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

Then he narrowed his eyes and pursed his lips into a straight line.

This was the first time I had seen Mr. Welf as a blacksmith.

I stopped breathing for a moment.

"...They actually dared to tell me to create tools that could please the royal family."

After saying that, Mr. Welf gripped the hammer and struck down with it in one go.

"That's not right, weapons shouldn't be like this."

The heavy clang of metal striking metal. Forging has begun.

Mr. Welf pounded the hammer as if he were hammering out his own heartfelt sentiments.

"Weapons are neither political tools nor means to advance one's career, but rather the user's right and left hands."

Although the pounding motion was small, the impact sound was frighteningly sharp.

With the "Power" bonus from his abilities, every hammer blow carries extraordinary power.

"Even if the wielder fights alone, no matter what predicament they are in, the weapon must never fail its master. From the moment the hilt is grasped, this thing becomes one with the user's mind and body."

Perhaps due to the difference in the amount of force applied, the way the hammer was swung varied in degree each time.

Sometimes a heavy hammer blow stretches the metal, while other times a gentle tapping is used to adjust its shape.

There was no need for two people to take turns striking it; the shape of the red metal block gradually changed.

"We blacksmiths must create works like that."

It was a passion for weapons that fueled his enthusiasm. It was as if Mr. Welf himself had transformed into flames.

Too sincere and single-minded.

"We must fight the iron block with all our might, pushing it to its limits of heat. We must confront the iron block head-on before we can forge a weapon. How can we treat this as a side job? How can we use bloodlines to forge swords? How can we forget the original purpose of forging?"

He forged the iron with undivided attention.

His imposing aura was overwhelming, as if he were possessed by a ghost or god.

What did Mr. Welf see deep within that red-hot metal?

"I hate the Demon Sword. It will definitely shatter if it abandons its master."

Sparks burst forth. A bright red flash.

Each time the hammer struck a falling item, tiny, scorching metal fragments flew into the air. Mr. Welf's black kimono was no less impressive than an adventurer's armor; the red-hot particles were deflected and fell to the ground.

It was only then that I realized it.

The tattered kimono-like casual clothes this person was wearing were actually work clothes.

Its charred black color and aged appearance are irrefutable proof of countless forging processes.

"I hate the cursed sword. Its power corrupts, corrupting the wielder's pride, the blacksmith's arrogance, and everything else. At least, that's how the swords we (Krozo) forge are."

Even the forging family that created it could not escape the fate of corruption, despite the incomparably powerful demonic sword.

"The Cursed Demon Swordsmith".

I think I can understand the true meaning of that sentence a little better now.

"I don't forge magic swords. And even if I did, I wouldn't sell them."

Ignoring the sweat streaming down his face, Mr. Welf raised the hammer.

The sound of percussion rang out continuously, and the fiery and exciting melody filled the entire studio.

Seeing that, I forgot to wipe away the sweat that was streaming down my face.

The smell of iron that greeted me when I entered this room.

The strong smell that once made you want to cover your nose now seems so distant.

Mr. Welf kept looking in front of him and kept striking the iron hammer in his hand.

◆

Just as the view outside the blinds began to turn twilight and the sky became completely dark.

Mr. Welf's work has come to an end.

“…Done.”

"Wow……!"

Mr. Welf came out from the back of the workshop and placed the shallow box he was holding in both hands on the table.

I leaned out and looked inside, and saw a short knife inside the box that was emitting a crimson glow.

The sharp blade has a translucent quality. It is slightly shorter than the "Goddess Blade". The vibrant colors retain the appearance of the "Horn of the Minotaur".

The handle is a similar color to the blade, a coppery red, suggesting it was adjusted to fit my hand.

"This...this short sword must be quite something...!"

"I think it's the material. Of all my works to date, it's definitely the best one."

Mr. Welf showed a pleasant weariness, and his eyes curved into crescent moons as he smiled.

That's an understatement, but Mr. Welf must actually be quite satisfied with his skills. Otherwise, he wouldn't have used the word "best."

I was so excited that I kept bowing my head to thank Mr. Welf.

"Ah—, I'm sorry. I didn't have time to prepare a scabbard. I'll have one ready by tomorrow. Can I just use one for now?"

"No, it's okay. Actually, there's no need to rush to finish it tomorrow... It's already so late today."

"No, these kinds of things require striking while the iron is hot."

"Just like forging iron," Mr. Welf said, turning his right shoulder.

I thought to myself, "He really is like a blacksmith," but then I remembered that he was a blacksmith, and I couldn't help but smile wryly at my own thoughts.

