Chương 84: The Angry Swordsmith

Hephaestus folded her arms and looked at her friend, who was quietly wiping shop tools while wearing an apron.

"Worried?"

"Why are you doing nothing? What exactly is going on with those rumors? Tsubaki told me some of it. They are true, aren't they? A group of Lv. 1 adventurers entered the Middle Floors and defeated Goliath."

"I am not that interested in adventurer matters, and you do not have to hide anything from me. If you do not want to say it, I will not ask again." Hestia shook her head. Her eyes were filled with warmth for her family.

"It is all true. Those children really are amazing. Actually, Cael deliberately released those rumors." Hephaestus frowned.

"When the time comes, I do not want to see you acting as if your life is over and refusing to work. You still owe me one billion valis."

"Cael and the others are doing this for me. They have already made up their minds. No matter how much I object, they will stand firm. How could I pour cold water on that resolve?" Hestia kept smiling. When she thought of them kneeling on one knee, eyes filled with unwavering determination, she could no longer say no.

"No matter what happens, I will bear it."

"How reckless. After coming to the Lower World, you have changed so much because of your children. Now you are causing trouble with them."

"Mm. How could I live with them and not change? You have changed a lot too, Hephaestus. You are very different from how you were in Heaven."

"Forget it. I will not keep asking." Evening gradually fell. Cael and Lili walked hand in hand along the ruined road back to Hestia's base.

"Lord Cael, why did you stop Lili from saying anything? That Chienthrope named Naaza bought the Drop Items for forty percent less than other shops. If we sold them to Dian Cecht Familia's shop, we could have earned two hundred thousand more valis." Lili counted the money Miss Naaza had cost them, growing angrier and more regretful the more she spoke.

"I know."

"Why? That is a lot of money. If we saved it for armor, it would be enough to buy Lord Cael the best third-tier armor," Lili said, very practically. Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

"That is painfully practical. You really do have a talent for managing a household." Cael gave Lili a thumbs-up. If Lili ever ran a household, she would keep everything perfectly organized.

"But the god of medicine, Miach, has helped me many times. The potions he gave Hestia Familia are worth over a million valis, especially that Elixir. That is hard to buy even with money. So in some ways, I want to repay a little of that kindness." Cael felt grateful when he thought of the god of medicine, who had helped him several times without asking for anything in return. He was not the kind of person who took help for granted. Kindness had to be repaid.

Receiving help without ever wanting to give anything back was shameful.

"Lili understands that, but Hestia Familia is not exactly rich either." Lili pouted. What did other people have to do with her? She cared only about Lord Cael and did not want him to lose out.

"All right. Let us go. After tonight's welcoming banquet, I will visit Soma Familia tomorrow and solve everything for you. I will have Soma release your contract." Cael gently pinched the ear of Lili's elf form. Lili's transformation Magic could truly change her body freely. For someone as easily distracted as him, it was dangerously effective.

"Mm... Even if the contract is not released, Lili is already satisfied like this." Lili lowered her head with a blush, her hands twisting together. Lord Cael would definitely clash with Soma Familia when the time came. What if he was injured?

"Listen to me on this."

"Oh..."

"Lili, I am going to check on Tanjiro's side now. I will be back soon."

"Please be careful, Lord Cael." Lili's ears twitched. She knew Lord Cael was going through the World Gate to Tanjiro's world. That was Hestia Familia's secret, and that was why she did not ask more. A golden gate appeared in the air and slowly opened. Cael stepped through. The surroundings changed. This was different from the place he had visited last time. It seemed to be outside the fence of an old wooden estate. Only a daimyo from Japan's Warring States period could afford a place like this. It looked very old.

This was Kagaya Ubuyashiki's estate, the headquarters of the Demon Slayer Corps. Ordinary people did not even know this place existed. Why had the gate opened here? Because any place visited by someone holding a World Gate Key could be opened. Rengoku had been here, so the gate could open here. Before he could look around the old buildings, a shriek like a stuck pig and angry shouts reached his ears.

"Aaaaaah! I am sorry, I am so sorry!" A boy carrying a wooden box ran like a madman, as if chased by a dog, apologizing as he fled. Behind him, a man wearing a hyottoko mask radiated a dark, menacing pressure. Two short blades were tied to his head like horns to prevent Tanjiro from headbutting him, and he wildly swung two knives while chasing the boy.

"Death is too good for you! Do not run, brat! I will kill you! You dared break the sword I forged. I cannot let you live!"

"I am sorry, I am sorry, I am sorry! Ah! Captain!" Tanjiro kept apologizing, then froze when he saw Cael ahead.

"Caught you, brat! Die!" The man in the hyottoko mask leapt toward Tanjiro and stabbed.

"Aaaaaah!" Tanjiro cried out and dodged, then continued dodging. Somehow, he avoided every single stab.

"Oh. So the sword I broke last time was one you forged." At that moment, Cael's mouth curved into a wicked smile. Mischief flashed in his eyes. The masked man turned his head toward Cael.

"What did you just say?"

"I said I was the one who broke Tanjiro's sword. Pfft. A sword that fragile snapped so easily. It was terrible. I was wondering who forged something that bad." He looked down on the sword openly, laughing as he insulted both the blade and the swordsmith.

"Eh?" Tanjiro's mouth fell open. Captain Cael, what are you saying? It is over. Mr. Haganezuka is going to explode.

"What... did... you... say..." Hotaru Haganezuka's eyes went round and bloodshot behind his mask. White steam sprayed out in an exaggerated burst.

"I... cannot... let... you... live!"

"Aaaaaaaaah!"