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

"It's okay. She's just too tired."

"I'm so...so tired...uh, so?"

"Yes, there is no danger to his life."

It was dusk.

Bell is currently at "The Abundant Mistress". After that incident, Bell happened to meet Seele, who was there to watch the Monster Festival, and followed her advice to bring the unconscious Hestia here.

The commotion at the Monster Festival has gradually subsided. It's said that the swift response of various organizations, including the Ganesha Familia and guilds, has minimized the damage. There were no deaths or injuries. In fact, it could be said that Bell was the one who suffered the most.

It is said that the culprit who caused the commotion has not yet been found, and no clues have been obtained. The Ganesha Familia and guild members, who were suspected of being attacked by the culprit, all seem to be under a witch's spell and have no memory of anything. The incident ended with the culprit's motives remaining unclear.

On the second floor of a private room in the tavern, Bell let Hestia sleep in the room while he sat opposite Seele on the wooden walkway as the sun set.

"Thank goodness... she suddenly fainted, which worried me to death."

"Hehe, thank you for your hard work, Mr. Bell."

Shel smiled at the limp Bell, and then, trembling, said to him:

"I'm so sorry about today. It's all my fault for forgetting my wallet, which caused you to get caught up in this disaster..."

"No, no, don't say that. It's not Miss Seele's fault!"

Seele felt guilty for a long time after Bell's hasty denial, but finally her expression became natural, and a smile appeared on her lips. Seeing her expression, Bell was relieved.

"However, after this commotion, everyone on the street said in unison that the adventurer, Mr. Bell, was very brave."

“Eh…”

"I think so too. Actually, I saw Mr. Bell fighting the monster on the main road..."

"W-What's so brave about that? I was just running away everywhere. And I couldn't handle the monsters at all..."

Bell first tried to explain in a flustered manner, then shrank his shoulders in fear.

Seele chuckled softly at Bell, tossing her light gray hair.

Even so, he's still handsome!

"what?"

"...I may be speaking rashly, but when I saw Mr. Bell standing up against the monster...I was completely mesmerized."

She approached gently, covered her mouth with her hand, and whispered something in Bell's ear, making Bell's eyes widen.

As Seele left Bell's side, the setting sun bathed her face in a crimson glow, and she smiled sweetly and radiantly.

"The shop needs me to help out, so I have to say goodbye."

"Oh, okay..."

"The bed can still be used, no problem. Well then, Mr. Bell, see you next time."

Watching Seele disappear down the corridor with light footsteps, Bell scratched his head with a complicated expression.

"Was I being made fun of...?"

A mischievous expression, and eyes that seemed unusually passionate, perhaps influenced by the setting sun. Bell didn't know what to believe. After struggling to cool the heat from his cheeks, he walked to the door of Hestia's room.

He thought he should let her rest a little longer, looking up at the doorplate with a troubled expression.

Not long after, a heavy thud was heard as something fell to the ground.

"!"

He rushed into the room in shock and saw Hestia, who appeared to have rolled off the bed.

Her face was pressed to the ground, forming a posture that was less ungraceful and more bizarre.

Bell cried out and rushed to her side. He knelt down and lifted her petite body into his arms.

"God, God, God! What's wrong? What happened?!"

"Ah, Belle... it's nothing, I just woke up and tried to stand up, but I couldn't get the strength..."

"I...I can't muster any strength...Um, I heard you're just too tired. What happened to you these past three days?"

The little goddess suddenly looked into the distance.

"I bow in reverence."

"T-Toshita seat?"

"I engaged in a thirty-hour endurance test of prostrating myself before the stubborn goddess who resolutely refused to agree..."

"Thirty hours...! Is this so-called dogeza (prostration) a form of torture?!"

"No, it's the ultimate technique. The dogeza (thunderbolt) is the final ultimate technique..."

Seeing Hestia chanting the ultimate technique as if in a dream, Bell couldn't understand what she was saying and could only break out in a sweat.

"But how could you do something like that... God, weren't you at a party?!"

"……this."

"what?"

Hestia slowly reached to Bell's waist and pulled out the black dagger that was stuck there. "Ah." Bell only then realized that she hadn't explained the weapon to him in detail.

Just as Bell was about to ask her how she got the dagger—he gasped.

