Danmachi: the Great Devourer

C22: Blacksmith, Welf, First Spells

Word count = 2805 on 1/18/2024

On the day of appointment with the Mysterious blacksmith that forged his armor, Axel gets dressed in his armor though his greaves don't fit him as well and he will have to buy new ones. He has to ask around for a bit of instruction before he learns that the address is not some nice restaurant or anything but the Haphetus Familia home which is just next to the immortal sector.

Axel nervously approaches the building and is stopped by guards who ask, "What is your reason here?"

"Um, I have a meeting with someone but I only know their initials. I have a note here that led me here but it has a hyphen with the number 8 for it." He explains and they point to the side of the mansion building. There Axel sees a row of sheds.

"Follow those until you reach the 8th one. They are all private forges but i don't remember who it belongs to" one says and the other smacks their head, "You idiot, it's that Katana obsessed swordsmith who is an immortal. He freaking lives in that shed. Remember how much noise he always makes on certain days." (any guesses on who it is? I gave a few hints during the first shopping spree as Raikou knew who it was and surprised they made armor)

"That was him? What an asshole" he complains as he now has his target to vent on. Axel sheepishly leaves and begins to head over. He soon finds the active forge shed that is spewing out smoke. Metal striking metal resounds out all the time, sometimes even a dual symphony but the 2nd loses it's pattern regularly.

"Idiot, Keep the rhythm, consistent power. I've told you a hundred times already." One voice yells out as a resounding BONK and a crash is heard from inside

"Asshole, You can't keep a rhythm AND consistent power, I'm a human unlike you." A younger voice yells out in pain. Axel's nervousness only increases as he steps before the door and gently knocks.

"Yes you can, you're just not trying hard enough. Now get the door idiot, then you can restart." The first voice confirms his own words and then a teenage man with bright red hair, a blue ribbon around his neck and a gray over blue set of clothing opens the door. He has a bump on his head as if he was just hit there, they have an annoyed expression. The person would have looked intimidating to Axel before his gorge-fest but not as much now that their heights are similar.

"So, who're you?"

"Hello, I have an appointment with a blacksmith here. Someone by the initials of SM?" He says uncertain if he should have actually come here. The red-haired youth looks back and yells out.

"Oi, old man Senji, the 'crazy' customer you wanted to meet has arrived for the meeting you listed today." Axel points to himself and asks "im crazy?"

"What!! That was today? I thought it was tomorrow" the other voice inside asks in confusion

"Yesterday, you said tomorrow, so just get your ass over here and do it"

A snicker of annoyance is heard further in as 2 walls are set up inside the forge hovel. Ensuring that there is space between the two forges set up. From behind the walls is another red-haired young man who looks much more mature. He is wearing some sort of red leather arm-guard around his whole left arm, nothing else on his chest and then a kimono suit that is folded in half so it doesnt cover his upper body. His waist holds a toolbelt with sandals on his feet. Muscles and sweat adorns his chest as he carries a simple white cape over his shoulder though Axel notices some sort of flowers embroidered on the inside.

'Senji' observes Axel and notices the two pieces of equipment he recently made. He shuffles over two stools. "Have a seat young man. Didn't think I would actually meet you since it was a random day that I listed and armor tends to last for a while. It's only been a month since the previous gloves were bought but you got the new ones as well as the greaves…" He comments though he notices that the greaves press against his body as if he had outgrown it.

The other young man realizes something as he asks, "Oi, aren't you that new record breaker? The Brawler?"

'Senji' looks at the young man and asks "Brawler?"

"Hmm, a new adventurer who had only been around for a bit more than a month and he already leveled up. With the guild statement, the official time was 3 weeks of dungeon time which far surpasses any other record." He explains further what he overheard from the other Hephaestus members."

"Oh, thats impressive, Guess he must have fought something pretty strong to break the other gauntlets. Oh right, proper introductions are in order, I am Senji Muramasa. I am a world renowned swordsmith and this immature boy is ""Welf Crozzo" Welf points to himself with a smile before he gets annoyed at realizing he accepted being called an immature boy.

"Nice to meet you both, Im Axel, Axel Gram."

"Fine name young man. By the way, can you extend your arm? I wish to check something."

