"Ah, who are you?" Bell spoke in an innocent tone when he saw the arrival of two strangers at the church.
"Uh, we…" I hadn't even finished speaking when Bell suddenly looked at us for a brief moment and quickly said,
"Wait, you're not here to collect debts or anything like that, are you!?" he asked, sounding worried.
It was such a sudden question that Eriri gave me a look that clearly said, Is this really a good place to start our journey as adventurers?
"Awawa… I hope the goddess hasn't borrowed too much money, right?" he asked nervously, his voice trembling slightly.
Well, I knew that in the future, Goddess Hestia would eventually end up owing a huge debt to another goddess, but I didn't think she was the type to recklessly borrow money.
"Or maybe she messed something up at work and now has to pay it back…" Bell continued anxiously.
Ah, right. Hestia worked part-time jobs to support herself and Bell with their daily expenses. Since no one had ever shown any interest in joining their Familia, the idea of someone coming here to apply probably never even crossed Bell's mind. Instead, the thought of debt collectors showing up was much more believable and honestly a little sad to see.
Besides, our appearances right now probably looked too clean and well-prepared, especially for newcomers in a poor district like this. The system must have transferred us into this world fully equipped. I was dressed in a sleek set of light armor that looked brand new—its leather still stiff and shining faintly under the sunlight, with a short sword at my waist that seemed barely used. My boots didn't even have a single trace of dust yet. On the other hand, Eriri looked like a textbook first-time mage. Her robe was elegant and clearly high quality, its hem fluttering slightly with each movement, and she held a thick, western-style spellbook that almost looked too heavy for her delicate hands. Her overall look screamed "novice adventurer blessed with premium gear," the kind of sight completely outside Bell's experience as a rookie, since he was just someone being invited to join by Goddess Hestia or maybe they helped each other in their ways.
"Wait… wait… Bell! I don't think I did anything like that! They must be scammers! Quick, throw salt on them!"
I heard a familiar, lively voice followed by the sound of hurried footsteps approaching. A moment later, I saw someone step into view—another character I knew all too well from the anime, yet seeing her here in the flesh made it feel unreal.
It was Hestia, the petite goddess herself. She looked exactly as I remembered: a young-looking deity with long, silky black hair tied into twin tails that reached down to her thighs, each fastened with blue-and-white flower ribbons that jingled slightly with small bell ornaments. Her sapphire-blue eyes sparkled with energy, and her petite body—standing at around 140 centimeters—made her appearance both adorable and lively. Yet, despite her small frame, her curvy figure stood out in a way that gave her that infamous reputation among fans.
She was cheerful, expressive, and full of life—the very same goddess who captured the hearts of countless fans. Watching her rush over to Bell with a mix of panic and determination made me feel like the world of anime had truly come alive right before my eyes.
Just like when I first saw Eriri, I couldn't hold back my excitement.
"Ah, Hestia-sama… please, calm down. We're not here to cause trouble. My friend and I came here because we want to join the Hestia Familia," I said carefully, knowing that in this world, gods and goddesses could instantly tell whether someone was lying or not.
The moment I said that, both of their expressions changed. Their faces lit up with surprise and joy, and soon after, Hestia's bright smile returned.
"Ahaha! Why didn't you say so earlier!? Bell! Go prepare our best tea and snacks!" Hestia exclaimed enthusiastically as she grabbed both my hands and Eriri's, pulling us into the church without hesitation.
"But, Hestia-sama… all we have is water and potato snacks!" Bell protested as he turned back from the doorway, putting his dungeon trip on hold and hurrying toward the small kitchen.
"So you two want to join my Familia! Of course, I'll welcome you both with open arms!" Hestia said proudly, stretching her arms wide as if to embrace the entire room, her enthusiasm almost contagious.
At this point, Bell still didn't have the skill that would later make him extraordinary—Liaris Freese. That was probably why Hestia was so eager to accept new members. Or maybe… it was something deeper.
According to what the Administrator told me before, there was a chance that the protagonists in this world wouldn't have the same "plot armor" as they did in their original stories. After all, this world was now connected to many others—filled with overlapping protagonists and heroines whose very presence could destabilize reality. Meaning, Bell might—or might not—possess the same growth and fate as in the anime I knew.
Honestly, I was still unsure whether this world was one of those that needed saving. Was it only Eriri's Earth that had to be protected, or did every connected world count as part of the mission? The thought alone made my head spin. Everything suddenly felt much larger than I had imagined.
Still, I was curious about Bell's current condition, about whether fate was on his side this time or not. But for now, that wasn't our priority. The mission came first. Whether Bell became as strong as his story counterpart or not could wait for another day. What mattered now was for Eriri and me to grow stronger ourselves.
"Well, we're both interested in joining," I finally said, "but there's something important you should know, Hestia-sama. We carry a big secret—something that must stay hidden. I don't know what would happen if the truth ever got out."
Hestia blinked once, then placed a hand over her chest with a reassuring smile. "Ah, of course! As a goddess, I promise to keep your secret safe," she said with genuine sincerity, her tone soft but filled with divine conviction.
I let out a quiet sigh of relief. It seemed Hestia truly meant it. I glanced at Eriri, who simply lowered her head slightly, as if unsure how to face the situation.
"The secret is… that we're not from this world," I continued, keeping my voice calm. "We came here from another one—another planet entirely. We were sent here after receiving a mission… to save our own world."
Hestia's eyes widened, her mouth slightly open as she froze for a moment before managing to respond.
"What…"
Well, I guess she was completely speechless.
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Yeah, won 50/50 twice and I get c2 Iuno... Nice...