"Here, Fron. Try this. It's really good!"
After a busy day, at the night's campfire feast, the beautiful Alicia, cheerfully grabbed Fron by the arm and forced a large cup of so-called spring water into him with a bright smile. Reluctantly, he nodded to show that, yes, it was "delicious."
But… for someone like Fron, who preferred stronger flavors, this mild natural drink was clearly not an enjoyable experience.
Whether it was the variety of roasted meats, the fruit-and-vegetable salads, or the strange assortment of soups, Fron never liked food that was bland. If the girls said today's food was "a bit salty," then Fron would definitely find it far too plain.
Perhaps this was simply one of the elves' natural choices, born from their closeness to nature.
"Ha, honey mead is still the best!"
He downed a large cup of crimson honey wine, and combined with the big profits he had made during the day, Fron was in an exceptionally good mood.
Thinking that after a period of rest and refining his craft, he could digest the new knowledge he had acquired and raise his abilities even further, it was hard not to feel elated.
And naturally, his mood changed his very presence.
"Have you noticed? Fron is smiling at everyone. He's in a much better mood than before. Back at the camp, he gave me a bit of a gloomy impression."
"Yeah, looks like he's in high spirits."
"In high spirits? Then won't those idiots from Rakia be the unlucky ones tomorrow?"
"Or maybe, since this big shot is in a good mood, we can sell him some more of Orario's specialties to take home?"
"Ahahaha!"
…
On the frontlines, a string of victories had put all the major factions in high spirits.
Prisoners and knights could be exploited for even more gain, while business factions made huge profits from the spoils, an upward spiral.
The only miserable one left behind, perhaps, was Ares, who was no doubt throwing a thunderous fit back at his camp.
As for his vice-captain, the prince, he was pacing nervously in the open field outside the camp, hands clasped behind his back, squinting and glancing around.
Every so often, he would pull out a pocket watch, check the time, then gaze anxiously toward Orario.
"It's about time to act. Hopefully the plan succeeds… Otherwise, eh? Wait, why am I getting nervous? Even if the plan fails, it's Lord Ares who'll get dragged into it. What does that have to do with me?"
It was as if the prince suddenly had a flash of clarity, his intelligence briefly came online.
Shouldn't it be Ares who's worried?
…
Meanwhile, in stark contrast to the now-quiet residential districts at night, the industrial district in the northeast roared with noise. Countless magic-stone factories ran non-stop, producing and assembling all kinds of goods to be shipped across the world.
Inside the grand, flame-like main hall of the Hephaestus Familia, the goddess herself, Hephaestus, the beautiful goddess whose words carried enormous weight in Orario, sat behind her stately desk, carefully reviewing stacks of accumulated documents.
There were cooperation requests from other familias, procurement projects from merchants, and most numerous of all, sales reports from her various shops.
Knock knock knock.
The knocking was casual, almost perfunctory.
Without waiting for permission, the door opened and in strode Tsubaki Collbrande, Captain of the Hephaestus Familia, Level 5 adventurer, and Orario's strongest blacksmith.
Carelessly hugging a bundle of papers, she plopped them onto the desk and, with a grin, leaned down to look at her goddess.
"My dear Lady Hephaestus, that bold youngster who confessed to you seems to be in trouble. I hear Rakia Kingdom sent a pair of spies into the city, they're planning to make a move tonight."
The goddess's quill paused. With a deep sigh, she set it aside and leaned back into her luxurious chair, pressing the bridge of her nose.
"Really now, their reaction is far too slow. Welf's ability to forge the 'Crozzo Magic Sword' was exposed months ago. Why are they only making a move now? Bunch of big-brained fools."
"…" Tsubaki's mouth twitched. Others might not know, but she did.
Back when Welf's secret first came out, her goddess had already laid down countermeasures. Yet Rakia and the Crozzo remnants had dawdled for so long that by now even wildflowers had withered while they hesitated.
What a waste of Lady Hephaestus's time.
"But, won't you go check for yourself? The scouts say they're going to act tonight."
"Oh? And Welf is alone? Not with his companions?"
"Exactly, just him. Those guys picked their timing well, waiting until he separated from his group before making their move."
The goddess narrowed her eyes, tapping the armrest with her fingers, then gave a faint smile.
"Not waiting for an opportunity, creating one, perhaps? Don't forget, Welf isn't like other adventurers. That boy still has family."
Tsubaki blinked, then quickly understood.
"You mean… the Crozzo family themselves showed up? Or maybe… one of his relatives?"
"Most likely. Otherwise, why would he go out alone at this hour? Come on, let's take a look. I'm curious to see how this plays out."
"Don't worry, once we strike back, that so-called war god Ares will be like a cornered dog."
"He? Ares, desperate? Hah. What a fool."
They were both deities, even acquaintances. No one knew Ares's personality better than Hephaestus, she never took him seriously.
Just as she expected, in a desolate warehouse district, when Welf arrived at the location written in the letter, a squad of armed men immediately surrounded him.
"So this is your 'sincerity'?"
More than a dozen men, all Level 2 adventurers, closed in. At their head stood a middle-aged man. Against them, Welf, merely Level 2 himself, had no hope of escaping.
"Welf, come home with me. Do you have any idea how important it is that you can forge the 'Crozzo Magic Sword'? If you return to the family, with those swords, we can rise to the pinnacle again!"
"At that time, power, money, women, you'll have everything! Isn't that far better than wasting your life here as some worthless blacksmith and adventurer?"