DanMachi: Cheat? What's a Cheat?

Chapter 32 - The Weapon Shop and Perfect Ending

Together with the enthusiastic Goddess Hestia.

We walked toward the crafting district where Hephaestus Familia's workshop was located.

The atmosphere there was very different from the market - quieter and more focused, but felt hot because many blacksmiths worked with full dedication.

Entering the workshop, I suddenly heard a voice and turned to look toward where it came from.

"Welcome to Hephaestus Familia's workshop," greeted a beautiful woman with long red hair and an eye patch on her left eye.

Her aura was very strong and charismatic.

"I'm Hephaestus. How can I help you?"

"Hephaestus!" Hestia immediately ran and hugged the blacksmith goddess without hesitation.

"Long time no see!"

"Hestia... don't hug me suddenly in front of customers," protested Hephaestus with a slightly red face, but not really angry.

"Hehe, because I missed you!"

"Then who's this kid?"

"This is Kaen-kun! My one and only familia member!" Hestia introduced me with unbridled pride, as if I was the most precious treasure she owned.

"Nice to meet you, Goddess Hephaestus," I greeted while bowing politely with sincere respect.

"Thank you for providing time for us."

"Hmm, very polite," commented Hephaestus while observing with sharp eyes.

Then glanced at Hestia who was still hugging her arm.

"Hephaestus! I'm polite too!"

"If you're polite, why are you still hugging my arm?"

"Because I missed you! That's different!"

I sweatdropped seeing their interaction.

Seems like the gods' friendship isn't much different from human friendship.

"So, what are you here for?" asked Hephaestus while freeing herself from Hestia's forced hug.

I saw Goddess Hephaestus looking at Goddess Hestia with a suspicious gaze.

I thought "does she think we're borrowing money?"

"Kaen-kun wants to replace his weapon," answered Hestia with the serious tone of a familia head.

"The double-edged sword he's using now doesn't match his developing fighting style."

Hearing what Goddess Hestia said, Goddess Hephaestus's expression changed to be more relaxed.

"May I know what your fighting style is like?" asked Hephaestus with eyes full of professional interest.

"While training in the dungeon, I realized I'm more suited for fast and flexible attacks rather than heavy attacks. The double-edged sword is too heavy and slow for movements like that, and in the dungeon, speed is often more important than pure power."

"Hmm, good analysis," commented Hephaestus with an agreeing tone.

"So you want lighter and faster weapons?"

"Yes, but still effective for various situations. I'm thinking a combination of spear and short sword might work. Spear for medium range and keeping distance, short sword for intense close combat." I said that after thinking for quite a while.

Hephaestus looked very interested in the idea.

"Interesting combination. It's rare for adventurers to choose dual weapons like that, especially new adventurers."

"I've seen that fighting style before and felt there was resonance with my fighting instincts," I explained half-honestly and half-lying.

"But I'm not sure if I'm capable of mastering it."

"Nothing's impossible if you train seriously and have dedication," said Hephaestus with an encouraging smile.

"But for high-quality weapons, the price won't be cheap."

"How much would it cost?" asked Hestia seriously, ready to reach into her pocket.

"For balanced medium-quality spear and short sword, around 200,000 valis."

Hestia and I fell silent.

Even with all the money we have, it wouldn't be enough.

"But," continued Hephaestus while glancing at Hestia with warmer eyes,

"since this is for Hestia familia's member, and because I see great potential in this kid, I can give a special discount and it can be on credit. 150,000 valis for both weapons."

"Hephaestus..." Hestia looked very moved by her friend's generosity.

"Don't misunderstand," said Hephaestus while turning her face away with typical tsundere behavior.

"This is a business investment. If a promising adventurer like this develops, he'll become a regular customer. And also... I feel sorry seeing you two who look poor."

"Goddess Hephaestus, we're not poor. We're just... frugal," corrected Hestia with a red face.

"Hestia, you live in a church basement. That's the definition of poor."

"That's not poor! That's minimalist!"

"Thank you, Goddess Hephaestus," I said sincerely, cutting off the two goddesses' argument.

"I'll work hard to become an adventurer worthy of using weapons made by you and pay off this debt."

"Hmm, good words," commented Hephaestus with a smile.

"But prove it with actions, not words. And don't die in the dungeon before paying off the debt."

"We're not in debt!" protested Hestia.

"Not yet," corrected Hephaestus with a mischievous smile.

While Hephaestus prepared the weapons, Goddess Hestia and I waited in the living room.

