After everything was settled, Ai told Cirrus she fought Kaguya to prove she was no longer a child, which she proved successfully. He told her that Susanoo gave him a request to fulfill to allow their relationship to keep going, a half-truth.

He told her he would be in the city working on his request for a while.

The next day.

"So you wish to rent out a forge?" said Hephaestus. "Can I ask why?"

Next to Cirrus was Eupheme.

"They requested that I make a weapon," Cirrus said.

"Why you? You aren’t a full-time Blacksmith? The only works you made were with my child here."

"That may be true, Lady Hephaestus, but he had the Blacksmith development ability when he reached level 6," Eupheme said in her monotone voice.

"Hmm… and the rank?"

"G."

Hephaestus looked at Cirrus with one eye very carefully. She knew she spoke the truth, but she was still hesitant.

"Euphe…" She looked at her.

"Hm, it is true he was also the one to help create the Brilliant Nightmare, Cirrus."

As Cirrus takes out the weapon, Hephaestus remembers Eupheme telling her she and Cirrus created this weapon along with his parent.

Cirrus places the weapon on her desk, and she looks at it carefully, examining it with extreme focus.

"…I can safely say this weapon is truly one of a kind." She slightly smiled at its quality. "Beautifully crafted with a lot of thought put into its creation and materials. Your parent, Cirrus, must have a pretty high Mystery rank to create this."

"They do, but for this weapon, I will be working on, I will be the sole person working on it."

Her eye fell on Cirrus.

"I know you are strong and skilled, but this weapon wouldn’t have come into existence without an equally skilled Blacksmith and Item Maker, not even I can make a weapon like this without another hand."

"Lady Hephaestus, I possess Blacksmith, Metal Working, Mystery, and Mixing development abilities."

"W-what!" She shouted in surprise. "H-how?!"

Given Cirrus’s high degree of combat, I couldn't believe he had such development abilities of such variety; he is what they would call a Renaissance Man.

"I have them through a skill of mine. You can check if you wish, but I'd like you to promise me you won’t tell a single soul outside this room."

She was sweating; she was overcome with information she did not know how to deal with.

"….Tell me."

"Hm?"

"Tell me, Cirrus," Hephaestus said, sitting down on her chair. "Why are you doing this?"

"…The reason is really simple!" A slight smile formed on his face. "I’ve told Eupheme this, but I’m simply doing this, and I know it's cringe but I am doing it out of... love."

"…. Eh??" Her eye widened.

Hephaestus looked at Eupheme, and she nodded her head.

"For…love?"

"Yup."

"Are you sure?"

"I am."

"That’s the only reason?"

"Why is it so hard to understand? I may not be all wishy-washy about it, but love can truly move the heavens." Cirrus said it with a keen eye. His words were filled with such confidence. Hephaestus didn’t think for a second that he was spouting empty words.

"For love, huh? Fine, then if you create a weapon that far surpasses this one here or even any of mine, I’ll gift you a forge myself and give you a 50% discount on all of my wares for life! But should you fail, you will give me this weapon as a reward, as well as having you get us material from the deepest parts of the dungeon. How’s that for a deal?" She said it with a grin.

‘No one is going to accept that bargain! Material from the deepest floors is now incredibly valuable since no one has been able to traverse the 50th and below floors!’

A grin grew on Cirrus’s face, followed by a smile.

"Deal."

"Eh?" She was surprised again.

"The deal is far too good to pass up, so shall we shake on it?"

"Heh…I hope you enjoy giving us all your loot from the dungeon." Hephaestus extended her arm.

"And I hope," He extended his hand. "You didn’t let your sourness," They both shake on the deal. ", on love, make this deal so favorable?"

"!?" Hephaestus' eye twitched a bit.

Cirrus quickly took his hand back once the deal was agreed upon.

"So where is the forge in question?"

"I’ll get it ready for you in three days. I look forward to seeing what you can make."

"Thank you kindly."

As Cirrus leaves with Eupheme, Hephaestus sits alone in silence.

"For love, huh? Well, it’s not an original answer, but one I've heard several times before... It is kinda nice that he wasn’t trying to win me over. Aphrodite, did he know? No...no. It's my imagination." She muttered to herself.

 

Walking back.

"I still find it hard to believe it’s for Ai?" Eupheme said.

"How so? Was it because we both knew each other since we were kids?"

"Partially yes, but you... you always seem more of a business-before-pleasure kind of person."

"People change Eupheme."

"Hm, I can see that very well." She then placed her hand on Cirrus’s head.

When she first met Cirrus, he was only 7 years old and about up to her hips. Now she had to look slightly up at Cirrus to meet his gaze.

"You’ve grown up to be a fine man." She said it with a warm smile.

"And you’ve grown into a finer Blacksmith."

"Heh~ I can see how you can win over a crowd!" She punched him in the shoulder.

"Hahaha! And I can see why your smithing is so fast!"

The two would continue to chat with each other until they had to go their ways.

 

Back home.

"Circe, is everything getting prepared?"

"Yup! Powders, oils, and a bunch of alchemical stuff! They should be all done within 3 days!"

"Nox, can you keep an eye on Ai for me? I will be going into the dungeon again to get material."

"No problem!"

"Lenoa, do you think you can process Balor’s magic stone in time?"

"Ki-hihihihi! Of course! Anything for my future niece-in-law!"

"Well then, let’s build ourselves a masterpiece!"