The heavy wooden gates of the Takemikazuchi Familia estate creaked softly, letting three exhausted figures inside.
The sun had already touched the horizon, painting the sky over Orario in pale crimson hues. Behind them lay a long, grueling day on the middle floors of the Dungeon. Their armor was covered in a layer of dirt, and their faces bore that pleasant heaviness that only comes after a successful return home.
The stocky youth walking in front relievedly dropped his heavy travel backpack at the edge of the veranda, kneading his stiff shoulders. The girl following him, with straight black hair tied in a high ponytail, let out a quiet exhale as she unfastened the scabbard of her long blade from her belt. Bringing up the rear was a miniature figure, timidly adjusting a potion bag that had slipped to the side.
They were about to greet their god as usual, when suddenly...
The girl with the katana suddenly froze. Her nose twitched ever so slightly. She lifted her head, drawing in the air, and her dark eyes rapidly widened.
A thick, incredibly rich aroma drifted through the courtyard. It was the warm, enveloping scent of caramelized soy sauce, sweetish mirin, light notes of vegetables, and something so stunningly meaty that the stomachs of all three adventurers instantly and treacherously growled in unison.
Exchanging glances, they moved toward the smell as if spellbound, rounding the main annex.
Life was bustling in the estate's spacious, open kitchen. Their god, Takemikazuchi, mug in hand, was laughing loudly, animatedly discussing something with an unfamiliar, miniature girl in a white dress who sat on a stool, swinging her legs perkily. A little further away, right at the edge of the kitchen table, lurked a small Pallum girl, her eyes fixed on the proceedings at the stove.
And right by the hearth, confidently wielding long cooking chopsticks, stood a tall, dark-haired youth. He wore a simple apron over his shirt. His movements were sparse, calculated, and strikingly fluid—he handled the heavy cast-iron cauldron so effortlessly, it seemed to weigh nothing at all.
The girl with the katana gulped, unable to tear her gaze from the steam rising above the stove. But her miniature friend standing behind her flinched, her mouth falling open in surprise.
"A-Rain-san?" slipped from Chigusa's lips, quietly but distinctly.
The stocky guy walking in front hit the brakes. He turned to his shy childhood friend, furrowing his brows.
"Chigusa? How do you know him?" he rumbled, casting a wary glance at the stranger by the stove.
Rain, hearing the voices, turned around. Takemikazuchi immediately set down his mug and joyfully spread his arms, stepping toward his party.
"Ah, my children have returned! Wonderful, your timing is impeccable!" The God of Martial Arts gestured broadly at the guests. "Let me introduce you. This is Goddess Hestia, and the one running the kitchen is the captain of her Familia and my good friend—Rain. And with him is the young lady Liliruca."
Rain wiped his hands on a towel and politely, with slight respect, bowed his head.
"A pleasure to meet you. I hope my taking liberties in your kitchen hasn't caused any inconvenience."
Hestia hopped off her stool and waved at them welcomingly.
"Hello, hello! Take has told us so much about you!"
The adventurers, quickly realizing a Deity stood before them, immediately stood at attention. The black-haired swordswoman took a step forward and delivered a flawless, deep bow.
"Yamato Mikoto," she introduced herself in an even, respectful voice. "It is a tremendous honor to host you in our home, Hestia-sama. And thank you for your hard work, Rain-dono."
The stocky youth bowed next, though his movements were a bit more angular.
"Kashima Ouka. A pleasure to meet you," he said in a deep bass. "And thank you for the trouble."
"Don't mention it," Rain smiled warmly. "Get changed and take your seats. Dinner will be ready any minute."
***
The spacious traditional Eastern-style dining room was illuminated by the soft glow of paper lanterns. Everyone gathered around the large, low table, sitting on thick tatami mats. The adventurers had managed to wash off the Dungeon's grime and change into light indoor yukatas.
Right in the center of the table, resting on a special brazier, was a massive cast-iron pot covered with a heavy wooden lid.
The conversations died down. All eyes converged on the center of the table.
Rain calmly reached forward and, with a fluid motion, lifted the lid.
