"Hestia-sama... your request is just too much."
Bell, who was standing behind, couldn't help but hold his forehead.
In fact, he had already tried to stop her from having such thoughts before they came.
Hephaestus is the god of forging, and the forging techniques she possesses are unmatched by any craftsman of this era.
Honestly, even Bell, who had transmigrated from another world, had never had such a bold thought.
Even though Bell figured that as long as it was a request from her, Hephaestus would probably roll her eyes and agree after venting her anger.
She might even only demand that she pay for the forging materials, just like in the original story. Even so, Bell still felt that Hestia's request was a bit too much.
'If Hestia-sama weren't someone with such strong connections, we'd probably have been thrown out by now, right?'
Bell felt a bit uneasy in his heart and once again sighed at how much influence Hestia truly had.
There are a lot of gods from the heavens who knew her and had good relationships with her.
It was a relationship that could not be more sincere. At the very least, Bell knew he would never treat anyone so generously.
Hephaestus took a deep breath. Faced with Hestia's request, she silently walked up to her.
Hephaestus's uncovered eye showed a mix of speechlessness, frustration, and a hint of wanting to teach this idiot a lesson. She reached out her arms and squeezed Hestia's face with both hands.
"You're the only one in all of Orario who dares to speak to me like this. Also, you specifically ask me to help you make a weapon. Why don't you go ask the other familia if there's a single god who would dare to make such a request of me? Even Freya and Loki would never make such a request. You really have some nerve."
Even though Hephaestus was squeezing Hestia's face, Hestia just kept smiling.
She knew very well how valuable Hephaestus's help was, and no god had ever dared to ask her directly to forge a weapon.
Hestia didn't think it was right for her to make such a request, but she was asking differently out of their relationship.
"It's because you're my best friend."
That's right, Hestia was pulling the friendship card.
Hestia knew that making such a request as a goddess would be inappropriate. However, she wasn't asking as a goddess; she was asking as Hephaestus's friend, asking for help to forge a weapon.
Hephaestus was momentarily stunned.
This was indeed a very good reason, and there couldn't be a better one. It wasn't a request made as a god but as a friend asking for help.
"This is a good reason. If it's a request from a friend, it would be rude for me to refuse. Alright, Hestia, I'll accept your request. But don't forget, the forging fee for the weapon can't be left out."
"Hmm, I won't forget, and I'll pay it for sure."
"Then let's get started."
Hephaestus glanced at Bell, who was standing behind them.
This boy's arrival had really brought a lot of changes to Hestia. It had only been two days, but Hestia had already become the head of a familia, and now there were more things she needed to think about.
Hephaestus smiled and turned around, spinning a decoration on the wall behind her. Immediately, the wall made a "click-click-click" sound.
The secret room behind the workshop opened up.
Inside was a craftsman's work area, with a blazing hot furnace still glowing with heat, and various hammers made of different types of crystals were hung on the wall.
They were likely used as tools for forging, and each hammer was made from a different type of crystal, likely used for a special purpose.
There were dozens of various types of hammers, and none of them looked ordinary. Bell didn't know a lot, but his eyes weren't blind.
'This is… where Goddess Hephaestus works?'
Seeing this room for the first time, Bell couldn't help but feel a sense of awe. He thought it would be impossible for her to agree.
Even though he still had to pay for the weapon, Bell knew this debt was totally worth it.
Bell didn't have any particular expectations for the weapon. He had chosen the path of growing slowly and steadily, not trying to rush all at once.
From the very beginning, Bell didn't need some super fancy weapon and just needed the weapon that could cut through monster flesh.
'I didn't even wish for anything special… and yet, it still happened.'
Bell couldn't help but feel a bit moved as he thought to himself.
Hephaestus noticed Bell's emotions at that moment and asked with a slightly strange expression.
"What's wrong? Hestia personally asked me to forge a weapon for you, and you don't seem all that happy about it?"
"Hephaestus-sama must be joking. As an ordinary person, I would never have such thoughts. For Hestia-sama to get a weapon from you... it feels like a dream come true."
This statement wasn't entirely wrong.
Hephaestus wasn't arrogant, and the weapons she forged were top-tier and highly sought after by all the familia in Orario.
Moreover, she would never usually forge a weapon just for a single familia member, and this time was the only exception.
After all, as a goddess, she had her own sense of pride.
The weapons she forged weren't meant to compete for business with young blacksmiths for work, and she definitely wouldn't go around showing off her top-level forging skills.
If Hestia had not made this request as a friend, Hephaestus would never have agreed to it so easily.
"Then why do you still not look happy at all?"
"Hephaestus-sama, I'm just wondering… should someone like me really have a weapon like this? I'm only a new adventurer, but I'm holding a weapon you created. I have no doubt that this weapon is undoubtedly the strongest in all of Orario, but I'm only a Lv. 1 adventurer."
Hephaestus glanced at Bell, who was flattering her.
What mattered more was that this kid was thinking not just about himself but about Hestia too.
This attitude made Hephaestus soften a bit inside. She then turned to look at Hestia and smiled.
"The god and their familia really do take after each other."