(Riven POV – Church Basement Room)
And so, under Hestia's relentless barrage of questions, which would've forced the truth out of me regardless, I relented, and told her everything.
The swarming Killer Ants.
The poisoned air.
The fact that I didn't escape when I could.
She listens in stunned silence, seated stiffly on the bed, arms crossed so tightly it looked like she might've popped if she squeezed any harder. Her frown deepened with each word I spoke.
"So…" She begins slowly, voice simmering with disbelief. "You messed up, and didn't kill a Killer Ant fast enough, attracted a horde of monsters, got surrounded, and instead of running away when you realized it was suicidal… you stayed and fought?"
She's massaging her temples now, as though it'd ease the migraine building behind her eyes.
"…If you put it like that," I say carefully, "it sounds worse than it actually is."
That was the wrong thing to say.
Her head whips toward me, eyes burning with so much anger, I could've sworn they'd start glowing blue.
I wisely close my mouth, and a thick silence settles between us. I can feel her anger at my recklessness, her concern for my safety, and her care towards me.
Eventually, she releases a long and heavy breath. "…At the very least, explain why." She mutters, her voice weary with exhaustion. "I get that you're a little… extremely battle-hungry, but what exactly were you thinking?"
"Well…" I shrug. "It was an opportunity I couldn't pass up. It was a great chance to earn Exelia… and—" I raise my hands, letting them shimmer with a faint glow. Blue and purple dust sparkles around my hands, twirling between my fingers before falling to the ground. "I finally found a monster with magic… and I stole it."
A grin splits my face as I watch her stare.
Her gaze narrows. Her arms stay folded, but her foot starts tapping. That's never a good sign.
"That's not the only reason, is it?" She asks sternly.
'Why does she always ask questions like this?' I groan.
"…No." I sigh. "I wanted to fight, even… especially because it was dangerous…" I say quietly.
'She'd have sequentially gotten me to admit it regardless. Might as well just come clean.'
"Was it worth making me worry?" She asks, her voice low, a hint of concern just beneath her anger.
I pause. This is one of those moments where honesty is a tactical disadvantage.
'But mortals can't lie to gods.'
"...Yes," I admit softly. "It wasn't just for fun. I got something out of it…"
She glares at me.
"I can heal myself now," I add quickly. "If I have fewer injuries, it makes things less risky and boosts my chances of survival. You won't have to worry about me as much anymore. The stronger I get, the safer I am."
"Unless the danger scales with your stupidity!" She snaps, springing to her feet. Her twin tails bounce with the motion. "What good is healing if you're constantly almost dying? You think I want to hear stories like this every time you come home?!"
'…I can't really argue.'
It's the sacrifice adventurers have to make. No matter what we do, there's a high chance we're likely to die. And with it, those who care about us are forced to worry.
She takes a deep breath, pressing her palms against her cheeks. Her tone softens.
"…Look. I know adventurers live dangerously. I know that's the job. But all I want… is for you to come home safe. That's it. That's all."
Her words hang in the air. Simple and honest.
I nod, offering her a sheepish look. "Okay. I get it. I'll take a day off tomorrow. No dungeon diving. I promise." I say sincerely.
Her eyes light up. The shift in her expression is almost comical—relief bleeding into smug satisfaction.
"Good." She raises her chin with pride. "At least you know when to listen. If you didn't, I would have locked you in here myself."
'She's easily satisfied. It's cute how smug she gets.' I think in amusement. 'I wasn't planning to go back into the dungeon tomorrow anyway. I've got a lot to do.'
Still, I let her have her victory. If it soothes her, it's worth it.
She sits back on the bed with a relieved little hum, then pauses, tilting her head curiously.
"By the way…" She says, eyes gleaming with sudden suspicion. "You didn't show me the Valis you earned today. How much did you make?"
I barely open my mouth before she raises a finger in warning. "And before you try to distract me—just so we're clear—this isn't about the money, okay? I don't care about that. I care about you."
'I wasn't even planning anything this time…' I think dejectedly. Getting accused of a crime I wasn't even planning to commit leaves a bitter taste in my mouth.
She clasps her hands together, a warm smile gracing her face. "I'd rather you come home with nothing than risk your life for riches. Your safety is always first. Always."
I blink, genuinely touched. "…Goddess—"
"—BUT!" She yells, bouncing to her feet energetically. "Money comes second! So—come on—show me the loot!"
She grabs my shoulders, shaking me violently like I'll suddenly start dropping coins.
"Cough it up, Riven! I know you're hiding it In your subspace!"
And just like that… the kind, concerned goddess vanishes. Replaced by a money hungry gremlin, staring at me with gleaming eyes.
'That actually sounds kind of funny.' I think, as a mischievous smile pulls at my lips.
Just as Hestia starts shaking me harder, I begin releasing the Valis stored in Stomach—timing each glittering spill with the rhythm of her increasingly frenzied shaking.