Are all craftsmen like Mr. Welf? I thought to myself with a smile.

"Okay. It's time to choose a name."

When I looked at Mr. Welf with a smile, he suddenly leaned forward and looked down at the crimson dagger.

He rested his right hand on his chin and his eyes narrowed rapidly.

Mr. Welf, with incredible concentration, slowly began to speak:

"Niu Ruowan... no, Niu Duandao (Niu Didi)."

"No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no! The first name is good enough!"

"Hmm? Does Bell prefer Ushiwakamaru?"

"Don't worry about it anymore!"

My expression changed drastically, and I shouted at Mr. Welf in a fit of emotion.

After I practically begged and pleaded with him, Mr. Welf finally said with great regret, "Oh, I see..." and reluctantly agreed.

"Then, take it."

"Okay. Thank you so much, Mr. Welf."

Mr. Welf used a scabbard from one of his other works as a substitute, and handed me the dagger with one hand.

I thanked him one last time before extending my hand... but he unexpectedly raised his short knife slightly.

My hand swung at empty air, and I exclaimed, "Huh?" with a foolish expression.

"That's the name."

"W-What?"

"Stop calling me that stiff title."

When I heard him say that to me, my eyes widened.

"We haven't known each other for very long, so I don't expect you to trust me completely. However, I hope you can call me that like Xiaolizi does."

"Like companions," Mr. Welf said... no, Welf laughed.

I responded with a smile.

"I understand, Welf."

This time, I steadily accepted the short knife that was handed to me.

Volume Four Final Chapter: "The Next Stage"

As usual, the guild headquarters was bustling with activity, with many adventurers coming and going in the lobby.

The sounds of hurried footsteps and conversations could not reach the interview room located in a corner of the hall.

"Crozo? Uh, please don't mind if I'm mistaken? You mean that blacksmith nobleman...?"

"Are they... really that famous?"

"Yes, that's right. Any adventurer, or anyone from this area, would immediately think of that family when they hear the name Crozo."

A week after Bell asked Welf to make a new dagger, Bell came to Eina to report on Welf's situation. A new blacksmith companion with a personal contract, and one who was never short of gossip, made Eina smile wryly.

"However, it really surprised me."

"what?"

"I never expected there to be a member of the Crozo family in Orario. Logically speaking, someone like that should already be a renowned and unparalleled magic swordsmith in the city."

"..."

Welf's reputation did not spread widely in Orario because he consistently refused customers' requests to craft a magic sword.

The problem is simple: without forging a real magic sword, it's difficult to prove that Welf is "Krozo's" person. Even disregarding the Hephaestus Familia, who know his origins, the uninformed guests all regard Welf as an imposter Krozo.

"We don't need Crozo, who can't make magic swords." This was the common refrain of some of the customers who found Welf, making his name obscure, let alone famous.

Although Bell had no intention of blaming Eina... he was still somewhat frustrated to see people judge Welf solely based on the magic sword.

"Excuse me, I'd like to go back to our previous topic..."

"Ah, um... then, could you please let me take a look today?"

Bell shifted his focus and got to the point.

Eina appeared somewhat timid, and stood up from her seat with a noticeably stiff expression.

Bell also stood up, turned around in front of her, and took off his armor and shirt.

Bell Craney

Lv.2

力量：G267　耐久：H144　灵巧：G288　敏捷：F375　魔力：H189

Lucky: I

"..."

After confirming Bell's [ability stats], Eina spoke softly, but then fell silent.

Only ten days have passed since I reached Lv.2, yet my highest ability rating has already reached F. I've jumped three stages from I.

How many steps does he need to skip before he's satisfied?

Bell put on his shirt and sat back down, leaning slightly towards Eina across from him.

"The team has become a three-person group now. Does that mean we can go to the middle level?"

An unwavering gaze. Eina was speechless under the intense red eyes before her, then slowly closed her own.

The capability assessment for floors 13 to 14, the starting point of the middle level, reached the benchmark of I to H. In other words, Bell has reached a level of safety sufficient to proceed to the subsequent floors.

A level 1 forward-type blacksmith and a supporter with low [stats]. This is a special squad where only Bell stands out in terms of strength. That being said, the monsters encountered on the 13th floor are not much different in strength from those on the 12th floor. Monsters such as the "Hard-Armored Rat" will also appear in the middle floors.

As long as Bale can provide sufficient support to his teammates, there is no danger of them being wiped out.

Based on the squad's level, they could barely be allowed to enter the middle ranks.

"……Wait me a moment."

Eina opened her eyes and temporarily left the interview room.