Chapter 637 Motorcycle
Hestia, Hephaestus and Loki left whilst the whole 30th floor of Babel was still in an uproar. Hestia had a hard time escaping from the curious Gods. Nevertheless, she managed to do so with some help from her best friend and best frenemy.
The three of them then immediately headed to a nondescript cafe to meet with two other Gods who had left the 30th floor much earlier, Miach and Takemikazuchi. The three Goddesses also noticed their children at another table looking at them with anticipation.
"You're here." Miach greeted them, "That was an unbelievable match and also very exciting. After this, they'll surely gather everyone's attention, especially Kisuke-kun."
The three of them sat beside them and Hephaestus replied to him, "That's for sure. However, he could have done this more quietly."
"He did this so that his Familia would have more prestige. With more prestige, it'll be harder for something like this to happen again.", added Loki and ordered some drinks.
While talking about something mundane, Hestia noticed Takemikazuchi's wordlessness, "What's wrong, Take?"
"Hmm? Ah, sorry. I've been thinking about the match from earlier."
"What's wrong with it?", asked Hestia with curiosity.
"Nothing's wrong. It's just that everyone has been talking about the flashy way Kisuke-kun dodged the attacks from all directions, but failed to notice something even more amazing about him."
Takemikazuchi then looked at everyone and continued, "While the way he dodged all of those attacks was truly a sight to behold, it could be attributed to a Skill or a Developmental Ability. However, the same can't be said for his swordsmanship. While he looked casual, the refinement behind his swordsmanship couldn't have just been a Skill or a Developmental Ability. He's a real master of the sword with skills way beyond any children I've ever met or even heard of in the lower world."
Takemikazuchi then perceived that Hestia was looking at him with suspicion and immediately said, "Don't misunderstand me. I don't intend to get any confirmation nor get information about your child. I'm just so amazed that I've been thinking about it all this time. But other Gods who have held a sword would surely be interested in him, so you should be careful with that."
"You don't have to worry about that~ That guy can take care of himself.", replied Loki while chuckling. In fact, she had been looking forward to a clash between Kisuke and a God, 'Wouldn't that be even more interesting?'
"It's about time that Kisuke-kun arrives, isn't it?", Miach suddenly pointed out.
And as soon as he said that a screeching sound of rubber rubbing on a pavement, which was impossible to hear in this world, echoed from outside, along with some screams from the pedestrians outside of the cafe.
"What's that!?" Loki immediately stood up and went outside to check what was going on and the others hurriedly followed her.
As they got out, what greeted their eyes was the sight of Kisuke, who was just getting off a strange two-wheeled vehicle, "Yo~ sorry that I've made everyone wait."
"W-w-what is that!!!?" Loki excitedly ran towards the foreign vehicle, a motorcycle, and went around it a few times. She then immediately figured out its use from the design and the marks which the tires left on the pavement.
Loki then looked back up to Kisuke with shining eyes, "What's this!? And I want it! Give it to me!"
"This is a prototype, so I can't.", Kisuke immediately rejected her while thinking, 'You'd just kill yourself within just a few seconds of riding this.'
Kisuke then ignored her and started looking around. Locating Bell Cranel and his companions, he said to them, "Cranel-san, Arde-san was released and it looks like she went directly to your Home."
Bell and his party members' faces immediately lit up in delight and all bowed down to Kisuke, "Thank you very much! I promise to return this favor one day!" With Bell being the first one to bolt away, those beside him hurriedly followed after expressing their gratitude to him.
Miach then approached him and said, "Allow me to express our gratitude one more time. Thank you, Kisuke-kun. If there's something you need, please do not hesitate to tell me. I'll do everything within my capability to help you."
"Don't worry about it, Miach-sama. You're Hestia-sama's friend and you've helped her a lot. This much, I can do. Besides, thanks to the situation, I was also able to strike a good deal with Soma-sama~"
Miach smiled wryly and said, "Is that so? Nevertheless, my offer still stands."
"Understood. But let's get inside first. It's getting crowded around here.", proposed Kisuke and went towards the cafe's entrance.
"Is it fine to leave that here?", asked Hephaestus while pointing towards the motorcycle.
"It's fine~ No one aside from me knows how to operate it and it also weighs a lot more than what a normal Level 2 would be able to run away with."
"But a Level 3 can."
"I'd honestly want to see him carry this as he runs away. I'll even cheer for him."
"Well, if you say so."
Once they'd all sat down once again, the motorcycle outside became the center of everyone's attention and was flooded by crowds of people. The patrolling Ganesha Familia had to intervene as the people were blocking traffic and interfering with businesses along the street.
"I presume you also made that one? If so, then you've made yet another amusing thing.", Loki stated with a big grin.
Kisuke nodded, "I did make it, but just to be clear, I'm not the one who invented it. Though I'm the one behind the magic circuits that make it run."
"Alright! Spare us with the technicalities!" Hestia immediately stopped him. It'd be really hard to do so, once he gets into gear and starts explaining every little detail of his creation.
"I'd like to hear it, though?", complained Hephaestus.
"You two can have your time later!" Hestia then turned to Kisuke, "You already knew that it'd be hard kicking them out, didn't you? What did you give the Guild to make them change their mind?"
"Since kicking that many Familias out would certainly hurt Orario, I figured that the Guild would try to mediate and reduce their punishments, offering something else in return. But I don't care about whatever their offers were. They ganged up on us, so I'll have them leave this entertaining stage forever."
"Since that was the case, I offered something to the Guild that would counter the detrimental effects of them leaving. Loki-sama might have already guessed it, but I offered a negotiation regarding the production method of the four-wheeled vehicle and the two-wheeled vehicle from outside."
"So it's really as Loki said.", Hephaestus nodded in understanding, "You said negotiation. So you've meant to give its production to some other Familia?"
"Yep~ If I just hand it over for royalties, they could hire any Familia to produce these things. It would be distasteful if such a good job were to land on an unsavory Familia."
Hephaestus didn't speak further, but there was an obvious gleam in her eye. Seeing this, Kisuke chuckled, "I'll have Hephaestus-sama arrange the production line."
Hephaestus finally noticed the expression that she was making and feigned a cough to hide her embarrassment, "I'm glad to have your trust."
"By the way, you'll also need some Mages and Scholars to help the Blacksmiths creating the core parts of the production machine.", added Kisuke.
"I've got some contacts in Altena and they wouldn't dare not to come after I reveal the news to them. Since I would also need more Blacksmiths to focus on this, I'll ask for some people from Zolingham."
"That would be good. You'll also need a large plot of land outside of Orario if you want to mass-produce it and give some manpower into researching it."
"Note taken.", said Hephaestus and immediately stood up, "I'm sorry but I'd like to take my leave. The sooner I arrange this, the sooner I'll be able to tinker with those things."
Without waiting for the others' to reply, Hephaestus left the establishment.
"She's pretty excited...", muttered Hestia.
"I fully understand her. She'll be getting a new toy, after all.", replied Loki. It was very rare for a God to encounter something very new in their life, after all.