Chapter 5 - Banquet of the Gods

Hestia felt the weight of a headache as soon as her eyes began to open. A soft morning light flooded the room of the Abandoned Church, but even that felt like too much for her. A groan escaped her lips as she rubbed her temples with her fingers, trying to alleviate the uncomfortable thumping that was pounding in her head.

"Ugh... I overdid it," she murmured to herself, her voice hoarse from fatigue and the effects of the hangover.

Hestia turned in bed, pulling the sheets in search of some comfort, but the world around her seemed to spin slightly, prompting her to stop and close her eyes for a moment.

Gradually, as the minutes passed, memories of the previous night began to come back in fragments, like scrambled flashes. She and Bell had left the Hostess of Fertility... She had drunk much more than she should have... They had laughed a lot... And... something was bothering her. She couldn't remember the end.

With a deep sigh, Hestia sat up in bed, massaging her temples more firmly, and looked around the room for Bell. Her gaze met only the solitude of the empty room. Bell wasn't beside her, and for a moment, she wondered if he had even slept there.

'He wasn't with me?' she thought, her head throbbing as she tried to recall the most important details of the previous night.

Before she could ponder this further, a familiar voice came from the ajar door.

"Good morning, Hestia. You finally woke up, huh?" Bell said with an unusual calmness, a small smile on his face, as if he already knew what to expect from her at that moment.

He seemed to be in a relaxed mood, completely unaffected by whatever had happened the night before.

Hestia turned to him, trying to hide the discomfort from her headache, and gave a small nod in response.

"G-Good morning, Bell-kun." Her voice came out a bit rougher than she expected, but she composed herself right after. "Have you been awake for a long time?"

He didn't seem to have drunk much, to her relief.

"Yeah, it's been a while. I thought it best to let you rest." Bell sat in a nearby chair, watching her with that look that had become characteristic of him not long ago.

Hestia let out a light sigh and stretched, still battling the mental fog that insisted on clouding her memories of the previous night.

"I... don't remember much of what happened yesterday..." she confessed, frowning as she tried to grasp details from the end of the night.

"I think I drank more than I should have, but I remember running into the Loki Familia at the Hostess of Fertility... and then?" She looked at Bell with a hint of curiosity.

Bell chuckled softly, crossing his arms while looking at her with an amused expression.

"You really don't remember?" he asked, leaning slightly forward. "You were a bit excited... and revealed to everyone at the pub that I leveled up."

Hestia's eyes widened instantly.

"I... what?" Her voice came out in an incredulous whisper, and she immediately covered her face with her hands, trying to hide the blush that was starting to take over her skin. She remembered drinking and having fun, but how... how could she have done something like that?

"No... that can't be true! Did I really say that in front of everyone?! Why did I do that?!"

Bell smiled reassuringly, shaking his head slightly.

"It's true, you really enjoyed bragging about it to Loki," he commented, making her cover her eyes with her hands. "It's not as bad as it seems, Hestia. Everyone would find out sooner or later; you just sped up the process a little. Besides, I did say you could brag about it, didn't I? It wasn't a big deal."

Hestia, however, was still mortified. She took a deep breath and fell back onto the bed, covering her face with her arms while muttering something like, "What was I thinking..."

After a few seconds, Bell spoke again, his voice calm but with a slight hesitation.

"Do you remember anything else from last night?" he asked, watching her carefully.

Hestia removed one arm from her eyes and frowned, trying to force her memory to return to her.

"Hmm... No... I... don't remember much after we left there..." She paused, her eyes still half-closed from the headache. "Just flashes of us coming back..." She shook her head, unable to understand why she couldn't remember anything else.

Bell hesitated for a brief moment again, causing Hestia to finally lift her gaze to him. He seemed to be deciding whether or not to tell her something. After thinking for a few seconds, he shook his head and looked at her again.

"Well..." Bell began, his voice remaining steady, although he was clearly finding her confusion somewhat amusing. "While we were coming back... we ended up kissing."

Hestia froze. She looked at Bell as if she had just heard something completely unbelievable. Her eyes blinked a few times, her mind trying to process what had just been said.

"W-What...?" That was all she could murmur, her heart starting to race.

Maybe she had misheard... surely she wouldn't have...

"We kissed. And shortly after that, you passed out in my arms. I had to carry you back. Also, what have you been eating?"

Hestia's eyes widened, her breath caught in her throat. The truth of those words resonated within her because she knew he was telling the truth. Gods always knew when a mortal was lying, and Bell was not. But... how? Why couldn't she remember? Her face began to heat up, and the confusion in her mind only grew.

Bell even tried to joke with her, mentioning her weight, but she didn't even hear it.

"We... kissed?" she repeated, her voice incredulous. The words came out slowly, as if she were still processing the shock. "And... I don't remember that?!"

Suddenly, she sat up straight in bed, her hair flying around her, her expression pure desperation.

"How could I not remember that?!" she was screaming madly to herself.

Bell simply watched, the same subtle smile on his lips, clearly enjoying how she reacted. There was no pressure, no anxiety in his gaze. Though he had been a bit hesitant at first, Hestia's reaction was truly entertaining.

Hestia, on the other hand, was falling apart.

"I... I kissed Bell-kun?! And I don't remember?!" She put her hands in her hair, tugging lightly as she tried to force her mind to recall. 'How can I not remember something like that?! You stupid goddess, damned drunk, why on earth did you drink so much!?' She screamed mentally, engulfed in pure chaos.

She looked at Bell again, her eyes shining with frustration.

"Bell-kun... please tell me you're joking." Her voice sounded hopeful, almost pleading for this to be some kind of elaborate joke, even though she knew it wasn't.

