Is it wrong to try to meet someone in a dungeon?

"Wait, wait a minute, Hestia!? I... I just did it on a whim! Because your child is so cute, I couldn't help but play a prank... Please! Please have mercy, loving goddess! Didn't we propose to each other?!"

"Shut up."

The little sister goddess, like Hades, sealed off his plea.

Even in the "Heaven", she had never been seen so furious, which made Apollo's face turn pale and he could no longer speak.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Her twin ponytails swung wildly, and Apollo finally understood just how deep her anger ran.

"You promised you'd grant me any request if I won, right...?"

Apollo, who never doubted his ability to win, did indeed boast that he would agree to any condition if he lost.

The gods also gathered from the surrounding area, forming a large circle. On one side were the sinners whose crimes were listed, and on the other side was the goddess who delivered the "divine judgment".

The gods, secretly amused and maliciously chuckling. Apollo, his throat constricted.

Before the terrified god, Hestia slowly raised her head, then suddenly widened her eyes and roared angrily:

"All property, including headquarters, will be confiscated, and your [Family] will be disbanded—then you, the chief god, will be permanently exiled to a foreign land, never to set foot in Orario again—!!"

"Eee ...

The screams of the gods shaking the city echoed.

Hestia showed no mercy in proposing a punishment for this dangerous divine being that attempted to taint the morals of her kin.

In Orario, a city far from the battlefield, where the excitement has not yet subsided.

One feud was also resolved.

□

The ruins of the ancient city after the war.

Inside the city, where the walls, the throne tower, and many other buildings were destroyed, Bell and his men were jubilant over their victory.

"We really defeated such a massive [familia]... all by ourselves."

"Even though I used a lot of tricks... it's not too much to be happy now, is it?"

Excitedly, she talked with Welf. Both she and he, who had fought the defeated executive (Daphne), had their armor and kimono covered in scars, but their faces showed a sense of accomplishment.

Listening to their conversation, Belle slowly squatted down in front of Lily.

"Lily... thank you for saving me."

"Bell, sir..."

"Really, thank you so much..."

Bell's wounded smile held a hint of joy, and his expression seemed to touch Lily's heart, causing her to choke up for a moment. Her petite body tensed, her face lowered, and she asked Bell timidly:

"Lily...did you help Lord Bell?"

"Yes. Because Lily was there... I was able to return to Orario."

Upon hearing Bell's words, his childlike face lit up with a smile.

As if on the day the relationship between the two sides was repaired, the little girl blushed and revealed a sunflower-like smile.

"Mr. Crannie, it's about time we left. We need to find a quiet place to treat you before the guild's staff arrive."

"Oh, okay."

Ryu, who had covered her face, looked at Bell's badly injured right shoulder and made a suggestion to him.

Savoring the lingering glow of victory, Bell and the others left the rubble-strewn area and began to move.

"...?"

Bell slowly placed his hand on his left chest.

He snapped back to his senses, pulled on the rope around his neck, and took the thing out from his chest.

What was taken out was broken jewelry (protective accessories).

The gemstone shattered completely, and the metal parts were cracked and scattered with fragments. The beautiful prototype that Seele had given her was gone forever.

(...It protected me?)

At that time, the enemy (Yacintos) struck him directly with powerful magic, and Bell could very well have collapsed on the spot.

Bell had this intuition as she looked at the broken jewelry that seemed to replace her own.

then……

He saw that the inside of the shattered jewelry was engraved with symbols that looked like emblems.

Because it is covered with countless cracks and is not clearly visible, all that is known is that it is a profile of someone.

"What's wrong, Bell? Let's go."

"Ah... um, okay."

He stood there, when Welf turned around and called to him.

Belle, looking down at the jewelry, nodded ambiguously, then looked up at the sky one last time before taking a step.

"..."

Who was the adventurer who transferred this jewelry to Seele?

What was that person's purpose in giving the jewelry to Seele, and how did it end up in their own hands?

Looking up at the cloudless sky, he pondered these questions.

It was as if someone high in the sky, among the urban spectators watching the battle through a "mirror," noticed him and smiled—he had that feeling.

●

The war game concluded with the victory of the Hestia Familia.

The fierce battle between the two factions became a topic of conversation later on. Bell and his companions spent a day returning to the city from the ancient ruins, and for a considerable period of time they were the center of attention.

The defeated Apollo Familia disbanded immediately at Hestia's request. The god Apollo bid farewell to his members and, after completing the farewell ceremony, was banished from the city alone.

The former members who became free went their separate ways: some leisurely explored their future paths, some accepted recruitment offers from other factions and joined other "familias," while others never recovered and their lives took a turn for the worse. Some, like Hyacinthus, were devoted to Apollo and were willing to disregard the guild's rules against the outflow of combat power in order to follow the god they believed in for life.

War games have had a significant impact on various aspects.

While the aftermath of the incident was still unfolding, many people were busy dealing with the aftermath.

"...This is the agreed-upon cancellation fee."

Lily reached out and handed over the bag full of gold coins.

Soma, dressed in a long robe, silently accepted it.

