"Hestia," Su Mo said seriously, still holding her slender shoulders.
"I've obtained a mysterious form of contract. It allows me to bypass divine restrictions and acquire the power of the gods," he explained. "I'd like to test it with you. Is that okay?" Su Mo had no intention of hiding anything from his somewhat shut-in goddess. He didn't feel it was necessary. Hestia, stunned by what she'd just heard, stood frozen.
She had no doubt that Su Mo was telling the truth. After all, he had demonstrated countless abilities that defied logic. If he'd uncovered some ancient ritual capable of such a feat, it wouldn't surprise her in the slightest. What did surprise her… was the result of that ritual.
—Bypassing divine limitations to gain a god's power.
If that were true, then Su Mo could gain Hestia's own divine power. Whether or not divine energy could actually be applied in the mortal realm was another matter. The key detail was this: If Su Mo truly obtained her divine essence… their lifespans would become intertwined. In other words, she wouldn't ever have to face a world without him. They could stay together—forever.
"You… you're serious?" she asked softly, eyes wide with hope and disbelief. Hestia's eyes sparkled as she tugged at Su Mo's sleeve, asking eagerly.
"..."
Su Mo blinked, a bit puzzled. Why did it feel like Hestia was even more enthusiastic about this than he was? Well, not that he minded. Her willingness was a very good thing. If the blue-ribbon goddess had resisted, he wouldn't have forced it. After all, his initial plan wasn't even to form a contract with Hestia. His real target had been the Moon Goddess.
It wasn't that he looked down on his own goddess—but compared to Artemis, the goddess of the moon and the hunt, Hestia, as the goddess of hearth and home, didn't seem to possess any particularly powerful divine authority.
What would she give him, the ability to cook better? Problem was—Hestia's cooking wasn't even as good as Su Mo's. Okay, maybe he had underestimated her a little. But regardless of those thoughts, he was still touched by her reaction. She didn't doubt his intentions at all. She wasn't worried about whether he had any ulterior motives. She didn't even think about the risks to herself.
The moment he asked, she believed him—without hesitation. That wholehearted trust… it was the most adorable thing about her. "It's true," Su Mo said, nodding firmly. "Then let's start!" Hestia replied without a trace of doubt. "If you get my power, you'll be able to stay with me forever!" She smiled, silly and sweet. Hearing that, Su Mo was genuinely moved.
Yep—Blue Ribbon Goddess is the best in the world! Since she had agreed, Su Mo didn't see any need to drag things out. "Eh? W-Wait!" Hestia suddenly stammered, a little flustered as he stepped closer. Only now did she fully realize what the ritual might actually involve. "What's wrong?" Su Mo chuckled at the panicking goddess.
"W-Wait just a sec!" Hestia's cheeks flushed bright red. "I haven't brushed my teeth yet, and my hair's a mess… my clothes aren't even cute… I need to get ready first!" She fumbled about, clearly overwhelmed. But Su Mo wasn't about to let her keep floundering in her nervousness. Without waiting, he leaned in closer. Before the startled and embarrassed Hestia could react, he kissed her.
She resisted a little at first, but that didn't last long. Soon, she relaxed into it. As Su Mo held her in his arms, Hestia's slim hands rose up and wrapped around his neck. Divine power passed from her lips to his, though it didn't spread further. At the same time, sensing the ritual was taking effect, Hestia transmitted the knowledge she held along with her power. The divine energy circulated within them—but it did not trigger the gods' restrictions.
Su Mo didn't absorb the divine power directly. Instead, he analyzed it, storing it along with the sacred knowledge into his mind. At the same time, he activated the magic he'd gained from the Gate of Truth. "I am the strongest, and the one who holds all victories." The power of the Contract Gods—Mithra and Verethragna—responded to his call. While tasting the sweetness of the Blue Ribbon Goddess, Su Mo murmured his kotodama—the words of power.
"You must always stay by my side… even if the stars fall from the sky, even if the world ends, even if I stand against the whole world… to the very end, you must remain with me." It was the Words of [The Youth]. Originally a blessing that granted protection to others. But now, layered with divine authority, it had become a contract of fate—a bond between a human and a goddess. The moment Su Mo finished the incantation, Hestia felt it.
