You are the one!
Hestia.
Naturally, Isao was familiar with this goddess as it was the goddess of the Familia of the original protagonist. However, as he had advised Bell to go to Loki Familiar or Freya Familia, what would happen to Hestia?
Or rather, could Bell really enter the Loki Familiar or Freya Familia?
Frankly, the chance wasn't zero, and Isao thought that it was possible for Bell to enter those two strongest Familia. Still, compared to the Loki Familia, he felt that Bell had a higher chance to enter the Freya Familia, but even so, he believed that Bell could live well since Freya, the famous beautiful goddess, always took care of the members of her Familia well~!
Still, if Bell joined a different Familia, what about Hestia, the goddess before him?
If Hestia lost Bell, then what would happen to her?
Nevertheless, when Hestia called him a child, Isao had to say it felt weird since they appeared to be about the same age. But he knew that even if she appeared young, she had lived for eons, and she was even older than Apollo, especially when she was the sister of Demeter, Zeus, Poseidon, and Hades.
Still, should he join Hestia Familia?
"...you are a goddess?"
"That's right!" Hestia nodded confidently, but inwardly, she wasn't confident at all. She had invited many people, and no one agreed to join her Familia. Why? Because she was the only member of her Familia and a poor goddess who had nothing but a beautiful face and breasts.
If she let those living beings in the lower world touch her body, there might be many who wanted to join, but she was a virgin goddess!
She had never touched a man in eons, and she had never felt the joy of sex, but it didn't matter since this was her principle, and this wouldn't change at all in the future.
Probably.
Yet, the thought of selling her body so she could have someone to take care of her never crossed her mind, and she felt disgusted by such a thing.
Still, even so, she wished to make her Familia a family member that supported each other.
So, no matter how hard it was, Hestia never gave up, but she would be lying if this wasn't painful since even if she had been rejected by many, she had never gotten used to these feelings.
Nevertheless, she wondered whether the young man before her would agree to her invitation or not.
Still, she knew that she had to show how extraordinary she was even though she knew that in the lower world, she was nothing but a useless and poor goddess.
"But you are working in the stall."
Those words directly crushed Hestia's spirit, but she didn't give up!
"I-I... I try to be independent! I never try to rely on my Familia, so I keep working by myself!"
Hestia didn't lie since she relied on herself to keep living, and she never relied on her Familia members since she didn't have one.
"I see..."
"Right? Do you want to join? I am an independent and easy-to-care goddess!"
"..."
How desperate are you?
Isao was speechless and then asked, "How many members are your Familia?"
However, those words made Hestia plop helplessly on the ground.
"...Hestia?"
"...I don't have any." Hestia looked at Isao while crying. "I don't have any Familia members! I have nothing! I am poor! I live in an abandoned church and work as a stall worker! Huwaa!"
"...."
Isao was at a loss for words, and he could see that everyone was staring at him, thinking that he had made Hestia cry. "Okay, okay. How about you stop crying first? You will make everyone think that I am making you cry." He took his handkerchief and lent it to Hestia. "Use this to wipe your tears and snot."
"Th-Thanks..."
Even though Hestia was desperate, she was still a kind and gentle goddess. She knew that crying in front of this young man would cause nothing but trouble for him. Even worse, she might even make him hate her, so she stopped crying and even thanked him since he didn't seem to get angry and lent her his handkerchief.
As she wiped her tears and snot with his handkerchief, she was slightly surprised since the smell of his handkerchief was nice and gentle. It was a soft, lavender-like yet manly scene somehow.
Or rather, didn't this guy smell so nice?
Even though Isao's clothes appeared worn out, Hestia realized that Isao's smell was pleasant and he was clean. He also didn't appear desperate and calm, making her wonder whether such a young man could join her Familia.
'If it's him, then he should go to a bigger Familia, right?'
Hestia somehow wouldn't be surprised if Isao was a prince or a knight in a distant country who went to Orario to become an adventurer.
Such an exceptional young man, would he even join her poor Familia?
Still, in the end, the two sat next to each other and talked.
"So, you are from the Far East, Iinuma-kun?" Hestia asked curiously.
"Yeah."
Isao bought another Jagamarukun that tasted of cream and green tea, which was kind of strange, but somehow, the combination of fried potato and sweets seemed to work.
"Why are you coming so far away here?" Hestia asked again.
"I am searching for a job."
"Job?" Hestia looked at Isao strangely and asked, "You seem quite well-off, though."
"Well, I was."
In another world, Isao was probably the richest, but in this world?
He was once again that poor young man who had nothing but vigor and a healthy body.
"Ah, sorry." Hestia wondered whether she subconsciously touched the sensitive subject that Isao didn't want to explain. Moreover, as he came from a faraway country to Orario, there must be a reason. Unexpectedly, she might have hurt him and reminded him of a painful memory, she thought, so she rubbed his head and said, "Everyone will go well! I am sure that you can achieve great things in this city!"
[You have acquired Hestia's DNA.]
[Do you want to absorb it?]
"..."
