Hestia’s steps felt much lighter as the two of them stepped out of the clothing boutique.
Orario’s night breeze blew gently, teasing the hem of her clean and comfortable new white dress.
The two blue-patterned white ribbons tying her black hair moved in rhythm with the goddess’s strides.
Hestia couldn’t stop smiling.
The warm feeling in her chest still hadn’t faded.
After living so long in isolation and poverty in a corner of the city, for the first time, she felt truly cared for and appreciated.
Natsu walked beside her, his arms casually crossed.
The dark-eyed youth cast a brief glance at Hestia, making sure his goddess felt comfortable in her new clothes and footwear.
Seeing Hestia looking much more vibrant and perfectly suited to her new appearance, Natsu gave a slow nod.
“Everything’s set,” Natsu said as they strolled down the streets of the commercial district.
He casually folded his hands behind his head.
“Now, it’s time for our feast.
Where’s a famous restaurant or pub in Orario?
Let’s go eat there.”
Hearing that, Hestia’s enthusiasm faltered for a moment.
The Goddess of the Hearth tapped her index finger against her chin, trying to recall the rumors she often heard while selling fried potatoes by the roadside.
“The most famous pub in Orario is the Hostess of Fertility,” Hestia said after a moment.
She looked at Natsu with a hint of hesitation in her eyes.
“But I heard that place is expensive, Natsu-kun.
Top-tier adventurers often eat there, and the food costs way above the average tavern.”
As a goddess who had grown accustomed to living extremely frugally, spending a lot of Valis coins on a single dinner felt like a terrifying luxury to her.
Seeing the worry resurface on Hestia’s face, Natsu merely chuckled softly.
“I told you, it’s fine,” Natsu said in a reassuring tone.
“Money isn’t an issue tonight.
The most important thing is celebrating the beginning of our Familia.
Point me to that pub.”
Hearing Natsu’s calm and confident tone, the doubts in Hestia’s heart simply vanished.
She gave a firm nod and took the lead, guiding Natsu through the streets of the labyrinth city.
Then, they made their way to the Hostess of Fertility.
The walk didn’t take long, but it gave Natsu enough of a chance to observe Orario’s nightlife.
Along the main street, the glow from magic stone lamps illuminated the sturdy stone buildings.
The air was filled with the aroma of various cuisines, the clanging of metal from weapon shops still open for business, and the loud chatter of adventurers boasting about their magic stone hauls for the day.
For Natsu, who for the past five years had only heard the roars of monsters in the wild, the hustle and bustle and the bright city lights tonight felt incredibly refreshing.
Before long, Hestia’s footsteps stopped in front of a fairly large, two-story wooden building.
Above its wide-open entrance hung a wooden signboard engraved with a crossed fork and knife.
Sure enough, the Hostess of Fertility pub was bustling.
The building seemed to be the center of life on that street.
Booming laughter, lively chatter, and the clinking of wooden mugs echoed from within.
This place was packed with adventurers who had just returned from the underground labyrinth, unwinding and celebrating the fact that they were still alive today.
Natsu pushed the pub’s wooden door wider, letting Hestia step in first.
The moment they stepped inside, the sharp aroma of roasted meat, butter, and spices immediately greeted Natsu’s senses.
The atmosphere was incredibly warm and full of energy.
Amidst the flurry of waitresses weaving through the crowd carrying large trays of food and drinks, a girl with cat ears and a tail approached them.
The one who greeted and served them happened to be Anya, the cat person.
The brown-haired girl, wearing the pub’s signature green maid uniform, smiled widely, showing off a row of her teeth.
“Welcome, nya!” Anya greeted in a high-pitched, enthusiastic voice.
Her eyes darted between Natsu and Hestia.
“Do you need an empty table?
Follow me, nya!”
Anya immediately turned around and weaved nimbly through the sea of tables filled with drunken adventurers, guiding Natsu and Hestia to an empty wooden table near the window.
The table was quite strategic; it wasn’t too noisy since it was on the edge, yet they could still take in the entire atmosphere of the pub.
