[8] A Goddess's Wisdom

I led Hestia through the winding streets of Orario, her small hand still clasped in mine. The setting sun painted the city in shades of amber and gold, casting long shadows across the cobblestones.

"It's just around this corner," I said, guiding her past a group of tired-looking adventurers.

『You seem to be settling into your role quickly,』 Minerva observed.

The kebab stand came into view, its grills still sizzling with meat and vegetables. The owner, a burly man with an impressive mustache, looked up as we approached.

"Ah! The discerning customer returns!" He grinned, wiping his hands on his apron. "And with company, no less."

"The food was too good not to share," I said, releasing Hestia's hand to gesture at the stand. "Especially with my goddess."

The owner's eyes widened. "Goddess Hestia! Welcome, welcome! Any friend of this fine gentleman is a valued customer indeed."

Hestia peered at the rotating spits of meat. "It does smell amazing..."

"Four of your best, please," I said, pulling out my coin purse. "Two to go."

"For Bell?" Hestia asked, bouncing on her toes.

I nodded. "And one extra, just in case."

While the owner busied himself with our order, I turned to Hestia. "So, how long have you been in Orario?"

"About a year now." She settled onto one of the wooden stools by the stand. "Though sometimes it feels like yesterday I descended from Tenkai."

"What made you choose this city?"

She shrugged, watching the meat sizzle. "Same reason as most gods, I suppose. The dungeon, the adventure, the chance to build something of my own." Her eyes took on a distant look. "Though it wasn't easy at first. No one wanted to join my familia."

"Until Bell?"

"Until Bell." Her smile turned fond. "He was different. He didn't care that I was poor or that my familia was small. He just... believed in me."

The owner handed us our first two kebabs, steam rising from the perfectly grilled meat.

"And now you have me," I said, passing one to Hestia.

She took a bite, her eyes widening. "Oh! This is-" She paused to swallow. "This is really good!"

"Told you."

"But yes," she continued between bites, "now I have you too. Though I still don't understand why someone with your... unique abilities would choose my familia."

I leaned back against the wooden counter, considering her question while savoring another bite of the kebab. The spices danced on my tongue - a perfect blend of heat and savor.

"Same reason as you," I said finally. "A chance to build something of my own."

Hestia tilted her head, blue eyes studying me with unexpected intensity. "Most adventurers join established familias. Better resources, more opportunities."

"True." I gestured with my half-eaten kebab. "But those opportunities come with strings. Politics. Expectations. The weight of tradition."

"And my familia doesn't have those?"

"Your familia has potential." I met her gaze. "It's small enough to be flexible, young enough to forge its own path. No years of baggage to carry."

The owner handed us our wrapped kebabs for Bell, and I passed him a few extra coins as thanks.

"Besides," I added, "I can tell you care about me already, not just as a member of your familia, but as a person." I pocketed the wrapped food. "That matters more than any fancy headquarters or ancient reputation."

We started walking back toward the church, the streets quieter now as night settled in. A cool breeze carried the scent of rain.

"What about you?" Hestia asked suddenly. "What do you want to build?"

I almost stumbled. It was a deceptively simple question, but it struck deeper than she probably intended.

"Something lasting," I said slowly, picking my words with care. "Not just power or wealth, but... connections. A network of people I can trust, who trust me in return."

"That's... not what I expected you to say."

I raised an eyebrow. "What did you expect?"

"I don't know. Something about becoming the strongest adventurer, maybe? That's usually what I hear from newcomers."

I laughed. "Strength is very useful, but it's just a tool. What matters is what you do with it."

We reached the church steps, and Hestia paused, turning to face me. The moonlight caught in her dark hair, making the blue ribbons shimmer.

"You're different," she said. "From the moment you showed up, I knew that. I just can't figure out if that's good or bad."

"Does it have to be one or the other?" I asked.

Hestia smiled, but there was a hint of sadness in it. "I suppose not. Just... promise me one thing?"

"What's that?"

"Whatever you're building - don't let it hurt Bell. He believes in people too easily sometimes."

