NOVEL NEXT Chapter 14: chapter 14
Hestia sighed.
The goddess of hearth and home was doing that a lot these days.
She couldn't help it—her only child had become quite the headache.
It had been three weeks since he joined her Familia as her first child, and almost over one week since the last time she had a real conversation with him.
he is mostly away Now, either deep in the dungeon or off to heavens-knows-where until well past sunset.
So much for being the goddess of hearth and home when her only child barely came home at all.
Being the overly concerned type, she stayed up until he returned, hoping to give him the warmth of home. As the goddess of the hearth, she wanted to make him feel at ease and never alone.
But Bell-kun seemed to come home only for status updates, then going straight to bed to get ready for yet another day in the dungeon with his new party member.
He was also probably out flirting with those girls in the red-light district! She could smell women perfume on him sometimes. And though he denied it, insisting he was "busy earning us money," she couldn't shake the suspicion.
Could he be….selling himself for money? Some women do prefer their men cute and cuddly like her Bell-kun...
The thought made her shiver.
Still, she could see he was working hard, bringing in money to support them. Maybe it was her fault for being broke—he was probably exhausting himself to keep them both afloat.
That thought left her feeling a bit ashamed for letting her child shoulder so much of their burdens alone.
Suddenly, she heard footsteps coming down the staircase.
Finally, Bell-kun had decided he'd had enough of women and came home.
Her delinquent brat.
"I'm back," Bell said softly as he reached the bottom of the stairs, his expression blank as ever. He was carrying a small white box with a blue ribbon.
Delinquent! Getting gifts for the girls he's visiting!
"Oh~ look who finally decided to 'grace' his goddess with his presence," she greeted him in a chilly, almost threatening tone, making it clear she wasn't a fan of his late-night returns.
He sighed. "This again?"
"This again," she repeated, crossing her arms. "Where were you this time, huh? I know you're up to something in the red district. Just admit it already! That box is making it even more obvious! If I ever get my hands on those girls, I'll—" She launched into her usual rant, shaking her finger at him as she described all the ways she'd "have a chat" with those women.
Bell's expression didn't change; he just looked at her with an exasperated "I'm too old for this" look.
Rude child!
"—so stop visiting those places, or else!" she finished, jabbing her finger in his direction.
Bell's blank expression remained unfazed as he slowly approached her and….handed her the box.
"W-What's this?" she asked, momentarily distracted by the unexpected gesture.
"I heard there's a banquet for the gods. You got invited right? I don't want you making us look poor. How you present yourself is important," he lazily said, heading toward the bed and already starting to pull off his shirt.
Did Bell-kun just imply her outfits were shabby?
She peeked into the box and found an elegant blue Dress, neatly packed with an intricate necklace with a blue gemstone in it's center.
Wait, so the box was for her!?
"I thought that'd suit your eye color," Bell added, already in bed, waiting for her to come and update him.
Her cheeks flushed. Bell-kun had bought her a dress…?
She quickly set the box near The closet and tried to focus on updating his status, her face still a bit warm. With a small cough, she attempted to play it cool. "Y-you didn't have to do that, Bell-kun! But I'm happy that you're buying your goddess gifts! You've finally softened up a bit from that grumpy attitude of yours," she added, feeling a bit sheepish.
"Can you finish it already? I'm busy tomorrow," he replied in an emotionless tone.
So much for his grumpiness fading.
"Where's the polite boy I met that day?" she muttered, clearly not liking this change. She missed the Earlier version of Bell-kun that was actually pleasant—aside from when he thought she was a prostitute.
Bell responded with an audible sigh and said nothing, which only added to her frustration.
Ungrateful child! No respect for his goddess!
She pricked her finger, letting a drop of blood fall onto his back to begin the Falna update. The faint glow of the ritual allowed her to focus on his progress so far. His skills and spells had made him a formidable adventurer for a Level 1, but she doubted he'd stand a chance against a Level 2.
When the process was finished, she pressed a sheet of paper to his back to imprint the status, making it easier for him to read.