It simply wasn't fair!

But Bell just shook his head, still with that faint smile on his face.

"I'm not joking."

Hestia fell silent for a few moments, processing the situation. She knew Bell was being sincere, but still, the frustration of not remembering was eating away at her inside. How could she forget a moment like that? How did her mind allow such an important thing to get lost in all the drunkenness of the previous night!?

To hell with the memories with the Loki Familia, take all of them and just make her remember the damn kiss!

She took a deep breath, trying to calm herself. Panicking wasn't going to help, she knew that. Still, her heart was racing, and she couldn't help but glance at Bell from time to time, as if trying to find some clue on his face. He looked so... calm. As if it were no big deal.

For Hestia, the idea of having shared a kiss with Bell and not being able to remember it tormented her. It was the kind of thing she never imagined she would forget, especially because it was with Bell.

Slowly, she lowered her hands and sighed.

"I... really can't believe I forgot this…" she murmured, still with a mix of frustration and disbelief in her voice. She looked at Bell, feeling a bit awkward. "But you don't seem that… surprised."

Bell shrugged, with surprising calmness.

"I don't think it's something to worry about too much. It was a moment, and it seems like you were really tired." He laughed softly, glancing at the ceiling for a brief second.

His laughter sounded strangely tired.

Hestia let out a small huff, still feeling defeated by the situation.

"However, if you're really upset about not remembering, you can just do it again while you're completely sober, right?"

Hestia felt her heart race as she heard Bell's words. He was actually suggesting that they kiss again, this time while she was fully aware? Her face immediately flushed, and she blinked several times, trying to process what she had just heard.

"W-What?!" Her voice came out louder than she intended, filled with nervousness and surprise. "Y-you're suggesting that we... that we kiss again? Like, right now?!"

Bell, always looking calm, just smiled lightly and nodded. To him, the idea seemed like the most natural thing in the world, but for Hestia, her heart raced as if it were about to jump out of her chest. How could he be so calm in a situation like this? She, the goddess, should have been the one in control of this scene, but at that moment, it felt like Bell had total control.

"I don't see why not," Bell replied, as if he were talking about the weather or something equally trivial. "You seem upset about not remembering. So, why not settle it now?"

Hestia straightened up in bed, feeling her nervousness grow even more. He was serious. This wasn't a joke. Bell was really suggesting that they kiss again, and he was strangely calm about it. The goddess, on the other hand, was about to explode with anxiety. She couldn't believe what was happening.

"J-just... just so you know..." Hestia began, stuttering as she tried to maintain some semblance of composure. "This... this is serious, Bell-kun! I... I don't do this kind of thing with just anyone, you know?"

Bell looked at her with a soft gaze, and his response was as simple as it was firm:

"I know. But I'm not 'just anyone,' am I?"

Those words hit Hestia deeply, and she instinctively brought her hands to her chest, where her heart hammered so hard it felt like it was about to leap out. He was right. Bell was not "just anyone." He was someone special to her, and now everything felt so real and tangible that she could barely process it.

"I... I just can't believe you're so calm about this," she murmured, feeling the heat in her face rise with each passing second. "Are you really... okay with this? I mean, with me?"

Bell's smile didn't fade but became softer. "Why wouldn't I be? Hestia, you're important to me. And as you said, this is serious. I don't see a reason to worry about clearly showing that."

His words made her feel a mix of emotions. The nervousness was still there, but there was also something more—a growing joy and a sense that this was, indeed, the right thing to do. She looked at him for a few more seconds, trying to absorb both the seriousness and the lightness at the same time.

"I... I think you're right," Hestia finally said, her voice softer now. "If I'm going to do this, I want to be fully aware, I want to remember... I really want to do this."

"Then do it."

The simplicity with which he said that caught her by surprise, but it also brought a strange sense of comfort. Hestia took a deep breath, trying to calm herself. She took a hesitant step toward him, her hands trembling and her heart still racing in her chest.

"Okay... But you have to close your eyes," she murmured, feeling a bit embarrassed to ask this.

She was a goddess, after all! She should be the one in control, but in that moment, it felt like she was the more vulnerable one.

Bell raised an eyebrow but complied without questioning, gently closing his eyes. Hestia looked at him for a brief moment, seeing the tranquility on his face. How could he be so serene in a situation like this? She took another step forward, her lips slowly approaching his.

'It's now or never, Hestia,' she thought. 'You can do this.'

She kept staring at Bell's face, mainly at his lips for a few seconds until she gathered enough courage. And when she did, she moved even closer to his lips.

When her lips finally touched Bell's, it felt like time had stopped.

The kiss was soft, delicate, yet filled with a meaning she couldn't express in words. Hestia felt warmth spread throughout her body, and for a brief moment, nothing else existed beyond the gentle touch between them. Bell made no sudden movements, only responding calmly.

When Hestia finally pulled away, her heart was racing, but her lips still tingled with the memory of the kiss. Bell slowly opened his eyes, and that same gentle smile was there, as if everything was perfectly in place.

"Now you can remember," he said.

Hestia felt a mix of emotions wash over her. Happiness radiated from within, and she couldn't contain the smile that spread across her face.

"I... I really did that..." Her voice was filled with joy, though a slight touch of embarrassment still lingered.

'Finally! I kissed Bell-kun... and I'm not even a little bit regretful!'

However, something began to bother her.

'Why is he so calm?' she wondered, her gaze studying Bell's face. 'Shouldn't he be... nervous or blushing? How can he be so serene?' Her thoughts wandered for a moment, and then an idea struck her. 'Does it have to do with that accidental kiss he gave to the elf from that goddess with no breasts?'

