Chapter 8 : Blooming Blessings.

"Speech".

"Thoughts".

Her remaining week at The Hostess of Fertility passed quickly. Each night, 2B carried out her duties, but her interactions with the staff had become more frequent and familiar. She began engaging in their conversations, offering assistance with various tasks, and sometimes joined in their occasional after-work gatherings. A sense of camaraderie started to form, though she still maintained her reserved nature among the patrons, earning her a new reputation as the "Ice Queen" waitress—a nickname that stemmed from her cool, indifferent attitude toward the guests, which, to their intrigue, only seemed to make her more alluring.

As the week came to an end, 2B stood in front of Mia and the other waitresses. The sun was setting, casting a warm glow through the windows of the inn. The atmosphere was calm and reflective, and everyone acknowledged that 2B's time at The Hostess of Fertility had reached a turning point.

"You've done good work here, Yorha," Mia said, her tone as straightforward as ever, though there was a hint of something softer beneath the surface. "If you want, you can stay. We could use someone like you permanently."

2B shook her head slightly. "Thank you, but I must decline. My mission requires me to pursue other paths," she said, pausing for a moment before adding, "However, I'm not leaving the city. So you might see me again—maybe for the food."

The waitresses exchanged glances, some nodding in understanding, others looking a bit disappointed. Chloe was the first to speak up, her ears twitching with curiosity. "Nya, mission or not, you better come back! I don't think the place will be the same without our 'Ice Queen' nyaround," she teased with a grin.

Anya chimed in with a cheerful tone, "Just make sure to stop by and say hi, nya! We'll keep nyour seat warm 2B nya!"

Lunoire simply smiled, her expression warm. "You know where to find us if you need anything—or just want to relax for a bit."

"Take care of yourself out there," Syr said, giving 2B a nod of acknowledgment. "The city's not an easy place to navigate, but you seem like someone who can handle it."

Even Ryuu, who had remained somewhat distant, offered a slight nod. "Good luck."

With a final nod to Mia and the others, 2B turned to leave. She had made up her mind. To secure the resources she needed and establish a position within Orario, she would become an adventurer. But she would do so on her own terms. Joining a small Familia would allow her to avoid the pressures and obligations that came with larger, more powerful groups.

After leaving The Hostess of Fertility, 2B made her way through the bustling streets of Orario, her mind focused on the next step in her plan. The Guild was her destination, where she would officially register as an adventurer and begin her search for a Familia that aligned with her needs.

Upon entering the Guild, the familiar sight of adventurers and staff moving about greeted her. She moved toward the reception desk, where Eina Tulle was busy organizing some documents. As 2B approached, Eina looked up and offered a warm smile.

"Good evening, Miss 2B," Eina greeted. "How can I assist you today?"

"I would like to register as an adventurer," 2B replied, her tone direct and unwavering.

Eina nodded, already reaching for the necessary forms. "Of course. Have you found a Familia to join yet, or would you like a list of potential options?"

2B paused for a moment, considering her next words carefully. "I haven't decided on a Familia yet. I was wondering if you could help me with something specific. Do you know of any small Familias? Preferably one that's new or has very few members."

Eina's expression shifted to one of curiosity. "That's a rather unusual request. Most adventurers prefer to join larger Familias for the security and resources they provide. May I ask why you're interested in a smaller one?"

"I value my independence and the freedom to pursue my own objectives," 2B responded calmly. "A smaller Familia would allow me to maintain that freedom without the obligations that come with being part of a larger group."

Eina considered this for a moment before nodding in understanding. "I see. In that case, I do know of a Familia that might be a good fit for you. It's a rather new one, and as far as I know, it only has one member who joined about a week ago."

This piqued 2B's interest. "What's the name of this Familia?"

"The Hestia Familia," Eina replied. "It's led by a goddess named Hestia. The Familia is quite small, but the goddess is known to be kind and caring. I think it could be a good match for what you're looking for."

2B nodded thoughtfully. "Thank you, Eina. I'll consider it."

Eina handed over the registration forms along with a small list of other minor Familiae. "Here are a few other small Familias you might want to consider. Take your time and let me know if any of these interest you."

2B took the list and moved to a nearby table, where she sat down to review the options. She scanned through the names and descriptions, but none of them seemed to align with what she was looking for—either they were too specialized in activities she wasn't interested in, or they had ties that could limit her autonomy

After a few minutes, 2B returned to Eina. "None of these seem suitable. I'd like to check out the Hestia Familia."

Eina smiled. "Would you like me to arrange a meeting with them?

"There's no need," 2B responded. "I'll go to their base myself. Just give me the location."

Eina nodded and quickly provided the address. "Their home is an old church on the northern outskirts of the city. It's a bit off the beaten path, but I'm sure you'll find it."

