"So, what brings you two here?"
Relieved that Hestia didn't pursue the sensitive topic, Astraea shifted the conversation, inquiring about the true purpose of Hermes and Hestia's visit.
"We'd like to discuss something with Charlie Avalon. Is he home?" Hermes replied with his characteristic cheerful smile.
His eyes scanned the room, and he nearly lost his composure at the sight before him.
Chibi versions of Divine Beasts roamed casually, some playing with Est. Hermes struggled to contain his shock.
(Oi, oi, oi, did Charlie stumble upon a spirit nest or something? I thought he only contracted one spirit, but there are seven! Good grief, how many secrets is he hiding?!)
His heart raced with excitement. Though a bit eccentric and cunning, Hermes was, after all, a god. The essence of gods descending to the lower world was to seek amusement, and he was no exception.
Now, faced with an individual who could add color to the monotonous and boring lives of gods, how could Hermes not be intrigued?
"Someone called for me?"
From the kitchen, Charlie entered the living room, wearing a simple apron that made him look like a home cook.
"Hm?"
One eyebrow raised as he noticed the unexpected guests: Hestia and Hermes.
"Oh, this is unexpected. You can cook, Charlie?" Hermes smiled brightly, eyeing the apron Charlie wore. "It's rare to find a First-Class Adventurer who can cook. Usually, First-Class Adventurers prefer buying food or hiring someone to cook for them rather than doing it themselves."
"Well, there's no woman in this house who can cook. As for hiring someone… that's an idea worth considering."
Cooking for four people was indeed a hassle, and Charlie seriously considered Hermes's suggestion. Despite having three beautiful women living in his home, none of them had any talent for cooking, leaving the task to him daily.
"You don't need to cook for me, Charlie. I can eat out." Astraea said, her usual grace and calm tinged with slight embarrassment.
Not only was she staying in someone else's home, but she also wasn't contributing, even in the kitchen. She didn't want to be seen as a freeloader, especially in front of another god.
"Hoh~"
Astraea's shy reaction made Hermes narrow his eyes, suspecting something.
"Hermes! Have you forgotten why we came here?" Hestia snapped, her worry for Bell's safety making her lose patience. She glared at Hermes, annoyed by his leisurely, roundabout attitude.
"Don't be impatient, Hestia. The plan starts tonight, so there's still time." Hermes replied casually, shrugging. His smile never faded, as if the situation was just part of an amusing game to him.
Turning his gaze to Charlie, who sat in a single chair flanked by Aishia on his right and Astraea on his left, Hermes finally spoke bluntly.
"Charlie, I want you to join this Quest."
"…"
Charlie took a piece of paper Hermes placed on the table, reading it silently. The two women on either side of him, Astraea and Aishia, leaned forward, reading the document from their perspectives.
"Bell Cranel is missing?"
Charlie looked up, his eyes filled with questions.
"Yup. Bell and his party should've returned from the Dungeon by now. Unfortunately, an accident occurred. They encountered members of Takemikazuchi Familia being chased by Almiraj, and they were used as bait by the Takemikazuchi members to escape."
Needing Charlie's unmatched strength, Hermes explained everything he knew, including details about how the Pass Parade began.
"Though it's rare, I didn't expect Takemikazuchi's children to do something so immoral." Astraea said, her disapproval clear. As the Goddess of Justice, she detested wicked actions.
She hadn't expected Takemikazuchi, a God of War, to have such cowardly and morally deficient members in his Familia. Disappointment was etched on her usually calm face.
"Well, that's what most adventurers would do in such a situation. Compared to the well-being of unknown adventurers, Takemikazuchi's children prioritized their comrades' safety. Of course, I'm not justifying their actions. It's just the reality." Hermes quickly added, noticing Astraea's sharp gaze. He could sense the disapproval radiating from the Goddess of Justice.
"In this rescue Quest, Takemikazuchi Familia members are also participating. They're not bad kids; they regret setting Bell up. If their character was truly rotten, they wouldn't have confessed their actions to me."
