Dragon Ball: Saiyan's Gourmet Journey

Chapter 673 Hestia's Sacred Fire and Divine Will, Broly's Frank Words
"Yes, Miss Erd, are you still planning to leave the team?"

Bell asked first.

"This one……"

Lily Luca shook her head vigorously.

Even if tonight she receives 150 million fares, a settlement related to her tragic past.

Now that she has money, she still wants to stay by her friends' side.

She stole a glance at the Saiyan boy, then looked away after meeting his gaze.

Then he replied, "I'd like to go down into the dungeon with you guys."

Welcome back to the team.

"Thank you, Brother Broly."

The little girl blushed slightly as she responded.

"However, do you have any members in your clan like that tanuki-man?"

Broly asked.

"Yes, quite a lot."

Lily Luca paused for a moment, then nodded in response.

Guys like Kanu are a common sight among members of the Soma Familia these days.

Only a few people in the family are not like this.

"So, are you planning to go back to your clan now?"

Broly asked again.

Lily Luca: "..."

The pleasure she derived from retaliating against the person who had been bullying and exploiting her gradually faded, and she thought about the reality she would have to face later.

"Miss Erd, you have 150 million Faris now, so you shouldn't need to go back, right?"

Bell said.

Lily Luca gave a bitter smile. She would be a fool to live in a rotten place full of people who bully, exploit, and oppress her if she could avoid going back.

It was because every other place she found to stay was destroyed by those drunkards who wanted to exploit and plunder her that she had no choice but to accept living in the Soma Familia's residence. 150 million fali, plus the money she had saved over the years, was not enough to buy her freedom.

"If you don't have any plans, would you like to come back to our clan's base with me?"

Coincidentally, the Hestia Familia's residence was completed yesterday.

"Ah, Brother Broly, would you be willing to give me a place to stay?"

Lily Luca looked up at him and received an affirmative answer.

“If you don’t mind, I can even give you a home.”

"Yes, yes, that's right, Brother Broly can even give Miss Erd a home, huh?!"

Bell initially nodded in agreement, but as he continued nodding, he realized something was amiss.

"Ah, Brother Broly, do you mean to confess your feelings to Miss Erd?"

The white-haired boy asked the question with wide eyes, and the little girl next to him had the same question.

She had already won him over enough, but to suddenly be confessed to like like that felt a bit abrupt and unlikely.

After all, in the pleasure quarters, Broly wasn't attracted at all by the flamboyant women (prostitutes).

How could someone as insignificant as himself, a supporter of the little people, possibly be the one being confessed to? Perhaps, this was Broly's way of expressing his determination to take him in.

"Confession?
Yeah, I guess so.

After all, Lily is one of the women I want to meet in this world.

After spending these past few days together, I've come to think of her as a nice girl.

Even when they were coerced into fighting against us, they ultimately did not choose to betray us.

Although she doesn't quite trust me, I still admire and like her.

Broly thought for a moment and then spoke, but his words caused the little girl's mind to go blank.

It's actually true! Broly really confessed his feelings to me...

How should I respond?

Lily Luca panicked a little. This was the first time in her life that someone had confessed their love to her, something she had never dared to imagine before.

Blushing, flustered, and somewhat at a loss, this nervous state was evident in the little girl.

“Lily, don’t be nervous. Take a deep breath, calm down, and then listen to me…”

Broly reassured her, and after the little girl complied and calmed down a bit, he continued, "You don't need to think about anything else. Just ask your heart if you are willing to entrust your future to me."
And if you are willing, then I promise you that I will definitely make sure you find happiness in the future.

Lily Luca thought for a moment and then said, "Although we haven't known each other for very long, Brother Broly, please hire me and give me a job so I can make a lot of money."

They even treated me to meals and fed me, so that my stomach, which used to be so full, can now be full and well-fed every day.

Tonight, just when I was about to get beaten up, he suddenly appeared, like a hero, and taught the bastard who had been bullying and exploiting me a good lesson.

Finally, they even gave me all the money they got from selling them, as compensation for my past life.

Lily Luca took a deep breath, trying to calm herself down, and gave an affirmative answer to the Saiyan boy in front of her: "Brother Broly, my answer is, I do."

