Hephaestus looked at her friend with a strange expression. "Hestia, you've become just like a child of the lower world. Is it... because of that boy?"
Hestia didn't deny it. she nodded frankly. "I haven't been down here long, but I'm certain. Levi is the 'Unknown' I've been looking for."
"I see," Hephaestus sighed. Despite having been in the lower world longer, she had yet to find her own fated encounter. "Sometimes, I really envy your luck."
"Ehehe~" Hestia scratched her cheek.
As they spoke, the workshop doors were pushed open. The two Captains had returned.
"Levi!"
Unable to contain herself, Hestia cried out and threw herself onto the boy with the pale-gold hair. Levi caught his Goddess and bowed to Hephaestus with an apologetic look.
Hephaestus waved it off with a teasing smirk. "I'm sure you two have plenty to talk about. I won't keep you."
"Thank you for your understanding, Lady Hephaestus," Levi replied. He didn't forget to unclip the Flying Sky Sword and the Cryo Vision, handing them to Tsubaki, who had been waiting expectantly. "Here they are. Remember to return them in two days."
Tsubaki patted her chest confidently. "No problem!"
"Then, if you'll excuse us," Levi bowed again. Hestia, still clinging to him, waved. "Hephaestus, Tsubaki, I'll come visit again soon!" As she spoke, her cheeks flushed a mysterious shade of red.
"Go on, get out of here," Hephaestus muttered. Having once been in a relationship with Aphrodite in the heavens, she knew exactly what Hestia's state implied. She felt a strong pang of envy. Hestia has found her 'Unknown'. When will it be my turn?
Once they left, Hephaestus turned to Tsubaki. "Tsubaki, tell me everything about Levi Bright."
"Yes," Tsubaki nodded. Even a production-type Familia needed intel. Hephaestus had sent Tsubaki not just as a guard, but as an observer. Levi and Hestia both knew this, but neither had called it out.
"Hestia's Captain, Levi Bright... based on my observation, he is the same type of adventurer as Loki Familia's 'Sword Princess'," Tsubaki said seriously. "Actually, a more accurate description would be... an evolved version of her."
"Oh?" Seeing her Captain give Hestia's child such a high evaluation, Hephaestus couldn't help but look surprised. "You think that highly of him?"
Tsubaki didn't deny it. "The 'Sword Princess' is undoubtedly strong, but she's too impulsive. When she went on expeditions with the Loki Familia, there were several times when her actions caused the team to fail their objectives. But Levi... well, let's put it this way: today, even without me, he likely wouldn't have encountered much danger. Because he's mastered both melee and ranged combat, and seemingly has a space-magic for storing items, he can switch between being a front-line guard and a back-line damage dealer at will."
Hephaestus nodded. "That is indeed impressive."
Most adventurers specialize in one direction and need a team to cover their weaknesses. But if a person can master every aspect while remaining cautious and having a bit of luck, they are bound to grow smoothly in the Dungeon. Hephaestus had no doubt that in a few years, a new First-Tier adventurer would appear in Orario. No—considering the information Hestia let slip earlier, it might be much sooner than expected!
"Let's move on from Levi. Next..." Hephaestus paused, her gaze shifting downward to focus on the orb-like accessory and the sword-type weapon Tsubaki was clutching tightly. "Tell me about these two items. You must have promised him a lot to get temporary ownership of them, right?"
"Ahahaha~ Nothing gets past you, Lady Hephaestus." Tsubaki scratched her cheek, looking away slightly. "I waived the fee for today's mission, and I promised to act as his guardian when he levels up to Lv.3 and Lv.4 in the future."
"You certainly are generous," Hephaestus teased.
The fee for hiring a Lv.5 adventurer as a guard was naturally more than a mere two million. In fact, if Tsubaki wanted to, she could easily earn nearly a million Valis a day just by farming in the Dungeon. Not to mention, as one of Orario's most famous blacksmiths, any weapon she forged would sell for at least ten million. For someone of her status to clear out several days for Levi showed just how obsessed she was with his equipment.
"But this time, you actually made a profit."
In Orario, although Tsubaki was known as the 'Cyclops,' she didn't possess the development ability 'Mystery,' so her smithing talent hadn't technically surpassed the limits of the lower world. Therefore, while she noticed the gear was special, that was as far as it went.
Hephaestus, however, being the Goddess of Forging, only needed a glance to sense the massive "Unknown" hidden within those items—especially the orb accessory. Neither the materials nor the forging philosophy belonged to this world; there was a high probability they came from another world entirely!
This is getting interesting. Where did Hestia's child get these things?
Hephaestus's lips curled into a smirk as she pondered the possibilities. She admitted to herself that she was becoming curious about the boy named Levi Bright. At that exact moment, her emotion was captured by a certain magic called 'Divine Blessing of the Goddesses' Love,' manifesting instantly on Levi's status panel.