Astrea's concerns were well-founded.
Because ever since Rudra was swallowed by the Dungeon, the new skill the boy originally obtained had also undergone a change—
[[Atheist]:
· Dungeon affinity increased. (up↑)
· While in the Dungeon, Special Events will occasionally trigger.]
"..."
No matter how one looked at it, this was very worrying.
Isagi himself acted as if it were nothing, completely unconcerned, and even said things like—"Reality isn't a Galgame. I've already tested it, there are absolutely no four choices. You liar, so it's impossible for the Dungeon to turn into a cute loli either..."
She couldn't understand a word of it!
Why was this child always saying things that even a deity couldn't comprehend at all!!
Rubbing her temples, the Goddess of Justice once again felt a certain sense of exhaustion. She was so tired; perhaps she should continue resting for a bit...
Late at night.
Isagi walked out of Cecil's workshop, suddenly feeling that the stifling summer wind in the yard was much cooler.
The idiot girl was used to striking iron, so her tolerance for high temperatures was incredibly strong.
In his hands, he held a pair of matching short swords.
The blades were roughly sixty or seventy centimeters long. They were broad blades that gradually tightened towards the tip, presenting a sharp triangle. Several blood grooves ran down the center, making them look simple and unadorned.
This was the second-tier armament Cecil had just finished forging for him not long ago. After some thought, Isagi decided to name them the "Sword of Benevolence" and the "Sword of Righteousness".
They were mainly intended to replace his previous daggers and short swords for close-quarters combat.
He did not use the special materials dropped by the [Lightless King], the [Infant Dragon], or the Iron Queen obtained from the previous adventure—because it had only been about half a month since returning from the Dungeon. How could forging those into weapons and equipment be so fast?
Instead, these were forged entirely using normal materials, a product Cecil had planned long ago.
She utilized [Super Hard Metal] (Adamantite) obtained from the deep floors of the Dungeon, as well as the rather rare [Black Silver Steel]. After repeated forging, she emphasized their sharpness while minimizing the weight of the twin swords as much as possible.
They were weapons that took "sharpness" to the extreme.
The combat art attached was also quite good.
[[Visceral Critical]
· Damage increases when attacking from the side or rear;
· Damage increases when hitting enemies' internal organs;
· Damage drastically increases when hitting the enemy's heart;]
Simple and unpretentious, one look and you knew it was good stuff. Especially since he could now use weapon switching and attacks to cancel animations at any time. Circling to the back for a strike every now and then—wouldn't that be a lethal killing tool?!
Isagi was very satisfied.
He even considered using the "[Remaining Miracle]" obtained from the [Infant Dragon] previously to give this pair of Benevolence and Righteousness swords a wave of enhancement.
Although incomplete, no matter what, a Dragon is a symbol of an emperor—aside from this, Cecil had also forged two types of "Legion Prosthetics".
To be honest, some of their functions overlapped a bit with the [Shinobi Prosthetic], but the benefit was that once forged, the Legion Prosthetic counted as equipment. Not only could he use it, but Tiona, Lefiya, and the others could use it too.
Besides giving them to the two girls to add some "new abilities," he could also use them as a backup plan.
For example, the Legion Prosthetic contained the [Puppet String], capable of launching a "Grappling Hook." Once equipped, he could use the hook ability even when switching to other Character Cards, which was quite nice.
Of course, the troublesome part was that he couldn't switch them on the fly; one Legion Prosthetic represented one type of ability, so it wasn't as flexible as the [Shinobi Prosthetic].
Sheathing his weapons, Isagi tucked the Sword of Benevolence and the Sword of Righteousness inside his pitch-black cloak, then left the Familia station, walking towards the direction of Babel.
But he wasn't going to the Dungeon.
Because he would be setting off for adventure again in two days, Isagi prepared to visit Miss Asfi before departure.
Crossing through more than half the city district, the Hermes Familia's base was located in the Sixth District between the West Main Street and the Southwest Main Street—the prosperous and incomparably lively "Trade District."
Isagi had been here before; he had gone with Goddess Demeter to the banquet of the gods hosted by the Ganesha Familia.
And this time, the boy walked alone across the [Bridge of Heroes], arriving at a corner of the district near the city wall, and found the building named [Traveler's Respite].
