Forge and Steel

**Residence of the Hephaestus Familia, Hephaestus's Office.**

"So, a Crozzo is joining us?" Pyrion's somewhat excited voice echoed in Hephaestus's office.

He had arrived as soon as he heard the news that a special new member was joining the familia. His enthusiasm was clear as he sat down next to Tsubaki, who was already present.

"Well, as you say, I just gave him my blessing," Hephaestus, who was sitting at her desk apparently lost in thought, responded to Pyrion in a distracted tone.

"Hehe, that's good," a wide smile spread across Pyrion's face. The idea of having a blacksmith with the legendary Crozzo blood in the familia made him happy. For him, anything that strengthened his family was worth celebrating.

However, as he savored that thought, he soon noticed something strange. Hephaestus and Tsubaki's expressions did not reflect the same excitement he felt. Both looked uncomfortable, as though something was preventing them from sharing his enthusiasm.

"What's going on? Why the long faces?" Pyrion asked, frowning in confusion. His gaze alternated between the two women, waiting for one of them to explain.

"Well..." Tsubaki paused for a moment, crossing her arms as she searched for the right words. Finally, she looked up and spoke. "Let's just say this Crozzo seems to have some... issues."

"Issues?" Pyrion raised an eyebrow, intrigued. Although he vaguely remembered some things about the Crozzos from his previous life, his memory was unclear. He barely retained any details about their special abilities or their significance in history.

Hephaestus sighed deeply, resting her head on one hand, as though the matter had already caused her several headaches. "It's complicated, Pyrion. This young Crozzo... apparently, his relationship with his heritage isn't exactly harmonious. He has certain peculiarities that make things difficult."

"So..." Pyrion tilted his head, catching on to the fact that the boy had issues with his legacy but still not fully understanding the extent of the situation.

"He doesn't like magical swords," Tsubaki said directly, her expression somewhat bored. Her furrowed brow betrayed her discomfort with the topic. "Though he has great talent as a blacksmith, it seems he doesn't want to use his ability to forge magical weapons. It's like he's rejecting the heritage that runs through his veins."

Pyrion leaned back in his chair, taking in Tsubaki's words. "Hmm... That sounds complicated."

Now he understood the uncomfortable faces of Hephaestus and Tsubaki. Both had likely been excited about the potential of the young Crozzo, expecting great things considering his special abilities. But finding out that he rejected what made him unique must have left them disappointed.

"So, what now?" Pyrion asked with a slight grimace, unsure of what to do. Honestly, topics like these always made him uncomfortable. In both his past and present life, he had never been particularly good at dealing with emotional or personal conflicts. By nature, he was someone more inclined toward practical action than deep empathy.

Hephaestus let out a sigh and rubbed her forehead gently, trying to organize her thoughts. "It's a tough situation," she admitted before continuing. "We'll take it step by step. First, we need to understand the root of his rejection of his heritage. If we can figure that out, maybe we can find a way to help him. The best solution would be for him to accept his talent and use it, rather than waste it."

For Hephaestus, a goddess whose passion and essence revolved around blacksmithing, the idea of a blacksmith who despised and rejected his own talent was deeply unsettling. It was almost like a thorn in her heart.

"Well, then I'll leave it in your hands," Pyrion said in a carefree tone. To him, the problem seemed too complicated and outside his area of expertise. He had no idea how to handle something so emotional, and, to be honest, he didn't want to try.

"You're a failure as a captain, you know that?" Tsubaki commented sarcastically, frowning as she looked at him with a gloomy expression.

"Tsk, I just won't do it," Pyrion shot a disdainful look at Tsubaki, shrugging without feeling embarrassed.

"Hey! Shameless!" Tsubaki pointed accusingly at Pyrion, left speechless.

Hephaestus couldn't help but let out a small laugh at the interaction between the two. "Alright, Tsubaki. If you insist that Pyrion gets involved in these matters, you might end up causing another disaster."

Tsubaki's eyes sparkled when she heard Hephaestus's words. A mischievous smile appeared on her face as she looked at Pyrion. "Heh, true. I still remember when one of our receptionists came seeking emotional help and decided to turn to Pyrion."

Pyrion furrowed his brow at the expression on Tsubaki's face. "Hey, don't start with that..." he warned, though he knew full well he had no way of escaping.