Maybe he had just gotten used to that 'kiss'? It shouldn't be possible.

Hestia sighed, trying to push the idea away, but Bell's calmness still left her a bit unsettled. He seemed so relaxed compared to the emotional turmoil she was feeling.

Before she could delve further into those thoughts, something flashed in her mind like lightning. "Wait a minute…" she murmured, her eyes widening. "The Ganesha Feast!"

Suddenly standing up, Hestia ignored the broken floors as she ran to the shelf near the table. She knew she had stored that invitation somewhere among piles of papers and recruitment flyers.

"Where is it... where is it..." she murmured, her hand quickly sifting through the papers.

Bell watched her with one eyebrow raised.

Finally, her fingers found what they were looking for, and she pulled out the paper with a victorious smile. The invitation looked elegant, with golden letters embossed on the parchment and the title "Ganesha Feast" prominently displayed.

"Bell-kun, look at this!" She rushed over to him, excitedly showing the invitation.

Bell glanced at the paper, murmuring as he read: "Ganesha Feast... Oh, I see."

"That's right!" Hestia exclaimed, excitement evident in her voice. "I almost forgot! Ganesha is hosting a feast for the gods. And guess what? Hermes will probably be there!"

Bell seemed to immediately understand where Hestia was going and smiled.

"In that case, I'll write a small letter as a guarantee."

"Wait... a letter of guarantee?" Hestia asked, confused. "Why exactly do you need a guarantee for Hermes?"

"See, Hestia," he began, maintaining his calm tone, "Hermes can simply refuse to deliver the two letters I want to send. So, instead of you asking him directly, give him this letter I'm going to write, asking him to meet me. That way, he won't be able to refuse the request directly because of the content of the letter I'm going to write."

"You mentioned before that you wanted Hermes to deliver two letters to people in your family, but... you never told me who those people were." Hestia tilted her head, observing Bell's face with curiosity.

She knew that Bell wasn't one to hide things from her, but he seemed reluctant to give more details about this matter before.

"Are you curious?" He asked with an amused smile.

"Well... it's not like I want to meddle in your affairs, but you told me your grandfather was your only family, and he died... right?"

She was indeed a bit confused. When Bell joined her Familia, he mentioned that his grandfather had died to some monsters outside the Dungeon while exploring. Because of his death, Bell came to Orario wanting to be an adventurer. He spent two weeks trying to join various Familias, but everyone rejected him, only Hestia, who started watching him at that moment, accepted him as the first member of the Hestia Familia.

So when he mentioned letters from his family, she was confused.

"I can see you're confused. It's not like I don't want to talk to you about these matters," he said calmly. "Let's just say I want it to be a little surprise."

"A surprise...?" she murmured before remembering something. "Is it about us living in a mansion after you send those letters?"

Her voice came out a bit more excited when she asked.

"Yes, indeed. Although I think things won't happen that quickly. We'll still have to wait for Hermes to deliver the letters, as well as receive the replies, but it shouldn't take too long."

After saying this, Bell and Hestia chatted a bit before Bell started writing the letter that Hestia would deliver to Hermes at the banquet. For some reason, he didn't let her watch him write, so she had to wait for him to finish writing from a small distance.

After a few minutes, he finished writing the letter.

He extended his hand to Hestia with the same air of calmness as before, but there was a serious undertone in his gesture.

"Deliver this letter to Hermes at the banquet, Hestia," he said, his eyes fixed on hers. "But... please, don't open it. What's written is only for him."

Hestia furrowed her brows slightly, curiosity returning in full force. The fact that he said this only increased her desire to peek at the contents. She looked at the sealed envelope in her hands, as if it had a greater weight than it appeared.

"Can't I even take a little look?" she asked, her tone half-joking but with a hint of genuine curiosity.

Bell smiled softly but shook his head negatively.

"As soon as Hermes reads it, he'll eventually come to find me. That's all that matters." He kept his tone firm, but there was no urgency or worry in his voice. Just an almost disconcerting tranquility.

Hestia bit her lip, still undecided whether to press the matter. However, the way Bell spoke made it seem like whatever was in that letter was not something she should worry about. She knew there was something more, but she decided not to insist.

"Alright... I'll trust you, Bell-kun," Hestia finally said, carefully taking the letter.

Her curiosity still hadn't completely faded, and she knew that little letter would weigh on her mind until the banquet tonight.

After a brief silence, she looked at Bell again, her expression more relaxed.

"So... are you going to the Dungeon today? It's been a while since I've seen you preparing to go down there since you leveled up." There was a slight concern in her voice.

Although she trusted Bell's growing abilities, the Dungeon would always be a dangerous place, regardless of his level. As a level 2, he could start going to the mid-level floors, but he didn't have any equipment at the moment.

This made her think... Hephaestus would be at the banquet too, right?

However, Bell slowly shook his head.

"No, I'm not going to the Dungeon today, or in the next few days. I'll probably stay out of the Dungeon until Monsterphilia is over. In fact, I was thinking of making a little more money."

"Money?" Hestia frowned, surprised by the comment. "Are you planning to go to that casino again, Bell-kun?"

"Of course not, I doubt that crappy place would let me in again. I'm going to another casino, although it's not much better."

Bell's tone was casual, but there was something behind his words that made her pause for a moment. It was as if he was planning something more than just a simple trip to the casino. It was probably just her imagination.

"Are there really that many casinos in Orario?" she asked curiously.

"There aren't many, but there are enough for gambling addicts. Although the casino I'm thinking of going to is actually a big shithole disguise."

