Chapter 71: Who Said a Chaotic Evil God Isn't Still a God?

The worlds of High School DxD and Cautious Hero were certainly interesting, but he didn't yet have a reason to go there. For now, his priority was strength.

And the most direct way to gain strength was to recruit more of the Pleasure's Chosen. His goal was to go to the Danmachi world and build his own Familia.

Each chosen increased his stats by 10%. While it was a percentage-based growth, more chosen meant significantly more power.

"Let's go to Danmachi first."

"There are plenty of growth opportunities there."

He finalized the exchange. As points were deducted and world options appeared before him, Shirakawa set the anchor in Danmachi.

But unlike before, this time something new popped up because of his god-class profession. Heading into a world ruled by gods, a special system notification appeared:

You are entering the Danmachi world. Dimensional Chat Group has detected that member 'Normal High School Student' has a god-class identity. Spend 20 points to obscure your identity?

"So... if I use this feature, I can create a proper identity and set up my Familia without issues?"

To form a Familia in Danmachi, you needed to be a god. Spending 20 points for a legal identity seemed like a solid investment.

"Yes."

With the 20-point deduction, Shirakawa had just enough left for a stable teleportation anchor. And that was enough.

As his consciousness faded temporarily, he was sent to the Danmachi world.

---

"Aqua again?! Why does she keep stirring up trouble? Still... I doubt Shirakawa would choose me as his top god."

Lying lazily on the couch was a petite black-haired girl with twin-tails. Though she looked like a child, her figure was anything but. Her appearance was a strange blend of young and dignified, cute yet commanding.

The most eye-catching part was the blue ribbon tying her white skirt.

She didn't yet have a Familia of her own.

Hestia was still crashing at her friend Hephaestus's place. As she scrolled through the now more active chat group, she started to realize something.

Strong members like these… were probably not going to become her children. Her only real prospect was Sakurajima Mai, who claimed to be an ordinary high school girl from a world with no supernatural powers.

Just as she was about to message her privately, a flash of light caught her eye.

Looking out the window, Hestia narrowed her eyes. "Another god coming down from the heavens?"

Hephaestus, the goddess of the forge, also looked up. Watching the streak of light tear across the sky and descend upon Orario, she muttered, "A stranger… never felt his presence in Heaven before."

At the top of Babel Tower, in the heart of the labyrinth city, the goddess of beauty Freya—clad in silver hair and perfect curves—also noticed the falling star.

A glint of curiosity appeared in her eyes. A god she'd never encountered, not even in the endless years in the upper realm.

Could this be a newly born god?

Her lips curled into a faint smile. Perhaps this stranger would stir up some fun in Orario.

Shirakawa arrived in the Danmachi world and took in the majestic city before him.

A massive metropolis surrounded by towering walls. The buildings near the edges were tall, but the closer they got to the center, the lower they became.

And at the very heart stood the towering Babel Tower.

This city was far grander than Axel in the Konosuba world. It was the center of the world, and the difference was obvious at a glance.

"Should I ask Hestia first?"

If there was anyone he was familiar with, it would be Blue Ribbon from the Dimensional Chat Group. Hestia would definitely know the ins and outs of Orario, the dungeon city.

With a proper guide...

Starting a familia would be much easier.

Looking around at the various adventurers heading toward the dungeon with all sorts of weapons in hand, Shirakawa realized it was early morning and they were all moving in groups. He had already changed clothes to blend in naturally, avoiding unwanted attention from strange attire. Only the chat group panel, visible solely to the user, appeared in front of him.

He opened the chat interface and messaged Blue Ribbon, who was still bantering with Aqua and the goddess Ristarte.

Ordinary High Schooler: Blue Ribbon, are you free now? I just arrived at Orario this morning. I still need a local guide.

Aqua: ???

Aqua: Shirakawa, why are you going to her world?!

Healing Goddess: Hmm? Shirakawa, are you really that popular? Would you like to join me, a goddess, in saving the world?

Aqua: Shut up!

Blue Ribbon: Shirakawa-kun, you've finally come to your senses? Where exactly are you? I'll come get you right away! Just wait!

Aqua: Hey! Shirakawa-kun, the news about you defeating the Demon King's general has already reached the capital. You might even meet the royal family...

Aqua: Can you come back now?

"..."

Hestia, lying on the sofa, jumped up the moment she saw Shirakawa's message. She didn't even consider the possibility that he might be that descended god. She quickly adjusted her outfit and prepared to meet him at her best.

Her sudden movements surprised her friend Hephaestus, who asked curiously, "Hestia, where are you going?"

"I've figured it out!"

"Decided to move out and find your own place?"

"Exactly! As a high-ranking god, I should act like one. I can't keep living like this. Only then will I be able to start a familia."

Even with her binding chest strap, her breasts bounced as she stood. Hestia looked seriously at Hephaestus, her expression determined. She explained briefly and rushed off to meet Shirakawa at the location he marked.

"Hopefully she can keep this mindset going."

Watching her friend leave, Hephaestus chuckled quietly. At last—peace and quiet.

Hestia didn't make Shirakawa wait long. The distance wasn't that far, and with her twin-tails and extremely recognizable loli figure—especially her exaggeratedly full curves—she quickly drew attention even while wearing slippers and running down the streets of Orario.

"Shirakawa-kun!!"

Even from afar, Hestia spotted him and waved excitedly. Though he wore an adventurer's outfit, she recognized him instantly. With her divine power sealed, she was no different from a regular human. After running from her friend's place, she bent over with her hands on her knees, gasping for air.

Once she caught her breath, Hestia looked up, taking in the clean, stylish hairstyle and youthful charm of the boy in front of her.