Isao felt strange since his head was being rubbed by Hestia, who was smaller than him, but he decided to ignore his feelings since he got Hestia's DNA. Then he asked, "You are not going to invite me to your Familia again?"
Hestia showed a bitter smile and said sincerely, "You must have something that you want to achieve since you come from a faraway country, right? Aside from Blessing, I have nothing to give you. I... I feel like I will be a burden for you instead of being your support."
Isao stared at Hestia in a daze.
"Wh-what's wrong?" Hestia asked strangely since Isao kept staring at her in a daze.
"No, I just don't expect that you would say that. I thought that you would lie to me and tell me that your Familia is amazing," Isao said as he finished his Jagamarukun.
"No way, I won't do that." Hestia shook her head and said, "Lie is a lie. Sooner or later, it will be revealed. You want to do something in this town, and I don't want you to resent me."
While it was a shame that she couldn't make Isao a part of her Familia, it was all fine, she thought, and she felt that it was good to become a good person. Still, when she thought that Isao might become a great adventurer but under a different god or goddess, she could imagine how much regret and pain it was.
But even so, she couldn't lie to him, and this was the best, she thought.
However—
"I will join your Familia," Isao said.
"Huh?" Hestia blinked her eyes and stared at Isao with a loss.
"What's wrong?"
"No, no! What did you say?"
"I will join your Familia, Hestia."
Even if this young man was so cheeky that he didn't use "-sama" to address him, Hestia didn't care and asked unsurely, "You sure? I have nothing, you know?"
"It's fine."
"Let me ask you again since if you are really sure, I won't let you leave me!" Hestia looked at Isao with a solemn expression and asked, "Iinuma Isao, are you sure that you want to become part of my Familia, Hestia Familia? I won't allow a betrayal! I won't allow you to leave me! No matter what, you will only become mine. Is that okay?"
"What do you mean that I can only become yours? I can't marry someone else?" Isao asked calmly while looking at Hestia curiously.
"I mean... you can only become part of Familia! You can't leave me after you join my Familia! As for romance..." Hestia struggled for a while and said, "While it is hard if you really have someone that you really love, then I won't stop you! Still, even with all of that, are you really going to become part of my Familia?"
While she felt a little disappointed that Isao couldn't be truly hers, she was fine with it for now as long as Isao could become her Familia member. But then, would he become her Familia member even with all of the requirements attached?
Still, even for eons, she had never fallen for someone, but for this young man, who came to her and told her that he was going part of her Familia when she had nothing... how could she not feel anything for him?
Even if Isao was ugly, she might fall for him, especially when she could see his eyes were the eyes of a man, sincere and without any dirty thoughts toward her.
If possible, she wanted him to become hers, yet she also knew she had nothing and was poor. She couldn't support him with anything, so... so...
"Once again, yes." Isao looked at Hestia and said sincerely, "As I have said before, I will become your Familia member. What I need from you isn't wealth, knowledge, connections, or anything like that. What I seek is your sincerity, and you never lie to me, so as long as you are like that in the future, I won't betray you or leave you."
"I won't! I won't do something like that! If I break my promise, I will die!" Hestia somehow said exaggeratedly.
"...you don't have to make such a heavy promise." Isao felt Hestia was a little too heavy somehow.
"No, I have to make it! You have decided to follow me forever, so this is what I have to do!" Hestia wasn't sure what this young man had encountered in his life, but for one thing, she knew that she would be his support no matter what!
"Then, please take care of me from now on, Hestia."
Those simple words...
Hestia somehow wanted to cry since, after so many people rejected her, she found someone who could accept her and sincerely hoped to be part of her Familia.
No, she was already crying!
"Yes, please take care of me, Iinuma-kun! No, Isao-kun!"
Isao smiled, then stood up and said, "Then, since I have become part of your Familia, let me help you with your stall."
"Eh? What are you going to do?" Hestia looked at Isao with confusion.
"Advertising." Isao took off his glasses and swept up his hair. "Fresh Jagamarukun! It is delicious and made from a potato chosen from the best potato in the Orario! You can only buy it here, and if you are late, you won't be able to eat it anymore!" There were more words, and he used his modern knowledge of advertising to sell the Jagamarukun.
Moreover, as his voice was loud, everyone stopped and looked in his direction.
Whether it was men, women, old, or young, all of them quickly came, seemingly interested, especially when his advertising was interesting.
"Let me get two."
"Is it really made from a special potato?"
"By the way, care to spend a night with me?"
Hestia blinked her eyes since she hadn't expected so many people to come to buy the Jagamarukun after Isao shouted. She looked at Isao in amazement, but her expression quickly turned defensive, and she stood in front of him, trying to protect him from many bloodthirsty vixens.
"No! Isao-kun isn't for sales! Take off your dirty hands from him!"
"..."
Isao wondered whether it was the right decision for him to join Hestia Familia.
---
If he is going to another world again, which world do you want him to be in?
Also, which one is better, Rakudai Kishi no Cavalry and Shinmai Maou no Testament?