As one of the victims of this incident, Hestia didn't entirely blame Takemikazuchi Familia. After all, their regret wasn't a lie.
In life-or-death situations, people would do anything to survive, even if it meant sacrificing others.
"…"
Since Hestia herself held no grudge against the culprits, Astraea felt it wasn't her place to judge. She chose to remain silent.
"So, Charlie, will you join?" Hermes asked.
"Please, Bell look-alike, save Bell!" Hestia pleaded, her blue eyes brimming with tears about to spill. To her, Bell's safety was everything.
The existing rescue team for Bell consisted of Takemikazuchi Familia members and the captain of Hermes Familia, Asfi Andromeda.
Setting aside the Takemikazuchi members, who were only Level 2 adventurers, Asfi was Level 4. Technically, a team of six Third-Class Adventurers and one Second-Class Adventurer was more than sufficient to explore the Middle Floors of the Dungeon and rescue Bell and his party.
However, the Dungeon was unpredictable, and anything could happen. Having a First-Class Adventurer join the team would drastically improve the Quest's safety and success rate. A Level 5's presence would be an invaluable guarantee of safety.
"Bell look-alike, huh…" Charlie gave a wry smile, rubbing his temple. "Goddess Hestia, that's not how you ask for help. Aside from our similar hair color, we look completely different, don't we?"
"You're right. Bell is way more handsome and cooler than you." Hestia nodded confidently, her eyes sparkling as she pictured Bell. "Bell-kun is far… cuter!"
"No, Charlie is more handsome." Aishia, who had been silent until now, finally spoke. Her voice was flat, devoid of emotion, but her disagreement was unmistakable. She wouldn't let Hestia's statement slide.
"Hah?! Bell is obviously leagues more handsome!" Hestia exclaimed, feeling her opinion was under attack.
"That's a biased perspective. No matter how I look at it, Charlie is more handsome than this Bell you're talking about." Aishia retorted, her eyes challenging Hestia.
"Grrr… You're a spirit; our aesthetics are different!" Hestia passionately defended her stance, pointing a finger at Aishia.
"Ahem, Hestia, stop arguing. Remember why we're here." Hermes interjected with a forced laugh.
Though he enjoyed watching women bicker, he had to stop them. It wasn't the time to antagonize Charlie. After all, they were the ones asking for help, and nothing was worse than requesting aid from someone they'd just upset.
"Alright, I don't mind helping."
Without much deliberation, Charlie agreed. For him, saving Bell was a simple matter, especially since Hestia was the one asking.
"Really?! Thank you! You're a good person, Bell look-alike." Hestia exclaimed, momentarily forgetting her spat with Aishia.
"My name is Charlie Avalon. Please remember that, Goddess Hestia." Charlie sighed helplessly at Hestia's careless nickname. He didn't mind the "good person" card, but he wanted his name remembered correctly.
Afterward, they discussed the departure time. Hermes explained that the rescue team would move at night, using the darkness to avoid attention. Once all details were settled, Hestia and Hermes left to prepare.
Meanwhile, Charlie resumed cooking dinner. As he chopped vegetables, an idea struck him.
"Oh, right, I forgot about Senrigan. Let's check on the protagonist's situation."
Senrigan activated!
Instantly, Charlie's vision transcended space and time, piercing the depths of the Dungeon. He saw Bell and his party's situation firsthand.
Bell's group continued their adventure, though they now used foul-smelling sacks as monster repellents—a dirty trick showing their desperate situation. They were still facing a Hellhound, but Welf cast Will o' Wisp, causing its fireball to backfire and kill it. Though Welf looked tense and exhausted, he claimed he was fine to continue.
"Even without me, they'll be fine. After all, Bell is the protagonist. Even if a protagonist dies, they'll somehow come back to life."
Unlike Hestia, who was anxious about Bell's fate, Charlie knew Bell was this world's Child of Fate. He was confident everything would turn out fine, even if life-threatening dangers arose.