Calling it the dwelling of a God and her Familia, it was far too shabby.
Arthas looked up at the building before him.
Nestled at the very end of a deserted alley was a dilapidated church. Or rather, the two-story building, built to show reverence for the Gods, was practically in ruins. The exterior was covered in crumbling stone, giving off a faint sadness, as if it had been forgotten by time and people.
At the top of the front entrance, a dilapidated statue of a Goddess, half its face gone, smiled down at Arthas.
Thinking that a Goddess actually lived in such a place, Arthas felt a wave of helplessness and heartache, and at the same time, a sense of responsibility weighed heavily on him.
He had to work hard to earn money, at least to give Hestia a decent place to live.
Arthas entered the house, the interior as damaged as the exterior. Through the cracks in the broken floorboards, weeds grew profusely. Most of the ceiling had long since fallen, essentially nonexistent. Sunlight streamed in through a large hole in the roof, illuminating the altar that had somehow remained intact.
Without lingering in the church, which could be called ruins, Arthas went to a small room in front of the altar and entered. In this dimly lit room was a row of bookshelves, completely empty. Behind the innermost bookshelf was a staircase leading down into the earth.
After descending the seemingly bottomless staircase, a door appeared before Arthas. The door was open, and faint light leaked from a small window in the door.
"Hestia, I'm back."
Instead of addressing the God as one would typically address a God, Arthas called the Goddess by her name and entered the room.
The Goddess, called by Arthas, was lying on a purple sofa, supine, holding an open book. Hearing Arthas's voice, she immediately stood up.
"You're back! You're back! How was your adventurer's basic knowledge lesson?"
An excited smile appeared on Hestia's youthful face, and she ran to Arthas.
Although she had an exaggerated chest, Hestia's body was actually that of a child; she was a full head shorter than Arthas. Standing next to him, she looked like a spoiled little sister.
Although they hadn't been together long, this Goddess really liked to act spoiled. Perhaps it was because she had been alone for too long, too lonely?
Arthas thought this, unconsciously placing his hand on Hestia's head and gently stroking it. This immediately caused Hestia to pout unhappily.
"That's so rude, both your address and actions! First of all, as my Familia member, you should call me Goddess! And, touching someone's head like that is forbidden!"
Using one hand to remove Arthas's hand, Hestia held up a finger, placing it before Arthas's nose.
"Sorry… I just felt that calling you Hestia felt more intimate. As family… calling you Goddess feels too formal."
Arthas said this with a faint smile, and Hestia shyly fidgeted.
"Wuu… since you say so, Arthas, I'll allow you to call me by my name. After all, you're my dear Familia member."
Hestia said this, pulling Arthas onto the sofa, and began to ask him various questions.
"How was it? Did you find it difficult? You're going to the Dungeon tomorrow; are you nervous or scared? By the way, did that half-elf advisor do anything strange to you?"
After saying this, Hestia's small hands randomly touched Arthas's body, as if to check if her Familia member had been taken advantage of.
"Um… it was all very easy to understand, nothing to worry about. Theoretical knowledge is always just knowledge; I'll only know if it's useful after I go to the Dungeon."
"Yes, that's true. Get some rest early; you can't go to the Dungeon without being well-rested."
Hestia said this, pulling Arthas towards the bed, acting as if she were the one going to the Dungeon.
"Arthas, sit here; I'll prepare dinner. Sales were good at the shop today, and the owner was grateful, so she gave me a lot of potato croquettes!"
Feeling somewhat helpless, Arthas could only let his Goddess do as she pleased. Looking at the girl, who was smiling brightly as she prepared dinner, Arthas fell into a brief moment of confusion.
She's a high and mighty God, living in such a cramped and dilapidated place, having to work to survive, yet she can still smile so happily?
Is this enough? Is this life already happiness for Hestia, a God? Why is this so?
Arthas thought this absentmindedly, and he touched his face. Cold and stiff, even if he smiled, he probably gave off an icy, unapproachable feeling.
Today, with Eina, Arthas had sensed it; it seemed to be an instinctive self-protective behavior.
It seemed to have displeased her for a long time.
After all, Eina had patiently explained everything about Dungeon adventurers, but he had kept a cold face the entire time. Even the most patient person would get upset, right?
Thinking this, Arthas smiled wryly.
Only with her… can he relax a little, feel a rare warmth?
Thinking this, looking at Hestia, who was smiling happily as she returned with a large plate of fried potatoes, Arthas involuntarily smiled again.
Seeing the girl's contented and happy smile, Arthas felt the coldness in his soul gradually receding, as if he had been redeemed.
Hestia, my Goddess, I will do everything to protect your smile, as… a Familia member of the Hestia.
Looking at the girl's smile, he made a vow in his heart. At this moment, Arthas finally completely abandoned everything that had been frozen, and as Hestia's Familia member, fully integrated into this world.
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