After Natsu and Hestia sat facing each other, Anya swiftly pulled out a small wooden board containing the menu and placed it on the table.
“Please take a look, nya!
When you’re ready to order, just call for Anya!” the cat girl said before rushing off to serve another table that was shouting for drink refills.
Natsu glanced at the menu on the wooden board, then slid it over to Hestia.
Since he couldn’t read the alphabet of this world yet, he left the task of choosing their meal to his goddess.
Hestia gave a small smile, understanding her first member’s situation.
Her slender index finger began trailing down the rows of the menu, reading it out loud for Natsu.
“Tonight’s main course,” Hestia began, mimicking the tone of a professional waitress, “is the Hostess of Fertility’s Signature Pasta.
A delicious portion of pasta made by Mama Mia is priced at 300 Valis.”
“Then here we have Roasted Meat, Noodles with Broth, and Warm Soup.”
Natsu, who had been hungry for a while, was instantly drawn in upon hearing those food choices.
He rested his folded arms on the table.
“I want the Roasted Meat, the Noodles, and the Warm Soup,” Natsu said without hesitation.
Hestia blinked at the rapid-fire order.
“All of them?”
“Of course,” Natsu replied with a wide grin.
“Large portions.”
Hestia could only sigh in resignation, realizing that Natsu possessed an appetite that shouldn’t be underestimated.
She turned to look for the cat girl and raised her hand high.
“Anya!
We’d like to order!”
Hearing the call, Anya slid quickly over to their table, holding a small notepad.
“What would you like to order, nya?”
Hestia loudly repeated Natsu’s order.
“We’d like the Roasted Meat, Noodles, and Warm Soup.
All in large portions.”
“And for drinks, tea and warm milk,” Natsu quickly added, making sure Hestia also got a comforting drink for Orario’s evening weather.
“Large roasted meat, noodles, warm soup, tea, and warm milk, nya!” Anya jotted everything down quickly with her quill pen.
She nodded enthusiastically.
“Order received!
Please wait a moment, nya!”
The cat girl dashed back toward the kitchen, shouting their order to the large figure behind the kitchen counter who was busy stirring a wok.
While waiting, Natsu and Hestia leaned back in their chairs.
Hestia looked around the pub, watching adventurers from various Familias laughing and swapping stories.
There were several groups of veteran adventurers being rowdy in another corner, as well as rookie adventurers celebrating their successes with one another.
For the first time, Hestia didn’t feel alienated amidst the crowds of Orario.
She was here not as a vagrant goddess, but as a Chief Deity having dinner with her Familia member.
It didn’t take long for the kitchen of the Hostess of Fertility to finish their order.
Anya returned from the kitchen with hurried steps, carrying a giant wooden tray that looked far too heavy for her body size.
Yet, with the skill of a veteran waitress, Anya served them enthusiastically, placing all their orders on the table without spilling a single drop of broth.
The rich aroma of bone broth from the noodle bowl immediately wafted into the air.
A giant slab of roasted meat, still sizzling with savory melting fat, was placed right in front of Natsu.
Beside it, a clay bowl filled with warm, fragrant, steaming soup was placed in front of Hestia, along with a cup of strong tea and a glass of warm milk, the goddess’s favorite.
“Enjoy your meal, nya!” Anya chimed before disappearing back into the pub’s crowd.
The wooden table was now overflowing with mouth-watering dishes.
Hestia stared at the food before her with sparkling eyes.
Her stomach let out a rather loud growl, causing the goddess’s face to flush slightly red.
Natsu chuckled softly at his goddess’s reaction.
He picked up his teacup, while Hestia reached for her glass of warm milk with both hands.
The pink-haired youth raised his cup slightly in the air, looking at Hestia with a genuine smile.
“Let’s feast,” Natsu said.
“Cheers!” they both exclaimed in unison, clinking their cup and glass together with a soft clink that blended into the pub’s noisy chatter.
“Let’s celebrate the birth of the Hestia Familia.”
“Like my work?