***STORY START***
The Goddess of the Hearth made her way toward Southwest Main to reach the home of Ganesha Familia. The sun had nearly set when she left the rundown church. With what little light was left, she decided to cut out some of her travel time by slipping into the crowds in the Free Marketplace between West and Southwest Main Streets. It was the time of day when dungeon divers began trickling out of the dungeon, and fresh ingredients from their latest haul filled the stalls and shops that lined the designated square. The late afternoon rush could get rather hectic.
Sometimes, Hestia got swept away in the waves of shoppers due to her small stature, but her fiery nature tended to get people to move. The respect for Deities at least counted for something.
She emerged onto the nearly deserted Southwest Main, save for a few Adventurers headed home. When she turned toward the city wall, a mature voice excitedly called out to her, "If it isn't little Hestia! It has been some time!"
Her dark hair whipped around as she spun about on her heels to see a taller woman in a crème-colored dress with dark trim. Her orange eyes framed by hair the color of honey shone brilliantly in the setting sun. Hestia was nearly blinded by the glare reflected off the large, wheat-shaped brooch set into the fabric on her hip. Despite the bleached spot in her vision, Hestia didn't need to think too hard about the person's identity.
"It truly has, Demeter," she nodded with a smile, trying to look anywhere else. "You're headed to Ganesha's, I take it?"
"Yes, I am," the Goddess of the Harvest affirmed happily. With a tilt of the head, she asked, "Care to walk with me?"
Having no reason to turn her down, Hestia agreed. The two buxom goddesses strolled down Southwest Main, sharing pleasantries and drawing gazes ogling their impressive figures. In the face of their vulgar murmurings, the goddesses ignored them.
"So, I heard you finally have a Familia now! What is your Child like?"
Hestia levelled a glare at Demeter. The knowing smile the Harvest Goddess wore rubbed her the wrong way. Demeter was notorious for stealing unsuspecting males from other Familias. Despite the maturity she exuded, her favorite prey was young boys. She said they tasted better… Whatever that meant.
Never breaking eye contact, she answered, "Bell-kun is a sweet, innocent boy. He may not be strong, but he works really hard—
"Ah! Another Child ripe for the picking!" Demeter's face flushed red. Her fingers caressed her own cheeks and her eyes twinkled lasciviously. Hestia managed to catch her emphasis on the word "child."
"I sense a bountiful harvest in my future!"
"Don't you go anywhere near my Bell-kun!" she stamped her feet at her taller counterpart.
"My…" Demeter peered down at her. "My, my!"
"What?" Hestia's expression soured.
"My little Hestia," Demeter drew uncomfortably close. "Have you 'crossed the line' with your Child?!"
"Wha-?!" the Goddess of the Hearth blushed beat red. Her mouth flapped open and shut like a fish.
Before she could respond, Demeter's mouth curled into a thin smile, and her eyes narrowed suspiciously. "You were one of the few virgin goddesses left. Welcome to womanhood!"
Demeter slapped Hestia's back with a heavy hand, hooting and hollering with tears of joy forming in the corners of her eyes. The raven-haired goddess gnawed on one of the knuckles of her clenched fist in frustration, letting out a cute grumble of anger.
"Bell-kun is a good boy," chanted Hestia, as if reassuring herself. "He is a pure boy, one who would never fall for the womanly wiles of someone like you."
"Fufufu," Demeter giggled mischievously. "I wouldn't be so sure. I have captured many boys with these."
Demeter hefted her assets with her hands, deforming them and threatening to pop them out of her dress. It was a wholly indecent act, punctuated by a farmer dropping a basket of cabbages with drool flowing down his chin at the sight of the lewd goddess' display.
With a pout, Hestia turned and marched down the street, "I have no idea why I'm still friends with you."
Ignoring the pattering of sandaled feet and shouts of, "Please! Wait for me!" Hestia stomped off to the banquet.
"As tasteless as always…" Demeter mused as she leered up at the façade of Ganesha Familia's Headquarters.
Despite Hestia's aggravation with her "friend," she couldn't help but agree. The two goddesses watched as other Deities filed into the venue. Whether they had noticed or not, people were walking into a giant statue of Ganesha reaching to the heavens. What was worse, they were all walking through the space created by his spread legs. They were essentially entering the building through Ganesha's groin.
"I wonder how much money he spent on this… thing?" the honey-haired goddess glanced down at her shorter counterpart with a grimace.
"Well, he has been known to splurge now and again," replied Hestia, sighing deeply.
Resigning themselves, the two women headed into the building. They were swiftly greeted by the members of Ganesha Familia. The males wore butler suits with white shirts, black vests, and bowties. The females wore black and white maid dresses, but not those niche, frilly things sold in specialty shops. Everyone appeared prim and proper, which was a welcome sight for a beast-taming Familia.
Hestia's exasperated sighs turned to those of relief when she saw the inside of the Headquarters. In spite of the building's façade, the inside was lavish and well kept. Crystal chandeliers adorned the ceilings of every room, and intricate carpets were spread over polished marble floors. The furniture was also of artisanal craftsmanship; the desks and tables were carved out of rich mahogany and the sofas made of expensive, fine fabrics. Truly, Ganesha Familia had incredible taste, almost bordering on tacky.
The two goddesses were announced to the crowd who had already assembled, but no one even turned their head. Neither of them cared, though. If they were half as vain as some of the Deities worth their weight in salt, they would surely have thrown a tantrum. Instead, they slipped through the disinterested masses.
Demeter patted Hestia on the shoulder, as if lovingly bidding farewell, "I have a prior engagement, little Hestia. I will see you later!"
"Eh? Sure…" she muttered impartially when her eyes met with one of the reasons she even came to the banquet. Like a sneak-thief, she slunk through the forest of legs and waists to the object of her desire.
The food table…
Her eyes lit up like stars and her tooth baring grin threatened to permanently stretch her face. Pulling take-home containers seemingly from nowhere, she began shoveling different dishes into them like a mad shopper at a clearance sale. This was one of her few chances to eat high end food, so she was going to capitalize on the situation. Sharing the moment with Bell would have been even better. As long as the food kept, she would wow him with an impressive spread.
Thick cuts of lean meat, buns, dumplings, three different rice dishes, Hestia slid the contents of each plate into the container, leaving nothing but empty place settings behind. Some members of Ganesha Familia watched in dumbstruck awe as food disappeared faster than they could replenish it. Whatever didn't end up in Hestia's take-home "pit" somehow landed in her mouth. The taste seemed to only drive her further into a hysterical grab for future meals.
A deep, womanly voice piped up from behind the crouched visage of Hestia, "Even though I just heard your name get called out, I knew right where to find you," her sentence was punctuated with an amused huff.
