Forge and Steel

"Haha, you really are miserable."

Tsubaki's thunderous laughter echoed throughout Pyrion's office.

Pyrion, with his head resting on the wooden desk, barely had the energy to respond. "Good deeds bring misfortune..." he murmured, glancing sideways at the chaotic mess of papers. The towers of documents seemed ready to topple over, papers scattered and scrolls open everywhere.

"Hephaestus is truly cruel..." Pyrion muttered, overwhelmed by the endless pile of tasks before him. He never imagined that his return with an injured Tsubaki after the intense battle would end up in a situation like this.

He recalled the scene from the previous day when he had entered Hephaestus's office, filled with pride and expecting some form of recognition. After all, he had helped Tsubaki achieve her feat of leveling up, an accomplishment that surely deserved a celebration. But his goddess didn't seem to share his enthusiasm. Instead of praise or thanks, Hephaestus had given him a severe look that chilled his spirit.

It seemed Hephaestus found the idea of Pyrion taking one of her most treasured children into a deadly battle against a boss much stronger than her to be utterly displeasing.

After spending most of the night enduring Hephaestus's long sermon, Pyrion thought he would at least get a reprieve the next day. But when he got up that morning and headed to his desk, he found a nightmare-worthy scene.

Normally, the family's tasks and paperwork were divided into a comfortable 60/40: Hephaestus handled the majority while he took care of a small portion.

But it seemed that his goddess had not only decided to give him a verbal lesson but had also implemented a new "redistribution of responsibilities." That morning, without warning, Hephaestus had transferred her entire workload directly onto Pyrion, who found himself surrounded by heaps of reports, material requests, and lists of weapons in production.

"Are you at least going to help me, right?" Looking at Tsubaki with a glimmer of hope, Pyrion thought that at least she would show some gratitude for yesterday's fight.

But Tsubaki merely crossed her arms and smiled mockingly. "And deprive you of this opportunity to learn the true burden of responsibility? Never." Her laughter echoed in the office, filled with a mirth that only worsened Pyrion's mood.

"Forget it. If you're just here to mock me, get lost!" Waving his hand in anger, Pyrion unceremoniously kicked Tsubaki out.

"Heh, and what if I don't go?" Raising her neck like a proud swan, Tsubaki refused to back down, her expression filled with a mischief that further ignited Pyrion's foul mood.

Pyrion felt a vein throbbing in his forehead, and his patience, already thin after Hephaestus's sermon, finally broke. "Looks like Udaeus's beating wasn't enough, and you need another one, huh?" With a fiery glare, he rose from his chair, ready to teach his "little sister" a lesson.

"You would hit an injured woman?" Unfazed, Tsubaki crossed her arms and smiled while tapping the bandage still covering her arm.

"I have no problem doing it." Without a care, Pyrion launched himself, ready to enhance his sister's resilience stats.

"You... You really dare to—"

"Come here!"

"Ugh... Help!"

KNOCK

The sound of someone knocking at the door made Pyrion halt his plans and turn his gaze toward the entrance of his office.

"Who is it?"

"Captain, it's me, Julan... I have something important to report."

Though somewhat frustrated, Pyrion lowered his fist that was aimed at Tsubaki and, straightening his clothes a bit, said firmly, "Come in."

The door opened, and Julan entered, looking more serious than usual. Without wasting any time, he quickly explained the reason for his presence. "Captain, we have a rather special guest."

"A guest?" Pyrion repeated, intrigued. "Who is it?"

"This... is the captain of the Freya familia, Ottar, 'The Boaz'," said Julan somewhat nervously, clearly rattled by the intimidating presence of the adventurer.

"Ohh, interesting. That guy doesn't usually show up around here," Pyrion remarked, a curious smile appearing on his face.

It must be said that the famous simp Ottar was quite antisocial; he was rarely seen outside the Freya familia residence, absorbed in his own world of training and responsibilities. For Pyrion, it was very strange that he would suddenly appear here.

Tsubaki, who had felt relieved to be saved from Pyrion's beating, also seemed quite interested in the Boaz's visit.

"Come on, take me to him." Curiosity wouldn't let Pyrion wait, and without further ado, he walked toward the exit.

"Yes, sir," Julan replied without hesitation as he followed Pyrion, guiding them to the Hefesto familia's guest hall.

Upon arriving at the hall, Julan opened the door, and as they entered, Pyrion could see the imposing figure of one of the most powerful adventurers in Orario.

Despite Pyrion's considerable height, standing at 6.6 feet, he seemed small compared to the enormous Boaz. Ottar loomed like a mountain of muscle, his presence almost palpable in the air, his stoic face and the massive sword hanging from his back made most people intimidated just by being in the same room as him.

"Hey, dear Ottar, long time no see!" With a playful smile, Pyrion greeted the giant in a casual tone.

Ottar, who had noticed the presence of the three long before they arrived, turned his gaze toward Pyrion. His face, as always stoic, showed a slight expression of recognition as he briefly greeted him with a nod. "Pyrion-san."

"And tell me, what brings our big boy here?" Pyrion asked directly, knowing that words weren't Ottar's strong suit.

Ottar did not react to Pyrion's teasing. Upon hearing the question, his expression remained stoic as he replied in a firm voice: "I come to ask you to make a weapon."

"A weapon? For you?" Pyrion's face didn't change much at Ottar's declaration; since the Boaz had appeared, he already had an idea of what he wanted. After all, he and Ottar had no relationship beyond acquaintances, so the only reason he would seek him out would have to do with his work.

"Yes," Ottar confirmed, his gaze fixed and imposing demeanor unyielding. "I recently acquired a good material in the dungeon."

