Is it wrong to try to meet someone in a dungeon?

This is when "subordinate gods" like Phobos come into play.

Those who are under Ares's control will take over Ares's hands and feet and turn the lower-ranking people into his followers.

Although the Crozo family, though of declining fortune, is also a member of the kingdom, they are also members of the "Fobos Familia" inscribed with her favor.

This is a very common system in the national category of "Families".

"...If you're bored, you can start a coup or whatever you want. Don't you gods love doing that kind of thing?"

"Yeah, I really wish someone could do it for me. I enjoy watching the fight from the sidelines, but if I had to do it myself, it would be a hassle to avoid Ares and the others' eyes and ears, to instigate the children and to train them rigorously, just thinking about it makes me feel overwhelmed, doesn't it?"

Although they are gods of defeat, no one knows what these naturally capricious gods might do.

Therefore, to prevent any potential problems, the Kingdom of Lachia's proud Lv.2 and Lv.3 knights and generals, including the royal guard, were all directly under Ares's command. Although they borrowed the power of other gods, Ares, who was unnecessarily powerful and known as "muscle in the head," still had more than 10,000 followers at his command. In contrast, the subordinate gods were forced to take care of those groups with weaker status or strength.

Furthermore, as soon as it is known that any of the followers of a god possess outstanding abilities such as strength or intellect, they will be immediately forced to convert and become a descendant of the Ares Familia.

In other words, to stand out in the kingdom is equivalent to receiving the divine blood of Ares, the god of war—the founding father.

The fallen forging families are no exception; they still dream of returning to the presence of that supreme god.

"But you actually talked about a coup so naturally, you really are a weirdo~ Hehehe."

The family that once presented the "Crozzo's Demon Sword," possessing unparalleled firepower, to the royal family and enjoyed immense wealth and power is now completely changed. Cursed, they can no longer forge the "Demon Sword." Just as the noble scions mocked last night, the entire family is simply clinging to past glories, living their lives in this way.

Welf found the family’s obsession utterly ugly.

I'm not interested either.

Because he has a "goal" he is determined to achieve.

"I'm going to be a blacksmith, and I don't care if the gods or the king change. ...Hey, what are you doing? Stop it! Don't ruffle my hair!"

Forbes reached out and hugged Welf's still-growing body, shouting, "Watch me give you a good rub!" as she ruffled his hair. While his long, narrow eyes possessed a captivating allure, his childish behavior was completely out of sync with his appearance. She always loved teasing Welf, who was different from the rest of the family (Crozo), and making fun of him.

To Welf, she wasn't like a revered goddess, but rather a troublesome friend or a difficult elder.

"Oh, right, Welf, Galon and the others said they were going to do blacksmithing—"

"What...why didn't you say so sooner?!"

After having had her fill of playing with Welff like a toy, Forbes seemed to only now realize the need to tell him.

Although she wasn't exactly voluptuous, Welf, whose face was flushed as she pressed her soft breasts or limbs against him through her black clothes, immediately opened her eyes wide and cried out upon hearing this.

Welf shook her off and rushed out of the backyard.

"Keep it up, Welf!"

"None of your business, you silly goddess!"

Despite his words, a smile appeared on Welf's face.

The way he ran with his arms outstretched was far from the behavior of someone who had received an aristocratic education; it was more like the behavior of a child his age.

As the goddess, who was getting further and further away from him, watched with a smile, he turned the corner of the mansion.

With no distractions, Welf hurried to the old building behind the other house.

*

The Crozzo family's "workshop" is just as dilapidated as the abandoned mansion.

But Welf didn't dislike the cramped forge. He loved everything about it—the pungent smell of iron ore, the grimy walls covered in coal dust, and the old, still-burning furnace. Being there allowed him to forget the troubles of aristocracy.

Welf took off his exquisitely crafted aristocratic clothes, changed into work clothes, and stepped into the dimly lit "workshop".

"Old man, Dad!"

There were only two people in the workshop.

They were Welf's grandfather, Garon Crozzo, and father, Will Crozzo, both wearing work clothes.

Galon, with his white hair and beard, and Will, with his long brown hair tied up, turned their heads.

"Welf, I've told you so many times not to call your elders that. When are you going to understand that you're an aristocrat? And I heard that you caused a commotion at the dinner party while I was away, didn't you?"

"That's because they describe what we're doing as playing with metal blocks..."

"Shut up! How dare you cause trouble in front of the King! Even children fighting is unacceptable! Luckily, Lord Marius spoke up for you, which saved the day..."

Father Will was a man who strictly adhered to aristocratic rules.

As the current head of the family, he vowed to restore the family's reputation and always forced his mother and other family members to abide by the etiquette and customs of the forging nobility. This suffocated Welf.

Incidentally, regarding the banquet incident, I wonder if the First Prince acted on a whim and defended Welf, thus sparing him from punishment.

"Vell, that's enough. Now that Welf is here, let's begin."

"……yes."

Will, with his head bowed and face twisted in a glare at his son, reluctantly obeyed Galon's words.

Welf, the grandfather who had relinquished his position as head of the family, was so strong that he showed no signs of aging. His back was as straight as if it were made of iron, and he always had a serious face.