Two days after the war game, Lily arrived alone at the headquarters of the Soma Familia.

After the Apollo faction disbanded, their assets, amounting to compensation, all ended up in the pockets of Hestia and her associates. As agreed, Lily had prepared a large sum of money to exchange for the "Blade of Hestia," which had been used as collateral.

Bell and the others offered to come with her, but she refused and came alone. She told everyone that she wanted to end it all herself.

"..."

After all, he had to save face as a member of a faction, so Soma did not refuse and accepted the withdrawal fee.

Without checking the amount in the bag, he returned the black dagger, which he had kept safe, to Lily.

In the main god's room at headquarters, the cabinets were filled with plant seedlings and wine bottles. The process ended too quickly, leaving Lily somewhat at a loss, but she eventually straightened her posture.

She said her final goodbye timidly and stiffly.

"Thank you for taking care of me all this time..."

Neither sarcastic nor resentful, Lily uttered this word of thanks in order to put an end to things.

Lily, whose back is engraved with the goddess's "Grace," is now a member of the Hestia Familia. She is no longer a member of the Soma Familia.

She bowed, her petite figure completely covered by a long robe, lowered her face, and dared not look directly into Su Mo's eyes before leaving him.

"..."

Seeing the girl turn her back and walk towards the room door, Soma, who had been standing still, pondered for a moment, and then... spoke to her retreating figure:

"Liliruka Erd... I'm so sorry."

Lily's body stiffened, and she stopped in front of the door.

The male god, whose bangs were so long that his expression was completely hidden, finally told her:

"...You should take care of your health."

This was the first time the chief god (the heavenly god) spoke to her.

Quietly and slowly, Lily's chestnut eyes welled up with tears.

She had been wanting to hear those words for so long, and she was so glad to finally hear them. She didn't turn around; she just lowered her head.

Lily, her voice trembling, answered the God who remembered her name with "Yes..."

This time, I really left the room.

"..."

After Lily left, Somo stood there for a while before slowly turning his head away.

He took all the bottles out of the cabinet, held them in his arms, and put them in the wooden box, then closed it.

Instead, he put the wine glasses, which were no longer of any use, into the cabinet and narrowed his eyes beneath his long bangs.

After that, the factional situation of the Soma Familia gradually improved.

Volume 6 Final Chapter: Hestia Familia

In the spacious courtyard where the enormous mansion stands.

Hestia felt incredibly pleased with herself.

"Ta-da! So, from today onwards, this is our headquarters!"

"Ohhhhhh!"

Looking at the mansion that Hestia was pointing to, Bell, Lily, Welf, and Ming all exclaimed in admiration, deeply moved.

This is a three-story mansion so large that one has to look up to see it. According to Hestia, the mansion also seems to have a courtyard and corridors. The entire site is surrounded by tall iron railings and has a spacious front yard planted with flowers, trees, and shrubs.

"However, I never expected that we would actually capture the headquarters of the Apollo Familia..."

"Hmph, they wrecked our headquarters without any regard for reason, they have no right to complain!"

Hearing Lily say this while looking up at the mansion, Hestia said it back confidently and nonchalantly.

Thanks to their status as the victors of the war game, Hestia and her companions acquired the headquarters of the Apollo Familia—the mansion owned by Apollo and his crew. To their surprise, their residence was also "upgraded," much to the astonishment of Bell and Welf.

Everyone stood in the front yard, gazing at the mansion that would soon become the new headquarters, and could hardly believe it.

"We've received a large sum of compensation. Let's remove all the tasteless statues and renovate the entire mansion! Just tell us what you want!"

"He-Goddess Hestia! Please make sure to bring in bathroom facilities!"

"Goddess Hestia—! Please build me a blacksmith's furnace—!"

After announcing to everyone that the mansion, which was filled with Apollo's personal preferences, would be renovated, Megumi and Welf excitedly pleaded with her. Hestia closed her eyes and held out her palm to him, saying, "Don't rush, be patient," before speaking with composure.

"We can finally hold our heads high and call ourselves a 'Family' now, so let's decide on our crests first."

"That's right!"

All the members of the Familia nodded in agreement with the chief god's proposal. Bell, in particular, was even more overjoyed than the others at the thought of finally being able to hold high the long-awaited Familia emblem.

Hestia sat down on the steps in front of the mansion. Seemingly prepared, she rummaged through her art supplies and easel and began to paint. Bell and the others, wanting to peek at what was drawn on the parchment, crowded around Hestia like a family.

"Hmph, I've already thought about this for a long time."

Hestia drew smoothly, and soon called out "Ta-da!" to show everyone the finished drawing. Welf, Ming, and Lily, who had received the parchment, all looked at it.

"This is, fire and..."

"I see. The symbol of the goddess Hestia is the flame of protection."

"That kind of thing doesn't matter! This badge is basically just Goddess Hestia and Lord Bell!"

As Welf muttered to himself about fate, Lily stood beside him, puffing up her cheeks in anger.

In response to the three people's different reactions, Hestia invoked the authority of the supreme god and told everyone with satisfaction: