Chapter 6: Name

At the Moment

Hestia crossed her arms at her waist and looked at Reinhardt with bright, enthusiastic eyes.

"By the way, Reinhardt..."

Reinhardt turned to her. "Yes?"

Hestia grinned widely, swaying her body back and forth with a cheerful expression. "I think we should start getting closer! After all, we're family now! So… how about you stop calling me 'Hestia-sama'?"

Reinhardt raised an eyebrow, slightly surprised.

"Hm? But isn't that the proper way to address a Goddess?" he asked hesitantly.

Hestia huffed, folding her arms across her chest. "Hmph! I'm not one of those stiff goddesses up there! I want our relationship to be more relaxed and natural!"

She looked at Reinhardt with hopeful eyes.

"Come on, just call me 'Hestia'!"

Reinhardt paused for a moment, staring at Hestia, who was waiting with great anticipation. Then, he let out a small sigh before finally speaking.

"Alright… Hestia."

The moment she heard her name without the '-sama' honorific, Hestia's face lit up with a wide smile, her eyes sparkling with triumph.

She clapped her hands once, looking satisfied. "Now that's more like it! Now we really feel like a family!"

She seemed so happy over something so small. Reinhardt could only offer a faint smile in response.

Hestia then pointed at Reinhardt, still full of energy. "Now it's your turn! I can't call you so formally either!"

Reinhardt raised an eyebrow slightly. "Eh? But haven't you already been calling me Reinhardt without any formalities?"

Hestia quickly shook her head, her hands clenched as if devising a great strategy. "That's too long! A nickname! I want to call you by a shorter, more familiar name!"

Reinhardt thought for a moment. Honestly, he had never really considered something like this before.

"A nickname, huh... I don't really mind, as long as it makes sense."

Hestia's face instantly brightened as she eagerly searched for a suitable nickname. "Okay! Hmmm… Reinhardt… Reiny? No, too sweet… Hart? Hmm, doesn't sound right… Ah! I got it!"

She clapped her hands once, looking pleased with herself.

"From now on, I'll call you Rein!"

Rein looked at her with a pleased expression. "Rein?"

After all, this name was chosen by someone he liked.

Hestia nodded quickly, her smile widening. "Yes! Short, simple, and cool-sounding! Rein! Rein!"

She repeated it several times, as if making sure it felt right, and the more she said it, the more she liked it.

Puffing out her chest with pride, she asked, "Well? Sounds good, right? From now on, I'll call you Rein!"

Rein sighed and then shrugged. "Whatever, if that's what you want."

Hestia beamed, clearly satisfied with her decision. "Great! Now we really feel like a family! Hehehe!"

Rein could only offer a small smile as he watched how happy Hestia was over something as simple as changing how they addressed each other. His goddess was truly full of energy…

At the Moment

Rein had just picked up the clothes laid out on the table when his eyes caught his reflection in the large mirror in the corner of the room. He paused.

For the first time, he truly saw himself clearly. In the village where he came from, there were no mirrors this big; usually, he could only see his reflection in the flowing river water.

He gazed into his glowing purple eyes, which seemed to pierce through the darkness, paired with his jet-black hair that had a faint purple sheen. His sharp facial features, strong jawline, and naturally cold expression gave him the look of a mysterious noble.

But what surprised him even more was his body. His muscles were more defined than he had expected—not overly bulky like a brute fighter, but perfectly proportioned. His broad shoulders, well-built chest, and clearly visible abs reflected the hidden strength within him.

"Fitting for someone like me," he thought.

A faint smirk appeared on his lips. Without realizing it, he began to move his body, trying out a few poses.

He ran a hand through his hair, lowering his head slightly with a sharp gaze—like a dark prince. Then, he crossed his arms over his chest, exuding a dominant aura. After that, he tilted his body slightly and looked to the side, as if a conqueror surveying his domain.

Hestia, who had been watching from the side, turned bright red upon seeing Rein posing in front of the mirror, his toned muscles naturally but irresistibly on display.

She squinted, her cheeks flushed. "W-what are you doing...?"

Rein turned to her with a relaxed expression and then smirked at her reaction.

"Oh? Why is your face red, Hestia? Do you like what you see?" he teased.

Hestia flinched, blushing even harder. She quickly waved her hands as if trying to dispel her own thoughts.

"N-no! I just... just... Rein! Hurry up and put on your clothes!"

Rein chuckled at her flustered reaction. He took a step closer, deliberately slowing his movements to tease her further.