Without further ado, he drew the enormous sword that hung from his back. The metallic sound of steel being unsheathed resonated in the room, and his abrupt movement made Tsubaki and Julan tense up, ready to spring into action at any moment.

Pyrion, on his part, didn't make any grand movements; however, a seasoned warrior would have been able to identify how the muscles in his arms tensed explosively, revealing the focus he was dedicating to the situation.

Ottar, being a warrior, was able to identify Pyrion's movement and the slight change in the atmosphere in the room. With a deep gaze, he spoke in a dry voice, "It's an item I obtained from Udaeus after he was defeated by me."

The enormous jet-black sword that hung in Ottar's hands, Pyrion also recognized as the object he had coveted long ago; it's a shame that it's extremely rare.

"So you want me to make a weapon out of this item?"

Without saying more, Ottar simply nodded, firm and silent as always.

Pyrion, however, was completely absorbed in the jet-black sword that hung in the warrior's hands. It was a material he had only seen in dreams: resilient, dense, and with a dark shine that seemed to absorb light itself. The thrill of working with something so rare ignited a spark in his heart.

Not only were Pyrion's eyes glued to the precious weapon, but Tsubaki and Julan were also gazing at the beautiful sword with eyes filled with obsession.

"Understood. No problem, I accept your commission," Pyrion declared almost without thinking. The opportunity was irresistible; forging something for such a distinguished warrior and using materials that, in the right hands, could create a legendary weapon. Ottar was one of the few in Orario worthy of possessing something like this.

Though Ottar's face remained impassive, Pyrion sensed that hidden spark in his gaze: a reserved yet genuine excitement. The prospect of having a weapon forged by the best blacksmith in Orario was enough to even stir emotion in someone as serious as him.

"I leave it in your hands, I'll come back for it later." Extending his hand, Ottar placed the sword in front of Pyrion.

With his eyes shining with passion, Pyrion smiled brightly, "Hehe, alright, you can come for it in a few days. I won't spare any effort or technique, Ottar. Get ready for something you've never seen before." Gently taking the weapon as if cradling a small baby, Pyrion spoke to Ottar with confidence.

"Then I look forward to it," Ottar said with those final words as he walked toward the exit of the hall, not looking back.

Julan quickly followed behind him to see the guest off.

"Let me touch it!" Without waiting for a response, Tsubaki lunged at the enormous sword, her eyes sparkling with pure excitement.

"Hey, don't let your dirty saliva drop on my future masterpiece!" Pyrion protested as he saw the droplet threatening to fall onto the dark metal. With a quick movement, he snatched the sword from her hands, cradling it as if protecting an irreplaceable treasure.

Tsubaki huffed, wiping the corner of her mouth with the back of her hand. "Oh, come on, Pyrion. Let me see it up close! It's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!"

Pyrion raised an eyebrow, holding the sword firmly against his chest. "This beauty needs the touch of a master, not an impatient brute." With a mocking smile, he added, "When it's finished, I'll let you see it... from a distance."

"Impatient brute..." Tsubaki's eyelids fluttered violently, swearing that if it weren't for Pyrion's strength, she would definitely show her anger.

"Fine, I'm leaving. I have work to do." With a nearly childish grin, Pyrion couldn't contain his impatience and, clutching the sword, dashed off to his workshop.

Tsubaki stood watching as her "dear" brother disappeared at high speed, her expression of indignation giving way to a faint smile. "That idiot... happier than a child with a new toy."

"Hey, it looks like another great weapon is about to be born in Orario..."

...

Somewhere in the city of Orario

"Erebus... my patience is running out."

The murmur of a woman echoed in a room shrouded in darkness. Her voice, soft yet tense, vibrated with impatience and a growing anger that felt almost palpable in the air.

"Hey, Alfia-chan, you need to calm down. Good plans don't come together overnight," replied the man named Erebus, his tone laced with amusement, as if he were enjoying the woman's frustration.

"You need to speed things up. My patience won't last much longer. When I explode, I might be the first mortal to personally send a god to heaven." Alfia's cold voice resonated, filled with murderous intent.

"Hehehe, don't worry, little Alfia, it won't be long before Chaos is unleashed in Orario." Despite the threat, Erebus's tone didn't change, as if he didn't take it seriously at all; instead, laughter full of amusement filled the room.

Alfia frowned, clearly annoyed by his attitude. "Don't take me lightly, Erebus. My words are serious. If you don't give me results soon, I won't hesitate to act myself."

Erebus tilted his head, still wearing that mocking expression. "I understand your urgency, but remember that reckless moves can have unforeseen consequences. The game we're playing is dangerous, and a mistake could cost you more than you imagine."

"Consequences? I'm not afraid of the consequences," Alfia replied, her voice icy.

"HA HA HA how brave you are, Alfia, a true hero who isn't afraid to face the world, so heroic, so—"

BAMM

A powerful thud echoed throughout the room as Alfia struck one of the walls hard, causing the entire room to shake.

"A week... if in a week you haven't made a move, there will be no need for cooperation," Alfia warned, her voice so frigid it seemed capable of freezing the atmosphere. Every word that came from her lips made Erebus shiver.

"I understand, I understand," Erebus replied, raising both hands in surrender. "There's no need to be so extreme. I'm working on it. Your wish is my priority."

"Hmph." Only the cold huff from Alfia responded to Erebus's words, and then, without saying anything else, she vanished into the darkness.

"Hey, what a moody woman..." Shrugging in helplessness, Erebus once again wore a bright smile.

"Hehehe, soon, soon... Orario... Chaos will strike, blood will flow, and only the purest despair will reign... Because only in chaos and despair can heroes be born... HA HA HA!" His laughter echoed in the room, filling the space with vibrant madness.

Unbeknownst to Orario, soon a god filled with madness would plunge Orario into chaos.