My front door leads to a comic strip

Chapter 163, Section 162: The God of Forging Intervenes, Upgrading the Divine Sword

In the northwest district of Orario, the shadow of war casts an inescapable oppressive atmosphere over this once bustling city.

Gu Yuan stood in front of a simple and dignified building, with a striking logo engraved in sacred script on the lintel—【H∅αIToS】.

This is the core industry of the "Hephaestus Familia," the god of forging.

He pushed open the door, and the clear sound of bells echoed in the somewhat empty hall.

Contrary to the expectations of a high-end weapons shop, the interior furnishings lean towards practicality.

Various gleaming weapons and heavy, sturdy armor were meticulously displayed on steel frames like works of art.

However, there were few customers in the shop, only the deep rumble of the fire from deep inside, proving that the shop was still operating.

"Oh my! Welcome!"

A vibrant female voice broke the silence.

Approaching us was a tall, voluptuous woman with a healthy tan complexion. She wore a black eye patch over her left eye, which added a touch of wild charm to her appearance.

What is most striking is her extremely daring attire—her upper body is covered only by a white cloth wrapped around her chest, outlining a breathtaking figure.

She is Tsubaki, the leader of the Hephaestus Familia and an Iv4 "One-Eyed Craftsman".

"My name is Chun, and I'm in charge here. What would you like, customer? Custom orders, repairs, or would you like to see some finished products?"

""

Chun's bright smile and enthusiastic tone complemented her unpretentious attire.

With the shadow of war looming and the high-end weapons market shrinking drastically, she was especially happy to see new customers.

Gu Yuan glanced at the displays that would tempt any adventurer, but didn't linger. He stated his purpose directly: "I need to upgrade a weapon."

"Upgrades? That's our specialty!"

Chun's one eye lit up, her interest growing even stronger. "What kind of weapon is it? Are there any specific requirements? Can the guest take it out so I can see the details?"

Gu Yuan reached behind his back and slowly took out the divine sword that had accompanied him through the world.

He didn't hand it over immediately, but held it in his hand so that the other person could see the whole picture.

"It's this sword."

As soon as the sword appeared, the light in the hall seemed to naturally converge and settle towards it.

The fine dust particles in the air were silently split in two as they passed near the blade.

Chun's breathing suddenly stopped, her instincts as a master blacksmith made her blood seem to boil.

She instinctively leaned forward, her gaze fixed intently on the perfectly formed blade, and carefully reached out her hands, wanting to pick it up and examine it closely—

"Huh?!"

He lost his grip, and the sword suddenly sank, its tip crashing straight to the ground!

boom!

With a muffled thud, the solid ground was smashed, creating a deep crater like an explosion.

""

The shop was silent, with only the faint sound of hammering coming from the workshop deep inside.

"Feel sorry!"

Chun then came to her senses, quickly apologized, her face filled with disbelief.

She wiped the sweat that had instantly seeped from her forehead, and looked at the blade that had been damaged simply from hanging down naturally, her heart filled with turmoil.

This weight—it's terrifying!

After Gu Yuan subtly adjusted the gravitational field around the sword, Chun reluctantly tried again.

This time, I finally took over steadily.

She stroked the cold blade, her single eye gleaming with extreme fervor: "This—this is truly extraordinary! No ordinary craftsman's work! The person who forged it has reached the pinnacle of skill!"

Gu Yuan's heart stirred slightly; Chun's eyesight was indeed sharp.

The foremost craftsman in the world of Frilian, whose skills are described here, has a relevant job level rating of Lv.6 to Lv.7.

It is not an exaggeration to say that the scope is broad enough.

After all, without such a foundation, it would be impossible to forge this divine weapon capable of bearing his power.

Just as Chun was completely immersed in her fascination with the divine sword, the door of the weapon shop was once again pushed open abruptly.

"Ding-a-ling—" The sound of the bells became somewhat chaotic.

Liu Leon walked in with a solemn expression, followed closely by Alyssa, whose face was also unusually serious.

Gu Yuan turned around and asked, "Have you decided?"