"What do you mean by disguise?" she asked quickly.

The way he spoke made it sound like he had been to that place before, but he said it wasn't the same casino he went to before.

"Forget it, it's nothing special."

Hestia narrowed her eyes, clearly suspicious, but she didn't press the subject further.

"Okay... but, Bell-kun, please be careful. While I don't know much about these casinos, there must be people who get angry about losing a lot, right? I don't want you to end up in any trouble."

"I promise I'll be careful. Besides, who do you think I am to go looking for trouble? I'm just going to take a bit of money from the idiot addicts and get out quickly so they can't kick me out again."

Hestia was still getting used to Bell ever since he started acting differently. However, she couldn't shake off the feeling of slight discomfort. It was as if he was planning something she couldn't keep up with, and that made her restless.

Besides, there was also that man Bell cursed at the Hostess of Fertility. Although she didn't know what happened between them at the casino, Bell clearly didn't like him. The way he responded to that man still left her a bit incredulous and confused, but she quickly felt happy remembering how Bell had acted protectively toward her in that man's presence.

"Alright," she sighed before preparing to leave. "I don't know if I'll be able to come back today or tomorrow; I might be out for a few days. But I should be able to get back before or on the day of Monsterphilia, so you'll fulfill my wish to go on a date with me, right?"

"If you really want to go on a date with me at Monsterphilia, I don't see a problem," he commented casually.

"Then it's settled!" she exclaimed happily.

"I really hope there won't be any monster problems this time..." he murmured with a tired sigh.

"Huh, what did you say?"

"Nothing. See you soon, Hestia," he said and waved goodbye to her.

As soon as Bell left the house, Hestia quickly began to prepare as well.

Night.

In the already dark environment, the moon rose in the sky. The moonlight illuminated the forest, and the hooting of owls could be heard from all around. In addition, the sound of falling leaves was also audible.

The noise emitted by a single owl echoed through the forest. Navigating through the leaves, it headed toward an area full of grass and landed in a certain spot. That was its limit.

The enormous wall.

Calling the tall, massive, and sturdy City Walls "fortifications" could not be considered an exaggeration. The interior of that defensive wall was created from a large rock.

Revealing a faint glow, the sound of movement broke the silence of the outside world.

The labyrinth city, Orario.

Since the Era of the Beginning, or as many call it, the Ancient Era, a period when the Gods and Goddesses had not yet descended to Earth, there existed grand cities scattered across the world. Throughout the planet, Orario was the only labyrinth city ever erected.

The City Walls formed a perfect circular structure. From its boundaries, countless skyscrapers could be seen, becoming relatively smaller as they approached the center of the city. Covered by various scattered particles of light, Orario resembled a roulette.

The light that illuminated it was as bright as a starry sky.

In the center of that enormous city, towering stone walls were erected.

"Ah, if it isn't the representative of the ultra-poor Takemikazuchi Familia! Hey."

"Ah, if it isn't Takemikazuchi and his terrible and haggard face!"

"Those damn gods!"

Compared to the adventurers seeking the unknown, the Gods and Goddesses gathered in the most lively city in the world, Orario, due to their cravings for entertainment; it was something natural.

Inside a private property, an unimaginable number of gods had gathered.

"Yo"

"Ooh, how long has it been?—. It's been hundreds of years, hasn't it?"

"Ah, just four days"

"Ah, since it's been so long since we last met—-. You've changed a lot—"

"Excuse me, though this is off-topic: will the Banquet be held here?"

A building that exuded a deceptive atmosphere was in front of their eyes.

The statue of a person with the head of an elephant on its face, wrapped in a white cloak, was sitting cross-legged.

The elephant was approximately 30 meters tall. As if wanting others to see its power and prestige, it was in a position where its chest was prominently displayed, making those who saw it have strange thoughts, thus becoming quite famous. It was currently illuminated by numerous large-scale magical stones.

The most surprising thing was that the work was created based on a story.

With light black skin and a well-toned body, the trendy God Ganesha, not knowing how he thinks, used the money earned from his Familia to create this great work.

The strong Ganesha Familia was the place for "I am Ganesha."

The members were not so good; they almost cried as they entered the building. By the way, at the entrance, we sat cross-legged.

"What is Ganesha thinking?"

"Ganesha is so cool"

The few handsome men, wearing the latest fashionable noble clothing, smiled and entered.

All the members were gods.

They were all invited to the which Ganesha is organizing.

The is a gathering for the Gods who are in the Lower World to meet. There are no rules about which God organizes it or when to organize it. Only when they want to prepare it, the desires of those who want to participate are explicit. Any Gods who want to participate can participate. This completely demonstrates the inconsistency and unrestricted nature of the gods.

"To everyone gathered here today! I am Ganesha! This time, because so many people are participating, I, Ganesha, am very grateful! I love all of you! So, there's something I want to say: this year, as in previous years, the Filia will be held three days later. It's a pleasure to meet everyone's —"

The interior space looked different from the building.

On the stage was a huge figure wearing an elephant mask – which was Ganesha, looking exactly like the statue outside the building, he used his quite loud voice to express his greetings. The neighboring Gods, as usual, ignored his voice and continued talking and laughing.

The place was designed as a party. On the pure white tablecloths were several dishes, and the aroma of food floated in all directions. Sounds of footsteps appeared. The staff attending this vast space was running, and the band was waiting near the walls.

After observing the crowded place, almost all the gods of Orario had gathered.

The invitation to the is delivered based on the skill level of the organizer's Familia, so the number of people who can participate also varies according to the organizer.

The Ganesha Familia is one of the most famous Familias in Orario, so almost all the Gods of the Labyrinth City were invited. Hestia was also one of those people.

