Chapter Size: 1901 Words.
Lucius POV
Guild.
I was at the guild with Rose, going through all the necessary paperwork to officially become a member of the Hestia family. Once I finished, I didn't need to spend much time with her since my information was already registered.
Afterward, I went to the crystal exchange section to sell my loot. I was pleased with the result after the attendant counted my stock. If an adventurer makes three thousand valis a day at their peak of level 01, I managed to make 6,000 in 3 hours, an exceptional result. I didn't even take a break, as adventurers often do at higher levels while hunting monsters. I also sold some of the crystals back to the system.
[Author's Note: I'm establishing my own economy in this universe, considering how Bell struggled in desperation when Mama Mia charged 800 valis after a day in the dungeon in one of the early episodes of the anime. I believe an adventurer at the peak of level 1 making 3,000 valis in 8 hours is a reasonable number. If you disagree, you can argue and try to change my mind in the comments.]
Now, leaving the guild, not without saying goodbye to Rose before I left, I headed to a tailor shop near the dungeon. It was a business that belonged to some god of parties or clothing; I wasn't sure. Still, it was a good shop, and one of the god's daughters attended to me perfectly. I placed a custom order for a cloak I designed for myself, a garment that I would use as my official symbol. I made sure to provide details such as a beautiful and expensive fabric, with insignias on a front collar and space for precious stones. Yes, I made this cloak to officially resemble the Mage King from Black Clover. Since I'm a mage with infinite mana, it's only fair that I copy his character's cloak, considering that I'm already a copy here. In my opinion, his attire is pretty cool!
I started talking dreamily to the woman after I saw the design. I said things like, "I want a soft and comfortable fabric with a perfect red hue that perfectly contrasts with the white fabric and has jewels that exude status and power..." This earned me a strange look from her, but I was too lost in my dreams to care about that.
My order cost me 50,000 valis, and I would pick it up in 5 days. It was a bit expensive because the fabric was of high quality, not to mention the precious jewels. In the future, I knew I would order an even better one for entering more hostile dungeon areas. The fabric I wanted for the future is Drake skin, which wouldn't burn or tear and would withstand even an attack from a level 6. But it costs almost 10 million valis, a material I could only obtain on the fiftieth floor if I could get it. I would save a lot of money because it's a scarce material that became even rarer after the fall of the Zeus and Hera families. Even Loki hasn't reached that floor yet.
"Maybe with Apollo's War Game, I can make a lot of money!" I mumbled as I left the store, thinking about profiting from future events.
To achieve that, I won't take Bell with me into the dungeon, or interfere in the MC's relationships here. However, I want to participate in the main events, even if it's just tweaking a story event here and there, until I become strong enough. After that, I will mess up the entire canonical story, even if I don't know it after the Xenos or Juggernaut events.
"Being with Bell attracts too much attention, of course, but I can also hide behind his growing image and fame. When people start paying attention to me, I will already be the strongest man in Orario," I thought with a laugh about my future.
"Freya, you'll lose the title of the strongest family to Hestia soon! HEHEHEHE," I grinned maniacally with that thought while I was back on the city center streets, but I didn't care about the looks I received.
It was still noon, so I wanted to do a few more things. I went to Babel Tower again, but instead of going to the guild, I climbed the stairs to a few floors where Hephaisbos's cheapest blacksmith shops were located. I wanted to buy a temporary sword because while I was in the dungeon yesterday, I realized the need for a short-range weapon as well. Even with infinite mana and some spells to enhance my physical stats and boost my weapon's power, it would be helpful to have a sword.
Entering the shop I had in mind, the same one Eina took my family member to, I smiled when I saw the armor that Bell would buy here in a few days, I believe. These were discarded items for anyone who wanted to pay for them. I could buy them for him, but I won't interfere with that. It's better if he chooses and gives direct credibility to Welf Crozzo. Besides, he deserves to have his time with Eina when she takes him to this same shop. These women are important to him.
"Sometimes I wonder how he'll deal with a harem like that. I myself prefer to have only one woman as the mother of my children. Dealing with so much female attention would drive me crazy in his place," I thought as I walked through the store. Having a harem shouldn't be something that happens in real life. Most of those constructs are unrealistic. I'm only talking about the sexual aspect. Apart from the conflicts that arise over who will be the heir, that's where the betrayals start.