Bell was stunned by Broly's sudden confession and Miss Erd's natural acceptance, which greatly shocked the naive boy, who felt that he had learned something.

Miss Anna, I want to give you a home.

Belle imagined what might happen between her and the florist, and her fair face quickly flushed red.

He couldn't help but twitch his toes inside his shoe, feeling that he could never say something so naturally like Broly.

As expected of Broly!

Bell once again admired the boy, and the effect of her longing for him was enhanced once more.

As for Broly, he doesn't have mind-reading abilities and doesn't know what Bell is thinking.

After receiving an affirmative answer from Lily Luca, he reached out and patted the little girl on the shoulder.

With a look of satisfaction, he said, "Very good, Lily, from now on you are my girl."

He could accept the little girl's refusal, but he was delighted when she agreed.

"Brother Broly..."

Lily Luca blushed, unsure whether she should lean on the boy. But considering that she seemed a little older than him, it would be strange to lean on him, so she stood there reservedly, accepting the boy's words, which sounded like a chairman praising an outstanding new employee, and the pat on the shoulder.

"Now that you're my girl, come back to the clan's settlement with me. Once we get back, we'll discuss your future."

Broly's feelings for his conquest targets are quite diverse. Most of them start as friendship, but Lily Luca's agreement just now is like labeling him as one of her own, causing Broly's friendship with her to transform into a familial affection.

"Ah."

The little girl was led away by the hand without any resistance.

Bell watched the two walk away before suddenly realizing what had happened.

"Oh, Brother Broly, don't forget me!"

The boy quickly chased after him.

It took the three of them some time to return to the Hestia Familia's current residence.

Deep in a forgotten alleyway, a luxurious villa now stands.

On the outermost iron gate, there is the mark of the sacred fire of the goddess of the hearth.

As Broly pushed open the large iron gate, the road leading to the villa's entrance was lit up with magic stone lamps that created a flame effect.

"Ah, so this is the residence of the Hestia Familia? It's quite luxurious!"

The little girl gasped in amazement, her mouth agape. The luxurious mansion before her was in no way inferior to the residences of some high-ranking clans.

"After all, it's a mansion built entirely with 40 million falies. The craftsmen of the Hephaestus clan also built this villa with the utmost care, considering that their own god and our deity are friends."

Bell explained from the side.

"Of course, since only Lord Hestia and I currently live here, there are only a few rooms in the house that are decorated and furnished. The other rooms are still empty."

Broly added further details.

"Eh, is it only Brother Broly and the god of the Hestia Familia who live here? Doesn't Bell live here either?"

Lily Luca asked, somewhat surprised.

"Well, the gods did invite me to stay (after Hestia learned that Bell actually had a girl he liked), but I declined for some personal reasons (Forgotten Alley is not on the way to Irene's flower shop)."

Bell scratched his cheek, too embarrassed to explain that he had refused the god's invitation to stay at the clan's residence so that he could see the girl he liked every day.

"What kind of deity is Lord Hestia? Will He refuse to take me in?"

As she approached the mansion's door, Lily Luca felt a little uneasy. She had just decisively accepted the boy's confession, but now she remembered that it was actually very difficult for men and women from different clans to come together, and the attitude of the gods was crucial in this.

"Lady Hestia is a very kind goddess. If she knew about Miss Erd's situation, she certainly wouldn't refuse to take you in."

Before Broly could speak, Bell spoke up for Hestia. In his opinion, the goddess who was willing to bestow divine favor upon her was also a super benevolent god.

"Do not worry."

Broly also said something.

"Ah."

The little girl nodded.

The door to the mansion was pushed open, and bright light shone out.

"Lady Hestia, I'm back."

Broly went inside first, calling out, "Ah, Broly, you're finally back! I've prepared a lot of good food to celebrate our move to the new camp!"

Hestia's voice came from inside, while she was busy setting the tables in the dining room.

Tsubaki, the one-eyed craftsman of the Hephaestus Familia, and Naza, the dog-woman girl of the Mih Familia, were both helping out.

But according to the gods, only Hephaestus came.

The handsome Mihe was supposed to be distributing free potions to adventurers who couldn't afford them, so he didn't show up.

However, they sent Nazha, a dog-person, to help and represent them in celebrating Hestia's move.

"Hey, Broly, who's this?"