The weight of her words hung in the air between us. She might act childish, but in that moment, I saw the goddess beneath the facade - ancient, wise, and fiercely protective of those she loved.

"I promise," I said, and meant it. "Bell's safety is as much my priority as yours."

Hestia nodded, apparently satisfied. "Good. Now, let's get these kebabs to Bell before they get cold. He's probably finished his training by now."

I followed Hestia into the church basement, the stone steps creaking under our feet. The kebabs were still warm in my hand, their scent filling the small space.

"Bell?" Hestia called out, her voice echoing slightly. No response.

The basement was empty, Bell's bed untouched. Hestia frowned, setting her half-eaten kebab on the table.

"He usually tells me if he's staying in the dungeon overnight," she said, pacing the small space. "What if something happened?"

"I could go look for him," I offered, placing the wrapped kebabs next to hers. "Might take a while, but-"

"No, no." Hestia shook her head, her twintails swaying. "You're right. The dungeon's too vast, and we don't even know what floor he's on." She wrung her hands. "Besides, you just joined today. I can't send you running around the dungeon at night."

I leaned against the wall, watching her pace. "Does he do this often? Stay out late?"

"Sometimes. He's been pushing himself harder lately." She stopped, staring at nothing in particular. "Ever since he met Ais Wallenstein."

"The Sword Princess?"

Hestia's expression soured. "You know her?"

"Hard not to. Her reputation precedes her."

"Well, Bell's completely smitten." Hestia dropped onto her bed, shoulders slumping. "He probably lost track of time training again."

I stripped off my outer robe, draping it over the back of a chair. "Mind if I take the couch?"

"Huh?" Hestia blinked, then waved a hand. "Oh, right. Yes, of course. Sorry it's not much..."

"Better than the street." I pulled my black shirt over my head, folding it neatly. The minimalist tattoos around my wrists and biceps stood out starkly against my skin.

Hestia's eyes widened slightly at the sight. "Those markings..."

"Just tattoos," I said, perhaps too quickly. "Got them a while back."

『Smooth,』Minerva commented dryly.

Hestia didn't look convinced, but she didn't press. Instead, she picked up one of the wrapped kebabs, turning it over in her hands.

"He's going to be hungry when he gets back," she said quietly.

I stretched out on the couch, tucking one arm behind my head. "Food keeps. And if it's cold, we can always get more tomorrow."

"I suppose." She set the kebab down and stood up. "I should try to sleep. Gods know Bell will be up at dawn, ready to head back to the dungeon."

"Dedicated, isn't he?"

"Too dedicated sometimes." Hestia moved to extinguish the lamp. "Goodnight, Dante."

"Goodnight, Goddess."

The lamp went out, plunging the basement into darkness. I heard Hestia settle into her bed, the springs creaking softly.

『You handled that well,』Minerva said after a few minutes of silence.

'The tattoos, you mean?' I thought back.

『Among other things. You're adapting quickly to this world.』

'Not like I have much choice.' I shifted on the couch, trying to find a comfortable position. 'Though I still don't understand half of what's going on.'

『Join the club.』

I closed my eyes, listening to Hestia's breathing even out as she drifted off. The couch wasn't exactly luxurious, but I'd slept on worse. Probably. The memories were still fuzzy.

'Minerva?'

『Yes?』

'Why did I really join this familia?'

There was a pause before she answered. 『You tell me. It was your decision.』

'Was it though?' I stared into the darkness. 'Everything I've done since waking up here... how much of it is actually me deciding, and how much is just... programming?'

『Does it matter?』

'Of course it matters.'

『Why?』

I didn't have an answer for that. The question followed me down into an uneasy sleep, where I dreamed of black tattoos that moved like snakes across my skin, spelling out words in a language I couldn't read.

I woke to sunlight filtering through the basement's narrow windows. My back cracked as I sat up, the couch's springs protesting. Hestia's bed was empty, the sheets rumpled and cold.

