While Roy was handling the paperwork, Goddess Astraea went to attend a Divine Assembly. Daphne and Cassandra took Tiona out to get familiar with Orario, and Ryu was dragged along as well. Tiona's innocent enthusiasm was hard to refuse, even for a "Frost Beauty" like Ryu.
Watching the four girls head out, Roy smiled with relief. Saving Ryu's heart couldn't be done by him alone; Tiona was exactly what she needed. Daphne and Cassandra viewed Ryu as a mentor and wouldn't dare push her into social outings, but Tiona's sunny personality was the perfect medicine for Ryu's lingering trauma.
Tione, however, stayed behind at the Starry Court.
"Captain, would you like some tea?" "Captain, let me carry that for you!" "Captain, do you need a shoulder massage?"
Roy watched Tione bustle about. Her Amazonian assets—which rivaled even Astraea's—bounced with every movement. The most distracting part was the lack of clothing; Amazons were famously uninhibited, and Tione wore only a few scraps of cloth, leaving a vast amount of her healthy, wheat-colored skin exposed. He had to admit, her racial "talent" was formidable; at only thirteen, she already outpaced Ryu in certain departments. His focus on the paperwork began to waver.
Roy sighed. "Tione, why didn't you go out with the others?"
Tione looked at him seriously. "If I left, the Captain would be all alone. It's too sad! I can't let the Captain be lonely!"
Roy nodded. Honestly, she certainly didn't let him be lonely—her presence was overwhelmingly loud.
"Let's change locations."
Roy put down his documents. Between Tione's unconscious "interference" and his brain overheating, he couldn't handle desk work anymore. He was afraid things might "misfire" if he stayed.
The two headed to the backyard. Per Roy's request, a blacksmith's forge had been built in the clearing. Inside, thanks to Roy's deep pockets, the equipment was top-tier, barely inferior to Goibniu's legendary forge.
"Captain, do we have a blacksmith?" Tione asked. Ryu, Daphne, and Cassandra didn't seem the type.
"We do. He's standing right in front of you!" Roy laughed, pointing to himself, even though he hadn't forged a single piece of gear yet.
"Captain, you're amazing!" Tione's eyes sparkled. Her chosen man was perfect in every way.
Of course, talk is cheap. Roy recalled Goibniu's movements and began to mimic them. He lit the furnace, the heat rolling out in waves. Tione looked on with anticipation. "Are you making gear for me, Captain?"
"I'm just practicing today. Don't expect anything good."
Roy knew he had only recently recovered from his injuries, but Tione was still thrilled. It didn't matter what the gear was, as long as Roy made it personally. Roy started with simple refined iron.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Once the iron was heated through, Roy pulled it out and began to hammer. The rhythmic striking echoed through the forge. Between the heat and the exertion, he was soon drenched in sweat. He pulled off his shirt, revealing lean, corded muscles. He was the type to look slim in clothes but powerful without them. As the sweat evaporated into a mist around him, Tione nearly squealed in excitement.
Roy ignored her, focusing entirely on the craft. His intense focus and rugged profile only made Tione more infatuated. An hour later, his first work was finished.
Name: Iron Dagger Rank: Low Description: Forged from refined iron.
A very basic description. Roy gave it to Tione since she wanted it so badly. It was useless for combat, but a fine souvenir. He made two more low-quality items before his back began to ache.
Something was wrong. He had seen Goibniu work all day without tiring, yet he was exhausted after five hours. He quickly realized why: his technique for applying force was wrong. Goibniu's movements were fluid and natural, while his were clumsy and forced.
He could become a master smith with years of practice, but Roy didn't want to waste that much time. He'd rather spend that time in the Dungeon getting better rewards. However, he had a solution: a Legendary item he had obtained from a Golden Chest.
The Fruit of Enlightenment!
It was time to use it. For twenty-four hours, his learning ability would be boosted a thousand-fold. He would become a transcendent prodigy.
Roy immediately sent an invitation to Goibniu, hiring him for a day for the price of ten bottles of Divine Wine. Hearing about the wine, Goibniu arrived at lightning speed.
"I can teach you for a day," Goibniu frowned, "but smithing takes years of accumulation. You don't think you can grow in a single day, do you?"
"Don't worry, Lord Goibniu. I know what I'm doing," Roy smiled. His one day was worth three years of anyone else's!
Roy popped the fruit into his mouth. It melted instantly, a divine sweetness flooding his senses.
[Fruit of Enlightenment used. Learning ability increased 1000x. Time remaining: 86,399 seconds...]
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Danmachi : Starting with an Elf (405 Chapter – Ongoing)
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