"How could I forget that day?" Tsubaki continued, completely ignoring Pyrion's protest, her mischievous smile growing. "The poor girl came looking for comfort and ended up even more confused after talking to you."

Hephaestus burst into a soft laugh, covering her mouth with one hand. "Was it that time you told her, 'If you don't know what to do, maybe hitting something with a hammer will help?'"

"Hey, it was practical advice!" Pyrion protested defensively. "Who doesn't feel better after hitting something? It's therapeutic."

"Sure, therapeutic for you, but not for someone who didn't even know how to hold a hammer," Tsubaki replied, laughing. "The poor girl ended up crying more after trying to follow your advice."

"Jahaha..." Hephaestus couldn't contain herself and burst into laughter as she leaned on her desk.

Pyrion crossed his arms and looked at the two women with a fake expression of disdain, letting out a huff. "Yeah, laugh all you want. But at least I was trying to help."

"Pfft, haha." Pyrion's defense only made the pair laugh even more.

"Alright, alright, let's stop here." Hephaestus shook her hands, wiping away the tears from her eyes as she stopped the teasing.

"By the way, Pyr..." Hephaestus suddenly interrupted, leaving the fun behind. Her tone became a little more serious, though she still wore a mischievous smile on her face. "There's something important I need you to do."

Pyrion raised an eyebrow, suspicious of the sudden change in topic. "What kind of 'important'? I warn you now, if it's another sentimental thing, I'm not doing it."

Hephaestus kept her smile as she observed Pyrion, as if enjoying the suspense.

"Nothing sentimental, don't worry. Although, well, kind of..." she said, playing with her words before letting out a small laugh. "I need you to guide Welf through the mansion, show him his workshop, and his residence."

Pyrion furrowed his brow, still not understanding right away. "Welf? Are you talking about the Crozzo kid who just joined?" he asked, clearly confused.

"Yes, him," Hephaestus responded firmly, as though there was nothing strange about the request. "And I want you to handle everything related to his settling in. That includes showing him his workshop and his new space in the mansion."

Pyrion, hearing these words, was still a bit perplexed. "But... isn't that Tsubaki's job? She usually handles all the logistics."

Pyrion was genuinely confused. As vice-captain, Tsubaki was in charge of managing the mansion. Pyrion rarely got involved in those matters.

Hephaestus's smile widened, and there was a spark in her eyes. "Ah, of course, Tsubaki usually handles those things, but..." Hephaestus paused dramatically, enjoying the moment. "Since you recently made your dear goddess angry, I thought it would be a good time for you to take care of this."

Pyrion's eyes widened, realizing what was going on. "You...?" Looking at his goddess with surprise, Pyrion asked with a trembling voice. "Are you still mad about what happened last night?"

Pyrion referred to the night he came home late from Freya's residence. After that night of scolding, Hephaestus hadn't mentioned the issue again, so Pyrion thought the storm had passed. Who would have thought his goddess still held a grudge?

Hephaestus crossed her arms, a mocking expression on her face. "You lied to your goddess, do you really think I'll let that slide so easily?"

"Hephaestus, I already explained what happened..." he tried to justify himself, but Hephaestus interrupted him with an amused smile.

"Oh, no, Pyrion. Don't get me wrong, this isn't a punishment," her tone softened slightly, becoming a little more gentle, though still carrying a playful undertone. "I just want you to practice your social skills a bit more, and what better way than by helping your own family?"

Pyrion looked at Hephaestus with empty eyes as he heard her reasoning. He'd be a fool to believe that—obviously, his goddess still harbored resentment and was finding a way to get back at him, and what better way than by giving him a boring task.

Pyrion sighed, resigned. "Doesn't seem like 'practice' to me. Feels more like a disguised revenge."

Hephaestus ignored Pyrion's complaints, and with a wink, she continued, "I think it will be good for you. Now, go and do it well. I don't want to hear that Welf doesn't have what he needs, or I'll make your life difficult."

"Tsk, women..." Pyrion, rising from his seat, glared at Hephaestus' amused smile and Tsubaki's mocking expression. In a bad mood, he muttered to himself.

...

With a sigh of exasperation, Pyrion left the room, the door closing behind him with a soft creak. He couldn't help but feel tired from the task he had been given. A boring job with little meaning, imposed on him by his own goddess as a form of revenge.