"Thank you," 2B said as she accepted the directions. She left the Guild and headed toward the Hestia Familia's base, navigating through the bustling streets of Orario.

2B made her way to the church, her thoughts drifted to the Hestia Familia. She couldn't help but wonder about the goddess Hestia and the kind of person she might be. The reputation of the Familia, though not widely known, had piqued her curiosity. The goddess's kindness and the small size of the Familia suggested a close-knit group, but 2B knew that appearances could be deceiving.

Navigating through the quieter northern outskirts of the city, the streets grew more desolate, and the buildings became fewer and farther between. Eventually, the church came into view—its stone walls weathered and stained-glass windows dulled by years of neglect. The structure bore the marks of age, with crumbling masonry and ivy creeping across the façade, a quiet testament to its long-forgotten prime.

2B approached the entrance, noting the sagging door hinges and peeling paint. She pushed open the heavy wooden doors, their rusty hinges groaning in protest. Inside, the dim interior revealed faded tapestries and dust-laden pews, evidence of years left untended. Despite its decay, the church exuded a quiet strength, as if it still clung to its purpose amidst the passage of time.

As she moved further in, the silence deepened, thick with the weight of forgotten prayers and lingering memories. The air carried the scent of aged wood and stone, a place steeped in history, now standing in solitude—a stark contrast to the bustling city just beyond its walls.

"Strange. There doesn't seem to be anyone around. Maybe they had other matters to attend to..."

Just as she prepared to leave, a slow, grating creak echoed from the heavy church door behind her. 2B paused mid-step, turning with quiet precision to see who had entered, her senses sharpened by the sudden interruption of the silence.

To her surprise, it was the jagaamarukun vendor from her first day in Orario. Though her expression remained composed, a flicker of recognition crossed her eyes as she registered the familiar face. She hadn't anticipated encountering her in a place like this.

"You're... the vendor from the food stand," 2B said, her voice neutral but with a hint of surprise. "I didn't expect to see you here."

The vendor's eyes lit up with recognition. "Miss Doll! What are you doing here?!"

2B took a moment to recompose herself. "I'm seeking an audience with the Hestia Familia. I'd like to join them."

The food stand vendor's eyes widened in genuine surprise. "You... You want to join the Hestia Familia?! I'm Hestia, the goddess of this Familia! I didn't think I'd see you again, Miss Doll!"

2B let out a small, surprised "Huh," momentarily caught off guard by the revelation. It was odd given her first encounter with Hestia had been at a food stand.

Quickly regaining her composure, 2B shook her head and asked, "Can we discuss the terms of my candidacy?"

Hestia nodded eagerly. "Of course! But first, I'd like to hear a bit more about you. Let's move to the basement where it's more private."

With that, the unexpected meeting took a new turn as Hestia led 2B further into the church. They moved past the dimly lit pews and faded tapestries, making their way to a set of worn stairs leading down to the church's basement.

The basement was a stark contrast to the rest of the building, more organized and less weathered. Hestia gestured for 2B to sit at the small kitchen table, cluttered with papers and old books—usually reserved for meals but now serving as the spot for their conversation

"Alright, let's discuss the details," Hestia said, her excitement palpable. "What do you need from us, and how can we make this work?"

2B took a seat, her expression calm yet focused. "I need to maintain the freedom to continue searching for my missing comrades. It's important for me to be able to leave and return as needed."

Hestia's eyes widened with enthusiasm. "That's absolutely fine! We can definitely accommodate that. I'm excited to have one more member join us!"

2B gave a respectful nod, grateful for Hestia's understanding. "Thank you. I'm glad we've reached an agreement," she said, her tone sincere. "I realize I didn't introduce myself properly before—I am 2B Yorha. I apologize for the oversight."

Hestia beamed with excitement. "Great! I'll get the paperwork sorted first, and then we'll move on to giving you your Falna. Once that's done, you'll officially be one of us!"

Hestia remained at the kitchen table, busying herself with filling out the necessary forms related to 2B's induction. The sound of scribbling on parchment filled the room as she focused on the paperwork.

After a few minutes, Hestia looked up with a satisfied smile. "Alright! I'm done with the paperwork. We just need to turn these in to the guild tomorrow. Now, I'm ready to give you your blessing!"

2B raised an eyebrow. "How is it done?"

Hestia's grin took on a more playful, almost teasing edge. "It's really simple, but you'll have to bare a bit of skin for it. Just strip down so I can put my mark on that nice, smooth back of yours." She wiggled her eyebrows suggestively, clearly enjoying herself far too much.

Though 2B's expression remained neutral, there was an undeniable hint of disgust behind her gaze, barely concealed as she observed the goddess's antics. Her first instinct was to walk right out, convinced this was some sort of twisted joke.

