As morning approached, Kazuma slowly opened his eyes. Last night he had slept soundly, perhaps due to mental exhaustion from intense battles over a long period.
When he opened his eyes, what greeted him were Hestia's two large mountains directly in front of his face.
The softness and warmth he felt on his cheeks immediately made Kazuma fully alert. A sweet vanilla aroma mixed with subtle floral scents tickled his nose.
Hestia's regular breathing felt warm against his forehead, and strands of the goddess's jet-black hair occasionally tickled his skin.
Kazuma was surprised to see his goddess so close. How could Hestia be sleeping in this position? Then Kazuma realized his arms were wrapped around the goddess's waist, hugging her tightly. His fingers could feel the softness of Hestia's skin through the thin fabric of her nightgown.
Seeing the goddess sleeping peacefully, her face innocent and unburdened, there was an urge within Kazuma to keep embracing her.
However, his awareness quickly returned, and in panic, he hurriedly released his embrace and got out of bed.
The sudden movement made the bed creak softly. Kazuma turned toward the sofa and saw Bell, who apparently had awakened earlier and was sitting while sipping hot tea.
Thin steam rose from the ceramic cup he held, spreading a calming herbal aroma in the still cool morning air.
They looked at each other briefly, the morning silence filled only by the chirping of birds outside the old church and the sound of Hestia's breathing as she still slept soundly.
"Good morning, Kazuma-san," Bell greeted with a quiet voice, an awkward smile etched on his face.
"Morning, Bell," Kazuma replied briefly, still confused by the situation he faced. His eyes glanced back at Hestia who was still asleep, her black hair flowing freely covering part of her face. "How... how did goddess Hestia end up sleeping beside me?"
Bell looked slightly surprised by the question. His teacup trembled slightly in his hand before he placed it on the table. "Ah, about that..." Bell scratched his cheek that wasn't itchy, looking awkward. "Actually..."
Flashback: Last Night
After Hestia spoke her last words to the sleeping Kazuma, she intended to rise from the bedside. But suddenly Kazuma's hand firmly gripped her wrist.
"E-eh?" Hestia gasped, startled by the sudden movement. "Kazuma-kun?"
But Kazuma remained sound asleep, his expression calm despite his hand firmly gripping Hestia. His breathing was regular, a sign that he was truly unaware of his actions.
"Kazuma-kun, release my hand," Hestia whispered, trying to gently pull her hand away. But Kazuma's grip only tightened. "Ouch! That hurts!"
Hestia tried to pull her hand harder, but to no avail. Though small in stature, as a goddess, Hestia usually possessed sufficient strength.
However, her divine powers were sealed when descending to the lower world, making her no different than an ordinary human. And compared to Kazuma's physical strength, her efforts were like an ant trying to move a large stone.
"Bell-kun! Help me!" Hestia called, half-whispering, not wanting to wake Kazuma.
Bell, who was cleaning up the dinner utensils, immediately turned and was shocked to see his goddess's situation. "Kami-sama!" He hurried over to them.
"My hand... Kazuma-kun won't let it go," complained Hestia, still trying to free herself.
Bell carefully tried to release Kazuma's fingers one by one from Hestia's wrist. "His grip is really strong," murmured Bell, his forehead creasing as his efforts bore no fruit.
"Try harder, Bell-kun!" urged Hestia, beginning to panic.
Bell exerted more strength, trying to open Kazuma's fingers. "I'm sorry, Kami-sama, but it seems futile. His hand is like a lock."
"Come on, Bell-kun! Are you really being defeated by someone who's asleep?" Hestia started to get frustrated.
"I'm trying my best, Kami-sama," Bell winced, worried about waking Kazuma if he used more force.
Hestia let out a long sigh. "Alright, I guess I'll sit here until he releases—KYAA!"
Suddenly, Kazuma moved in his sleep. His hand, still gripping Hestia's wrist, pulled strongly, causing the small goddess to stumble and fall onto the bed.
In an instant, Kazuma wrapped his other arm around Hestia's body, hugging her tightly and using the tiny goddess's body as a pillow.
"K-K-Kazuma-kun!" Hestia exclaimed in shock, her face turning bright red feeling her body being tightly embraced. "W-what are you doing?!"
Kazuma, of course, didn't answer, still sleeping soundly. His breathing was regular and calm, in contrast to Hestia's heart which was now pounding like a war drum.
"B-Bell-kun! Help me!" Hestia tried to free herself, but Kazuma's embrace was too strong.
Bell stood by the bedside with a red face and panicked expression. "Kami-sama! H-how do I...?"
"Don't ask how! Just pull me out of here!" ordered Hestia, still struggling to free herself from Kazuma's embrace.
Bell hesitantly tried to pull Hestia, but each time he pulled, Kazuma only tightened his embrace, making Hestia even more trapped.
"Mmm... warm..." Kazuma mumbled in his sleep, his face buried in Hestia's hair.
"H-he's talking in his sleep!" Hestia whispered in panic, her face growing redder. "Bell-kun, do something quickly!"
Bell tried various methods—pulling Kazuma's arm, tickling his side, even trying to gently wake him. But nothing worked. Kazuma remained soundly asleep, and his embrace of Hestia remained tight.
After nearly half an hour of effort, Bell finally gave up. "I'm sorry, Kami-sama. It seems... um... we have to wait until Kazuma-san wakes up on his own."
