The Banquet of the Gods
When Kazuma and Bell returned to the church, Hestia was already awake.
She stood in the middle of the room, hands on her hips, her face still flushed—a mixture of embarrassment and annoyance. Her black hair, usually tied in twin tails, hung loose, framing her pouting face.
"Kazuma-kun!" Hestia's voice rose as soon as she saw Kazuma. "Finally, you're back! I need to talk to you!"
Kazuma sat on the sofa with a calm expression, while Bell stood near the table, looking slightly awkward.
Hestia stood before them, her posture firm despite her petite stature, her face still red.
"Bell-kun has told me everything," Kazuma began, his voice calm yet with a hint of regret. "I'm sorry, Goddess Hestia. I didn't realize I was... um, holding you like that."
"Hmph!" Hestia turned her face away, her cheeks puffed out. "Using my bed as you please, then making me your hugging pillow! Do you know how uncomfortable it was to sleep like that?!"
"I truly apologize," Kazuma bowed slightly. "I was too exhausted after returning from the Dungeon yesterday."
At the mention of 'Dungeon,' Hestia's expression softened slightly. She looked at Kazuma more carefully, searching for signs of fatigue or injuries.
"Speaking of the Dungeon," Hestia folded her arms across her chest, "Bell-kun said that Eina mentioned you came home covered in blood yesterday. What happened?"
Before Kazuma could answer, Hestia raised her hand. "Wait! Before you start lying—" Her blue eyes stared sharply at Kazuma, "—remember that I am a goddess. My intuition is extraordinary at distinguishing lies from truth."
Kazuma swallowed. He had indeed planned to not be entirely honest about how deep he had ventured into the Dungeon.
"I..." Kazuma began, carefully choosing his words. "I went to the Dungeon to hunt monsters and collect magic stones."
"Which floor?" Hestia asked directly.
Kazuma paused for a moment. "Floor six," he finally answered.
Hestia narrowed her eyes, disbelief clearly visible in her gaze. "Try again, Kazuma-kun. This time with honesty."
"Maybe... floor seven?" Kazuma tried again, averting his gaze from Hestia's sharp eyes.
"K-A-Z-U-M-A-K-U-N," Hestia spelled his name with threatening emphasis, hands on her hips. "I can see the lie in your eyes as clearly as seeing Babel Tower at high noon!"
Bell winced slightly, knowing full well there was no point trying to lie to Goddess Hestia about such matters.
Kazuma let out a long sigh, surrendering.
"Alright... I reached floor nine."
"FLOOR NINE?!" Hestia and Bell shouted simultaneously, their eyes widening in disbelief.
"Are you crazy?!" Hestia stepped forward, her face now just inches from Kazuma's. "A level 1 adventurer going alone to floor nine?! You could have died there!"
"But I didn't die," Kazuma replied calmly. "I came back, and I brought this."
He pulled out a fairly heavy bag of valis from his pocket, placing it on the table. The sound of clinking coins filled the room as the bag landed.
"All my money," said Kazuma. "As an apology for using your bed without permission... and, um, holding you all night."
Hestia stared at the bag of valis, then back at Kazuma. She still looked annoyed, but there was a spark of interest in her eyes when she heard the coins clinking.
"You think money can solve everything?" Hestia folded her arms across her chest, trying to still look angry even as her eyes occasionally glanced at the money bag.
"No," Kazuma shook his head. "But I know our Familia needs funds. And I believe you, as our goddess, will use this money wisely for the Familia."
Bell looked surprised at Kazuma's tactic—praising Hestia and entrusting her with the money.
Hestia blinked several times, not expecting to be praised like that. Her face still pouted, but there was now a blush on her cheeks for a different reason.
"O-of course I'll use it wisely!" Hestia raised her chin proudly. "I'm a very responsible goddess, you know!"
Kazuma smiled slightly. "I know that. That's why I'm entrusting everything to you, Goddess Hestia."
Hestia took the bag, trying not to appear too enthusiastic despite being clearly pleased with the amount of money. "Hmmm, alright! Since you're so remorseful and trust me, I'll forgive you this time!"
Bell was surprised, could it be done that way? Apparently, Kazuma knew exactly how to calm Hestia's anger—complimenting her and giving her responsibilities that made her feel important.
"By the way, Kazuma-kun," Hestia became serious again, "I want to check your status. I already checked Bell-kun yesterday when you were gone, but I haven't seen your progress yet."
Kazuma nodded. "Of course."
"Bell-kun, please wait outside for a moment," Hestia ordered.
Bell nodded and left the church, giving the goddess and her adventurer privacy.
After Bell left, Kazuma removed his shirt, revealing a muscular back now covered with the Falna tattoo—Hestia's blessing that enabled him to become an adventurer.