A thick cloud of fragrant steam broke free, filling the room. When the white veil parted, an Eastern dish presented itself in all its culinary glory.
Thin slices of beef, having already changed their color to a noble brown, languished slowly in a dark, rich, sweet-and-salty broth. Alongside the meat, snow-white cubes of tofu, translucent shirataki noodles, and elegantly cross-scored shiitake mushroom caps soaked up the juices. Coarsely chopped green onions added bright, fresh touches to the dish. The broth simmered quietly, popping in tiny bubbles at the edges of the cauldron.
Mikoto swallowed quietly. Ouka leaned forward, staring in disbelief at the pot's contents, while Takemikazuchi's eyes lit up with genuine delight.
"Incredible... This is real sukiyaki!" Mikoto whispered reverently, pressing her palms to her cheeks. "I haven't eaten this since the day we left home!"
"But how?" Ouka shifted a stunned gaze to Rain. "The ingredients for this dish, especially proper soy sauce and mirin, cost a fortune in Orario, and finding them is a task in itself!"
Rain, unperturbedly laying out the chopsticks, smiled softly.
"Orario is a truly amazing city," he noted philosophically. "Trade routes from all over the world intersect here. If you show proper persistence and know which shops to visit, you can find practically anything, even the rarest spices from the Far East."
"Still, to recreate the recipe so masterfully..." Mikoto shook her head in respect. "Have you ever visited our lands, Rain-dono?"
Rain let his gaze linger on the boiling broth for a second.
"No, unfortunately, I haven't had the chance," he smoothly dodged the topic, answering with a half-truth to avoid delving into the details of his past life. "My mother told me many stories about the culture and cuisine of the East. I merely followed her descriptions. Well then. I hope it is to your liking."
By unspoken rule, the gods commenced the meal first. Takemikazuchi and Hestia scooped some broth into their bowls, transferring meat and vegetables. Dipping a hot slice of beef into beaten raw egg, the Goddess popped it into her mouth.
Her eyes shot open so wide they became nearly perfectly round. Takemikazuchi let out an inarticulate sound akin to the growl of a contented lion. Without a word to each other, both deities instantly abandoned their manners and began sweeping up the food with the speed of starved wolves, mumbling incoherently in delight.
This served as a signal for the rest.
Mikoto, whose samurai self-restraint was famed throughout the estate, acted with the grace and ruthlessness of a seasoned warrior. Her chopsticks flashed over the cauldron with frightening speed. She ate boldly, sending piece after piece into her mouth, and, barely finishing her first bowl, decisively shoved it toward Rain: "Rain-dono, more rice and sukiyaki, please!"—her cheeks were stuffed, and her face beamed with absolute, childlike happiness.
Chigusa ate completely differently. Her movements were tiny, neat. She took tiny bites, hiding a face burning with pleasure behind her grayish bangs, but the systematic way the food disappeared from her plate made it clear she couldn't pull herself away. At one point, noticing she couldn't reach the mushrooms, Rain politely pushed the dish toward her, earning a quiet, flustered, "Th-thank you..."
Ouka's gaze lingered for a moment on his childhood friend's blush. A barely noticeable crease appeared between the stocky youth's brows, and the chopsticks in his hand froze for a split second. Ouka himself didn't fully understand the nature of this sudden, scratching feeling in his chest. He just frowned, shook his head as if waving off a pesky fly, and with a defeated look full of focused seriousness, attacked an innocent piece of beef. This Rain's cooking was damn good, and Ouka had no choice but to silently capitulate to this fact.
Hestia, meanwhile, was already wolfing down her third portion, gesturing actively and telling Takemikazuchi how Rain managed to combine Dungeon runs with keeping their church in order.
Gradually, the pace of the meal slowed. Sated, the hosts and guests leaned back, sipping hot green tea. The atmosphere at the table became relaxed and warmly domestic.
It was then that the attention of those present naturally shifted to the one person who had been trying to be as inconspicuous as possible all this time.