A wave passed through Hestia's black twintails like a startled cat caught unawares. The hearth goddess slowly turned toward her unexpected companion. The fire-haired woman barely stifled her laugh at the sight; Hestia crouched on the floor with a bin full of food and two half-eaten meat buns in each hand. She couldn't help but think she looked like a little chipmunk that managed to successfully invade a restaurant.
When her identity registered in her mind, Hestia hastily swallowed all of the food stored in her overstuffed cheeks. She shot to her feet in an instant with a brilliant smile, "Hephaestus!"
The crimson-haired woman wore a similarly crimson dress that fell all the way to the floor. It was an impressive "off-the-shoulder" number complete with full length gloves that could turn heads at the finest of banquets. On her right shoulder sat an intricately sewn crimson rose that was dark enough to stand out against her fiery hair. Her bangs were cut longer than normal, so as to cover the right side of her face; even though she wore a leather eyepatch, she still insisted on covering it. The rest of her magma-like hair flowed down to the small of her back, tracing the delicate, yet chiseled curves on the Goddess of the Forge.
Hephaestus was a dear friend to Hestia, and she looked after the tiny goddess when she came to Gekai. For many years, Hestia was unable to start her own Familia, ultimately leeching off of Hephaestus Familia. The Goddess of the Hearth, though a welcoming spirit and an attractive creature, did nothing but lock herself away and read books. Eventually, Hephaestus grew fed up with Hestia's laziness and kicked her out; though, not without giving her a place to stay.
"How is that old church treating you and your Child?" inquired the singular red-eyed woman with genuine interest. "It hasn't fallen on your heads yet, I assume?"
"It's holding up quite well for what it is!" Hestia bounced on her heels, truly happy to see one of her dearest friends. "I could never thank you enough for finding that room for me! My Child and I are quite comfortable, though the quarters can be tight at times."
"It can't be helped," Hephaestus shrugged. "What with how much I paid for it, you're lucky the whole building wasn't condemned right then and there."
The two goddesses exchanged a few pleasantries before moving onto the matters of their Familias. As expected of Hephaestus, her Familia remained the massive powerhouse it had always been since she descended from Tenkai. As the Goddess of Smithing, Hephaestus treasured people who prided themselves as metallurgists. Her Children did nothing but hone their craft and, eventually, they became the most prized weapons and armors that those of the mortal plane could offer. Her Familia operated out of dozens of shops littered throughout Orario, including several floors within the Tower of Babel itself; prime real estate if ever there was any.
"And what of your Child? What is the man who bagged our Hestia like?"
"There was no bagging!" Hestia glowered, but perked up as soon as the image of Bell's face rose into her mind. "He is a sweet young man with a lot of potential. He is somewhat on the weak side right now, but he is working very hard to become a great Adventurer. Just watching him push his limits makes me want to do the same."
Hephaestus' one eye closed. Her cherry lips formed a thin smile as she heard her friend gush over her Familia. There was nothing more satisfying for a Deity than learning of the growth of the Children, even if they were in different Familias.
"Which is why…"
Her one eye shot open in surprise. She knew that tone. Hestia was gearing up for something, and Hephaestus wasn't sure if she wanted to be present for it.
"I need to ask you for a favor!" the twintailed goddess bowed lowly, her hair sweeping along the pristine floor.
The redhead blinked in confusion. It took a few moments before she realized what was happening. She brought her hand to her face as if to wipe beads of sweat from her brow. The sigh that ripped through her lungs came from a deep, dark place. There was a crevasse inside of the forge goddess caused by her close friend bowing before her; a pit caused by kindness that went without reciprocation.
"Another favor, Hestia?" the goddess shook her head in disdain. "I told you already: You are cut off. No more money. No more favors. I don't particularly enjoy it when you take advantage of our friendship."
"That's not it!" Hestia straightened with such speed that her back could have snapped. "Since Bell-kun is trying his hardest, I feel that I should do the same. I am not asking you to give me a freebie like you were kind enough to do in the past. I just want to give my Child a fighting chance."
"What would that even entail? You don't have any money to pay me back," the redhead's single eye twitched, the irritation slowly getting to her. "I don't know how far you wish to stretch this relationship of ours, but at some point, it's going to give way, and I will not stand for it."
"I will pay everything back, no matter how long it takes! Please! I will do anything!"
To Hephaestus' surprise, Hestia did a little hop into the air. Her only eye widened to its limit when she saw the little goddess fall to the ground, slamming her head into the carpet, resting her forehead on the backs of her hands. A few other Deities looked on curiously, but ignored her in the end.
With a light blush of embarrassment high on her cheeks, the redhead peered down at her friend, "What are you doing?"
"It's a dogeza! Takemikazuchi taught it to me," she kept her head plastered to the floor as she spoke. "He said it was used for apologies and asking for favors, even though a person understands that they don't deserve it."
The Smithing Goddess' brow rose. Did she really have to go that far? Similar thoughts appeared in her mind, but she remained unmoved. She knew she had to stand firm. She made a decision, and needed to stick by it.
"No means no, Hestia."
"Please!"
"No."
"PLEASE!"
"I always found it quite interesting that little Hestia is the smallest one here, yet she has the loudest voice."
"Freya?"
The prostrating goddess heard Hephaestus' change in demeanor, and raised her head to see the approach of a vixen in silver. With several men in tow, the Goddess of Beauty glided toward the feuding Deities. Her silver dress was plain, but such a creature required no adornment to appear breathtaking. The cloth was so thin and tight, it looked to be painted on, but it neither strained nor gave way; it was a perfect fit for a perfect body. Her silver hair, despite having a similar color, had such an alluring glossiness that it stood out all on its own.
Hestia blinked, ignoring the red welt that was rising on her forehead, "Oh, hello Freya."
"Is that the only greeting I get from an old friend?" her sweet voice came forth as light as a breath. Around her, the men and women alike nearly melted as soon as the sound hit their ears. "Begging Hephaestus for help again, I see. Even though you finally get the Familia you've always wanted, you still can't escape old habits, can you?"
Biting back a sneer, Hestia harrumphed with indignation, "Well, I certainly can't leave it all up to my Child! He supports me, so I need to support him in my own way!"
"A Child like that is wasted on you," Freya's finger traced her perfectly proportioned lips. "If you are willing to give him up, I will give you whatever support you want."
Hestia couldn't help but notice Freya's sudden interest in her Bell-kun. Just the thought of a harlot like she taking her Child away filled her with anger and sadness. "I will never give up Bell-kun!"
Freya giggled playfully, causing several others to swoon. "It was worth a shot. Hold onto him dearly. You never know what may happen."
Hestia's cheeks puffed up in a cute pout. She and Freya knew each other when they were still in Tenkai, but they never really got along. There was never a real reason other than she rubbed Hestia the wrong way. Just knowing that Freya had her eyes on her Child made the Goddess of the Hearth very nervous. Freya had quite the track record for stealing talented Children; not even Demeter could hold a candle to her. After all, Freya's Familia was the largest for a reason; whatever she set her eyes on, she never stopped until she got it.
