Hestia returned a little late today.
However, she was carrying large and small bags of ingredients, and a happy smile constantly bloomed on her face.
"Ying Ping-kun! Kokkoro-chan! I'm back!"
She eagerly pushed open the door, and only after seeing the two of them sitting on the sofa chatting did she let out a sigh of relief.
"Hestia, you're finally back."
"Come on, let's update your abilities. Let me show you the fruits of our efforts today!"
Ying Ping smiled, took off his coat, revealing his well-toned muscles.
"No problem!"
Hestia was also very excited.
She had Ying Ping lie on the bed, and her fingers skillfully brushed over his back, preparing to update his abilities.
However, when she saw the values that appeared, she was completely stunned.
Although Hestia had prepared herself mentally beforehand, everything collapsed at this moment.
"L... LV3!??"
Hestia shrieked, her voice almost tearing off the ceiling, "And so many more skills?!"
She widened her eyes, incredulously flipping through the sacred texts back and forth, confirming that she wasn't seeing things.
"You've only been in the dungeon for two days and you've already reached LV3?!"
Hestia frantically ran her hands through her hair. How were other adventurers supposed to live like this?!
[Name]: Ying Ping
[Level]: LV3
[Strength]: I0
[Durability]: I0
[Dexterity]: I0
[Agility]: I0
[Magic]: I0
[Development Abilities]: Goddess Guardian, Goblin Slayer
[Magic]:
[Skills]: Shadow Step, Crippling Strike, Charged Attack, Eagle Eye
Ying Ping, however, remained calm.
He lazily rolled over, sat up, and said, "There's no need to make such a fuss. Isn't it only a matter of time before I level up?"
Hestia's mouth twitched: "...You call this 'only a matter of time'?"
"Many adventurers in Orario never reach LV3 in their entire lives!"
"In some other Familias, your strength would be enough to be a captain!"
"Is that so? I still like the Hestia Familia the most."
Ying Ping shrugged, didn't explain further, but instead reached out and pulled Hestia to the side, then gently placed Kokkoro on the bed.
He gestured, "Alright, you should also help Kokkoro update her abilities."
Hestia was still immersed in shock.
It wasn't until Ying Ping pinched her cheek that she suddenly woke up: "Ah! Right, right, right!"
She quickly moved closer to Kokkoro and began to update her abilities.
However, this time, the situation was much more normal.
Although Kokkoro's various abilities had improved, the increase was very small, far from Ying Ping's exaggerated leap.
"Strength I5, Dexterity I10... This is more like it!"
Hestia somehow breathed a sigh of relief, wiping the cold sweat from her forehead.
She chuckled dryly, "Ahaha... It seems there are still normal people in my Familia after all."
Ying Ping scorned mercilessly, "Hey, didn't you call Kokkoro a 'natural LV2 monster' this morning? How come you're calling her a normal person now?"
Hestia was speechless, then her face flushed red, and she quickly apologized to Kokkoro: "I'm sorry, I'm sorry! I didn't mean it like that!"
Kokkoro quickly waved her hand, smiling gently, "It's okay, Goddess-sama, I understand what you mean."
Hestia was so moved that tears welled up in her eyes: "Wuwuwu, Kokkoro-chan is truly an angel..."
After speaking, Kokkoro voluntarily stood up and smiled, "Master, Goddess-sama, let me prepare dinner for everyone tonight."
Hestia looked at her small but reliable busy figure and couldn't help but show a happy smile: "No matter what, I really hit the jackpot..."
She turned to Ying Ping, patted his shoulder, and said earnestly, "Ying Ping-kun, the future development of the Hestia Familia will depend entirely on you, our captain!"
Ying Ping smiled confidently: "En, leave it to me."
Soon, Kokkoro had prepared a sumptuous array of her specialty dishes.
Fragrant stews, golden crispy roasted meat, refreshing salads, and steaming hot bread filled the entire table.
The three sat around the dining table, enjoying dinner in harmony.
However, as they ate, the atmosphere gradually became subtle—
"Ying Ping-kun, here, try this!"
Hestia picked up a piece of roasted meat and offered it to Ying Ping's mouth with a smile.
"Master, please try this stew, which is my specialty, first."
Kokkoro also wouldn't be outdone, spooning out a ladle of stew, gently blowing on it to cool it, and then offering it.
Their gazes met, and invisible sparks seemed to collide in the air.
Ying Ping: "..."
He looked at Hestia's expectant face on his left, then at Kokkoro's gentle eyes on his right, momentarily caught in a dilemma.
"Uh... I'll eat both, alright?"
