Chapter 24 – You'll Always Be By My Side, Right?
Maybe it was just a joke.
Or maybe it was something said on impulse.
But in that moment, the unwavering look in Hephaestus's eyes said everything.
Even Hestia, who had known her for ages, had never seen her act like that before.
To Hephaestus... Shin Akira was clearly special.
"Alright, alright. I get it. My bad, okay? I'm sorry, Hephaestus."
Hestia quickly raised both hands in surrender.
She hadn't seriously tried to steal Akira away from Hephaestus. It was more teasing than anything. Still, blatantly making a move on someone else's familia member—right in front of their goddess—was definitely out of line.
She knew she was in the wrong.
"Don't bring this up again," Hephaestus said firmly.
"I promise, I won't mention it again. Cross my heart."
Hestia nodded rapidly, her expression full of guilt. She was still crashing at Hephaestus's place, after all. It wasn't exactly the best time to cause trouble.
Meanwhile, Akira simply smiled, a subtle curve at the corner of his lips.
This goddess of the forge—she had begun to see him in a new light.
It wasn't love. Not yet. Not quite.
But even so, Shin Akira had become her first exception in thousands of years—the first mortal who had ever genuinely liked her for who she was.
"Hephaestus-sama… you don't have to worry. I'll never leave your side. I made a promise, remember?"
"…You…"
Her cheeks flushed red the instant she heard those words.
Coming from a mortal, that kind of statement could easily be considered an affront—a bold, even insulting claim to possess a goddess.
But to Hephaestus… in that moment, it sounded like the gentle drop of spring rain on a hidden seed.
A single drop was all it took… to awaken something buried deep within her.
"Dear goddesses, and esteemed adventurer," a soft voice chimed in. "Would you like to order anything else?"
A silver-haired waitress approached with graceful poise.
Akira turned toward her and immediately recognized the face—Syr Flova, the friendly server from Hostess of Fertility. But more than that… she was also one of Freya's incarnations, used to observe the essence of human souls through her eyes.
"Oh, sure. Add one more—no, make it two!" Hestia grinned without hesitation.
"Of course, Goddess Hestia," Syr replied with a smile, then turned toward the others.
Akira noticed something odd in her gaze.
There was nothing overt. No malice. But her eyes lingered on him just a second too long.
Was it curiosity? Interest?
Whatever it was, he ignored it. He knew well enough—his soul wasn't something anyone would call "radiant." He wasn't a good man, and he had no illusions about that.
"Nothing more for me~" Hephaestus said, shaking her head politely.
One serving was enough. She wasn't like Hestia, whose appetite seemed to belong to a beast in disguise.
"And you, honored adventurer?" Syr asked, her smile warm and effortless—an expression that had melted the hearts of countless men.
"I'll have one more serving… and a glass of wine."
"One special set and a glass of wine. Understood."
"Yeah. That'll do."
"Please wait a moment."
With that, Syr bowed gently and walked away.
Everything seemed normal. Nothing out of the ordinary. And yet… Akira couldn't shake the feeling that something was off.
He just couldn't put his finger on it.
Not long after, the food arrived.
As expected of Hostess of Fertility, their service was both swift and exceptional—true to their reputation as one of the most popular taverns in Orario.
Their meal included a generous cut of grilled meat, a plate of savory curry rice, and a tall glass of liquor.
The taste? Absolutely divine.
No wonder this place was always packed.
Beautiful waitresses aside, the food alone was enough to earn a loyal crowd.
By the time they finished, the three of them were stuffed—especially Hestia, who lay sprawled across the bench, cradling her swollen belly in satisfaction.
Three full meals had vanished into her petite frame.
Akira honestly couldn't comprehend how such a tiny body could hold that much food. One set was already pretty hefty—but three?!
"Uuugh… I'm stuffed… sooo full…"
Hestia moaned contentedly, her hands resting on her round belly, a big goofy grin plastered across her face.
Hephaestus let out a long sigh.
Utterly shameless. She looked like a starving street urchin who hadn't eaten in days.
Was this really a goddess…?
"Alright. Time to head home," Hephaestus said, rising to her feet.
"Don't rush me… Let me digest a bit…" Hestia groaned.
"Then stay here. I'm leaving."
"Fiiine, I'll catch up later…"
Hephaestus didn't wait for another excuse. She turned and left the tavern.
If Hestia were just a regular girl, it would've been dangerous to leave her lying around drunk and defenseless in public.
But she was a goddess.
Only a complete idiot would dare lay a hand on her. Anyone foolish enough to do so would be asking for a swift death.
In Orario, the gods stood above all.
Even if they lived in squalor or walked among mortals, their presence alone commanded absolute respect—and fear.
Akira paid the bill and followed after Hephaestus.
Dining at the Hostess of Fertility wasn't cheap.
With five full meals and several drinks, the total came to over sixty thousand valis.
That alone ate up nearly a quarter of Akira's earnings from that day.
They walked side by side through the streets of Orario, saying nothing.
Just silence.
Their footsteps echoed quietly as they returned to Babel Tower, ascending to the upper levels via lift—back to Hephaestus's home.
"…Hey, Shin Akira… You'll always be by my side, right?"
The moment they stepped inside, Hephaestus suddenly asked that question.
It was obvious that Hestia's teasing had stuck with her.
In a city like Orario… where so many goddesses were more beautiful, more graceful, and far more dazzling than her...
Hephaestus had always lived believing she had nothing worth being loved for.
And now… now that she had finally gained something precious…
She feared losing it more than anything else.
"Of course," Akira answered. "I'll always be by your side, Hephaestus."
As he spoke, he stepped forward and gently wrapped his arms around her from behind.
His hands touched the goddess's slim waist—warm, soft, and undeniably real.
Hephaestus stiffened.
It was the first time in her long existence that she had ever been held like this by a man.
She could feel the warmth of his body against her own.
Their proximity made the air between them feel charged… fragile… uncertain.
The line between them blurred.
One man.
One goddess.
And a moment hanging dangerously between something innocent and something more.
"…That's enough. Let go."
Eventually, Hephaestus found her voice again.
She had managed to calm herself down.
Reluctantly, Akira obeyed—and released her from his arms.
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