Eina Tulle was reviewing some important documents for the Guild. Last night, she and Bell had a long make-out session that almost went to the next step. The two stopped themselves because she didn't want her memorable first to be on top of a torn sofa in a rundown church, while Bell wanted to clear the air with Ais Wallenstein first.

Bell's decision should've hurt, but Eina did not feel any pain at all at Bell's decision. Strangely, what she felt was understanding and sympathy. What if she wasn't Bell's first girlfriend? It was just a coincidence that she met Bell first. Although, after he confirmed things with the Sword Princess, Eina would definitely ask him for it!

Somebody called out to her as she separated the documents according to their category. "Eina, you're the Advisor for Hestia Familia, right?"

It was Sophie.

"Yes." She replied to the white-haired fellow Guild staff.

"Lady Loki is looking for Hestia Familia, and she inquired to me. I think you're better suited to answer her."

Loki? Eina raised her eyebrow. What did she want with Hestia Familia? Did Ais Wallenstein declare her undying love for Bell Cranel to her or something? Everybody knew her favorite child was Ais Wallenstein because she was beautiful and strong. Scratch that. Loki had a lot of favorite children by default. She wouldn't march to the Pantheon first thing in the morning and ask for Hestia Familia if Ais didn't do something drastic.

She tried to remember if she had done anything drastic after she caught Bell's eyes. Hmmm, nope! Nothing drastic.

"I'll be there," Eina replied to Sophie.

She forgot that the night after she met Bell's eyes, she told the other Guild staff she'd guide Bell to survive until old age. But, well, there was no need to remind the clueless girl of her own embarrassing moment.

Tapping her feet in a rhythmic hurry, Loki wished that the Guild employee come faster. She wanted to meet this Bell Cranel, damn it! Preferably without Itty Bitty there to show off her chest too.

Beside her, Ais sat down calmly on the sofa inside the private room lent by the Guild. Unaware of her Goddess' agitation, this was what she was thinking.

I want to see Bell again.

He is cute, like a rabbit. His voice calmed my heart.

I'm hungry. Where is Jagamarukun?

See? Ais was calm, unlike the Goddess beside her. Thus, when the door was opened, and a Half-Elf entered the room, Ais just took a glance while Loki stood up and pointed out.

"You're not Itty Bitty!"

"Of course, I am Eina Tulle, Bell Cranel's Guild Advisor. It is nice to meet you, Lady Loki. Good Morning to you too, Miss Wallenstein," Eina bowed towards both of them. "I have sent a message to Hestia Familia. They shall come here shortly. In the meantime, I shall assist in whatever you need."

"Oh, you're Aina's daughter," Loki nodded, recognizing the Half-Elf. "No need. I want Itty Bitty fast."

"Can you fetch me some Jagamarukun? I have the money."

Eina and Loki stared at the taciturn blonde. "...Right. We can do that. Please wait a minute, Miss Wallenstein."

Eina left the room, most probably to buy a bag of Jagamarukun as Ais requested.

"Aizu! This is an important matter!" Loki begged the half-spirit child. "Your Falna suddenly registered Bell Cranel under your new skill, Deep Affection! Please be serious about this!"

"But I'm hungry."

"Geh! Whatever," Loki sighed in exasperation, even though it was her fault they left the Mansion without breakfast.

Five minutes later, Eina came back with a plate full of Jagamarukuns. Ais' eyes turned into stars as she gasped at the steam from the potato-based snacks. It was fresh out of the frying pan!

"Thank you," Ais said seriously before quickly demolishing the stacks of Jagamarukuns into oblivion.

"Sheesh," Ais really did love the snacks, Loki thought.

After Ais finished the last crumbs of the Jagamarukun, the door to the room was opened, and Eina came again; this time with Hestia and her child.

"About time, Itty Bitty!"

"Well, sorry that some of us need time to look beautiful!"

That was straight to Loki's confidence.

