"...?"
Takemikazuchi paused for a moment, his expression shifting as he looked at Hestia's radiant, blissful smile with quiet surprise.
He wanted to ask, 'Do you really understand what this means?'
Forming a 'bond' like that with a child from Genkai... more often than not, it ended in tragedy.
He wanted to remind her of that.
But when the words reached his lips, they wouldn't come out.
Takemikazuchi knew Hestia had always gotten along well with the goddesses who had returned to Tenkai. This sudden notion of hers surely had something to do with their influence.
Many gods had proposed to her in Tenkai, but she always brushed them off. That's why she was known as the 'Virgin Goddess.'
Of course, calling her that carried a hint of mockery.
Still, the title wasn't harsh enough to cause offense, and the gods didn't take it seriously. After all, Hestia wasn't the only one in Tenkai to bear that name—Athena and Artemis were also called 'Virgin Goddesses' for their complete disinterest in male gods.
He just hadn't expected Hestia to come to Genkai and actually find someone she could truly bond with.
Takemikazuchi gave a small shake of his head, unsure of what to say.
He sped up his grilling, flipping the skewers deftly, then handed over a freshly cooked octopus skewer to Hestia's child.
"This one's on me."
"Hestia is a fool. I can't really say what I want to, but... try your best to protect her."
Bell accepted the skewer, his gaze meeting Takemikazuchi's—and in that moment, he understood the weight behind the words.
He didn't flinch. Instead, he looked more resolute than ever.
"I'll protect her with everything I have."
Takemikazuchi looked into the boy's eyes—steady, unwavering, filled with fierce determination.
Now he understood. This child was the one Hestia had truly chosen to bond with.
And he saw something else too: a fire, an unshakable resolve burning in Bell's eyes.
'He's definitely a child with rare potential.'
The boy understood what he meant—far more than most adventurers would have. And instead of hesitating at the idea of forming a bond with a goddess, he had already made up his mind.
The road ahead would be filled with hardship.
Bonds between gods and children from Genkai rarely ended well. Most were doomed to end in heartbreak.
And yet... so many gods still sought them.
Takemikazuchi understood why. Gods longed for these encounters—not just for fun, but for something they could carry in their hearts forever.
That's what worried him—that Hestia might become one of those goddesses.
But in the end, he stopped worrying.
Because he knew there was no point. This kind of bond was exactly what gods sought, and the sweet moments and painful ones were all part of it.
He couldn't stop it.
And he had no right to.
"Well then, Takemikazuchi, see you tomorrow."
"...Don't come tomorrow, idiot."
Hestia grinned at Takemikazuchi, then tugged Bell along as they headed off.
Takemikazuchi watched her retreating figure and gave a small shake of his head. That fatherly concern in his heart had nowhere to go.
Hestia walked with Bell through the streets, picking up all kinds of interesting trinkets along the way. But since it was their first date—also their first meal out—she wanted to take Bell somewhere a bit more formal for a proper dinner.
Bell followed along quietly. He wasn't too familiar with the layout of Orario's streets. After all, he wasn't the kind of guy who went looking for trouble.
Who knew when a goddess might suddenly appear in the streets?
So ever since arriving in Orario, Bell had been extra cautious, often sticking close to the crowds while walking. Being among people was the best way to stay under the radar.
He also made a point of avoiding dangerous areas.
And when it came to danger, the most notorious spot in Orario was a tavern called the "Hostess of Fertility."
The interior of the tavern was a blend of low-key luxury.
...
That elegant decor made it a popular hangout for many adventurers.
Of course, the prices weren't cheap.
For upper-tier adventurers, a meal there wasn't a big deal. But for those at the bottom, eating there was like signing away their life savings.
It was said that the average cost per person was around 2,000 Valis.
To put that into perspective: a low-level Lv.1 adventurer might earn between 10,000 and 20,000 Valis per trip into the Dungeon on a good day. So a single meal here would burn through a tenth of that—and that's for the budget option, which included drinks and decent veggies.
...
It wasn't unusual for a single meal to cost a Lv.1 adventurer a full day's work.
And even that 10,000 to 20,000 Valis income was only if things went well.
A little bad luck, and it'd be a nightmare.
But for Bell, the real danger of that tavern wasn't the steep prices—it was the spy of the goddess hidden among the staff.
That spy served Freya, the Goddess of Beauty, who could see an adventurer's potential just by looking into their soul.
In the original story, Bell Cranel had been targeted by Freya, so he wouldn't dare risk letting her catch a glimpse of him.
Even if he was sure his soul lacked any kind of brilliance—what if he was wrong? What if there was some kind of light after all? He'd be screwed.
That overwhelming survival instinct had kept Bell far away from the "Hostess of Fertility." He hadn't even dared to ask about it.
Because just "asking around" could leave traces—and Bell wasn't about to take that risk.
So he never tried to find out anything about the place.
Which was exactly how, completely unaware, Bell ended up being led into what he considered a den of monsters by Goddess-sama herself.
Even after sitting down, he didn't immediately realize where he was.
Not until the silver-haired waitress walked over.
"What would you like to order?"
Bell caught sight of the expression on the waitress's face—and almost froze.
...
(40 Chapters Ahead)
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