Four months had gone by. With Ruby achieving her higher rank, she began going on more difficult missions that would take days or even weeks to complete. Her latest mission took her to the Great Forest Path's Haven town. She had been gone for almost a month when she had finally returned home.

Eric was hard at work in his office with Douglas and Ella when Ruby burst into the room.

"Papa! I've returned!" She hopped over to him and gave him a hug.

"Thank you, Ruby. How was your hunt?"

"Good! I managed to keep the body mostly intact, so I made quite a bit off of it. I put half into savings and used the other half to buy some items for maintenance. Could you please?" She batted her eyes at him.

"Hahaha, okay, fine. I will do the maintenance after I am done with my paperwork here."

"Thank you! I love you!" She hugged him again before sitting down to help him.

"You have gotten a lot better with the paperwork Ruby." Ella commented.

Ella had been teaching Ruby all kinds of things regarding governance, which she picked up quickly.

"Thank you, Auntie! It's because I had a good teacher." She smiled brightly, which spread to all those in the room.

Micah entered the room, "I thought I heard your voice. Welcome home, Ruby."

"Micah!" She hopped over to her since Micah was holding Leros.

"Hey, Leros. Booga Booga Booga!" Ruby began playing with Leros, who smiled and laughed.

"Oh, that reminds me, where is Roro?" Ruby asked while Micah handed Leros over to her to hold for a bit.

"Right, you were gone when we got the news. Rorroco is pregnant."

"Really! Yay! You hear that, Leros! You're going to be a big brother!" She lifted the smiling baby up and cuddled him with her cheek.

Their butler Allen entered the room with a regretful look on his face.

"What is the matter, Allen?" Eric asked.

"He's back, sir, the second prince of Meerka." Eric let out a long sigh of annoyance.

"What's wrong, Papa?" Ruby saw an unhappy look on his face, like he was mad over something.

"That idiot prince has been hounding me for days to make him a weapon like the ones I made for your aunt and uncle."

Four months ago was the King and Queen of Dunlap's thirtieth anniversary. Eric had used the divine tools that the god Hephaestus had bestowed upon him to forge two mighty weapons to their liking.

He made a mighty war hammer for the King that could charge up and fire lightning, Mjolnir.

For the Queen, a giant-sized spear that could wrap its edge in powerful winds that allowed it to pierce nearly anything, Gungnir.

Both were made out of mithril and had a unique rune set that allowed them to recall the weapons to their hands.

Ruby returned Leros back to Micah, "Do you want me to beat him up?"

Ruby's simple question of violence made Eric laugh.

"No, no, Ruby. I appreciate the offer, but Meerka is an ally, and I would not want to sour our relations over some small annoyance. Besides, Milana has just returned to town after her run to Obai." Eric stood and changed to Phaestus.

"Oh, Captain Reed is back!"

The first name of Captain Reed was Milana. During the year, she began demanding that Eric address her as such until he caved in shortly after.

"Am I going to end up with another big sister Papa?" Ruby asked teasingly.

He scowled at her in annoyance as he left the room to follow Allen.

Why do all the women in my life LOVE to tease me? Is it really that fun? Phaestus thought as he left the room.

"Finally, you show yourself. Have you made my sword yet?" A pompous-looking young man in a set of light blue noble clothing was standing a few feet from the estate door.

"How many times must I tell you, second prince, I will not make you one."

“That is Prince Fenton Emile Allucart!” One of the pompous man's men shouted.

Phaestus waved him off like a child throwing a tantrum.

"I am a busy man, and my town became a city not long ago. I still have much to do." He walked past them along with Ruby, who decided to tag along, heading toward a simple carriage that would take him to the airfield.

"Do not walk away from me! Oh, by the way, I heard your second wife is with child, is she not." The prince said in an insinuating tone.

Both Phaestus and Ruby stopped in their tracks.

"I hear she is in Dunlap is she no-." He stopped speaking, stopped breathing, stopped moving, as a single set of raging eyes stared into his, mere inches from his face.

None of the prince's men or himself saw the Duke move. He was just there, his magic raging about his body.

"You better choose your words very wisely, boy. Any who threaten my family, even the King or Queen of Dunlap, I will show no mercy, no rest, and no remorse in my revenge." Phaestus said in a low, growling voice that clawed at their minds and souls.