Because in the corner of the dagger's scabbard, he saw the mark 【НØαιτοS】, which was extremely similar to 【sacred script】.

—Hephaestus.

He could understand this line of text without needing any interpretation.

Because it was exactly the same as the sign hanging in the store of the "Hephaestus Familia" that he thought he would never have the chance to have in his life.

"God, deity, this is...!"

"I'm sorry for making you worry... But I don't want to just stand by and watch. I don't want to rely on you to support me... to always ask you for help."

With trembling hands gripping the hilt, Hestia slowly drew the dagger from its sheath.

The black blade reappeared before them.

The straight blade, without any curves, possesses a sharpness far beyond that of currently used short swords. Are the tiny engravings covering the entire dagger [divine script]?

The dagger, dyed the same color as Hestia's hair from the tip of the blade to the end of the hilt, gleamed with a bluish-purple sheen and looked like a baby breathing in Bell's hands.

"I know you're always staring at Hephaestus's shop window. While I doubt it's exactly what you wanted, it's a one-of-a-kind weapon, you know. Pretty amazing, right?"

"How could that be? But... Hephaestus's weapons are extremely expensive... Where did the money come from...!"

"Don't worry, I've already spoken to them."

His voice trembled, and his eyes quivered.

Hestia, looking utterly exhausted, gave Bell a gentle smile.

"You want to become stronger, right?"

"!"

"I already said I'd lend you a hand. Just let me be a busybody for a bit."

“Wu…wu…”

More than anyone or anything, I want to be your strength... because I love you.

"...!"

Tears finally welled up in Bell's eyes.

Hestia's cheeks flushed pink, and a smile spread across her face.

"You can ask me for help anytime. Don't worry, after all, I'm your savior, you know?"

Bell could no longer tolerate it.

He let the tears stream down his face and hugged Hestia tightly.

"immortal--!"

Bell nestled against that petite body like a child.

"Hey, hey, you haven't put the knife away yet, that's dangerous!"

"It warms my heart," Hestia said, but she also put her hands behind Bell's back.

She let Bell, who was much taller than her, bury his face in her neck, his fingers stroking her snow-white hair. The sounds of sobbing and sniffling brushed past her ear.

Hestia felt that the boy who cried incessantly for her own sake, disregarding the shame, deserved more pity than anyone else.

(Ah, that's great...)

Her true self is actually slow-witted, not smart, and clumsy. The goddess Hestia she pretends to be in front of the boy is just a show of bravado.

However, as long as it's for the child, she felt that it wouldn't hurt to show off a little.

Sharing the profound happiness of this moment with Bell, Hestia thought:

(Now we're mutually in love.)

In the very end, she had a serious misunderstanding.

Bell Craney

Belongs to the Hestia Familia

The main church's storage room

human race

Professional Adventurer

Arrive at the 6th floor

Weapon: Short sword; Money: 7100 Fali

Ability value

LV.1

Strength: E403 Durability: H199 Dexterity: E412 Agility: D521 Magic: I0

"magic"

【】

"Skill"

【Aspirations in my heart】

·precocious.

• Maintains the effect while simultaneously expressing feelings of longing

The stronger the longing, the greater the effect.

Short Sword

• Guild supplies, with the lowest power level.

It was purchased by Bell with borrowed money, along with the armor and other items. The total amount was 8600 Faris. Because weapons and armor also require regular maintenance, it took him half a month to pay off the debt.

Hestia's Blade

· 35-year loan, 420 installments

• Signed a contract for forced labor at the Babel Tower branch of the Hephaestus Familia. Goods Hestia bought at any cost.

This is the work designed by Hephaestus after much deliberation, who was racking her brains over what to make "a first-class item for novice adventurers."

• It was made using a special method, incorporating Hestia's hair, "divine blood," and her own "divine script," giving the dagger "ability points."

It will be strengthened as the wearer grows—by gaining experience points. A living weapon.

• Only those who have received Hestia's blessing can use it. It will become garbage if used by others.

When the user reaches the "strongest" level, the Dao-style dagger will also reach the "strongest" level. Hephaestus describes this as a "wicked weapon."

Volume One Final Chapter: Familia Myth

That was when Hestia had failed to persuade others to join her [Family] and the number of people had reached fifty.