Over the past few days, Suren had been busy crafting magic items. Among his new creations, the "Leaping Necklace" proved to be exceptionally useful. It offered ten uses a day, each providing a ten-minute boost to jumping power—a significant asset for dungeon exploration.
However, the month-long production process had nearly exhausted his stock of materials and Valis.
With the other members of the Familia busy with their own tasks, Suren decided he needed to find a way to liquidate this "prototype." He needed to exchange it for funds and higher-quality materials to continue his work. Furthermore, he wanted to scout the market for other magic items.
His first intended stop was the Guild.
But then he pictured the face of Royman Marde—the Guild Master who looked like a shrewd, bloated pig. "The Pig of the Guild" might be competent at maintaining the city's balance, but his personality left much to be desired.
Bringing an item with such a unique origin and novel technology to him would almost certainly result in being lowballed. Suren could practically see the man praising the item as "interesting" while simultaneously slashing the price to the bone.
Forget that.
Suren changed direction, heading toward a different part of the city.
The rhythmic clink-clink of hammers echoed faintly, and the air grew thick with the scent of hot metal and furnace fire. He was approaching the Hephaestus Familia's headquarters: the Vulkus Red House.
Upon entering, he found the reception area clean and organized. A member of the Familia was busy sorting through invoices. Suren stepped forward and produced the seemingly plain Leaping Necklace.
"I would like to sell this magic item."
The staff member paused, looking up with a polite, practiced apology.
"I'm sorry, but our Familia doesn't typically purchase finished products directly from the outside. If you wish to sell a magic item, I suggest you visit the Guild for an official appraisal and trade."
Suren wasn't surprised. He offered a small smile.
"I understand. But could you please take a look at this first? This isn't an ordinary accessory; it's a magic item that allows the wearer to jump higher and further." He pointed to the chain.
"Jump higher and further?"
The staff member took the necklace with a hint of skepticism. However, the moment it touched his hand, he realized the materials and craftsmanship were... unusual. He looked Suren over carefully, a spark of recognition lighting up his eyes.
"Are you... the 'Versatile' Suren from the rumors? The one who reached Level 2 in three months? Did you make this yourself?"
"I did," Suren admitted calmly. "That is exactly why I'm hoping to handle this through a more secure and professional channel. After considering my options, I felt your Familia was the most appropriate choice."
The staff member's hesitation vanished, replaced by a look of grave importance. He looked at the strange, yet undeniably extraordinary, necklace once more.
"Please wait a moment. This is a matter I must report to our Goddess," he said before turning and hurrying into the inner hall.
Before long, the sound of steady, deliberate footsteps approached.
"Oh? If it isn't the Astraea Familia's 'Versatile' Suren?" The voice possessed a calm, grounded quality.
A red-haired goddess appeared before him. Her right eye was covered by her signature black eye patch, while her visible left eye was a piercing shade of red, filled with a quiet, focused intensity. She wore a practical white shirt and black trousers, covered by a slightly worn but clean leather apron. Her long red hair was tied back, giving her an air of efficiency and rigor.
It was the Goddess of Forging, Hephaestus.
"Good day, Goddess Hephaestus," Suren said, bowing.
"Good day. Are you here for a custom weapon, or do you have other equipment needs?" she asked directly. her gaze swept over Suren before settling on the item in his hand.
"Neither, Goddess," Suren said, handing over the Leaping Necklace. "I would like you to evaluate this magic item and discuss the possibility of selling it under your Familia's name."
Hephaestus raised an eyebrow, a flicker of interest crossing her red eye. She took the necklace with practiced, delicate movements.
Initially, her observation was routine—checking the materials, the basic craftsmanship, and the level of completion. However, her fingers paused as they touched the junction between the chain and the crystal.
The casual air about her vanished. Her gaze became sharp and scrutinizing. She felt every detail of the links with her fingers, her brow furrowing. As she focused her senses on the interior of the item, shock flickered in her eyes.
The structure of this object was entirely different from anything she had seen. It didn't utilize conventional forging or enchanting techniques. The mana flow was so natural, it was as if it had been born that way.
This technology doesn't exist in the Lower World. It's not like the styles from the City of Swords or the Magical Kingdom of Altena...
