A week had passed since that worst-ever company dinner, and before I knew it, it was time for Denatus, the Divine Council. Well, the council itself was mostly just the gods chatting about what they had been up to, but alongside it came something that made the livers of adventurers who had reached Level 2 shrivel up.
The naming ceremony! The gods' sensibilities were similar to those of modern people, but ordinary mortals enthusiastically embraced the cringeworthy chuuni sensibilities that would make a modern person recoil in horror. Because of that disconnect, patron deities who came back with names that were embarrassing by divine standards would weep apologetically, while the Familia members themselves loved them because they sounded cool. Then the patron deity would see that reaction and scream all over again, creating an endless vicious cycle.
"Well, it'll work out somehow."
"Um, Smith? Is there... any alias you'd like? I'll do my best to pull some strings for you."
My goddess sitting across from me was wearing an awkward smile and sweating nervously for precisely that reason.
"Hmm... I'd be fine as long as it includes either smithing or illusion. Besides, all the names that come out of the Divine Council sound cool, don't they?"
They were cool, sure, but embarrassing when people actually called you by them.
"U-um, that's true, but... I'll do my best...!"
Come to think of it, over the past week, rumors that I had sold a weapon to Ottar and reached Level 2 had gradually spread. Whenever I went to the Hostess of Fertility—which I had been visiting every day since the company dinner, much to my senior's tearful despair—I could now hear people whispering when they saw me.
'Is that him? The rumored blacksmith who completed a sword Ottar could use while he was Level 1, then became Level 2?'
'I heard the weapons that blacksmith sells carry a jinx that kills their owners.'
'Should I get on his good side early...?'
'Crush them! Smash them! Hail them!'
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Whisper, whisper, whisper...
There was something strange mixed in at the end, but all in all, I didn't mind my name spreading around.
So what would they end up deciding my alias was?
Hephaestus's Side
Today was the day of Denatus, held once every three months. Since it was an occasion where everyone could hear about each other's recent news, even gods who normally rarely showed themselves could be found here.
For example, Freya over there.
"Oooooh, the goddess has descended!"
"Freya is seriously an angel!"
"Freya... want to grab a drink today?"
"Hey, stomp that bastard!"
Thud! Thud! Thud!
Or the one standing before me...
"Hey, it's been a while, Hephaestus!"
"Seeing you in Orario is certainly something, Hermes."
The blond troublemaker. His Familia was based in Orario, but he himself was always wandering outside the city, making it as difficult to see him in Orario as to pluck a star from the sky. Yet for some reason, Hermes had shown up at Denatus.
"Well, I was in the middle of a long journey and happened to pass near Orario again. When I checked the date, it was almost time for Denatus, so I stopped by while I was at it."
"While you were at it...? Don't you feel sorry for your Familia members...?"
"Well, my children grow up just fine on their own~ Anyway, I heard a rumor, you see..."
What was this? What rumor could Hermes possibly have that he would go out of his way to discuss with me...?
"All right, the council's about to begin, so get seated already!"
"Well... the timing was off. Let's talk about that rumor later, Hephaestus."
I didn't know what it was, but thankfully Loki had cut him off at just the right time... When I looked over at her, Loki winked at me. Well, now I owed her one, whether I meant to or not.
"Then, at the who-knows-what-number Denatus, the Divine Council, we'll begin~ As always, yours truly, Lady Loki, will be hosting!"
"Ooooooh!"
"Just as expected of flat-chested Loki, casually doing what we can't! That's why I admire you!"
"Who are ye calling flat-chested?! I've got them! I tell ye, I've got them!"
"Hahahahahahaha!"
Loki... I want to help you too, but... you don't have them...
Besides, what was so desirable about something so heavy and needlessly big...?
"I have them! I'm not flat-chested... Waaaaaaaaah..."
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Loki is being mentally readjusted...
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"Ahem, ahem. Then let's begin with the news everyone has heard."
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"I hear there are still Familia conflicts in Daedalus Street."
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"I hear a Level 1 blacksmith made the weapon [Heavy Warrior] Ottar is using right now."
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"I hear a record holder emerged who leveled up in just one year..."
Once all manner of stories had been discussed, everyone began watching one another cautiously. The time had come!
"Then, what ye've all been waiting and waiting for..."
"Dum dum dum dum!" (That was made with her mouth.)
"We'll begin the naming ceremony!"
"Waaaaaaaaah!"
The beginning of hell... Please root for me, Smith!
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Achoo... Is someone talking about me? Ah, they probably will be talking about me at the naming ceremony.
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"Please, Vera, at least spare my child! Please!"
"Hmm... This one's Skills are One-Hit Kill and Charge?"
"And he's handsome."
"He usually likes fried food..."
"[Beast's Breath: Reckless Charge], decided!"
"Aaaaaaaaaah, no!"
"All right, next!"
"Hmm... Ooooh..."
"It's Loki's girl!"
"One year, huh? She broke the record holder's record."
"So, Lady Loki, got a name in mind?"
As expected of the Loki Familia, they were being considerate and yielding to her...
"Then we'll go with [Tempest]."
"Okay, then that's settled. Next up..."
"Hephaestus's newcomer, Smith!"
"I'll step down as host for this one."
"Ah, yes..."
"Hmm... Two years to level up..."
"His Skills are Heat Resistance and Durability Adjustment..."
"No magic, then..."
"Is this the one? The one everyone's been talking about lately? The one who made a weapon for Freya's Ottar at Level 1, then leveled up because of it?"
"That's right. This child is the one from the rumors. More precisely, he put every ounce of his strength into forging a sword in pursuit of a feat to reach Level 2, and [Heavy Warrior] just happened to come by, see it, and buy it."
"...He's quite the remarkable one. I'll be asking him for something later."
"Haha, well, with a little help, perhaps?"
'You know?'
'I understand.'
"Then, does he have any name he wants?"
"Hmm..."
"-------------, how about it?"
"...What the hell is that?"
"My, it's merely goodwill toward the child who sold something fine to our Ottar."
"Smith is my Familia member. If you try to take him... I'll stop you, no matter what it takes."
"Don't worry, Hephaestus. Your child is a free flame. If you keep him confined indoors, he will burn everything away and eventually extinguish himself. I have no intention of laying a hand on that flame; I merely intend to watch it."
"If that's what you mean... Anyway, Loki? I'll go with that name too."
"All right, but be careful, Hephaestus. If those rotten eyes pull any bullshit, come straight to me."
"Thank you. If I need help, I'll definitely call for you."
"Then today's Denatus ends here!"
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"Smith, I'm back!"
"Ah, welcome back. How was Denatus?"
"Same as always, walking the line between pointless chatter and a social gathering for gods."
"So---what's my alias?"
"Right. Your alias is..."
----[Illusory Smith Homeros]-----