The God of Smithing, Hephaestus

[Layla's POV]

The God, Hephaestus-sama and I don't have a particularly close relationship, I spend most of my time in the Gremory Territory attending as Sirzech-sama's maid. My relationship with Aphrodite is... complicated, Surtr-sama is like a big brother. The gods have become widely accepted in the underworld and one of the most accepted ones was Hephaestus-sama.

From the seventy-two pillars, the newer generations would always come to him to purchase the best gear for their peerages, his capacities as a God of Blacksmith are transcendental and he's even capable of fixing sacred gears depending on the damage.

His shop is located in a high district of the Lucifuge Territory, he respected Lady Calliope deeply and therefore; decided to settle here after her disappearance.

It is a big building with a sulfur smell; a massive forge and racks filled with equipment and magic items, the mere entrance was exclusive to high-class devils from all over the world the myriad races would come to the underworld for the opportunity to get any of his items.

By now the underworld had become more or less a touristic spot for the supernatural, but due to the high amount of terrorist attacks occurring every year, the entrance of the supernatural into the underworld has become severely truncated.

I led my big sister inside, she looked all curious like a small girl, the times she lived were so different from the present that I could understand her gaze of intrigue that wasn't much different from Richter-sama's.

The shop area of the building was empty, but Hephaestus-sama should already know we were there.

"Oh, it is you Layla... it is good to see you" A good-looking brown-haired man with a big hammer walked out of a big door where the forge was located, his gaze set on me, I bowed slightly but big sister just nodded her head, paying attention to his very form.

Hephaestus-sama's godly aura enveloped the area, he was wearing dirty clothes that told me he had been working on something.

"Hephaestus-sama, this is my sister Grayfia Lucifuge" I presented my big sister to him and his visage switched immediately to one of intrigue and surprise.

"HOO! You're Grayfia, the one sent to the noble mission!"

My sister's eyebrows twitched for some reason when the 'noble mission' was mentioned, I wonder what sort of difficult mind-blowing task she was sent to do by Lady Calliope, she just won't say...

"It is my pleasure to meet you, Hephaestus-sama. I never thought that I would have the opportunity to meet an Olympian, I hope the underworld has been treating you well".

"That's a matter of the past, now I'm a citizen of the underworld... compared to Olympus this place is more, welcoming... would I be allowed a question?" The God placed his hand on his chin in contemplation, looking at my sister as if she was some weird specimens

"Please go ahead".

"What exactly are you? you're not a devil".

"Ho? how can you tell?" Big sister giggled.

"You're exhuding many auras... I can't even point out which one is your natural being... I can sense ice, darkness... draconian aura... you have an odd mixture of strength in you, my lady".

"You could say I'm a Demon Goddess. I can feel your authority has wisps of fire and intellectualism in it, Hephaestus-sama" It was the first time my sister mentioned what 'authorities' were under her domain.

"I see... yours is shrouded with a frosty darkness, but... what about the gold? this authority is powerful and represents richness and abundance".

"That is my master's strength. I'm his apostle and therefore share a small portion of his faith" I hadn't heard this bit of information, is that the reason why her wings are golden? her ice is also different from mine, her ice is quite strong and has golden sparkles to it, it'd be easier to confuse it with indestructible steel rather than ice...

"I understand, your master must be a very strong individual... could it be?" The Blacksmith drifted in his thoughts.

"He hails from the same world as Lady Calliope, Helius. If that's your question" Big sister answered nonchalantly, I have been sensing some spice whenever she mentions Lady Calliope, could it be that things aren't as simple as I thought?

"I see! it would be interesting to meet this Golden Lord, would that be possible?"

"There is a banquet the next day in the Lucifuge Clan, Richter-sama will be there, Hephaestus-sama. If you'd like you could come around without an issue as a guest of our Lucifuge" I extended the invitation humbly. Although we'd discuss matters far deeper than his concern; he's still a god nonetheless affiliated with the underworld, and his advice would be worthwhile.

"That is good to hear, but..." He then growled with a bit of disgust, "Is Aphrodite going to be there?"

"She won't... Sirzechs-sama shall attend with Venelana-sama, Zeoticus-sama and Rias-sama. In order to keep this safe, this is the arrangement for the rest of the satans as well; only lords and their older heirs shall attend. Agares and Bael will be present too. However, the peerages will stand by... in case of an inconvenience," I said the last words and flashed my sister a glance only to see her sighing helplessly.

"If that's the case then I should be at your door when the time comes~ that said, what can I help you with?" he turned serious, going back into the business.

"As you know big sister was sent on a mission by Lady Calliope herself" I began giving him a briefing.

"Correct, and as interested as I'm to know what this mission was, you won't answer, will you?" He shrugged his shoulders and asked my sister.

"I won't... the problem is, Hephaestus-sama, that we were 'ejected' out of our home verse back into this one... let me explain to you further as it might be a little complicated" My sister gave us the long explanation of everything that happened as we listened attentively.

It was a problem beyond my comprehension. Universe, Multiverse? Primordials? Spatial walls and portals? I had no idea where to even begin to grasp the issue.

"I see, an interesting dilemma indeed... but I'm afraid this is not something I can assist you with, my lady. I'm far from being able to control or even interact with the space laws... however, if Lord Richter is as strong as you say... then he should be able to make contact and dialogue with the only existences that should be able to help him in this situation, there are only two..."

"Who?" We both asked.

"That's naturally the Infinity Dragon God and the Apocalypse Dragon... one harnesses the concept of infinity, the other harnesses nothingness... aside from them, only existences like the Hindu's Shiva and Vishnu come to mind... I'm far from being the appropriate assistance that you need. My apologies" The God of the Forge apologised regretfully, I imagine it is not common for customers to come to him with a problem that he's unable to solve.

"Please don't apologise Hephaestus-sama, your assistance is more than welcomed. We have already made contact with the Ouroboros Dragon".