With his goal clearly defined, Su Lun set off immediately for the Hephaestus Familia's workshop district, specifically the famous Vulcan's Red House.
The workshop district wasn't far from the Court of Stars. After passing through a few bustling streets, the iconic building—shaped like a massive furnace—came into view.
Stepping inside the Red House, Su Lun bypassed the noisy reception area and entered the true heart of the forge. A wave of heat, a blend of searing air and the scent of molten metal, washed over him, instantly enveloping his body. His ears were filled with the rhythmic clink-clank of hammers, a continuous, feverish metallic symphony. As far as the eye could see, several blacksmiths—some burly, some lean—were focused entirely on their respective anvils, working amidst a rain of sweat.
"Well, well, a rare guest. Is that longsword, Pale Justice, treating you well?"
A gentle female voice drifted down from the second floor, laced with a trace of lazy amusement.
Su Lun looked up toward the source and saw the Goddess of Forging, Hephaestus, leaning against the second-floor railing, overlooking the busy scene below. She wore a leather apron stained with oil, her fiery red hair tied back in a neat little ponytail. Smudges of soot streaked her cheeks, but the spiritual light in her eyes and the slight curve of her lips clearly showed her current state of intrigue.
"Hello, Lady Goddess. It's been a while," Su Lun greeted politely. "I've come to ask for your help in crafting a specific weapon."
"Oh?" Hephaestus raised an eyebrow. "Are you planning to make a matching set for Pale Justice, like we discussed before?"
Su Lun shook his head, his tone serious. "No, I want to custom-forge a weapon for a member of my Familia—Ryuu, the Elf. I'm here primarily to borrow your workshop and equipment, and... to acquire some suitable materials."
"Heh," Hephaestus chuckled, a look of realization dawning in her eyes. "You really are something..."
She thought to herself, though she wasn't entirely surprised. After all, when this young man forged Pale Justice, he hadn't been shy about "conveniently" walking away with some high-quality scraps. His way of doing things sometimes made it hard to associate him with the stereotypical image of the "Justice" Familia. When asked why, he would always give a matter-of-fact reply: "I needed it, so I took it."
Hmph, this kid.
"However, I did hear that you took care of the 'White-Haired Ghost' Olivas and several other troublesome Evilus characters," the Goddess said, changing the subject.
A cold smile touched Su Lun's face. "The Evilus are like endless moles in a game; you clear one wave, and another always pops up." He quickly reined in the coldness and looked up at the Goddess. "It was just luck. They were the ones who showed a weakness."
"Luck?" Hephaestus scoffed. "Luck alone doesn't get results like that. Alright, let's talk business. What kind of weapon are you looking to forge today? Let's see it."
Su Lun pulled a roll of parchment he had meticulously prepared the day before from his vest and spread it out on a nearby table. Hephaestus walked down the stairs to the table. As her gaze swept over the blueprints, her teasing expression gradually turned serious.
"This design... it's unusual. Is it following the same design logic as Pale Justice? Or are you trying something entirely different?"
The weapon on the blueprint was slender and straight, with a smooth, minimalist blade profile. At first glance, it looked like an oversized paper knife or a specialized longsword. But upon closer inspection, the blade and hilt were covered in complex and precise magic circuits. The way these circuits were constructed was identical to the mana-conductivity and attribute-reinforcement techniques Su Lun had integrated into Pale Justice, but even more intricate and refined.
"You want to forge a weapon specifically for your little girlfriend that enhances physical stats while providing powerful mana conduction and amplification? You're even using your core techniques for this?"
"Little girlfriend?" Su Lun blinked, momentarily embarrassed.
Is that what everyone thinks now?
On second thought, over the past half-month, he really had been inseparable from Ryuu, patrolling the Labyrinth City of Orario and handling incidents together every single day. It was only natural for busybodies to spread rumors. No wonder during that trap incident earlier, an enemy had expressed regret that "Thousand Faces" hadn't shown up. The public likely already viewed him and the beautiful Elf as a pair.
This... isn't too far-fetched, Su Lun thought privately, feeling a small surge of excitement. After all, Miss Ryuu really was... very cute.
He quickly shook off these distractions and looked at Hephaestus. "So, can this weapon be forged?"
"Of course," the Goddess agreed readily. "What are the specific requirements?"
"Two main points." Su Lun pointed to the blueprint. "First, the material must be durable enough—ideally with the 'Unbreakable' attribute. Whether we use high-grade steel, Orichalcum, or some other suitable alloy is up to your judgment. Second, I need it to perfectly host these magic circuits to ensure optimal mana conduction efficiency."
"Materials, huh..." Hephaestus rubbed her chin. "The cost for these top-tier materials, even if I only charge you at cost, will be a significant sum. Last time I helped you with Pale Justice, those materials got me nagged by our Captain for quite a while."
"My Lady, you have the nerve to mention that?" A booming voice cut in.
