With his shirt removed, Bell sat on the floor, back facing them, as Hestia gently let her blood drip onto his back. A pale, white light began to slowly take shape. She was updating Bell's Falna and synchronizing him with the short sword—this would make Bell its sole wielder.
But midway through the update, Hestia froze, her eyes locked onto a newly appeared entry in Bell's magic section. She clearly remembered—Bell hadn't stepped foot into the Dungeon for three days since he started forging weapons. After finishing the sword, he'd collapsed into sleep for a day, and then spent another whole day asleep for reasons still unclear. So how did he awaken a brand new magic without even leaving his room?
"Hephaestus, come take a look."
Something again?
Hephaestus instinctively glanced at Bell's turned back. Ever since this kid had joined Hestia's Familia, surprises just kept coming. She stepped forward and peered at the data now glowing on Bell's back—and her expression twitched slightly.
"Another magic?"
[Lightning Command]:
Quick-Cast Magic
Controls Lightning
A brief and simple description.
But that simplicity was exactly what raised the alarm. The Falna had only listed this minimal information—there wasn't even an incantation provided. And that could mean only one thing: this magic required no chant. That alone placed it in a rarefied class of spells.
Then there was the name itself—[Lightning Command]. Nothing more than "controls lightning." The word "command" carried broad implications. The fact that the system didn't narrow down the spell's type only meant one thing: its use was practically unlimited. That kind of flexibility was another reason this magic stood out.
No incantation, no usage constraints—those were the first impressions Hephaestus got from this spell. Even she knew what that implied. A spell this open-ended had incredible potential—but also came with a terrifyingly low floor.
'It all hinges on how deeply he develops it. If he pushes the boundaries, this spell could have countless applications. But if he fails to master it properly, its weaknesses could be just as dangerous.'
'This is the kind of spell that could be a perfect fit for an adventurer. It's a combat-focused magic that evolves through actual use. But for a complete novice... this is way too experimental.'
Hephaestus could see the depth of this spell. With enough exploration, it could carry an adventurer further than dozens of conventional spells. It was the kind of magic that promised a future—if Bell had the will and skill to pursue it.
And of course, if Hephaestus could see that, Hestia could too.
After a brief moment of stunned silence, Hestia grasped its true nature. She saw that this magic had the potential to carry Bell far. But in the present, its utility was still limited—too raw, too undeveloped to offer any real immediate help.
'Let's place our hopes in the magic of the future. Bell, you've obtained another sharp weapon. But this magic won't immediately make you stronger.'
The greater a magic's potential, the more underwhelming it is at the start.
'We'll talk about the magic later. Right now, the priority is to link the dagger to your Falna.'
Hestia composed herself and drew the newly forged black dagger from its sheath. At first glance, it looked like an ordinary blade, but once stained with Hestia's blood, divine script began to emerge on the blade. The glowing white characters resonated with the pale light on Bell's back.
Connection.
Hestia synchronized the divine script on the dagger with the holy markings on Bell's back. Slowly, the symbols on the blade began to shift, and a new line appeared at the front—signaling that the engraving was complete.
With the connection finalized, Hestia let out a breath of relief. Now, as long as Bell kept growing, the dagger would grow with him. It had already synced with Bell's data and would start developing through battle. She was certain that once it fully matured, it would become Bell's most vital weapon.
She pressed the Status Board back into the tattoo on Bell's back.
"Bell, it's done."
Bell nodded and began putting his clothes back on. Once dressed, he turned around and saw the black dagger held in the goddess's hand. 'How should I put it? It looks a little different from what I remembered.' The divine script on the blade had been concealed—unlike what he recalled. 'Weren't the characters always visible from the start? So why are they hidden so well now?'
Still, this was undoubtedly good news. No one would covet something that looked ordinary. Even in the original story, the protagonist's sword attracted the Pallum only because of its visible divine markings. But now, this black dagger appeared completely normal—aside from the blackened blade.
Noticing Bell's gaze, Hestia smiled and handed him the dagger.
"Bell, we made this blade together. It's alive, and as long as you keep using it in battle, it will continue to grow. I've named it the 'Hestia Knife.'"
"This weapon was specially forged by Hephaestus. Don't let its plain black appearance fool you—the materials used are anything but ordinary. It also has the traits of 'Indestructibility' and 'Growth.' You don't even need to maintain it. As long as you keep using it, it'll steadily become sharper."
If other Adventurers in Orario found out about this dagger, they'd be green with envy. "Indestructibility" is one of the best traits a first-class weapon can have—it means there's no need for frequent replacements. And "Growth" ensures that the blade maintains its exceptional sharpness without any upkeep.
Now, this blade was in Bell's hands.