"You want knowledge about magic tools?"
Hearing Noah's request, even Hephaestus showed a completely unexpected reaction.
In Familias, especially production-type Familias like theirs, there were usually some precious manuscripts or books.
Unless you were a member of a large Familia, obtaining these was extremely difficult.
The crafting techniques recorded in them were invaluable for novice blacksmiths.
"I can allow it, but I think it will be very difficult to learn."
Magic tools were rare items, with very few circulating even within Orario, and their prices were absurdly high.
Many magic tools weren't even produced within Orario but flowed in from magical superpowers outside.
Rarity also meant power.
This was precisely why adventurers who possessed mysteries were so precious.
That bastard god Hermes's Familia member - Asfi Al Andromeda, the one who instantly defeated him - could be considered a representative figure possessing mysteries.
Through the benefits of this development ability, she created many magic tools with miraculous effects.
For example, the 'Helm of Hades' which could make the wearer transparent and the flying shoes 'Talaria' that allowed one to soar through the sky.
'If you don't know something, then learn it.'
Looking at Noah's enthusiastic expression, Hephaestus chuckled softly as if looking at an adorable child.
"Alright, this might be a good opportunity to introduce you, as a newcomer, to the pillar of our Familia."
"Eh?"
'The pillar...'
'Could it be the captain of Hephaestus Familia?'
That first-class adventurer with the title "Cyclops Blacksmith," level LV5?
Noah followed Hephaestus to a separate area within the Familia base.
He had entered the workshop territory of that One-Eyed Blacksmith since five minutes ago.
'This place is really huge.'
'Why was it built so large anyway?'
He soon got his answer.
BOOM!
With an earth-shaking roar, Noah spread his feet apart to stabilize himself against the intense ground shaking.
Theoretically, gods with sealed divine power should be no different from ordinary humans.
Yet Hephaestus seemed largely unaffected by this sudden abnormality.
As if she had known this would happen and had made sufficient preparations in advance.
"What happened..."
Such commotion actually occurred within the Familia base?
By his judgment, the impact just now was equivalent to at least a dozen tank cannons firing simultaneously.
If things went wrong, the Familia base could be blown through!
"That girl!" Hephaestus suddenly looked furious.
Seeing her quicken her pace, Noah had to jog to keep up with her due to his shorter legs.
"Hey! Tsubaki! I've told you many times not to test new weapons within the Familia base! This time I've caught you red-handed - don't think you can talk your way out of this!"
Noah covered his nose and mouth, squinting as he walked through the swirling dust.
Amid the dust, there was a vague figure.
She was currently standing up from the ruins.
Yes, ruins.
Looking at the current state, it was impossible to imagine what this place had looked like before.
The destruction was thorough.
"Cough cough cough, oh no, it's Lady Hephaestus.".."
As the dust gradually cleared, there stood a woman about 170cm tall with black hair and red eyes.
Like Hephaestus, she wore an eyepatch covering one eye, though on the opposite side - her left eye, unlike Hephaestus's right.
Noah looked at the woman before him.
'Do all blacksmiths have such great figures... Both Hephaestus and this woman.'
'Their body is too sexy!'
"Oops, I didn't expect the magic sword I forged this time to have such power. I almost killed myself, ahahaha."
'Does this kind of airhead really exist in the world?'
"Magic sword!" Hephaestus's eyes widened, her anger seeming to overflow.
"What were you thinking testing a magic sword inside the Familia base! What if you blew up the entire base! As captain, can't you think things through more!"
"Ehhh—but that would be too troublesome."
Even after causing such a scene, she still had the nerve to complain.
Truly impressive.
"Fool! Looking at you like this, I shouldn't have left those important manuscripts with you... Hiss!!!"
Halfway through her sentence, Hephaestus finally realized something.
"Wait, those manuscripts couldn't possibly be...?"
"You mean those notes? Ara, it seems about eighty percent of them were burned to ashes without leaving a trace."
Noah: ...
'Holy shit!'
'No way!'
Those were treasures you couldn't buy with money! Were they really all destroyed?
Just a few minutes earlier!
If he had come just a few minutes earlier, he might have had a chance to rescue those precious manuscripts!
'Damn it!'
'Wait.'
Thinking about it, did he actually escape disaster? If he had come a minute or two earlier, he might have been blown to ashes along with the magic sword.
Fuck.
Earlier he thought he could relax within the Familia.
Now it seemed better to forget that - this place was practically a nuclear weapons testing base!
You could really die suddenly without even knowing how you died!
"How can you say that so lightly, you idiot! Those things were extremely important! Now they're all gone!"
"I didn't say they're gone." Though Tsubaki looked embarrassed, she still refuted quietly.
"They're all still here, right here."
As she spoke, she raised her hand and tapped her head, indicating that all the contents were memorized perfectly in her mind.
So Hephaestus could look this terrifying when angry...
Noah stood to the side, not daring to make a sound.
But Tsubaki wouldn't let go of this tool that could help her escape the scolding.
"More importantly, who's this child? A new Familia member?"
Hephaestus's forehead bulged with veins!
Such an obvious topic change was practically treating her like a fool.
But it did remind her of the original purpose of this visit.
"Your matter isn't finished yet! Don't think you can gloss over this! Later I'll have you completely restore all the contents from the manuscripts! Be prepared!"
"Sigh."
"Let's talk about this child first. Because of you, things have become troublesome now."