CHAD HESTIA (DanMachi - Hestia SI Chapter 3)

I smiled as I looked at Bell's latest, well, second Falna update.

I was smiling because this is great. This is really good. Bell got Liaris Freese early, meaning we have more time to exploit it fill it's time to face the dragon.

Why did he get Liaris Freese early? Doesn't he need Aiz for this?

No. Seriously. I'm glad he got the cheat skill early and all, but I was honestly just going for bigger stats so he'd skip the tutorial shit when he enters the Dungeon. I expected him to get his stats to the 300s or something, not 600s!

Does that mean his love went from Aiz to me? Then again the Skill says "emotion" not love. So many being mutual respect or believe in the each other works?

I mean, I definitely believe in that kid. I need him to be an OP little murder rabbits so he can murderize the Black Dragon.

Hmm, do I mean if he loves in love with me? Welp, if he can powerlevel to Level 10 in a year then he can love me all he wants. I wouldn't mind pulverizing his hips so he can save the world.

Welp, guess this all works out.

Actually thinking about it, wasn't there that idea in the early discussions about DanMachi that Omori based the leveling system on DnD?

Riveria, or some elf I think, called Falna levels as Steps to Divinity.

So if that's the case, then Level 10 is a Demigod, and Level 20 would be a full on God?

At least that's the idea, right?

In that case I shouldn't get Bell to Level 10 in a year, I need to aim for 20!

Hmm, in that case, I should aim for one Level per month? Is that even remotely possible? Or logical?

No one's ever been to Level 10 in canon. Last I heard at least.

So is the DnD idea real or I'm just drawing bullshit out of the air?

Meh, fuck it. Let's roll with this, aim for Level 10, then see what happens.

...Actually, given the wording this new Liaris Freese... it feels like this Skill affects both Bell and the other person that shares a bond with Bell. Then that means...

Everyone that has a reciprocal bond with Bell gets the EXP Boost effect of Liaris Freese, while Bell gets the compound effect of multiple Liaris Freeses?

...Why didn't my divine intution or something tell me I was wrong?

Okay, time to mentally prepare for multiple War Games, and for Freya to home in onto Bell the second we set foot into Orario like a divine powered crackhead.

Now onto the second problem.

Well, not really a problem. That makes it sound like something bad. More like something I didn't expect, but I really should have.

Kids from the village wanted to join my Familia. The adults are giving me looks like I made Bell train in the forest to entice the kids with the idea of being adventurers. I didn't plan shit, that's just how it worked out.

Still, while it would be advantageous for Bell to have multiple Familia members to befriend... No. Like I told Bell, I will care about all my children regardless. I'm not gonna use them or have them around as tools, or any of that dumb shit some of the other deities do.

Having Bell around is easy, since he's just one person I can look after, and help grow, plus his BS soul/Skills/growth will carry us all the way. Having other children means, I need to divide my attention and look at what they need to grow, be it advice or environment.

Having actual kids while traveling would be a problem. I have to account for the travel dangers, be it monsters, bandits, or trip conditions or necessities. Kids would not just be an extra mouth to feed, and a possible danger should we do find trouble, as they could be seen as a weak link to target. I can't do the withholding Falna update with them, because I'd want them to get as strong as possible, as quickly as possible to mitigate the danger.

Okay, so kids for this trip are right out. Maybe when we get to Orario, but not now. I need children who will be a bit more self-sufficient. So, teens.

Thankfully those in the village mostly still either wanted, or were pressured to stay with their families, because of familial responsibilities. That I can respect, farms are fucking hard work and need multiple hands. Same for shops and other types of labors. Carpenters, leatherworkers, etc.

None of the adults showed any interest in my Familia. Which understandable, but really? Not one? I mean, looking from the outside in, yeah, sure, my Familia was just the Familia of Goddess and one person, with maybe one or two more, while having only enough money and supplies for traveling to Orario, and not much else. I mean, yeah we'll literally have nothing by the time we get there, but I still have friends in Orario, like Hephy, so it all works out. ...Not that the random average person in the village would know that.

Okay, yeah, I can see your point, hypothetical villager. This does seem stupid.

Oh well, guess I'll pick the best of the stupid teens in the village for this.

So from the teens in the village there were...

There was Ronny Burt, son of a farmer, youngest of seven siblings, although not for soon, since the eighth is on the way. Despite being the son of a farmer he's kinda scrawny. Sure, he doesn't have soft hands, but you'd expect the son of a farmer to be a bit more bulked up. He's the jokester type, but, eeeeeh, I dunno. I feel it might be better if he stayed with his family more. This desire might be a bit of a fade in order to do something different than his current family life.

There's Johnny Shore. An orphan that lives with an old woman, Erna, running the apothecary. Yeah, I saw their relationship, I don't wanna deprive those two of their mother and son bond. The old lady might be able to hire other people, but I think it's best if Johnny stays with her.

The others were more or less the same, I can't help but be worried if they'll manage to make the journey, or if there are people that need them here.

Ultimately there was one candidate that I though fit. One of the kids of Himmel Heldenhaft, or Ol' Himmel as the people here call him. He was another farmer who live on a large ranch, both crops and raising livestock. He is sorta famous for having married an elf. My man!

Also, holy shit it's a Himmel and Frieren Expy! WOOOOOOOW!

Seriously, it's a struggle not to sqee when I first met them.

