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

"What happened?!"

"Hestia, who has absolutely no interest in men in the celestial realm, actually...!"

"Hestia, who used to stay home all year round, is actually...!"

"Super loli Hestia is amazing!"

"What... what exactly is going on...?"

"Come on, tell me the truth now!"

In the blink of an eye, a crowd—no, a divine tide—formed around Hestia.

Some goddesses even impolitely jumped into the bath, pushing and shoving each other's pink skin as they moved closer to Hestia.

"W-What's wrong? Is it so strange that I have a little bit of gossip going on?"

"No, Hestia. Didn't you used to reject all the men who courted you?"

"She is one of the three virgin goddesses in the heavens, along with the goddess of wisdom (Athena) and the goddess of chastity (Artemis)."

"To put it bluntly, we want to know what kind of person is the one who breached the seemingly impregnable castle."

Hestia made an indescribable expression as the goddesses following Demeter chattered on and on.

She almost wanted to say that the gods who wooed her were no good, but she knew it was no use saying anything to these goddesses with their bright eyes.

Even in such places, the divine pursuit of entertainment is still fulfilled without regret.

"...The other party is my [Family Member's] child. It's a human."

"Oh my!" the goddesses exclaimed. Some said, "I knew it!" Others said, "Did he awaken your maternal instincts?" The goddesses casually made up their opinions, throwing out speculations and questions one after another.

"You weren't scammed, were you? You didn't fall for some weirdo's tricks, did you?"

"Don't underestimate me. I'm a god too, and I still have the ability to judge people."

"After all, we gods can see what the child is hiding."

"So what is it about that child that you like?"

"...It's probably his character, I guess."

There wasn't a clear reason, Hestia said softly, pondering to herself. If she had to pinpoint one, it would probably be his pure, innocent, and overly honest nature.

After a long while, the goddesses continued to press her for answers, and Hestia finally grew tired and decided to leave the bathhouse. Considering she still needed to prepare, she figured it was about time.

She shook off the goddesses' attempts to keep her and stood up from the hot water. Many water droplets flowed over her slender, petite body, reflecting the shimmering sunlight streaming through the skylight. Her downcast, jet-black hair, damp and glossy, was vibrant with moisture.

Hestia closed her eyes for a long while and stood still.

Like a painting, the image of the young goddess quietly basking in the sunlight made everyone squint and feast their eyes.

"Hey, Hestia—. What does Hestia like about that child?"

A goddess raised her hand to deliver her final speech.

Hestia simply turned her neck to look back and gave a slight smile.

"All (a lot)."

●

You can reach Plaza de Armour by taking a side street from the main avenue of Southwest Street.

The garden, paved with colorful stones and adorned with flowers planted into hedges, presents a magnificent atmosphere. As the sun sets and the sky darkens, the magic stone lamps hanging overhead light up, dimly illuminating the entire square.

It was nearly six o'clock. At this time, many men and women were cuddling together, but Bell stood somewhat awkwardly in front of a bronze statue of a goddess.

"Bell!"

"ah……!"

Hestia found Bell and ran up to her.

Hearing the voice calling his name, Bell looked relieved, but then he was startled and blinked several times.

Hestia changed her hairstyle. She let her hair down, which she usually wore in pigtails, and let it fall straight down her back. Her originally youthful appearance gained a more mature look, which drew Bell's attention.

The small bell-shaped hair ornament she used to tie her hair with was now wrapped around her wrist like a bracelet. Her clothes were also the finest among the clothes at hand, Hestia's most meticulously chosen attire.

Hestia, panting, stopped in front of Bell, her cheeks slightly flushed, and asked nervously:

"W-How does it look? I've slightly altered my outfit..."

"...Ah, yes, it's beautiful, really beautiful! Uh, how should I put it, it looks more majestic than ordinary gods... um, very, very pretty!"

With a flushed face, Bell struggled to use his clumsy vocabulary to praise Hestia.

His praise likely carried a sense of awe for the supreme deity, yet his words also revealed a hint of shyness. At this moment, Bell was indeed captivated by Hestia.

"Very good," Hestia mentally made a victory sign.

"I was hoping to arrive earlier, sorry Belle. Have you been waiting long?"

"No, no, I just arrived too."

Oh no. I almost burst out laughing.

The conversation, which sounded just like a real date, made Hestia's cheeks almost burst with embarrassment.

The prospect of what would happen next made her heart race, and Hestia's mood soared.

"So, Belle? You'd better be my date tonight, okay?"

"Okay, okay."

Then, with a smile, she extended her hand, allowing Bell to lead her—just moments before.

A corner of Amor Square suddenly became noisy.