He chuckled dryly and opened his mouth, accepting both of their feedings... In the dead of night, the bright moonlight shone on the church ruins.
Kokkoro was already fast asleep inside the house.
Ying Ping and Hestia sat together on the ruins outside, looking up at the brilliant starry sky.
Hestia had been recounting interesting stories from the Celestial Realm, and Ying Ping listened attentively.
"Back then, Apollo insisted on making a bet with me..."
Hestia swung her fair little legs, the blue ribbon gently fluttering in the night breeze, "And he lost a hundred years' worth of divine wine to me!"
Ying Ping chuckled and pulled the loli goddess closer into his arms: "And then?"
"Then that idiot got completely drunk and danced a very silly dance at the banquet..."
Hestia suddenly stopped talking, turned her head, and gazed at Ying Ping's profile, "Ying Ping-kun..."
"Hm?"
"Can you... tell me the truth?"
Hestia's blue eyes were exceptionally clear under the moonlight, "What's the secret to your strength? How did Kokkoro come to Orario?"
The night wind suddenly stilled.
Ying Ping was silent for a moment, then sighed softly, "Hestia, you're the only one I don't want to lie to, but this matter... I really can't say."
Unexpectedly, Hestia merely smiled faintly and rested her head on his shoulder.
"Is that so... Then I won't ask."
She paused, "However, do you have any plans for the future?"
Ying Ping looked up at the starry sky and slowly said, "The strongest adventurer in Orario right now is Ota, the LV7 powerhouse of the Freya Familia, right?"
His voice carried an unprecedented firmness, "When my strength surpasses LV10... no, even reaches a higher level, then let my information be made public."
"Mm, I'll listen to you."
Hestia closed her eyes, a serene smile on her lips.
Ying Ping naturally tightened his arm around her shoulder: "Actually, I don't like chasing fame or fortune. If possible, I hope to remain hidden forever."
"But I think..."
His voice deepened: "This isn't fair to you. I actually hope you can hold your head high in front of the gods..."
Hestia gently shook her head: "That doesn't matter."
She lifted her small face, the moonlight casting a sacred glow on her pure features, "As long as Ying Ping-kun feels it's the right thing to do, and it makes you happy, then my feelings aren't important."
Hestia's pure eyes reflected the starlight, her small nose tilted slightly upwards, and her soft pink lips had an alluring sheen.
Looking at the loli goddess who thought of him so much, Ying Ping couldn't help but lower his head and kiss her lips.
The kiss was gentle and lingering until Hestia, blushing, gently pushed him away.
"Idiot! Do you want me to be the first goddess to be sent back to the Celestial Realm because of suffocation?"
Hestia's face was flushed red, and she playfully joked with a hint of exasperation, tossing her hair.
"I'm sorry…"
Ying Ping's voice held an unprecedented seriousness.
"Hestia, I know that in the eyes of you immortal gods, the lower world is nothing more than a playground."
"Even an adventurer at LV100 might just be a slightly stronger human to you."
He gazed into Hestia's eyes, "So… I have an ambition."
"I want to become a god."
"Even… an existence that transcends gods."
"That way, nothing will ever stop us, and I can be with you forever."
Hestia was stunned.
She had been a goddess for so long, and she had never met a human like Ying Ping who dared to aspire to become a god.
Under the moonlight, a light flickered in Ying Ping's eyes that made her heart pound.
A moment later, Hestia suddenly let out a giggle and threw herself into Ying Ping's arms.
"Mm! If you keep up this pace, and your Falna keeps leveling up, who knows, maybe a miracle really will happen in the end~"
She patted Ying Ping's back like she was coaxing a child, "If it's Ying Ping-kun, you can definitely do it. I believe in you."
Although he knew she was comforting him, a warm current still surged through Ying Ping's heart.
He tightened his arms, completely enveloping the petite loli goddess in his embrace.
The night wind once again brushed over the ruins, carrying the distant chirping of nightingales.
"Speaking of which…"
Hestia suddenly looked up, a dangerous glint in her eyes, "Are you and Kokkoro-chan… hiding something from me?"
Ying Ping's body instantly stiffened: "Ah? Wh-what are you talking about?"
"Her gaze when she looked at you during dinner today…"
Hestia narrowed her eyes, "And the way you kept secretly glancing at her, it's all very suspicious…"
"Can we not talk about this topic!"
Ying Ping outwardly refused with righteous indignation, but inwardly he felt a pang of nervousness.
It seems he needed to be even more careful in the future… Hestia snorted but didn't press further.
She leaned back against Ying Ping's chest, murmuring softly, "Anyway… you're not allowed to show favoritism to anyone else…"