INTERLUDE
MY HOME, MY FAMILIA
The sun seemed to hurry down past the edge of the city walls, perhaps because summer was ready to give way to autumn. Stars twinkled in the deep blue of the night sky.
The streets of Orario thrummed with life, as they always did—magic-stone craftsmen were finishing their day’s work, merchants were networking to secure access to valuable commodities, and the deities of powerful familias were enjoying themselves at the feasts and parties held by those hopeful merchants. Smiths, herbalists, bards, and prostitutes were hard at work as well. What arose from the heady mix of people and occupations drawn together by the Dungeon was a hedonistic energy. It was an atmosphere found nowhere else but the Labyrinth City, the so-called center of the world.
The adventurers returning from the Dungeon fit right in as seemingly every last one of them headed straight for a tavern.
All eight of the city’s main streets were packed.
But amid all that, there were those who did not venture out into the city, out of austerity or frugality. Or honorable poverty. Or abject destitution.
Their reasons were many, but there were familias that shied away from the clamor, choosing to pass the time at home, instead.
“Huh, so you ran into Wiene?”
“Yes! Despite the time and place, I was overjoyed to see her!”
Wearing a maid’s pinafore, Haruhime chatted happily with Hestia in the spacious living room of Hearthstone Manor.
Dinner concluded, the members of the familia were all relaxing. Hestia was seated on the living room couch and having a pleasant conversation with Haruhime, who had finished her chores.
“I think this is a little strange to say when we’re discussing dear sweet Lady Wiene, but…she has become so very strong. She really has.”
“Really now? Huh, so she’s not a little crybaby anymore…Ugh, lucky you. I wish I could’ve seen her, too. But gods can’t go in the Dungeon.”
“I-I’m sure there will be other chances! P-perhaps you could sneak into the Dungeon with Master Bell and—”
“Heh, I actually did that once before with Hermes and got a real earful from the Guild for my troubles…If we got hit with that kind of penalty fee again, there’s no telling how our supporter might take it out on us, Haruhime.”
The conversation in Hearthstone Manor was by turns envious and hopeful as they happily discussed another dear member of their family who had spent time with them in this very home.
Haruhime, who was training to be a maid and who often found herself minding the manor, had many opportunities for pleasant conversation with Hestia. The young goddess’s personality being what it was, it had not taken long at all for them to become quite accustomed to each other after Haruhime joined the familia.
She was a modest and polite girl. Though initially timid as a fox cub, once she was comfortable around someone, her smile was kinder and gentler than anyone else’s. These were all components of Haruhime’s charm. Her surprisingly strong will was another part of it, too.
Little wonder that Wiene had taken to Haruhime before Hestia.
“Listen, Haruhime…You’re a hard worker, and I’ll always support you in whatever you do, but…all I ask is that you don’t pull anything weird with Bell, got it? I know I’m saying that all the time, but still. Especially at night.”
“Hweh?!”
Setting aside the time Haruhime had tried something inconceivable on the boy based on certain preconceptions she held, Hestia had a soft spot for Haruhime.
And for Lilly, and Welf, and Mikoto, too, of course.
She wondered if this was love.
Love in an affectionate, parental sense. Love for her irreplaceable children.
While they’d been away on their expedition, Hestia had taken care of the manor with help from members of Takemikazuchi Familia and Miach Familia , but even with them around, the house had been somehow empty. Maybe that was why she felt that way.
Though she was answering her own question, Hestia decided that maybe it was love after all.
“Hey, sorry—anyone know where the black tea leaves are?” Welf poked his head out from behind a cupboard.
“Ah, excuse me. Lady Hestia, just a—” started Haruhime, rising to her feet.
“It’s fine, it’s fine, off you go.”
After watching the bobbing golden hair and fox tail patter off, Hestia turned her gaze to the rest of the room. There in the middle of the space, Bell, Mikoto, and Lilly were clustered around a circular table with carved wooden legs. They focused all their attention on some weathered game pieces.
“Ah, so now that Lilly’s pawn has entered Mikoto’s territory…that means it’s promoted, right?”
“Precisely, Sir Bell. As is, this position threatens my formation…!”
“Hee-hee! Lilly’s got the hang of it now. Miss Mikoto, I shall be claiming victory today!”
Apparently, the three of them were engrossed with a board game from the Far East called shogi. While they were out buying dinner in the market, Lilly—yes, the notorious spendthrift Lilly—had taken an interest in the novelty and bought it with her own pocket money.
To be fair, it was an interesting curio from a distant island nation, and even Bell, still moving around awkwardly in his cast, had gotten sucked into the game.
“To think that my familia can afford luxuries now. ’Tis well, ’tis well!”
The board game was one such indulgence; the black tea, another.
Hestia leaned back and stretched, feeling a deep sense of satisfaction. They had come so far since the familia’s founding.
(Back in the beginning, each day was a struggle, and we had to scrimp and save every last morsel.)
And of course, there was no leeway for any sort of treats or comforts.
The novice Bell did his best to contribute whatever he could, but the first priority was food, and the second was food, as were the third and fourth. And, whenever they managed to get that far, the fifth was magic-stone lanterns.
But now their familia had actual assets, including this very manor, which they’d won from Apollo in the War Game.
“And…things are so lively now.”
