Although the process was a bit turbulent, it succeeded in the end.
The goddess Hestia accepted Kaguya Shinomiya and Ai Hayasaka, and the two girls officially became adventurers.
When they heard the identities of the few people from the lips of the goddess Lolita, their expressions of disbelief and shock were beyond words.
However, it wasn't long before those expressions turned into ones of fervent admiration~.
Standing before them was an actual god!!
Being accepted into the family of the gods was a blessing beyond their wildest dreams, something earned through countless lifetimes of virtue.
At least, that's how Kaguya and Hayasaka felt.
"Hestia, how are they? Do they possess any unique talents?"
After finishing the inscription of "God's Grace," Hestia's expression became somewhat hard to read, leaving others wondering what was on her mind.
Although Yami wasn't particularly keen on knowing the exact details of the two girls' blessings, a basic understanding of their abilities couldn't hurt.
Upon hearing the question, Goddess Hephaestus and Goddess Artemis also looked over, curiosity evident in their eyes.
Everyone here shared a good rapport, after all.
Since Yami possessed the power to travel between worlds, there wasn't much reason to keep secrets.
"How should I put it… they're not bad…"
"Although neither has magic yet, Kaguya-chan has three magic slots, which was a pleasant surprise. And Ai-chan's skills are quite remarkable as well."
"Overall, they're both very promising!"
Hestia's tone was full of joy, making it clear she was genuinely pleased.
Initially, Hestia had agreed to take in Kaguya and Hayasaka due to their connection with the Shinomiya Consortium and Yami's request. But now, she no longer regretted her decision.
After hearing Hestia's evaluation, both Kaguya and Hayasaka let out subtle sighs of relief. It seemed they had made a good first impression on their main goddess, which was a promising start.
"Well then, congratulations, Hestia."
Yami smiled as well.
The girls had talent, which was undeniably good news. This also meant they had a higher chance of becoming powerful—something Yami was eagerly anticipating, as he found joy in watching what will happen to them when they grow stronger.
"Now then, let's deal with the next matter."
As Yami said this, his gaze fell upon Kaguya and Hayasaka.
For some reason, the intensity of his gaze made the two girls feel anxious.
After all, this was a man who could make someone as powerful as Gan'an retreat. It was only natural for two relatively weak girls like them to feel nervous about what he might have in store.
Fortunately, their anxiety didn't last long.
"Are you going to send them to the Navy headquarters now? What about this world?"
"If you leave temporarily, won't there be any unforeseen consequences?" asked Goddess Hephaestus at just the right moment.
As someone who had been with Yami the longest, Hephaestus understood him better than anyone, often deducing his intentions from his actions.
It was one of the reasons Yami found her presence so comforting.
Intelligent, beautiful, and empathetic—what man could resist someone like her?
"Well, it is a bit tricky…"
Yami hesitated after hearing Hephaestus's words.
He could sense the existence of the World Gate Key and was confident that he could open a portal to the Pirate World. But there was a risk—if the Traversal Simulation System deemed that the simulation in the One Punch World had ended after he left, it would be a significant loss.
Yami's excitement about adventuring in the Pirate World immediately cooled.
"Thank you for reminding me, Hephaestus. If something unexpected had happened, it could have been troublesome."
"With that in mind, I can't take them there right now. I'll have to wait until things are resolved here first."
Though the change of plans was a bit disappointing, there was no other choice.
It wouldn't be wise to abandon a larger goal just for temporary excitement, right?
"That's probably for the best."
Seeing Yami's dilemma, Hephaestus offered a suggestion.
"Yami, you can still open the portal to another world, can't you?"
"Why don't Hestia and I take them instead, while you stay here and finish your unfinished business?"
"You likely have plenty to do here, while we don't have anything pressing. We can come back once you've handled everything here."
"And as for Artemis, she can stay behind to protect you."
"Eh?!"
Everyone was taken aback, even Yami seemed surprised.
"Don't look at me like that. Your tasks are more important, so focus on those first."
"The Shinomiya Consortium is still searching for rare ores and metals, aren't they?"
"Since I can't get anything I'm particularly interested in right now, I might as well take this opportunity to research the Seastone."
"And didn't you mention that there are powerful beings in this world?"
"Artemis can stay behind and protect you. There shouldn't be any issue with that arrangement, right?"
It was a sound suggestion, leaving no room for argument.
Even Artemis was somewhat moved by the plan.
"What do you think, Yami?"
After considering Hephaestus's words, Yami finally nodded.
"This seems like the best course of action. I'll handle my matters here as quickly as possible, and once everything's settled, I'll join you to explore the Pirate World."
"Alright then, it's settled!"
With a consensus reached, they moved swiftly.
Yami opened the portal to the Pirate World, and with that, Goddesses Hephaestus and Hestia took Kaguya and Hayasaka through the gate.
The four figures were quickly swallowed by the darkness.