Bell stared at the short sword in disbelief. A weapon with both "Indestructibility" and "Growth"? Wasn't that basically cheating? It didn't even need maintenance—just using it would make it sharper. Wasn't this practically the same as a "pen that never runs out of ink"?
'The original said this weapon had the ability to grow, and Goddess-sama mentioned it too. But does this level of growth mean the sword doesn't need any upkeep at all?'
It already had the "Indestructibility" trait, and now "Growth" on top of that. Wasn't this every Adventurer's ultimate dream? And if a weapon like this truly existed, didn't that make every other weapon obsolete?
Bell glanced cautiously at Hephaestus-sama, wanting to ask how she even came up with such a concept.
The mature, big-sisterly goddess Hephaestus instantly caught the doubt in Bell's eyes. She sighed inwardly. 'What a waste, following such an idiot of a goddess. If only he'd joined Freya Familia or Loki Familia, he would've gone far.'
"That's exactly why I said this weapon is practically made to put blacksmiths out of business. As a smith, I really didn't want to forge something like this."
She folded her arms as she spoke, the motion only emphasizing her mature, elegant demeanor. That older-sisterly aura washed over Bell. But compared to the mature and intelligent goddess, his eyes were still drawn to the short sword.
After all, there were plenty of graceful, intellectual big sisters in the world—but this sword was one of a kind. And wasn't "one of a kind" way more interesting than another big sister?
Even though Bell didn't feel worthy of wielding such a first-rate weapon with both "Indestructibility" and "Growth," now that it was in his hands, he felt nothing but gratitude toward Goddess-sama for going out of her way to request it from Hephaestus-sama.
Bell knew full well that if it hadn't been for Hestia-sama's personal request, Hephaestus-sama never would've made such a weapon. Forging something like this was practically saying every other weapon was trash. There was no doubt—this dagger was now the strongest weapon in all of Orario.
Hearing her friend say that, Hestia immediately sprang to her feet, ran over, grabbed her arm, and began shaking it playfully with a cheerful grin.
"Hehe~ I know. That's why Hephaestus is the best~"
Even though she'd been the one to make the unreasonable request, Hephaestus still fulfilled it. Hestia wasn't clueless—she knew full well Hephaestus only agreed because of their friendship. So she was genuinely grateful that Hephaestus had only charged her the minimum for such an outrageous favor.
The contrast between the lively loli goddess and the composed, mature blacksmith painted a vivid scene, bathed in a soft, glowing light. From an outsider's perspective, it gave off some serious yuri vibes.
Bell noticed it too but quickly looked away. He couldn't help but mentally fill in the blanks with a full-blown R18 yuri manga. The scene was just too perfect—like Rin Tohsaka and Sakura Matou getting close, or Artoria and Morgan cozying up. It was hard to tear his eyes away. If not for his immense willpower, he might've found himself on the receiving end of Hephaestus-sama's not-so-friendly glare.
Lowering his head, Bell continued examining the "Hestia Knife" in his hand. With both "Indestructibility" and "Growth," it was no wonder this little black dagger was so durable. Even with added magic and a Heroic Strike, it held up just fine—any ordinary first-class weapon would've broken under that kind of stress. And the fact that it required no maintenance? That saved a fortune. This dagger was practically every Adventurer's dream.
Of course, the real appeal was its ease of use and absurd cost-efficiency. It was a weapon even a Level 1 Adventurer could wield, and it could grow alongside its user—potentially lasting an entire lifetime.
But unfortunately, this incredibly cost-effective dagger also had the "Unique" trait. Weapons like this were considered "personal favors." Without that kind of connection, there was no way Hephaestus-sama would agree to make one.
Now, the strongest weapon was in his hands. It may have been a short sword, but it was far more agile than a longsword and much better suited for close-quarters combat. Paired with the magic he had chosen, it would be perfect for melee. That said, the magic he picked still needed a few additional components to function properly.
'I wonder if I can pull it off like in the manga... No—I have to believe it's possible.'
The reason Bell chose lightning magic from the start was all because of a manga. He wanted to transform his body into lightning—like flipping on a speed hack. What he needed was acceleration. Just like in that strange illusionary world, where in the end, he charged toward the Black Dragon in a lightning-formed body.
If he could do that in the illusion when he first received the magic, then it meant the magic was granted through the Spell Tome. Rather than being awakened, the magic seemed more like a manifestation of his own desires—guided and shaped by the Spell Tome into something real.
'I'll ask Goddess-sama about the details later.'
Bell had high expectations for this magic. Maybe it was just a self-acceleration type spell and not some all-purpose enhancement—but even that was more than enough. With the "Hestia Knife" in hand, if he used the magic well, he might even be able to take down higher-level Adventurers with lightning speed.
He wasn't sure if it would work on someone two or even three levels above him, but it was worth dreaming about. As long as he kept getting stronger, the enemies he could face would keep getting tougher too.
"Bell!"
Hestia suddenly dove onto Bell's back, hugging him tightly. Her ever-smiling face always had a way of putting people at ease, and every time Bell saw that smile, his heart would gradually settle. To him, Hestia was a very special goddess. Her smile calmed his spirit—but her figure stirred something entirely different.
"The update and connection are complete. Also, Bell, you've awakened a new magic!"
...
(40 Chapters Ahead)
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