So I'll be content with my green-haired, pointy-eared elf!
[Author's Note: My character has this thought, that's why he doesn't engage in harems.]
Returning my attention to the store, I couldn't help but appreciate something from Crozzo as well. I needed a sword, so I went to the grumpy dwarf who was alone behind the counter, bored, his chin resting on his fist.
"Mr. Dwarf? Can I ask for some help?" I said calmly, earning a furious look from the small man, but that's something he would do with anyone but Hephaisbos, of course. Dwarves have a difficult temperament.
"I'm looking for swords from a specific blacksmith. Can you help me with that?" I spoke again when I saw he didn't bother to answer me before.
"What kind of swordsmith, kid?" He said in an angry tone.
'Kid? Can't you see a young adult human, small man...?' I thought to myself, frustrated by this reception, even though I expected something like this. I easily get angry when someone calls me that, but I sighed and got straight to the point, trying to ignore the insult.
"I'm looking for swords by Welf Crozzo!" I said proudly but was met with a strange look from the little man here.
Welf Crozzo was known for some bad reputation within the Hestia family for some reason I couldn't recall at the moment, but his relationship with the entire Hephaisbos family was complicated.
Many questioned why he was among them, but Hestia was always clear that Crozzo had a place in their ranks. She saw the talent of his family in him. I wonder if it was love from the beginning, or if she developed it over the years. I know Crozzo has always been in love with her from the start.
'Poor guys who fall in love with Gods,' I thought internally. Not that I'm against it, but it's challenging to maintain a relationship with someone who can't give you a child and who will outlive you. Isn't that a bit sad?
"Swords of his?! Are you sure, kid? Are you not in need of some medicine for your head?!" The dwarf said with undisguised anger, not liking a customer searching for a name that is cursed by all the blacksmiths in the Hephaisbos family.
"Listen here, dwarf, or should I call you half-man? First, stop calling me a kid, and second, I asked you a question. Can you help me or not?" This got on my nerves.
This tone of mockery and anger was making me very eager to make him explode along with this place. I said in a cold tone, ready to fight this guy if he exploded, which was expected and happened. I wouldn't hold back.
"WHAT DID YOU CALL ME, HUMAN? I'M A MEMBER OF THE HEPHAISBOS FAMILY. YOU DARE SPEAK TO ME LIKE THIS, IN MY SHOP?!" He shouted. There was no one else in the store at this moment, and he was probably around level 2, so maybe about 15 firebolts in succession could finish him, I thought.
"Do you think I care who you are and which family you belong to? You just hide behind your goddess and insult anyone, thinking you're always right, half-man." A dwarf like him is clearly used to insulting adventurers in this store and does it with pleasure, seeing that they're all just low-level rookies. Because the shop is one of the cheapest in the entire tower, this is where all the failures of the tower's blacksmiths end up, a metallurgical trash dump, in other words.
"I'LL KILL YOU!!!" He said as he grabbed a mallet from the counter.
I didn't know how I would start this fight, but I wouldn't tolerate this bastard anymore. My self in this world might have been okay with this before, but after my memories from Earth, I wouldn't tolerate this disrespect anymore. I simply returned his insults, and he threatened me. So I'm basically defending myself, and I will destroy him in the process!
I took a few steps back and prepared to raise my hand and shout firebolt multiple times until he passed out.
"I'll make you go straight to Dian Cecht!" He taunted with a rage-fueled attack as he raised his battle hammer.
"I'm waiting, half-man, but I'd like to see if you have the same confidence in a few minutes." I said as if I were looking at a fool.
When he raised the hammer, jumped and climbed onto the counter, ready to advance on me, but when our fight was about to begin, a voice interrupted us, sending shivers down our spines.
"What's going on here...?" A voice said, enunciating each of those words calmly, but the tone was as hot as a forge in a volcano. I didn't even need to look to know who said that, seeing the pale face of the "half-man" in front of me.
Now I wonder how she ended up here personally in this dump of all places in the tower and at this exact moment.
I let out a small sigh; perhaps her presence saved me from some problems. I knew that if I fought the dwarf, I would destroy a part of this store. Even though I was grateful for her presence, I wouldn't hesitate if I had to fight, because that's how I am.
"Hephaistos," I said, somewhat curious, as I turned to face the beautiful woman with an eyepatch, who stood there with her arms crossed, looking at both of us.