In the abandoned church, the home of the Hestia Familia, the entire place was quiet and tranquil thanks to Alfia's presence.
Hestia was lazily sitting on the couch while Alfia stood still like a statue.
'How long has she been standing there?'
Hestia couldn't help but stare in her direction with a puzzled expression.
'Ugh... Belle... come home already, I'm getting suffocated being alone with this tyrant of a woman.'
She let out a silent groan.
"Hm? Are you having negative thoughts about me, Goddess Hestia?"
When Alfia opened her mouth and turned toward her, a chill ran down Hestia's spine.
"I-I didn't even say anything, you're just imagining things."
With beads of sweat on her face, Hestia nearly panicked.
Alfia was a sensitive woman who loved silence. She wouldn't hesitate to inflict violence upon anyone if she became annoyed.
A rule in their home had already been established since the day they moved into the church: never irritate Alfia.
'Belle... please come home already.'
Fortunately, her prayers were answered when a white-haired girl came barging in.
The door slammed with a loud bang.
"Mother... Goddess Hestia... you'll never believe how my day we—!"
Before Belle could even finish her sentence, a chop to the head sent her face crashing to the floor.
"Ack!"
Looking at her niece twitching on the ground, Alfia spoke with a stern voice.
"You're being too noisy. And for the last time... don't slam the door."
She then walked over to a chair and sat down.
"Belle!"
Hestia rushed over and helped Belle to her feet.
"I'm fine, Goddess Hestia. I'm already used to it."
Belle smiled awkwardly as she rubbed the bump on her head.
"How did your day go? You seemed very excited to tell us."
Hestia asked with curiosity.
"Ah... well."
Shifting her gaze from Alfia to Hestia, Belle began to recount her experience—her first steps onto the fourth floor of the dungeon, her encounter with the Jack Bird, and obtaining the golden egg valued at one million valis.
"W-wait a minute... you met a rare monster and killed it by accident?"
Hestia was stunned by Belle's luck.
"It just happened, I guess."
Belle scratched her chin in embarrassment.
Alfia frowned. Something felt off.
"You exchanged the golden egg for valis, right?"
"Ah, yeah... I'll never forget the look on Eina's face when I showed it to her."
Belle replied with a cheeky grin.
"Then where did your money go?"
Alfia's eyes narrowed slightly.
Belle froze. With trembling hands, she checked her waist and pockets—nothing.
A sinking feeling settled in. She finally realized her mistake.
"Ah—"
Belle was about to scream, but Hestia quickly covered her mouth.
"Belle... don't tell me... did you just lose all your money?"
Hestia asked with dread.
After all, they had just lost a million valis—an amount that would've taken a small familia months to gather.
Belle did not speak for a while.
Her face turned pale from shock.
"I'm sorry!"
Tears pooled at the corners of her eyes as her hands grasped the sides of her head.
"W-wait... I must have left it in that alley."
Belle stood up abruptly.
"Hmm? Alley? You didn't say anything about an alley."
Alfia raised a brow.
"Well... the thing is... after I left the guild..."
After five minutes, Belle finished telling her story.
"I guess we should be thankful that he came and saved you."
"Judas Spade... why does that name sound familiar?"
Hestia scratched her head in confusion.
"So that's what happened, huh?"
Alfia muttered under her breath.
The room suddenly turned cold.
'Huh?'
Belle shivered when she saw the icy glare in Alfia's eyes.
"I am disappointed. Looks like you need more training."
Alfia's words carried no warmth.
"B-but—but—"
Belle's face turned purple the moment Alfia mentioned more training, and she couldn't speak.
"No excuses. I'll increase the intensity of your training starting tomorrow."
Alfia's commanding tone left no room for rebuttal.
"You know, Belle has been through a lot today. It wouldn't hurt to be a little nicer."
It was then that Hestia stepped forward, standing protectively in front of Belle.
"Hoh... you've finally gained the courage to face me, huh?"
Alfia's piercing gaze met Hestia's.
Hestia flinched under her chilly stare, but she endured and refused to back down.
"But you're right, Goddess Hestia."
Her words stunned both Hestia and Belle.
"I know I'm being harsh."
She stood up, her movements slow and graceful.
"But I have no choice."
—cough—
—cough—
She covered her mouth, then slowly opened her palm.
It was stained with blood.
'I don't have much time left.'
Her eyes drifted toward the window, her face serene.
"Because you promised me, right, Belle?"
Belle raised her head, meeting Alfia's gaze.
'Mother.'
It had been a long time since Belle had seen her make a face like that.
Memories stirred—back when she was six years old, standing in a sea of wheat.
Just the two of them, hand in hand, walking together.
She couldn't remember much of the conversation from that day, but she would never forget the regret etched on her mother's face.
"Because of my selfishness... the Last Hero may never be born."
Her mother—Alfia, the woman who always carried a tough exterior—was lamenting.
Belle could still remember how vulnerable and ashamed she had been.
She didn't like it.
She didn't want her mother to be trapped in grief.
That's why she made a bold declaration.
"In that case, I will become that Last Hero."
Alfia stopped in her tracks.
"You little brat."
The smile that appeared on her mother's face at that moment burned itself into Belle's memory, forever vivid.
This was the day she decided to become a hero—one who brought smiles to those she loved.
"Now that you've called yourself a hero in front of me, you'd better prepare yourself. I won't let you back out."
"Huh?"
"First of all, should I throw you into a monster's den and let them tear into your body, or should I tie you to a rock, sink you in the river, and let you experience death first...? I've never trained anyone like this before, so I don't really know where to start."
"Ehhh?!"
It was also the day that the hell known as training—though more like torture—began.
...
"You wanted to get your status updated?"
In Alfia and Belle's bedroom, Hestia entered with slow steps, making sure to close the door carefully.
"Yeah, I have a feeling something's going to be different this time."
Excited, Belle had already begun to remove her shirt, revealing her modest bust.
Alfia's brow twitched, and she softly smacked Belle on the head.
"Ow!"
"Slow down. Why are you always in such a rush?"
Belle could only make a pitiful face.
"Geez, you keep hitting me in the head! What if I develop brain problems in the future?"
When Alfia raised her arm again, Belle quickly covered her head with both arms and apologized.
"Sorry, sorry... please don't hit me!"
Alfia sighed and simply flicked her niece's forehead.
"That stings!"
Belle rubbed the red spot, sulking.
"You're unbelievably noisy."
Alfia shook her head.
"Alright, get ready, Belle."
Hestia picked up a needle.
Belle turned her back to her Goddess, who hovered her finger over and let a drop of blood fall.
The moment her ichor touched Belle's back, the falna glowed and filled the room with light.
'As expected, her endurance stat remains the highest.'
'There's some decent progress... but no significant change.'
Hestia's eyes scanned the divine script.
'Hmm? What's this? A skill?'
Her gaze fell lower, and her eyes widened in astonishment.
Overcome with excitement, she quickly engraved Belle's falna onto a parchment.
Alfia, who had been watching silently, caught sight of the same thing.
[Liaris Freese]
Rapid growth as long as the user is in love. The strength of the effect corresponds with the depth of the user's feelings. As a side effect, the user becomes immune to charms.
Hestia and Alfia exchanged a look.
There was only one name that came to both of their minds.
'Judas Spade.'
----------
+15 chapters on patreon.com/drdedot