Despite the banter, Hephaestus didn't forget the main issue. After applying the ointment, she wiped her hands with a handkerchief and took out an invitation from her bag.
"What's this?" Hestia asked curiously, taking the envelope.
"A banquet invitation," Hephaestus replied, adding, "Delivered by one of Apollo's children this morning."
"Ew~~~~~~" Hearing it was from Apollo, Hestia made a face as if she had stepped in something unpleasant. "Would he really invite me out of goodwill?"
In the heavens, Hestia's straightforward and cheerful nature had attracted many suitors. However, she had rejected all their advances. Normally, at this point, most would give up. After all, they were all gods, none superior to the other, and there was no need to persistently pursue someone who wasn't interested.
Apollo... that guy's personality could be described as quite clingy and sleazy. Even after being rejected to his face, he would still come back to harass, acting as if he wouldn't give up until he got what he wanted. Hestia was thoroughly disgusted by him back then. To avoid him, she often stayed in her own temple, rarely going out, which eventually turned her into a bit of a recluse.
Of course, all of this happened a very long time ago, back when the lower world was still barren, devoid of humans, and even plants and animals had yet to be born. Once humans appeared, the gods' attention shifted almost entirely away from their own kind. Led by Uranus, followed by other major gods, and finally the lesser deities, they all chose to descend to the lower world and engage in the current game of Familia.
Hestia, given her divine rank, could have descended to the lower world much earlier. However, the gods' sense of time differs from that of humans. A casual nap in the heavenly realm could last hundreds or thousands of years. By the time her curiosity led her to the lower world, it was already a thousand years after Orario had been established—essentially, the present day.
Gods are eternal, and though their attention is now focused on humans due to the unknown, it doesn't mean past grievances have been forgotten. Hestia undoubtedly harbors a strong dislike for Apollo. Moreover, while staying at Hephaestus's place, she often heard the children talk about Apollo's past of forcibly taking members from other Familias.
The red-haired, one-eyed goddess, aware of her friend's old grudge with Apollo, shrugged and said, "He probably heard about Levie's confession to you and wants to annoy you."
"That guy... after all these years, his personality is still as awful as ever," Hestia said, rubbing her forehead.
"So, are you planning to go?" Hephaestus asked.
"Yes!" Hestia replied without hesitation. Seeing the surprise on Hephaestus's face, she explained further, "We both know what kind of person Apollo is. If I accept the invitation to this banquet, it's fine, but if I refuse, who knows what kind of trouble he'll stir up later."
Hephaestus chuckled, "You've gained some experience from being disgusted by him, haven't you?"
Hestia pouted, "If I could, I'd rather have never met Apollo."
...
The banquet hosted by Apollo's Familia was scheduled for the evening three days later, at the divine hall of Babel. The invitation explicitly stated that the invited gods should bring their Familia members. However, Levie was currently in the dungeon searching for relics of the former members of the Astraea Familia. Even if he knew about the event, he probably wouldn't make it back in time, or he simply wouldn't bother.
Moreover, Hestia wasn't planning to expose her precious treasure to other gods. On the day of the banquet, she donned a formal dress and met Hephaestus at the entrance of their residence. Together with Tsubaki, who accompanied them, they headed to the venue.
"Hestia, long time no see!"
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My : https://[email protected]/AuAuMon
Danmachi : I'm Surrounded by Goddesses (132 Chapters, Ongoing)
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"Hestia, I heard you found a boyfriend in the lower world?"
"Hestia, if you need financial help, feel free to ask me."
The twin-tailed goddess was quite popular in the heavenly realm. As soon as she entered the venue, she was warmly welcomed by many. Some were old acquaintances, some were curious about Hestia's sole Familia member, and some were friends wanting to lend a hand. Of course, there were also those who naturally clashed with her and came specifically to pick a fight.
"Yo, who do we have here? Isn't it our little shut-in goddess, the shorty?"
An annoying voice rang in Hestia's ear, and she didn't even need to turn around to know who it was.
"Loki, you're still the same, always popping up out of nowhere," Hestia said, glancing at the approaching goddess Loki.
Then she shifted her gaze slightly to the blonde doll-like girl beside Loki.
"You must be 'Sword Princess' Ais. Levie mentioned you. Thanks to your help back then, my child wasn't hurt."
"Hestia-sama, you're too kind. Levie helped us a lot afterward too."
Ais, though seemingly expressionless, could actually communicate normally. Moreover, she wasn't lying. After the expedition against Goliath, two members of their party managed to accumulate enough achievements to level up.