After Broly went inside, Hestia noticed the little girl being led in by the boy, and the goddess immediately became alert and asked her questions.

“Lady Hestia, this is Lilyluka Erd.”

Broly introduces the little girl next to Hestia.

"Oh, that little human supporter you hired, did you invite her to the housewarming party?"

"No, Lady Hestia, I invited her to stay at our clan's residence."

"Eh?!"

Hestia blinked, seemingly not quite understanding what he meant.

"This is what happened..."

Broly then recounted the events surrounding the divine wine.

"Ah, how could Soma manage his clan like this?"

After hearing about the Divine Wine incident and Lily Luca's past experiences, Hestia frowned.

She knew Soma when she was in the heavenly realm.

The other party is a similar type of homebody and reclusive person to her.

However, Hestia was somewhat surprised that the customs of the other party's familia in the lower realm would be so outrageous.

They're even planning to use all sorts of tricks and deceptions on their own son.

This greatly angered the goddess of the hearth.

"Ah, it can't be entirely blamed on Lord Soma. Many years ago, Lord Soma stopped interfering in the affairs of the clan. The one who was really in charge was our captain, Chanis Lustra, who was a treacherous and greedy fellow."

The little girl defended her god.

"The internal atmosphere of the clan is problematic, and the main god's insufficient power is also one of the reasons. But you, child, you have clearly suffered an unfortunate life, so why are you still willing to speak up for the god Soma?"

Hephaestus asked out of curiosity, and given the exploitation and oppression the little girl had suffered in the Soma Familia, he couldn't understand why she would speak up for the inactive chief god.

"Well, without Lord Soma's mercy, Lily, who lost her parents at the age of three, might not have lived to the point of remembering things..."

While the Soma Familia certainly had many flaws, the god Soma did indeed have a nurturing grace towards her, a fact that Lilyluka could not deny.

“I sold the guy who threatened Lily to drink our divine wine to the Ishtar Familia in the Pleasure District. But there are still some bastards in the Soma Familia who are like the guys I sold. I think Lily shouldn’t go back to a place like that, so I suggested that I give her a new home.”

Broly continued.

"Ah, this involves abducting children from other clans. In reality, it violates clan rules and could potentially cause conflict between clans."

The dog-woman Nazha offered a reminder.

Broly bringing Lily Luca back to the Hestia Familia is almost equivalent to the girl suffering domestic violence in her family of origin, and the boy, as her friend, taking her back to his home. But in this world, there is no child protection law; instead, there is a family protection law that everyone tacitly agrees on.

In other words, the life, death, good or bad of one's own family's children is one's own family's business, and it is not the business of other families to interfere. If other families interfere, it is unreasonable.

"Ah, then I..."

Lily Luca tensed up, but before she could finish speaking, Hestia interrupted her.

"Don't worry, Lily, um, may I call you that?"

"Uh, okay."

Lilyluka nodded quickly, while Hestia smiled and continued to say to the girl, "The meaning of my sacred fire is protection."

The light of the stove is the soul of the family, providing a final refuge for displaced children and protecting their last place of shelter.

Therefore, please do not worry. I guarantee in the name of divine will that I will provide you with protection, and even your original family will not be able to drag you back into the suffering of the past.

The theocracy of Hestia—that's exactly what I'm good at.

"Lord Hestia..."

Upon hearing this, Lily Luca's eyes immediately welled up with tears.

Upon first seeing the image of the goddess Hestia, the little girl felt an immense and loving majesty.

Hestia responded with a benevolent, goddess-like smile, clearly enjoying the reverent gaze directed at her by the little girl.

"Alright, everyone, sit down and eat."

"Eh?"

"What's wrong, Lily?"

"I already ate at Babel Tower, it was Brother Broly who treated me, so I'm not hungry now."

The little people didn't eat much, but Lilyluka ate quite a lot in the evening, thinking that it might be their last good meal.

"I see. Why don't you go over there and rest for a bit, or you can take a walk around the base to get familiar with where you'll be living from now on, and pick out a room you like."

Hestia didn't insist, handed the girl a glass of juice, and let her do as she pleased.

"Ah."

Lily Luca nodded in agreement and went to explore the newly built mansion of the Hestia Familia.

