Chapter 329 - Hephaestus: Come in!
A lively chase unfolded on Orario's streets.
A young man sprinted through the city, cradling a goddess in a princess carry, while a pack of determined goddesses pursued them, their faces set with relentless resolve.
"Who's that guy?"
"Chased by a horde of goddesses!"
"Bold enough to rile up deities!"
"Poor soul. Messing with goddesses ends badly."
"He'll be broken!"
"Totally toyed with!"
Streetgoers gawked at the spectacle, their voices a mix of pity and glee.
Past examples of mortals targeted by goddesses invariably ended in "tragic" fates, fueling their curiosity about this boy's outcome.
"These goddesses have stamina," Mahiro remarked, glancing back with a bemused expression.
"Are they really sealed of arcanum?"
Though he carried Hestia and treated the chase like a game of tag, he hadn't fully outpaced them, maintaining a measured distance.
Yet, after two streets, the goddesses showed no fatigue, their pursuit only growing fiercer, making him question their mortal-like limits.
"Goddesses are creatures of indulgence," Hestia said, exasperated.
"They chase desires to stave off boredom, like hyenas tracking a scent."
"Don't be fooled by their dazzling looks, or they'll devour you to the bone," she warned, her voice tinged with unease.
Hestia's confidence wavered.
Against mortal suitors, she'd be unshaken, but these goddesses posed a real threat.
Their allure could sway any young man, and their lawless nature meant they'd stop at nothing to claim him.
"I only like pure maidens," Mahiro said, smiling down at her.
Hestia's worries melted away, her face lighting up.
She peeked back, taunting the goddesses with a cheeky grin, reveling in the thrill of their date.
"Damn that loli!" a goddess fumed.
"This kid's too fast!"
"My legs are killing me!"
The goddesses gnashed their teeth, unable to close the gap.
Mahiro chuckled, then veered into an alley with Hestia.
"Where'd they go?"
"Lost them?"
"That Hestia escaped?"
"Seen a guy with a twin-tailed goddess?"
Losing their quarry, the goddesses caused a ruckus on the bustling street, some scouring the area, others interrogating passersby.
The group splintered, scattering in frustration.
"Finally shook them," Hestia sighed.
"Not quite," Mahiro said, shaking his head with a grin.
His sharp hearing caught the goddesses' clamor closing in again, their pursuit as tenacious as Hestia's hyena metaphor.
He hadn't planned to lose them entirely, enjoying the tease, but a quick Shunpo could've vanished them instantly.
"Mahiro, in here!" a voice called as they passed a door.
It swung open, and a hand yanked Mahiro inside.
The door slammed shut, plunging them into dim light.
"Hephaestus, been a while," Mahiro greeted, recognizing the eyepatched goddess.
He'd allowed her to pull him in, knowing it was safe.
"Almost a week, huh?" Hephaestus said, her tone laced with mock reproach.
"Since you and Hestia moved out, you never thought to visit, did you?"
Mahiro gave an awkward laugh, feeling like a neglectful friend.
"Hephaestus, Demeter, what are you doing here?" Hestia asked, startled.
"You two sure know how to stir up trouble," Hephaestus said, shooting Hestia a wry look.
"That street chase was quite the show."
"This is Hestia's child? Handsome, indeed. No wonder our virgin goddess fell," Demeter teased, smiling.
Mahiro glanced at Demeter, her stunning figure and radiant beauty striking.
"Oh, Hestia's boy, staring so long? Smitten already?" Demeter said, clutching her cheeks in feigned shyness.
"No, no, I can't betray Hestia… unless it's after!"
Mahiro blinked, caught off guard by her theatrics.
His glance had lasted barely three seconds.
"Demeter, teasing her child in front of Hestia is a bit much," a soft voice chided from the shadows.
Hestia leapt from Mahiro's arms, her guard up, staring at the cloaked figure.
The dim light and their position had hidden the third presence until now.
"Freya, why are you here?" Hestia demanded, her voice sharp with suspicion.
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