Her eyes sparkle as the first coins clink to the ground. Then more. Then more.
Until she's shaking me like a maraca and I'm obediently letting Valis rain from every inch of my body. A golden avalanche spills across the floor, piling high around our feet.
'I've become a walking pinata. All that's missing is a blindfold and stick.' I muse.
"That's…" I wheeze between shakes, "everything, Hestia…"
She immediately discards me, and drops to the floor like a stone.
"We're rich!" She squeals, flopping belly-first into the mound of coins. She buries her face in it like it's a pillow, laughing giddily as she hugs handfuls to her chest. "So warm… so round… so shiny…"
I stare at her, my face deadpan. "That's really embarrassing." I mutter.
She shoots me a glare from the pile, then ignores me and continues playing with it.
I sigh. 'As long as she's happy, I suppose.'
"It's around 450,000 Valis." I say casually.
Hestia freezes. "…F-four hundred and fifty thousand?" She echoes, stunned into silence.
It only lasts a moment before her laughter returns, and she resumes gleefully rolling in the coins like a child in snow.
I admire the moment for a while, before focusing my mind.
'I need to see Naaza about that dual potion project. Then buy clothing… no, materials for clothing. I can make them myself,' I conclude.
'Weapons and armor would be next. I'll just stroll through shops and have Great Sage analyse everything, then buy one, and create everything myself. Preferably impure adamantite. I might be able to purify it, and it should become unbreakable to anyone below level 6.'
My gaze drops back to the coin pile, where Hestia is now humming softly and hugging a small pile she's created.
'She's had enough fun, right?'
"Hestia."
"Hmm~?" She hums lazily, not even glancing up.
"I'm going to need to spend most of this tomorrow."
Her entire body stiffens. Slowly, she looks up at me, betrayal already brewing in her expression. "M-most of it…?"
I nod without hesitation. "Yep. I need proper weapons. Or…" I pause with a sly smile, "I can keep using monsters and my bare hands. I'm not picky. It'd be even more fun and dangerous that way." I say thoughtfully.
Her lower lip trembles slightly as she hugs the coins tighter to her chest.
"…Alright." She mutters at last, resting her chin against the pile. "If it's for something important… use it all."
I blink, slightly surprised. "…All of it? Not even a little for Familia expenses?"
She sits up and glares at me. "You are part of the Familia. Your safety is the best expense. Besides, I'd rather be broke and have you alive than rich and attending your funeral!"
'There likely wouldn't be a body left. And funerals are costly.' I think, but outwardly, I nod slowly, watching her expression soften. There's pride in her voice, and genuine care in her eyes.
"I appreciate that," I say sincerely, touched by her care. "Have you eaten yet?"
She blinks. "Not yet. Let's go buy some food!" She says, springing to her feet.
I gently push her back down onto the bed as she stares at me in confusion.
"There's no need." I reply calmly, then wave my hand over the table.
Plates begin appearing one after the other, summoned from Stomach.
Sandwiches stacked with crisp greens and seasoned meats. Honey-glazed ham still warm as the oven. Herb-roasted lamb, garlic mashed potatoes, rich tomato soup with a swirl of cream. Hearty beef stew. And for dessert, a perfectly layered chocolate cake.
Drinks follow next. Fruit juices, sparkling water, and even a bottle of Hostess of Fertility's famous fanout fruit liquor.
'I'll probably analyse Soma Wine one day too.'
Hestia's jaw drops. She stumbles off the bed and crawls toward the feast, eyes glazed over with desire.
"W-where did this come from…?" She asks in awe, drool already threatening to fall from the corner of her mouth.
"I spent about twenty thousand on ingredients and studied the meals from Hostess of Fertility when we ate there last night. I just replicated them, with some improvements." I gesture to the table. "Tonight, we dine in."
She doesn't wait for another word. She practically launches herself onto the couch and starts devouring the ham like a starved beast.
"Yeshhh!" She mumbles, cheeks stuffed, eyes teary from joy.
"There's no rush." I laugh. "It's not going anywhere."
She flushes and slows down a little, chewing with a sheepish smile. "S-sorry… it just looks so good."
We eat together in companionable silence for a while, the stress of the day slowly melting away.
Soon, the conversation turns casual—light jokes, old stories, Familia dreams, gossip from divine circles. Hestia talks animatedly about her friends, especially Hephaestus, throwing in dramatic impersonations that make me chuckle.
'It's… peaceful.'
The warm scent of food. The soft laughter. The glow of oil lamps flickering gently against the walls.
It's not like the thrill of battle, the high of danger, or the laughs I get from teasing people.
But it's good.
Really good.
Even with IronHeart dulling most of what I feel… this, somehow, still gets through.
I rest my head on my hand, elbow against the couch's arm, watching Hestia talk with wild hand gestures about some petty divine squabbles with Loki from centuries ago, and a smile tugs at my lips.
