On the status panel visible only to Levi, the magic [Divine Blessing of the Goddesses' Love] updated. Thanks to their "night of activities," Hestia's blessing had reached Rank IV. Meanwhile, Hephaestus's blessing had quietly risen to Rank II following her recent words.
[Current Blessings:]
Pure White Love IV of Hestia: Extreme Mana and Health recovery.
Twisted Love I of Freya: Moderate resistance to mental abnormalities.
Inquisitive Love II of Hephaestus: Grants Development Ability 'Blacksmith H', moderate Fire Resistance.
[3. 'Forging Goddess' Hephaestus's Inquisitive Love II: Grants Development Ability 'Blacksmith H', moderate increase to Fire Resistance.]
It was precisely because he noticed this subtle change that Levi wore a complex expression after hearing Hephaestus's words. However, he composed himself in the next second, stood up, and bowed to the red-haired Goddess. "Lady Hephaestus, thank you for investing in me while I am still weak. Should you ever need me in the future, I will not hesitate to answer."
"Oh?" Perhaps finding it fun to tease him, Hephaestus raised an eyebrow. "Then if I asked you to transfer to my Familia, you wouldn't refuse?"
"Hephaestus!" Hestia bristled like a cat, lunging to hug her boyfriend. She wore a 'ferocious' expression. "Levi is mine! He belongs only to me!"
"Hahaha~" Hephaestus laughed heartily. She placed several bags of coins on the table and waved specifically to Levi as a farewell.
As she reached the door, the Goddess—who loved teasing her friend but perhaps held a spark of sincerity—suddenly paused. "So, Hestia, are you really not going to share him with me? You won't be able to keep Little Levi all to yourself forever."
"Not a chance!" Hestia threw a pair of chopsticks at her, but they only clattered against the closed door.
Hephaestus was gone, leaving behind 200 million Valis and a mess of emotions.
"Hmph~" Hestia puffed out her cheeks, looking exactly like she wanted to be coaxed, or else she would stay mad.
Levi hugged his Goddess gently from behind. "Don't be mad. Getting angry will only give Lady Hephaestus something to laugh at."
Hestia pouted. "Gods don't get sick."
"Then do it for me, okay?" Levi continued to soothe her.
"Levi," the twin-tailed Goddess suddenly called his name.
"I'm here," Levi replied, resting his head on her shoulder, his voice tender.
"Back at the Guild... should I have stayed away from you?" Even though she was a Goddess, she had just tasted the sweetness of love and felt a sudden wave of insecurity. "If I hadn't invited you, with your personality and plans, you would have definitely joined Hephaestus's Familia. With her power in Orario, you wouldn't have to worry about being bullied—"
"But then I wouldn't have met you."
Levi cut off her hypothetical. Since he had made his choice, he would never regret it. Moreover... after a brief pause, he spoke slowly and firmly: "I've said it many times, but Hestia, I really love you."
"I love your black twin-tails swaying in the breeze; I love your cheerfulness when you invited me in that white dress; I love your warm, maternal embrace; I love the way you gasp and murmur my name in bed, and..."
"Stop, stop, stop!"
Seeing Levi getting more and more explicit, Hestia quickly turned around and pressed her index finger to his lips. "I get it! I won't say things like that anymore."
Levi wore a mischievous grin. "Actually, it doesn't matter if you do. It just gives me a reason to confess again. You know what? Next time I'll do it at the Central Plaza where the crowds are biggest. The title will be: 'Gentlemen, I Love Hestia.'"
You're trying to make me a social outcast among the Gods!!
Terrified that her dependent would spout more world-shaking declarations, Hestia quickly changed the subject. "The money Hephaestus gave you... how do you plan to use it?"
Levi didn't give a direct answer. Or rather, he was too lazy to think about it right now. "It is well known that life has two basic instincts: appetite and... lust."
"Huh?" Hestia didn't understand why the boy was suddenly discussing philosophy.
But she soon found out.
"Now, I've had my fill of food."
"Eek!"
Amidst the Goddess's cry of surprise, the grand symphony of life echoed within the church once again.
Both Hestia and Levi were a bit obsessed with their newly discovered intimacy. Had the Blue-Ribbon Goddess not remembered her job at the old bookstore, they might have stayed in bed for three days and nights. Running the bookstore was Hestia's hobby; she loved reading. Even though the Familia was rich now, she had no intention of quitting.
Levi was the same. Until he grew strong enough to fear nothing in the lower world, he would never stop his pursuit of power.
"Well, Levi, I'm heading out now!" On the third morning after his level-up, a work-clad Hestia gave him a parting kiss at the door. "And remember to come home early tonight."
"Yeah, I know."
As the twin-tailed Goddess vanished into the distance, Levi closed the door and began studying the Level 2 Gacha pool he had ignored for two days. Compared to the Level 1 pool, the contents of the Level 2 pools—both Standard and Event—were much richer. Specifically, the Standard pool, rooted in the Danmachi world itself, featured useful Skill Books.
However, Levi chose to focus on the Event Banner. The Standard pool wouldn't go anywhere; it could be pulled anytime as long as he had Valis. But the Event pool was a limited-time opportunity. In truth, if he hadn't pulled the Vision from the Level 1 pool to pique Hephaestus's interest, his development would be stalled right now. In the Level 2 pool, good things like the Vision would only be more frequent!