Ryu took a deep breath, a resolute glint in her icy blue eyes, and nodded gently: "—This is the only time, thank you for your trouble."

It turns out that on their way here, they first visited the Gubniu Family Inn, which is known for its cost-effectiveness.

However, due to the overwhelming number of war orders, even large orders for second-tier weaponry require waiting for at least four or five days.

With A-Huo's fate still uncertain, every second is precious, and Ryu cannot afford to wait.

Gu Yuan once offered to fund the immediate crisis, but Liu was independent by nature and unwilling to easily owe favors.

After searching through all the blacksmiths without finding a solution, they had no choice but to accept the funding plan previously proposed by Gu Yuan.

"There's no need to dwell on it; solving the problem is the priority," Gu Yuan said calmly.

Ryu nodded, turned to Tsubaki, and handed her the precious branch that emitted a soft, life-giving glow: "I need a sword suitable for an elven mage, the sooner the better."

Chun finally snapped out of her daze of being so obsessed with the divine sword, took the branch that emitted a faint glow, and skillfully assessed it: "A magical weapon used by elves? No problem."

"The materials are top-notch. I don't have many customers right now, so the workshop is empty. If things go smoothly, I can deliver within two days."

After a quick calculation, she quoted a price: "The fee is approximately fifty million fares."

Fifty million! This number made Liu's heart sink.

A typical Tier 2 weapon costs around 30 million, while Alexie's "Crimson Oath" costs 35 million.

The Hephaestus Familia's asking price was indeed high, but considering their top-notch craftsmanship and the urgent deadline they had set, it was not unacceptable.

Her pale fingers tightened slightly as she made a silent resolution:

Once we rescue Ah Huo and end this war, even if it means a long and arduous journey deep into the underground city, we will pay off this debt.

Having accepted Ryu's request, Chun carefully handed the divine sword back to Gu Yuan, her single eye filled with regret and excitement: "I'm sorry, sir, your sword—is of such high quality."

"Any alteration to my skills would be a defilement."

But then, she changed the subject, a bright smile appearing on her face as if she were facing a challenge: "However, just because I can't do it doesn't mean no one in the clan can!"

She turned and called out to the heavy iron door deep within the workshop, engraved with fire runes, "Lord Hephaestus! There's an interesting task that I'm afraid requires your personal attention!"

Heavy footsteps approached from afar.

Boom—

A few seconds later, a goddess with fiery red short hair, a tall and straight figure, and a black eye patch over her left eye slowly walked out of O.

At first glance, her demeanor appears somewhat aloof, carrying the majesty and distance unique to deities.

Her gaze first calmly swept over everyone, and finally settled on the divine sword in Gu Yuan's hand.

At that moment, her eyes narrowed slightly, and she let out a soft "Eh" with great interest.

"Interesting," Hephaestus murmured, gesturing to Gu Yuan and saying succinctly, "Follow me."

After saying that, he turned around and walked back into the depths of the workshop without hesitation.

Gu Yuan gripped the divine sword firmly, hesitated for a moment, nodded slightly to Alyssie and Liu, and then disappeared behind the heavy doors leading to the core forging workshop.

Inside the shop, only the low rumble of the stove and the clear sound of breathing could be heard for a moment.

Alexie and Ryu looked at each other, both seeing undisguised shock in each other's eyes.

The God of Forging himself needs to intervene.

What is the origin of Gu Yuan's sword?

First-level weaponry?

Or even higher?

Today, they have truly witnessed what it means to be "deeply hidden".

Suppressing the turmoil in their hearts, the two found a bench near the wall and sat down quietly, beginning to wait patiently.

For Ryu, the anxiety of waiting for the new weapon and the worry about her friends' safety were intertwined, making her feel like she was sitting on pins and needles.

As for Alexie, in addition to these, there was an even stronger curiosity and anticipation for Gu Yuan's unfathomable background.

Deep within the workshops of the Hephaestus family, the roar of the furnaces grew ever clearer.

A dialogue concerning the transformation of a divine sword is about to unfold between mortals and gods.