"Ah, the Loli's big tits have arrived."

"Anyway, she's still alive."

"Oh, I heard she was working hard on the north side of the shopping street. She even let customers pet her in an outdoor shop."

"As expected from the Loli Goddess!"

"Hey, have you heard the rumors? They say an adventurer reached level 2 in just two weeks..." whispered one of the gods, leaning toward his colleague beside him. His voice, though low, quickly attracted the attention of the other gods around.

"What? Two weeks?" asked another god, raising an eyebrow in disbelief. "That's almost impossible. Who is this adventurer? Which Familia does he belong to?"

"Ah... this is where it gets interesting. From what I've heard, he's the only member of... Familia Hestia," replied the first god, observing the reactions around him as he took a sip of his wine.

The name of the goddess caused a wave of murmurs among the group. A small and almost irrelevant goddess. However, curious glances and even some mischievous smiles appeared among the present gods.

"I heard this adventurer is a kid, right?" said another god with a cynical tone. "Could he have been attracted... by Hestia's other attributes?"

There were muffled laughs, and some gods cast disguised glances at Hestia, who seemed completely oblivious to the conversation, happily eating a large plate of exotic fruits while occasionally looking around. Her small stature and lively demeanor made her seem out of place in the environment filled with such powerful and extravagant gods.

"Still," interrupted a blue-haired god. "Level 2 in just 2 weeks? That's impossible, isn't it? I mean, the level-up record holder is Loki's 'Sword Princess,' right? It took her a year to level up. How the hell is it possible to level up an entire rank in just 2 weeks?"

"It's true, one of my kids was at the guild when the brat announced his level up. It's already been confirmed by the Guild itself; he really is the new record holder."

"An adventurer who leveled up in 2 weeks, huh."

"I'm interested to know more about him."

...

"What are you doing...?"

"Mugu? Mmmm."

An imposing voice reached Hestia's side.

Turning around, what came into her field of vision were red hair and a pure red dress that almost seemed to be burning.

With a slender body and a sharp face, she exuded a strong and stubborn aura. In her ear, she wore a gold earring that was outshone by her flaming eyebrows.

What was even more striking was that half of her face was covered by black leather.

A beauty with an eye patch on her right side was looking at Hestia's shocked expression.

"Hephaestus!"

"Yes, yes, it's been a long time, Hestia. Staying quite healthy is enough… Although, I would be even happier if I could see a more friendly demeanor."

No matter how you looked at her, her hair was always beautiful.

"So, is it true what the other gods are saying?"

"Huh?"

"The adventurer who reached level 2 in just two weeks is yours?"

Hestia smiled at Hephaestus's question.

"Yes! It's my Bell-kun; he's amazing!" she exclaimed happily.

"…I see. It seems you're doing better than I thought."

Thanks to Hephaestus, Hestia was able to get the "Abandoned Church" to live in. Initially, she had lived in Hephaestus's mansion, but after she proved to be quite lazy with everything, Hephaestus kicked her out and left her with the Abandoned Church. It was also because of her that Hestia worked where she worked.

When Hestia informed him that she had created a Familia, Hephaestus was genuinely shocked.

"Mmmm. Yes, I'm doing quite well," she replied while chewing on a piece of meat. "Soon, I probably won't need to work at that stall anymore, and I will also leave that Abandoned Church and move into a mansion!"

Hephaestus raised her eyebrows at that ridiculous statement.

"Hestia, do you know how much my mansion cost? Besides, that Bell is the first and only member of your Familia, isn't he?"

"Yes. But Bell-kun said that soon we will live in a mansion."

Hephaestus was confused. Of course, Hestia might be thinking that in just a few years she would manage to get a mansion because her child from her Familia leveled up to 2 in just two weeks. If he continued to evolve rapidly, in the near future, that statement didn't seem absurd.

However, the way she spoke was as if she would get a mansion in a month or something like that.

Hephaestus was about to speak again, but a different voice was quicker.

"Fufu. You seem as excited as ever, dear Hestia."

"Eh... Freya?"

The goddess who appeared in Hestia's view had a superior face, more striking than the other gods. It could be said that she was in a completely different dimension.

Skin as white as the purest snow. Her slender limbs seemed to be floating in the air, releasing a beautiful fragrance, soft hips and waist; if looked at directly, one's reasoning could be in danger. The dress with golden engravings revealed her chest, the ample breasts wrapped in cloth, the valley between them tinged the color of sakura.

As if it were the golden ratio, it was completely perfect.

Her long eyelashes seemed to be completely enveloped in brilliance.

A goddess with the charm of beauty, Freya, shook her long hair and walked up to Hestia.

"You… Why are you here…?"

"Ahah, we just happened to meet. Anyway, it's been a long time since we saw each other; I came to take a look around."

Freya, who was on a completely different level in terms of appearance compared to the other gods, was known as a , and she was also the most beautiful person among the gods.

For the gods who were basically fickle and lewd, the quality they desired while drooling was – Beauty; all the Gods of Beauty were equipped with this. The people of the underworld, seeing this, would also be attracted to them.

"Hey! Hephaestus-tan! Freya! Shorty!"

Loki barged in flamboyantly as usual, her raspy voice echoing through the hall. Her face, marked by a mischievous expression, was framed by her long red hair, and her red eyes, somewhat mischievous, sparkled with amusement upon seeing the other gathered goddesses.

Freya, with a first-class smile, turned her gaze and waved at the approaching goddess.

Normally, her hair was tied in a simple hairstyle, but since it was for a party, she had curled it. Wearing a fine black dress.

