Hephaestus and the Welf Bond, explained

Key things

• Welf and Hephaistos share a bond based on respect for their craft and inspire each other to grow.
• Welf's journey includes rejecting his family's legacy, finding purpose with Hephaestus, and developing romantic feelings for her.
• Hephaestus sees Welf as more than just a disciple, values ​​his acceptance and admiration, leading to new hope for love.

IN DanMachi series, the existence of a relationship between a family member and their god is paramount. While most of these connections are usually transactional or due to duty, it is not uncommon to see adventurers who admire and respect their god in DanMachiwith their relationship becoming more than god and follower. The relationship between the goddess Hephaestus and Welf is one of the most complex and significant bonds in the series. The two characters share a connection based on mutual interest, mentorship, and mutual respect for each other's ambitions, with a hint of admiration leading to the development of feelings on both sides.

The genesis of their bond

Meeting of Minds and Souls

Welf Crozzo, the reincarnation of the first Crozzo, despised his ability to create magical swords, an ability shared by members of the Crozzo family. He used to live off the achievements of his ancestors and achieved this skill called Crozzo Blood, which changed the way he was perceived. He witnessed how greedy it made his family members and others who sought his services. He came to deeply hate magic swords, believing that they did not help the adventurers in the long run, and thus they were power hungry for items that could only be used once. Vowing never to use his skills, he left Rakia with the help of his former goddess Phobos and traveled far until he encountered Hephaestus.

Hephaistos, the goddess of blacksmithing, is a goddess who holds her Familia in high esteem and always makes sure that the Familia maintains a good reputation. So when Welf approached her, she hesitated. The Crozzo family already had a bad reputation that spread far and wide, and she didn't want anyone to bring down her Family's reputation. However, when she heard of his promise not to make any magic swords and his commitment to make weapons of lasting value, she recognized his potential and accepted him into her Family. She saw this as an opportunity to help Welf develop as a blacksmith and as a person.

Welf's ambition to win Hephaestus' heart

A blossoming of affection

After his vow to never create magical swords and joining the Hephaestus Familia, Welf truly grew as a person and in his blacksmithing. However, while she respected his resolve, Hephaestus lamented his decision not to create magical swords. With enough persistence, she was eventually able to convince him to reawaken his powers, even if he would only do them for members of his Family. As his skills continued to increase, his desire to be recognized for his success led to a new ambition to create a sword better than what Hephaestus could create, without the use of magic. With this newfound ambition, Welf openly declares his crush on the goddess and uses his goal as a benchmark to get Hephaestus to date him. With all of this, Hephaestus leaves the Familia and joins the Hestia Familia.

Hephaestus, on the other hand, came to see Welf as more than just a promising blacksmith. Hephaestus had an eye defect on his right eye, which she covered with a patch. This flaw, when seen by anyone, whether mortal or god, usually frightens them and runs away in fear. However, when Welf saw it, he was not moved. This moment planted the seed of romantic feelings in Hephaestus that made her feel valued beyond her status as a mere deity. Tsubaki Collbrande is usually on the receiving end of most of Hephaestus' emotions when he sometimes talks to her about his feelings for Welf.

Beyond Master And Student

A meaningful relationship rooted in respect and affection

At the heart of the connection between Hephaestus and Welf is their shared belief in the integrity of their craft. As a master blacksmith and the goddess of blacksmithing, Hephaestus has a high standard for the weapons created by her Family as it affects their reputation, a reputation she holds in high esteem. He values ​​quality above all else, refusing to create low-end weapons that won't stand the test of time. This view of the craft inspires Welf, who shares the same values ​​with her, and influences him to create a new legacy for himself that will not follow the bad reputation his family has created. This mutual respect for their craft makes their bond stronger than most, making Welf a basic apprentice rather than a mere follower learning a craft from a master.

Welf's craft has helped him become a core member of the Hestia Familia, where he applies the values ​​and techniques he honed under Hephaestus' tutelage, often insisting that his close friends such as Bell only use weapons forged by him. His unwavering determination to make lasting weapons and stay true to his ideals stems directly from the freedom and respect Hephaestus has shown him. Over the course of the series, Hephaestus also grows as a character. Before, she had always considered herself unworthy of romance because of the fear her right eye brought to people, and resigned herself to living a lonely life fulfilling her duties. However, Welf's acceptance rekindles the romance and makes her believe in the possibility of love. Her affection for him goes beyond that of a normal goddess for a follower as she feels shy and excited by his admiration for her. Even though Welf left for the Hestia Familia, their relationship still remains one of respect, affection, and shared goals.

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