Chapter 37 - Her Love Was Eternal, And Once She Fell For Someone, It Was Forever
The streets of Orario were packed with all sorts of people. Humans, dwarves, orcs, and elves crowded the roads, each giving off an aura that showed their different levels of strength.
Bell didn't like being in these crowded streets much.
Holding Hestia's hand, he carefully moved through the crowd, and after a few turns, the noise started to fade away.
They arrived at a quiet alley, a dead-end in Orario where almost no one came—this was where the Hestia Familia lived.
Both of them, used to the path, walked into an abandoned church.
Once they opened the door, Bell and Hestia made their way down the stairs.
Despite being a basement, it wasn't dark or uncomfortable. Magic stone devices kept the air fresh and the temperature nice, making it a surprisingly livable spot.
It was a clear example of how magic shaped this world.
Of course, Bell expected that.
While the science here couldn't compare to his old world, the magic was on a whole different level.
"Ah~"
As soon as they stepped into the basement, Hestia dropped onto the bed, landing with a heavy flop.
The old, hard mattress had been replaced with a much softer one.
"Home is the best," Bell said, looking around at the now cozy basement, which was way cleaner than when they first moved in.
"People say it feels different when you have your own place. I get it now."
Hestia, lying on her stomach, rolled onto her side lazily, sounding way more relaxed than when they were outside.
Bell knew this. Once they were home, Hestia always switched to her laid-back mode. Her words and actions completely relaxed.
Bell also felt the tension in his body loosen. Sitting on his bed, he understood the comfort of having a place to call home.
The world might be big, but only one place could make you feel truly at ease.
Here, he didn't have to watch what he said, and there was no pressure from anyone.
This was what Bell called home.
"It's not just a place to sleep. It's where you feel at peace," he said.
Hearing that, Hestia suddenly sat up, eyes full of emotion as she looked at Bell.
"Bell, do you really see me as family?"
"Of course," Bell answered right away. From the moment he joined Hestia Familia, he'd always thought of Hestia as family, the most important person in his life.
"Hestia, you've always been my most important family."
"Bell~"
Tears filled Hestia's eyes at his words. She looked at Bell, who was sitting calmly on the bed, before jumping towards him.
Bell stood up quickly and caught her in mid-air.
Hestia, soft in his arms, wasn't worried for a second. She trusted Bell to always catch her.
Once he was sure she was safe, Bell let out a sigh and gave her a light scolding.
"Hestia, that was dangerous! What if I didn't catch you?"
"Hee hee~"
Hestia didn't care about the risk, giggling like nothing happened.
Of course, it was natural.
What goddess would ever hesitate before doing something risky?
Hestia wrapped her arms around Bell's neck, leaning into him. Kneeling in his arms, her small size was even more obvious.
In this quiet, close moment, they held each other tight.
"Bell, you really see me as your family?"
"Yes, Hestia-sama, you've always been my most important family."
Hestia smiled, enjoying the words "most important," her face lighting up with happiness.
Her heart raced, and she couldn't stop herself from asking the next question.
"Bell, did you know gods sometimes come down to meet their fated one?"
Bell's face became serious.
"I know. But gods live forever, and people in the lower world don't. I think that kind of love is beautiful, but it's bound to bring sadness because of death."
Hestia knew that too, but she didn't avoid the topic.
"Everyone knows that. But even so, many gods still choose to love. If, someday, a goddess fell in love with you, Bell, would you... accept her?"
Bell took a deep breath, knowing this was a big question.
"I would."
"Bell, I like you!"
Bell froze for a moment. The confession was so direct and unexpected that it threw him off balance. Even someone as composed as Bell felt flustered in that instant.
It was tough for anyone to hold such a cute goddess in their arms and not feel something.
Without thinking too much, Bell hugged Hestia tightly, his emotions rising.
Hestia hugged him back just as firmly. To her, Bell was special. As her first Familia member, he held a unique place in her heart.
Plus, Bell had grown into exactly the kind of person she liked. Hestia couldn't help but desire a deeper bond with him.
She had often talked about love with her friends in the heavens, but as a virgin goddess, she'd never been interested in the opposite sex. None of the male gods in the heavens had ever sparked anything in her.
But meeting Bell had changed all that. For the first time, she felt a real connection with someone.