Before Hestia could tell her off, a voice broke through over the rumbling din of conversations.
"HEPHAESTUS! FREYA!"
"Oh no…" Hestia's shoulders drooped when she recognized to whom the voice belonged.
Another redhead zipped down the staircase before the staff could announce her arrival. Her shoulder-length, normally unkempt, red hair was tied up in an elaborate bun, and finished with a black flower hairclip. Her black, pinstriped dress hugged her body closely; not that it could be any looser. Since her choice of garment was a shoulder-less piece, the only way to preserve her modesty was the make it tight; the flatness of her chest didn't make it any easier for the dress to stay up. The skirt billowed out at her waist to form a lovely curtain of dark fabric. A black bow wrapped just below her navel and brought the skirt and bodice together.
To most onlookers, the arrival of this beauty would be a welcome change, but for Hestia, it was one of the worst things that could have happened. For some odd reason, the Goddess of the Hearth disliked the Trickster Goddess Loki. Whether she couldn't handle her personality, or her pranks, or even her insults, she would have seen Loki as her rival. It's all because of Wallen-whatsit that my Bell-kun is so obsessed!
Loki skidded to a halt in front of the two taller goddesses and exchanged greetings. Hestia glared up from her kneeling position, the redness of her cheeks nearly matching the forming blotch on her forehead. It only took Loki a moment to catch sight of her. Immediately, an evil grin stretched across her face. Her eyes narrowed to slits, as they usually did before she was about to rip Hestia a new one.
"Well, well, if it isn't Itty Bitty," Hestia could feel the anger building with each word already. "If you get any shorter, you might disappear!"
The short jokes were par for the course. Hestia was used to those.
"Even if you disappeared, the only thing left of you would be those tits of yours," Loki bent down to give Hestia's chest a poke.
Not having noticed that her position gave Hestia the perfect view down Loki's dress, the short goddess sputtered out a laugh, "It looks like your tits were the first to go!"
"Here we go…" Hephaestus clapped her hand to her forehead. She had seen this exchange so many times, she didn't even need to hear it; the arguments were always the same anyway.
"Come at me, Boob Monster!"
"Maybe I can gift some of my bust to you, Petanko-chan!"
An epic battle ensued. Loki and Hestia grabbed each other's cheeks and pulled as hard as they could, stretching their faces to impossible lengths. Suddenly, money was flying in every direction.
"One thousand on Loki!"
"Two thousand on Hestia!"
"This is the reason I go to these things!"
"You need a new hobby…"
Hephaestus and Freya watched as the two "duked" it out in the middle of the banquet. The Goddess of Smithing shook her head. It may have been a normal occurrence for the two goddesses, but did they have to fight like this every time? It didn't even take that long to start this time around.
The Goddess of Beauty, on the other hand, smiled joyfully, as if she was glad that two of her friends were playing together like usual.
"You two really do get along well."
""LIKE HELL!""
With a turn and a quip, the two battling goddesses snapped at Freya's innocent observation, only to end up glaring at each other. The women growled like animals, neither giving any ground. Their cheeks were starting to swell and engorge with blood. With each pinch and squeeze, the other would attack with renewed strength. For several minutes, they tugged and smashed each other's faces.
Trumpets blared throughout the room, suddenly jarring everyone out of the clamor caused by the impromptu cat fight. Even the battling goddesses whirled about, still clutching each other's cheeks with dumbfounded expressions. The noise came from the far side of the ballroom. Several trumpeters encircled a throne-like seat surrounded by red velvet runners and a gold trim curtain covering the wall. Many Deities looked on with genuine interest, while others peered around with tilted heads, question marks rising throughout the entire venue.
Hephaestus and Freya were no different. The two glanced at each other, trying to discern whether the other knew anything. After they received similar looks, their heads turned in unplanned synchrony back to the man in the red elephant mask standing in front of his "throne." Was there to be an announcement?
He raised his arms into the air, calling for silence. Slowly, the murmuring died away as curiosity welled up in the engrossed Deities. Everyone seemed to have the same thought. Here comes another grandiose speech from the glory hog, Ganesha.
"Welcome, one and all! I am Ganesha!" his booming voice filled the room with ease. "It is my pleasure to have all of you here tonight, to christen this brand new humble abode of our Familia!"
"Humble?"
"Did he just say humble?"
"The guy made us walk through his crotch…"
Whispers passed through the crowd as people wondered just how someone who spent gods-knew-how-much on this needlessly extravagant Headquarters could possibly call it humble. The guy may have been trying to show off, but this was just too much…
Even though he definitely heard the grumblings of his peers, the God of Obstacles continued, "I am glad to see so many of us gathered here on this night!"
"As loud as ever, I see," Freya mumbled. "He could give Hestia a run for her money."
"I'mn no' thad bad," Hestia slurred as she rubbed her swollen cheeks.
Ganesha seemed to relish the attention, even though there was absolutely nothing positive about it. That was something only Ganesha could handle, and turn it into fuel for his own eccentricity. Being a Deity who can cause both positive and negative effects, he was capable of using both sides to his advantage… probably. Either that, or, as many of the other Deities would be so inclined to believe, he was out of his mind.
Ganesha rambled on for what seemed like twenty minutes. He took the time to personally thank several of his closest friends for their continued support. Then, he decided to update everyone on the upcoming festival known as "Monsterphilia." He detailed which monsters they were planning to capture for the show, and even took suggestions from his audience for any new additions to the lineup. All in all, he gave quite the productive speech.
That was until…
"And finally, this Ganesha has come into contact with an old acquaintance from Tenkai. He has taken his sweet time gathering himself and moving forward with his plans to join us here in Gekai," the elephant Deity seemed to wax poetic for a moment. His characteristic loudness all but disappeared. "It is my pleasure to say that he has finally made the effort to descend into this plane of existence."
The mutterings of the crowd increased significantly. There were still thousands of Deities that hadn't crossed over from Tenkai. Just knowing that one of their own decided to take the plunge and finally enter the game was an exciting notion for the gods and goddesses. They all welcomed decent competition. If this new Deity could offer some form of beneficial opposition, it would allow everyone else to grow further. After all, this game was being played on a grand scale. Unless some new cogs were tossed into the machine, progress would stagnate.
"Fresh meat, eh?"
"It's a late start, but I hope they can make this more fun."
"I hope he's cute…"
Everyone seemed to have a similar reaction to the news, save for two goddesses in the center of the room. Loki stood silently, her eyes cracked open as she rubbed her reddened face. It had been a concern of hers for some time. Ever since her Aizu-tan brought the existence of an unregistered Deity to her attention, she was on the lookout for any news of unknown gods.