She could tell he loved seeing his progress, but somehow she doubted he'd be thrilled with this update.
---
Bell Cranel: Level 1 Adventurer
Strength: 232 → 234 G
Endurance: 116 → 119 H
Dexterity: 108 → 110 H
Agility: 168 → 172 H
Magic: 100 → 105 H
Skills:
All For One, Feral Clarity, Durak'gor
Magic:
Fireball, Raijin
---
"It's getting slower," Bell muttered, sounding mildly irritated, though his expression barely changed.
Maybe she should try to comfort him a bit. "Bell-kun," she said gently, catching his attention. "You're progressing very quickly for a Level 1. You're practically one in a thousand, maybe even rarer," she added, her tone slightly proud. "But you have to understand that sometimes you won't get the exact results you want."
His expression suddenly looked bored.
Ungrateful brat! That's what she gets for trying to comfort him.
"My point!" she added quickly, forcing a smile to hide her irritation. "Don't expect to get the same amount of Progress from killing monsters like you did when you first encountered them."
Bell's expression turned slightly annoyed, but he responded with a quiet, "I'll keep that in mind." With that, he stood and moved to the couch, settling down with an old blanket.
She sighed again, watching as he wrapped himself in the blanket.
Well, she should head to bed too, after All, she had a banquet to attend tomorrow.
---
It was early In the morning, All For One strode toward the dungeon entrance, his mind lingering on the results from his status update with Hestia the previous Night. Once again, the progress was meager—his physical body stubbornly refusing to grow at the pace he required. This body's limitations are becoming an intolerable obstacle.
To counterbalance these setbacks, he knew he had to Expand his arsenal of abilities, find something unique to exploit and compensate for this frail body's failings. If he couldn't achieve pure physical dominance, then versatility would have to be his strength for now.
As he passed through the city, the usual throngs of civilians and adventurers alike buzzed around him. Fragments of idle chatter drifted his way, piquing his attention but not his interest.
"This year's festival is going to be exciting, I can tell!" an overly cheerful brown-haired girl gushed to her friend, her tone almost nauseatingly enthusiastic.
The girl's friend, a dog-eared girl with a bored expression, rolled her eyes. "It's the same every year," she muttered with a disinterested tone. "Who cares about watching monsters?"
All For One moved past them without so much as a glance. 'Monsters?' That casual mention echoed in his mind for a fleeting moment, though he dismissed it.
His path was set for the dungeon. He could investigate this later, if necessary.
---
"That was quite the experience," muttered Hestia bitterly as she entered the Ganesha Familia headquarters where the banquet was being held.
The entrance, oddly enough, was through the crotch of a giant statue of Ganesha himself.
And to think she used to make fun of poor Helios for his colossus statue.
As she entered the banquet hall, she noticed many familiar faces already there. She could spot Takemikazuchi chatting with that perv Hermes.
"Oh, Hestia, is that you?" a familiar voice called from behind. She turned to see the owner of the voice, only to be greeted by two....giant melons.
As expected from the goddess of agriculture and harvest.
Looking up, she met Demeter's warm smile.
"Oh, Demeter. Sorry, I couldn't see you behind those," she replied, returning the smile.
Demeter wore a floor-length cream-colored gown with an off-the-shoulder ruffled neckline, a soft coral-pink lining peeking through at the hem, and long white gloves. There was also a subtle wheat emblem embroidered on her dress.
"You look lovely," Hestia complimented honestly.
With a small, innocent laugh, Demeter replied, "You're even lovelier! That dress suits you a lot."
Hestia wore the dress Bell-kun had bought for her for the banquet: a blue, floor-length gown with off-the-shoulder sleeves and floral accents along the neckline and waist, paired with an intricate necklace with a shining blue gemstone at its center, and white gloves reaching her elbows. She had also gone for a looser hairstyle.
She had to admit—Bell had picked a beautiful one.
Hestia's face flushed a little at Demeter's compliment. "W-well, it was a gift from my child, so I thought to wear it for this occasion," she said with a nervous smile.