It wasn't his first time here either. Previously, when he contacted Ryuu-senpai, it was often through the Hermes Familia delivering letters, so he sometimes had to run over here.
The three-story building before him was quite ordinary.
On the wooden sign hanging in front of the door, the emblem of the Hermes Familia—featuring wings and a traveler's hat—was painted.
Just then, Isagi saw a petite dark-skinned girl walking out of the house.
"Yah! Good evening!!"
The Chienthrope girl with fluffy short black hair grinned with her usual daily smile. She also had healthy wheat-colored skin like an Amazon, as well as a pair of brilliant golden eyes.
The dog tail behind her was always wagging back and forth, giving people a rather cheerful feeling.
Needless to say, this was also an energetic idiot.
She was Lulune.
One of the members of the Hermes Familia. She was both a messenger and a thief, generally responsible for acting as a liaison for some secret commissions and such. Occasionally, she would also accept some "private commissions" and was very familiar with the various gray areas of Orario.
Previously, she had often helped deliver letters for him and Ryuu-senpai, so they were fairly acquainted.
"Is Miss Asfi in?"
"She is, right upstairs!"
"Good, take care."
"Bye-bye~"
The girl walked away cheerfully; obviously, she still had things to be busy with.
Isagi walked into the Hermes Familia's station by himself. Very quickly, he found Miss Asfi in her own workshop.
It wasn't as scorching hot here as Cecil's forging workshop, but there were always various jars and pots he didn't recognize at all placed everywhere.
The mature woman with short sky-blue hair was lying prone on the long table. Her glasses were somewhat askew, sliding down from the bridge of her nose. Seeing that it was him, she couldn't even be bothered to get up to receive him.
That's just how it was when the relationship was too familiar.
Isagi simply took out the [Primal Residue] he had collected in the Dungeon previously from his cloak.
According to Asfi's research, this stuff could be used to help reinforce weapons and equipment forged from "Special Materials" of the Dungeon, or equipment obtained from the Dungeon found on his person.
For example, the [Shadow of Pandora] she made before; consuming a certain amount of [Primal Residue] could expand the internal space, making it larger.
Aside from that, there were also the stretchable "[Flesh and Blood Long Limb]" and the [Twin Thunder Hammers], etc. After reinforcement, their attack power and hardness would be enhanced.
However, those "weapons and equipment favored by the Dungeon's Dark Miracles," such as his [Blade of Myriad Skeletons] or Lefiya's [Lightless Staff], could not be reinforced.
He didn't know the specific reason why.
According to Asfi's explanation, they "did not belong to the same category of equipment."
Perhaps other materials were needed, not [Primal Residue], or perhaps the method of reinforcement just wasn't known yet, and might be figured out after future research, and so on.
Isagi came this time primarily to ask Asfi to help reinforce the [Flesh and Blood Long Limb] and the [Twin Thunder Hammers].
As for the [Glimmer Greatsword], to be honest, as a third-tier armament dropped by the Floor Boss of the 2nd Floor, it was already somewhat unable to keep up with the intensity.
It still had to be replaced.
He could wait for Cecil to forge his first-tier armament—this was decided long ago. For the first one, Isagi wanted a two-handed greatsword.
Hearing his purpose, the woman simply rose lazily from the long table, and subsequently began to busy herself.
Isagi also asked from the side.
"Miss Asfi, regarding my previous idea, do you have any leads?"
"Ah... just a little bit..."
Asfi was not a blacksmith, so even when using materials with "Special Magic" obtained from the Dungeon by Isagi, while Cecil could forge weapons, she primarily crafted them into various "Wondrous Items."
Therefore, he had previously mentioned to the woman if there was any way to make something that could "store Spiritual Force" or "store Magic."
This was very necessary!
His [Left Bow] currently consumed magic converted from Spiritual Force. So if an item that could store Spiritual Force or Magic could be created, wouldn't that be equivalent to a "Magazine"?
Isagi's train of thought was very simple, yet it somewhat stumped Asfi. After all, this thing was simply unheard of!
How could Spiritual Force or Magic be "stored" inside something?
But thinking about it carefully, it wasn't impossible.
For instance, Magic Swords had "Magic" sealed inside them. Technically speaking, this really wasn't a problem!
And among the special materials Isagi brought, there really were—
"I am researching it. In some time, there might be results."
"Sorry to trouble you."
"Ah... it's okay..."
