Humans are indeed a very complex and easily swayed species," Su Hai remarked as he turned to leave.
"But it's precisely because of this that they need the guidance of their gods. Yet you—who never guided your Familia—chose to abandon them without reason. You're the worst god I've ever seen."
His words were calm, but they struck deep.
As Su Hai walked through the gate, Soma, who had been absorbed in his brewing, paused for a brief moment. Though he gave no reply, the weight of Su Hai's words lingered in the air. Whether or not he would change was a question only time could answer.
Meanwhile, at the Hestia Familia's residence, the atmosphere was far from serene.
"Uuuu… Why does Ah Hai need to bring home such a cute girl when he already has meee!"
Hestia pouted, her cheeks puffed like an upset child as she glared at Liliruca Arde, who stood awkwardly nearby.
"Alright, Hestia. This is Lily. She's joining our Familia," Su Hai explained patiently, having fully expected this reaction from the overly possessive goddess.
As Su Hai recounted Liliruca's experience, Hestia's expression softened. Despite her childish nature, she had a kind heart, and her sympathy for Lily was evident.
"Well… Since Ah Hai said so, I suppose there's no helping it. Welcome to the Hestia Familia!"
"But—" Hestia leaned toward Liliruca and whispered conspiratorially, "Ah Hai is mine, so you're not allowed to make a move on him! And you have to help keep other girls away from him too!"
"Lady Hestia, even a goddess has no right to restrict others' personal freedom," Liliruca retorted with a mischievous grin. "Besides, Lord Su Hai belongs to me now."
Hestia gasped, her eyes widening in shock before narrowing in playful defiance.
"You little—!"
Before the two could descend into a full-blown argument, Su Hai swiftly intervened with a light flick to both their foreheads.
"Enough. I don't need my house turning into a battlefield," he said with a sigh, shaking his head as the two pouted in unison.
The conversion ceremony proceeded without further interruption.
As Hestia placed her hand on Liliruca's back, a faint glow appeared, and the mark of the Hestia Familia etched itself onto her skin—symbolizing her official acceptance into the Familia.
"By the way," Su Hai said, slipping off his shirt and lying down on the sofa with practiced ease. "Update my status too, Hestia."
Hestia eagerly leaned over his back, her eyes sparkling as she read the updated information.
"Ah Hai, congratulations! You've successfully advanced from Level 1 to Level 2—and in just one week! You've officially become the fastest adventurer in Orario to level up from LV1 to LV2!"
She practically bounced with excitement, pressing closer as she continued.
"As for your Development Abilities, you've got three choices: Mage, Swordsman, and Abnormal Resistance. Which one will it be, Ah Hai?"
"Take Swordsman."
Though Su Hai tried to ignore the warmth of Hestia's body against his back, a faint blush still crept up his neck.
As much as he appreciated the occasional benefits of having a clingy goddess, he was only human—and even his self-control had its limits.
"Lady Hestia, you should be more mindful of Lord Su Hai's comfort," Liliruca piped up from the side, her arms crossed.
Hestia shot her a sly glance, clearly enjoying the attention. But despite her teasing, she quickly pressed her finger to Su Hai's back, choosing Swordsman as his Development Ability.
With the status update complete, she finally moved away, allowing Su Hai to sit up and put his shirt back on.
"To celebrate Lily joining the Familia and my promotion to Level 2, let's eat out tonight—my treat!"
Su Hai smiled as he glanced at the two girls, both of whom instantly brightened at the prospect of a good meal.
Without hesitation, they left the house and headed toward The Hostess of Fertility, the most famous tavern in all of Orario.
As they walked, Su Hai couldn't help but chuckle as Hestia and Liliruca clung to his arms, each subtly trying to assert dominance over the other.
"System, show my status panel," Su Hai commanded mentally, shifting his focus inward.
[Status Panel]
• Name: Su Hai
• Physical: Peak of Mid-Class Demon
• Energy: Peak of Mid-Class Demon
• Abilities:
• Enhancement Magic
• Thunder Breathing
• Fire Style: Fireball Jutsu
• Items:
• Nichirin Blade (Sun Blade)
• Sword of Promised Victory (Excalibur)
• Longinus Spear True Name Liberation Card (One-Time Use)
• Rias Gremory's Original… (Confidential)
• Game Disc (Unknown Use)
• Heroic Spirit:
• Medusa (Rider, Sister R)
• Overall Rating: High-Class Demon (Top-Tier with Trump Cards)
Su Hai smirked, satisfied with his progress so far.
After all, the whole reason he had come to this world was to grow stronger—and so far, things were going perfectly.
"Welcome!"
As they approached the entrance of The Hostess of Fertility, a young waitress with short, light-blue hair greeted them with a bright smile.
"Please, come in and have a seat!"
With that, Su Hai, Hestia, and Liliruca stepped into the warm, bustling tavern—ready to celebrate the start of a new chapter in their lives.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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