"Oh~ Hestia finally got herself a man!" Demeter exclaimed, thankfully no other goddesses overheard.
"D-Demeter! Shut up! It's not like that!" Hestia replied, her face now completely flushed. Why was she spreading rumors?!
Demeter just laughed it off. "Alright, alright. I'll leave you be, Hestia," she said, smiling as she turned toward a figure that Hestia could make out to be Dionysus, who waved at her.
Hestia waved back but quickly refocused on the most interesting thing about this banquet: the buffet.
Target locked. Time to enjoy herself.
---
"Welf, can you enlighten me on the purpose of This?" All For One inquired, his curiosity evident as he observed a group of adventurers hauling caged monsters. It was an unusual sight, one that intrigued him.
He and Welf were heading back to the surface after another gruesome dive in the dungeon. It was late, and Hestia was probably at that gods' banquet.
Welf looked over. "Oh, those? I think they're collecting monsters for the festival, Monsterphilia," he answered casually.
Monsterphilia? So that was the name of The festival those annoying girls were talking about.
But why would a society dedicated to eradicating monsters hold a festival about monsters?
"And what is Monsterphilia?" he inquired further. He should have been aware of it long ago if it was important.
Welf chuckled. "I forgot you're new around here. It's a relatively new thing; it's basically a festival about taming monsters. The Ganesha Familia runs it. They're skilled monster tamers, you know? It's crazy!" He sounded amazed at the prospect of taming monsters.
A festival about taming monsters named Monster"philia"? strange naming.
"Look, that cage is holding a pack of hellhounds. It'd be hilarious to see a hellhound shepherding cattle, huh?" Welf laughed at his own joke, while All For One cracked a small smile.
Hellhounds, huh? He recalled Eina mentioning that they had magic—an intense fire-breathing attack that could reduce even some Level 2 adventurers to cinders with a direct hit.
Salamander wool, a fire-resistant fabric imbued with the power of salamander, was recommended by the Guild as a countermeasure, especially because the monster preferred to attack in groups.
An attack that strong would certainly be useful in future encounters.
All For One's expression turned thoughtful, his curiosity apparent. 'I wonder...' he mused quietly.
---
Hestia was finishing up a small Far Eastern snack, holding a glass of wine in her other hand.
She couldn't exactly dive into the buffet; Bell-kun had made it clear that she should not "make them look like hungry barbarians," as he'd put it.
Damn it, Bell-kun! Let her enjoy herself!
"Hestia" a soft, familiar voice sounded from behind her. "it's been a long time."
Oh no. It's her.
She turned around, forcing a smile. "Freya," she said. "Yes, it's been a while." Freya was the last goddess she wanted to chat with right now. If only she could spot Hephaestus.
Freya wore a sleek, form-fitting white gown with a deep V-neckline and sheer long sleeves, accented with a layered, gemstone necklace that caught every bit of light. She was practically a magnet for all the men around her.
"How have you been?" Freya asked, her tone polite but unmistakably interested.
"I was better when you weren't here," Hestia replied bluntly.
"Oh, am I interrupting something?" Freya's tone made it clear she wasn't sorry in the slightest.
Actually, Hestia was looking for Hep-chan while conveniently standing by the buffet table. "As a matter of fact, yes," she replied, unfazed.
Freya responded with a lighthearted laugh. "I've always liked you, Hestia. The way you speak and behave is….refreshing."
Hestia was about to respond when a distant voice interrupted.
"Freyaaaa!"
She looked over to see a moving flat Pavement!?
Oh. It's just Loki.
Loki quickly reached them and immediately started to mess with her. "Hi there, shrimp. I almost didn't see you down there."
"Loki, what are you doing here?" Hestia asked, already irritated. She wasn't a fan of Freya, but she'd take her over this annoying flat surface any day.
"What? Am I not allowed to roam around?" Loki smirked, clearly enjoying herself.
Hestia's eye twitched.
"Loki, I must say you look a little different. It's been ages since I saw you in a dress," Freya said, cutting in before things could escalate.