At least it was better than a certain deity who caused endless headaches.
The trouble that guy caused her was more than countless times more headache-inducing than creating some [Mystery] item.
For example—
A long time later, after Isagi left, Asfi received a report from a member of her own Familia running over in a panic.
Then the woman had to go out grumpily. In a certain small alley on South Main Street, she found the deity who was drunk and collapsed on the ground, sleeping soundly, surrounded by onlookers for who knows how long.
Hermes.
The handsome male god had slightly curly ear-length blond hair. Even in his sleep, he was always smiling cheerfully, giving people a very punchable feeling.
So shameful.
Asfi, flying in the sky, couldn't help but cover her face. She was really embarrassed to go down and pick up her own deity.
Sometimes, she really just wanted to let this guy sleep outside for a whole night and be done with it!
But that was useless. The unreliable deity would absolutely not learn a lesson from this and correct his ways.
She could only descend silently, then grab this guy by the back of his collar, flying away quickly with the deity under the gaze of the crowd, returning to the Familia station...
"Oh my, it's all thanks to Little Asfi today. So cold, so cold, so cold. It's clearly summer, why is it so cold~"
"I should drink some more wine to warm up my body~"
Midnight.
The deity, completely lacking any self-awareness after sobering up, was still glugging down the specialty of a quite famous tavern named Flame Bee Pavilion over on South Main Street—their signature bright red Honey Mead, boiled until it was translucent like a ruby.
"Truly delicious~"
Hermes came to Asfi's workshop, watching the woman still earnestly reinforcing the weapons and equipment for the boy.
That profound, pitch-black [Primal Residue], as well as the Lightning Iron Hammer and Flesh and Blood Club placed on the workbench.
As a deity, Hermes could naturally sense the unusual "New Power" from the Dungeon within them.
He came just to see this.
"How is it?"
The male god used those lazy pale-yellow eyes to ask Asfi teasingly.
"Do you think that child is a [Hero]?"
"..."
Thinking of Isagi's appearance during combat.
No. It should be said, his adventure. Because of the boy, the changes in the Dungeon were simply unimaginable.
So he definitely is one, right.
"Lord Ouranos always says that a Hero will definitely appear. It would be great if it were him—"
Hermes looked into the distance, seeming to be pondering something, his expression rarely becoming serious.
But changing the subject, Hermes narrowed his eyes again, speaking with a teasing expression.
"So, as that child goes deeper, what will the Dungeon become in the future? It truly makes one look forward to it."
"The Dungeon is alive; it can even think and evolve—"
Because of the loathing for deities, the pitch-black magical beast [God Slayer] that feared no divine power was born;
Because of the agreement with the deities, it allowed numerous monsters to exist fixedly and respawn on certain floors;
The Dungeon is not a "God."
It could be called a certain natural phenomenon, but it could also be said—
Hermes had originally looked forward to what kind of expressions the children of the Lower World would have when they understood the truth of the Dungeon. But now, He was even more curious.
When the boy capable of completely changing the Dungeon goes to the deepest depths of the underground...
Will the Dungeon also change because of this?
That was a "Possibility" that even the original gods, including Lord Ouranos, had completely never thought of.
Thinking of this, Hermes couldn't help but look forward to it even more.
And seeing her own deity reveal such an expression, Asfi couldn't help but frown slightly.
"You aren't thinking about something bad, are you?"
"How could I~"
The deity, always looking lazy and lacking spirit, looked out the window at the city that was prosperous like fire.
"Asfi, you must believe, the more prosperous and flourishing the Lower World is, the more it is what these deities desire."
After all, who wouldn't want to live in a carefree, prosperous, and beautiful world?
Deities are the same...
The night was still very, very long.
So... off to go play! It is said that the [Pleasure Quarter] recently had many new beautiful children arrive~
The unreliable deity slipped away quickly, causing Asfi to be somewhat caught off guard.
This guy!
Fortunately, perhaps due to the boy's relationship, ever since she started helping Isagi research the "New Theories" appearing in the Dungeon, the deity hadn't really arranged troublesome and headache-inducing commissions for her anymore.
She could even occasionally use this as a reason to slack off and rest.
She didn't know what the Dungeon would change into.
But Asfi had clearly felt that her originally exhausting life had already changed due to Isagi's arrival, and because of it, had begun to become "happy" and "beautiful"...
____
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