Hestia

Eriri and Ais walked through the bustling streets, eventually arriving at a quieter square.

On the edge of the square, sitting on a stone bench, was a petite girl with twin tails, unusually generous curves, and a forlorn expression.

On the edge of the square, sitting on a stone bench, was a petite girl with twin tails, an unusually generous chest, and a forlorn expression.

"Isn't that Hestia?" Eriri's eyes lit up as she noticed the melancholy, large-breasted loli sitting on the bench.

She quickly scanned all of Orario and the dungeon but did not detect the male protagonist from the original story. It seemed he had not yet arrived in Orario at this point in time.

Hestia was likely in her current predicament after being kicked out by Hephaestus, leaving her homeless and adrift.

Ais recognized Hestia as well. Although this was her first time seeing her in person, she had seen her several times in the memory projections.

Though Eriri hadn't spoken loudly, her words reached Hestia, who sat not far away.

The small goddess immediately raised her head, looking toward Eriri and Ais. Her eyes sparkled when she saw Eriri, and the sorrow caused by her eviction seemed to diminish slightly.

"Do you know me?" Hestia called out loudly to the two.

Eriri, pulling Ais along, slowly approached the bench and gave Hestia a lighthearted smile as she looked her over.

Hestia wore a white backless dress, its hemline barely reaching her thighs. A blue ribbon encircled her chest like a supportive band, wrapping under her arms and around her smooth back.

Her youthful appearance resembled that of a twelve- or thirteen-year-old girl, though her features were delicate and exquisite. Her bare, slender legs were fair and flawless, and she was entirely barefoot, her feet resting on the ground.

"Of course, I know you." Eriri sat down on the bench beside Hestia, pulling Ais along with her. "I'm Eriri Spencer Sawamura. Just call me Eriri."

Sitting beside Eriri, Ais also quietly introduced herself.

"Eriri, Ais, hello." Hestia greeted the two beautiful girls warmly, her mood visibly improving.

Since descending to the lower world, Hestia had spent all her time cooped up in Hephaestus' home, so she didn't recognize the famed Sword Princess of Orario sitting beside her.

"Hestia, why are you sitting here sighing all by yourself?" Eriri asked.

"It's nothing. I'm just resting for a bit," Hestia replied with a forced smile, avoiding revealing the troubles she faced.

She quickly shifted the topic, her voice carrying a hopeful tone. "By the way, are you both adventurers?"

"Ais is, but I'm not," Eriri replied. "I just arrived in Orario today."

"Then are you interested in becoming an adventurer and joining my familia?"

Hearing that Eriri had just arrived in Orario, Hestia's excitement was palpable.

A pure newcomer appeared before her—a perfect opportunity to recruit a member into her familia!

Due to her excitement, Hestia didn't even stop to question how someone who had just arrived in Orario could know about her existence.

"But I plan to leave Orario today," Eriri said, feigning a troubled expression. However, a faint trace of amusement flickered in her eyes, though this detail escaped Hestia's notice.

"What? You're leaving? Orario is the center of the world! Wouldn't it be better to stay here and grow?" Hestia asked, refusing to give up so easily.

"That's not important. What matters is that I don't plan on becoming an adventurer," Eriri replied casually.

"Ah…" Hestia was at a loss for words. She desperately wanted Eriri to become the first member of her familia, but she couldn't force someone into the dangerous life of an adventurer.

Her mood dimmed, and she spoke dejectedly, "Alright, I won't push you."

At that moment, the troubled expression on Eriri's face vanished, replaced by a gentle, breathtaking smile that left Hestia momentarily stunned.

"Let's set aside the topic of familias for now. There's something else I want to discuss with you," Eriri said.

"What is it? Just tell me. As long as it's within my power, I'll help you. That's my promise as a goddess," Hestia declared, patting her chest with confidence.

Although she hadn't succeeded in recruiting Eriri, her good impression of the girl remained unchanged.

"Hmm… Hestia, are you interested in other worlds?" Eriri asked directly, her thoughts already leaning toward taking Hestia away from this world.

"Other worlds? Do you mean other dimensions?" Hestia asked curiously.

In her mind, the heavens themselves could be considered another dimension, making them analogous to a different world from the mortal realm.

Eriri shook her head. "Not exactly. I'm talking about another universe."

Hestia froze for a moment. Though she was a goddess, the concept of "universes" was entirely foreign to her.

Seeing the confusion in Hestia's eyes, Eriri took the time to explain the concept of the multiverse and the existence of countless worlds.

Learning that their world was not unique left Hestia utterly shocked, but it also ignited a deep curiosity within her. Though she was a self-proclaimed shut-in goddess, she had always been drawn to fascinating things—otherwise, she wouldn't have descended to the mortal world in the first place.

"Wait… does that mean you're from another universe?" Hestia finally pieced together Eriri's identity, her voice tinged with awe.

"Exactly. So, what do you think? Interested in visiting other worlds?" Eriri's invitation was tempting, and Hestia couldn't help but feel moved. However, she hesitated to give an immediate answer. "I'll think about it…"

"No rush. Take your time. Even though I'll be leaving this world today, Ais is a resident here. If you ever decide to visit another world, let Ais know, and I'll come back to pick you up. Of course, that's assuming you haven't started your familia yet," Eriri said with a gentle smile.

Eriri wasn't forcing Hestia to leave with her immediately. Instead, she offered her the chance to choose freely. If Hestia decided to form a familia with Bell, as in the original story, it would mean their paths weren't meant to cross, and Eriri wouldn't insist further.