When she first heard the report from Aiz, she didn't quite believe her words. The dungeon had the ability to play tricks on the mind, make people see things, even set traps and lure them into false senses of security. The dungeon was a devious "creature," one that made sport of unwary Adventurers. The Sword Princess, however, was not someone with whom to be trifled. She knew the dungeon and understood of what it was capable. To let it pull one over on her just because she lacked rest was so unlike the gold-haired Adventurer that Loki was willing to give her the benefit of the doubt.
Her gut instinct when it came to her prized Child paid off in the end. When the rumors started flying, and having heard from other Deities that their Children were bumping into a black armored monster of a man in the dungeon, she had no choice but to believe Aiz. The Trickster Goddess was forced to accept her story about the kidnapped Monster Rex. Despite the research she and her Child did in the following weeks, they still turned up nothing.
He did nothing. He said nothing. He just cleared floors, letting other Adventurers pass when they happened upon him. It wasn't until Aiz met him after an incident in the dungeon that they finally got a bit more information; that being the name of his Deity.
Freya's face did not change. Her light smile and crinkled eyes did not betray a single emotion. She knew nothing of the Deity Ganesha was mentioning. Normally, she'd have asked Ottar to investigate, but he was off on another assignment, the results of which she awaited with bated breath. She had to keep up appearances, after all. She never felt the need to associate with those of her kind. As one of the more prominent Deities, her peers had expectations of her. She had an image to uphold. However, that didn't mean she had to enjoy it.
She twirled a glass of champaign in one hand, while her other hand fiddled with a lock of her hair. This was just another player in a boring game, she thought. She already had most of the promising talent the Children had to offer, save for a select few, though they would be hers in time. She let out a sweet sigh of boredom.
"So, without further ado, Ganesha proudly welcomes a good friend," the masked god motioned to his servants with his arms. At his signal, his servants opened the double doors. "The God of Death, Ainz Ooal Gown!"
When the figure entered, the entire room went cold. Light seemed to dim as the massive, seven-foot-tall man glided to the front of the chamber. He had long black-and-purple-hemmed robes that were accented with gold designs. His shoulders were adorned with massive white horns set with giant, ruby-red crystals. In his gauntleted hand, he held a golden staff of seven, entwined snakes grasping seven colored orbs in their mouths. The style was that of mangled gold, twisting and wrapping into a grotesque handle encrusted with deep, blue sapphires. The hollow sounds of the metal hitting carpeted stone was like an explosive din in the silent room.
There was just one misunderstanding the Deities had regarding this man; he wasn't a man at all.
Because of his broad hood, the only part of his head that was visible was his face. It was a face that belonged on a completely rotted corpse. A polished, bleached-white skull reflected the light from the ornate chandeliers. Two black, empty sockets were set beneath a strong brow curved into a permanent scowl. Black streaks that seemed to be gouge marks surrounded his eyes, as if someone had cut them out with a blade. His teeth were completely exposed, as he had no flesh. He also had a squared jaw that appeared almost jagged in places. Two red lights shone brightly through the darkness created by his eye sockets, sending a shiver through the crowd.
The front of his robe was open, revealing a wide ribcage that jutted out of his clothing. Sitting where his organs should have been, a large red orb glistened and thrummed; it didn't pulse like a heart, but it was quite obvious that it was the source of his life. He settled in front of the audience, next to Ganesha.
To make matters worse, he didn't come alone. Filing in behind him, three individuals confidently sauntered into the room.
The first was a tall woman in a purple dress with a white shawl accented with purple frills wrapped around her shoulders. Underneath, her dress was corset-like and open on the sides. The white, shell-shaped cloth did its best to hold back the woman's rather impressive assets; any lady present who didn't match up chewed on their lips in envy. Her neck and wrists were adorned with expensive looking jewelry and her hips were swaddled by layers of raven feathers sewn into the dress. She was gorgeous, but the eyes of those ogling a lovely woman always traveled up to her head. Two curved horns protruded from her temples. The points settled over her brow, making her alluring yellow eyes pop.
Was she even human?
As that thought passed through the minds of all of the Deities present, the next person brought everyone's eyes further toward the ground. She was short; almost half as tall as the first woman. She may have looked like a child, but the air of maturity she exuded was common in ancient creatures, and could match even that of the surrounding gods and goddesses. Her skin was paler than white, and seemed to pour like milk out of her mauve and magenta dress. The bodice was tightfitting, though her chest seemed too large for her small stature; similar to a certain Goddess of the Hearth. The layered, Victorian style skirt flared out like a bell, completely hiding her short, graceful steps. Her silver hair was tied back in a long ponytail that fell almost to the floor. She wore a purple headpiece that matched her dress with a striped bow. Grasped in her hands was a parasol made of the same material. Aside from her dress, the only color present in her form were her blood red eyes that pierced everyone like a predator. Her ghostly lips struggled to hold back a lengthy pair of teeth; were they fangs?
Was she even human?
Finally, the last person in the odd procession was the only other male. He was tall and lithe with spiked, black hair. His eyes were obscured by thick glasses that sat atop his long nose. His ears were pointed like an elf's, pierced by all kinds of metallic trinkets. His wide mouth was curled into a devilish grin, revealing rows of sharpened teeth. His orange, pinstriped suit complete with white collared shirt, red tie, and pocket square portrayed the man as a high standing businessman. What confused everyone was the segmented tail that fell from his lower back. With each step, it swept from side-to-side like a living creature. Its spiked end came dangerously close to spearing some of the servants who stood too near the group.
He definitely wasn't human…
The four newcomers stood in a line, presenting themselves to the gathering. The reigning silence only made the whispers seem louder.
"Fresh meat? There's no meat on that thing."
"That horned woman's chest is out of this world."
"I'm leaning toward the little one."
"Lolicon…"
"That man is a bit scary…"
Meanwhile, Loki's mind was racing. Her eyes were fully open and regarding the people standing at the front of the room. Her gaze was nowhere near as good as Freya's. While the Arbiter of Souls was capable of seeing a Child's level of power at a passing glance, Loki could only feel the power that they exuded. Each newcomer that entered exhibited a pressure that was incredibly overwhelming to the senses, but she could tell nothing else, as if she was being blocked from doing so. So Aiz was right. A new god had descended, and he had brought monsters with him.
"Hey, Freya," Loki turned toward the sliver-haired beauty. "Can your eyes see anything— Freya?"
The Goddess of Beauty was nowhere to be found.
The eyes on me sent a shudder through my bones. It was a moment of weakness on my part, though who wouldn't feel anxious? There were Deities from several different religious denominations in this very room. At the moment, they were considered enemies, and they could utterly destroy us if they chose to do so. However, I also felt quite confident in my situation. They would not use their abilities unless they decided to beforehand with their peers, otherwise they would be forcibly returned to Tenkai.
