The Hostess of Fertility.
Rhodes didn’t know much about the place.
He had only been in Orario for a few days, and so far, he had saved money wherever he could.
Fried potato balls and cheap boxed meals had been enough to get by.
But since Hestia wanted them to enjoy a good dinner and unwind, he had no intention of arguing with her.
He currently had over five thousand valis in his purse.
Treating her to a meal should be no problem.
Yet when he followed the goddess to the restaurant and saw the crowd inside, his confidence wavered.
The place really was busy.
Even standing outside, he could feel the energy of the adventurers packed into the dining room.
“Come on!”
Hestia smiled and beckoned.
“The food here is good.
I used to come with Hephaistos all the time.”
Eating on someone else’s tab still counted as eating here.
Naturally, she couldn’t say that part aloud.
It would damage the divine image she had worked so hard to establish in front of her follower.
“All right.”
They were already here.
Rhodes would just have to steel himself and go in.
But Hestia, who was walking ahead of him, suddenly stopped.
He was about to ask what was wrong when he noticed her increasingly peculiar expression.
Following her gaze, he found a group of unfamiliar faces.
He had to admit, though—
The women over there were striking.
Tanned Amazon adventurers.
A blonde girl who looked decidedly unapproachable.
An elf with green hair.
This is why another world is the right choice.
Compared with the assembly-line sameness of the influencers he had seen back home, the distinctive beauty of these women made the trip feel worthwhile all on its own.
So… are they adventurers Hestia knows?
While Rhodes was still wondering, a red-haired woman noticed Hestia’s arrival.
Her eyes were habitually narrowed, and although her face was feminine, her build was distinctly boyish.
She rose from her seat and looked toward Hestia.
Her voice carried a pronounced Kansai lilt.
“Well now, Shorty.”
“Is this the follower you recruited?”
“What’s it to you, Miss Washboard?
You don’t own this restaurant!
I don’t need your permission to eat here!”
Even Hestia hadn’t expected this.
She had only wanted to treat Rhodes to a good meal.
What were the chances of running into Loki at the Hostess of Fertility?
Did they have a bad relationship?
That wasn’t quite right.
They simply bickered every time they met. This chapter was copied from g.com without permission.
Given what she knew of Loki’s personality, Hestia wasn’t particularly worried about her taking an interest in the follower she had recruited.
“All right, all right.”
Tonight was a celebration of her Familia’s return from an expedition.
Loki wasn’t looking to cause trouble.
But she couldn’t help being curious.
Back in Heaven, Hestia had never shown the slightest sign of blossoming.
Loki had assumed she would remain a shut-in after descending to Orario.
Yet here she was, actually trying to build a Familia.
However—
When Loki turned her curious gaze toward the black-haired boy beside Hestia, she frowned.
He looked perfectly ordinary.
Until…
[Hero Nurturing Project can be activated for this character.]
Loki saw the translucent notification above Rhodes’s head and quickly looked away.
Perhaps she had drunk too much.
She was hallucinating now…
The red-haired goddess gave a casual wave.
Then she noticed the unopened bottle on the table.
Her expression froze.
“You two enjoy your meal.”
“We’re about to get started on our Familia dinner.”
“…”
Why did Loki seem so unlike herself today?
Hestia had no intention of investigating.
She pulled Rhodes toward a pair of empty seats at the counter.
Right now, there was something much more important to do.
Eat!
“Order whatever you like!”
“Tonight’s my treat.
You only just became an adventurer, so consider this… a celebration of getting off to a good start!”
“I can earn a little money now, you know.
And I’d really like to thank you for everything you’ve done for me, Lady Hestia.”
“That’s different!”
Seeing Rhodes take out his purse, Hestia immediately understood.
Her smile grew indulgent.
He really was a good child.
The moment he earned some money, he wanted to treat his goddess to dinner.
Hestia picked up a menu.
Even if this left her completely broke, she didn’t mind.
“The thought is enough.
Now choose something to eat!”
“Then… thank you, Lady Hestia.”
Rhodes still showed some restraint when ordering.
A fried pork cutlet and an extra-large serving of noodles in chicken stew.
Even that came to two thousand valis.
At least it would fill him up.
As for the flavor, even after all the culinary variety he had experienced in modern society, he thought it was quite good for a medieval-style world.
It wasn’t mind-blowing.
Of course, part of the reason he wasn’t paying much attention to the food was that his mind had already moved on to what came afterward.
His Status update.
After finishing his meal rather hurriedly, Rhodes looked at Hestia beside him.
She had cleared her plate as well.
Before he could say anything, she settled the bill.
“Let’s head back!”
“I know you’re eager to update your Status.
But a balance between work and rest matters, too!”
“You should get out and enjoy yourself sometimes.”
A sumptuous spread covered the table.
Yet Loki found the food strangely tasteless.
Even the bottle of red wine she had been saving seemed bitter on her tongue.
Especially when she watched Hestia leave with Rhodes.
The translucent message was still there above the boy’s head.
[Hero Nurturing Project can be activated for this character.]
She couldn’t understand it.
Even as a goddess, Loki had no idea what that thing was.
She couldn’t analyze it at all.
Not without using her divine power.
Apparently noticing that Loki wasn’t herself, Riveria, her Familia’s vice-captain, turned toward her.
“What’s wrong?”
“…”
“Is it because of that goddess just now… and her follower?”
Although Riveria didn’t know the woman’s name, she could tell that she was a deity.
And she seemed to know Loki quite well.
“…”
“Hey, Mama-san.
Did you notice anything unusual about the follower Shorty—I mean, Hestia—recruited?”
“Specifically, right above his head…”
When in doubt, ask.
Loki cast a curious look at the mature elf beside her.
She wanted to know whether she was the only one who could see that translucent screen.
What she got instead was a darkening expression.
She had used the forbidden nickname.
“Lady Loki,” Riveria said through gritted teeth.
“You’re drunk, aren’t you?”
“Allow me to help you sober up!”
….
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I also have many more novels in my collection that you might be interested in I upload ten novels a day, with 3 to 4 chapters per title depending on the length.
If you’re following a particular series, please wait your turn a little If there’s a particular novel you’re enjoying on Patron, please give it a ‘like’ so I know to focus on it