"WHAT?!" Hestia nearly shouted, but quickly covered her own mouth, afraid of waking Kazuma in this embarrassing position. "You're leaving me like this? All night?!"
Bell looked very apologetic. "I-I'll stay here, Kami-sama. I'll sleep on the sofa and wake up very early to help if the situation changes."
"Bell-kun..." Hestia looked at him with teary eyes. "Don't leave me!"
"I'm not leaving Kami-sama," Bell smiled reassuringly. "I'll just sleep on that sofa, right across from you both."
"But, but..." Hestia looked like she was about to cry. "I was supposed to sleep with you tonight, Bell-kun!"
Bell choked hearing Hestia's straightforward statement. "Ka-Kami-sama! Don't say things like that!"
"Why not? You're a member of my Familia, it's natural that I want to be close to you," grumbled Hestia, still trying to move her body in Kazuma's embrace.
Bell turned with an apologetic face. "Kami-sama, I'm really sorry. But if you think about it, aren't you actually... um... safe? Kazuma-san won't hurt you..."
"That's not the issue!" Hestia hissed. "This is about... about... propriety! Yes, propriety! I am a goddess, Bell-kun! A goddess!"
"And I think... Kazuma-san won't remember anything tomorrow morning," added Bell, trying to calm her. "He's sleeping very soundly."
"Ugh... you really..." Hestia puffed her cheeks in annoyance.
Bell smiled slightly. "Good night, Kami-sama. Sweet dreams."
"Bell-kunnn!" Hestia called again, but Bell had already lain down on his sofa, pretending to be asleep.
With a long sigh, Hestia finally gave up and tried to make herself comfortable in Kazuma's embrace.
Strangely, after she stopped struggling, Kazuma's embrace felt comfortable and warm. Kazuma's steady heartbeat and calm breathing slowly eased Hestia's tension.
'He really seems exhausted,' thought Hestia, feeling a little sympathy. 'Maybe it's okay just this once...'
And not long after, unconsciously, Hestia too fell asleep in Kazuma's embrace.
Back to the Present
"...and that's what happened," Bell concluded his explanation, his face slightly red from awkwardness.
Kazuma was silent, processing Bell's story. He hadn't imagined doing something like that in his sleep. His gaze returned to Hestia who was still sleeping soundly, her face peaceful and unburdened.
"I... wasn't aware I did that," Kazuma finally murmured.
"Of course," Bell smiled understandingly. "Kazuma-san was asleep. We know it wasn't intentional."
Kazuma felt strange—a mixture of embarrassment and... another feeling that was difficult to explain.
After all, he had been single for two lifetimes, so it would be a lie to say he wasn't nervous.
To change the subject, he said, "Since it's still early, how about we get some fresh air outside? So we don't disturb Hestia who's still sleeping."
Bell seemed relieved by the change of topic. "Good idea! I'd like to breathe in the morning air too."
Both walked out of the old church that served as Hestia Familia's headquarters, leaving Hestia still asleep in bed.
Morning in Orario greeted them with fresh, cool air. Morning dew still hung on the grass and leaves, glittering like small diamonds in the sunlight that was just peeking over the eastern horizon.
The sound of morning birds calling to each other created a soothing natural symphony.
Bell and Kazuma walked in silence, enjoying the tranquility of the morning before the city truly awakened.
Their feet stepped on the still wet grass, leaving dark footprints behind. The scent of damp earth mixed with the fragrance of wildflowers growing around the ruins added to the freshness of the morning air.
"These ruins have been here for a long time," said Bell, breaking the silence, pointing to the piles of large stones and broken pillars scattered around the old church. "But I don't know their history."
Kazuma examined the ruins carefully. Although he had watched the DanMachi anime in his previous life, he didn't know much about the ruins surrounding the Hestia Familia church. "It looks like remains of an ancient building," he commented, stroking the rough, cold surface of the stone beneath his fingertips.
"What do you think this building was originally?" asked Bell curiously, his eyes tracing the faint carvings still visible on some parts of the stone.
Kazuma shrugged. "I don't know. Maybe an ancient temple? Or part of an old city fortress?"
Bell nodded, looking interested. "Orario is indeed a city full of history. Eina-san said this city has stood for thousands of years."
"I see," Kazuma responded, while thinking to himself.
They continued walking, circling the area around the church. The ruins were spread quite widely, partly covered with moss and climbing plants.
There was a unique beauty in the destruction of the ancient structure—as if telling stories of long-past eras.
"You know, Bell," Kazuma said while looking at the old church where they lived. "That church... there's something unique about it."
"Unique?" Bell followed Kazuma's gaze.
Kazuma of course knew that the church they now lived in was the place where Bell was born and where Bell's mother usually made pilgrimages.
With casual steps, Kazuma continued walking.
The sun rose higher, its light penetrating through the gaps in the ruins and creating interesting shadow patterns on the ground. The air began to warm, and the morning dew slowly evaporated, making the air feel lighter and fresher.
"Do you want to head back?" asked Kazuma after a while. "Goddess Hestia might be awake by now."
Bell nodded. "Yes, we should return. Kami-sama might worry if she wakes up and doesn't find us."
"Yes," Kazuma nodded. "And I think I need to apologize to her for... last night's incident."
Bell smiled awkwardly. "Kami-sama will understand. She does tend to get angry, but she's actually very understanding."
They walked back toward the church, the warm morning sunlight shining on their faces.