There was only one goddess I knew of that had learned of the name "Ainz Ooal Gown," and she had not made a move. Perhaps she was being cautious? It made sense. She knew next to nothing about me. Acting too soon could have been detrimental not only to herself, but also to the members of her Familia. If she cared at all for them, she would do nothing until she knew more. That was partially what made this introduction possible. Everyone would ask questions, but the only advice they would receive was to not mess with Ainz Ooal Gown Familia.
Especially if such advice came from the trusted source known as Loki.
She ran a powerful Familia, and she herself had an impressive amount of clout. Should she have talked, people would have listened. Now that I was introduced, she would have to hold her tongue. It was the only way to remove that particular advantage. It was just one less thing she could hold over our heads.
I suppose I should have thanked the Floor Guardians for their little mishap with kidnapping Ganesha. All it did was push our plans forward a bit too soon. The longer Ainz Ooal Gown Familia remained as a dungeon poaching group, the higher the level of danger for us. We weren't completely prepared to move on to the next step, but neither were our enemies. It was for the best that we had struck while the iron was still hot.
I scanned the faces in the crowd. Despite our unexpected entrance, it seemed to me that many of the Deities were not surprised by my appearance. Perhaps there were many eccentric gods with strange forms? Maybe they could choose any form they liked, what with being gods and all. They must have chosen to look like humanoids to avoid scaring the mortals. How considerate of them…
I heard a beep in my mind, indicative of a signal coming through with [MESSAGE], "Was that a sufficient introduction, Ainz-sama?"
Pandora's Actor's voice came through with a hint of eagerness. Not wanting to crush his enthusiasm, I littered him with a bit of praise, "It was most sufficient, Pandora's Actor. You can be proud of what you managed to pull off here tonight, even with the time constraints. Well done."
I ignored the small shudder and pleased yelp that came from the pseudo-Ganesha standing beside me. I was lucky that everyone was focused on me, otherwise they would have noticed the strange sounds coming from the Doppelganger.
Clearing my throat, I raised one of my hands in greeting, "Good evening, my peers. I am the one known as Ainz Ooal Gown, a God of Death."
Naming myself The God of Death might have been considered pretentious, especially since I had no idea which gods existed in this world. If I overstepped myself, I could have made more enemies than rivals. Rivalries were acceptable; we could still trade beneficially with them. Having too many enemies outright could spell disaster for Nazarick.
In the face of blank stares, I continued, "I have been humbled by the reception I received from Ganesha and his impressive Familia. They have given me a chance to meet all of you and establish a Familia of my own.
"My prospective Familia members and I are most grateful to our hosts, as well as all of you for welcoming us to Gekai. Please take care of us!"
It didn't take long to notice a piercing gaze boring into me as I spoke. Even as the words left my mouth, my eyes found the culprit in an instant. In the center of the room, amid the sea of blank expressions, red eyes set into a stern glower beneath a mop of lovely crimson hair done up in an elegant bun glared at me from afar. The woman's sight never tore away from me, even as I moved forward, into the crowd.
As was her description, the woman must have been Loki. According to my own personal experiences with the Sword Princess, my most likely enemy at the moment was the Trickster Goddess. Aiz Wallenstein had been wary of me during our last meeting, and with good reason. She had possibly seen us abduct the Monster Rex. What was worse, I had a bit too much fun with her and told her our guild's name. The chance to spread the name my friends and I shared was too enticing to pass up. I had made a mistake, but that doesn't mean I couldn't capitalize on it.
That was why, despite speaking one on one with the Deities I passed along the way, I still kept Loki in my sights. Some of the gods willingly approached, while others simply turned away. It was no surprise, really. I didn't expect them to accept me straightaway, especially since I looked so different. Most of them were kind enough to shake my hand, though everyone ended up doing so. After all, each time one of the Deities glanced down at my hand and hesitated, Albedo would glare at them with severe intensity. They instantly became more agreeable.
I wore the gauntlets for this very reason. I figured they wouldn't want to touch a completely bony hand, so I decided to make things a bit easier on them. The Guardians were not pleased with that choice, but after taking the time to explain my reasoning, they begrudgingly accepted it. I would use whatever tactic I believed was helpful to Nazarick. This was where my experience as a Salaryman came in…
Keep it simple. Tell them no more than what was necessary. This was a pleasantry. Only meet with the most influential. The promises of the "little men" would be of no benefit to me. Continue forward toward the target. Appeal to their interests, and sell yourself.
The training for my job from when I was still in my human body had never failed me before. I did well enough for myself as a human. I didn't see how these Deities should be any different. The Familias were practically businesses; their members were the employees, and the Deity was the CEO. They all worked together in order to increase productivity and grow into a larger Familia.
A Deity treated their Familia however they liked. Some treated their members like family, others as if they were slaves. Their internal affairs were none of our concern, so there was no need to interfere. When it came to Loki Familia, it appeared that she treated her members as her own. She cared about each individual, especially for the higher ranked Adventurers she had under her thumb. It was an admirable sentiment, one that I understood greatly. The NPC's of Nazarick were my family, so perhaps I could find some camaraderie with the Trickter Goddess.
It wasn't long before I reached the area where the redheaded goddess stood, her eyes still glued to me. She and I finally shared a glance as I walked forward. When I was about to approach her, I noticed a black creature had appeared in front of me.
"Hold it right there, Ainz Ooal Goon!"
My eyes trailed downward, noticing that the "black mass" was actually a stream of long, black hair tied up in twintails. My head reflexively tilted when I took in her visage. She was quite short, barely coming up to my stomach. Ocean-blue eyes glared up at me, though her neck was bent back sharply; it was tough for someone so short to look up at a person who was nearly a meter taller. The angle was so steep, in fact, that the only things about the woman I noticed were her face and the pair of giant breasts hiding the rest of her body.
What god in heaven gave someone so small and thin a rack like that? Well, she was a goddess after all, so maybe she gave them to herself?
I was snapped out of my thoughts when I heard the screeching and gnashing of teeth behind me.
"You insolent woman!" Albedo burst out as she stepped forward, lifting her dress slightly so as not to trip. Her feathers ruffled and shook as her wings started to unfurl from around her waist. "How dare you call Ainz-sama—!"
I raised my hand in front of her to calm her fury. She sputtered slightly, trying desperately to hold back her words. The disgruntled Succubus retreated a step. Her brow knitted into a cute frown. Her yellow eyes dangerously jerked in the short goddess' direction, though she neither seemed to care nor notice. The Deity's expression was twisted into an angry grimace with small tears welling up in the corners of her eyes, but I found it difficult to feel intimidated. The tiny creature was just too adorable.
