Kitahara remembered the details clearly.
After descending to the Lower World, Hestia had spent her days as a parasite. She lived with her best friend, Hephaestus, doing absolutely nothing but reading. If she wasn't locked in her room with a book, she was at some obscure library.
It was a stubborn obsession.
She had even decided that her first Familia Member would receive their Falna in a library.
Hestia's lack of ambition eventually drove Hephaestus to her breaking point. The goddess of the forge snapped and kicked her out, leaving Hestia with nothing but an Abandoned Church to use as a temporary base.
Without her friend's support, Hestia had to survive on her own. She began looking for work on North Street to keep herself fed.
However, she was completely unfamiliar with Magic Stone ignition devices.
She ended up blowing up a potato puff stall.
That disaster earned her a notorious nickname: the Calamity of North Street.
Kitahara considered his options. He had four potential locations to check: the Hephaestus Familia headquarters, North Street, the Abandoned Church, or the library. He chose North Street first.
It was standard working hours.
If Hestia had already been kicked out, she should be somewhere in that area trying to earn a living.
He had wandered through North Street yesterday, but he hadn't seen her. Then again, he hadn't been looking very closely.
If she was already out on her own, he might have simply missed her in the crowd.
Since he had already visited the area once, Kitahara didn't wander around like a headless fly this time. He headed straight for the district.
It took only fifteen minutes to reach the bustling street.
As soon as he arrived, Kitahara began scanning the crowds for Hestia's silhouette.
He didn't actually know where the potato puff stall was located. Finding one specific goddess in this sea of people wasn't going to be simple.
After searching the main thoroughfare for another fifteen minutes, he finally spotted a stall selling the fried snacks.
The result was disappointing.
The person working the stall was a middle-aged woman... the boss mentioned in the original story. There wasn't a single sign of Hestia.
Kitahara peered into the back of the small stall, hoping to see a familiar blue ribbon. Nothing.
"Young man, would you like a potato puff?"
The owner noticed his lingering gaze and held up a pair of tongs with a smile.
...
'Hestia isn't here. Where could she be?'
'Maybe she hasn't been kicked out yet.'
Kitahara walked away with a cream-flavored potato puff in his hand, mumbling to himself.
While buying the snack, he had casually asked about the staff. The owner confirmed she didn't have any new employees. There was no Hestia working there, and certainly no one on a leave of absence.
With that lead gone, Kitahara finished his snack.
It was actually quite delicious. The cream was rich and the exterior perfectly crisp. It lived up to its reputation as the most popular street food in Danmachi.
He finished the last bite in a few seconds.
'Alright, time to check the other three places,' he thought, wiping his hands.
He adjusted his pace and headed toward his next destination.
Plans, however, rarely survive contact with reality.
He was only halfway there when he saw her.
She had the height of a child but the curves of a mature woman. She wore a simple white dress, her black hair tied into twin tails, and a distinctive blue ribbon was fastened just beneath her chest.
She was currently intercepting a passing Adventurer, looking desperate.
Kitahara stopped in his tracks.
So, this was the current situation. Hestia had just been kicked out and was still hunting for her very first Adventurer. She hadn't been forced to find a part-time job just yet.
As Kitahara watched her, Hestia's eyes locked onto him.
"Hey! You there!"
She scurried over to him, her face full of hope. "Young man, would you like to form a Familia with me? You could be my very first Adventurer!"
"Sure. Why not?" Kitahara replied with a smile.
"Ah, I knew you'd say no... wait, what?"
Hestia had already started her practiced routine of self-pity, but her brain finally processed his words. Her voice jumped an octave.
"You mean you're actually saying yes?! You'll join my Familia?!" she screamed, her excitement echoing through the street.
"Yes," Kitahara nodded, confirming it again.
"Thank goodness! I finally have a Familia!"
"Young man, come with me!"
Tears of joy streamed down her face. She didn't wait for another word, grabbing Kitahara's hand and dragging him through the crowd.
Kitahara knew exactly where she was taking him, so he didn't resist. He let the energetic goddess pull him along.
Before long, they arrived in front of a large building.
It was the library Hestia frequented.
She had made a vow to herself that her first Familia Member would receive their blessing right here.
"I decided a long time ago... my first child would get their Falna in this place," she panted, looking back at him.
"Old man! I'm back!"
She shouted as she burst through the doors, ignoring the quiet atmosphere. "I'm borrowing the second floor for a bit!"
Kitahara followed her inside.
Behind the main counter, an elderly man with a snow-white beard looked up. His brow twitched in irritation.
"Stop shouting in a library! If you want the space, just go up already," he grumbled.
"Hehe, sorry!" Hestia gave a sheepish grin.
The embarrassment lasted only a second before she was pulling Kitahara toward the stairs again.
"Come on, this way."
"By the way, young man... what's your name?" she asked, looking over her shoulder as they climbed.
"Kitahara. My name is Kitahara."
"Kitahara? That's a nice name. I'm Hestia. From now on, I'm your Patron Deity. Let's look out for each other, okay?"
Hestia's eyes shimmered at his words. A soft, knowing smile played on her lips.
"Depending on each other... I like the sound of that."
"I understand."
Kitahara blinked, caught off guard by the sudden warmth in her voice. He gave a firm nod.
They climbed the creaking stairs to the second floor. Dust motes danced in the dim light as Hestia grabbed his hand, pulling him toward a secluded corner.
"Right here. This is where I'll grant you your Falna."
She pointed toward a long, weathered table tucked away in the shadows.
"Alright."
Kitahara's heart hammered against his ribs as he stepped forward.