The blood drained from the prince's face, but he was able to keep his façade up.

"J-just make me a magic sword. You will never see me again." He barely worded.

Phaestus leaned back. "Never. By my authority as ruler of Lenmos, I ban you and those working for you from entering my lands [Banish]."

With his final word, the prince and his men appeared outside the city limits of Lenmos.

"What just happened?!" The prince demanded to know.

"I, I think he banished us from the city."

The prince attempted to approach the city but ended back where he was a moment ago.

"This is impossible!" He cried.

Some of the town guards approached them with a gaudy-looking carriage and several horses about thirty minutes later.

"Your belongings have been retrieved from the inn, and here are your horses and carriage. By our Lord's orders, you and anyone working for you or them are banned from entry into Lenmos until he chooses otherwise." The guard announced.

The prince attempted to complain, but the guards ignored him. He also tried to chase after them, but he appeared where he was a moment ago. The prince and his men had no choice but to return to Meerka in defeat.

Ruby blinked in surprise when the prince and his group disappeared.

"Papa, did you just magically banish them from Lenmos?"

He stumbled a bit, and she caught him. He drank some divine water from his Haven and recovered.

"Yes, it also ate up a lot of magic. The prince and anyone working for him in any way, shape, or form will be unable to enter the city. If he thinks he is angry now, wait until some merchants of his find out they were banished too." He smiled.

"What about the whole sour relations thing?"

"Good point. It may be best to go see an old friend."

"Grandma Vannil!?" He nodded to her question, and she hopped around happily, her fluffy tail flipping rapidly.

Phaestus asked Allen to notify the guard of his message, gather the idiot prince's items, and return them to him outside of town along the road.

"Understood, Master Hephaestus, it will be done. Oh, perhaps you could take some of Lanu's sweets with you?"

He thanked Allen for the advice and asked him to bring them some. Lanu, the little elf girl he had saved from slavers, had worked hard at being a maid but ended up finding out that she had a significant talent for cooking. Phaestus had taught her multiple recipes he knew and even shared an other-worldly cookbook.

"Here you go, Master Phaestus!" The elf girl handed him a basket of snacks.

"Thank you, Lanu. Allen, please let Douglas know what happened for me, please. We will be off."

"Not without us." Dite came out carrying Leros.

"You know what Lady Vannil would do if you did not bring Leros with you, and I am coming too."

Phaestus could only laugh as they joined in for the trip. Once they were together, he teleported them to the Meerka Inquisitor office.

"Oh, Duke Hephaestus, good to see you, sir. Are you here to see Lady Vannil?" The soldier asked.

"Yes, is she available?"

"She should be coming around in a moment. She had some business at the castle, something about helping with the wedding plans or something. The wedding of Prince Alan and Princess Delenia is fast approaching."

Oh right, forgot about that.

"We got the invitation a week ago, my forgetful husband." Dite whispered in his ear.

Shortly after he got embarrassed by her, a familiar wagon approached.

It has been a long time since I saw that, which brought me to the beginning here.

He smiled nostalgically.

"You remember that, but you don't remember a royal wedding."

"Could you stop, please?"

Ruby giggled at her father's embarrassment.

"Is that Leros!?" A shout came from the carriage, as well as an older woman, running way faster than the carriage.

"Hello, Lady Vannil. It has been a long time." Dite said, passing a happy Leros over to her.

"Ahhhhhhhhh, ssoooooo adorable! Thank you so much for coming, Dite, Phaestus, Ruby. I really needed this kind of recharge!" She made a kissy face at Leros, who laughed happily.

"Oh, he is getting so big! Ah, but I need to go to the castle…." Lady Vannil made a conflicted face, but Dite came to the rescue with an offer.

"Well, my dear husband needs to have a word with the king if possible. While they are having their meeting, Leros and I can join you with the Queen and her planners."

"Thank you!" She said quickly and hopped into the carriage with Leros.

The remaining three entered the carriage with amused smiles and traveled to the castle. With Lady Vannil and Phaestus' rank, they had no issue getting into the castle. A minister and handmaid met them and led their separating groups to their goals.

"Lord Hephaestus! It is truly an honor to meet you! Welcome, please have a seat." The king had a genuinely happy smile on his face.

