Chapter 6 - Hephaestus - Goddess Of Smithing
After leaving the guild, Bell asked around about Hephaestus' shop.
He was sure that Hestia, probably being lazy as usual, would be with Hephaestus, and he wanted to meet them both directly.
Even though he got some weird looks when he asked about Hephaestus' shop, Bell could tell that most people were thinking, "What are you doing, poor guy?"
Hephaestus is the goddess of smithing, known for her insane skills. Even the cheapest stuff in her shop costs millions of valis, making even top adventurers think twice before buying.
For a newcomer like Bell to think about buying something from a place like that seemed ridiculous.
Bell knew this, but he wasn't there to buy weapons or gear. He was there to find Hestia.
Since Hestia wasn't registered at the guild, Bell was sure she had to be with Hephaestus. He needed to find a way to meet Hephaestus and connect with Hestia through her.
Bell's hunch was spot on, especially when he saw Hestia, with her black twin-tails and blue ribbon, standing in front of Hephaestus' shop. This was definitely the Hestia he was looking for.
"I found the perfect goddess, Hestia, for me," Bell thought.
He took a deep breath, then pushed the door open and walked into the shop.
The sound of the doorbell grabbed the attention of the two goddesses inside, and Bell knew all eyes were on him, especially Hephaestus'.
Bell pushed down his nerves and focused on Hephaestus with respect.
"Hephaestus-sama, my name is Bell Cranel. I'm an adventurer who just arrived in Orario. I've just registered with the guild and am looking for a familia that'll accept me."
He kept his explanation short, making it clear he wasn't tied to any familia yet. But he wasn't just talking to Hephaestus; he was talking to Hestia too.
Hephaestus stayed calm, checking out the child in front of her. It was obvious he had just arrived in Orario and hadn't found a familia yet.
Unless a child had some insane talent, thinking they could join a top-tier familia was just bullshit.
"Bell Cranel, why did you come to me? Are you trying to join my familia?"
"No. I know your familia members are all top-tier smiths. While I'd love to join, I'm not talented in that area. Even if I wanted to, I'm not good enough to make the cut."
This answer earned Hephaestus' respect. She could tell the child in front of her wasn't delusional about his abilities.
He knew his limits and wasn't fooling himself about joining a top familia. That kind of self-awareness was solid. Chasing after a great familia could backfire, especially with all the competition and the need for real skills.
"So, why are you here then? If you're looking for a suitable familia, why not just ask at the guild?"
If he wasn't planning to join the Hephaestus Familia, what was he doing in her shop?
Bell answered seriously.
"It's like this, Hephaestus-sama. I know I'm not strong enough to join a famous familia, so I'm hoping to join one with fewer members, where the god's expectations aren't too high. But I couldn't find any like that listed at the guild."
"I thought, as the goddess of smithing, you might have connections with a lot of familias, so I was hoping you could help me find one."
Hestia's eyes lit up at this.
What a stroke of luck!
She had been wondering how to start her familia, and now a potential member just walked in.
Judging by his looks, Hephaestus could tell he was a rookie adventurer. But why did he think she would help him find a familia?
Hephaestus asked curiously.
"What if I don't help you?"
"Then I hope you, Hephaestus-sama, will take me in. If I can't be a member, at least let me be a supporter. I know Orario is the center of the world, but I also know that without a place to stay, I would be consumed by the darkness within it."
Hephaestus frowned slightly. The child in front of her wasn't just some naive rookie. He was someone who would make the choices that gave him the best chance of surviving.
This city really could consumed people alive—not just the dungeon, but the city itself. New adventurers often came to Orario with big dreams, only to get crushed by the city's harsh realities before they could even get started.
Children from the Lower World couldn't lie to the gods, so Hephaestus knew he said was true.
Knowing how dangerous the city was yet still coming here, driven by pure determination, made Hephaestus a bit curious.
"You know this city is dangerous, but you still came. Why?"
Bell knew this was a test, so he answered seriously.
Maybe this was the hero's answer in the anime, but now it was his answer too.
Bell's reason might not be as noble, but it was his own.
"I want to get stronger."
The reason was simple, but Hephaestus could see the determination and a bit of sadness in his eyes.
"Every child in the Lower World has their reasons. They're not like us; they're too vulnerable and too emotional."
Hephaestus wasn't interested in digging deeper. She had seen plenty of adventurers and knew why this child chose Orario.
A child this young coming to the city alone said a lot. Hephaestus wasn't one of those gods who enjoyed seeing others suffer.
"It's just that introducing this child to that idiot Hestia might be the worst thing I could do for him."
Hephaestus was a little worried about whether Hestia could actually be a good goddess.
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I don't know if I'm able to evoke Hephaestus self pity towards Bell.
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[IMG of Hestia]
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