Ouka, Mikoto, and Chigusa turned their eyes to the little Pallum girl. Liliruca, feeling the attention of another Familia, instinctively ducked her head into her shoulders. Her fingers turned white, clutching the edge of her clothes.
Rain, sitting to her right, didn't intervene with words. He simply turned his head, caught her panicking gaze, and gave a barely noticeable, slow nod. Everything was encapsulated in this calm, entirely doubtless gesture. We are here.
It worked better than any magic. Lili took a deep, trembling breath. She squared her shoulders, placed her hands on her thighs, and, bowing low in respect, spoke up:
"M-my name is Liliruca Arde. I am a supporter..." she stumbled for a fraction of a second, but immediately continued more firmly. "Currently, I am a member of the Soma Familia."
The name of the odious god caused Takemikazuchi's adventurers to tense up slightly, but none of them uttered a word, listening attentively. Hestia, still chewing on her tofu, fixed an encouraging gaze of her blue eyes upon the girl.
Lili straightened up. She looked directly at the Goddess of the Hearth, and a timid yet genuine resolve flashed in her eyes.
"I met Rain-sama and Lady Hestia only recently..." Lili swallowed, gathering all her courage into a fist. "And so far, I am no one to you. But... I have made a decision, or rather, I was helped to make a decision. I intend to completely sever ties with my current faction. And when I do... I wish to beg for your grace to accept me into your family, Lady Hestia!"
The silence that hung over the table felt tangible.
Hestia dropped her chopsticks. They clattered against the wooden tray. The Goddess sat with her mouth slightly open, not believing her ears. The fact that this frightened, scarred girl was voluntarily asking to become part of her home was the greatest gift she could ask for.
Tears, huge and glistening, instantly pooled in the corners of the Goddess's eyes.
"Lili..." Hestia breathed out, and her face lit up with such a piercing, all-encompassing joy that the room seemed to be flooded with light. "Yes! Yes, of course, yes! We will be incredibly happy to accept you!"
Rain, observing the scene, allowed himself a slight, satisfied smile. He took a sip of tea, silently approving of her step.
Takemikazuchi laughed uproariously, slapping his knee in approval.
"Beautiful words! Making the decision to change Familias to find your true path—that takes remarkable courage, little Arde! I am truly impressed!"
"It really deserves a great deal of respect," Mikoto nodded seriously, feeling sympathy for the girl. "Finding those you can trust with your back is the most important thing in an adventurer's life."
Chigusa smiled timidly but very warmly, and Ouka, casting aside his inexplicable gloominess, grunted approvingly, acknowledging the courage of this little Pallum.
Listening to the words of support from people she was seeing for the first time in her life, and seeing the genuine tears of joy in Hestia's eyes, Lili felt hot, salty drops rolling down her cheeks. She hurriedly wiped them away with her sleeve, revealing a face full of joy and happiness.
***
The night's coolness had completely ousted the daytime heat, enveloping the Takemikazuchi Familia estate in a saving silence. The commotion caused by the heavy dinner had settled. The adventurers, whose bodies were exhausted not only by a long raid in the Dungeon but also by the hearty meal, started nodding off right at the table, so it was decided to wrap up the feast.
Rain stood in the dimly lit corridor, holding the edge of the wooden frame. Through the gap in the half-closed paper shoji, he observed the dark room. Liliruca was sleeping on a futon spread out right on the tatami, curled into a tight ball and with the blanket pulled up to her very chin. The girl breathed calmly and evenly.
The youth smoothly, without making a single squeak, slid the panel shut all the way.
Turning around, he leisurely walked along the engawa—the long wooden veranda wrapping around the inner courtyard. The old floorboards, polished by years of training and the bare feet of its inhabitants, retained a pleasant warmth. Soon, a dim light appeared ahead.
Sitting at the very edge of the decking, legs dangling toward the well-kept rock garden, were two figures. Between Hestia and Takemikazuchi sat a low table with a jug of warmed sake.
Rain approached soundlessly and, crossing his legs, lowered himself onto the wooden floor opposite the God of Martial Arts, closing their small circle.
