Ten minutes later, Hephaestus, Tsubaki, and Fels—who had been waiting in the reception room—saw Hermes enter, pushing something large in front of him.
"Hermes, you're this late just to bring that thing in?"
Hephaestus stared at Hermes, who was panting and struggling with the load, then glanced at Asfi behind him. She couldn't understand why he insisted on pushing it himself.
"Well... this thing's a bit complicated."
Hermes tried to hide the guilt flickering in his eyes. He couldn't exactly admit that he was using this as an excuse for being late.
"So, you had your child ask me here through Fels just to show me something wrapped in cloth?"
Hephaestus couldn't sense what lay beneath the fabric, which told her the material had been specially made to block perception.
Anything that required such a barrier clearly wasn't simple.
Her expression darkened with growing irritation.
Maybe spending so much time with Bell had changed her—she, too, had grown tired of getting involved in needless trouble. Especially when it came to Hermes. Whatever he brought was bound to cause problems.
"Let me make this clear: I have no interest in cleaning up your mess."
"Don't look so unwilling."
Seeing the displeasure on Hephaestus's face, Hermes gave a strained smile. She was his last hope; he couldn't afford to let her walk away.
"I know this thing is a huge problem, but I can't just leave it alone. It involves a god—maybe even the fate of the entire world."
At those words, Hephaestus had the sudden urge to get up and leave. But hearing that it might concern the world's safety made her suppress that impulse.
She knew all too well that anything "involving the fate of the world" always managed to get in the way of Bell's plans.
So she stayed seated, deciding to at least hear what Hermes had to say—before figuring out how best to teach him a lesson afterward, one that might stop him from stirring up trouble again.
Leaning back on the sofa, Hephaestus crossed her arms.
"Start talking."
Hermes let out a relieved breath. As long as she was willing to listen, he had cleared the first hurdle.
He didn't bother with preamble. Reaching forward, he pulled away the cloth, revealing what was hidden beneath.
A long spear hung upside down, its body gleaming silver-white, streaked with faint blue markings along the shaft. The tip was sealed within a mass of crystal, making it appear, at first glance, like a simple weapon.
But Hephaestus's expression immediately hardened.
"Artemis!"
With just one look, she recognized it.
This wasn't a spear—though shaped like one, it was actually an arrow.
Artemis's companion weapon.
Upon seeing it, Hephaestus shot Hermes a sharp glare.
"You've really done it this time!"
As Hephaestus pieced things together, Hermes could only wear an expression of helplessness.
"This wasn't something I planned."
"You know Artemis isn't like us. She's fierce, a warrior at heart—she's been hunting those monsters that escaped from the Dungeon herself. She fights on the front lines alongside her children, but some things... are beyond our control."
Simply put, things went wrong.
Just as adventurers risk failure when facing monsters, gods who choose to fight alongside them must bear the same risk.
But luck had been cruel. During one of those hunts with her children, Artemis encountered something unforeseen.
Hermes looked pained. If he could have avoided hearing such news, he would have. But reality could be merciless—even to the gods.
"If she were to fall to an enemy she couldn't overcome, perhaps that would be a mercy for Artemis."
Hermes's words instantly made Hephaestus's expression harden.
Her gaze shifted to the sealed arrow, and within moments, she seemed to understand.
"It really has become troublesome."
This arrow was Artemis's companion weapon—her very state would be reflected through it.
Hephaestus's eyes grew colder.
"So, the reason you called me here... was to use Bell?"
Hermes sighed, visibly troubled.
"Hephaestus, it's not that I want to use Bell. It's just that no one else can draw this arrow. Right now, this arrow is the only means to send Artemis back. That's why I hope Bell can at least try."
"Hermes, that would be godslaying."
"I know."
"Artemis isn't one of the Evilus gods. Our relationship with her has always been good."
"I know. That's exactly why I want to return her to Tenkai instead of leaving her stranded here."
Hephaestus looked at Hermes, who showed not a trace of hesitation. Finally, she exhaled and muttered in mild frustration.
"Ah, and here I thought the Holy Moon Festival would finally give us a chance to relax. Now you've gone and ruined our entire holiday, Hermes."
"Huh? You were planning to enjoy the festival?"
"Of course. Evilus has been causing enough trouble lately, and Hestia and I haven't been out together in ages. We were long overdue for a break."
It was true—everything had been piling up lately.
First the expedition, then the Xenos incident, followed by the mess with Ikelos. All of it had cut down the time she could spend with Bell.
"It's not just me. Even Loki and Freya have been unusually quiet recently. Don't you find that strange?"
Hephaestus's reasoning sounded reasonable, but Hermes's attention caught on one detail.
"Even with Evilus around, would you really need to stay hidden for this long?"
"Loki's three children are already Lv.7, Freya's 'King' is stronger than ever, and your own captain isn't exactly weak either. Are you telling me you need to avoid Evilus? Isn't it the other way around—Evilus should be the ones hiding from you?"
...
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