Hestia admitted to herself that she was drawn to his looks, and being her first Familia member made her even more attached to him.
"Bell, let's kiss!"
Bell was left speechless for a second by how forward she was.
"Hestia, isn't it a bit early for that?"
"Can we?"
"Uh..."
Bell took a deep breath, glancing at Hestia, who looked eager. When she saw him hesitate, she smiled and closed her eyes.
Finally, as if surrendering to the moment, Bell leaned in, closing the gap between them. The soft touch of her lips made Hestia tremble slightly. Her heart pounded as they kissed.
Bell, following his instinct, pushed Hestia further back onto the bed, and they continued their kiss for what felt like an eternity.
After about five minutes, they finally pulled away, breathless, a thin line of silver connecting their lips.
Bell, looking at the sweet Hestia, felt the urge to continue. They kissed again, only stopping when exhaustion finally took over.
However, as they kissed, Bell's thing pressed against Hestia's butt in a way that made the situation even more awkward. But Hestia, feeling the hardness, chose to ignore it.
Panting slightly, as she looked.
"Hestia, can I talk to you about something?"
Hestia immediately turned around and sat on Bell's lap, looking at him with soft, caring eyes.
"Go ahead."
Bell took a deep breath, knowing it was time to speak his mind.
"Hestia, I came to Orario to get stronger."
"Is it really just about getting stronger, Bell?"
Hestia blinked, staring at him closely.
"...Well, I also hoped to meet someone special."
"Hehe~"
Hestia let out a small laugh.
Everyone has their own desires, and there was nothing wrong with wanting to meet a beautiful girl.
"Bell, who is this person you wanted to meet?"
Bell hesitated, thinking to himself, Can I say it's you?
In truth, it was her. Hestia was not only the perfect goddess who cared for her Familia, but also the best partner Bell could hope for.
Choosing Hestia meant having both the right person and the right Familia. It was a win-win situation.
"Hestia, don't you think it's you?"
"If it was me, why did you look for Hephaestus first instead of me?"
Hestia grinned, showing a mean expression, clearly enjoying Bell's reaction.
'I was looking for you from the start!' Bell thought, but how could he explain that?
Gathering his thoughts, Bell decided to avoid making things complicated.
He hugged the slightly smug Hestia.
"No matter what I thought before, the only person I want now is you, Hestia."
"That's more like it."
Hearing his words, Hestia's mood brightened instantly.
As for why Bell went to Hephaestus first, she decided not to ask any more. Digging deeper might make things awkward between them.
Besides, Hestia didn't see herself as any less worthy than Hephaestus.
Well, except for height.
"Ahem! Anyway, getting stronger and meeting you were my main goals when I came to Orario."
Bell coughed lightly, wanting to move past the topic.
"Now that I've met you, half of my goal is done."
"But I also have another issue to think about."
"How can I live longer?"
Loving Hestia wasn't the problem, but figuring out how to extend his lifespan was something that weighed on Bell's mind.
Hestia didn't want Bell to be with her for only a mortal's lifespan. As a goddess, her love was eternal, and once she fell for someone, it was forever—her heart now belonged solely to Bell.
"Well... if we were in the heavens, there are plenty of ways. But here in the lower world, unless you break your limits and reach Level 10 to become a demigod, there's no other way to extend your lifespan."
After thinking it over, Hestia finally shared her solution.
"Level 10..."
Bell's face twitched. The strongest adventurer in Orario was only Level 9, and his goal was Level 10? It seemed so far off.
But after the initial shock, Bell's mind cleared.
Of course, extending his lifespan would come with high requirements, and reaching Level 10 would likely give him more than just that.
"A demigod..."
"Hestia, if I reach that level, will I have almost the same lifespan as a god?"
Hestia nodded.
"Yes, demigods break the usual limits of life, so they aren't much different from gods, except for the lack of Arcanum."
Still, she wasn't too worried. Bell already had a power similar to Arcanum.
In theory, reaching that level wasn't impossible.
Hestia was more concerned that Bell might push himself too far in pursuit of becoming a demigod.
"Bell, there are other ways, too."
"No need, Hestia. This way is the best."
Bell feared death, but he wasn't reckless. With the system's support, he believed he could achieve what others couldn't.
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Well, Hestia's sweetnessX9999
Tell me how's the sugar or should I increase the sugar next time...
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[IMG of Hestia]
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