At some point, the Captain of the Hephaestus Familia, Tsubaki Collbrande, had appeared by their side. She stood with her arms crossed, wearing an "I knew it" expression. "Su Lun, every time you come here, you're either mooching equipment or borrowing materials. It's practically a tradition now."
Su Lun immediately raised his hands in a defensive, apologetic gesture. "Now, Captain Tsubaki, in return, haven't I left behind plenty of magic item blueprints and samples based on the properties of those materials? Selling those items is more than enough to recoup costs and turn a profit. Besides, our two Familias are steadfast allies. Sharing resources and helping each other with technology is a win-win."
"You mean a 'win-twice' for you, right? You certainly talk a big game," Tsubaki huffed, though her tone softened. "The production costs for your magic items are extremely low, and the profit margins are huge. They do sell quite well and have given us a lot of inspiration and orders. Many people are secretly asking where our new tech is coming from... but since the core of your technique lies in you personally, it's hard for others to replicate."
"So..." Su Lun smiled. "A pleasure doing business. Now, about the materials for this time..."
Tsubaki and Hephaestus exchanged a look.
The Goddess spoke. "We can provide the materials, but this time, we don't want Valis."
"Then what do you want?" Su Lun raised an eyebrow, his interest piqued. The Hephaestus Familia was massive and wealthy; if they didn't want money, were they after his unique techniques? But even if they were, it wouldn't matter—his magic models were highly tied to his personal mana traits. Even if others had the blueprints, without his unique "Resonance" ability, they couldn't replicate the core effects. Just like a Crozzo Magic Sword, it was a skill unique to the individual.
"I'm just lamenting again," Hephaestus said, looking at Su Lun with a half-serious complaint. "You really won't consider transferring to the Hephaestus Familia? It's such a waste."
Su Lun laughed and shook his head. "It was the Astraea Familia that took me in when I first arrived. That answer won't change. Let's get back to business."
"Fine," the Goddess conceded. "Forging this weapon will take time to process the materials and the construction. For the next three days, come here. I'll handle the pre-processing and the basic shaping of the materials, while you focus on the design and the final energy infusion. If all goes well, the main body should be finished in three days."
She paused, a teasing smile suddenly appearing on her face. "Oh, and when it's finished in three days, remember to bring your little Elven girlfriend over. Wouldn't it be better for her to see it and test it out herself?"
"There you go again..." Su Lun looked helpless. "I haven't even officially confessed yet!"
Hephaestus and Tsubaki laughed simultaneously, the workshop filling with a cheerful atmosphere.
Three days passed in a flash.
During this time, aside from necessary rest and daily magic studies, Su Lun poured almost all his energy into the piece at Vulcan's Red House. He engaged in repeated discussions, simulations, and sometimes even late-night debates with Goddess Hephaestus and several senior blacksmiths.
Should the weapon's balance lean toward a staff-like mana amplification, or maintain the slashing performance of a sword? Should the composite treatment of materials aim for ultimate hardness, or leave room for flexibility and resilience to suit the Elf's agile style? How could the layout of the magic circuits achieve maximum efficiency on the limited surface area of the blade?
Finally, on the last day, the prototype of the weapon was revealed.
It wasn't a traditional sword or blade style, but an exceptionally long straight-edged blade—roughly 1.7 meters in length. Compared to Ryuu's height, it looked strikingly tall and elegant. It had no traditional tsuba (crossguard); the hilt and the blade met in a single, smooth, flowing line. The overall form was minimalist in the extreme, resembling a sliver of a frozen crescent moon.
This design sacrificed some defensive versatility but pushed the efficiency of "thrusting" and "slashing" to the absolute limit, making it perfectly suited for Ryuu's swift and precise combat style.
The blade was forged from a specialized alloy with an Orichalcum base, giving it a restrained cyan luster. It was lightweight yet indestructible. The hilt was wrapped in wood taken from a branch of an Elven Holy Tree. After specialized treatment, it felt as smooth as jade, capable of perfectly conducting the wielder's mana. Intricate Elven runes were carved into it for decoration and as auxiliary stabilization arrays.
The core of the weapon lay in the composite circuits Su Lun had painstakingly inscribed. They were like living veins deeply embedded in the blade and hilt, capable of significantly boosting the wielder's mana output and physical attributes. Furthermore, he had reserved an interface for resonance with his own magic system. During the conceptual stage, he had thought: if Pale Justice had growth potential, why couldn't the weapon he custom-made for Ryuu have similar potential? However, as for how to actually "level up" the weapon, he still needed more time and inspiration.
On the evening of the third day, the weapon was finally complete. It lay quietly on a specialized velvet cloth, the streamlined blade occasionally flashing with a faint blue magical luster—mysterious and beautiful.
"It's time to go get her." Su Lun looked at the work, a culmination of his feelings and technology. His heart was full of anticipation, and a trace of nervousness.
I wonder what Ryuu's expression will be when she sees it?
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Danmachi: My Magic Style is Different from Yours (Simulpub – Ongoing)
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