Goddess Hestia looked very proud, though still slightly offended by the "poor" comment earlier.

"Kaen-kun, you were so cool earlier!" she whispered.

"The way you explained your weapon needs, and also how you respected Hephaestus... I'm proud to have a familia member like you!"

"This is thanks to your guidance too," I answered with a smile.

"Eh? When did I guide you?"

"Every day, you teach me about politeness, respect, and responsibility as a familia member. Even if not directly, but it's all thanks to your example."

"What example?"

"You are an example for me and everyone else." I answered with a smile.

Hestia looked very happy hearing my praise.

"Kaen-kun... you're really good at sweet talking..."

"Because I learned from a sweet goddess," I answered with a mischievous smile.

"Kaen-kun!" Hestia's face turned bright red.

"Hestia, your familia member is quite good at flirting," commented Hephaestus who suddenly appeared with two weapons in her hands.

"But be careful not to be too charmed. Guys who can sweet-talk are usually playboys."

"Hephaestus! Don't join in!" protested Hestia while lightly hitting her friend's arm.

"And Kaen-kun isn't a playboy!"

"How do you know? You just met."

"Because... because he's too innocent to be a playboy! Yesterday he asked me if monsters have feelings!"

"Haha, you two are so funny," laughed Hephaestus while handing the weapons to us, clearly not believing Goddess Hestia's words.

"Here they are, medium-quality spear and short sword. Both are made from the same material so the balance is maintained."

I took both weapons and felt them.

The spear about 1.8 meters long felt balanced in my hands.

The short sword about 60 cm long, very light but felt solid.

"Thank you, Goddess Hephaestus. These are perfect."

"Don't forget the down payment," said Hephaestus while extending her hand with a business smile.

Hestia proudly handed over money from the valis pouch I'd given her earlier.

"This is payment from Hestia Familia!"

"Thank you for the transaction," said Hephaestus with a smile. "And Hestia, your familia member is promising. Take good care of him."

"Of course! He's my precious child!" answered Hestia proudly.

"Your only precious child," corrected Hephaestus with a mischievous smile.

"Hephaestus!"

After Goddess Hestia argued with her friend with an embarrassed face.

We said goodbye and went home with new weapons.

Throughout the journey, Hestia kept talking about how cool the new weapons were and how proud she was of my decision.

She even told every person willing to listen about her familia member who just bought weapons.

If I hadn't quickly stopped Goddess Hestia, I would've been embarrassed.

"Goddess, no need to tell everyone," I whispered embarrassedly.

"Why not? I'm proud to have such a cool familia member!"

"But still..."

You don't feel embarrassed but clearly I'm the one who's embarrassed, okay?

"Kaen-kun, you're too modest!"

Walking home with shiny new weapons in the evening.

Throughout the journey, Hestia kept talking with adorable enthusiasm about how cool the new weapons were and how proud she was of the decision we made together.

"Kaen-kun, you know? I feel like a real familia head today!" she said with sparkling eyes.

"Making important decisions, managing familia finances, choosing equipment for members... this is the first time I've felt such real responsibility!"

"Because you really are a real familia head," I answered with a smile as warm as summer.

Just like that, time passed spent having fun together with Goddess Hestia.

Night arrived with peaceful silence.

We had dinner in a very warm and intimate atmosphere, discussing various things that happened throughout the day with pleasant detail.

"Today was really fun," said Hestia while tidying the plates with relaxed movements.

"It's been so long since I felt this warm and happy."

"I felt the same way," I answered while helping clean the table.

"Thank you for wanting to spend this precious day with me, Goddess."

"I should be the one thanking you deeply," said Hestia with a tone full of emotion.

"Kaen-kun was willing to sacrifice precious training time to be with me..."

"This isn't a sacrifice at all," I interrupted gently but firmly.

"This is priority. You are far more important than any training. Nothing is more precious to me than your happiness."

Hestia was quiet for a moment, looking at me with eyes that sparkled with tears of happiness.

"Kaen-kun... let's update your status. You must have developed a lot today."

As usual, I lay down comfortably on Hestia's lap, feeling the warmth and security that I had never realized how precious it was.

The gentle touch of Hestia's fingers on my back as she updated my Falna felt like a warm hug from a loving mother.

My eyes slowly closed, enjoying this intimate and sacred moment with all my heart.

"Done," whispered Hestia with a gentle voice after a few minutes.

"Your status developed very well, Kaen-kun."