A warm evening breeze swept through the hall. Bell held Hestia's hand as they walked deeper inside. The banquet hall echoed with laughter and cheer. Besides the gods, adventurers dressed in splendid attire filled the space. The white-haired elf who had exchanged glances earlier seemed summoned by the Familia God against her will, clearly uncomfortable in this setting. She abandoned socializing, standing silently in place. The handsome Beast Humans followed behind the Goddess of Beauty, while the aloof Freya concealed her face behind a veil of hazy purple.
"Don't look at that goddess! You'll lose your mind!"
Hestia tugged at the boy's arm before he could glance her way. Even through the veil, one could sense her unparalleled beauty.
"Freya... Why has she attended every banquet lately..."
Hestia was deeply grateful for Freya's assistance. Yet she couldn't fathom why the goddess, who had once feared enchanting others and remained aloof, would now choose to join the festivities. It felt as though something had shifted within Freya's heart. No longer afraid of her own power, she seemed to be actively embracing change.
Amid Hestia's confusion, the Goddess of Beauty slowly departed. Bell only caught sight of her retreating figure. Her silver hair danced in the breeze, and that stunning silhouette felt strangely familiar...
"So this is how you've been spying on girls while I was away..."
A young woman with matching silver hair spoke with a light laugh.
"Airmid, I was actually thinking about you just now."
Bell replied.
"Dian Cecht-sama, please tell me if he's lying."
Airmid sought help from the elderly man standing a short distance away.
"He's definitely lying... though I wish I could say that, but unfortunately, this lad is telling the truth."
Dian Cecht stroked his beard as he spoke.
Airmid blinked, a faint blush spreading across her cheeks. Unconcerned with the stares of those around them, she stepped forward and slipped her arm through the boy's.
"... "
Hestia wanted to say something, but recalling the image of the Dea Saint singing Dia Fratel, she lacked the courage to dissuade them.
"Dian Cecht, can you accept this outcome?"
Hestia, unfamiliar with this god before her, asked cautiously.
"Thanks to the War Game, more customers are ordering custom potions—I couldn't ask for more. But... didn't Miach come today?"
Dian Cecht had made up his mind the moment he escorted Airmid to the ruins. Now that the child had grown, he couldn't keep that love, ready to spread its wings and fly, caged forever. Dian Cecht laughed heartily, using his archrival Miach to mask his bittersweet feelings—like watching a granddaughter marry.
"Miach and Takemikazuchi-sama are both busy."
Hestia offered the gods' standard excuse. As a small, financially struggling familia, Miach declined the banquet invitation. Takemikazuchi Familia was deep in a dungeon assault on Middle Floors; losing one member would greatly increase the risk, so he too abandoned the banquet.
"What a pity. I was looking forward to seeing what kind of shabby clothes Miach would show up in."
Dian Cecht turned away, leaving Airmid to proceed alone.
…
"Hestia-sama, this behavior hardly befits the title of the Virgin Goddess, does it?" Airmid spoke up.
"You're the one! Clinging so intimately—what kind of Saint are you?" Hestia shot back, refusing to concede.
Bell couldn't help but smile wryly at the rivalry between the two women flanking him.
"Bell Cranel, already surrounded by women on both sides. Looks like Laurier's absence is actually a blessing in disguise," Hermes chuckled, adding his comment.
Had all his lovers been present, this gathering might have devolved into a heavy battlefield of rivalry. Fortunately, Laurier was busy handling the aftermath of the War Game and hadn't joined them.
To Hermes' surprise, another figure suddenly appeared, shifting the atmosphere.
"Bell-sama!" Lili sprinted over, using her petite frame to fling herself into the young man's embrace.
"…?"
"?!?"
Hestia and Airmid were utterly stunned.
"Stop it, Lili." Bell gently ruffled her brown hair.
"Sorry, Lili's never been to an occasion like this before. She's a bit excited." Lili, still hooded, took a step back and gave a soft smile.
Beneath her delicate, adorable features, her voice carried an intensely childlike tone.
Hestia's eyebrow twitched.
This girl?! She's deliberately using her Pallum ethnicity to pretend to be a little girl?!
With so many stunningly beautiful women surrounding Bell these days, Lili's approach was indeed the quickest shortcut to getting closer to him.
"Supporter-kun, though this may be abrupt, might you tell me your age?" Hestia cut straight to the point.
"Lili's age is a secret, you know." Lili answered without hesitation.
"I knew it! Come on, how old are you really?" Hestia pressed.
"Even a goddess wouldn't want her age asked, right? If you tell Bell-sama how old you are, I'll answer honestly." Lili skillfully sidestepped the pointed question with her sharp wit.
"Hmm... A god's age never changes!" Hestia offered a twisted logic.
Hermes watched the human and goddess bickering, smiling softly.
"Never thought you'd attend a banquet. Is it really because of Bell Cranel?"
Soma, whose aura was usually gloomy, paused before letting out a relieved smile.
"I just wanted to repay the miracle I once witnessed."
In this world, there exists a will that transcends Divine Wine. Soma recalled this moment, his heart forever stirred.
"A miracle, huh..." Hermes murmured, lost in his own thoughts.
"Shorty!!"
Loki, arriving late, trotted over clutching her gown. Her journey had been delayed because Ais returned from the dungeon late.
"Weird, was someone talking just now?"
Hestia feigned ignorance.
"Don't ignore me, shorty!"
Loki advanced aggressively. "Spill it! What were you thinking sending that letter?!"
"I didn't even want to send it."
Hestia pouted.
Laurier and Airmid both moved into that mansion. Even Cecil, who wasn't the boy's lover, claimed a room. If she didn't extend an invitation to Lefiya, it would make her seem too heartless as a goddess. After all, Lefiya had saved Bell at the last possible moment.
"Eh—so you mean you didn't want Lefiya to feel left out or rejected, so you invited her to stay under the guise of a goddess?"
Loki asked.
"That's right. Though I hate to admit it, your kid helped Bell a lot..."
When it came to Bell, Hestia became much more candid.
Loki nodded thoughtfully. Didn't this shorty know Lefiya and the boy were just pretending? Somehow, it felt like the perfect chance to tease her... Loki stored this information away, her anger dissipating instantly.
"Alright, Ais, let's head back."
Loki smiled and turned to leave.
But behind her, the blonde girl had vanished without a trace.
Hestia's cry followed immediately.
"Huh... Bell... was kidnapped?!"