DANMACHI: The Silence's Heir (OC x Freya)

Chapter 15

GODDESS HEPHAESTUS

In a secluded room built on the first floor of the tower of Babel, a forge roared forth in rage and beauty as a red-haired Goddess sat infront of it, hammering away at an ingot, in a small room littered with weapons, ingots and other materials.

The true value of the contents of that room was in billions of valis, for they may be rejects for the Goddess of the Forge but were weapons of such quality that any smith could claim even one of them to be the pinnacle of his life's work.

Hephaestus had been hammering away at the forge for as long as she could remember, forging weapons of all kinds, legendary weapons wielded by heroes and legends throughout history. And even after so many years, she tolled on, her mind fuelled by the desire to make the ultimate weapon.

And yet the years of monotony ate away at her, and after years spent near the forge there came a time when she found it hard to imagine the next step.

And as the door to the forge, opened, she stopped her hammering as a solitary figure entered the forge through the secret door that was known only to a few, as the heart of the Goddess of the Forge warmed in both anticipation and hope.

"I was waiting for you to show up," she said as she took of her gloves and turned to face the adventurer who could get rid of the monotony that she so dreaded.

Hephaestus was rich enough that no amount of money could make her forge a weapon. To make her, a goddess, forge one the customer needed to offer something unorthodox, it could be unique materials as the Freya familia often did, it could be adventurer, it could even be the request from a fellow goddess. However, in this boy's case, it was something else.

It was stories. Stories associated with weapons that were from another land.

"I am afraid my armor needs serious repairs," he said as he placed his armor on the side. The spear he wielded was one she had made herself after getting inspiration from one of his stories.

"You sure you can afford my services," she asked, and he smirked.

"I can," he said, and though she may like the boy nothing was ever just free.

"Hand me that spear," she said, and he passed it to her. Even now, as she felt it in her hands, she was surprised by its craftsmanship and beaming with pride at the work she had done.

"It is as if it has become a part of you," she said, and he shrugged.

"It has been with me for the longest time. One can say it is my most loyal friend," and at those words, she felt the weapon become warm, and even now, after years of use, it glistened in the fire as if just forged.

The materials required to forge this had come from Hera familia's stores, handed to her by none other than Alfia-the Silence herself, who had come carrying a young child in her arms. She had refused the order at first, for as she had mentioned. One did not just get her to make a weapon.

And so the boy had chimed in, offering an exchange unlike any she had heard.

Tales, and with that, she had agreed.

And so, to this day, he was the only adventurer for whom she herself was a personal smith.

"It is good to see you back, Inumaki-kun," and it was. For in a way, she had watched that little child grow up infront of her eyes, had watched the heavy burden of his mother's legacy and mistakes drown him and his joys.

The years away from Orario seemed to have done him much good and allowed him to come into his own. For now, the grey-haired boy who barely came upto her shoulders stood a head taller than herself.

"It is good to see you as well, Hephaestus-sama," he said as he sat down and poured himself some of the wine as she took a look at the armor and saw her own work getting so beat up hurt, but it was too be expected, after all, it had not been maintained for around six years.

It was a miracle that all of the pieces had been held together for so long.

"This is going to cost you extra," she said as she plopped down infront of him, and he raised a brow.

"You are as merciless as always," he said, and she shrugged.

"I am a businesswoman," she said, and he gave a deep sigh as he turned towards her.

"Believe it or not, I am running out of tales," he added, and she hoped not; they had been a source of some rather inspired creations from her over the last few years.

"We will think of that when we get to that point," she added, and he shrugged.

"So, tell me a tale, Inumaki-kun," she asked, and she saw him think for a second before he finally began.

"In legends, we often speak of blades with legendary names. Names that are remembered throughout history. Well, there is a blade so strong, so old that it has no name but the one its wielder gave it in adoration. A weapon unlike any, one that had the power to destroy the whole world," he began as he looked her in the eye and felt her heart race at those words. The fire that had become stale roared as he continued in adoration.

"This is the tale of Gilgamesh, the King of Heroes, and his legendary weapon, one he named Ea for the words he would use to destroy the worlds."

"Ea for Enuma Elish...."

0000

INUMAKI-The Silent

After the rather exhausting Dungeon run Inumaki found himself training and looking after Bell for a few days, as he secretly followed his young cousin and that supporter of his to prevent a tragedy from happening.