Hestia dropped a drop of her blood onto her index finger and began tracing the Falna on Kazuma's back. The touch of her gentle, cool finger made Kazuma shiver slightly.
"Hmm," Hestia murmured as she read Kazuma's status. "This is... surprising."
After she finished, Hestia stepped back, her eyes still fixed on Kazuma's back with an expression of amazement mixed with worry.
This was his status:
Kazuma Shinrai
Hestia Familia
Level 1
Status:
| STR (Strength) | H 240 » G 280
| VIT (Endurance) | E 430 » D 500
| DEX (Accuracy) | F 360 » E 400
| AGI (Agility) | F 426 » E 470
| MAG (Magic) | I 0 » I 0
Skills:
- Adaptable Fighter: Allows quick adaptation to an opponent's fighting style.
- Martial Memory: Ability to remember and apply fighting techniques previously learned or witnessed.
- Kyokushin's Recovery Stance: Accelerates stamina/injury recovery when standing still.
Magic: -
"Kazuma Shinrai, your status has increased drastically," said Hestia, her voice a mixture of amazement and concern. "Especially your VIT and AGI. No one improves this quickly unless..." She paused. "Unless they risk their lives in intense battles."
Kazuma put his shirt back on and turned to face Hestia. "I did what I had to do to become stronger."
Hestia looked at him seriously. "Floor nine is no place for a level 1 adventurer, Kazuma-kun. No matter how talented or strong you are. The monsters there..."
She shuddered. "They could kill you easily."
"But I came back," Kazuma repeated, his voice calm.
"This time!" Hestia raised her voice, concern clearly audible. "What about next time? Or the time after that? Your abilities are increasing rapidly, but you're still level 1, Kazuma-kun!"
"I'll be fine," Kazuma assured. "I know my limits."
"Do you really?" Hestia narrowed her eyes. "Because I think you're deliberately challenging your limits. That's dangerous, Kazuma-kun."
Kazuma remained silent, not denying Hestia's words. It was true—he always challenged his limits, always wanted to know how far he could go.
Hestia let out a long sigh, looking calmer now. "Listen, I appreciate your spirit. But as your goddess, I'm asking you to be more careful. Our Familia is small. We cannot afford to lose anyone."
Those words—_we cannot afford to lose anyone_—pierced something inside Kazuma. Apart from the people in his village, no one had cared so much about his safety, cared whether he lived or died.
"I understand," Kazuma nodded slowly. "I'll be more careful."
Hestia smiled, looking satisfied with Kazuma's response. "Good! Now, there's something else I need to tell you."
"What is it?"
"I'll be gone for a few days," said Hestia. "There's a banquet of gods being held at Ganesha Familia. As a goddess, I must attend."
"A banquet?" Kazuma raised an eyebrow, remembering the storyline from the anime he had watched in his previous life.
"Yes! A boring event with many arrogant gods and goddesses," Hestia wrinkled her nose. "But I have to go. It's a good opportunity to build relationships and maybe... get a little help for our Familia."
"I understand," Kazuma nodded. "When will you leave?"
"Today," Hestia answered. "So tonight, I want both of you to promise to take good care of yourselves while I'm gone!"
"Of course, Goddess Hestia," Kazuma smiled slightly. "We'll be fine."
"And don't go too deep into the Dungeon floors!" Hestia added in a stern tone. "Especially you, Kazuma-kun!"
Kazuma chuckled. "I'll consider your advice."
"Not advice, but an order!" Hestia corrected, hands on her hips again. "I am your goddess, remember?"
"Alright, an order," Kazuma nodded, still with an amused smile.
Hestia stared at him for a moment, trying to assess whether Kazuma would really obey her words or not. Then, as if remembering something, her face reddened again.
"And don't sleep in my bed again without permission!" she added, her voice rising several octaves. "E-especially not holding me like last night!"
"I'm truly sorry about that," Kazuma bowed again, though there was a glimmer of amusement in his eyes. "It won't happen again."
"Hmph!" Hestia turned her face away. "Make sure of that!"
With those final words, Hestia walked toward the door to call Bell back in, leaving Kazuma who smiled slightly at the goddess's sometimes childish but caring behavior.
A few minutes later...
Hestia stood in front of the old church with a small bag in her hand. She wore a simple yet elegant white dress, different from her usual attire. Her jet-black hair remained tied in her characteristic style.
Bell and Kazuma stood before her, seeing the goddess off.
"Remember, don't do dangerous things while I'm gone," Hestia reminded them for the umpteenth time. "Bell-kun, make sure you eat regularly. And Kazuma-kun..." Hestia looked at Kazuma sharply, "don't try to go too deep into the Dungeon alone."
"Of course, Goddess Hestia," Kazuma replied with a slight smile that didn't reach his eyes.