Definitely not just a newbie adventurer. She'd spent points to watch the livestream from Aqua's world and knew very well—his overwhelming magic power, speed, and strength probably placed him around...

Level 7?

He could definitely stand at the top of Orario's adventurers.

She greeted him, "Shirakawa-kun, just call me Hestia... If you don't mind, you could also call me 'goddess.'"

"I'll just call you Hestia."

Shirakawa's goals in this world were simple: recruit pleasure god's chosen, and grow stronger. With the identity masking provided by the chat group, he didn't need to worry about issues when forming a familia.

Being cut off mid-speech, Hestia's prepared lines were useless—but she'd anticipated this. The only thing gods could offer adventurers was divine grace.

For someone like Shirakawa who already had immense power, that grace wasn't necessary. But if she could get his help in creating a familia...

Everything would go much smoother. Remembering what Hephaestus had said, Hestia decided to throw caution aside and speak boldly.

"This may be forward of me..."

"But what would it take for you to help me build my familia?"

"No can do."

There were already people in the chat group who kept asking to add him to their familia. If he hadn't unlocked the divine interface, he might've considered it. Who could resist a cute loli goddess?

But forming a familia and getting close to Hestia didn't compare to the stat boosts from the pleasure god's chosen. He shook his head and refused.

There were already three known gods in the chat group. Surely Hestia would accept him as a fellow god. Without holding back, he asked plainly:

"Hestia, can you tell me what the requirements are to create a familia?"

"...Hmm. First, you have to be a god from the upper realm."

She responded without hesitation, but after answering, she examined him more closely. She didn't sense any divine aura from Shirakawa.

"A regular adventurer can't create a familia. But if you're interested, you could join mine. I'd make you captain."

And of course, you'd get the love of a top goddess—but she left that part out. She looked at him expectantly. She wanted to promise more, but there wasn't much else she could offer.

"I see. So what's the actual process for forming one? To be honest..."

"I'm kind of a newborn god."

He didn't try to hide it. Since the chat group could blur identity details, there was no issue. He was fairly familiar with Hestia's personality, so he laid it all out.

"Eh?"

When Shirakawa said he was a new god, Hestia froze, overwhelmed by the flood of information.

So in the chat group...

Aside from Aqua and the Healing Goddess, Shirakawa—the guy who often streamed and asked about joining familias—was secretly a god too?

And every time he appeared, it was to ask about joining a familia?

Turns out, this guy was a fellow god all along!

More importantly, she didn't sense any deception in him, meaning he really was a newborn god!

Hestia awkwardly tugged at the corners of her lips. She almost wanted to dig a hole and crawl into it. She muttered bitterly:

"Then why didn't you say so... in the group... like Aqua always does?"

"Going around bragging about being a god like she does just feels... unnecessary."

As chat group members got stronger, Shirakawa preferred improving himself rather than chatting casually. At the very least, his strength had to match his title.

He shook his head lightly. "Don't worry about my identity. The group lets me blur it by spending points."

"Creating a familia definitely won't be a problem."

"So that's it… so the god who descended into the dungeon city Orario just now was you?"

That unfamiliar presence did feel a bit like Shirakawa. The idea of recruiting him into her own familia was now out of the question. Still, considering there were other members in the dimensional chat group, Hestia didn't feel too discouraged.

As the host here, she warmly explained, "Forming a familia is actually pretty easy. You just need to register at the Guild. As long as your godhood checks out, once you've successfully registered your familia, you can start accepting members in Orario."

It was a case of shared struggles. Like her, Shirakawa was an unknown god from another world. Recruiting familia members would be tough.

She tried to pat Shirakawa's shoulder to comfort him, but their height difference made it impossible even when she stood on tiptoe. Seeing Shirakawa's puzzled expression, she awkwardly pointed ahead and quickly changed the subject.

"Let's go. I'll take you to the Guild. With the chat group's identity masking and my backing, registering your familia will be easy!"

"Thanks."

It was a simple give-and-take. Looking at the petite girl beside him, Shirakawa smiled. "If your future familia ever gets into trouble, I'll help out however I can."

Though he was technically the junior god, he spoke as if offering protection. Hestia didn't even know how to respond to that. She led him through the streets until they arrived at the Guild.

Identity confirmation and familia registration had to be done here. Since exploration of the dungeon had only just begun, there were only a few adventurers in the hall. As a not-so-reliable god, Hestia's arrival drew some looks.

A young woman with shoulder-length brown hair, wearing a black Guild uniform with a white shirt and round glasses, approached them. Her green eyes and long ears marked her as an elf, and her gentle smile held a hint of congratulations.

"Lady Hestia, are you here to register an adventurer?"

"Aina, this is my friend—also a god from the heavens. He just arrived in Orario and wants to register his own familia."

Aina looked surprised. She examined Shirakawa, who she had assumed was just another adventurer looking to join Hestia's familia. She hadn't expected him to be a god too.

He was definitely a new face. "Sir, if you're here to register your familia, please come with me."

"Alright."

Shirakawa followed Aina. As a god, his registration couldn't be done at the regular adventurer counter. She led him into one of the Guild's VIP rooms.

After pouring him a cup of tea, she placed a form on the table and explained seriously, "Sir, please fill out your registration information here."

"Thank you."

Shirakawa quickly scanned the form. It didn't ask for much—just his divine name and affiliation. Thanks to the chat group's identity masking, he simply wrote "Shirakawa" and, after a moment's hesitation, listed his divine title as "God of Pleasure."

While the divine concept he wielded hadn't matured to that level, there was no rule saying an outer-world chaotic god couldn't call himself one.

With that, his first goal in the DanMachi world—forming a familia—was officially complete.