Through the Exploration Log, Hestia knew that Rhodes was facing a particularly troublesome situation.
One that he might not be able to handle.
The Hero Nurturing Project’s new feature allowed her to follow her follower’s movements at any time.
But checking it so frequently left her rather distracted.
[On the sixth floor of the Dungeon, Rhodes encounters a War Shadow, a monster known to the Guild as a Rookie Killer.]
[After a brief battle, he discovers that the so-called Rookie Killer is not nearly as difficult to defeat as he expected.]
…
[Today’s intensive exploration leaves Rhodes fatigued.
However, by carefully managing his remaining stamina, he returns safely to Orario.]
…
“Whew.”
The weight hanging over Hestia’s heart finally lifted.
Out of habit, she was about to abandon her shift and head straight out.
Then she noticed—
Hephaistos’s stern expression nearby.
Her friend was clearly unhappy with how distracted she had been all day.
But she couldn’t help it!
Other adventurers had set their sights on her child.
And it was partly because of something she had done.
How could she not worry?
She couldn’t exactly explain that she had learned about the danger through the Hero Nurturing Project.
As far as she could tell, she was the only god in Orario who could see the translucent screen above Rhodes’s head.
“At least I can finally concentrate on work!”
Just then, the weapon shop’s glass door quietly opened.
Hestia looked up by reflex.
A familiar figure stood in the entrance.
Rhodes.
Why was he here?!
Her mind briefly crashed.
Her body, however, reacted faster than her thoughts.
Head down.
Face on the counter.
One smooth motion.
It was obviously a hopeless attempt at hiding.
But what about the divine image she had worked so hard to establish?
Would it all collapse once Rhodes saw her working a job?
Watching Hestia’s reaction, Hephaistos—the person supervising her work—could only press a hand to her forehead.
“So, you’re here…”
“…Lady Hestia.
Lady Hephaistos.”
Rhodes looked at the two very different goddesses.
Then at Hestia’s uniform.
It wasn’t difficult to guess that his goddess worked here.
He didn’t see anything wrong with that.
Even Takemikazuchi worked at a potato ball stall.
His adventuring equipment.
He was touched.
Never take someone else’s efforts for granted.
All the more so when she had never asked him for anything in return.
Building up the Familia might barely count.
But that was about it.
Rhodes held out the potato balls and smiled.
“Lady Hestia, I passed by the stall and picked up a snack for you.”
“…”
[Affection +3]
[Rhodes realizes that his goddess may have taken a job to pay for the equipment he uses.]
[Moved by her kindness, he resolves to protect the gift that embodies it, no matter what.]
Seriously?
Even this raised his Affection?!
But Hestia had a feeling that his claim about simply passing by wasn’t entirely true.
She glanced at the Exploration Log.
The answer was waiting for her.
[Upon returning to Orario and failing to find Hestia waiting for him, Rhodes feels a little lost.]
Hey, it wasn’t like that!
She had wanted to go.
But with Hephaistos in her current mood, any request to leave would have been rejected.
[Rhodes visits the potato ball stall on North Main Street to discuss further training with the martial god.]
[He also makes a point of asking about his goddess’s favorite snack.]
Just as she thought.
Rhodes had been thinking of her!
Hestia lifted her head and accepted the gift.
“Rhodes, you really… This makes me so happy.”
“Thank you.”
“I should be thanking you for taking care of me all this time, Lady Hestia.”
The warmth in her gaze made him a little embarrassed.
He was the one being looked after, after all.
He hadn’t come here for any particular reason beyond thinking that Hestia would probably be around.
And as for the threat hanging over him…
Rhodes had no intention of telling her.
That was how it went after spending years working away from home.
Even when he spoke to the director of the orphanage, he shared the good news and kept the bad to himself.
There was no point in giving someone more to worry about.
He glanced from Hestia to Hephaistos.
“Well, I’ll let you get back to work, Lady Hestia.”
“I’ll head back to the dormitory and rest.”
“Mm…”
Hestia nodded.
But looking at his easy smile, she could tell he had no intention of mentioning the other adventurers’ threat.
She hesitated.
“Rhodes, surely there’s something else you wanted to talk about?”
“If you don’t feel comfortable saying it here… we could use the office.”
“No.”
Rhodes scratched his head and immediately denied it.
“I was just thinking about you, Lady Hestia, so I came to see you.”
“…”
The first part was a lie.
But in the second, Hestia could feel his sincere affection.
She watched him leave, her heart full.
More than anything, though, the maturity that seemed so out of place for his age made her ache a little.
Even many adult adventurers didn’t have his composure.
Which suggested that he had already been through a great deal.
“You know…”
“Sometimes, you’re allowed to rely on your goddess a little more.”
Her complaint was quiet.
Yet the pride in her voice was impossible to hide.
Meeting a follower like him had already made her journey to Orario worthwhile.
Besides—
The Exploration Log made it clear that Rhodes wanted to resolve this looming conflict in his own way.
“Then…”
“If he can’t handle it himself, I’ll step in.”
That was what Hestia decided.
There weren’t many customers at this hour.
And Hephaistos couldn’t see the translucent screen anyway.
So she decided to slack off in plain sight.
Rhodes’s Exploration Log.
[After leaving the weapon shop, Rhodes breathes a sigh of relief.
Fortunately, he has kept the situation hidden and avoided causing his goddess further worry.]
[He is clear about what he needs to do next.]
[On his way back to the dormitory to rest, Rhodes encounters the androgynous deity he met at the restaurant.]
[When Loki approaches him for a conversation, Rhodes tries to excuse himself on the grounds that he is tired.]
“?”
“Oh, so that’s how it is!”
Hestia was so angry she laughed.
She was stuck at work and couldn’t spend time with Rhodes—
And Loki had decided to swoop in and steal her boy?!
….
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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