As the main god of her Familia, Loki was well aware of what had happened. Moreover, Finn had specifically shared the intelligence analyzed by the three leaders with her afterward. According to Finn, he hoped Loki could maintain a good relationship with Hestia. This way, during future expeditions, they could temporarily recruit Levie into their team based on the friendship between the main gods.
But Loki... This red-haired, single-ponytail, squinty-eyed goddess loved nothing more than saying 'no' to those who thought too highly of themselves.
Maintain a good relationship with Hestia? Only if the sun rises from the west tomorrow!
Loki disliked Hestia—not because of the two enviable mounds on her chest o(╥﹏╥)o~
"By the way, where's your child?" the squinty-eyed goddess asked, looking around in surprise.
Not only her, but the Sword Princess also tilted her head in curiosity.
"Levie," Hestia said, sipping her juice with a calm tone, "is currently in the dungeon earning funds for our Familia's development. He doesn't know about Apollo's banquet."
"There's nothing we can do. Our Familia is still small, and he's the only one holding the fort."
What could have been an embarrassing admission was instead delivered with a self-deprecating tone by the twin-tailed goddess, giving off a sense of pride. Coupled with the guild confession incident that had spread through most of the divine circle, it was clear to everyone that the hearth goddess was flaunting her little boyfriend!
Loki twitched her mouth, "You..."
Hestia: "(=?ω?=)"
With her chest naturally swaying due to gravity, she didn't say a word, yet it felt like she had said everything. Despite the stark contrast between them, even Loki, who stood at the pinnacle of Orario, couldn't help but feel teary-eyed at that moment.
She burst into tears, trying to take advantage of Ais beside her, only to be dodged and fall flat on her face.
Laughter filled the room for a moment. But soon, the atmosphere shifted dramatically. The gods, especially the male ones, couldn't restrain their gazes, as if drawn by gravity, towards the gray-haired goddess in a silver-white dress at the entrance.
Following Loki, another goddess standing at the pinnacle of Orario—Freya—made her entrance. As the goddess of beauty, accompanied by Ottar, Freya was accustomed to the attention, maintaining a gentle smile as she swiftly approached Hestia and Loki.
"Hestia, long time no see."
Though she greeted the twin-tailed goddess, her gaze kept wandering.
Hestia pursed her lips, "Ah, it's been a few hundred years indeed."
Seeing the unexpected hostility from the blue ribbon, Freya, who was about to ask about Levie like Loki, paused, then quickly realized something.
"Hestia, you seem to dislike me?" The gray-haired goddess stepped forward, gently touching the twin-tailed goddess's cheek, "I quite like you, though."
"Cut it out." Hestia stepped back, "You know what you've done."
Freya's smile widened. Ignoring Hestia's disdain, she suddenly bent down, whispering in her ear, "'The Blessing of the Goddesses' Love,' right?"
"!!!!!!"
Hestia's face showed shock, "You..."
How do you know?!
She wanted to ask, but Freya didn't give her the chance, "Have you seen Levie when he was young? He was quite adorable~"
With those ambiguous words, Freya, having deduced that Levie wasn't present at the banquet, turned away with a smile, "Ottar, let's go."
"Yes."
The brief exchange between Hestia and Freya was witnessed by many, though most treated it as mere entertainment. However, Loki, who had a competitive relationship with Freya, raised an eyebrow, "Looks like your child has caught the attention of a troublesome person."
Hestia crossed her arms, biting her lip. She had mentally prepared for Freya's interest in Levie, given that Freya was the goddess closest to mastering the blessing magic—at least, that's what she thought.
But if Freya wasn't lying...
It meant that Levie had been noticed by her since he was very young?! At the very least, they had met!
Thinking about how the goddess of beauty had come specifically to tell her this, Hestia was so angry that her chest hurt.
So I'm the latecomer, huh?
Seeing Hestia ignoring her, Loki was even more surprised, "Hey, hey, hey, is there a need to be so upset? Freya's always been like this, falling for anyone she sees. Just keep your kid Levie hidden, don't bring him out casually, or at worst, ask Hephaestus for help. That should keep her at bay, right?"
Hestia glanced at her, "You don't understand."
"???"
I don't understand?
I don't understand what?
Loki pointed at herself, utterly baffled by the little intrigues of these love-struck goddesses.
—Though she was a goddess herself.
At this moment, Hephaestus, the god of fire and forging, who had just concluded a weapon trade with other gods, approached and asked in a low voice, "So, what did Freya say to you?"
Hestia looked frustrated, "She said she was here first!"
Hephaestus: "Huh?"
"She told me she met Levie when he was young."
"Ah, this..."
Hephaestus fell silent, not as consumed by anger as Hestia. She quickly pieced things together.
If she remembered correctly, Levie had only recently arrived in Orario, right?