Launara was perpetually afraid.

How could she not be, when it would take one little mistake to ruin the only good opportunity she ever had in her life. The moment her gender was revealed, exile was the best she could hope for. Execution was not an impossibility as well.

The Church of Hephaestus didn't take kindly to female blacksmiths who dared to ignore their so-called fate. Never step in an actual forge, and never work on any implement of war.

"They could go to the abyss, I'm a worshiper of Brigid, the true goddess of the forge," Laurana murmured in frustration even as she wiped her sweat, gripping her hammer tighter, and continued her critical task. "I'll not live creating pretty jewelry for scraps, hoping just to survive. I'm going to thrive."

Even as she said that, she knew that it wouldn't be the case. She would get caught soon. Even if she didn't make that mistake, the other one would.

The other female blacksmith.

It had been a few days since she had come to notice that she wasn't the only woman mixed in their little group. It was an accidental, but depressing discovery. The moment she got caught, Launara would be next.

It was her cursed luck. Why were there two of them trying to hide among the small group of eight, making it much easier for them to fail?

"It doesn't matter. I should focus on my work," she murmured to herself and turned her attention to the flames in front of her.

She was experimenting with a new alloy, one which included enough materials that, when converted into silver, surpassed everything she owned several times. The essence of the giant beasts was still thick with vitality, a hundred denica of pure silver to capture that intense vitality, and many different metals, including some she didn't even knew their name before joining Dawn Hammers.

Her hammer hit again and again, steadily under the control of her forging skill while she carefully carved the results in her mind. She knew that the weapon was going to end up in failure already, but that, she didn't care for. She just needed to finish it as well as she could manage so that she could compare the results.

Opportunities like that were the reason she didn't regret her decision no matter the risks it carried.

She bit her lips as she paused, and used a tong to fold the metal into two, and at the same time, she felt a tug.

[-4 Health]

Another tug of health covered the inner layer of the folded metal as Laurana's hammer continued to dance, using her own purified energies to create a scaffold for the intense vitality that was burning on the fire, each hit of the hammer dragging more of her Health.

A beautiful process that she lost herself, wishing that it could last forever.

But she knew that it wouldn't. Nothing good could ever last forever. Life taught her that lesson, again and again, since the day she had the misfortune of awakening as a blacksmith and her family kicked her out.

Time passed as she concentrated on her work, folding the metal again and again, each followed by a long hammering session … until finally, the sword had taken shape.

"Let's go," she murmured as she quenched it, letting more of her health drain to stabilize the structure as the sword finally cooled down.

[-74 Health]

However, she was alarmed as she saw the number that appeared at her interface. Not because she had suddenly lost a fourth of her total Health pool, but because it took that much to stabilize the sword during the quenching process.

It was far more than she expected. It meant that, either she made a big mistake …

"Or that my experiment succeeded, and I discovered a new alloy," she exclaimed confidently as she pulled it, and checked the surface of the sword. Strong, flawless, and without the cracks that would have been covering the surface if there had been a mistake.

"I … I can't believe it," she murmured as she examined the surface of the blade, using her Identify skill to the limit trying to measure the inner structure … but, unfortunately, that skill wasn't strong enough to truly penetrate the surface without hours of dedicated work.

"You don't need to struggle, the blade is as perfect as you think."

Launara turned toward the familiar voice that confirmed her guess, but the familiarity of the voice didn't help her flash of panic.

She was supposed to be alone in her private smithing room. She wanted to curse the owner of the voice for scaring her, but she was smart enough to suppress that particular inclination. Instead, she bowed slightly.

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"That's excellent news, guildmaster," she said, intensely glad that she hadn't changed into something more casual. Her secret was still safe. Then, she changed her alignment slightly, and bowed to the man next to Zolast.

Euon, the quartermaster.

Launara feared him even more than their guildmaster. It was not due to anything he had done or said. The guildmaster might be their ultimate leader, as well as some incredible mage that was strong enough to establish a dungeon singlehandedly, but it was Euon who was responsible for operations of the smithery — along with every other operation that fell under the umbrella of merchants.

Meaning, he decided on every single thing on the smithery.

"I told you, she would be the first one to achieve something spectacular," Euon said, bragging to Zolast. Laurana felt a fleeting jolt of happiness.

Then it all crashed down as she realized how he referred to her. "M-my lord," she gasped as her face lost all color, the sword slipping down from her fingers. Her secret was revealed, right after her greatest achievement.

However, the sword didn't fall on the ground. A blue flash appeared on Zolast's palm, and the sword floated toward him. When he grabbed it, a blue glow covered the whole sword. "Spectacular indeed. That's truly a useful alloy. I can feel that it's reacting to mana. We might even craft some low-grade magic weapons out of it."