"It is good to see you again, Lord Hephaestus." Prince Alan was also in attendance, along with a somewhat younger-looking version of him next to him.

"Greetings Lord Hephaestus, I am Luke, the third born prince of Meerka." The young man bowed his head.

What a well-mannered young man. I guess manners skipped a generation with the second.

"Thank you, your majesty, for seeing me on such short notice. I am usually much better when it comes to this." Phaestus bowed his head in apology.

"Oh no, no, no, no. Haha, my day is somewhat open, and I would prefer something like this then continue with the wedding planning." The king's smile seemed to have a mountain of exhaustion behind it.

In his fifties, the king was an older man with his trimmed hair and mustache starting to gray out. Phaestus took his seat at the table with the Meerka royals.

"So, what brings you here this day?" The king asked with a smile.

"I came here to regretfully inform you that I had no choice but to banish your son, the second prince, from Lenmos."

The king's demeanor changed to a more serious tone. "What has he done?"

Before he began, the king asked his butler to use the [Truth Seeker] spell. Phaestus did not mind as he felt it was suitable for the king to know that he was telling the truth beyond the shadow of a doubt. Phaestus went into how the second prince harassed him to make him a weapon like the ones he made for his own king and queen for nearly a week, going into details of how he acted, spoke, and the words he said. The king grimaced at the last interaction between his son and Phaestus. After getting confirmation from his butler, the king sighed heavily.

"Haaaah. On behalf of the Meerka royal family, I sincerely apologize for my son's ignorant and disrespectful manners. I will put him under house arrest and ensure that he does not bother you again. How else can I make this up to you, Duke Hephaestus? Would you like reparations to be made by him?"

"Dammit, Fenton." Prince Alan cursed under his breath.

"No need to do more than that, your majesty. Though if you must send anyone to Lenmos, make sure that they do not work for him. The spell I used is a powerful one. It prevents him or anyone else that works for him, even in the most off-hand way, from entering Lenmos."

"Understood. I thank you for telling me. Did Fenton happen to say why he wanted one made?"

"Nothing clear. Though the second prince said something about needing it to take his rightful place. I did not know what he meant by that."

"I think I know." The young Prince Luke said.

They looked at him, and he continued. "I think he means to challenge you, brother, for the throne."

"Can he do that?" Phaestus asked the king.

"He can. It is an ancient right, but he could challenge Alan to a duel. If he wins two of three bouts or kills Alan, he could take the seat of the crown prince, and I could do nothing about it." The king said.

"Have you tried to get rid of it?"

"Yes, but there are nobles who find traditions important. I just see no reason for such a bloody tradition to continue to exist."

I wonder…

"Your majesty, princes, do you know if he has any connection to the Church of Light?"

"He does! I see him go to the church many times." The young prince responded.

"What are you thinking, Duke?"

"In the last year and a half, I have seen countless times where the church exploits weaknesses, rules, loopholes, and other methods to gain more influence. I stopped them in Dunlap and Alta with the help of Lord Alexander Tulsen. Then I stopped them in Merluka, where they assassinated the king, cursed the queen, and tried to turn the young king into a puppet. Then another was all the way in Obai, where two houses were planning to merge their military might and forcibly change to a monarchy, with the main plotter becoming king. This just stinks of the church."

The king stopped to think long and hard about it.

"I have tried many times to drive them from my city. Regrettably, there are too many nobles in their pockets. Lord Hephaestus, we are holding a banquet in a couple of weeks, just before the wedding, when the royal family of Dunlap is due to arrive. Do you think you can make it? Maybe help expose some of them?"

"Coming would not be a problem. I think if I didn't, my sister would come sprinting over to drag me over to be at my niece's pre-wedding celebration." Phaestus replied with a tired smile.

"Sister? Niece? Oh right, your second wife is the sister of the Queen of Dunlap."

"Not to worry, your majesty. I will attend the banquet. Hmm." He looked at the two princes.

There's an idea.

"I know. How would you two like a magic weapon?"

The jaws of the royals dropped open in surprise at the smug smirk of Phaestus.

Wow, that is cruel! And amazing! The three royals thought.

"Well? Do you accept?" Phaestus said, extending his hand with his tempting offer.

They nodded their heads vigorously.

"Very well, let's see, I will make a long sword for Prince Alan, and for Prince Luke, a dirk maybe?"