Freya, as always, seemed like an ethereal vision while standing, attracting glances from all sides. With a graceful movement, she turned to face Loki, smiling slightly. Her long silver hair fell over her shoulders, and the soft light of the hall seemed to reflect her beauty in an almost magical way. Even the surrounding gods and goddesses couldn't help but sneak glances at her. A passing waiter stopped for a second, hypnotized by the presence of the goddess of beauty, before almost unconsciously offering her a glass of wine, which she accepted with a charming smile, not giving much thought to the distraction she caused.

Hephaestus, on the other hand, remained more discreet. The goddess of the forge, with her iconic eye patch and flaming hair, observed everything with a calm yet perceptive expression. She nodded at Loki with a slight inclination of her head, while Hestia, who was sitting next to them, almost choked on the fruit she was eating, surprised by Loki's sudden entrance.

"Who are you calling shorty, you damn flat-chested?" Hestia retorted, quickly wiping her mouth with the back of her hand, clearly annoyed.

"Fuhehe, don't get so worked up, Shorty." Loki laughed, shamelessly approaching them. "You three seem pretty busy here. What are you talking about?"

Before Hestia could respond, Freya, still with a serene smile on her lips, looked at Hestia with genuine interest.

"Actually, we weren't talking about anything; I just arrived. However, I heard something quite intriguing... Hestia, dear, I heard some rather interesting rumors about your little adventurer. The gods here won't stop talking about it either."

Hestia blinked, a bit confused, but her expression quickly changed to one of absolute pride.

"Oh, Bell-kun! Yes, Bell-kun leveled up to level 2 in just two weeks!" She smiled widely, raising her chin, visibly delighted to brag about the achievement of her one and only precious adventurer.

Freya tilted her head slightly, her silver eyes shining with quiet curiosity.

"Indeed, that is truly remarkable... so rare. He must be quite special." Her voice, soft yet serene, had a hint of something more.

Something that Hestia immediately noticed.

Hestia narrowed her eyes, her protective instinct awakening. 'Is she interested... in Bell?' thought the busty goddess, feeling a slight twinge of jealousy and apprehension.

Freya was known for her ability to enchant anyone—human or god—with just a glance. And Hestia was well aware of how powerful and dangerous that beauty could be.

"He completely shattered the record of the Sword Princess, didn't he?" Freya commented casually.

"That's a fact," Loki unexpectedly agreed calmly.

"You seem to accept all this quite well," Freya seemed a bit surprised by Loki's acceptance.

"Eh," Loki shrugged. "What I say won't change that fact. At first, I really didn't believe that crap, but after hearing it from his own mouth, I couldn't deny it. However, I still find it strange that he was able to level up in just 2 weeks."

Hestia seemed a bit unsettled after Loki mentioned that, something that Freya and Hephaestus immediately noticed.

"But seriously, that kid... he looks shy, but he's more of an attacker than anyone else!" Loki said with a mischievous smile, leaning closer to the other goddesses as Freya raised an intrigued eyebrow.

"Attacker?" Freya asked, her eyes sparkling with increased interest. "What do you mean by that, Loki?"

"Oh, you won't believe it," Loki began, letting out a low laugh. "That damn kid kissed Mama! Not only that, but he managed to completely take her out of character, something I've never been able to do! Have you ever seen a level 6 adventurer embarrassed, throwing things to push away an attacker who was level 1 at the time? It was quite an interesting sight."

Hephaestus and Freya looked visibly surprised.

It wasn't unknown who Loki referred to as Mama in the Loki Familia.

"Riveria Ljos Alf? The 'Elven Princess'? That's truly unexpected," Hephaestus remarked, her eyes narrowing slightly in curiosity, while Freya simply smiled, even more intrigued.

Hestia, however, quickly interrupted, raising her hands in protest.

"Hey, hey, hey! That wasn't it at all! Bell-kun explained everything to me. It was practically an accident! He thought he was dying, and when he woke up, he saw a beauty like Riveria next to him... He just couldn't resist! He thought he wouldn't have another chance!" Hestia quickly explained, her cheeks slightly flushed as she defended her precious adventurer.

He said that the "kiss" with that elf was nothing special and didn't mean anything. Besides, he kissed her this morning! That kiss did mean something!

Loki shrugged. "It might have been an accident, but the kid didn't waste any time, did he? He went straight for it! Hahaha!"

Freya looked at Hestia with a playful glint in her eyes. "Oh, so it was a stolen kiss in the heat of the moment? How lovely... but also quite bold." Her voice was seductive as always, but there was something more in Freya's words that made Hestia even more suspicious.

"That's not all," Loki continued, ignoring Hestia's nervous expression. "That damn kid also flirted with me." Loki crossed her arms, feigning indignation.

Hephaestus, who had been sipping her drink, almost choked upon hearing this. She shot an incredulous look at Loki, as if questioning whether she was serious.

"Are you joking, Loki?"

"No, I'm not! The kid really tried something," Loki said, pretending to be offended, but it was clear she was enjoying the situation. "And I'm not easily impressed, but he managed to make me stop for a moment."

Freya, who had been watching the interaction with increasing interest, let out a light laugh.

"You...? Loki, that's hard to believe. Were you drunk and hallucinating about it?" she teased, her eyes sparkling with amusement.

Loki slammed her hand on the table, clearly irritated by the insinuation. "Hey! I know what I saw! And no, I wasn't drunk! Ask the short one here!" Loki pulled Hestia into the conversation, looking directly at the little goddess, who appeared even more annoyed.

