Underground Labyrinth, 9th Floor.
Some adventurers who had just entered this floor watched in confusion as large crowds hurriedly retreated from deeper areas, all wearing horrified expressions.
"Hey, what's going on? Why is everyone retreating?"
Finally, someone couldn't resist asking.
"Tch, the situation inside is bizarre. There's a madman laughing hysterically while slaughtering the 9th-floor monsters with a sword. It's so unnerving that everyone's decided to avoid him."
"Hah???"
What kind of joke is this?
We're adventurers!
A profession that risks life and limb daily, dancing with death.
And we're supposed to detour because of something like this?
"What nonsense. I'll see what's really happening inside."
...
Meanwhile, on the 9th floor, Noah continued swinging his sword-staff without any sign of stopping.
Both Truth Seeker and Spell-Weaver were active.
Drawing from experiences gained through various adventurers, he handled the local monsters with surprising ease.
With the level 5 Tsubaki providing support as agreed, she would immediately intervene if the situation turned dangerous, allowing him to fight without major concerns.
Additionally, he was testing one of the sword-staff's effects:
Automatic restoration of slight stamina and magic power whenever the weapon's magic energy fully charged.
At current efficiency, defeating 34 monsters would complete one charge cycle, though this varied with monster strength.
Middle-floor monsters would likely require fewer kills.
Of course, combat consumption would also increase proportionally in deeper floors.
This explained why he hadn't collapsed from exhaustion or magic depletion despite prolonged fighting.
"Weak! Too weak!"
These creatures couldn't possibly test the weapon's true capabilities!
Whether a Needle Rabbits, War Shadows, Killer Ants, Lizards, or Goblins - upper-floor monsters' defenses were like tissue paper against this weapon.
Even bisecting them produced no noticeable resistance.
In terms of sharpness, the weapon clearly surpassed third-grade arms.
Combined with its transformation ability and magical effects, its market value would likely exceed 3 million valis.
Not exactly astronomical - it couldn't compare with top-tier adventurers' gear.
The reason was simple: inferior materials.
The sword-staff's primary material remained platinum, limiting its potential.
Noah had only added some mithril obtained from Tsubaki, with other components being equally unremarkable.
The most expensive parts were probably the cut agates.
That such ordinary materials could possess magical effects was entirely thanks to the Weaver, unrelated to the materials themselves.
In summary: common materials, exceptional craftsmanship.
About one million for materials, two million for artistry.
Noah alternated between staff and sword forms, fighting continuously for two hours before finally exhausting himself.
His magic reserves depleted before his physical stamina.
Continuing further would likely result in unconsciousness.
"Hah, while not fully satisfying, this will have to do."
Noah returned to Tsubaki's side with unsteady footsteps.
Seeing the boy stop, Tsubaki smiled and said, "Hey, not bad at all, Noah-boy. Those moves just now didn't seem like something a rookie could pull off."
"You know the reason for that," Noah replied.
The effects of the Truth Seeker had been fully disclosed to Tsubaki with Hephaestus's consent.
She was trustworthy.
And to him, she was also a friend.
"Hearing about it is one thing, but seeing it in person has a completely different impact. It seems you really are still a kid, Noah-boy."
"I am a kid."
"Ah, that's right. Ahaha, I forgot your age because the way you talk is so mature."
Tsubaki laughed, but her eyes were filled with seriousness.
'Really.... kids these days are just terrifying.'
'To have such skill at this age—whether in smithing or combat—is just too much.'
'The Loki Familia has their 'Sword Princess,' and now we've got a little monster on our side too.'
'It's like a monster feast.'
"Let's head back, then."
"Mm."
"Oh, and don't forget to engrave your name on this sword-staff when we get back. From now on, you're a full-fledged blacksmith. You might even have people seeking you out to form contracts." Tsubaki wasn't joking.
Skilled blacksmiths are sought after everywhere.
Perhaps adventurers are the brightest stars in Orario, but the more exceptional the adventurer, the more they crave a talented blacksmith.
Contracts refer to agreements made between renowned adventurers and skilled blacksmiths.
For a blacksmith, a top-tier adventurer is a shining emblem of prestige.
For an adventurer, forming a contract with a blacksmith ensures their equipment needs are met and makes maintenance after each expedition much more convenient.
"My name..."
Noah lowered his head.
Originally, he had thought about adding Tsubaki's surname after his own name.
But doing so would cause many problems and bring unwanted complications.
Tsubaki had provided immense help in successfully forging the sword-staff.
Given her contributions, her name deserved to be engraved on the weapon, as it was a collaborative work.
Fortunately, he had considered the implications before speaking.
First, from Tsubaki's perspective, was this weapon even worthy of bearing her name?
Surely not.
She was Orario's finest blacksmith, and only the city's strongest adventurers were worthy of wielding her creations.
If he had asked, Tsubaki would likely have engraved her name on the sword-staff, but that would make him seem like an ungrateful opportunist, leveraging her reputation after receiving her help.
'Noah.'
Just engrave "Noah."
Even if it felt a bit plain without a surname.
Once Noah and the others returned to the surface, they immediately threw themselves back into their smithing work.
Meanwhile, rumors about the ninth floor had grown increasingly bizarre due to the game of telephone.
After two days of exaggeration, the rumor had transformed into an unfounded tale about a slasher lurking on the ninth floor of the Underground Labyrinth, attacking anyone in sight