There was a part of him assured that no such thing would happen, but after the debacle that had happened in the past, he had become rather cautious. But one thing that bugged him continuously was the lack of explosive growth of Bell.

Given the boy's special talent, he had expected him to race through the Levels, and indeed Bell's speed of leveling was indeed special, but it was still not what he had expected.

And with every passing day, Inumaki realized that he was the reason for this complacency. So he had light a little fire under his cousin, after all even though he cared little for the story and the legend that may once have been, but he needed Bell to be strong for himself because of the enemies he planned to face in the future.

"AGHHH!" Bell grunted in pain as Inumaki punched him in the gut, and despite being armed and armored, the young Cranel was forced to retreat as he held his gut.

"Ok, that is enough for today," Inumaki added as the young white-haired boy collapsed on the floor. Much like him, he had the eyes of a certain Goddess on him, something Inumaki knew firsthand just how devastating such a thing could be.

"You have improved a bit," and he really had. He was not as talented as Ais with the blade, but still his speed of improvement was rather bizarre.

"Thank you, it's all because of you," he said bashfully as Inumaki shrugged.

"But it's not enough," and the words took wind out of the boy as Inumaki looked him in the eye.

"Of course, it is enough for a regular adventurer. But I don't think you wish to be a regular adventurer, do you, Bell-kun?" he asked, and the boy shook his head.

"You must have heard the news as well," he asked, and he nodded a bit somberly as his eyes fell to the ground. By now, all of Orario would have heard it, for Loki familia had their fourth Level 6 adventurer, as Ais Wallenstein rose to that rank and became the youngest ever to attain Level 6, breaking Vana Freya's record.

"I have," he added, but Inumaki did not feel the same emotion from the tone as he had expected and was surprised, confirming his earlier suspicion. Somehow, his presence had alleviated both Bell and Ais's obsession with one another, the how's of this he did not wish to concern himself with.

But he did have to get Bell to become stronger quickly, if not for himself then for Inumaki.

"At this rate you will never catch upto her," he added, and the boy shook his head.

"I do not think I can.."

"You can," Inumaki added sharply as Bell's head snapped towards him.

"I am a hundred percent certain that you can, or I should more accurately say that you have to," he added, making Bell frown. He sighed as he began.

"By now, you must have heard some stories and rumors surrounding me from people all around, and I care little that you believe them or not, but one thing is certainly true," Inumaki added as he looked the boy in the eye as he continued.

"I have enemies. Strong enemies that will come after me and those around me," and that was the truth. Already, there were whispers of movements in the underbelly of Orario, and there was only some time before Ishtar familia got wind of what he had done to their little operations abroad.

"I can handle myself against them. But my enemies outnumber me, and I need someone to watch my back. To guard those close to me so that I can let loose and fight them without having to constantly turn back," and the boy gulped down as Inumaki gripped his shoulder.

"And I believe that you can do that. You have the potential to leave everyone in this city behind, Hestia sama believes that, and I don't think you want to prove her wrong," and the boy shook his head, as Inumaki noticed his eyes glint.

"I understand," and with that, he pushed himself up and picked up his dagger.

"Let's go again," Inumaki eyed him as he shrugged.

"Why not."

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Liliurca's life was one of tragedy from what he had gathered. The little prum from Soma familia was blessed with both a rather special ability and an astute mind for tactics, but she was hampered down by the evil people that had taken control of Soma familia.

The constant tragedies and darkness had twisted her nature, and made her into a self loathing villainess who would do anything to survive.

Anything, like abandoning even the most loyal and chivalrous adventurer ever just to make some money. She had lost the ability to trust anyone, and as he watched the other adventurers beating her down, leaving her a bloody mess, he saw her spirit break.

But he was not blind to the intricacies of the plot here. This was a setup. Or, more accurately, all of the tragedies faced by the girl had been a set-up, and he was very interested in finding out just who was behind this.

"NOOOO!" an enraged Bell jumped in and protected the girl from the attack of one of those scum adventurers trying to kill her. Bell's dagger blocked the blade as the girl's lifeless eyes glinted.

"Hey! It's you, the guy she just ripped off," the burly adventurer smirked as he looked at Bell.

"Get away from her," Bell screamed, and the burly guy frowned.

