I stared at Bell for a few seds, uo believe what I saw. A woman?

  Bell was a handsome boy who could easily be mistaken for a woman, but he is a woman here. I didn't know what was happening, but it had something to do with me ing to this world.

  "Hm? Have we met before?" Bell asked. I eechless for a few seds.

  "No, I don't think we've ever met."

  "Then how do you know my name? I'm not famous or anything~~" Bell said teasingly.

  "I just guessed your name… Haha." I let out a weak ugh.

  "Hmmm…" Bell still seemed suspicious but decided to let it go. "Sorry if I startled you. I was just curious about your sword. It's beautiful." Bell poio the sword.

  "Oh, and my name is Bel. But everyone calls me Bell."

  "I see. Bel. That's a lovely name."

  "Thank you. What's your name?"

  "Eryk. My name is Eryk."

  "Eryk… I've never heard that name before. It's nice. So, I take a closer look at that sword? Don't worry, I won't steal it or anything."

  "Sure, no problem."

  I hahe sword to Bell. She wasn't using the Hestia Knife, just a regur one. Could it be that she's not part of the Hestia Familia? No, she must be. The story wouldn't be altered that much.

  When Bell held the sword, her eyes lit up in admiration.

  "This is incredible. The hilt is stunning, and the bde is fwless. Where did you get this sword? It looks like one of those amazing swords sold by the Hephaestus Familia iower. It must have cost a fortune."

  Bell swung the sword to test it.

  She didn't seem to notice the magic amplification since she didn't mention it.

  "I'm part of the Hephaestus Familia," I replied.

  "What? I've never seen you before. You're a bcksmith!? That's amazing!" Bell's eyes sparkled. "Don't tell me you fed this sword? If you were this talented, you'd definitely be famous."

  "Yes, I fed this sword. It was the first one I made using Mithril. It's not a big deal."

  "Not a big deal? The magical du in this sword is perfect. gratutions on your work." Bell hahe sword back. "Sorry for b you. I think I should go now."

  "You're just going to look at the sword and leave? Why don't we explore the duogether? A few minutes would be enough since I'll be leaving soon anyway."

  "Hmm…" Bell thought for a few seds. "I think it's better not to. I'll see you around."

  "..."

  I didn't say anything and just watched as Bell ran off.

  Her hair was long, reag down to her waist.

  It must get in the way during battles.

  "How amazing…" My lips curved into a smile.

  ####

  After meeting Bell, I couldn't focus on expl anymore and decided to return. I'd done enough testing already. I'll use this sword for now and repce it only when I fe a better one.

  Now that I have a sword, I need prote, right?

  I buy armor or fe my own.

  "I've only fed swords so far, so I don't know if I make it. But I probably . I'll try f armor tomorrow."

  "I want to make armor like the ones Bell and Ais wear. I don't want armor that restricts my movements. I want to fight using my speed iure."

  After some time, I left the dungeon.

  When I reached the surface, I took a deep breath of fresh air and headed up the tower to see the Hephaestus Familia's shops.

  "By the way, I didn't see the Goddess when I first came to the shops… Doesn't she e here often?"

  She probably es by every day.

  I wahrough all the floors with the Familia's shops, looking for her, but I couldn't find her anywhere.

  "Excuse me, do you know if the Goddess is here somewhere?" I asked a Familia member.

  "I saw her not long ago. She left the tower."

  "The Goddess left? Did she go home?"

  "Probably. She hasn't been gone for long, so if you hurry, you might catch her on the way."

  "Alright, thank you."

  I ran out, hoping to find Hephaestus on the way.

  But I didn't.

  I went to our room when I got home, but she wasn't there.

  "Where is she?"

  I left the room to look for her. I asked some Familia members if they knew where she was, but no one did. Strahis is the first time she's disappeared like this."

  ####

  *Hephaestus's POV*

  "So, Tsubaki, where are they?"

  "They're locked up here. What should I do with them?"

  I ehe prison in the basement and looked at the two men behind the bars. They were desperate, trying to talk to me, but with their mouths gagged, I couldn't uand a word.

  "I'll remove their falna. After that, do as usual. Get rid of them, and make sure they never e he shops or any Familia property again. I don't want them running into Eryk."

  I gred at them, p all my anger in their dire.

  "Do you hear me? If you show up in front of Eryk again, I'll make sure to kill you myself. Now stay still. I'm removing your falna. Don't struggle or try to scream."

  I spoke coldly and approached them.

  Tsubaki, standing behind me, let out a long sigh.

  "How many have you removed from the Familia now? Ten? If you keep kig everyo just because they said something about your boyfriend, we'll run out of members."

  "I don't care. As long as Eryk stays in the Familia, it's fine."

  His skill is incredible. As long as he's with us, we won't have any problems.

  He alone is worth more than ten Familia members bined. He has a bright future.

  "You're ag a little scary."

  "I'll stop after this. The remaining members won't cause trouble."

  "Why are you so fident about that?"

  "Eryk will reach a level where they'll have no choice but to respect him. The Familia respects skillful people."

  "You have so much faith in him. What if he suddenly stops f swords? Doesn't that worry you? Just as his skills appeared suddenly, they could disappear."

  "..."

  What if Eryk's skill disappeared? Holy, I didn't care about any of that.

  I'm happy for him aed to see his growth because I love smithing.

  But Eryk, my husband, es first.

  Even if his skill disappeared, I'd still love him, and nothing would ge that.

  "You didn't think about that, did you?"

  "Tsubaki. I've been with Eryk since he was someone who couldn't fe a useful sword. Even if he went back to being 'useless,' I wouldn't stop loving him. That's how love works."

  "I 't uand that since I've never loved anyone."

  "You should find a boyfriend then. You don't know what you're missing~~"

  "I'd rather not." Tsubaki raised her hands and stepped back. "Now finish up. I have things to do."

  "Alright, alright."

  After removing the falna from the two men, I left the basement prison.

  Walking through the corridor, I suddenly bumped into Eryk.

  When I saw him, my heart warmed. It felt like all the world's problems vanished.

  I broke into a big smile and ran to him.

  "Eryk!" Sino one was around, I could act like a love-struck girl.

  ParodyGirl