"Hephaestus, I have a question for you."

After the little girl left, Hestia went up to her red-haired friend, the craftsman god, and said something.

"what's up?"

Hephaestus looked at her.

"Are Soma's Familia powerful?"

Hestia asked.

Hephaestus's lips twitched, and he retorted, "You're only asking about this now? Don't you think it's a bit late?"

It means that they've already offered their protection, and now they're only inquiring about the strength of the other party's clan.

"Ah, Hephaestus, don't misunderstand. I have no regrets about protecting that child. I just wanted to have a general understanding of the strength of the Soma Familia that we might face in the future."

Hestia blushed slightly. She had put on a good show of emotion just now. As the goddess who provided the last refuge for displaced children, she couldn't possibly remain silent, could she?

I thought you had thought things through carefully before promising protection!

Hephaestus thought to himself, but said on the surface, "Don't worry, the Soma Familia is just a production-type Familia, and its strength is not very strong."

Although the children of that clan were quite determined to get a good drink, the clan leader was too power-hungry. He was only at level 2 and couldn't rise to level 3, so he didn't seem to allow anyone in the clan to surpass his strength.

Therefore, by consistently suppressing their own people with potential, the Soma Familia has yet to produce a single Lv.3 member.

"And your familia has Broly, with his talent alone, even without using any skills, he could probably easily defeat the entire Soma familia."

With a 3S stat line, plus the combat talent of a single S-rank character, it could easily defeat Goliath. However, the production-oriented Soma Familia is no match for Hestia's current Familia.

Even if the Hestia Familia only has two members now, or rather, as long as Broly is there, with the boy's [Rage] skill with its terrifyingly high amplification factor, no Familia in Orario would dare to say they can reliably defeat the Hestia Familia.

After all, who can withstand having their abilities increase tenfold just by getting angry?

"Hey, now that you say that, I feel relieved."

Hestia patted her ample bosom and said, "Hey, with such an outstanding child as Broly around, I, as the chief god, have more confidence in my words!"

Hephaestus: "..."

She suddenly realized that Hestia wasn't probing the strength of the Soma Familia at all; she was clearly showing off her child's abilities.

As the god of Broly, how could she not know Broly's stats and skills?
Pretending to be worried, she asked me about the strength of the Soma Familia. Was she trying to trick me?
Hephaestus stared at Hestia, who, feeling somewhat guilty, looked away.

Hephaestus, seeing the little goddess's reaction, confirmed his suspicions: she was showing off her child.

[Sigh, my dear friend used to be a simple-minded, celestial deity, but he's only been in the mortal realm for a short time, and he's already become so cunning. He even schemed to show off his children in front of me. The hearts of gods have changed; truly, the hearts of gods have changed!]

Hephaestus, marveling at the unchanging nature of the gods and at the rapid pace of change they underwent after descending to the mortal realm, began to harbor some wicked thoughts.

"Hestia, aren't you afraid that if you keep showing off your child to me, I won't be able to resist trying to seduce your Broly?"

Hephaestus whispered in Hestia's ear, and then saw his dear friend puff out his proud chest and say with great confidence, "Ha, Broly in this world is completely devoted to me, his god."

As soon as the Lolita Goddess finished speaking, the crab claw that Bell had picked up fell back onto the plate with a crisp sound.

As everyone looked at him, Bell looked at the boy. He almost forgot that Broly was going to have a harem, and one of his harem members was Lady Hestia. But tonight, Miss Erd was added, and he even brought her back.

Broly, this is a huge crisis! How can you eat so calmly?
Could it be that you intend to two-timing Lord Hestia without her knowledge?
But if that's the case, wouldn't that be...?

Although Bell was deeply influenced by his grandfather, who could say that "having a harem is the romance of men," he was still a naive boy who, while yearning for a harem, could also sense the immoral and emotional aspects involved.

If Broly really intends to hide this from Lady Hestia, then I...

Just as Belle was struggling with whether to help the boy deceive the goddess or keep his confession a secret tonight...

After finishing his bowl of rice and putting it down, Broly spoke up: "Lord Hestia, there is something I need to tell you."

"What is it, Broly? Just tell me."

"Tonight, I confessed my feelings to Lily Luca."

Broly stated frankly.

(End of this chapter)