"Why? Do you wanna have the first go at her? I am afraid I cannot let you do that. I have had my eyes on that little prum for quite some time and have finally got permission to use her," the man said as Inumaki's fists balled up in rage at those scummy words.

"I can let you go second if you want?" the man offered as all those around him laughed.

"You are not going to lay a hand on Lili-san! I will not allow it," Bell screamed as he put up his dagger making everyone around him shut up as they realised his intentions.

"Hey! You made a kid. Do you even know what my level is? I am a level 2 adventurer and you think you can face me," and he could see that Bell was scared, for he did not know of his presence.

"Run! Bell-kun," Liliurca's voice came from behind as the bloody prum hugged his leg.

"Please, run! Lili deserves this and much more. You need not risk your life for Lili!" she pleaded, and Bell gritted his teeth as he looked up.

"No! I will save you, Lili-san, no matter what!" he screamed, and the leader of the group, the Level 2 burly man, grunted as he took out his sword.

"I think I am going to teach you a lesson," and with that, the man jumped in at Bell, and Inumaki watched as Bell parried the attack, not fully, but still, despite the level difference between them, Bell seemed to be keeping up, at much peril but still.

He was impressed.

"Shit! Jump in, everyone. I am done with this kid!" as the adventurer from behind jumped and swung his sword at Bell's back, Liliurca Arde jumped up and covered his back as Bell screamed.

"NOOO!" Bell screamed as the sword inched towards her neck, and so he decided it was late enough. she jumped and blurred to the side and parried the blade with a swing of his spear.

CLANK!

The adventurer using the sword was sent tumbling back as both Bell and the girl turned towards him.

"Inumaki-kun."

"You!" they both gasped as he smiled.

"Yo!" he said, waving at Bell as the adventurers began to fall back.

"It's him!" "Shit!" "What is he doing here!"

"I think she is in need of medical assistance," Inumaki said as he looked at the bloodied form of the prum girl and turned towards her.

"Why don't you take her out to see a healer and leave the rest to me?" The boy nodded. He picked up the girl and pulled her into his arms, and then he began to run down to the tower.

"Shit! Chase after him!" as one of them tried to run after them, Inumaki threw his spear at his feet, halting the adventurer in his steps as the smile from his face vanished.

All of their faces turned pale, and his eyes turned scarlet from their usual black as he cracked his knuckles and looked straight at their leader.

"Now, I believe I have questions that I need you to answer, and you do not have a choice," the man snarled, his pride wounded at the disrespect as he glared at him.

"You dare! You are outnumbered! I will show you!!" and with that, he ran towards him, making his smile widen.

And as he swung his blade at him, Inumaki blurred past it and appeared inches from his face before he grabbed it in his hand and plunged it into the ground with full force.

BOOOM!

And as the debris cleared, he looked at the bloodied mess of the man's face and snarled.

"As I said, you do not have a choice!"

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And as he stood over the bloodied forms of those scum adventurers he wiped off the blood covering his hand, having beaten out the answers out of them, he was contemplating their fate when he suddenly heard a whisper from behind him.

"You should stop now?" and he did as he glanced back, having already felt this ominous presence a while ago, and he turned back and saw a hooded figure looking at him.

"You have been watching me for a while, Ouranos's lackey," he recognized the hooded figure who seemed surprised by his words.

"How do you know that?" and he shrugged.

"I am afraid that does not matter. But I am surprised at why you have approached me?" he asked because, for as long as he could remember, Oranos had not interfered in his life at all.

Ouranos was one of the progenitor gods that had descended and was the reason that monsters did not overrun the world. The man had sacrificed his own freedom to sit on his infamous Latar as he made prayers to keep the tower of Babel steady atop the dungeon, stopping the outpouring of monsters.

"I approach you because Ouranos-sama has a task for you. A quest that he believes you would be much interested in," the creature began making him frown.

"And what is that request?" he asked, interested in what a God would think like that.

"It is an investigation into the enemies you fought recently in Riveria. We sent Kenki and a team down to investigate the aberrant monster behavior on Level 24 but have lost contact with them. Ouranos-sama would like you to assist her and the team with her in this matter," and that was interesting.

"Hmm, interesting. Then I will leave this mess to you," he said as he picked up his spear and began to venture down the dungeon.

"Thank you. You will be compensated for this adequately, Silent."

0000

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