Chapter 174: Welf's Resolve (Bonus)

"Well then, Miss Eina, I'll be going now."

As soon as he said that, Bell's figure began to fade, vanishing right in front of Eina's eyes.

"!"

The sudden sight startled her.

"Bell-kun?"

She called out hesitantly, but the room remained completely silent.

Eina instinctively glanced toward the doorway—then her pupils shrank sharply.

The "In Use" sign, which had been hanging on the outside just moments ago, was now hanging on the inside.

'Did he leave already?'

She sat frozen on the sofa for a good thirty seconds before finally regaining her senses. Slowly, she lowered her gaze to the red Rune Stone in her hand.

'So this is what Bell-kun meant by hiding one's presence—making it so no one around even notices you?'

The effect had genuinely stunned her.

She'd been watching him the entire time, and yet Bell had disappeared, bit by bit, right in front of her.

There hadn't been a single sound. She didn't feel anything unusual. But the person who had been in the room a moment ago was simply gone.

'This really is... something extraordinary.'

'No wonder Bell-kun said this was a last-resort safety measure.'

She never expected anything in return for the help she gave Bell in the beginning. But seeing how far he had come in just a month—already starting to make a name for himself in Orario—was beyond what she imagined.

'He's younger than me, and yet... he's already capable of something like this.'

Eina had always felt a bit uneasy when it came to the Evilus, but now, holding the Rune Stone in her hand, she felt a deep sense of security.

She still didn't know what the future held for Orario. But at the very least, she now knew she would be safe.

And that reassurance had come from a boy younger than her.

...

After leaving the Guild, Bell moved unnoticed by anyone.

Crowds really were the best cover—blend in, and you'd rarely be found.

Remaining just as cautious as ever, Bell headed straight for the Hephaestus Familia.

Not the storefront, but their actual territory.

Compared to the Loki Familia, the Hephaestus Familia kept a much lower profile. But once inside, the sounds of hammering and forging rang through the air.

Bell didn't even glance at the guards at the gate. He simply walked in.

With a light motion of his fingers, a subtle wave of energy swept through the entire Hephaestus Familia.

'Found her.'

Bell instantly pinpointed Hephaestus-sama's location and made his way over.

"Welf, not coming?"

The voice of Tsubaki, the captain of the Hephaestus Familia, caught Bell's attention.

The bold half-dwarf was currently scolding a clearly new adventurer.

His bright red hair matched his fiery, unrestrained nature—and he was just as wild as he looked.

Welf Crozzo. His ancestors had once saved the fairies and were blessed with their power, granting him the ability to forge magic swords. Welf himself possessed this talent and could even wield it to its full potential, yet he chose to keep it hidden because of his personal beliefs.

"Your skill in crafting magic swords surpasses mine—so why are you so insistent on this?"

She couldn't quite understand Welf's philosophy.

Magic swords were practical tools that could substitute for spells. Just a swing would unleash magical power, making them highly sought after by adventurers. Even with limited uses, they were still immensely popular.

"Isn't it fine not to make magic swords?"

"Aren't Rune Stones the new trend in Orario? They're supposed to be able to replace magic swords, right? Wouldn't most people prefer to buy Rune Stones instead?"

Even she felt a headache coming on just saying it.

"That may be true, but Rune Stones only match ordinary magic swords. They're still a far cry from top-tier ones."

But Welf didn't seem concerned.

Rune Stones were undeniably powerful—not only affordable, but their effectiveness was impressive.

Forging even a basic magic sword required materials that cost at least a million Valis. A well-crafted sword could easily sell for two million.

Yet Rune Stones could reach that same level of power—sometimes even for less.

'Sure, the highest-grade magic swords still hold an edge, but the basic ones have already been completely replaced by Rune Stones.'

'Honestly, the explosive power of dozens of Rune Stones used at once might even rival that of a top-tier magic sword.'

There was a glint of excitement in Welf's eyes.

The emergence of Rune Stones had taken him by surprise—but he welcomed it.

Would magic swords be replaced by Rune Stones?

So what if they were? Welf actually found that idea encouraging.

If Rune Stones continued gaining popularity in Orario, the day they fully replaced magic swords wouldn't be far off.

Since Rune Stones were consumables, Welf fully embraced that classification. In fact, he believed that Rune Stones taking the place of magic swords was a good thing.

After all, magic swords were essentially treated as consumables already. If Rune Stones could fulfill that same role, didn't that fit his philosophy perfectly?

And more importantly, the combined power of dozens of Rune Stones could genuinely rival that of even the best magic swords.

Tsubaki looked at Welf, exasperated. She couldn't deny that kind of destructive force—but magic swords still had advantages Rune Stones didn't.

"How many Rune Stones do you think someone can carry? Which is easier—carrying a bunch of Rune Stones or one sword?"

"Maybe the firepower's similar, but have you considered how much gear an adventurer can realistically bring?"

"And besides, a top-grade magic sword doesn't break after a single swing. Rune Stones can't compete with that."

She was trying hard to reason with him—but Welf wasn't having it.

"Captain, do you really think the person who made the Rune Stones doesn't know that?"

"Of course they do. They probably just haven't released the more powerful ones yet. If they did, Rune Stones could absolutely replace magic swords entirely."

His unyielding tone gave Tsubaki another headache.

She understood what he meant. But still, those stronger Rune Stones weren't out yet, were they?

"Your thinking is seriously warped."

"If Rune Stones are consumables, can't you think of magic swords the same way?"

Tsubaki's remark made Welf's gaze sharpen instantly.

"Captain, I absolutely do not believe that magic swords are consumables. I can't accept the idea that they exist just to be destroyed."

She'd heard it many times before and had tried just as many times to change his mind—but this stubborn newcomer remained unshakable.