A connection had formed between them—not just the usual link between a god and a Familia member. No, this was something much deeper. Their fates had been woven together, inseparable and eternal. This was a true divine contract—between Su Mo and Hestia—a bond of shared destiny. Hestia understood instinctively that as long as she opened her heart and accepted this contract, Su Mo would gain more than just her divine energy. He would gain her divine authority, her wisdom—
Even the sacred thing she had guarded for so long… could now be granted to him through this bond. Realizing this, Hestia clung to him even tighter. Then, with full trust, she opened herself entirely to the contract—mind, body, and soul. She poured all of her divine strength into their bond, allowing Su Mo to access everything she had. Even that noblest of secrets, the one she had always protected.
This was her first time experiencing such an intimate connection… and it was oddly addictive. But the same could be said for Su Mo. The Blue Ribbon Goddess was simply too cute. He couldn't help himself. And so, the two of them stayed locked together for the entire morning. It wasn't until Hestia's lips were slightly swollen that they finally broke apart. Only then did they realize—at some point, Su Mo had undone her iconic blue ribbon.
Smack!
With a pout, Hestia slapped his wandering hand away. Flustered, she shot him an indignant glare before running off to fix her clothes. Meanwhile, Su Mo, still savoring the moment, finally remembered to examine the changes within his body. Because he hadn't absorbed divine energy in the usual way, Hestia herself hadn't changed. But Su Mo… had obtained all of Hestia's divine authorities. He had assumed that, as the goddess of the hearth, she wouldn't have anything too special. But the moment he sensed the unfamiliar power within him, he couldn't help but blurt out in shock—
"Eternal Flame?"
Inside him, among Hestia's authorities, there was one that stood out—a power of exceptionally high rank. A sacred flame that burned with brilliance purer than the sun itself. This was no ordinary divine power. Even most chief deities wouldn't have something of this caliber. Though it didn't seem destructive, the sheer sanctity of the flame spoke volumes about its true nature. Seeing his shocked expression, Hestia puffed out her chest proudly.
"Hmph! Bet you thought I was just a useless hearth goddess with no real powers."
"Well? Surprised now?" It was rare to see Su Mo so genuinely shocked—and Hestia was clearly enjoying it. Su Mo was genuinely surprised. For once, it felt like she could actually contribute something meaningful. "It really is a bit shocking," he admitted honestly, nodding.
He hadn't expected that his shut-in goddess would actually possess something this important. But thinking about it more, it made sense. Hestia was one of the oldest and most sacred deities on Mount Olympus. Though she had little interaction with other gods due to her reclusive lifestyle, her status was nothing to scoff at.
As the goddess of the hearth, she naturally wielded control over flame—but not just any flame. She held dominion over the Sacred Flame of Olympus, a fire so revered that even Zeus himself showed it respect. The Eternal Flame was not only the flame offered in worship to the gods—it was the very symbol of life itself.
"So… what exactly does the Eternal Flame do?" Su Mo asked curiously.
Although he had gained all of Hestia's knowledge related to her divine authorities, he hadn't found any concrete use for the Eternal Flame. All he knew was that it was a holy fire capable of burning away all darkness and impurity, and that it would never go out. But beyond those basic facts, the specifics were still unclear. Hearing his question, Hestia tilted her head in confusion.
"What do you mean, what does it do? It's an incredibly powerful and sacred flame!" As the goddess who had always protected this fire since birth, she didn't seem to know much else about it either. For gods, the level of divinity or status associated with a power was reason enough for reverence. It didn't necessarily have to be useful in combat. Even if the Eternal Flame lacked offensive might, anyone who dared defile it—god-king or not—could face a fatal curse.
"I don't really know the details… but just knowing that it's amazing should be enough, right?" Hestia offered weakly.
Even she felt a little embarrassed by that explanation. The Eternal Flame was supposed to burn forever. It was like a flag or an altar—something sacred in and of itself. She had never considered using it for anything practical. Su Mo's question had clearly caught her off guard.