"Wait, wait, don't go!" Hestia shouted; her voice filled with urgency. "I didn't mean—just remove your top! I only need your back exposed to engrave the blessing!"

2B paused, momentarily caught off guard by the sincerity and urgency in Hestia's voice. After a brief hesitation and a deep, resigned sigh, she turned back toward the goddess. Slowly, she removed the top part of her dress, exposing her back while using her hands to discreetly cover her chest.

"Thank you!" Hestia beamed. "Now, just lay down on the bed on your belly. I'll need to be close to you while I work."

2B complied, lying down on the bed as instructed. Hestia carefully positioned herself on top of 2B, preparing to inscribe the Falna. The room was filled with a blend of awkwardness and Hestia's cheerful humming as she performed the ritual, ensuring that the blessing was applied with care.

As Hestia finished applying her blessing, she held up a piece of paper—2B's stat sheet. As she glanced over the numbers. The basic stats, like strength and agility, they were exactly what she expected: all at zero, given this was 2B's first blessing.

[Name]: 2B Yorha

[Level]: 1

[Title]: None

[Race]: Human

[God/Goddess]: Hestia

[Skills]:

Edelweiss: Grants heightened growth and enhances physical and magical attributes when the user is driven by strong personal convictions or ideals

[Magic]:

Seraphische Macht: Allows the user to channel pure magical energy into their movements and attacks, significantly boosting their power and impact during combat.

[Stats]:

Strength: 0 (Base)

Endurance: 0 (Base)

Dexterity: 0 (Base)

Agility: 0 (Base)

Magic: 0 (Base)

But as she turned the paper to showcase 2b's skills and magic Hestia's eyes widened as she took in the details of 2B's stat sheet, her excitement palpable. She held the paper aloft, her usual playful demeanor giving way to genuine enthusiasm.

"Wh-what? Did I just hit the jackpot or what?!" Hestia thought to herself, barely containing her excitement. Her eyes sparkled as she read through the information. "This skill, Edelweiss, it's absolutely incredible! It's almost like—no, it is like Bell's Realis frees! I mean, the potential for growth and effectiveness when pursuing one's ideals? That's exactly what Bell's skill does, but it's tailored for combat and support. How amazing is that?!"

She flipped the paper over, as if expecting to find more hidden details. "And then there's the magic, Seraphische Macht. Channeling pure magical energy to boost attacks and movements? That's some high-level stuff right there. This combination—"

Hestia let out a delighted laugh, clapping her hands together. "This is fantastic, 2B! Your skill and magic are practically tailor-made for a hero in the making! With Edelweiss's heightened growth and Seraphische Macht's boost to power, you're going to be a force to not be reckoned with in no time!"

She turned to 2B, her excitement uncontainable. As she jumped up from her seat, Hestia threw her arms around 2B in an enthusiastic hug. "You're going to be amazing, 2B! Just watch—your growth is going to be phenomenal. I'm so glad to have you on board!"

As Hestia hugged her, 2B remained outwardly calm, though her thoughts were a whirlwind of contemplation. She gently but firmly extricated herself from Hestia's embrace, stepping back with a polite, though slightly bemused, nod.

Unfazed by her current state of undress, 2B glanced down at her stat sheet, her analytical mind immediately focusing on the details.

Let's see… she thought, her gaze scanning the numbers and descriptions. Strength, endurance, dexterity, agility, and magic all at zero. No surprises there; I'm just starting out.

Her eyes lingered on the skills and magic listed, her mind calculating the potential. Edelweiss—grants heightened growth and boosts stats if the user is pursuing their ideals. That's a significant advantage. If I stay true to my mission and ideals, I'll see a noticeable improvement in my stats over time.

She then focused on the magic. "Seraphische Macht. Channeling pure magical energy to boost my attacks and movements—this is remarkably similar to my old android capabilities. It's like having my old combat enhancements reincarnated into this world. If it mimics my previous abilities, it means I can leverage powerful, high-impact strikes and defensive maneuvers, just like I used to."

As she finished her assessment, 2B gave a small, thoughtful hum. "This could work out well. I'll need to make the most of these advantages to achieve my objectives."

As 2B stood up, she felt a familiar sense of strength coursing through her. It was a subtle but unmistakable sensation, reminiscent of her old android capabilities. She paused, taking a moment to appreciate the resurgence of that strength. "This must be a result of the blessing," she thought. "If I continue to adventure and put these abilities to use, I should be able to regain more of my former strength over time."

With renewed determination, 2B reached for the top of her dress and finished dressing herself. as she completed her task, a hearty cry filled the room.

"Goddess, I'm back!"

Startled, 2B turned her head towards the source of the voice, her eyes scanning the room for the newcomer.