Hestia huffed, crossing her arms and turning her face away. "Bell-kun wasn't really flirting with you, Loki. He just wanted to tease, as a joke. He had no real intentions of... charming you!"

"Fufu, that makes sense," Freya murmured, observing Hestia with a calculating gaze. "Even so, he seems to be a fascinating adventurer... I would love to get to know him better."

Hestia felt a shiver run down her spine upon hearing that.

'I knew it! She's interested in Bell!' she thought, feeling a wave of jealousy mixed with fear. Freya, with her seductive power, was a real threat, and Hestia couldn't let Freya get close to him. She needed to protect Bell.

After saying that, she placed her glass on the table and fixed her hair.

"It was nice talking to you all, but I'm leaving now."

"You're leaving already?" Loki asked, her eyes narrowing.

"That's enough. I've confirmed the things I wanted to hear."

"You seem pretty interested in the short girl's kid, huh?" Loki accused shamelessly.

"Fufu, I don't know what you're talking about. While I really have taken an interest in him, I would never do anything that could hurt my dear friend," Freya replied calmly while looking at Hestia, who appeared a bit tense.

"Eh, your bullshit has no credibility."

Freya merely smiled at Loki's words and left without saying anything further.

After she departed, Loki turned to Hestia, who was still staring in the direction Freya had gone, and spoke to her.

"So, shorty, how are you going to deal with this? It seems your dear Bell-kun has attracted the attention of the biggest floozy of them all."

Hephaestus, who had been silent until then, finally spoke, her voice calm but serious.

"Hestia, be careful. Freya is not the type of goddess who becomes interested in someone without reason. She always has a goal, and your... lack of subtlety regarding Bell has caught her attention. This is not something you should ignore."

"She's clearly already thinking about taking the kid to her bed," Loki commented while sipping the beer she grabbed from the table.

Hestia frowned, feeling her stomach churn slightly. She knew that Hephaestus and Loki were right. Freya was a goddess with a beauty capable of enchanting anyone, and it was no secret that she often fixated on things or people that piqued her interest. The mere fact that Freya mentioned Bell made her suspicious, but hearing Hephaestus and Loki made the alarm bells ring louder in her mind.

"I know," Hestia replied, her voice coming out a bit firmer than expected. "I will protect Bell-kun, no matter what."

Hephaestus nodded, her one red eye still fixed on her shorter friend. "Just don't underestimate the power Freya has. I'm not just talking about her beauty, but her ability to manipulate others. She knows how to get what she wants, even if it takes time."

As these words lingered in the air, Loki let out a short laugh, casually crossing her arms behind her head.

"Hey, shorty, if you need help, just shout. The last thing we need is Freya creating more drama around here. We already have enough trouble with her around."

Hestia looked surprised at Loki, who seemed a bit drunk. Hephaestus also looked a bit surprised by her comment. However, she didn't say anything.

It was then that, amid the tension, Hestia remembered the real reason she had come to the Banquet of the Gods.

"Oh!" she exclaimed suddenly, catching the attention of Loki and Hephaestus. "I almost forgot... Hephaestus, Loki, have you seen Hermes around here?"

Loki blinked, visibly surprised by the unexpected question. "Hermes? Why do you want to know about the pervert? Are you thinking of ditching Bell-kun and running after him?" Loki said, letting out a teasing laugh.

"Of course not!" Hestia retorted, blushing slightly, annoyed by the suggestion. "Bell-kun asked me to deliver something to him. It's important! And stop calling him Bell-kun!"

"I don't want to," Loki replied cheekily.

Hephaestus raised an eyebrow but kept her expression neutral. "Well... I saw Hermes earlier, near the entrance. He was... as usual, trying to flirt with some goddesses." She pointed to a more distant corner of the hall.

Hestia looked in the indicated direction and, to her dismay, spotted Hermes surrounded by a few goddesses, clearly enjoying himself while flashing charming smiles and delivering his typical persuasive lines. His usual behavior—a mix of charisma and mischief—was something that always irritated Hestia. 'Of course he'd be flirting with someone,' she thought, unsurprised.

"I should have guessed..." she murmured, expressionless.

Without waiting any longer, Hestia hurriedly said goodbye to the two, giving a quick "I need to go" before Loki or Hephaestus could respond. She walked with determined steps toward Hermes, her mind focused on what Bell had asked.

When she finally reached the group, she called his name in a firm tone.

"Hermes!"

The god, who had been busy flashing a charming smile at one of the goddesses in front of him, froze for a moment upon hearing his name. He turned, his amber eyes shining with surprise before a wide smile spread across his face.

"Dear Hestia!" he exclaimed, opening his arms as if about to embrace her. "What a surprise to be graced with your presence! What can I do for you on this lovely evening?"

Hestia let out a slight huff, resisting the urge to roll her eyes. Despite considering Hermes a long-time friend, his perverted behavior always made her uncomfortable. But Bell needed her, and that was more important than the momentary aversion she felt being near Hermes.

"I came to deliver something," she said, pulling an envelope from her casual dress, causing Hermes's eyes to widen for a moment. "Bell-kun asked me to give you this. It's important."

Hermes's eyes sparkled with curiosity as he reached out to take the envelope.

"Oh? The white-haired adventurer? So it's true what they say; he really leveled up to level 2 in record time." He seemed about to start weaving compliments, but Hestia, visibly impatient, shook her head and interrupted him.

"That doesn't matter right now, Hermes. Just open it and read."

Hermes, noticing Hestia's serious tone, did not hesitate. He carefully tore open the envelope and pulled out the letter. At first, his demeanor was relaxed and playful, but as his eyes scanned the written words, his expression changed drastically.