"No matter how she boasts," the youth said quietly so as not to disturb the night's silence, "she's sleeping like a log. Just like a child."
Hestia, resting her cheek on her palm, hummed in agreement, looking at the moon with a soft half-smile.
Takemikazuchi let out a quiet, rumbling laugh, pouring himself another serving of the beverage.
"It has been a truly magnificent evening," the god said.
Then, setting the jug aside, Takemikazuchi shifted his relaxed posture. He smoothly transitioned into the traditional seiza position, sitting on his heels. The God of War's face lost its usual good-natured cheerfulness, acquiring strict, noble features. Without saying a word, he placed his broad palms on his knees and bowed deeply to Rain with sincere respect.
"Thank you," Takemikazuchi's voice sounded serious and solemn. "I haven't seen my children this... serene in a long time. Life in Orario is harsh, and they risk their lives every single day. I am immensely glad that today, thanks to your efforts, they were able to feel the forgotten warmth of their home once again."
Rain didn't flinch. He calmly lowered his gaze to his bowl, where the clear liquid reflected the pale moonlight. The old master inside him perfectly understood the weight of this gesture. A deity was bowing their head before a mortal. In this world, such a thing happened extremely rarely.
The youth reached out, took the bowl by the edges, and lifted it slightly.
"In that case, we are even," Rain replied evenly, without taking his eyes off the drink.
Takemikazuchi lifted his head in surprise, raising a questioning eyebrow.
"I find myself in the exact same situation," Rain explained, sliding his gaze over the manicured garden, the wooden pillars of the veranda, and the paper windows. "Being in this place... for me, it is akin to the feeling of returning home."
He shifted his calm, amber eyes to the master of the estate and smoothly extended his bowl toward him.
"Besides, it is not fitting for a deity to bow their head," the youth added with a faint, almost imperceptible smirk.
Genuine surprise flashed in Takemikazuchi's eyes, giving way a second later to a deep, knowing gleam. The god returned to his relaxed posture, crossing his legs, and raised his cup with pleasure.
"So that's how it is," he rumbled, a satisfied smile playing on his lips. "Well then. It is gratifying to see that even in such distant lands, the spirit of our homeland remains as strong as ever."
Rain closed his eyes, accepting the veiled compliment.
"An excellent toast," he responded briefly.
The ceramics clinked softly. They drank the sake, savoring the tart, warming aftertaste.
"You know, I was actually extremely surprised," Hestia's voice broke the lingering pause. The Goddess turned to Rain, thoughtfully twirling a strand of her black hair around her finger. "By what Lili said at the table. Did you know about her plans to ask to join us?"
"No," Rain answered honestly, setting down his empty bowl. "It came as just as much of a surprise to me. I had planned to discuss her transfer later, when she had calmed down a bit. But her stubbornness... is impressive."
"It is indeed commendable," Takemikazuchi nodded, crossing his massive arms over his chest. "However, her courage does not diminish the scale of the problem behind this decision. It is hard to imagine a Deity who would just simply, out of their own free will, let go of one of their children."
Hestia visibly deflated. The joy of expanding her Familia clashed with Orario's harsh bureaucratic and social reality. She nodded understandingly, letting out a heavy sigh.
"Severing the ties of Falna requires mutual consent," she murmured. "Without the blood of the deity who bestowed it, removing the seal is impossible."
Rain tilted his head slightly to the side, taking in the input.
"In that case, is there any way to arrange a face-to-face meeting with this god?" he inquired, looking at his conversation partners. "Any issue can be resolved through negotiation if you know what to offer in return."
Takemikazuchi and Hestia exchanged glances. A guilty hopelessness could be read in their eyes.
"I'm afraid that's out of the question, Rain," Hestia shook her head. "Soma practically never leaves his chambers. He doesn't attend the Denatus, ignores banquets, and all other divine and social gatherings."
"It's the honest truth," the God of War confirmed. "Even up there in Heaven, he was known as an absolute recluse. He cares only for his brew. Getting through to him directly is a task bordering on the impossible."
Rain thoughtfully rubbed his chin.