Hestia seemed unsatisfied with Kazuma's answer, but she didn't push it. Instead, she turned to Bell. "Bell-kun, take good care of yourself, okay? Don't get hurt!"
"I'll be fine, Kami-sama," Bell smiled gently. "We should be the ones worrying about you. Events with the gods can be... complicated."
Hestia sighed. "Yes, full of intrigue and gossip. But I can handle it." Then she smiled brightly. "Besides, I can show off about both of you—the amazing members of my Familia!"
Bell blushed at the compliment, while Kazuma just smiled slightly.
"Well, I must go now," Hestia sighed. "If there's an emergency, you can send a message through the Guild. They know how to contact the gods at the banquet."
"Farewell, Kami-sama," said Bell. "I hope the banquet is enjoyable."
"Take care," added Kazuma.
Hestia nodded, then with slight hesitation, she walked away. Several times she looked back, waving at the two members of her Familia, before finally disappearing around the corner.
After Hestia left, Bell turned to Kazuma. "So, what are your plans today, Kazuma-san?"
"I plan to go to the Dungeon again," Kazuma answered honestly. "How about you?"
"I'm also going to the Dungeon," Bell smiled. "Maybe we could go together?"
Kazuma paused for a moment, weighing Bell's offer. On one hand, he wanted to go deeper alone, trying to reach floor 10.
On the other hand, he knew Bell was a talented adventurer with a unique skill—Realis Phrase, although Bell himself didn't know that Kazuma knew the secret of his skill.
"That sounds good," Kazuma finally nodded. "But I want to try deeper floors than usual."
"Deeper?" Bell looked surprised. "You mean..."
"Floor 10," Kazuma answered frankly.
Bell looked hesitant. "Floor 10 is very dangerous, Kazuma-san. There are Infant Dragons and other strong monsters there..."
"Exactly," Kazuma smiled slightly. "To become stronger, we need to face greater challenges."
Bell seemed to be thinking hard. On one hand, he understood Kazuma's desire to become stronger—he had the same desire himself.
On the other hand, he felt responsible for preventing reckless actions that could endanger lives.
"How about we go to floor 9 first?" Bell offered as a compromise. "It's already dangerous enough, and we can assess the situation from there."
Kazuma considered the offer. Floor 9 wasn't part of his plan, but it was better than not going at all.
And who knows, with Bell by his side, they might be able to face stronger monsters and gain more experience.
"Alright," Kazuma finally nodded. "Floor 9 for today."
Bell smiled with relief. "Great! I'll prepare our equipment. We should bring more healing potions this time."
Kazuma nodded in agreement, and they began preparing for their adventure.
Kazuma silently thought that this might be a good opportunity to assess Bell's abilities directly, and perhaps he could learn a thing or two from the young adventurer known for his abnormal status growth.
---
Meanwhile, at a magnificent palace belonging to Ganesha Familia, gods and goddesses began arriving for the banquet. A grand hall decorated with sparkling crystal lamps and exotic flowers welcomed the divine guests.
Hestia walked in awkwardly, feeling slightly uncomfortable with the luxury around her. Unlike most gods who arrived in luxurious clothes and glittering jewelry, Hestia appeared simple in her white dress.
"Hestia!" a familiar voice called her.
Hestia turned and saw Hephaestus, the goddess of blacksmithing with a red eye patch, waving at her. With relief, Hestia approached her friend.
"Hephaestus! Thank goodness there's a familiar face in this crowd," Hestia smiled with relief.
Hephaestus smiled warmly. "I'm glad to see you too."
Hestia chuckled. "I really wanted to, but I thought it would be impolite to refuse Ganesha's invitation"
"I AM GANESHA!" a booming voice was heard from the center of the room, making several guests jump. Ganesha, the elephant-masked god, stood on a small stage, announcing his presence in his characteristic way.
Hestia and Hephaestus exchanged glances, then laughed softly.
"He never changes," commented Hephaestus.
"Yes, just like his events," added Hestia, glancing around the room full of gods and goddesses busy gossiping and showing off their wealth.
Not far from them, a beautiful goddess with long silver hair sat gracefully on a red sofa, surrounded by several gods who appeared enchanted. Freya, the goddess of beauty and leader of Freya Familia, one of the strongest Familias in Orario.
---
"Ah, look who's here! Our favorite big-chested loli!" a mocking voice was heard from beside Hestia.
Hestia turned with an annoyed expression. "Loki! How dare you mock me, you flat board!"
Loki, a goddess with a tomboy appearance and a flat chest, grinned widely. Her hands mischievously tried to reach for Hestia's chest. "Come on, give me a little of yours, Itty-Bitty! Sharing is good, right? You have excess, while I'm lacking!"
"Keep your hands away, you pervert!" Hestia batted away Loki's hands while protecting her chest. "If you feel inadequate, ask Hephaestus to make you fake breasts!"