The young prince nodded in approval.

Phaestus went over a few additional requests with the royals for his plan before standing from his seat.

"Very well. Look forward to them. Now, I must see if I can pry my family from yours to head home." Phaestus said with a wry smile.

The king and princes wished him the best of luck, and he went off with the servant.

"Oh, Phaestus. Done with your meeting?" Dite welcomed him.

"Yes, everything is good now. The king is a good man."

The queen thanked him for his compliment.

"Aww, do we have to go?" Ruby's ears drooped sadly.

"Come on, Lord Phaestus. Why not let us ladies stay here for a couple of nights. The queen offered us some rooms in the palace to help with the planning." Lady Vannil offered.

He looked to Dite, who nodded with a smile.

"Very well. If you end up needing me. You know how to get a hold of me. I will head to Dunlap to check in on Athena."

They said their farewells, and he was led outside, where he teleported out.

Hours after Duke Hephaestus had visited the royal family of Meerka, the second prince made it back to the castle.

Prince Fenton marched through the castle up to his father's office and burst into the room.

"Father! I have a great disrespect I must inform you of!"

"Truly." The king's tone was cold.

What is wrong with him? Prince Fenton was taken aback by his father's icy demeanor.

"F-Father, the Duke of Lenmos has banished my people and me from the city for no reason!"

"I know what happened." The king's tone was still cold.

"W-What do you mean?"

"I spoke to the Duke hours ago!" The king stood from his chair in a fury.

"How dare you do veiled threats to such a man!?" He roared, his voice booming within the room.

He was here?! How!? The young man took a step back from his furious father.

"You threatened his family, harassed him and his people for days! All for a weapon? I have no idea why you want a new weapon. We have the finest crafters and weapons from Alta. Why did you take things so far?!"

"W-Wait, father, he lied to you! That is not what happened!"

"Albert?"

A butler stepped forward from the shadows, his eyes glowing gold.

Lie detection?!

"It is as you feared your majesty. Prince Fenton has lied."

"Fenton, you are hereby forbidden from going to Lenmos or interacting with the Duke and his family. You will go nowhere near the Queen's Wing while the Duke's family is helping your mother with the wedding. Is that understood?!"

"Y-yes, father."

Dammit, DAMMIT! Damn that Duke!

The king had ordered the guards to the Queen's Wing of the castle to be doubled, and that so long as Duke Hephaestus' family was there, Prince Fenton was forbidden from entering the area, and if he tried, he was to be slapped in shackles and taken to the prison for nobles.

"Brother! Welcome!" Queen Delvirra said.

Phaestus was not expecting to be led to the royal hot spring bath, but there he was.

"Hello, sister. Roro, how are you doing?"

Rorroco was relaxing right next to her sister in the bath.

"I am doing well, but could we go to the Haven hot spring? That one feels so much better."

"Sure." He shifted the three of them to the Haven.

"Ahhhhh, so much better. I am sure our child also appreciates it!" She said with a bright smile.

"Both of our children will appreciate it, Rorroco."

What?

Rorroco and the Queen had a laugh at his expression.

"Yes, brother, I am also with child. I found out this morning, my husband was so joyous that he literally ran out of the palace to announce it to the city himself. Don't worry, though. Our son and some very frantic guards went with him." She giggled.

Yup, I can see him doing that. I better keep an eye outside for when he gets back. Oh, the princesses are requesting entry.

He shifted the princesses into the Haven, and they joined the two giants in the hot spring. Luna poked her head out of the house.

"Oh, I thought it was loud out here. Welcome back." She said, her sapphire hair pulled up in a bun on top of her head.

"What have you been doing in there? You have not come out of the Haven for days."

"Oh, um, I discovered video games…." She said as she snuck back into the house.

I feel like Elder Oribaba will be visiting soon.

"Anyway, you all enjoy your time. I am heading to the workshop." He started to head that way, but Rorroco picks him up.

"Hold on, you have to relax with me for a bit first. Skin-ship is important in a relationship."

He smiled and changed his clothes to a bathing robe. Rorroco put him in the usual spot between her breasts.

"How are things at home?" She asked.