Ignoring the two's barbs, Ais looked at the white-haired boy that came with them. Bell Cranel. She waved her hand with a smile on her face. Bell clutched his heart again as he fell to the ground.

That broke the two Goddesses' argument.

"Bell!"

"Itty Bitty, what happened with your child?"

"I-I'm sorry, Goddess. Miss Ais is just so cute! My heart can't handle it!" Bell said to his Goddess.

Hearing that admission, Ais' cheek unconsciously reddened. Her hand moved towards her heart, trying to understand her feelings. What was happening? Why did her heart beat faster than before? Why did her face feel warm?

"That's right!" Loki pointed towards the white-haired boy. "You! How the heck is your name in Ais' Falna!"

Bell blinked. Hestia sighed.

Eina faked a cough to get everyone's attention. "Shall we move to the table for a civil talk? I'm sure Bell and Lady Hestia can explain."

"Fine," Loki scoffed and sat down. Hestia and Bell followed suit on the opposite side while Eina stood behind them.

"So, what the hell is this?" Loki slammed the table with a piece of paper. To be precise, it was a partial copy of Ais' status sheet. It denoted the skill section where one was named 'Deep Affection,' with Bell Cranel under the skill name, while the rest was blurred to keep Loki Familia's privacy.

Hestia looked at the paper, pinching her temple as she sighed. "Bell. Try to do it on your own. Of course, I will back you up as your Goddess."

"Y-Yes," Bell nodded reluctantly. He glanced at the red-haired Goddess but flinched from the glare she gave him.

Ais opened her mouth, "You can do it, Bell."

Bell sucked a breath before he looked Loki in the eyes, this time with no fear.

"Ho," Loki said as she observed the boy. "You're not afraid?"

"Miss Ais' encouragement gives me the strength to face you, Goddess Loki."

Hestia facepalm, while Eina sighed.

You don't just blurt your intention towards the in-law, Bell!

Loki narrowed her already slanted eyes.

"Spill."

"So there I was, a thirteen years old infatuated with the idea of finding the one for me. Countless girls in my village had rejected me for one reason or another. My grandpa told me that there's a shrine of a Goddess of Love near the mountain. I thought, why not?" Bell shrugged his shoulders before he continued. "When I arrived there, I found that the shrine was abandoned. I looked around, only to find nothing interesting. It wasn't until I picked up a stone that a sudden light blinded me. When I opened my eyes, a spirit calling itself a Spirit of Love came out and talked to me. It said that I freed it and blessed me with the ability to find my soulmate via eye contact."

Loki suddenly interrupted. "I call bull! But for some reason, you didn't say any lie!"

"I know, right!" Hestia joined.

"The thing is, it didn't stop there," Bell sighed. "The spirit blessed me with ten soulmates. And as you can surmise, Miss Ais here is one of them."

"No way!"

"Yes way," Hestia retorted, placing Bell's status sheet on the table. It was the same one she used to show Eina last night, so the other information was still there. Cut her some slack! This Falna thing was new to her!

"Oi, you sure you'll show me this one? You can have one that can only show the skill like my own, you know?" Uncharacteristically, Loki did not pick a fight with Hestia this time.

"I don't know how," Hestia winced, waiting for Loki's laugh. However, she didn't hear any derisive chuckle coming from the flat-chested Goddess. Instead, she found Loki being absorbed by the status sheet.

"It's identical to Ais' skill. So he really is the cause?" She heard the other Goddess mutter. "Moreover, those stats... oy, boyo."

"Yes?"

"How long have you been with Hestia?"

"Two weeks," Bell replied, knowing that Loki could probably perceive any lie.

"Geh! How the heck did I miss you?!" Loki shook her head, "Never mind that. What say you join me next year?"

The offer was a lucrative one. A promise to join Loki Familia at the fastest he was available. While Loki regretted that she missed him at first, there was always a chance next year.

However, to Loki's surprise, the boy shook his head.

"No, thank you. I tried asking to join Loki Familia, but the guards turned me away," Bell shrugged. "No offense to you, Goddess Loki."

