I'd almost consider changing my gender!"
Watching the two bicker like a young couple, the stern Goibniu laughed. "True enough. I've been a smith all my life and I've never seen a profit like that."
Ryu's face burned with embarrassment. She grit her teeth, her small hand reaching out secretly to pinch the soft flesh at Roy's waist and give it a 180-degree twist.
"Sss!" Roy hissed in pain. This girl really went for it! Even his goddess didn't dare do that.
Ryu stomped her foot, wishing a crack in the ground would open up and swallow her. She covered her face with one hand, clutching her new weapon in the other, and fled the Goibniu forge. Her beautiful figure blurred like a phantom as she beat a hasty retreat.
Goibniu looked at Roy and couldn't help but laugh. "Well, looks like you won't even get to hold her hand now!"
"I wouldn't be so sure about that," Roy rubbed his aching waist, wearing a meaningful smile.
Goibniu waved him off with feigned annoyance. "Go flirt somewhere else. Don't disturb my work!"
"I'll be back soon, Lord Goibniu!" Roy laughed and pushed his wheelchair out.
As expected, Ryu was waiting for him at the entrance. The threat of the Dark Sect wasn't gone; she wouldn't let an injured Roy wander alone. The elf girl stood with her head down, hands behind her back, leaning against a wall. Her booted foot kicked a loose pebble as she muttered a certain "hateful" name under her breath.
Roy broke into a cold sweat. His battered body couldn't handle more of Ryu's "rehabilitation." He quickly thought of a way to fix this.
"Ahem!" Roy coughed to get her attention. As Ryu shot him an unfriendly glare, Roy looked serious and whispered, "Miss Ryu, do you know the difference between you and the stars?"
Ryu blinked, curiosity flickering in her eyes.
Roy's serious face vanished as he smiled. "The stars are in the sky, but you are in my heart."
Pfft!
The frost on Ryu's face melted instantly as she burst into laughter. She quickly caught herself and tried to look stern again, but the coldness was gone. Roy breathed a sigh of relief. It wasn't easy.
"Smooth-talker," Ryu muttered softly. She thought about how, when they first met, Roy had even changed his pants right in front of her. He was always informal and teased her, but she had grown used to it. He usually acted like a "good guy" and got along with everyone—otherwise, there wouldn't have been a line a mile long to visit him. But when things got serious, especially with enemies, his ruthlessness was no joke.
Ryu pushed the wheelchair, and they began their journey back. For the next few days, Roy split his time between resting and visiting the Goibniu forge. He sat by Goibniu every day, watching him work to improve his own skills. Unlike the goddess Hephaestus, Goibniu was a classic "engineer" type who avoided social events and preferred his workshop. This made it easy for Roy to "steal" his techniques.
With a G-rank Development Ability: Blacksmithing, Roy learned at an incredible pace. He memorized Goibniu's every move—the strength of the hammer, the angles, the heat control.
On the third day, Goibniu finally asked, "Kid, can you even understand what I'm doing?" He didn't mind being watched, but Roy didn't seem like the type to become a blacksmith. If he wasn't learning anything, it was a waste of time.
"I understand a little bit," Roy said, making a tiny gap between his thumb and forefinger.
Goibniu frowned but went back to work with a focus that even an adventurer like Roy found humbling. Roy knew Goibniu didn't quite believe him. If he weren't injured, he would have picked up a hammer right then to show off. He couldn't make Epic gear yet, but High-Quality items were within his reach.
At twilight, Ryu came to pick him up as usual. The Goibniu forge was safe; those smiths were as strong as any adventurer.
Suddenly, Roy and Ryu noticed the crowd running in the same direction. "Bors!" Roy reached out and grabbed a middle-aged man with a black eyepatch.
"Don't pull on me—Sprout of Justice?!" It was Bors, the honorary mayor of Rivira from the 18th floor. He looked annoyed until he saw it was Roy. He remembered how the Astraea Familia had saved him during the Enhanced Mermaid incident.
"What's happening?" Roy asked.
Bors scratched his head. "I heard a pair of twin Amazon sisters are holding a challenge at the Colosseum. Whichever Familia defeats them, they'll join. Those damn gods are pestering us to go fight. It's a pain."
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Danmachi : Starting with an Elf (404 Chapter – Ongoing)
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