Hephaistos and Welf’s Bond, Explained

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

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The Genesis Of Their Bond

A Meeting Of Minds And Souls

Welf Crozzo, the reincarnation of the first Crozzo, despised his ability to create magic swords, an ability common to the members of the Crozzo family. Previously living off the achievements of his ancestors, he attained this skill called Crozzo Blood, which changed how he was perceived. He had witnessed how greedy it made the members of his family and others who requested his services. He began to have a deep hatred for magic swords, as he believed they did not aid the adventurers in the long run, making them power-hungry for objects that could only be used once. Vowing to never use his skills, He left Rakia with the help of his former goddess Phobos and journeyed far until he encountered Hephaestus.

Hephaestus, the Goddess of Smithing, is a goddess who holds her Familia in high regard, always making sure that the Familia maintains a good reputation. So when Welf approached her, she was hesitant. The Crozzo family already had a bad reputation that had spread far and wide, and she did not want someone who was going to bring down her Familia’s reputation. However, when she heard of his vow to not make any magical swords and commitment to making weapons with lasting value, she recognized his potential and accepted him into her Familia, seeing it as an opportunity to help Welf develop as a blacksmith, and as a person.

Welf’s Ambition To Win Hephaestus’s Heart

The Blossoming Of Affection

After his vow to never create magical swords and joining the Hephaestus Familia, Welf did grow as a person and in his blacksmithing craft. However, while she respected his determination, Hephaestus lamented about his decision to not create magical swords anymore. With enough persistence, she was finally able to convince him to reawaken his abilities, even though he would only make them for the members of his Familia. With his skills further increasing, his desire to be acknowledged for his accomplishment led to a new ambition, to create a sword better than any one Hephaestus could create, without the use of magic. With this new-found ambition, Welf openly displays his crush on the goddess, using his goal as a benchmark for Hephaestus to go out with him. With all of this, he leaves the Hephaestus Familia and joins the Hestia Familia.

Hephaestus on the other hand, began to see Welf as more than just a promising blacksmith. Hephaestus had an eye defect in her right eye, which she covered with a patch. This defect, when seen by anyone, be it mortal or god, usually leaves them terrified and running away in fear. However, when Welf saw it, he was unmoved by it. This moment planted a seed of romantic feelings in Hephaestus, making her feel valued beyond her position as just a deity. Tsubaki Collbrande is usually at the receiving end of most of Hephaestus’s emotions as she sometimes speaks to her about her feelings for Welf.

Beyond Master And Student

A Significant Relationship Rooted In Respect And Affection

The core of the connection between Hephaestus and Welf is their shared belief in the integrity of their craftsmanship. As a master smith and the goddess of smithing, Hephaestus holds a high standard for the weapons created by her Familia, as it affects their reputation, a reputation she dearly treasures. She values quality above all else, refusing to create low-class weapons that can not stand the test of time. This view of the craft inspires Welf, who shares the same values with her and influences him to craft a new legacy for himself, one that does not follow the bad reputation his family had set. This mutual respect for their craft makes their bond stronger than most, making Welf more of a core apprentice than a simple follower who is learning the trade from a master.

Welf’s craft has helped him become an essential member of the Hestia Familia, where he applies the values and techniques he has honed under Hephaestus’s guidance, often insisting that his close friends, such as Bell, only use weapons forged by him. His steadfast dedication to making enduring weapons and staying true to his ideals stems directly from the freedom and respect Hephaestus has shown him. During the course of the series, Hephaestus also grows as a character. Before this, she had always deemed herself unworthy of romance because of the fear her right eye brought to people and had resigned to live a lonely life of fulfilling her duties. However, Welf’s acceptance of her reignited that romance, making her believe in the possibility of love. Her affection for him is beyond that of the regular goddess to follower, as she finds herself feeling shy and excited at his admiration for her. Even though Welf left for the Hestia Familia, their relationship still remains one of respect, affection, and shared goals.

DanMachi is available to watch on Crunchyroll and Hulu.

Based on a light novel series by Fujino Omori, Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon? is an action-fantasy anime that follows Bell, an initially weak adventurer who is the only member of the Hestia Familia. Looking to become stronger and protect those who matter the most to him, Bell regularly descends the dungeon, a seemingly neverending pit filled with monsters.

Studio

J.C.Staff

Creator

Fujino Ōmori

Number of Episodes

64 (Season 5 – 6 Episodes)

Streaming Service(s)

HIDIVE , Hulu