"Ah, there it is—!"

"We've found Hestia!"

"So... the one next to her is her!"

It was a massive attack by a group of stunningly beautiful young women, all without exception.

Bell stood there speechless, while Hestia beside him stared wide-eyed.

"Got you—!"

"Wow, that's so cute!"

"So Hestia likes this type of child—"

"Ugh, uh pfft!"

The crowd of goddesses pushed Hestia aside in an instant and swallowed Bell.

A whole bunch of arms pulled and tugged at Bell's body, taking turns hugging her to their chests.

Trapped in the heavenly cage of the goddess, whose breath was as sweet as orchids, Bell's face instantly turned fiery red.

"W-wh-what...!"

"I'm so sorry, Hestia. We were so eager to see your child that we followed you... Oh dear, it really looks like a rabbit."

"Mmm—, mmm—!"

"Be... Bell—!"

Hestia let out a piercing scream.

Caught between Demeter's overwhelmingly full cleavage, a sight unmatched by any other goddess, Bell's life hung by a thread. Every time Demeter's hand lovingly stroked Bell's white hair, Hestia felt as if her chest was being torn apart, her eyes nearly bleeding tears.

Their own kind became objects of the gods' curiosity (entertainment), and were cruelly ravaged.

And so, at the very moment when Hestia's mind was about to collapse.

Half of the goddesses were trapped among them, and Bell, like a rag doll, squeezed out from the gap.

"immortal……!"

"Are you...are you alright, Belle?"

"...Perhaps I can die without regrets...!"

Thump! Hestia's toe slammed into Bell's shin.

"I'm sorry, I was wrong...!"

"Okay, let's run away!"

She dragged Bell, who was limping, along as Hestia began her escape.

While the goddesses were still in shock at discovering their prey was missing, the two escaped from Plaza de Amor.

To escape the relentless pursuit of the goddess, Hestia and Bell begin their escape through the entire city.

◇

"Ugh—that's exactly why I can't stand these gods! They're so faithful to their desires, it's just too much!"

"Hahaha……"

Beside the yelling Hestia, Bell smiled wryly.

Having escaped repeated pursuits, Hestia and her companions arrived at the ancient clock tower on the outskirts of West Street. This detached brick tower, now devoid of its original function, had a clock hanging above their heads that would never ring again.

Hestia and her companions temporarily hid in the clock tower to avoid the goddesses' pursuit, and the matter finally came to an end.

"It's already so late... Sigh, what a rare opportunity to go on a date with Bell..."

"A...a date?"

Soon today will be over. Hestia ran her hands through her disheveled hair, which she had made a mess of while running around, and sighed deeply. She kept lamenting the end of this day.

"Ah... Gods, gods, look!"

"...?"

Bell let out a cheerful sound and pointed in a certain direction.

Hestia turned her head and saw a dazzling, labyrinthine city nightscape before her, as bright as the Milky Way in the sky.

Countless magic stone lamps glowed with phosphorescent light of various colors, illuminating the entire city.

Deep within the landscape, the white-walled giant tower, still strikingly visible in the darkness, stretches straight towards the sky.

Gazing at the city's beautiful nightscape from the clock tower, Hestia was captivated. Forgetting to speak, she glanced absently to her side and saw Bell, too, his eyes gleaming softly as he gazed intently at the scene.

Soon Bell noticed Hestia's gaze, his cheeks flushing with warm excitement. He frankly followed his feelings and spoke:

"Um, fairy... let's go another day. We must go next time."

"Bell..."

"Before that, I'll try my best to save more money than I have now. We'll use that money to eat and drink well... and then we'll come back here."

"..."

"The beautiful scenery we discovered today... well, let's come and see it together again, just the two of us."

So today is definitely not a wasted day.

I am very happy to be here with God (you).

Bell spoke to Hestia in an encouraging tone. It wasn't just a momentary consolation, but a genuine expression of his feelings.

Seeing the boy smiling carefree with his flushed cheeks, Hestia felt a surge of emotion deep within her chest and quietly narrowed her eyes.

I must have been attracted by that perfectly genuine, pure, and overly honest smile.

I cherish the memory of today as a promise for tomorrow...

"...Let me look forward to it, Bell?"

"Yes."

Hestia smiled as well, and she and Bell exchanged a knowing smile.

Later, the two of them looked out at the open view outside the clock tower again, quietly immersing themselves in the time that belonged only to the two of them.

Hestia subtly shifted her position, successfully closing the distance between herself and Bell. Her cheeks flushed, and her eyes softened.

(I was going to ask about Miss Supporter... but I'll pass on that today.)