'I think… I like this too.'
The fullness in my stomach. The warmth in the room. The laughter of my Goddess. The quiet sense that, at least for now, everything's alright.
My eyes drift shut as her voice fades into a gentle murmur, and I let the exhaustion pull me down.
'She really is a goddess of hearth, home, and family…'
And tonight, it actually feels like it.
(Hestia POV – Church Basement Room)
Halfway through one of my stories, I catch Riven nodding off beside me.
At first, I pause, a little surprised… but then I soften my voice, letting it drift lower and gentler. Enough to ease him the rest of the way without waking him.
And it works. Within seconds, his breathing slows, his body slumps ever so slightly, and his head tilts to the side, looking peaceful and content.
A small smile curls at my lips. 'He drifted off to the sound of my voice… he likes it, right?' That warm, quiet realization makes my heart swell.
'…Or maybe he just finds me boring?'
The thought hits me like a punch to the gut, and I deflate slightly. I puff my cheeks in frustration, but shake the doubt off. 'No, no. He was definitely enjoying it.'
Still smiling, I turn and study his sleeping face. His expression is so calm, so serene. The white strands of his hair waving at the slightest breeze drifting through the room. He almost looks… fragile.
'He's really handsome.' I catch myself thinking. 'But that's not what draws me to him most.'
'It's how hard he tries.' I realize, and the thought settles deep into my chest.
Falna doesn't just grant power, it unearths both potential and desire. These form skills.
And for someone to manifest a skill that suppresses emotion... 'What kind of pain must that come from? What kind of heartbreak or loss do you have to survive to wish for that kind of silence?'
Yet here he is.
Trying to connect… trying to feel… something.
He doesn't let the skill define him. He doesn't wallow in his problems. He moves forward, even on the verge of death.
'I love that about him.'
And even if he frustrates me to no end sometimes—with his smug grins, and sly tricks, and making me worry constantly…
I still want him to keep trying. Because maybe… that means he's reaching toward me too.
I puff out my cheeks again, the warmth of the fruit liquor fuzzing my thoughts a little. 'Fine. I'll get a little payback. Nothing serious… just…'
Grinning to myself, I quietly scoot closer and pinch his cheeks.
Just a little.
His lips scrunch, then relax again. I giggle softly, like I've gotten away with something big.
'Serves you right, trickster.'
But as the laughter fades and the room returns to its cozy stillness, I just… sit there, watching him breathe.
In and out. In and out.
So calm. So quiet.
'What does he think about me?'
'I know he cares. I feel it through his words and actions. I know he sees me as family. But… what kind?'
Big or little sister? Mother figure? Just the goddess of the Familia?
'Or could it be something more?'
I lower my head slowly, resting it on his shoulder. His warmth seeps into me, soothing me gently.
'Because I don't think I see him as just my child anymore…'
The realization is gentle, not shocking in the least. It's like I've always known that. I've just never admitted yet to anyone, even myself.
I close my eyes, listening to his breathing, my heart suddenly louder than before.
'I want to stay close. I want to be the one he relies on, not just as a goddess, but as… me.'
But he's sleeping, and so am I, slowly but surely.
I can't lift him to the bed, so I carefully adjust his position, and lay him down on the couch instead.
Grabbing a soft blanket, I drape it over us both, wrapping my arms around him as I settle in beside him. My chin presses lightly against his shoulder. The scent of warm food still lingers in the air, even as my eyelids grow heavy.
"Goodnight, Riven…" I whisper into the quiet room.
And I let myself fall asleep, heart full, arms wrapped tightly around the boy who accepted me when I had nothing.
***********
A/N: Hello Everyone. How are you all?
If you enjoyed the chapter and book so far, consider leaving me some comments, reviews, or powerstones. It really helps the book out.
Let me start by saying that I'm extremely sleepy, and as I wrote this, part of that bled through. Even editing was a battle to stay awake. But I think it turned out for the better, so let me know if I write better while sleepy😂.
Moving on. The exact amount of Valis he has is 449 850. Includes the 1750 he had initially. Anyway, Riven's POV is quite straight forward, so I won't touch on that.
As for Hestia... It's a bit more complicated for me. When exactly did she fall in love with Bell? Was it because he joined the Familia, or because he saved her from the Silverback? Or something else? So, based on what I understand, of her being clingy and all that, she initially felt love when he chose her, and that grew over the course of all those events. I gave her logical reasons for her love, so I hope that made sense.
You can also support me and read 10 chapters in advance at p@treon.com/AMV_WEAKLY
It really helps me out, and allows me to write more and better chapters.
You can also join the discord server with https://discord.gg/dyJDk5knXT
There are lots of discussions there about the plot, as well as a bunch of polls for other stuff relavant to the story.
Anyway, that's all from me. I hope you all have a great day 😁