"Oh, well, I heard there was a certain broke shrimp attending tonight, and I thought I'd show off and have a laugh. Though I'm a bit surprised she could afford a dress," Loki said, sounding a little disappointed.
That set Hestia off. "Huh? At least I don't look like a walking chalkboard, that black dress isn't really showing off anything," she shot back, smirking.
Loki deflated. "What did you say, loli-boobs?!" she spat furiously.
Hestia was ready to engage in a full-blown spat, but a voice cut in.
"You two are at it again?" said a new voice. They turned to see Hephaestus approaching.
"Hep-chan! I've been looking for you!" Hestia said with a delighted smile.
"Tch, I'll let you off easy this time, shrimp. You're lucky I'm busy." Loki scowled as she made her way to the stairs.
"Hey, pavement! Don't show yourself around me again with those pathetic things!" Hestia called after her, chest puffed in victory.
"I'll show you next time, shrimp!" Loki retorted, her sniffing barely audible as she disappeared up the stairs.
Fatality! Hestia totally beat her this time!
Hestia turned to Hephaestus, who was watching with an amused smile.
Hep-chan was wearing a red dress with plunging neckline and thin straps, accented with a large white rose at the hip, and a white panel running down the center. Combined with Long white gloves.
"Hep-chan, you look Totally feminine today!" Hestia gave her a thumbs up, happy to see her friend putting in some effort to look lady-like.
The compliment seemed to hit a nerve inside Hephaestus. Is she not feminine all the time? She's a lady, dammit!
But Hephaestus held her composure. "What's that supposed to mean?" she asked, a bit menacingly.
Realizing her mistake, Hestia quickly replied, "I-I meant you look beautiful in that dress."
Hephaestus's expression softened. "Thanks. You look nice too," she said, smiling. "Now, you said you were looking for me? Need more advice on handling your Familia member?"
Freya, who had been silently observing the whole time, finally spoke up.
"You have a Familia member? What's he like?" she asked innocently.
Though it probably wasn't wise to talk about her Familia in front of the goddess who literally steals anyone interesting. but hey, Hestia was dying to Brag about her super cute Rabbit.
Besides, what's so Interesting about Bell-kun apart from his secret skill?
Her eyes sparkled with pride. "You heard right! I have an amazing child!" She hugged herself, smiling. "He's cute and spoils his goddess!" Her Bell-kun was a also grumpy at times, but no need to mention that.
"Yeah, he was polite when I met him the other day. Bell Cranel, right?" Hephaestus asked, confirming.
Hestia smirked, raising a thumbs-up. "Yup!"
Freya's eyes held a glint of curiosity as one of her bodyguards whispered something in her ear.
"Hephaestus, Hestia, excuse me, but I have to leave now." She turned to Hestia with a smile. "And Hestia, I'm happy to see you've found a good child for yourself." With that, she turned and made her way toward the exit.
Hestia felt a bit unsettled by that last comment. "What was that about?" she asked suspiciously.
Hephaestus only shrugged in response.
Well, maybe it was nothing.
---
"Hey, since the festival is near, let's take a few days off. I'll start finishing your new gear. What do you say?" Welf suggested, carrying a bag of magic stones on his shoulder.
They were nearly at the guild to cash out their magic stones for the day—today's dive had been fruitful, especially after a decent Spawn killing of Killer ants before heading towards the Lower floors.
All For One, carrying a bag of his own, considered the suggestion. With this unexpected free time, he realized he could advance a few plans sooner than anticipated.
"Yes, I believe a short break would be pleasant," he agreed, already weighing which plan to prioritize.
He could pay a visit to that pitiful arms dealer's hideout, having gleaned the location from Canoe through some....persuasive measures. There might be something of value there.
Alternatively, he could go and offer a bit of....guidance to Little Supporter; after all, he needed her in prime condition for the tasks he had planned for her.
Entering the guild, All For One kept his expression carefully neutral, concealing his inner thoughts as he headed toward the exchange booth.
