Chapter 10: Encounters with the Loli Goddess and the Loki Familia's Celebration Banquet
Her good friend was genuinely angry—realizing this, Hestia now felt too ashamed to go back and trouble her again.
Wandering aimlessly on the streets, Hestia clutched her rumbling stomach and let out a heavy sigh.
"So this is what hunger feels like, it's really quite unpleasant."
Having sealed her divine power, she wouldn't actually starve to death, but the sensation of hunger was still enough to make her miserable.
With her stomach growling, Hestia gazed with envy at the adventurers devouring food inside a roadside restaurant, her saliva involuntarily starting to drip down.
Seeing this, Shirou couldn't help sweating a little at the sight.
"It's really something else for the dignified Goddess of the Sacred Fire to sink to this level."
Shaking his head slightly, Shirou stepped forward to strike up a conversation with the goddess.
"Good evening, care to join me for a meal?"
Hearing these words, Hestia's eyes instantly lit up.
As a goddess, she didn't need to worry about the dark side of the human world, so upon hearing that there was food to be had, she agreed almost without a moment's hesitation.
"Food? Yes, please! Sounds great!"
Right at this moment, the setting sun at the edge of the sky grew increasingly crimson, and replacing the fading red glow, a bright, clear moon appeared in the sky.
Most adventurers returning from the dungeon would head to a tavern at this hour, capping off their day with a full mug of ale.
Adventurers of all races mingled without any barriers, chatting away inside the tavern about their various interesting experiences down in the dungeon.
Whenever dangerous events were brought up, everyone would show looks of empathy before clinking their mugs together and continuing to drink heartily.
Of course, the nighttime taverns weren't just about drinking and chatting; occasionally, conflicts would break out among those who had drank too much.
Yet in this tavern bearing the sign "The Hostess of Fertility," all the adventurers shared a tacit understanding: none of them caused a ruckus inside the establishment, choosing instead to step outside to settle matters.
As Shirou walked down the streets, he could constantly hear shouts of anger and wild roaring. Adventurers who had been chatting and drinking together just a moment before might end up going outside to passionately brawl over the slightest disagreement.
When all was said and forth, no matter how high-sounding the words used to describe adventurers might be, it couldn't shake the fundamental truth that most of these people were outlaws.
Granted the [Falna] by the deities and possessing strength far surpassing ordinary humans, adventurers were always quick to throw punches over the most trivial conflicts.
Listening to the angry roars echoing from all around, Shirou continued onward without a care in the world. Hestia, walking alongside him, wasn't seeing this kind of scene for the first time either, and paid it no mind at all.
The labyrinth city of Orario had now completely transformed into its nighttime guise.
And night was precisely the time when the adventurers immersed themselves in unrestrained release and merriment.
Whether it was the taverns or the Pleasure Quarter, the crowds were surging with activity at this moment.
Bringing Hestia into a tavern named "The Hostess of Fertility," Shirou chose a table by the window.
"Um, what would you like to order?"
Before long, a young girl walked over.
She wore a white women's shirt paired with a yellowish-green vest dress that reached below her knees, and over the dress, she wore a longer half-length apron.
Her dull-lustrated grayish hair was tied into a bun at the back of her head, and her eyes, matching the color of her hair, looked innocent and cute, while her skin was as milk-white and delicate as porcelain.
After taking their order, the girl gave a slight bow to Shirou and immediately headed toward the back kitchen.
During the wait for their food, Shirou looked across the table at the Goddess of the Sacred Fire, Hestia.
"Speaking of which, Hestia-san, have you still not found a familia yet?"
Faced with Shirou's inquiry, Hestia lowered her head in embarrassment.
After all, she had been freeloading in her good friend's familia ever since descending to the lower world, and her pathetic appearance upon getting kicked out today had even been witnessed by him—it was just too humiliating!
As a goddess, Hestia could naturally perceive that Shirou's aura differed from that of mortals, so she naturally assumed he was one of the deities as well.
Compared to social butterflies like Loki, who practically knew every single god out there, Hestia wasn't nearly as sociable.
Western deities were quite open-minded, yet back in heaven, Hestia didn't associate with any male gods at all, earning herself the teasing moniker of the "Virgin Goddess."
Because of that, Hestia actually disliked men quite a bit back in heaven.
"Ah, while I certainly haven't found one yet, I'll do my best..."
Even as she said that, Hestia herself lacked any real confidence.
While Shirou and Hestia were chatting casually, the remaining adventurers inside the tavern cast curious gazes their way.
Perhaps influenced by the alcohol, the adventurers had lost the caution and rationality they maintained when exploring the dungeon. Looking only for some amusement at that moment, they targeted their attention straight at Shirou and Hestia.
"She doesn't even have a familia, what a pathetic goddess!"
"Wait a minute, who's that guy sitting across from her? Could this punk be trying to pick up a goddess?!"
"Hey, hey, hey!"
"That's a face I don't recognize at all. Whatever, he's definitely just some nobody, hahahahaha!!"
A group of adventurers exchanged taunts and then burst into loud laughter, filling the tavern with a merry atmosphere.
Shirou didn't care about these drunken adventurers in the slightest, but Hestia lowered her head even further in shame from the mockery.
She almost buried her face right into her chest, though the size of her assets got in the way, making her final posture look rather comical.
Shirou raised an eyebrow slightly, intending to give these ignorant adventurers a small lesson.
Right then, a large group of over a dozen people walked into the tavern. Perhaps having made a reservation in advance, the waitress led them to a cluster of several vacant seats right in the middle of the room.
A young girl walking at the very front of the procession stood out the most, instantly drawing the gaze of everyone in the tavern.
She had hair shining with the luster of desert gold, and her delicate features—fragile enough to look as though a single touch might break them—were exquisite and beautiful. Rather than a fine porcelain doll, she looked more like a fairy or elf stepping straight out of a fairy tale.
Her remarkably striking golden eyes were clear and translucent, causing people to involuntarily catch their breath for no rhyme or reason.
With a pair of willow-leaf brows that remained completely unmoving, she was a beautiful girl with a calm and composed expression.
The moment she stepped into the tavern, she made the hearts of all the adventurers skip a beat.
"Whoa~!"
"Oh ho, what a fine-looking babe!"
"So pretty, if only..."
"Shut your trap right now! Look at that emblem!"
"Holy crap! It's the [Loki Familia]!"
The adventurers reacted like Watson discovering a blind spot, instantly bursting into a stir.
They leaned their faces close together, whispering to one another as if holding a covert meeting.
"They're members of that familia with all those first-tier adventurers!"
"Which one is the 'Sword Princess'? Can someone tell me?!"
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