"Can you even afford something better?" Luther's voice was flat, sardonic. Metal clicked softly under his hands.
"Or are you planning to trade this elf"
Loki's eyes sparkled with amusement.
"Tempting, But I need my Riveria ."
Riveria didn't rise to the bait. She merely exhaled slowly, like someone regretting every step that brought her here.
Gareth, who was just standing, decided to speak, "Why don't you show us something better? As for the money, you don't have to worry. We are not that poor."
Luther decided to show them something which they would never be able to afford. He clicked on his terminal, and then a projector embedded in the ceiling hummed to life.
A 3D hologram flared into view a massive, jagged cannon rotating slowly in the air, its dimensions absurdly overbuilt.
"The Volcano Cannon."
His voice was dry as a bone.
"Since we don't have a reliable power source, you can Charge it with divine essence— from a god, just point to whatever you are fighting ."
The cannon projection shifted, now targeting a stylized mountain.
" it can vaporise half a hill or anything in front of it."
" It's just 1.5 billion valis and one or two planets size workshop, as I can't I can't rub it out with empty hands"
Riveria sighed, her patience thinning.
"Enough." Her voice was firm and quiet yet carried weight. "We're not here to fantasize about divine dreams."
The hologram dimmed as Luther tapped his terminal, the Volcano Cannon vanishing in a shimmer of light.
"You've made your point," she said. "We need Something that won't break."
Luther tilted his head slightly. " you are asking for the impossible; no one can build something that won't break."
"It's just need to be durable," Gareth corrected. "For the kind of floors where Mana Corrosion and acidic fluids are everyday things. The most important it should not break than fighting Monsters with hardened skin"
Luther jerked his thumb at a blade resting on the wall.
"That one's Adamantine mix with Mythril, and lots of Steel—swings like a feather."
Riveria approached, " so how much"
" usually a billion, as this one was made to show off, but I would give you 500 million."
Loki arched an eyebrow. "For that price, I could ask Hephaestus for a divine weapon."
"Sure," Luther said. "good luck convincing her."
Riveria's expression didn't shift. "Then we'll have someone test it first. See if it's worth the price."
"That's the real trick," Luther murmured. "Finding someone who even understands how much went into making it light, and durable."
Loki still smiled, but the gleam in her eyes dimmed.
" We still have to bring out someone to check the sword,500 million
Isn't some pocket change."
Luther gestured toward the door.
"Be my guest. Just book an appointment next time, before barging into my home."
After the three of them left the church, they walked down the road in silence. Dust trailed behind them.
It was Loki who broke it—her voice low, serious now.
"You know that Volcano Cannon?"
Gareth grunted. "The joke weapon?"
"It wasn't a joke," she said quietly. "Not really."
Riveria turned to her. "What do you mean?"
Loki's expression was unreadable, the mirth gone from her tone.
"He wasn't joking. Definitely not lying. That thing is real."
She paused, staring ahead.
"And what scares me isn't the weapon. It's that I've never heard of anything like it. And he treated it like it was just another tool."
"You're certain?" Riveria asked quietly.
Loki gave a small nod."I think your forgetting I am still a God I can tell when somebody is lying. " she paused, voice tightening, "I guess I have to visit Hephaestus to understand the situation"
Far from the forge, deep inside the Dungeon, Liliruca moved through the winding corridors, her steps slow and calculated. Hours of hunting monsters and collecting magic stones had honed her instincts and sharpened her focus. The chain sword hummed steadily in her hands, its weight now familiar, her control over it more fluid than ever.
Turning a corner, she froze. A group of Soma Familia adventurers had appeared, recognizing her immediately. They closed in, surrounding her with their mocking grins.
"Well, well," one of them sneered. "The little Liliruca with the fancy weapon and armour. Thought you didn't have enough for wine, but look at you now."
Liliruca's grip tightened around the chainsaw, her expression hardening. Her voice was cold, edged with disdain. "Get lost. I don't have time for this."
She stepped back, but before she could continue, another one of the group took a step forward, his tone dripping with condescension. "Looks like someone forgot her place. As your seniors, we should remind you how to behave in front of real adventurers."
Liliruca didn't flinch. She tilted her head slightly, her lips pulling into a faint, knowing smile. "You can try." She glanced around, confirming that the area was empty, with no reinforcements in sight. She shifted her stance, the chainsword's motor slowly winding up, ready to strike.
The first adventurer lunged at her, but Liliruca was faster. With a quick, practised motion, she drew her gun and fired. The shot rang out, piercing through the air with a sharp crack. The man dropped to the ground, blood pooling beneath him.
Before the others could react, she was already moving. With a swift turn, the chain sword was in motion, the blade screaming as it sliced through the second adventurer's midsection. The man's scream was cut short, and he crumpled to the floor, blood splattering the walls around them.
The last adventurer froze, his eyes wide with fear as he backed away, hands trembling. "You... You just—" he stammered, barely able to comprehend what had just happened. "It's... murder!"
Liliruca wiped the blood from her face, the coldness in her eyes never wavering. "Don't worry. Just pretend this is a bad dream," she muttered, her voice almost bored. Raising her gun, she fired a second shot. The man collapsed, his body hitting the stone floor with a sickening thud.
She stood there for a moment, looking down at the trio of lifeless bodies. A sigh escaped her lips. This wasn't the first time she had to make an example of someone. It wouldn't be the last.
Turning away, Liliruca holstered her gun and adjusted her grip on her chainsaw. She wasn't here for petty squabbles. She had a mission. More magic stones to collect, more monsters to slay. The Dungeon was her domain now, and no one would stop her.
With a final glance back, she continued deeper into the Dungeon, the echoes of her actions reverberating in the silence. There was no sense of victory in her heart Just survival.