Upgrades Chapter 108 (Patreon)

All to soon Tina then led Albion, The Hera Familia Captain into our camp. My eye's took in the fresh appearance of the second strongest Adventurer in the world and then I looked at her staff.

The Silver Star, The strongest magical conduit in the world supposedly. Made from the core of a meteor that landed on the lower world after a smithing god in the upper world was robbed and the thief god threw his entire stock towards the lower world to hide his deed.

Said meteor was the result of all those 'divine' weapons fusing together during the journey and the staff's body was also made from the core heart wood of the Elves World Tree.

Strictly speaking the staff didn't even belong to her. It was the guardian weapon of the entire elvish race and had kept the elvish forests safe for several millenia before the dungeon was even properly sealed.

All that and with such a broken ass weapon in her hands. I was even more confused as I asked her rather bluntly. "Before you even ask for a weapon... What could I make you that another god coudn't make for you?"

As sure, a smithing god like my own in Hephaestus woudn't be able to make a true 'divine' weapon due to their Arcanum being sealed.

But they could come close if they really wanted to push themselves and had the right materials.

And the Hera Familia? They had all the money and power to make those smithing gods plenty motivated and given the right materials.

Albion instead smiled and said casually. "What you can make me isn't the point Jake. It's the fact that you are making something to begin with."

And then it hit me.

The crafting Familias were still throwing a fit and nominally even the Hera familia was a bit blacklisted to an extent with how they hadn't kept the Zeus Familia in check with their excess arrogance and cruetly.

I shook my head as I knew I coudn't just outright refuse her right now.. And even if she sends people to Orario to tell one and all that I. The newest rising star of the Hepheastus familia was her personal smith.

Any smithing familia who heard that she cornered me in the dungeon for this would just nod in understanding.

"What do you want?" I asked bluntly as I just wanted her gone at this point.

Albion gave me a small smile before she said helplessly. "You don't need to be afraid of me Jake. Neither I nor the Hera Familia will harm you if you are too busy to take my commission. After all... You and Materia are so close now. We are basically family at this point."

My eyebrow twitched as I thought. 'Fucking family my foot... God's can call their familia's their family because they are immortal. But once the family exceeds more than two hundred members, any love binding said family is gone! And hell I am not even a proper in-law at this point!'

I sighed and waved my hand and said flatly. "I am not going to entertain or lie to you by putting on a happy expression when you are bringing me trouble. So just tell me what you want."

She merely clicked her lips in an elegant sigh of dissapointment before she said simply.

"I desire two things Jake. A short sword with a curved blade closer to scimitar but as curved and with a good stabbing point. And lastly a single handed small buckler shield with an enchantment of some kind that will absorb the impacts that land on the shield."

That was a fucking laundry list for a random commission. Like not even giving me exact measurements for the blade she wanted? Materials she was wanting?

And then my face actually twitched as she said. "Also this project will be funded personally by myself and my noble house. So as for a budget... Nothing over seven hundred and fifty million Valis. That is the limit I have preperared."

All my companion's didn't know too much about forging besides how expensive a good weapon could be. But that price... Everyone reacted as that was as far as I knew.

The most expensive weapon I had ever heard of.

Then... The color in my face was lost as Albion spoke cooly. "Your little secret skill was leaked to me by a certain goddess. So the money involved. That's for you to buy as many materials you can get your hands on to make that sword and shield as powerful as you can. I want you to make a match for MY staff itself."

For a brief moment I considered how I could kill Albion right here and now to silence her. But a flicker of light rang out from the glowing multifacted crystal atop the damn near divine staff stopped any such thoughts in track.

Because the staff was infamous for it's special ability to store up to twenty spells within itself to be activated at will and at full power. Which was how the elves used it in the dark days to defend their World Tree from the endless monster hordes.

So if I did anything right now... A level nine spell at full power would be wiping me away.

Albion herself knew I had realized that and merely smiled before she said calmly. "I am not your enemy Jake... I know your talent yes, but unlike the Hepheastus Familia. I can actually protect you and let your talent flourish."

Finally with a scowl I exhaled as I knew this was checkmate and I demanded. "Fine... But who told you."

To which Albion actually looked pensive before she said with finality. "It was Rukkhadevata. Supposedly Freya has also learned the secret after using her Charm on a member of your Familia to learn how you, yourself resisted her Charm."

'Whelp... At least this Freya is far weaker then in canon with Otter being only level four at this point. Something I myself can deal with fairly easily.' I realized.