"Ainz Ooal 'Goon…'" I mulled over the word aloud, then chuckled mirthfully. "Honestly, I've not heard that one. Many have mocked me in the past, but this one is new. I must say, you are quite clever. However, I feel the need to ask why it is that I have seemed to earn your ire? Have I done something to slight you, Miss…?"
I trailed off, leaving a gap for the woman to introduce herself. I had no idea talking with this Lip Bug would be so difficult. The strange voice that came from my mouth almost made me trip over my words. It was a last minute decision to disguise my voice, since Aiz Wallenstein had heard it when I was parading around as Momonga. I'll have to thank Demiurge for the idea, as well as Entoma for lending it to me…
Despite my courtesy, the small woman still appeared miffed. She placed her hands on her hips and stared up at me with an air of defiance. There wasn't a single ounce of fear packed into her tiny frame, causing my interest in her to rise with each passing moment.
With her cheeks puffed in a pout, she pointed at me with an indignant finger, "I am the great Hestia! And it's cheating to gather so many Familia members before you've registered with the Guild! Do you have any idea how long it took me to get just one?!"
My jaw dropped. This was Hestia, the Goddess of the Hearth? This was the eldest daughter of Cronus and Rhea? This was the sister of the three main gods of the Greek Mythology, Zeus, Poseidon, and Hades? This was the receiver of ritualistic sacrifices that were used to keep the flames of Olympus burning at all times? Hestia was meant to be the keeper of the flame, the embodiment of house and home. Humans believed that no form could be decided upon for her, because there was no single way to describe the feelings of belonging that came from relaxing, enjoying, and running one's own home.
And yet, here she stood, a minuscule spitfire that could barely see my face when she stood too close. She was a revered goddess, but nearly forgotten, like opening and closing ceremonies for the day. I slammed my jaw shut, coughing into my hand as if clearing my throat. I was banking on the fact that this world was different to a degree. I couldn't be sure if the lore behind each Deity was similar to that of my world. If Hestia was as important and influential as she was made out to be in the Mythology I studied, she could be a great asset to us in the future.
"I spent years looking for Children who would join my Familia!" the goddess whined, chewing on the fabric of her dinner jacket in frustration. "You're not even here for a week and already have three talented people! Mu~ Mu~ Mu~!"
Then again, perhaps not…
My expressionless face refused to budge, even though I mentally raised an eyebrow in confusion. I decided to placate the irate woman, even though I couldn't find anything wrong with my actions, "My apologies, but I do believe that as long as no one enters the dungeon before registering, I can gather as many members as I wish."
I felt several pairs of eyes turn toward us as many Deities listened in on our little disagreement, if it could be called that. To me, it seemed she was just griping about having too few members, but everyone else could tell that she was needlessly chewing me out. I wasn't sure if the intermittent chuckles were directed at me, or the goddess glaring at me from her low vantage point. Everyone could tell she was being petty.
Of course, all of that disappeared when Albedo's piercing gaze drifted over each of them. Even I could feel the peril spreading through the room with the Succubus as the epicenter. As glad as I was about losing the unwanted attention, Albedo wasn't exactly subtle when it came to her own distaste. Watching the developments, Demiurge could only sigh and shake his head with a chuckle, while Shalltear disinterestedly peered at her manicured nails, just waiting for things to be over.
Bulldozing through the oppressive air, Hestia's pout turned into a glower, but she wasn't the one who answered back with a retort, "That's rich, especially when your Silent Swordsman has been spotted wiping Floors clean down there for weeks. My Aizu-tan has told me some interesting stories about your Children."
Crimson eyes showered me with a torrent of admonition. I turned my head slightly to take in the Trickster Goddess. Her eyes were dangerously angled, regarding me with as much caution as a cornered cat. She had her hand placed on her cocked hip, glaring with such intensity that Hestia shuffled out of the way. I glanced down at her, seeing the pinstriped bodice and black skirt of her dress.
So Loki really was a woman after all… From my knowledge of old Norse Mythology, Loki was known as the Trickster God because he was always causing trouble by making people turn on each other using both perfectly veiled lies and boldfaced truths. Loki was also known to switch genders from male to female and back in order to enact his plans, and could even change species, as he sired the great wolf Fenrir, and even birthed the great steed Sleipnir when masquerading as a mare.
Loki also apparently had a daughter named Hel who oversaw the Underworld, but I had no idea if that held true here.
My eyes zeroed in on her chest. Flat as a board. Perhaps Loki's gender fluidity was the reason for her lack of certain feminine characteristics.
"However, it seems 'Momonga' isn't here today," she emphasized the name with a knowing smirk on her face. Her challenging glare broke away from me and settled on Demiurge. "Though I believe she told me a lot about you as well, Mr. Orange Man."
It seems she had seen us that day.
My subordinate's sneering grin stretched even further as he stepped forward. With a deep bow, he introduced himself, "I am the one known as Demiurge. It is a pleasure to meet you, Lady Loki."
"You know me… I see you've done your research," she sighed, her stare never wavering. "I would very much like to pick your brain about… certain details regarding a report I received from one of my Children."
And she most likely knows everything already…
A chuckle escaped the demon's parted lips as he straightened himself. "It would please me greatly to speak with you at length, though I would require permission from our Supreme Being."
Loki's tongue clucked when she turned back to me. "Do me a favor and let your Child—
She must have noticed my errant gaze, as she crossed her arms over her chest. Her face contorted with embarrassment and flushed a deep shade of red. With uncharacteristic stammering, she shrieked, "D-did you get a good enough l-look?! You're not gonna poke fun too, are ya?!"
The red lights of my eyes dimmed several times as I blinked. I was deep in thought, but I must have been looking at her chest the whole time…
Wait, WASN'T THAT SEXUAL HARASSMENT?!
"Er, wait, that's not…" my arms shot up in denial. Now, she was scowling at me with a different kind of wariness.
Uh-oh… The situation was quickly devolving. The last thing I wanted was for everything to spiral out of my control. I could already feel the stares coming from all around. I needed to salvage this.
Clearing my throat again, I tried anything that came to mind, "You see, I was simply captivated by… your charms? Yes! I was enchanted by your lovely figure, and could not help but take in your beautiful form. Please forgive me."
"Where the hell is he even looking? There's nothing there anyway," quipped Hestia, with a satisfied huff.
Everyone seemed to have the same idea, since they all glanced at each other with their brows raised.
"So he likes them flat, eh?"
"You'd think he'd want them with a bit more flesh, since he doesn't have any."
"I like them flat too."
"When did you become this way?"
"You hear that, Albedo?" Shalltear's voice mingled in with the rabble of the surrounding masses. "Ainz-sama has spoken. He likes them… flat."