『Sleep well?』

"Like the dead," I muttered, rolling my shoulders. The basement felt different in the morning light - less cramped, more lived-in. Bell's kebab sat untouched on the table, wrapped in its paper shroud.

I pulled on my black shirt, the fabric cool against my skin. The white outer robe followed, its familiar weight settling around my shoulders.

『Planning to visit the dungeon today?』

"Might as well." I fastened the belt at my waist. "Get a feel for what I'm working with."

『Just remember - your abilities aren't fully calibrated yet. Don't push too hard.』

"Yes, mother." I climbed the basement stairs, each step groaning under my weight. The church's main hall was quiet, dust motes dancing in the shafts of morning light.

I found Hestia sitting on the front steps, her small frame hunched forward. She spoke in a whisper, but in the morning stillness, her words carried clearly.

"He wouldn't leave me, would he?"

"Good morning, Hestia."

She looked up, forcing a smile that didn't reach her eyes. "Oh. Good morning, Dante."

The scrape of feet on stone drew our attention. A figure emerged from the morning mist - white hair matted with blood, red eyes glazed. Bell Cranel stumbled toward us, his armor cracked and stained.

"BELL!" Hestia bolted down the steps, her twintails streaming behind her. She reached him just as his knees buckled. I moved, catching his other side before he could hit the ground.

"I'm sorry," Bell mumbled, his head lolling. "I just want... to... be strong…"

"Strong?" Hestia's voice cracked. "You're half dead! What happened?"

"I..." Bell's eyes struggled to focus.

"Inside," I said, taking more of his weight. "Now."

I carried Bell down to the basement. His breath came in short gasps, each step clearly agony. I helped ease him onto the bed while Hestia ran for medical supplies.

I helped Bell onto the bed while Hestia rummaged through their meager supplies. His breathing was shallow, each inhale accompanied by a slight wince.

"Hold still," I said, examining the wounds. Cuts and scrapes decorated his arms, nothing too deep but enough to be concerning. A nasty bruise bloomed across his chest, visible through the tears in his shirt. Blood had dried beneath a shallow cut under his left eye.

'How bad is it?' I asked Minerva.

『Surface injuries mostly. The head trauma is more concerning - his pupils are uneven. Could be a concussion, could be exhaustion. Hard to make a definitive call without proper diagnostic tools.』

"Bell?" I snapped my fingers in front of his face. His eyes tracked the movement, but sluggishly. "How many fingers am I holding up?"

"Four... no, three?" He squinted. I was holding up two.

Hestia returned with bandages and a bowl of water. "That's all we have right now. I-I could ask Miach for help..."

'What's a health potion run these days?' I asked Minerva.

『Low-grade, anywhere from 500 to 2000 valis. High-grade, you're looking at 30 to 50 thousand.』

I checked my coin purse. Barely enough for a low-grade, and given Bell's condition...

"What happened?" I asked, helping Hestia clean the cuts on his arms.

"Dungeon," Bell mumbled. "Had to... get stronger. For Ais."

"Overnight?"

He nodded, then immediately regretted it judging by his grimace.

Hestia's hands stilled for a moment before resuming their work.

"And you thought midnight training would help you catch up to her level?" Hestia asked.

"Had to try." His words slurred together. "Can't... can't stay weak..."

I caught Hestia's gaze. "He needs rest. And probably a strong health potion."

She nodded, pulling a thin blanket over Bell's battered form. "I'll go to Miach's shop. Maybe he can-"

"I'll go," I said, standing. "You should stay with him, monitor his condition."

"But-"

"I have some money. Not much, but enough for basic supplies." I moved toward the stairs. "Which way to Miach's?"

Hestia gave me directions, her attention already returning to Bell. As I climbed the steps, I heard her speaking softly to him.

『You're being unusually helpful,』 Minerva observed as I emerged into the morning air.

'He's my familia member now. Besides, I need him functional if I'm going to learn anything useful about the dungeon.'

『Mm-hmm.』

'What's that supposed to mean?'

『Nothing at all. Take the next left.』