The dawn washed away the weariness of the early morning.
"Listen carefully, Bell," Hestia declared, hands on her hips, her tone righteous and firm. "Don't act rashly like you did yesterday, and don't go to the mixed baths alone!"
A whole night had passed, yet the goddess's anger had not cooled.
Her one and only Familia member had actually bathed together with a group of lovely girls.
And he hadn't even invited her!
Frankly speaking, Hestia even felt a faint admiration for Bell's persistence and honesty. The boy had stayed in the hot water until every last girl had left before casually wandering home.
When the goddess questioned him, Bell offered no excuses or defense.
That, in turn, left Hestia with no way to properly scold him—only a few muttered complaints to vent her frustration.
"I'll probably be gone for a few days," the goddess announced, having finished her travel preparations.
"Does the god banquet really last that long?" Bell asked, puzzled.
"Don't worry," Hestia said with a cheerful smile. "I'll definitely bring back a surprise for you."
Just as she was about to leave, something seemed to occur to her. She turned around and added sternly, "And absolutely no bringing girls home while I'm gone!"
"I promise, Goddess-sama," Bell said, bowing respectfully before turning toward the Dungeon.
...
Night fell.
Hestia stood before a strange, towering structure, a troubled expression on her face.
"Is this really the banquet location?" she murmured.
Calling it a building was generous—it was more like a gigantic statue. White walls surrounded the premises, and in the center sat a massive figure with the head of an elephant.
Gods and goddesses passed beneath its stone legs, chatting and laughing as they entered the hall.
"..."
As Hestia watched those familiar faces, she confirmed that this was indeed the venue of the Denatus—the gathering of gods.
With mixed emotions swirling in her chest, she stepped inside.
"Thank you all for gathering here today! I am Ganesha!"
The booming voice belonged to the god who had constructed this venue, his attire identical to that of the statue outside.
Hestia, however, wasn't paying much attention to his speech.
Her gaze was already fixed on the lavish spread of food and fruit laid out across the long banquet table.
"You! Bring me a step stool!"
"........Y-Yes!"
Commanding one of the attendants, Hestia prepared to engage in a fierce battle—with the food.
Too short to reach the inner dishes, she climbed onto the stool to make up for her height disadvantage.
But rather than eating, the goddess began packing the food into insulated containers she'd brought along—methodically selecting items that would keep well.
They were all meant for Bell.
The servers exchanged wordless looks, but Hestia paid them no mind.
Her Familia was poor beyond belief. Free food was free food—and dignity couldn't compare to taking care of her beloved child.
"Hey, look, the Loli Goddess is here."
"What, the one who works on North Street?"
"Yeah, it's her kid—the one they call the weakest adventurer."
...
Hestia had long known she would be the target of mockery at this banquet.
Yet she paid it no mind, filling her plate while occasionally tossing food into her mouth, her round cheeks puffed out as she chewed contentedly.
The only thing that truly displeased her was this: the gods could laugh at her poverty, they could sneer at her simple clothes and say she didn't belong at such a grand divine feast—but they had no right to ridicule that boy.
Whenever someone mentioned "the weakest adventurer," Hestia would march straight over, as if deliberately picking a fight, sweeping handfuls of food from their table in passing.
Seeing the irritation flicker on her face, the surrounding gods could only smile bitterly and fall silent.
"What on earth are you doing..."
The voice came from a red-haired goddess wearing an eyepatch, her tone faintly amused.
"Hephaestus!" Hestia brightened instantly, rushing over with a grin. "I'm so glad to see you! Looks like coming here wasn't such a bad choice after all."
"...If you're doing well, then I'm happy for you," Hephaestus sighed, "but let me say this first—I'm not lending you money again."
"Come on, what do you take me for?"
"That's exactly what you should be asking yourself. Just look at you." Hephaestus frowned slightly, her tone tinged with concern for the freeloading homebody goddess. "I heard about your child. He's doing fine, right?"
"Of course! Only I know it—my Bell is really strong!" Hestia declared proudly.
"Who do you mean is strong?"
A voice of exquisite beauty drifted over, accompanied by the crisp sound of heels clicking against the marble floor.
"..."
Skin as fair as freshly fallen snow. A figure so graceful and delicate that even the slightest curve of her waist and hips could make hearts tremble.
Freya appeared behind them, clad in a flowing crimson gown.
The high collar of the dress covered her shoulders, revealing no skin—yet her perfectly proportioned figure, sculpted to near-divine symmetry, stirred endless imagination.
Every goddess possessed her own kind of beauty, but Freya's was something beyond reach—a solitary, untouchable radiance.
The male gods around them seemed bewitched, their eyes fixed upon her like drawn blades.
But when Freya's gaze swept briefly across the hall, every one of them immediately looked away in silence.
"Am I disturbing you?" the Goddess of Beauty asked softly.
"Not at all... I'm just a little scared of you," Hestia admitted honestly.
Freya's aloof nature always made her hard to approach—no one could guess what she was thinking.
"I like your honesty," Freya said with a serene smile. "It reminds me of a certain child."
Hestia pouted faintly. Gods were eternal beings—they didn't grow, didn't change.
And yet, the woman standing before her—the Goddess of Beauty herself—seemed somehow... quieter.
Freya's beauty alone could make mortals in the Lower World lose themselves, even if she stood perfectly still. But now, it was as if she had consciously drawn back that power—redirecting it toward someone else.
Could there really be someone capable of captivating Freya's heart?
Hestia pushed the thought aside. It was absurd.
How could this goddess, who allowed no one even to touch her, possibly fall in love?
"Freya, you seem... different," Hestia said softly, watching her expression. "Didn't you use to avoid banquets like this?"
Freya's smile deepened, becoming almost luminous. "I came here for a child from the Lower World."
Hestia blinked, confused.
"This matter concerns you too, Hestia," Freya continued, her voice calm and measured. "A child came to me with a request—to ask you something."
"What... kind of thing?" Hestia asked, genuinely puzzled. Freya's Familia ranked among the strongest in Orario. How could any matter involving mortals concern her?
Freya leaned down, bringing her lips close to Hestia's ear.
"That child has feelings for one of your Familia members," she whispered. "She wants to know—if she were to become lovers with your child, what would you do?"
"..."
Hestia fell silent for a long moment.
The question startled her, but deep down, she couldn't deny it made sense.
Even as a fledgling adventurer, the light that radiated from that boy was more than enough to draw a girl's heart.
"I would respect Bell's choice," she finally said.
Part of her wanted to scream, to claim him as hers. But she knew all too well—that was the one thing a goddess must never do.
"I see..." Freya straightened slowly, her lips curving once more. "Then I'll relay your words to that girl."
And as she turned away, that smile on her face—
Was the brightest, most dazzling smile Hestia had ever seen from the Goddess of Beauty.