Hermes's usual smile faded, replaced by an unusual seriousness. He furrowed his brow, reading each word carefully as if processing something of great importance. When he finished reading, he raised his eyes to Hestia, his expression still grave.

"When can we meet?"

Hestia blinked, surprised by the sudden change in mood. "What...? Wait, you want to meet with Bell-kun?"

Hermes nodded, carefully putting the letter away inside his tunic. "Yes, I believe it's best to talk to him as soon as possible."

She widened her eyes, not fully understanding the urgency. "I... well, I have a meeting with Bell-kun at the Monsterphilia in a few days. Maybe before or after the event?"

Hermes crossed his arms and thought for a moment, but then nodded.

"That should work. I also want to participate in the Monsterphilia, so I think it's best to talk before the event, if possible."

Still dazed by how quickly the situation had changed, Hestia looked at Hermes with suspicion. She wanted to ask what was written in the letter but knew Bell had asked her not to look, so she decided not to press the issue.

"Alright," she finally said. "I'll let Bell-kun know about the meeting."

Hermes smiled, but this time there was a slight tension in his smile, something Hestia wasn't used to seeing in him.

"Thank you, Hestia. Tell Bell I'll be waiting. Well, it's a party! Enjoy it as much as you can, because I will too!"

He quickly returned to his previous demeanor, although she noticed he seemed to be forcing it, and he dashed off to somewhere.

With that, the conversation came to an end, and Hestia, still a bit bewildered, began to walk away. 'What could be written in that letter that made Hermes change his attitude so quickly?' she wondered, but she knew that, at least for now, she wouldn't get answers.

As she walked back toward the center of the hall, she started to wonder what Bell was doing. Was he still at that casino he said he would go to?

Well, he said he would stay out of trouble, so nothing too serious should happen.

The darkness enveloped Lefiya like a heavy cloak, crushing her sanity. The room was cold, and the air was thick with the stench of blood and despair. Her breath quickened as her eyes adjusted to the dimness, revealing a scene that seemed straight out of a nightmare. Bodies of people who once comprised the casino's staff lay scattered on the floor, their faces frozen in terror.

Lefiya could hardly believe what she was seeing. How could this happen right under their noses, in the city she knew as a safe place?

The weak, flickering light barely illuminated the area, but what she saw was enough to make her stomach churn. The floor was stained a deep red, as if the very ground were mourning the lives lost there. The horror made her feel as if the world were collapsing around her, enveloping her in a sense of helplessness.

As her eyes scanned the room, a new sight made her stop dead in her tracks. The wall was adorned with cages, and inside them, women were chained. Lefiya held her breath, the scene almost making her lose consciousness. Elves, cat-people, humans... All seemed defeated, their gazes hollow and desperate, as if the life that once pulsed within them had been completely extinguished.

What was this? A soul trade? A slave trade, perhaps? But in her dazed mind, she couldn't name this atrocity. It was as if words had abandoned her, and she found herself trapped in an endless nightmare.

She couldn't comprehend how this was happening, how such a grotesque operation could be hidden under the façade of a casino. And at the same time, there was something else in the air — an electric tension, as if the room were about to explode into action.

Before her stood a boy with white hair, his figure contrasting against the surrounding darkness. He held a man by the head with just one hand, the man desperately trying to wriggle free from the boy's unyielding grip.

The boy was small. The man, on the other hand, was big and muscular but appeared powerless under the pressure of the boy's hand, which pinned him against the wall. The image was almost comical in its cruelty, but Lefiya couldn't find any humor in it. Fear overwhelmed her.

It was a surreal scene, yet entirely possible for that boy.

Yes, she had followed him, unaware that that day would lead her to such a grim place. Her view of the boy had shifted from innocent curiosity, along with a bit of anger due to rumors about him and Aiz, to a mix of awe and fear.

"Lefiya Viridis." The boy's voice cut through the dense air, each word laden with a weight that made her stomach twist.

The tone was different from what she remembered — it had been playful, almost carefree before. But now, there was a gravity in his words that made her shudder.

He slowly turned his head, and his red eyes locked onto her, as if probing her soul. His gaze was piercing, and Lefiya felt as if he were seeing every one of her weaknesses, every one of her fears. It was an uncomfortable sensation, and the coldness of the situation wrapped around her like a thick fog.

"Now that you've realized how fucked up the world we live in is, what are you going to do?" His words echoed in her mind like a gong, a call to action that made her hesitate.

What should she do? What was right? The scene before her was one of such profound horror that she could barely articulate a clear thought.

The man pinned to the wall struggled, his expression alternating between rage and despair, while the boy kept him in check with one arm. Lefiya watched, the scene unfolding before her like a grotesque play. It was a struggle of power, but the nature of it seemed inverted due to appearances.

He was someone who had defeated a Minotaur at level 1 and had leveled up to 2 in just 2 weeks.

In light of all this, she could only wonder.

When did things go wrong?

Well, this chapter was mainly focused on Hestia at the Banquet of the Gods. I know many might not like chapters like this, and I somewhat agree, but I think it was necessary.

However, I promise to try to make the next chapter a bit more interesting. As you saw at the end, which is a little glimpse of what's coming in the next chapter, we'll have some action. Although it won't be anything spectacular, it's still something. We'll also see a bit more of Bell's "dark" side, so to speak.

The real action will be left for Monsterphilia.

What the hell was in the letter that Bell wrote to Hermes?

Anyway, let me know what you thought of this chapter, although I think it was the weakest one so far. I'll try to make up for it in the next chapter, as well as in Monsterphilia, where it's going to be brutal.

See you in the next chapter! (If all goes well, probably still this month XD)