The hustle and bustle of the Labyrinth City of Orario was something that words alone could not describe; it had to be experienced.
As Natsu Dragneel strode through the wide cobblestone streets, he felt as if he were being drawn into an endlessly churning vortex of life.
Buildings constructed of white stone and red brick lined the streets perfectly, forming an urban labyrinth that was as bewildering as it was breathtaking.
Along the roadsides, merchants of various races hawked their wares.
The clatter of weapons, the jingling of Valis coins, and the boisterous laughter of adventurers stopping by the taverns blended into the city’s unique melody.
Natsu looked around, soaking in the incredible energy radiating from every corner of Orario.
However, simply admiring the city wouldn’t get him anywhere.
His primary objective was crystal clear: he had to find the Goddess Hestia.
The problem was that Orario was simply too massive.
Natsu knew that searching for a goddess without a Familia among millions of inhabitants was like looking for a needle in a haystack.
Fortunately, thanks to the memories from his past life on Earth, Natsu had a rough idea of where to go.
He just needed a little confirmation from the locals to ensure his timeline was accurate.
And the best way to do that was to consult the most reliable source of gossip in Orario: the street vendors.
Natsu came to a halt in front of a bustling fruit stall.
It was manned by a stout, friendly-looking middle-aged man wearing a white apron.
An assortment of fresh fruits was neatly displayed in wooden baskets.
To break the ice politely, Natsu picked up a mouth-watering red apple and tossed a Valis coin onto the vendor’s wooden counter.
“Keep the change, mister,” Natsu said, taking a bite of the apple.
A crisp, sweet flavor instantly filled his mouth.
“By the way, I wanted to ask you something.
Do you happen to know where I can find the Goddess Hestia?
A petite goddess with black hair.”
The fruit vendor was in the middle of wiping his counter when he heard the name.
His hand froze instantly.
The man stared at Natsu with a raised eyebrow before bursting into laughter so hard that his belly jiggled.
“Hahaha!
Oh man, kid!
You must be new to town, huh?” the vendor wheezed, wiping a tear from the corner of his eye.
“You’re looking for that loli goddess?
You mean the ‘Calamity of North Street’?”
At the mention of that moniker, Natsu’s eyes lit up and an amused grin spread across his face.
The memories from his life on Earth instantly clicked.
The Calamity of North Street…
Ah, so that ridiculous incident has already happened, Natsu thought to himself, thoroughly satisfied that his timing was spot on.
However, so as not to seem suspicious, Natsu decided to play dumb and let the vendor tell the tale.
“That’s a pretty ominous nickname for a goddess I heard was really kind-hearted.
What kind of mess did she make, mister?”
The vendor leaned in eagerly, ready to share what was currently the hottest piece of gossip among Orario’s merchants.
“Listen here, kid,” the vendor began.
“That Goddess Hestia you’re looking for used to freeload at Lady Hephaestus’s estate.
But she’s notorious for being incredibly lazy.
She lived like a parasite, doing nothing but eating, sleeping, and reading books.
Eventually, Lady Hephaestus ran out of patience.
A little less than two months ago, Hestia got kicked out.”
Natsu nodded slowly.
Right on track with the original plot, he thought casually.
“Then, since she doesn’t have a single Familia member to her name, she was forced to find a part-time job,” the vendor continued, slapping the counter for emphasis.
“A few days ago, she got hired at a food stall selling Jagamarukun up on North Main Street.”
“Let me guess…
the cart exploded?” Natsu interjected in an amused tone, his lips curling into a smirk.
The vendor’s eyes widened for a split second before he burst out laughing again.
“Hit the nail on the head!
While she was cooking, the goddess was incredibly clumsy.
Somehow, she completely botched operating the magic stone igniter on the stove.
Instead of turning the heat down, she cranked the magic flow valve all the way up to the absolute max!”
“And then…
KABOOM!” the vendor exclaimed dramatically.
“The explosion was massive enough to throw the entire market district into a panic!
The food stall she was working at blew up and launched straight into the sky!
Hundreds of Jagamarukun came raining down on the streets like a potato meteor shower!”
Hearing the story firsthand from an Orario local was too much; Natsu couldn’t hold back his laughter any longer.
He vaguely remembered that comedic scene, but discovering that the ridiculous explosion had actually become the hottest town gossip and birthed the moniker ‘The Calamity of North Street’ made him laugh so hard he had to clutch his stomach.
“Hahaha!
A fried potato meteor shower!
That sounds exactly like something she’d do!” Natsu roared with laughter.
“It’s a miracle nobody was seriously hurt,” the vendor continued, sporting a wide grin at Natsu’s reaction.
“But that crazy stunt is exactly why the townsfolk gave her that nickname.”
Natsu slowly managed to calm his laughter.
Deep within his chest, a familiar, comforting warmth began to spread.
Clumsy, blowing things up, and accidentally causing massive commotions in the middle of the city.
Natsu smiled softly.
This brand of ridiculous, chaotic energy felt incredibly familiar to him.
Rather than viewing Hestia as a nuisance, Natsu felt that the goddess possessed a warmth and a free-spirited nature that perfectly matched his own.
She wasn’t some deity who just sat idly on a golden throne; she was out there struggling on the streets, making mistakes, and continuing to try her best.
The stage is set, Natsu thought.
This was the absolute perfect moment for him to make his entrance.
Natsu tossed his apple core into a small wooden wastebasket near the stall, then turned back to the vendor.
“That was a highly entertaining story, mister!
Could you point me to exactly where that Jagamarukun stall is on North Street?”
The vendor nodded.
“From here, just head straight north until you hit North Main Street.
The stall is located right at the fork in the road.
Her kind-hearted boss set her up with a new spot on the exact same corner, even though her original cart was blown to smithereens.”
“North Main Street, right at the fork.
Got it, I know the way!” Natsu raised a hand in a casual, two-finger salute.
“Thanks a lot for the info, mister.
Hope you sell out today!”
“You’re welcome, kid!
Good luck dealing with the Calamity!” the vendor called back with a wave, watching the pink-haired youth spin around and march off with infectious enthusiasm.
Natsu strolled down the bustling street, following the vendor’s directions.
His chest swelled with a thrilling sense of anticipation.
All hesitation and doubt had vanished.
His strides were confident, his gaze sharp yet brimming with warmth.
Natsu Dragneel’s true adventure in this world was about to begin, right beneath the banner of the Goddess of the Hearth—the one they called the Calamity of North Street.