"Bell!" He heard Eina's voice calling from her counter, waving for him to come over.
Another lesson already? She'd mentioned she was out of material for the moment.
Turning to Welf, he said, "Cash out and go on without me. The guild will handle our split." Handing Welf his bag, he made his way over to where Eina waited expectantly.
"Sure, take care, Bell," Welf called after him as he approached Eina.
"Bell! Did you have a good dive?" she asked, her curiosity about his day as lively as ever.
If the bags weren't indication enough, he'd indulge her with a polite answer.
"It was productive. For now, we're staying on the tenth floor until I get my new equipment." His latest status update wasn't particularly impressive; he needed to expand his arsenal if he wanted to delve deeper.
Eina, concerned as always—perhaps for her record as much as his well-being—offered her customary advice. "You're progressing astonishingly fast, Bell. Most Level One adventurers take years to get to this point. Don't push yourself too hard; you could end up in a dangerous situation."
This again. He resisted the urge to roll his eyes. No need to damage the carefully constructed rapport he'd established with Eina just because she was doing her job.
"I'll keep that in mind. Thanks, Eina," he replied with a smile. "Was there something you needed?" After all, she'd called him over.
Her eyes widened, as if only now remembering. "Oh, right! Sorry!" She rubbed the back of her head, a bit sheepishly.
She pulled a small slip of paper from her pocket and held it up. "I won a ticket for two to Monsterphilia from a little game we staff were playing. I wasn't sure who to invite, so….if you're free…." Her voice trailed off, ending in a shy laugh and a slight blush.
Heh, she really wasn't good at hiding her intentions.
With a practiced smile, he replied, "Of course! I wouldn't dream of turning down a lady." Besides, this made his next move clear.
Her ears turned noticeably pink. "O-Oh, good. Then, uh… see you there, I guess?"
Was she expecting him to say no? Well, no matter.
"Yes, see you there." With that, he headed for the exit.
Before leaving, he glanced back at Eina's counter. She was hiding her face with her hands as a pink-haired girl nudged her playfully.
Not his concern. He had plans to set in motion.
---
"Did Hep-chan really have to leave Me alone so soon?" Hestia muttered, her voice carrying a hint of dejection.
The banquet was winding down, its vibrant energy slowly fading as guests began to depart. Hephaestus, one of the more important attendees, had already left, leaving Hestia alone.
It was getting late, She should head home too—Bell-kun was probably waiting for her to update his status.
she turned toward the exit, mentally preparing herself to again go through under the crotch of Ganesha's statue.
Creepy.
On her way a voice called out from behind her. "Well, well, if it isn't loli-boobs herself."
Hestia's eye twitched. Really? She wasn't in the mood for this.
Turning around, she replied coolly, "Hm? What do you want, you emo?"
Standing there was a pale-skinned goddess with sleek, long black hair cascading down her back. She wore a dark, gothic dress that fell to her knees, its hem uneven and wild. The sleeves were long and sheer, patterned like delicate spider webs, perfectly matching her eerie, edgy look.
The goddess's smile faltered slightly at the word "emo," and Hestia couldn't help but smirk at her reaction.
"Nothing," the other goddess replied with a forced smile, stepping closer. "Just wanted a little chat. Let's walk out together; this banquet has run its course."
Hestia sighed inwardly. She'd tolerate this "Emo" for now.
As they walked toward the exit, the goddess spoke up again. "So, Hestia, how have you been?" Her smile was unsettling, a forced expression with a hint of something Hestia couldn't quite place.
Too forced, she thought.
Stifling a sigh, Hestia replied, "Fine. And you?" opting for the briefest answer. All she wanted was to get home fast.
The pale goddess's smile widened, and Hestia could practically feel the coldness in it. "Oh, nothing much. Recently, a good number of my children decided to go off and get themselves killed." She said it as casually as discussing the weather.
A chill ran through Hestia. She knew this goddess could be disturbingly detached, but this was on another level. "I...uh…sorry to hear that?" she replied, unsure of what else to say.