"Alright, I understand. I'll give it serious thought."

Truthfully, looking at Eriri's breathtaking beauty, Hestia felt an almost overwhelming urge to agree on the spot. However, thinking of her fellow goddesses Hephaestus and Artemis, she forced herself to hold back and decided to discuss it with her friends first.

"What familia is Ais part of?" Hestia shifted her gaze past Eriri to look at Ais.

"Loki Familia," Ais replied calmly.

However, the moment Hestia heard Loki's name, her expression changed dramatically.

"Ugh... it's that flat-chested Loki," Hestia remarked, her tone dripping with disdain.

As soon as Hestia finished speaking, a patch of grass in the corner of the square rustled. Loki, abandoning any pretense of stealth, stood up from behind the shrubbery and rushed toward the three of them.

"What are you saying, you tiny squirt? By the looks of you, you were probably kicked out by Hephaestus for freeloading," Loki retorted sharply, her eyes narrowing as she positioned herself beside Ais.

Behind Loki, Tiona and Lefiya came running over, both looking sheepish as they approached Eriri and Ais.

They braced themselves for reprimands or punishments, but to their surprise, neither Eriri nor Ais showed any signs of displeasure. In fact, the two looked entirely unsurprised, clearly aware of the tailing all along.

Since Eriri had noticed but didn't stop them, it was clear she didn't mind their actions. This realization brought visible relief to Tiona and Lefiya.

Hestia, meanwhile, was left momentarily speechless by Loki's accusation, as it was entirely true. To save face, she quickly countered, "Hmph! You're the one resorting to stalking people. Then again, with a flat, board-like figure like yours, sneaking around must be your forte. Even a tiny tree could hide your body!"

"What? You really dare say that, you squat little dumpling! You don't even have a single familia member yet. Pathetic! Absolutely useless!" Loki fired back.

For over a minute, the two engaged in a relentless volley of insults, their bickering making the previously quiet square decidedly lively. It was hard to tell whether their relationship was antagonistic or friendly.

"That's enough. Stop it," Eriri interjected firmly, cutting off their squabble.

"Hmph!" Hestia and Loki shot one last glare at each other before turning away in unison with a huff.

...

Some time later, under Hestia's reluctant and wistful gaze, Eriri and Ais left the square, accompanied by Loki, Tiona, and Lefiya, heading back to the Loki Familia base.

Once Eriri departed, Hestia immediately made her way to the Hephaestus Familia's headquarters. With Artemis absent from Orario, Hestia had no choice but to seek out Hephaestus, despite having been recently evicted by her.

This time, however, Hestia wasn't planning to impose herself but had a legitimate matter to discuss, something she knew Hephaestus wouldn't refuse.

By the time Eriri and the others reached the Loki Familia's castle-like base, it was already a little past 11 a.m.—just in time for lunch.

Rather than having the familia prepare extra food, Loki decided to take the members close to Ais out to "The Hostess of Fertility" tavern for lunch to properly host Eriri.

Originally, Loki had planned to host a banquet directly in the castle, where there would be no restrictions on the number of diners.

However, upon learning that Eriri wanted to experience "The Hostess of Fertility," she immediately changed her initial decision.

Around noon, at approximately 12 o'clock, Eriri and the others arrived at the location where the Loki Familia had held a banquet just a few nights earlier.

Even during the daytime, the number of customers inside "The Hostess of Fertility" was just as many as in the evening.

Eriri's arrival immediately attracted the attention of all the adventurers in the tavern. Among them were several adventurers who had seen her earlier while she was strolling with Ais.

Since Loki Familia's strongest members were present, none of the adventurers dared to approach Eriri recklessly. Instead, they resorted to stealing glances at her from afar.

"Mama Mia, serve all the dishes as usual—one of everything—and clear two tables for us first," Loki shouted boldly toward Mia, the tavern's manager behind the bar, completely disregarding her status as a god.

The group from Loki Familia this time included Finn, Riveria, and a few other members Eriri didn't recognize.

The reason for splitting into two tables was primarily because Eriri preferred not to share a table with men while dining.

Even with the separation of genders, Tione couldn't resist sitting next to Finn, intending to have her meal beside him.

Once everyone was seated, a gray-haired girl in a server's uniform approached Eriri's table, carrying a tray of drinks.

"Wow, Lady Loki, is she your Familia's new member? She's absolutely stunning," the gray-haired server remarked, placing the drinks on the table and staring directly at Eriri.

"Haha! I wish, but I don't have the ability—or the right—to bring her into my Familia," Loki laughed heartily, her words causing a flicker of intrigue in the gray-haired server's eyes.

"Syr, bring me a few bottles of your best wine. I'm going to have a proper drink today!" Loki declared.

"Understood," the server, Syr, replied before turning to fetch the requested bottles from the wine cabinet.

"Loki, drinking too much in broad daylight isn't a good idea. Moderation is key," Riveria, seated to Loki's right, tried to persuade her god.

Loki, however, waved her off dismissively, her carefree attitude on full display. "Don't worry about it, Mama. You're always fussing over me."

"Stop calling me Mama!" Riveria sighed in exasperation before turning her attention to Eriri, who sat at the center of the table. "Lady Eriri, would you prefer some wine or perhaps fruit juice?"

"Of course... fruit juice!" Eriri replied with a cheerful smile. She wasn't a fan of alcohol and much preferred sweet beverages.

She then turned to Ais, seated beside her. "Ais, how about some juice for you too?"

"Mm," Ais nodded decisively. At banquets, she typically drank only fruit juice or plain water.

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