Haruhime exclaimed in delight at seeing Welf’s tea-brewing technique—a relic of his noble Crozzo upbringing. It was obvious from his awkward smile that he felt somewhat complicated about his skill even if he enjoyed the praise. Lilly was fiercely determined to finally score a win against Mikoto, who had been indulging her all day long while Bell raptly watched them play. This was the familia Hestia had pictured in her mind the day she first came to the mortal plane.
The long, lonely nights from just half a year ago were now in the distant past. Hestia was no longer alone.
“…”
Hestia stood wordlessly from the sofa and walked over to the hearth set into the living room wall.
It was still only autumn so a crackling fireplace wouldn’t be needed for quite some time, but Hestia decided it couldn’t hurt. She bent down and began rummaging for materials, arranging firewood like she was building a small house in the hearth.
“Goddess, what’s the matter?”
She turned and met Bell’s curious gaze. “Oh, Bell. What happened to the shogi game?”
“Mikoto squeezed out a win. Lilly wants a rematch.”
Hestia looked over and saw the frustrated Lilly arguing her case while Mikoto generously humored her.
“Oh, I don’t know. I just felt like using the hearth.”
“You did say you wanted a house with one someday.”
“Oh, did I say that?”
“You did! You said that it was because you were the patron goddess of the sacred fire, of sheltering flame…and that it was the hearth that filled a home with light.”
Those were her words. Though she may have forgotten, her words had undoubtedly left their mark on the boy in front of her.
Hestia returned Bell’s cheerful smile. “Bell…the truth is, my goal at first was to create a familia bigger even than Loki’s.”
“Th-that’s…I don’t know if ‘ambitious’ is the right word. ‘Grandiose’ and ‘reckless’ also come to mind…”
“Maybe at the time, sure. But not so much now, right? We’re making headway as a proper familia now. It’s not out of the question for us to catch up to Loki.”
“…Oh, you might be right.”
Bell squatted down beside Hestia as they talked, and she readied a flint and steel. Bell was impressed by the practiced ease with which Hestia struck the steel to light the kindling despite her usual clumsiness.
At first, there was only smoke.
Slowly, gradually, the wavering flame almost seemed ticklish as it spread to the firewood bit by bit.
Hestia’s eyes twinkled as she watched the brightening hearth with Bell beside her. Eventually he spoke up again, a smile spreading across his face.
“Sometimes…I think about the church basement we used to live in. I’m happy Lilly and the others joined our familia, and I love our new home, too, but…sometimes I miss it.”
“Ha-ha-ha! Me too. After all the racket we used to make about someday moving into a big, fancy house no matter what, now that we’re actually here, I find myself thinking ‘Gee, that little old place was kinda nice,’ or ‘Gosh, I’d like to go back to when it was just Bell and me.’ I swear…like goddess, like child. We’re awfully selfish, huh?”
Their first home had been a tiny alcove hidden away beneath an old abandoned church. Before Bell came along, Hestia had been there alone in the cold, dank place.
“So much has happened since then…” As those words tumbled from her lips, Hestia was suddenly overcome with emotion.
Perhaps the boy next to her was feeling something similar. He turned to look at Hestia, lit by the hearth’s firelight before he spoke. “Goddess, would you like me to rub your shoulders?”
“Bwuh?” Hestia’s eyes shot open at the unexpected question. “Bell, even given our relationship, that could very easily be interpreted as sexual harassment.”
“I’m not quite sure what you mean by that, but—I-I’m sorry. I just wanted…” Bell shrank away apologetically, scratching his cheek in embarrassment before continuing with an awkward smile. “You work so hard for all of us, so I wanted to do something for you, that’s all…”
Perhaps it was something like the affection a child felt for their parent, or the warmth that comes when a loved one suddenly comes to mind. Or perhaps they were simply the words that occurred to him as the first member of her familia, the one who had experienced all the joys and sorrows alongside her from the very beginning.
Hestia felt as though a flame had been kindled in her chest.
“In that case, will you do me this one favor?”
“Ah, yes! What is it?”
Hestia said nothing and stood. She then sat back down directly in front of Bell and leaned back into his chest, as though she were on a rocking chair.
“Stay with me, always.” She looked back up over her shoulder and smiled at him.
She expected him to flinch away at the sudden intimacy, but he didn’t.
Although his expression betrayed surprise, Bell merely smiled down at her.
It was such a gentle smile that Hestia couldn’t help but let herself lean farther back into him.
Bell silently accepted her.
“Bell?”
“Hmm?”
“A familia is pretty nice, huh?”
“…Yes, I think so, too.”
The two sat there on the carpet, quietly gazing at the hearth’s fire. That alone was more than enough to comfort body and soul.
Perhaps they didn’t look like soul mates, but maybe some would have pegged them as brother and sister. They might have also seemed like an old married couple with many years behind them. Not that it matters , Hestia thought.
Once Lilly or one of the others noticed, they’d be immediately peeled apart.
But until then, Hestia let herself enjoy the boy’s warmth.
The fire in the hearth sparked and crackled.
Their faces were illuminated by the warm light.
Hestia was certain that this was happiness. For this boy to become her very first follower and to have him at her side like this could be nothing less.
In the quietly dancing flames, she glimpsed the flicker of a memory and smiled.
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