"A pity," he stated without much emotion. "A direct dialogue would have saved us a substantial amount of time."
He went silent for a few seconds, staring at the darkening spires of the city towers in the distance. In the mind of the old master, alternative, far less peaceful vectors for solving the problem were already beginning to form.
"How much military power does the Soma Familia possess?" Rain suddenly asked.
Hestia flinched, her blue eyes shooting wide open.
"Hey! Why are you asking things like that?!" she squeaked in fright, feeling the atmosphere on the veranda instantly grow heavy.
But Takemikazuchi immediately understood what her Familia's captain was driving at. The God of Martial Arts frowned, his gaze becoming keen and evaluative. He looked at Rain a bit more seriously.
"They are highly secretive," the god answered after a moment's thought. "They prefer to stick to the shadows and rarely advertise their achievements at the Guild. However, from my observations, it's unlikely anyone in their ranks is stronger than Level Three. I can't say for certain. But..." Takemikazuchi made a weighty pause, lowering his voice, "that is a terrible idea, Rain."
"It is better to be prepared for anything," the youth countered unperturbedly, calmly meeting the god's warning look. "Being informed has never hurt anyone."
"Don't even think about it! A solo raid against an entire Faction is certain suicide!" Hestia interjected, waving her arms resolutely. "We'll find a normal, legal option! I'm sure we can come to an agreement through their Familia captain or the Guild!"
Rain shifted his gaze from the worried Goddess to Takemikazuchi. The men exchanged brief, meaningful looks. The veteran and the God of War perfectly understood: legal methods only work with those who follow the law. And a den of fanatics hardly fell into that category.
Nevertheless, Rain had no intention of needlessly fraying his patroness's nerves.
"So be it," he softly chuckled, giving Hestia a compliant nod. "We will start with diplomacy."
The tension faded. After another half hour of leisurely small talk, Hestia, constantly nodding off, finally gave up. She started softly snoring, leaning her shoulder against a wooden veranda pillar.
"I suppose it's time we called it a night as well," Rain said, getting to his feet.
He approached the sleeping Goddess. Smoothly, without making any sudden movements, the youth slipped one arm under her knees and the other behind her back, lifting the miniature girl into his arms with no visible effort.
Takemikazuchi, watching the scene, also stood up.
"You should be more careful, lad," the god remarked seriously, looking him in the eye. "I understand your motives. You want to protect your new comrade. But the flippancy with which you speak of clashing with an entire Familia... that could be dangerous. Overconfidence often ruins talented warriors."
Rain, holding Hestia in his arms, turned his head slightly. There wasn't a shadow of youthful bravado on his face. Only a cold, calculating calm.
"If that wasn't the case, Takemikazuchi-sama," he said confidently, without a drop of hesitation, "I wouldn't have brought it up."
The God of Martial Arts was slightly taken aback. He was used to reading people's auras. Boasting, fear, despair—all of it was usually as plain as day. But from this young man radiated only an absolute conviction in his own strength.
This confidence was intriguing. The old warrior's blood bubbled eagerly in the god's veins.
After a second's thought, an anticipating smirk spread across Takemikazuchi's face.
"Tomorrow at dawn, we'll be holding morning practice in the courtyard," he said, nodding toward the rock garden. "Would you care to join us? I am highly interested to see the source of this unwavering confidence."
Rain's eyes gleamed ever so slightly. Passing up a chance to exchange blows with the God of War himself would be unforgivable foolishness.
"With pleasure," the youth agreed genuinely. "I will look forward to it."
At that very moment, Hestia, comfortably nestled in her captain's arms, let out a soft whine in her sleep. She instinctively pressed against him even tighter, burying her face into the crook of his neck, and her rather prominent assets pressed firmly against Rain's chest.
The youth froze, stoically enduring this trial. He let out a heavy sigh, fixing his gaze on the veranda ceiling.
"Sinful Goddess," he muttered in doom.
Takemikazuchi, whose seriousness instantly vanished, couldn't hold back and burst into an albeit restrained, but booming, genuine laugh as he escorted his guest to his assigned room.