"Don't involve me," Hephaestus raised her hands, stepping back with an amused smile.
Around them, several gods began to notice the small quarrel that had become a regular spectacle at every banquet.
"Oh! The show begins!" exclaimed Hermes enthusiastically, raising his glass. "Who wants to bet? I put 5000 Valis on Loki this time!"
"Are you kidding?" replied one of the gods with a laugh. "Hestia always wins in chest arguments. I bet 10,000 Valis on the oppai loli!"
Loki glared at the gods who started betting. "Shut up! This isn't a show!" Then she returned to Hestia. "And you! At least with my flat chest, I can run without fear of being smashed!"
"Oh yeah?" Hestia sneered. "At least I have something to be proud of! Unlike you who can only show off... uh... what was it? Nothingness?"
Laughter erupted around them. Several goddesses even choked on their drinks.
"BOOM! One point for Hestia!" shouted Take from a distance, raising his hand like a referee.
Loki's face reddened, a mixture of embarrassment and annoyance. "Oh yeah? I heard your Familia gained a new member? Is he also a big chest fan like Bell? Or did you bribe him by letting your chest be his sleeping pillow?"
Hestia thought about what happened last night and her face turned red, then she spoke angrily to hide her embarrassment.
"How dare you!" Hestia glared. "My new member joined because he appreciates my kindness, not because of base lust like you're thinking, you dirty mind!"
"Kindness?" Loki laughed mockingly. "Yeah, right! He probably joined because no other Familia would accept him. Beggars can't be choosers, right?"
"As if your Familia is any better!" Hestia retorted. "At least I don't have to bribe my members with sake and beer every night!"
Take, who stood not far from them, whispered to Takemikazuchi, "Current score 2-1 for Hestia."
"BETTING 20,000 FOR HESTIA!" Ganesha shouted from the stage, making all eyes stare at him in surprise. He cleared his throat, "AHEM, I AM GANESHA!"
"Shut up, elephant mask!" Loki shouted angrily. She returned to Hestia, "So, who is this new member of yours? A pervert who couldn't get into other Familias?"
"His name is Kazuma Shinrai, and he's a very talented adventurer!" Hestia answered proudly. "Unlike some members of your Familia who just follow Aiz around like ducklings!"
"Ooooh!" several gods shouted in unison, as if watching a boxing match.
"A direct hit to Loki!" Hermes commented loudly, pretending to be a commentator. "How will Loki respond?"
Loki gritted her teeth. "At least my Familia has a decent home, not a dilapidated church whose roof leaks when it rains! How long will you be in debt to Hephaestus, hm?"
"I've paid it off in full!" Hestia shouted, though her cheeks flushed red because she was lying.
She clearly hadn't paid her debt.
"And besides, at least I don't need to rent an entire floor in Babel just to prove that I have money!"
"Hestia wins decisively!" Apollo called from a distance. "I'm betting 50,000 Valis for the next round!"
Freya, who had been merely observing with a subtle smile, finally commented softly yet loud enough to be heard, "It's quite entertaining to see two children arguing about the size of their toys."
As she said this, Freya's two large mountains quivered. Making several gods look at her occasionally.
"Who are you calling children?!" Loki and Hestia shouted simultaneously, making the room explode with laughter.
Hephaestus let out a long sigh, but an amused smile couldn't be hidden from her face. "You two, stop it. This is Ganesha's official banquet, not a chest battle arena."
"She started it!" Hestia pointed at Loki angrily.
"I was just stating facts!" Loki retorted, unwilling to back down.
"I AM GANESHA!" Ganesha suddenly shouted from the stage. "AND I DECLARE... THE OFFICIAL BANQUET BEGINS NOW!" He turned to Loki and Hestia with a lower tone, "Save your energy for the drinking contest tonight."
Servants began circulating with trays of luxurious food and drinks, diverting the gods' attention from Loki and Hestia's quarrel. Soft music flowed from the corner of the room, played by a group of talented musicians.
Hestia let out a long sigh, still with a reddened face from anger and embarrassment.
Beside her, Hephaestus shook her head with a smile.
"You know," whispered Hephaestus, "I think you both secretly enjoy this argument at every banquet."
"No way!" Hestia denied quickly, though her eyes dared not meet Hephaestus's. "I hate that flat-chested one!"
On the other side of the room, Loki was gulping down her drink angrily, while Riveria, the elven leader of Loki Familia, sighed tiredly.
"You always get provoked, Loki-sama," commented Riveria.
"She started it!" Loki protested like a child.
From a distance, Hestia and Loki exchanged glances once more, both sending sharp looks before turning away with annoyed huffs.
Other gods whispered among themselves, some secretly exchanging betting coins, most supporting Hestia's victory in the first round of arguments that night.