But the goddess only waved it off, her voice laced with a sinister delight. "Oh, don't worry. We've already tracked down the culprit," she continued, her eyes glinting with a dark satisfaction. "And we're going to make sure that white-haired brat screams."
Hestia stopped in her tracks, her heart skipping a beat as cold dread settled over her.
No....it couldn't possibly be....could it?
The other goddess halted, turning to face Hestia. Her smile faded, replaced by a cold, steely gaze as she leaned in, her voice dropping to a chilling whisper. "Tell your Brat that he's not beyond my reach. When the time comes, I will collect my debt." Straightening, a dangerous smirk crept onto her lips. "And don't interfere, Hestia….unless you'd like an 'accident' to send you back to heaven so soon."
With that, she turned and strode away, leaving Hestia rooted in place, her heart pounding as a deep sense of dread washed over her.
"What have you done bell...." She muttered, expression uneasy.
This wasn't good.
---
All For One sat irritably on the couch, waiting for Hestia to return from the banquet. She really was taking her sweet time.
His mind was on his latest goal: Monsterphilia was just three days away, more than enough time to secure what he needed. He mentally noted to prioritize acquiring a salamander wool set of clothes—he'd need that fire resistance if his Quirk decided not to work on monsters.
Footsteps echoed from the staircase leading up from the church's basement, he straightened slightly. She must be back.
Hestia emerged, wearing the dress he'd bought her so she wouldn't tarnish their Familia's image in front of potential pawns—and enemies.
Her expression was troubled. Something must have happened at the banquet.
She met his gaze and walked toward him.
Raising an eyebrow, he began, "Is everything alri—" but was cut off as she threw her arms around him, pressing her face into his chest.
"Why didn't you tell me you were being targeted?" she whispered, her voice trembling.
All For One's mind raced. How did she get ahold of that information?
"What are you talking about?" he replied, feigning innocence. He needed her to reveal more.
"The people you….killed, they were all from the same Familia. I met their goddess at the banquet, Bell—she's after you. Why didn't you tell me?" Her voice cracked, and he felt tears soaking his shirt.
Ah, so that's it.
So the Anansi Familia had caught on to Hestia's connection to him—and More than likely knew of the abandoned church as well.
This was troublesome. A lot of his secrets were known to the enemy.
Setting that problem aside momentarily, he turned his focus to Hestia. He could use this Threat to keep her in check.
"I didn't want to worry you," he said softly, leaning into her embrace as if seeking comfort.
Hestia sniffed, still clutching him tightly. "I-I worry about you, Bell. Y-You're my only child, my first one….worrying about you is my job, you idiot!" She tightened her grip around him.
He resisted the urge to roll his eyes. Emotional people were such a bother.
"I'll be fine, I promise," he whispered, a soothing assurance to calm her unnecessary panic.
She looked up at him, tearful eyes full of doubt. "B-but—"
"Don't worry about me," he interrupted gently, adding a comforting smile. "I have everything under control. Just know that I'll always come back to you, alive."
Her expression was unconvinced but she couldn't do anything about it even if she wanted to.
"Now, can you update my status?" he asked, carefully masking his irritation.
She nodded weakly, "O-okay."
As she prepared to update him, he turned his attention back to the issue at hand. This location had been compromised. He'd need to find a new base, ideally one that kept his activities even more under wraps.
'Those Annoying pests' He thought in Annoyance.
---
The End
---
AN: I'll try to do a weekly Updating thing.
This was mostly a Hestia perspective Chapter, thought it'll be cool.
First Anansi reveal, I turned him to a chick, because danmachi always loves swapping genders in the most bizzar way possible.
A long chapter for you Readers to enjoy!
I did a lot of research regarding magic and Falna, and realized that I did a lot of mistakes regarding their Systems. I'll try to correct them subtly without making it sudden, like how All for one isn't growing fast anymore, because Apparently acquiring Excelia is very hard that's why most of orario is a dump for level one losers.
I Hope this chapter was up to your expectations, Reader.