Are you even able to afford a better option? "Can you really afford something better?" Metal clicked quietly beneath his hands.
"Or are you going to trade this elf?"
Loki's eyes lit up with glee.
"It is tempting, but I need my Riveria."
Riveria did not respond to the bait. She simply breathed slowly, as if she regretted every step that led her here.
Gareth, who was only standing, decided to speak: "Why don't you show us something better? You do not need to worry about the money. We are not really 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 was altered to target a stylized mountain.
"It is capable of vaporizing half a hill or anything in its path."
"It is just 1.5 billion valis and one or two planet-sized workshops, and I can not wipe it out with empty hands."
Riveria groaned, her patience fading.
"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 cocked his head slightly. "You are asking for the impossible; no one can design anything that does not break."
"It simply needs to be durable," Gareth clarified. "For floors where Mana Corrosion and Acidic Fluids are common. The most crucial thing is that it not shatter while fighting monsters with tough skin."
Luther jerked his thumb toward a sword lying on the walls.
"That one is an Adamantine combination with Mythril and a lot of Steel—it swings like a feather."
Riveria approached and said, "So how much?"
"Usually a billion, as this one was designed to show off, but I will offer you 500 million."
Loki raised an eyebrow. "For that amount, I could ask Hephaestus for a heavenly sword."
"Sure," Luther responded. "Good luck convincing her."
Riveria's expression did not change. "We will have someone test it first. Determine whether it is worth the cost."
Luther whispered, "That is the actual trick." "Finding someone who knows how much effort went into making it lightweight and long-lasting."
Loki kept smiling, but the glitter in her eyes faded.
" We still need to bring out someone to inspect the sword, 500 million.
Is not it some pocket change?"
Luther motioned toward the door.
"Be my guest. Just make an appointment next time before barging into my residence."
After leaving the church, the three of them went down the road silently. Dust trailed behind them.
Loki broke it, her voice low and earnest.
"Do you know about the Volcano Cannon?"
Gareth gave a grunt. "A joke weapon?"
"It was not a joke," she explained calmly. "Not really."
Riveria turned to face her. "What exactly do you mean?"
Loki's look was inscrutable, the humor had vanished from her voice.
"He was not kidding. Certainly 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," one of them scoffed. "The tiny Liliruca with her fine sword and gear. "I thought you did not have enough for wine, but look at you now."
Liliruca tightened her grasp on the chainsaw, her expression darkening. Her voice was chilly and full of hatred. "Get lost.I do not 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.