Imma give those guards the cleaning duty for all their lives!

Loki screamed inside her mind. To think she missed a chance to get this boy because some of her third-class Adventurers deemed it so... it was humiliating! She was the Goddess! She was the one who had the right to accept or reject any applicants!

Still, Loki thought. It was worth asking him just to see the worry on Hestia's face.

"Even though joining me means I'll bless your union with Ais?"

Bell took a deep breath. "I'm sorry, Goddess Loki. While I am not a hundred percent sure, there is a big chance that in the future, my soulmates will come from Familia other than you. As you can see on the paper, the first soulmate I meet is Eina here," he gestured at the standing Half-Elf, who bowed in acknowledgment.

Loki gaped when she finished rereading Bell's status sheet. "You! To think you'd get little Eina too!"

The boy only laughed sheepishly.

"That does it! There's no way I'll leave Ais' heart to you!" Loki pointed at Bell, declaring her verdict. For a few seconds, there was only silence. It was broken by Hestia, who gasped after seeing something.

"Oi, Loki! Tone down the selfishness, will you? Look at your child," Hestia pointed toward the only blonde in the room.

Ais kept silent as Loki interrogated Bell. However, when her Goddess said that she wouldn't leave Ais' heart to Bell, for some reason, Ais felt something uncomfortable bubbling inside her chest. She didn't know why. Ais didn't understand what was happening to her. But when she imagined she wouldn't meet with Bell again...

Her eyes suddenly felt wet. Everything turned blurry.

"Huh? I don't understand..."

Ais Wallenstein did not understand her feelings at all.

But even so.

She understood one thing.

I want to be with Bell.

She heard Loki gasp at her but couldn't see anything as her sight was blurry.

"Wipe out those tears, Miss Ais," she heard a gentle voice as her eyes were wiped by someone else.

"Bell?" She asked, wanting it to be him.

"Yes, Miss Ais?"

Once her tears were wiped, she fully saw the rubellite eyes of Bell Cranel. Someone who intrigued her. Someone who soothed her. Someone who calmed her down from the ever-present need to push herself.

"I cannot become your hero because I am your mother's hero," her mind suddenly remembered a voice from the distant past. "It will be great if, one day, you also find your own hero.

Looking at the tender smile on his face, Ais had to wonder if this was what his father meant.

Her own hero.

Bell Cranel.

Without saying anything, Ais pushed her head forward, locking her lips with Bell's own.

She ignored the distraction from around her. How Loki shrieked like a banshee and Goddess Hestia too. At that moment, in her mind, there was only Bell.

"Ngh," she moaned when the warmth hit her all at once. Bell's lips tasted better than any Jagamarukuns.

"Stop! Stop! Stop!" Loki tried to separate the two, but a base human strength like her would never be able to overpower Ais' Level Five strength.

"H-H-How lewd!" Hestia covered her eyes with her palm. Although she still saw from the gap between her fingers. This was just an observation! Yes! This was nothing scandalous!

Eina only had a smile on her face.

They released the kiss after twenty seconds.

Bell scratched his cheek while looking away from Ais' gaze.

Cute. And tasted better than Jagamarukun. Not as filling, though.

Ais wiped her lip with her thumb. The act did not escape Bell's sight, who blushed when he saw Ais looking at her wet thumb.

Then, to everyone's surprise, Ais licked her wet thumb, tasting it.

"A-Ais?"

Blinking, Ais looked at Loki. "It tasted good."

Hnnnggggg!

Both Bell and Eina had the same reaction this time. Ais was too cute!

Loki sighed and glanced at Hestia, trying to see what she was feeling, only to find her meeting eyes with Hestia.

"I've been there, Loki. Twice. And I have to brace myself for eight more."

"I can't believe I'm saying this, but you have my full sympathy, Hestia."

At that moment, a new relationship between the two rivals was born.