"This thing..." Hephaestus looked up, her gaze piercing Suren. "It's very special. This is a highly unfamiliar craft. Tell me, where did you learn this method of production?"
Her question was fueled by both curiosity and a god's instinctual drive to explore unknown arts.
Suren shook his head calmly. "I'm afraid I cannot reveal the source of the technique, Goddess. I came today primarily hoping to find a proper valuation and a distribution channel for this piece."
Hephaestus fell silent, her thumb unconsciously stroking the surface of the necklace.
Is it a rare, ancient heritage? Or did he devise it himself? The latter was a staggering thought.
"Selling under our name?" she asked, her voice steady. "With Astraea's reputation for justice, her name alone is enough of a guarantee for any trade. Why take this extra step?"
"Precisely because the current situation is delicate and the Dark Faction is active," Suren explained earnestly. "The Astraea Familia has its duties. If we were to directly introduce items that draw this much attention, it would invite unnecessary risks and potentially cause trouble for us and the future buyers. Having you and your Familia handle it is not only more secure, but the item's value will be recognized by professionals and reach the appropriate circles."
He's thought this through. Hephaestus mused. The Astraea Familia was indeed a target right now. He wasn't just looking for money; he was looking to avoid subsequent trouble. His foresight was impressive.
"Value..." she whispered, her eyes falling back to the necklace. "Based purely on this unprecedented craftsmanship and its level of completion, a starting price of eight million Valis is reasonable, factoring in the material costs and the 'originality premium.' If the actual utility is as prominent as you say, the price could certainly go higher."
Her tone shifted as she looked at him with a calm gaze. "However, more than the finished product, I am curious about the technology that created it."
She leaned forward slightly, closing the distance between them.
"Suren, how about a deal? If you are willing to exchange insights regarding this technology—without revealing your core secrets—the Hephaestus Familia will provide tailor-made equipment support for all members of the Astraea Familia. This includes priority maintenance, upgrade privileges, and preferential pricing."
She paused, her tone becoming more formal.
"Furthermore, I will personally design and forge a weapon for you. From material selection to the final strike, I will give it my absolute best."
Suren felt a jolt. Top-tier equipment support for the whole team and a promise of a personal masterpiece from the Goddess of Forging herself—this was an incredibly heavy offer. He understood immediately that she saw the immense potential in this unknown craft.
And he, too, saw the possibility of merging magic with divine forging techniques.
"Your offer is very attractive, Goddess Hephaestus," Suren said cautiously. "But this technology holds special meaning for both me and my Familia. I need time to consider it. For now, my most urgent needs are capital and a stable source of high-quality materials to continue my research and production."
Seeing that he didn't immediately agree, Hephaestus realized he was weighing the scales and emphasizing his immediate needs.
Good. She thought, a look of understanding appearing on her face.
"Fair enough. Then, at the very least, let me understand the actual effects of this item. How exactly does it function?"
Suren knew that demonstrating its effects was the key to moving the negotiation forward. He explained the usage of the necklace in detail.
The "Jump" spell could be used ten times a day, lasting ten minutes per use. It significantly boosted jumping ability and scaled proportionally based on the user's base stats. Suren placed special emphasis on the fact that, unlike consumable magic swords, it could slowly absorb trace amounts of mana from the environment or the wearer. This allowed it to "auto-recover" its daily uses—making it a reusable magic tool.
"...Daily recovery? An internal cycle? Reusable?"
As Hephaestus listened, the muscles beneath her eye patch seemed to twitch, and her visible red eye widened significantly. Her grip on the necklace tightened involuntarily.
It's not a one-time use item? It's a magic tool with an inherent cycle and recovery capability?
This had already surpassed the boundaries of common magic items. This technology... this way of thinking...
She took a deep breath, suppressing the shock in her heart, but the way she looked at Suren had completely changed. It was filled with the thrill of discovering a new continent.
"I see... a very, very special effect," her voice was lower than before. "Suren, I think we need to have a much deeper conversation. Furthermore, Astraea should be made aware of this. Is it convenient for me to accompany you to the 'Starlight Garden' right now?"
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Danmachi: My Magic Style is Different from Yours (84 Chapters – Ongoing)
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