Their son, Ruhig Heldenhaft, asked if he could join, and I said I'd consider and tell him a few days before Bell and I would leave.

He not only seemed to have a good head on his shoulders. The boy was quiet, focused, polite. He seemed to be the silent industrous type, and due to his parents, or at least his mother being a retired adventurer and an elf, he seems to know magic. Which is even better.

This is like winning an SSR in a gacha roll where you really weren't looking for anything.

Anyways, so I invited him and his family to tell him that I accept, and so we could celebrate and mainly to be sure to calm any fears his family might have, and show them that their son would be in good hands.

"A~ha ha ha ha ha ha! Greetings, Goddess Hestia! So you have come to see the great and shining jewel that is I, Laut Heldenhaft, the greatest archer in all of Ypóloipo Ville." A blue haired half elf sassy child laughed out loud as she introduced herself.

"Hahaha, of course, it's my amazing children that would catch the goddess's eyes. Hohoho!" Said the elderly Himmel. He wasn't the short ancient old man version I remember from the anime. Rather he looked like himself but with a withered wrinkly face and white patches in his hair, but still mostly tall and standing up right. He was surprisingly energetic and cheerful for his age.

"I'm sorry for those two," MILF Frieren sighed while gesturing to the two of them. No I'm not going to elaborate. Only that she looks older and taller.

Next to her where her other children, Froh the eldest in his 20s inheriting his mother's hair and his father's eyes and looks. Next to him was Fröhlich his faternal twin, she has her mother's eyes and her father's hair.

Then there is Ruhig, a boy of fifteen, he looks like a younger Himmel but as a half elf. He wore a jacket an pants that looked like they were meant for rough activity, seemed to be made of good leather. Stab proof even. Jacket and shirt colored in light blue, silver and white, with the pants black. He had a stylish belt but didn't seem to have a sword or sheath. His blue-silvery hair was tied by a hairband that had three crystals attacked to it.

Then there was the youngest Laut who just entered adolescences, wearing a stylish silver dress, and carrying a bow.

Finally there was Fern, the older bartender's, Heiter's adopted daughter, and seems to be a close family friend. I think she's also Froh's girlfriend, not sure. Either that or childhood friend.

Oh, and Frieren had a small baby bump, so a sixth is on the way.

"Eh, it's fine. Anyone that wants to be an adventurer I expect to be a bit eccentric." I said with a chuckle.

Truthfully I was only aiming for Ruhig. Laut just seemed to come and presume I'd choose her on her own.

"Meh, eccentricity is fine as long as they can work hard and be disciplined in their training." I shrugged.

"Eh!? Work hard?!" Laut suddenly called out. The kids chuckled, with Fern covering her mouth. Frieren sighed. "Hard work means sweating. A lady isn't suppose to sweat and be s-stinky!" The half-elf girl said horrified.

"No, of course not, my little blueberry. You'll be a dazzling flower in the fields of battle, untouched by any stinky smell." Old Himmel said, flamboyantly.

"Mom. Mom! You know a spell so I don't sweat, right? There's magic like that, right." Laut said as she shook her mother.

"Eh, probably, no one seems to have bothered to invent it." Frieren said casually, while secretly giving me a sort of deadpan look.

An understanding passed between us. Yeah, yeah, I got it. This is your little girl, you love her.

Also she's an idiot.

"Boy, how are you gonna handle having to run to Orario, little Laut?" I asked, acting obliviously intrigue and casual.

"R-Run? What do you mean, goddess? Surely we're talking a caravan, right?" Laut stilled.

"Of course not!" I said cheerfully. "The journey to Orario is a good exercise. So obviously I'm gonna have Bell use it as training in Endurance and Agility to sprint all the way there."

"T-That's... I see. I'll do my best, Lady Hestia!" Bell said passionately, with a guts pose. I let it go with adding "lady" since we're in front of guests. He only feels comfortable being casual with me when we're alone.

"Hmm, okay." Ruhig said, while looking away, to hide his smirk. His shaking shoulders weren't hiding his amusement. Boy, you might laugh, but you are doing that harsh training.

"Isn't Orario six months away by horse?" Froh asked as he and his twin exchanged looks.

"We'll make it in two." I said confidently, hands on my hips, chest puffed in pride.

"N-No way!" Laut cried out, falling to her knees dramatically.

"Laut!" Old Himmel cried out as he kneeled down next to her and hugged her. "The gods truly challenge us. But it's fine!" He cried out. "Your mother and I will love you, even when you're stinky."

"I don't wanna be stinky!"

Lunch was a pretty chaotic affair, but the atmosphere was one I deeply enjoyed and wouldn't trade for anything. This is what a Familia, a family should be like.

Laut did not end up joining my Familia.

Ruhig Heldenhaft
LV. 1
Strength: I0
Endurance: I0
Dexterity: I0
Agility: I0
Magic: I0

Development Ability:

Skills:

Magic:
Fenrirs Biss: Medium length chant magic. Creates a spear of biting cold and ice magic, that can leave frost bites with each cut, or can explode into geysers of ice that engulfs all in its range in freezing darkness.

《Beast of winter, bringer of doom. Chains break to signal the end. Thy maw devours all wisdom's paths. Bite once to ruin the sublime, bite twice to unleash the twilight at the end of death's frost.》

AN: Next chapter I'll either have a Ruhig POV or just timeskip to Orario and show Bell and Ruhig's dynamic.