Axel does so but is confused when Senji gets up and feels up the arm, specifically the muscles.

"Hmm, artificial growth. Will deflate later until they settle into the best state they can be for you. Who overfed you mana until you nearly burst? No wonder you barely fit into that armor" He examines and explains why his greaves barely fit on him. Though a hint of appreciation can be heard at the mention of 'best state'.

"I wanted to have you come here because I was under the impression that you were still level 1 but this works even better. Can you take this idiot to the dungeon? He needs to level up as he can barely make anything worth a damn. I'll help maintain your armor for you."

"I've already found someone that bought the armor I made. I'm going to find them and work with them. I don't need your help"

"You idiot, your armor can't even protect whatever stick figure of a person you made it for even be protected from a minotaur"

"You DON'T fight minotaurs with level 1 focused armor."

"And that's why you are a shitty blacksmith. You don't prepare for the unexpected. Let's ask him here how far he has gone as level 1." Senji states and asks Axel.

Axel rubs the back of his neck as he says, "I've reached floor 9 when I was still level 1."

"Seeeee, a minotaur can appear on floor 9 so he could have faced one as level 1. And you want to expose someone who could potentially be just as talented to such a fate?"

"Minotaurs show up on the 15th floor, old man. They won't show up on the 9th floor." Welf retorts.

"Anything can happen in the dungeon." Senji emphasizes his words while Welf rolls his eyes. Senji gets up and grabs the back of Welf's kimono, picking him up and throwing him outside through the single window of the forge room.

"Come back when you level up, make a name for yourself as an adventurer or get laid. I leave him in your care." Senji says while placing a hand on Axel's shoulder

"I'm not marrying him" Axel simply retorts as he shakes his head. As if all 3 factors are responsibilities placed on his shoulder. Welf ignores his annoyance and bursts into laughter at Axel's words while Senji blushes at the insinuation he proposed.

"Give me those pants. I'll fix them up to your size. I'll also make a new set of gauntlets too. More durable."

Axel takes off the greaves but leaves his own pants on with a bead of sweat on his head. He hands them over but keeps the gauntlets on him as they still fit for now. Axel exits the forge house with Welf in tow after he grabs a sack that was thrown out after him that contains his sword and equipment.

"So, Welf-san do you already have a place to sleep or do you need one?" Axel asks.

"Just call me Welf and I alreadyI have a place. Thanks for your concern" Welf responds and the two head out as Axel finally makes the name connection between the hero festival and the Crozzo name that is shared. Welf speaks disdainfully about his family.

"I hate magic swords. A weapon should always be at their adventurers side to protect them but magic swords' destiny is to leave their user behind as they break."

"Hmm. magic swords, that would have been useful against the jugg." Axel says absentmindedly as he is unaware of the mirror coat it possesses.

"The jugg? What's that?" Welf asks, confused.

Axel covers his mouth as he remembers that normal adventurers don't know about it as he and his goddess-Raikou got a confidential letter from the guild to omit any details about the juggernaut. "Um, don't worry. It's what I call a variant infant dragon that was the reason for my breaking through to level 2."He makes a simple lie and Welf can't find too much wrong with it as Axel has reached the 9th floor as level 1. A variant or strengthened species could have wandered down from the 10th floor.

Axel wipes away the sweat and as the two walk away from the Haphasteus familia home, the two discuss how they would team up. Axel learns that Welf is already level 2 [1]as well but that he is still new to Orario which means he got there without the dungeon. Welf also suggests trying to find the person who bought his armor and invite them too. Axel says that he doesnt mind but won't accept them if they lag behind.

While they are talking, a beautiful lady appears just outside Senjis forge hovel and he quickly notices who it is as he has been making preparations to adjust the armor for Axel.

"Oh Senji-kun. Have you considered my proposal" An alluring voice speaks to Senji Muramasa who holds out his hammer before him in a slightly nervous pose.

"Back away She-devil. I've already given the kid the other Crozzo brat. I'm about to adjust his armor. Don't take another step closer or ill ignore the rules of Orario" He says though the hint of panic in his voice and words is evident as the lovely lady visiting Senji places a hand under her chin with a smile on her face.