"Mmm, had some trouble with an idiot prince of Meerka, but it has been taken care of. I have a fun plan set and have the king and other princes in on it. They will make it seem like they don't know his reason for requesting me to make him a weapon. The rest is a secret."

"Oh, come now, uncle! I want to know!" Princess Lindi cried.

"Lindi, calm yourself. You should know that our uncle's surprises are phenomenal to watch the events unfold."

"Oh, okay, I can wait." Princess Delenia pacified her younger sister's curiosity.

"So, sister, what is the king hoping for?" Eric asked.

"That fool? Hah, he cannot make up his mind."

"We kind of would like a little brother, though." The two princesses added.

"Delvirra wants another son." Rorroco stated.

"Don't tell the fool. I like to see him flounder. It's adorable." The Queen requested, which Eric could only laugh.

The Queen then got a mischievous smile on her face and moved in front of Rorroco and Eric.

"Sister?" Rorroco asked as the Queen fell forward and hugged her. "I love you, Rorroco!"

"WAH! Delvirra! Eric! Eric is being crushed! Stop!"

When he saw the Queen's chest rushing forward, he thought; Ah, this is how I die…

Hours later, only Rorroco and the two princesses were inside the Haven. As punishment for trying to send him to heaven in more ways than one, he kicked the Queen out after he recovered his consciousness. He was in his workshop melting some mithril ore in his furnace. The warmth of the furnace ended up reminding him of what he went through not long ago, and his face turned red.

Dammit, why is it always that with her…

"You doing okay, Eric?" Rorroco shrunk down to join him.

"N-not, really. I am having a hard time focusing."

Rorroco thought for a moment and gave him a deep, passionate, tight hugging kiss. She held him passionately for a good few minutes. Rorroco released him and looked up at him bashfully.

"B-better?"

So adorable.

"Yes." He squeaked.

"So uncle, what are you making here?"

Rorroco and Eric turned to see two wide-eyed, red-faced princesses.

"How long were you two there?" Rorroco asked.

"W-we saw nothing." Delenia said.

"I must ask mother how to kiss like that later." Lindi mumbled quietly.

"You saw the whole thing!" Rorroco cried out, hiding her face, turning even redder, and hiding behind Eric.

"Um, well, I am making some swords for Prince Alan and Prince Luke."

"You met Prince Luke? He is such a sweet and smart boy. He really looks up to Alan."

"Hmm? Already on a casual first name basis now, huh?" Eric teased Delenia.

She turned a little red at his comment and said nothing.

"Thanks, Eric." Rorroco whispered quietly to him.

"Ooo, what a neat box. Is this for the swords?"

"It is."

From the toolset from Hephaestus, he pulled out what looked like a tiny anvil.

"Forged in the fires of Mount Olympus." The anvil reacted to his words and increased in size to a giant anvil.

He explained to the awe-struck princesses that it was a gift from the god of fire and crafting. He poured the molten mithril into ingot casts and used his [Thermal Adjust] spell to cool them.

Eric pulled out a micro hammer, "Hammer the forge to spark the stars of creation."

The hammer grew to a large-headed hammer that hummed with the celestial power of Hephaestus. He channeled his will into the hammer, imagining each hammer strike, the vibration of each clang, the sight of sparks flying, the metal taking the form of his will. The hammer glowed with golden power.

Opening his eyes and raising the hammer, he brought it down upon the ingot with an ear-numbing metal to metal clang, sending sparks all around him. The golden light instantly transferred to the bar, imbuing his will into the metal. Eric exhaled and fell to his knees, breathing hard.

"Uncle!" The two princesses moved forward but were stopped by Rorroco.

"It's okay. Eric can use the hammer like this once a day to perfectly forge anything he wills. It takes a lot of out him, but this is far better than the first few times he used it." She helped him over to a nearby chair.

The princesses looked over to the ingot as it rapidly changed its form, elongating, flattening, widening, and taking the shape of a blade. The sword took form, and the glow faded.

"Could you, Roro?" He asked tiredly.

She nodded and brought a cup over to him. He drank some divine water to recover a bit of his strength.

He intently inspected the blade. "Mm. This is a good blade. Not one I would present to Hephaestus, but I am content with this. Prince Alan should be thrilled with this."

He handed the blade to Princess Delenia to inspect.

"It's beautiful." The princesses looked in awe at the blade.

The banquet is going to be fun.