Although the mansion's entrance hall was calm, Pyrion felt more irritated than ever. He didn't want to do a task that was usually Tsubaki's responsibility, and even less, deal with settling a newcomer. Though Welf was someone special, Pyrion still preferred to go to his workshop and play with his weapons.

Walking toward the stairs, he soon arrived at the guest room. There, he quickly found Welf. According to what his goddess had described, the young man had bright red hair and dark blue eyes.

Taking a deep breath, Pyrion planned to finish the task quickly and return to his workshop.

...

The heavy footsteps of a person woke Welf, who had been staring at the wall, lost in his thoughts. Quickly turning his gaze, he saw an imposing man enter the room.

He was tall, with a somewhat robust build, and his long black hair and silver eyes made him quite striking. However, what struck Welf the most was the aura that radiated from the person in front of him. A powerful presence that, even from a distance, he could feel clearly. That energy made Welf look at him cautiously, recognizing the man's strength.

Welf watched as the man walked with firm steps, his presence so overwhelming that it made him feel small in comparison. Once inside, the man looked at him intently, scanning him from top to bottom. The powerful gaze made Welf feel a little nervous; however, without lowering his gaze, Welf also looked deeply at the man.

After a moment of staring at each other, the man seemed to nod in satisfaction, and with a smile, he spoke for the first time. His deep voice broke the silence between them, almost like a command that forced Welf to focus.

"I suppose you're Welf, right?" he said, without a hint of doubt. The phrase was not a question, but a statement.

Welf nodded quickly. Although he didn't know who the man was, the familiarity with which he moved and how he seemed to evaluate him made Welf assume that he belonged to the Hephaestus familia.

"Yes, I'm Welf Crozzo," Welf responded, his tone a bit firmer, acknowledging the man's authority.

The man nodded, a slight smile appeared on his face, but it wasn't warm. He didn't say anything else. Instead, he approached Welf with firm steps, which made him feel even smaller under his gaze.

"It's a pleasure to meet you. My name is Pyrion, Captain of the Hephaestus Familia," the man, or rather Pyrion, said in a firm tone. Then, with a friendlier smile, he extended his hand to Welf.

Welf, who had been slightly stunned upon hearing Pyrion's introduction, didn't react immediately. The name "Pyrion" resonated in his mind, and the surprise left him momentarily speechless. Not only had he heard this name several times since his arrival in Orario, but he was also very familiar with this man's name before even coming to the city.

It was impossible not to know him: Pyrion, the legendary blacksmith of Orario, whose creations were revered by all adventurers. Even the strongest in the city considered him a master in his craft.

Shaking off his surprise, Welf looked at the extended hand and quickly stood up, his face lighting up with a bright expression as he spoke with enthusiasm.

"Are you Mr. Pyrion? The legendary blacksmith of Orario? The person they say is second only to the gods when it comes to blacksmithing?"

Pyrion raised an eyebrow, slightly surprised by the exclamation, but he wasn't annoyed. With a slight smile, Pyrion responded in a playful tone, still carrying a hint of pride. "I suppose that would be me..."

Welf couldn't help but blush a little upon hearing Pyrion's calm response, but his admiration was more than evident in his eyes. The young man sat back down, a bit embarrassed by his enthusiasm.

"I'm sorry, it's just that... I didn't think I'd meet someone like you so soon. It's an honor," he said, still feeling a bit of disbelief.

From his time in Rakia, as a noble, Welf had heard Pyrion's name. This man, who had apparently been adopted by the goddess Hephaestus, had quickly made a name for himself among the blacksmiths of Orario. According to reports, as Pyrion grew, his works became more and more incredible.

It wasn't long before rumors started circulating about the legendary blacksmith, and soon the gods themselves gave him the recognition as the best blacksmith under the gods.

For Welf, who had admired the story of this great blacksmith time and time again, meeting him was like meeting one of the heroes from the tales he had read, but now, in the flesh.

"Haha, there's no need to be so formal," Pyrion said, gesturing with his hand. "If I'm known, it's for my work, but I don't consider myself more than someone dedicated to his craft."

"You're quite modest, Captain." With a smile, Welf continued observing Pyrion with bright eyes.

"Haha, well, let's get back to the reason I'm here," Pyrion said with a slight smile, getting straight to the point. "My goddess sent me to show you your new residence. I'll also assign you a workshop where you can work comfortably."

"Understood, Captain." Nodding, Welf quickly grabbed a large backpack near him and prepared to follow Pyrion.

"Alright, let's go."