"Since Senji-kun is so nice of you to help out then I won't trouble you anymore. Though I will come back if I find you gave my precious son faulty equipment"

"You may smear my character but don't you dare do the same for my work. I at least have pride unlike a berserker like you"

The 'berserker' licks her lips as she comments, "Oh, I have my pride. The pride of a mother. You best not trample on that or ill ruin Orario with you amongst others at the center of it" She leaves the comment and disappears home again.

"HAH" Senji releases a sigh as he grumbles, "Kid, why couldn't you just plow her until she dies. Getting involved with those like her like this is not good for your mental health."

Back to the innocent duo, Axel has to split from Welf after a while as he has to prepare ahead of time for his magic lessons and learns his first offensive spell as he has already learned a useful utility spell called Cleanse that has freed up time on home cleaning as well as any blood that gets on him or Daisy when they are fighting. More so him as he is the primary close combat specialist of the group but that should be shared now with Welf. The two have plans to meet up at a specific time for the dungeon tomorrow.

The next day Axel and Welf meet up and then Axel introduces Daisy to Welf as their supporter which he accepts as he comments that she is cute which causes her to blush up as she calls Welf a 'Baka' which makes him laugh out loud. Axel asks if Welf found the adventurer who bought his armor and he nods but says the person was still level 1 and had only been an adventurer for about a week. They would have held back the group like what Axel said he wanted to avoid. Axel keeps the window open by saying that if they are able to reach level 2 then they can join the group still [2]. Welf just nods and the group enters their first adventure into the dungeon where they witness the foreign magic for the first time as Axel summons magic circles quickly to release a wave of fire that burns up a group of 4 rock shooters on the 6th floor.

The trio continue forward before they stop on the 10th floor and explain to Welf about how they are testing themselves on the 10th floor monsters to get used to them and grind Excellia since they can easily handle them. Welf on the other hand suggests at least rising to the 12th floor for a bit more challenge now that they should be a bit stronger and the fact that they have one more person in the group now who can shoulder his own weight.

Axel and Daisy agree to at least go to the 11th floor and get a feel for it. Afterall, the 11th floor introduces a few more new monsters amongst them is the Hard Armored, an armadillo type monster with powerful defenses, Infant Dragons and Silverbacks which are giant monkey-like monsters with powerful bodies.

They all set their agreement and continue up to the 11th floor and immediately get to fight infant dragons and a silverback at the same time. Welf holds down the infant dragon while Axel meets blow for blow with the silverback. He uses his gluttony skill to absorb it's strength so that he defeats but not fast enough before Welf gets a nasty cut on his leg from the dragons claws as he couldn't block it.

Axel swoops in to save Welf and then take on the dragon while Welf takes a potion given to him by Daisy as her hand crossbow is no help against the infant dragons scales unless she gets a soft spot but Welf was only able to offer minimal injuries to it. Luckily Axel is strong enough to handle it by himself and just like the first infant dragon, he rips off it's jaw and pierces it's brain. They get a few scales and silverback hide as compensation for their troubles. They agree to go back up to the 10th floor until they recover before they continue to hover between the 10th and 11th floor to fight monsters. Axel finds his new fire spell is effective against the silverback but not the infant dragon or Hard Armored as that little beasty is like a mole monster instead of Armadillo with sharp claws that are even able to pierce into the dungeon walls to dig small holes.

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just realized that both Lily and Daisy are named after flowers. This was not intentional on my part, I didn't want some outright mundane name and after choosing the first letter the only thing that came up was the cute doggy from animal crossing.

[1]: One thing I'm confused about is about Welfs status. Because by Season 4 of danmachi, Bell is level 4 now but Welf and Lily are both still level 1 or 2 (to my knowledge, lilys level was never mentioned in anime). Nothing about them leveling up is ever mentioned even though they find various powerful monsters all the time which should have given them tons of Excellia. The group of Aisha, Chigusa, Ouka, Mikoto, Lilly, Harehime and Welf took down Amphisbaena (S4) but they seemingly didn't level up because of that. Even if they need a goddess to verify the level up. They have gotten to the middle floors which should require more than just level 2 stats. I feel that is overlooked a bit. Even if Welf and Lily only take supporting roles, they are still fighting and killing monsters

[2] Even though Bell won't have as dramatic a record as canon, he will still be under 2 months and join the group. No it's not a female bell just for clarification.