ParodyGirl

  Hephaestus wasn't in bed when I woke up, just like yesterday. I got up ao the bathroom. I stared at the mirror, thinking about my versation with Hephaestus.

  It was so easy...

  "She uood everything so quickly and got really excited. Well, she's the goddess of smithing and also my wife, so of course she'd be excited."

  I washed my fad theo the private dining room.

  "The Goddess asked me to tell you to eat and the her iraining room," Nina said, smiling while serving my breakfast.

  "She could've just woken me up."

  "She seemed to be in a hurry to take care of something."

  "Do you think something happened?"

  "I'm not sure."

  Could it have something to do with my revetion?

  I ate as quickly as I could ao the training room. Wheered, only Hephaestus was there.

  "Good m, Goddess."

  "I've told you to call me Darling!"

  "..."

  "I've been waitio show you this." Hephaestus looked around, and I did the same. "As you see, the training room is much better nht?"

  I gnced around and noticed the differences.

  The training dummies were his time, there was just e furnastead of three smaller ones, and the amount of material I could use had more than tripled. The quality of the materials also seemed much better.

  The iory, which reviously full of junk, now tained only the on swords I had fed. All the trash was gone.

  And the liness? It otless and perfectly anized.

  "Did you do this?"

  "That's right. I did this with the help of some Familia members. Do you like it? I upgraded the furnace, brought only high-quality materials, and freed up plenty of spa the iory to store your swords."

  "Thank you, but it wasn't necessary."

  "Of course, it was necessary! You deserve a and anized pce to work from now on. I want to see you improve even faster. I want you to fulfill your promise to bee the best smith in the Familia."

  She's so excited. It's like a child who just got their dream toy.

  Not that I'm a toy—it's just an analogy to describe hoy aed she is.

  "You're overdoing it. I level up even with low-quality materials."

  "That's enough! From now on, I want you to work in the best ditions with the best materials."

  "Huff~~" I let out a long sigh. "Alright, thank you... Darling."

  "You finally said it! You're so cute." Hephaestus held me and kissed me on the lips. "Now, I'll leave you alone so you work. Do your best and show me good results!"

  "Alright... I'll try my best." I smiled as I watched Hephaestus leave the training room.

  When she closed the door, and I was alone, I wondered if telling her about the system had been a good idea.

  "She's too excited!" It's almost unfortable.

  ####

  I grabbed the material and begaing it at a high temperature. The metal quickly turned red, and I started hammering it with the new hammer Hephaestus got for me.

  I hammered relentlessly, folding the metal. I tio get points.

  Realizing it would be harmful to focus on the points, I ighem and trated entirely on f.

  When I fihe first sword, a message appeared:

  [You have fed a Level 1 on Sword]

  "Another on sword. I o rank up soon to increase my ces of f refined-rank swords."

  Swallowing my frustration, I kept f more swords.

  Before I k, night had fallen.

  By the end of the day, I had fed eight swords, but none were refined rank. They were all on swords.

  "I won't accept this. I e at least one refined-rank sword!"

  So, I started w on the sword. I took more care with every step. Hephaestus ehe training room as I began polishing the bde.

  "You're still w!?"

  "I haven't been able te a sword like those two yet. I refuse to end the day without f at least one Level 2 sword!" A level two sword is the same as a refined rank. That's how I expi to Hephaestus.

  "You don't have to be so impatient. You have all the time in the world to do this."

  "I know... But it's frustrating not being able te somethi."

  Hephaestus sighed and picked up one of the on swords.

  "Your Level 1 swords are excellent. They don't have magic or abilities like Level 2 swords, but plenty of people would pay a lot for one of these. Why not start selling them?"

  "No, I don't want to sell Level 1 swords. I'll only start selling swords when I fe Level 2 swords sistently. That way, I'll have a good stock of them."

  "No bcksmith keeps a rge stock of swords as strong as these, Eryk."

  "I've already decided: I'll only start selling swords when that happens. And I'll t on you te a workshop for me," I said as I sharpehe bde of my st sword for the day.

  My st hope.

  Maybe I fe a rare-rank sword in front of Hephaestus. That would be amazing!

  "Don't worry. I'll definitely arrange a workshop for you. Just let me know when you're ready. Oh? Are you finishing up?"

  "Yes, almost done."

  I fihe sword handle, and the sword was finally plete! I sharpe a little more, and then the bde started to ge before my eyes.

  The bde, already beautiful and unique, became even more stunning.

  [You have fed a Level 1 Rare Sword]

  ParodyGirl