"You don't have to be shy, Hestia. If you want to look longer, I can pose even more for you," he said playfully.

Hestia's face turned even redder, like a tomato. She quickly turned away, covering her face with her hands.

"T-there's no need for that! I… I-I'll prepare some food! Yes! I'll cook something for us!"

Without waiting for a reply, Hestia rushed off to the kitchen, leaving Rein standing there with an amused smile.

Rein let out a soft chuckle before finally putting on his clothes. Hestia was really easy to tease, and her reactions were too entertaining. This might become a habit of his from now on.

—

At the Moment

Rein sat in a wooden chair, leaning back casually as he watched Hestia busy cooking. Every now and then, he observed how the girl moved swiftly back and forth, grabbing ingredients, mixing spices, and stirring the pot over the fire.

At first, Rein remained silent, enjoying the sight. However, before long, he started feeling bored. With a mischievous smile, he finally got up from his chair and walked toward Hestia.

Grinning, he said, "Hestia, let me help. Sitting around doing nothing is boring anyway."

Hestia turned to him in surprise, but before she could refuse, Rein had already picked up a kitchen knife and started chopping ingredients skillfully.

"B-but Rein, you don't have to—"

Rein glanced at her with a teasing look, making Hestia flinch slightly.

Smirking, he said, "What? Are you afraid I might be better at cooking than you?"

Hestia's face flushed as she quickly denied it. "T-that's impossible! I am a Goddess! I have way more experience than you!"

Rein chuckled, then deliberately stepped a little closer, making Hestia even more flustered. Despite teasing her, he continued helping seriously. And in the end, after some time, a variety of dishes were finally served on the table.

On the simple wooden table, a variety of dishes were now neatly arranged. There was a warm soup, freshly baked bread, fragrant roasted potatoes, and several side dishes. Hestia took a deep breath of relief before turning to Rein with a somewhat hesitant expression.

In a slightly downcast tone, she said, "I'm sorry if it doesn't taste that good… I should've made something better."

She lowered her head slightly, blaming herself. As a Goddess, she wanted to provide the best for her Familia members. However, Hestia Familia's financial situation wasn't great, which meant their ingredients were limited.

Before she could sink deeper into her thoughts, Rein looked at her gently and spoke in a casual tone.

"There's no need to apologize. As long as you're here, any meal feels luxurious to me."

Hestia froze. Her face, which was already slightly flushed, turned even redder, resembling a tomato. She opened her mouth, trying to respond, but couldn't find the right words. In the end, she simply turned her head away, looking embarrassed.

"Y-you always say things like that to tease me..."

Rein let out a small laugh and sat back down in his chair.

Shrugging, he said, "I'm just telling the truth."

With her face still flushed, Hestia finally took her seat as well. They began eating together, enjoying the simple meal to celebrate the arrival of their new family member.

As they ate, Hestia started explaining various things to Rein, particularly about how the power system in Orario worked. Even though Rein had some knowledge from watching anime, he was still a newcomer in this world, and Hestia wanted to make sure he understood everything.

Chewing on a piece of bread, Hestia said, "So, Rein, in Orario, every adventurer has a Status, which is given by a Goddess or God like me. This Status includes various parameters such as strength, endurance, agility, and so on. The higher the numbers, the stronger you are."

Rein nodded, intrigued. "So, it's like a progression system?"

"Exactly! And every adventurer can also gain unique Skills or Magic, depending on their natural talents or battle experience."

Rein listened carefully, trying to absorb every detail Hestia explained.

After all, he had somewhat forgotten about it. It had been fifteen years since he last watched DanMachi, so it was natural for his memory to be a bit hazy.

Hestia continued, "Besides that, there are also levels. An adventurer starts at Level 1 and can rise to Level 2 and beyond if they achieve something called a 'Great Feat'—an extraordinary accomplishment that proves they are worthy of leveling up."

Rein nodded, showing understanding, but his eyes still held a deep curiosity.

With a small smile, he asked, "So, I have to prove myself on the battlefield before I can level up?"

Hestia nodded enthusiastically. "That's right! And as your Goddess, I'll always support you!"

Rein gazed at Hestia warmly before flashing a teasing smile.

"Hmm… So, you'll always be by my side, huh? That sounds like a love confession, Hestia."

Hestia choked.

Panicking, her face turned bright red. "T-that's not what I meant!"

Rein chuckled softly, enjoying his Goddess's adorable reaction. Hestia lowered her head, her cheeks still burning, but deep down, she couldn't help but smile a little.