Launara tried to listen to his words, which was supposed to be the happiest day of her life. Not only had she managed to develop a new alloy, but that alloy was even able to be used for magic weapons. Instead, she swallowed them helplessly, doing her best to hold back her profound sadness.

All that remained was her punishment.

She said nothing as Euon and Zolast discussed for a while. Then, Zolast sighed. "That's enough playing with her. You're being rude, old man," Zolast said, interrupting Euon unexpectedly.

"Ruin my fun," Euon grumbled, then he looked at her. "I'm sure she prefers this to the official punishment of exile."

That made something click in her. That, along with their attitude…

Maybe…

"Yeah, you're not going to be exiled," Euon said calmly. "Why would I exile you now when I knew the truth from the start? I needed some skilled blacksmiths, and you applied. That's all there is to it."

Suddenly, she wanted to rage at him. How dare he, letting her suffer in the unknown, afraid of revealing her secret, only to mock her efforts. But along with that, she felt gratitude, not only for lack of punishment, but for the reasons for him choosing her.

Not some kind of pity or charity, but because he needed a blacksmith.

Somehow, the utilitarian nature of his act made it even more incredible.

LIke she was useful.

Like she was worth something.

Which was why she hated her own reflexive response, muttering mindlessly rather than thanking them. "But… It's forbidden," she found herself muttering, hating herself for arguing against it. "The church of Hephaestus—"

"Is not something we need to care about right now," Euon cut her off. "I offered you a job when we were back in the camp, and you accepted. Nothing has changed."

Launara felt hopes flickering higher.

"Well, not nothing," Zolast said, and she froze once more.

Euon chuckled. "For someone that has a problem with my teasing, you're doing it very well on your own, mister guildmaster," he said before he faced her once more. "What he's trying to say but failing is, we're going to make another offer to you, one which you can reject if you wish."

"And, what happens if I reject," she said, immediately focusing on the negatives. It was what her life until this moment had taught her.

"If you choose to leave our services, you'll get a nice retirement gift. All the tools in this room, and ten derums of silver," he said.

"That doesn't sound like punishment," she uttered.

"That's because it's not a punishment. It's just a gift for all your efforts until now," Euon explained.

Launara disagreed. What she had received until now, not just the unlimited material she had consumed, but also the leveling assistance, she was the one that owed them. Still, she was afraid of what they would ask. "And, what does this offer entail?" asked as she braced herself.

"We need people loyal to us," Euon said. Launara looked surprised. "Truly loyal," Euon explained. "Until now, you were free to leave whenever you wished. However, once you accept it, you'll learn some of our secrets. Dangerous secrets."

"More dangerous than what the Church of Hephaustos would do if they learn you're letting a female blacksmith work for you?" she asked softly. Softly, because she suddenly felt too drained to react any differently.

The answer was not what she expected. "Yes," Zolast said, the simplicity of his tone conveying to her that it was the truth.

She opened her mouth, about to ask what could be more dangerous than the rage of one of the biggest churches, but she kept her mouth shut. She didn't want to know that. "But you're willing to make the problem bigger by letting me work."

"Sure, it's not like you're the only woman in the smithery," Euon declared casually.

"You know about her as well," Launara declared.

"Her?" Euon said, and for a moment, she froze, thinking that she had outed her friend. Then, Euon continued. "Oh, come on. I was sure you noticed at least two of them."

"T-two of them," she stammered. "Then, there's more. How many?"

This time, Euon started chuckling. "Well, let me put it this way. There's a reason I had separated the groups into two, and kept you here."

"A-all of us," Launara gasped, shocked by their audacity. One woman among many, they could probably get away with as long as they paid some immense bribe to the church. All of them.

it was a declaration of war.

"I think I'm getting scared of your secrets," she said, trying to sound lighthearted like they had been, but her fears were too real to be ignored.

"Smart girl. I would be worried if you weren't," Euon said, then smiled. "But, you're going to accept it nonetheless, right?"

"Of course," she said. "For once in my life, I have the chance to climb up. I cannot refuse, no matter how dangerous!"

"Very good," he said. "Now, let's start with some of the smaller secrets. You might want to sit down."

Launara felt the challenge. "I think I can handle a few small secrets without fainting."

"As you wish. Zolast is a level hundred priest who had built a secret entrance to the dungeon. We have been using it for the last few days. He's going to help everyone that accepts our offer to level up, then work with you so that you can quickly learn to forge magical weapons."

She felt the world shift as Euon spoke. She managed to stay on her feet, but it was a close call. "And, those are the smaller secrets," Launara managed to whisper, only then realizing the true scale of the ship she had just boarded.

She was truly scared.

"No regrets," she whispered, tightening her fist.

Euon smiled.