Chapter 30: Lap Pillow
The efficiency of "The Hostess of Fertility's" back kitchen was high. After simply packing today's dinner, Liam dragged his weary body back to their home base. Although it was the basement of an abandoned church.
From the perspective of a "home," it was clearly qualified. The room was swept very clean; even in the nooks and crannies, no dust had accumulated.
Traces of meticulous cleaning were everywhere.
And for Hestia, this was already one of the few things she could do.
As the goddess of the Familia, she couldn't provide a better environment for her members. Usually, she was only somewhat useful when helping to update ability scores.
This was clearly not enough.
"I wonder when Liam-kun will be back… and whether his Dungeon exploration is going smoothly!" Hestia leaned back against the sofa.
Because her legs were bent, they presented a lovely, graceful line, not bloated in the slightest, describable only as just right.
Hestia's arms lightly hugged her knees. The long wait made her gaze with eager anticipation. But as the sound of footsteps approached.
The young woman's slightly furrowed brow instantly smoothed. Looking at Liam, whom she had been longing for, tenderness flowed in her eyes, "Liam-kun, you're back…"
Hestia's fair, smooth, bare feet stepped onto the freshly wiped wooden floorboards. Without any hesitation, she ran towards Liam.
"...Stopped by a restaurant on the way and bought some dinner."
Feeling the softness around his neck, Liam's smile brightened considerably. He raised the packed bento in his hand and gently waved it.
Needless to say, Hestia definitely hadn't eaten dinner.
"Liam-kun."
"Meeting you is truly the luckiest thing that has ever happened to me!"
What Hestia cared about, of course, wasn't the bento, but rather she cherished Liam's attitude. Even after experiencing a difficult and dangerous Dungeon adventure.
He still thought of her, this goddess who couldn't provide any help.
Seeing the food placed on the table, and Liam's forced smile, Hestia's heart was touched, but more than that, she felt a pang of heartache.
If possible.
She actually wished she could return to the time when she first met Liam. Days were a bit harder then; she needed to work part-time at a stall on North Main Street during the day.
At the very least…
The time she spent with Liam each day would increase, instead of now, where all the pressure of developing the Familia was on his shoulders.
Hestia was just about to try and persuade him when she met Liam's sincere and pure gaze. "Being able to meet Lady Hestia, this is also my good fortune."
These words, of course, came from the heart.
Orario indeed had many Familia groups formed by gods. Even if he joined one smoothly.
That would only provide Liam with a platform.
A goddess like Hestia, who provided food and lodging.
And would pour all her heart into her dependant – there was absolutely no other like her in Orario.
It was currently still in the foundational stage; conditions were a bit tougher.
Liam felt it was acceptable.
"This is also the motivation for me to venture into the Dungeon every day."
And the completely unheralded directness of his words made Hestia, who was burying her head in her food, blush. Even the motion of her eating slowed down.
The special nature of gods.
Was that lower-world citizens couldn't lie to them. And Liam's words just now were undoubtedly all his true thoughts from the bottom of his heart.
"Liam-kun…"
"Hurry up and eat, the food will get cold later…"
She didn't look up, mainly because Hestia found it a bit difficult to distinguish whether her feelings for Liam were familial, or something else…
How should she face it?
She had absolutely no clue about this, but if she really had to make an assessment.
Then the dinner was exceptionally delicious!
Quickly filling his stomach, the slight drowsiness brought by the carbohydrate intake, combined with his fatigue, was about to completely overwhelm Liam.
"Lady Hestia."
"Here's fifty thousand Valis. You can repay Lady Hephaestus tomorrow first. As for the rest, we should be able to gather it in the next few days."
"..."
"Liam-kun, you've really worked hard during this time…"
Looking at Liam, who was leaning back on the soft sofa and had fallen asleep right after eating, Hestia's expression was unexpectedly calm at this moment.
This was the path Liam had chosen, and also the goal he was striving for.
As a goddess…
All she could do was support him!
Noticing Liam, who was breathing evenly and fast asleep, yet his brow was still slightly furrowed, Hestia cleared the food boxes from the table. After finishing everything.
She got up and sat beside Liam, reaching out to cradle the young man's neck, using her own legs as a pillow. Her slender, well-proportioned fingers.
Gently massaged his temples until Liam's brow gradually relaxed.
"Thank you, Liam-kun…"
Liam didn't have a particularly deep impression of what happened last night. It was just that after filling his stomach, a wave of fatigue washed over him like a tide.
Once his body gradually recovered and his mental state was full.
When he opened his eyes again, it was already the next morning. He was lying on the repeatedly patched sofa, covered with a gray blanket. What concerned him most…
Was Hestia lying beside him.
Actually, Liam could have rested longer, but Hestia's arm, wrapped around his neck, kept tightening, prompting him to wake up.
"I can't quite remember…"
"..."
After slightly adjusting Hestia's sleeping position and a simple wash-up.
Liam directly left the Familia home.
Of course, he carried the weapons Tsubaki had temporarily lent him. After buying bento supplies and making all the preliminary preparations for going to the Dungeon.
He decisively headed towards Babel.
During this time, he also made a detour to the Hephaestus main weapon shop in Babel, but the person watching the shop today was Welf.
After stating his identity and a simple inquiry.
Liam learned that Tsubaki had only left the forging room this morning and had asked Welf to inform him that the weapon delivery time was set for three days later.
Stepping into the Dungeon again.
Liam's mood wasn't exactly downcast, but when he looked at these two Mithril short swords, a hint of emotion inevitably appeared deep in his eyes.
"Remaining time on the weapon trial card is insufficient…"
"I have to speed up the progress in the remaining three days. Today's level target."
"Reach level 20!"
When heading to the 7th-floor area, Liam had already decided on today's goal.
He still chose to use the "entrapment" method to attract Killer Ant swarms.
Whether it was experience points or magic stone drops, this was currently the fastest way to harvest, though the process was a bit tedious and dull.
…
As time passed, with the anticipation of soon obtaining new skills, Liam still maintained good enthusiasm, clearing out monsters.
Whether it was War Shadows or Dungeon Lizards, as long as they provided experience points.
There was no reason to miss them!
"Almost there."
The supplies he carried were completely exhausted, and even his physical condition was nearing its limit. With a final sword aura, he tore apart the last Killer Ant monster.
「Exp +68」
An unremarkable increase in experience points, yet it caused the "Sword Soul Template's" notification sound to pop up deep in Liam's mind.
Forcibly rousing Liam's numb mental state, he looked at the panel before him.
"Can there be a little surprise?"
「Liam Moon」
「Level: 20」
「Experience: 0.01%」
「Skills: Secret Sword Art (Mastery), Triple Slash (Lv3), Moonlight Slash (Lv3), Backstep Cut (Lv3)」
「SP: 80」
「New skills are currently available for learning. View them?」
(End of this chapter)