Galon was not a nobleman, but a "blacksmith".

That's what Welf thought, which is why his grandfather just tried to smooth things over.

With a smile on his face, young Welf followed his grandfather and father, who moved silently to the stove, and found a spot next to them.

“—Huh!”

Clang—Clang—

Sparks flew and the sound of hammering filled the air; the forging process had begun.

The forge, glowing red-hot, illuminated the dimly lit workshop.

Despite the scorching heat burning his face, Welf, drenched in sweat, continued to work as his father and grandfather's assistant.

The father and grandfather, who possess the "blessing" of the goddess (Phapo), produce powerful and resonant sounds when striking. Even though they can make weapons without a blacksmith partner thanks to this "power (ability parameter)," the two still earnestly and steadily hammer a single piece of metal into shape.

Will and Galon—no, including Welf—three generations of the family are about to work together to create a weapon.

"Listen carefully, Welf. You must listen to the sound of the iron, listen to the clang of the iron, and put your heart into the hammer, otherwise you will not be able to forge a truly good sword. We must forge a weapon that can replace 'Croz's Demon Sword'."

With a sinister expression, Will raised the hammer high and brought it down as he spoke to Welf.

My father always said that.

Will risked his life to create a weapon to replace "Crozo's Demon Sword" and revive his family business.

Although his true intention was to restore the power of the nobility, his father's will and enthusiasm at this moment were genuine, which made Welf nod honestly.

Welf truly loved his father's profile as he prepared to forge a weapon.

"...Welf, bring me the pliers."

"good!"

The taciturn grandfather taught Welf what a blacksmith was simply by showing his back.

Welf had long watched Garon's focused figure as he forged iron and learned a great deal. Welf had too. Although the family had not been able to forge "Krozo's Demon Sword" for so many years, Garon always aimed for the highest weapon and focused on fulfilling his duty as a "blacksmith".

—Listen to the sound of the iron block, listen to the sound of the iron block, and put your heart into the hammer.

These lessons originally came from Galon and were passed down to his descendants. Welf had also heard him say them once, as he was hammering iron as if possessed.

When Welf was still young, he first came into contact not with weapons, but with Galon and others, which introduced him to the existence of blacksmiths.

Then, Welf became deeply fascinated by the weapons they had created through willpower and passion.

A blade forged through tempering possesses a powerful and potent brilliance.

When Welf saw a knight of the kingdom wielding his grandfather's work, he felt a surge of heat throughout his body.

Only then did he realize that the master and the clone—the man and the weapon—could learn from and refine each other in such a way.

He also wanted to become a blacksmith.

Become a blacksmith and forge the ultimate weapon.

I want to witness that weapon and its best user go through life and death together.

That intense impulse surged through my heart.

Aspirations and wishes, enthusiasm.

From a young age, Welf harbored a passionate heart.

"...Welf, you try it."

"Huh... Is it... alright, old man!?"

Wilf, who had only been allowed to do assistant-like work until now, was allowed to hold a hammer for the first time.

His strict grandfather urged him with just his gaze, "Just do it."

The father, covered in sweat, was also smiling.

Welf smiled.

He raised the corners of his lips, laughing so hard he almost cried tears of joy.

He gripped the hammer tightly, which was too heavy for a child's thin arms.

Then walk to the red-hot metal and the front of the anvil.

I will never forget this day.

With this certainty in mind, Welf raised the hammer and brought it down.

He played a weaker, less powerful blow than his father or grandfather, sparking bursts of energy. But Welf poured everything he had into the hammer he raised and swung down.

I also want to become a "blacksmith".

Together with his father and grandfather, he created a weapon that surpassed "Crozo's Demon Sword"—the supreme weapon.

At this point, Welf was convinced of this.

*

That fateful day arrived on Welf's tenth birthday.

"Then, prepare to inscribe my 'benevolence'—"

In a room at Crozzo's residence, Welff was about to receive "God's grace" from Forbus.

It was Galon who designated him to have "God's Grace" engraved on his tenth birthday. His strategy was to understand the hardships of being a craftsman before acquiring [ability points].

With the silent observation of Will, Garon, and the family members, Forbos dripped divine blood onto the back of Welf, who was sitting half-naked in a chair, thus inscribing the [hieroglyph].

Welf Crozet

Lv.1

Strength: I0 Durability: I0 Dexterity: I0

Agility: I0 Magic: I0

〖magic〗

【】

〖Skill〗

[Demon Sword Bloodline]

• Can be used to craft magic swords.

• Enhance the magic sword's abilities during crafting.

Fapos gazed at the small back inscribed with sacred script—the same Demon Sword bloodline (skill) displayed as other family members (Krozo)—and slowly spoke.

"...Welf, why don't you make a 'magic sword'?"

"Huh? How could that be possible? Our family is cursed by the 'Fairy Spirit'..."

"Don't ask so many questions, just give it a try."

To this day, his father and grandfather have thoroughly taught him the necessary skills of a blacksmith.

It has been a year since he first held the hammer. Now that he has gained [ability points], he should be able to forge weapons on his own.

Galon and Will both looked surprised, but the black-haired goddess only smiled faintly.

"...It's just a try."