Silence rushed over the crowd as they all suddenly backed away when a wave of rage surged forth from the Succubus behind me. I looked over my shoulder, expecting a nightmarish terror, only to see a completely composed attendant; at least that's how it seemed at first. Her lips were curled into a welcoming smile, but her eyes were dangerously wide. The woman was a powder keg with a lit fuse, just waiting to explode. The air rippled and shook with each heaving breath she took. No one nearby said a word for fear of setting her off.
Am I sweating? I must be sweating…
However, one person was wholly unaffected by the evil radiating from the horned woman. Loki's neck, cheeks, and ears were so deeply red, one would expect she was overheating. With her hands cupping the sides of her face, she muttered gleefully, "Lovely figure… beautiful form… no one… has ever…"
"Hu… Huhuhuhu~!"
Once it seemed the steam would erupt from her ears, the Trickster Goddess regressed into a bubbling girl, squirming and drooling while giggling to herself. In the face of her blissful babble, Hestia's expression twisted into a grimace of disgust. Shaking her head, she turned back to me. Her eyes suddenly widened as some puzzle pieces finally snapped into place in her mind.
"Hold on! The Silent Swordsman is yours?!" she pointed accusingly, her teeth bared in anger. "My Bell-kun was scared half to death by your Child!"
Another red haired goddess approached, quickly interrupting the tiny goddess' potential tirade. She wore a red dress that matched the only eye of hers that wasn't covered by a black leather eyepatch, much like the color of Loki's eyes. I glanced down at her crimson dress wrapped around her tight, muscular body. Looking at the two goddesses side by side, I would have believed it if they told me they were sisters. There was one distinct difference between them…
This goddess seems to have a bit more feminine charm than the trickster Loki.
"I had heard that the Silent Swordsman uses a pair of black great swords," the unknown woman crossed her arms and looked me up and down. I felt her single eye trace my figure, her vision seemingly burning me with an unseen fire. "Those weapons don't sound like anything that came from my Children. You have your own smith, I take it?"
"Hm?" I attempted to give her a quizzical gaze. It seemed that even without flesh, my face still wanted to show expressions, but I lacked any of the musculature necessary for it. Instead, my angled brow and overall gloomy demeanor exhibited a mood that some may have considered offensive. I need to remember to state my feelings outright... misunderstandings could lead to some serious problems… "I apologize. You seem to have me at a disadvantage. I am Ainz Ooal Gown."
I held my hand toward the woman, at which she peered down at it with an eyebrow raised; or rather, at the gauntlet I wore. With a slight smile, she stated her name, "Hephaestus."
Even as she clasped her hand around mine, my breath caught in my chest; if that was what it could be called for one who didn't breathe. The Goddess of Blacksmiths… In another display of the differences between my world and this one, the Deity known as Hephaestus was female. In Greek Mythology, Hephaestus was the blacksmith of the gods. He created all of the weapons that the gods of Olympus carried, and he was also known as the patron god of artisans and craftsmen.
Hephaestus was exclusively portrayed as male, having been married to Aphrodite and, according to some works, Athena. This world, however, seemed to paint quite a different picture.
"Eh?" the crimson-haired woman uttered as she turned my hand in hers. Staring at the back of my hand, she ran the tips of her fingers along the shimmering iron. "Haven't I seen these somewhere before?"
Ah… It took me a moment to understand her meaning, but once it clicked in my head, it became glaringly obvious that I was in trouble. I wanted to slap myself in the face. In Yggdrasil, many of the items and equipment were named after legendary, divine, and godly objects from both history and mythology. The world of Yggdrasil was a game, a false reality. However, since it was just that, one could say those articles were the real thing, because it was just a game. For all intents and purposes, in that game world, everything was real and aptly named as such.
But when something from that game world was thrust into a real world situation, namely myself, some issues may have arisen.
For example, the gauntlets I wore at this very moment were named Jarngreipr, or the "Iron Grippers." In short, they were Thor's gloves that enhanced the strength of any who wore them.
Gods were real in Yggdrasil, as well as their weaponry and items. The gods are real here as well, so it would be correct to assume that their treasures are real too. That means if any of my artifacts that may have belonged to the gods of these religious denominations are seen by the original owners, there could be a huge misunderstanding…
I needed to come up with something, and fast; before she can figure it out. Come on brain, don't fail me now!
"It can't be," her eye widened. "Do these not belong to Thor? I have only ever seen them from afar, but these are them for certain. How did you get these?"
That was fast… As expected of the discerning eye of the Goddess of Smithing. It was practically impossible to hide the quality of the item, especially when the person you were trying to trick was an expert in the field. Luckily, I knew a surefire way to get out of it.
Deny. Deny deny deny!
"These are not the same as the pair Thor owns," I held the gauntlets up to show her. "True, they are very similar, as they were made in their likeness. Alas, these are nothing compared to the originals."
She glared at me with a half-lidded eye, as if she didn't believe a word I said. She pursed her lips as she glanced down at them again, "Those are some decent replicas. If what you said is true, then I would very much like to meet the smith who made them."
Crap… I could probably create something similar to these gauntlets with the correct enchantments, but there was no way I could do that for her. I am posing as a chained Deity after all. Even saying that one of my subordinates found them would be so unbelievable that I would just dig myself a deeper hole. I may need to tell a few truths… In the end, the best lies were partially true.
"They were made with a different method, one that some of my prospective members have been researching for quite some time," I mused. The intrigue in Hephaestus' eyes pushed me forward. "Most smiths nowadays need to have the skills and development abilities necessary to create Magic Weaponry and Armor. My followers have succeeded without them."
It wasn't exactly a lie, as creating equipment in Yggdrasil required a base item with subsequent materials and possibly magic depending upon the recipe. It was possible to reproduce the results here in the new world, so long as I had the ingredients. However, unless I proved it, I would be placed under constant suspicion.
"You don't say," she narrowed her eye at me, unsure if my words could be trusted. However, her curiosity was getting the better of her. "If that is the case, I would very much like to—
"Hephaestus! I wasn't done!" Hestia got between us and stamped her feet like a toddler in a department store, trying to get what they wanted from their parents. "The skeleton and I need to discuss what he's going to do about my Child!"
It took every ounce of my mental capacity to tear my attention away from the forge goddess, who appeared to be irritated to no end, in order to respond to Hestia. It was also difficult to avoid looking behind me at the sound of teeth grinding down to nubs. I may need to check Albedo's mouth later. This amount of gnashing could cause some lasting damage. My head reflexively tilted at the goddess' words. "Hm? To what Child are you referring?"
"My Bell Cranell! He got chased by a Minotaur and was saved by Loki's Sword Princess!" she marched up to me and shoved her wrath-infused finger up at me, nearly touching my exposed sternum. "Then your Child came along and nearly shocked the soul right out of him! You better be ready to take responsibility!"