"Ais. Look. I'm sorry, okay? I didn't mean to make you unhappy. I was just... angry at the situation," Loki said to her child. "I couldn't make the boy join me, and I don't want you to leave me either."

"Actually, Goddess Loki. If you don't mind, what about us staying in our respective Familia?" Bell offered a solution. "I will never leave Goddess Hestia, and Ais won't leave yours. I think it's the best way."

"Hmm, actually, Bell Cranel. I've realized something. Why do you think I will approve of your relationship?" Loki questioned. "That's the impression I got when we talked just now."

Bell blinked. "Ah," he grimaced. "I forgot to add one more thing the spirit said. I don't know if this will be real, but the spirit said my soulmates would never love any other man ever again because now their fates are linked with me."

Loki gaped. "Say it from the start, ya idiot!"

She sensed no lie. Either Bell really believed it, or it was true.

Loki was a free-spirited Goddess; she knew herself. She might even play favorites with her children. But that didn't mean she didn't love every one of her children equally. She wanted to see them at their best, so she never stopped anyone from growing.

If what Bell said was true and Ais would never give her heart to anyone else, then who was her to stop her favorite daughter from having a relationship with him?

"Fine. If Ais is happy with you, then I approve of your... harem."

Bell winced, "Please don't call them my harem? I got reminded of my grandpa's dream for me."

"Whatever," Loki scoffed. "Just one thing, though... Eina, please draft a contract between Loki Familia and Hestia Familia."

Upon seeing the terms offered by Loki, Hestia corrected some things to make things favorable to her and Bell.

The result was as such:

-Bell Cranel and Ais Wallenstein are free to have their relationship.
-Bell Cranel and Ais Wallenstein are free to bring anyone from Familia other than Loki into their relationship.
-Bell Cranel needs to have blindfolds on when he visits Loki Familia.
-Failure to do so will not break Ais Wallenstein's relationship with Bell Cranel, but Hestia Familia needs to pay a fine for the heartbreak Goddess Loki will suffer every time her children are taken away from her by Bell Cranel.
-The amount of the fine is tentative and can be discussed further.
-Members of Loki Familia need to have blindfolds on when they visit Bell Cranel.
-Failure to do so will merit punishment from Goddess Loki.
-In the probable future, Loki Familia will get the first daughter of Bell Cranel's union with members of Loki Familia.
-The first son between Bell Cranel and Loki Familia members will go to Hestia Familia.
-In the event that Bell Cranel has more children with members of Loki Familia, the decision for the Familia will be left to the children.

The two Goddesses put their signature on the contract, witnessed by another Guild staff as Eina was an involved party.

After that, Loki left the scene, as she wanted to make amends with Ais by allowing her to deepen her relationship with Bell. Hestia also left, citing that her shift at the Jagamarukun stall was coming up.

That left only three people inside the room.

Ais, Bell, and Eina (who was still there because, technically, her business wasn't over) looked at each other.

"So... does that mean you agree to become my girlfriend, Miss Ais?"

Ais pouted. "You call her without 'miss.'"

Bell and Eina looked at each other. "A-Ah, then, Ais...?"

The girl only looked down in embarrassment. "Bell..."

Hnnnggggggg!

"Miss Wallenstein! Is it too presumptuous if I call you my sister now? We both love the same boy, after all. We ought to help each other."

Ais thought for a second. Sister? That was nice. She had Tiona, Tione, Aki, Alicia, and the other girls. But they were all her 'sisters' in terms of Loki Familia. What Eina wanted was a sister in arms in loving Bell.

Slowly, she nodded. "Big Sis Eina."

Eina clutched her heart as she fell down to the floor.

That was too cute! It was a crime how cute Ais was!

Eina exhaled as she stood up. "That was straight to the heart. Isn't that right, Bell?"

Eina looked around only to see Bell lying down beside her, his arms also clutching his heart.

"Bell!"

"Bell?"

Anyway. Ais finally joined the Cranel Family! Welcome, Sword Princess!