Eh? I scared a little boy? When was this? I mean, yeah, when Albedo and I explored the city for the first time, I scared quite a few people, but there was nothing about a Minotaur…
Wait, Aiz Wallenstein saved a young man from a Minotaur during our first meeting. Perhaps…
"Are you speaking of the white haired boy with the Sword Princess? He was the one who fled after Momonga met the two of them after the incident," I placed my thumb and forefinger on my chin in thought as the memory of the kid appeared in my mind.
"That's the one! He came home distraught and terrified!" Hestia clutched a hand to her chest as she remembered how he looked. "You need to make sure your Children understand the consequences of their actions, especially if they're going to be poaching!"
A few whispers broke out in the crowd. Poaching was a serious offense that could lead to severe fines and even the disbandment of a Familia. With an accusation having been informally made, I was becoming the center of attention yet again.
Of course, I was already prepared for this moment, "I have done no such thing."
"What?!" squawked Hestia, the dumbfounded expression on her face spreading to many of the other faces surveying the scene. "How is it not poaching?! You gained money illegally in the dungeon, as well as performed the activities of a Familia without being registered with the Guild! That is in clear violation of Guild Law and the laws we Deities have set for ourselves!"
The murmuring grew as the rumors started flying. However, despite the distractions around me, I kept my eyes leveled on the little goddess below me. The money we gained from the dungeon was, in fact, gained illegally. Also, the laws of the Deities stipulated that they would adhere to Gekai's rules. In their eyes, I was clearly blaspheming the "game" they had established. Luckily for me, it was easy to make their accusations become unfounded claims.
"It is true that Momonga had been gallivanting about in the dungeon for several weeks," I nodded, sending people into an uproar. However, when I raised my hand for quiet, they were kind enough to cease their grumblings, "but during the time he had been illegally entering the dungeon, he was unaffiliated with Ainz Ooal Gown Familia. After all, Ainz Ooal Gown Familia doesn't exist as of yet."
Everyone blinked, the information passing through their heads and flipping everything upside down. Many of them flapped their jaws in stunned silence, obviously wanting to say something in objection, but they couldn't quite come up with a riposte.
Hestia, however, did not have that issue. The words came both quickly and furiously, "Then where has all the money gone?! Since you have admitted that he has been poaching, then that means the rumors about him clearing Floors is true! Have you not received a cut of his earnings?!"
I dismissively shrugged my shoulders. My apparent nonchalance seemed to be putting the hearth goddess off. "What Momonga does with his money and spare time is none of my concern. Since he doesn't have my mark on him yet, I bear no responsibility for his transgressions. However, once I bestow my Falna upon him, I will make sure he is held accountable for his crimes. If the Guild wishes to fine him or bar him from the dungeon, then he must deal with it on his own. Of course, his punishment will be decided by the Guild; not by any of you."
My response was accentuated by smug giggles from the female Guardians standing behind me. Demiurge crossed his arms, his sharp teeth bared in his signature grin that stretched from ear to ear. The surrounding Deities couldn't say anything. They knew I was completely in the right, in spite of my blatant bending of the rules. Even Hestia was forced into a state of irritated pouting. My bases were easily covered, and the fate of my shadow known as Momonga would be left up to the Guild. If I could continue masquerading as Momonga or if the name must fade into obscurity, neither outcome mattered to me anymore.
The only name I was interested in spreading from the start was that of Ainz Ooal Gown.
I slipped my gloved hand into my inside pocket and grabbed a small bag. With a flick of my wrist, I tossed it over to Hestia. Surprised that it came flying in her direction, she panicked for a moment before fumbling with it when it bounced off her palms. She then held it up between her two fingers and stared at it with scorn, like she was holding something dirty. Her eyes then trailed up to meet mine, as if asking what she was supposed to do with it.
With a sigh, I waved as if shooing her away, "That contains a few valuable jewels. Go ahead and sell them and buy your Child some new armor or something. Aiz Wallenstein won't always be there to bail him out of a sticky situation, so he should have at least one layer of reliable protection."
The Goddess of the Hearth was speechless. She poured the contents of the pouch into her hand and beheld the rubies and emeralds that spilled out. Their values ranged anywhere from a few thousand Valis to fifteen thousand for one of the more unflawed gems.
"If you're good at haggling, you might be able to walk away with about one hundred twenty thousand Valis; more than enough of a remuneration for giving a single boy a fright," I explained offhandedly while taking in her slack jawed reaction. "I just hope this isn't how you act when your Child gets scared and runs off. Don't expect another handout from me if the boy flees just because he bumps into Momonga again."
Leaving that behind, I walked past her, noticing that she had drooped her head with both her fists and jaw clenched. I might have been a bit too harsh, but I refused to allow people to take advantage of my kindness. Money brought out the worst in people; it was even worse when they were desperate. If Hestia's Child couldn't make it as an Adventurer, then Hestia Familia's future will be in jeopardy; though that was none of my business.
I suppose my expectations for the Goddess of the Hearth were just a bit too high.
"Well, it was quite entertaining, meeting all of you tonight. I learned quite bit, and I hope to get along well with all of you," I stipulated, glancing over my shoulder at the dejected black haired goddess. "I regret to say that I must take my leave. Let us all enjoy this game."
Some of the Deities nodded along, gladly accepting the challenge, while others watched me guardedly, unsure if they could trust me. I expected no less from my opponents in this new world's game.
"Hephaestus-dono, I would very much like to continue our discussion regarding new smithing techniques. Perhaps we could speak at a later date?" I stipulated, trying my best to be friendly.
The Goddess of Blacksmiths gave a curt smile and a nod, "I think I would like that. I still have a lot of questions that need answers."
I chuckled and turned away. I made to leave through the exit, but spun at the last moment to Loki. She was still gushing over the compliments she received. It seemed she hadn't been listening to anything that had been said. When I approached, she looked up at me with creased eyes from grinning and giggling, completely unperturbed by the atmosphere.
"There is still a lot of information that we need to gather about our… specimen," I whispered lowly to her, hoping she heard me through her strange stupor. "Once we learn more, I can share the information with you. Hopefully, it can help us understand the dungeon better, and more importantly, explore it more thoroughly. With our two Familias working together, our Children can only benefit from the potential growth.
"Take care now, Loki-dono. I will keep in touch."
"Yeah…"
I only managed to get a noncommittal response from the seemingly drunken Trickster Goddess. Finally, I turned away and headed to the exit with my subordinates in tow. Apparently, the goddess finally came to and wondered aloud why everyone was acting so strangely.
I had accomplished my goals for the evening, and they were none the wiser about Ganesha's disappearance. I must congratulate Pandora's Actor once he returned to his post in the Treasury. Once we were finally free from the banquet, we ducked into an alleyway and teleported away with [GATE].
I wonder how things are going at the mansion…
"Haa… haa… URK!"