After getting dressed, Kael sat facing Hestia who was still holding the paper with his new status.
"So... how is it?" asked Kael curiously.
"Hmm, you have good potential!" Hestia nodded.
"But of course you're still level 1. You need to train a lot and gather experience in the Dungeon to level up."
"Of course," nodded Kael. "But, um, may I see my status?"
"Oh yes, of course!" Hestia handed him the paper. "Here you go!"
Kael took the paper and read it carefully. This was the first time he'd seen his own status in this world.
"Thank you, Goddess Hestia," he said sincerely.
Hestia smiled widely. "No need to thank me! We're family now! Oh, by the way... what did you bring in that wooden box and large suitcase?"
Kael glanced at the metal suitcase and long wooden box he had brought. He smiled.
"This... is my weapon."
"Weapon?" Hestia tilted her head curiously. "May I see it?"
Kael nodded, then opened the long wooden box. Inside was a weapon that looked foreign to this world—Arcshot Type-3 Drakefang.
"Waaah! What is this?" asked Hestia, her eyes sparkling at the shining weapon. "Its shape is strange, not like a regular sword or spear!"
"This is a weapon of my own design," explained Kael proudly. "It uses small magic stones as projectiles. Much more effective than ordinary arrows."
"Sugoiii!" Hestia bounced up and down slightly. "You made this yourself? So cool! My Familia has a genius member!"
Kael laughed seeing Hestia's enthusiasm. "I get embarrassed when praised like that."
"No need to be embarrassed! I'm serious!" Hestia sat closer. "Ne, ne, Kael-kun. Tell me more about yourself! Where are you from? Why did you come to Orario? Do you have a girlfriend already?"
That last question made Kael choke on his own saliva.
"G-girlfriend? No, I don't have one."
"Heeee, really?" Hestia brought her face closer, making Kael even more nervous. "Yet you're quite handsome for a dwarf, you know!"
"A-ah, thank you," answered Kael, scratching his cheek that wasn't itchy. "What about the Goddess herself? Is there... a god that the Goddess likes?"
Hestia immediately crossed her arms in front of her chest. "No! Nobody! Those gods are annoying! Especially Loki! She's always making fun of my chest!"
Kael tried hard to hold back his laughter seeing Hestia's annoyed expression.
"Besides," continued Hestia, her voice softening, "I prefer spending time with my Familia members than with the gods."
There was something in the way Hestia said that sentence that warmed Kael's heart.
"In that case, I promise to be a good Familia member," said Kael sincerely.
Hestia looked at him with sparkling eyes. "And I also promise to be a good goddess for you, Kael-kun!"
They both laughed together. Outside, the night sky of Orario was filled with stars.
Kael had never felt this happy since being reborn in this world. He finally met the goddess he had only been able to dream of, and even became the first member of her Familia.
This was just the beginning. He knew the future was full of challenges, especially with his knowledge of how the story was supposed to go. But for tonight, he just wanted to enjoy this moment—the moment his dream became reality.
"Ne, Kael-kun," called Hestia after a while.
"Tomorrow we need to register you with the Guild! And also... we need to find a way to make money. My food supplies are almost gone."
"I have some ideas," replied Kael. "With my weapon, I can start exploring the early floors of the Dungeon."
"That's right! That way you can get magic stones to sell!" Hestia clapped her hands enthusiastically. "Ah, I'm so happy! Finally Hestia Familia is officially formed!"
Seeing the happiness on Hestia's face, Kael inwardly vowed to protect her, no matter what. Not just because of his admiration from his previous life, but also because of the sincerity and kindness shown by this tiny goddess.
"Alright, it's late," said Hestia while yawning slightly. "We should rest for tomorrow."
Kael nodded, then realized something. "Um, where should I sleep?"
Hestia looked around. Indeed, there was only one bed in the room.
"Ah! I have an idea! We can share this bed! It's big enough for both of us!" she exclaimed innocently.
Kael's face immediately turned red. His brain seemed to stop working for a moment. Sleep with Hestia? The goddess he had only been able to see on screen until now? He swallowed hard.
"Um, I-I think..." Kael stammered, but before he could finish his sentence, Hestia had already pulled his hand.
"It's decided! You're my precious Familia member. I won't let you sleep on the cold floor!" Hestia decided while pulling Kael to the bed.
"B-but Goddess, I-I..." Kael was still trying to protest, but somehow he was already lying in bed with Hestia beside him.
"Besides, tonight is cold! We can keep each other warm!" added Hestia with a wide smile, seemingly unaware of Kael's nervousness.
What's happening to my brain!? Why can't I refuse? Kael screamed internally. But honestly, another part of him—the fan part from his previous life—felt like he had already died and gone to heaven.
The bed was indeed big enough for two people, but still felt cramped. Kael tried to keep his distance, lying at the edge of the bed, almost at the very end.
"Oyasumi, Kael-kun!" Hestia blew out the last candle, making the room dark.
"O-oyasumi, Goddess Hestia," replied Kael, trying to calm his rapidly beating heart.
Several minutes passed in silence. Kael began to think that maybe he would be alright, until suddenly...
"Hmm~ Warm~" mumbled Hestia in her sleep, and before Kael realized it, the tiny goddess had rolled over and was hugging him tightly.
"G-G-Goddess?!" Kael cried out in a restrained voice.
Hestia didn't answer, just hugged him tighter, her face comfortably buried in Kael's chest. Kael could feel his entire body freeze, his face hot as if burning.
"Hmm? Kael-kun? Why is your heart beating so hard?" asked Hestia, apparently still awake.
"I-I... this..." Kael stammered, not knowing what to answer.
In the darkness, Kael couldn't see Hestia's face, but he could feel the goddess looking up at him.
"Ara~ Are you embarrassed?" asked Hestia in a teasing tone. "Your face must be very red now!"
"N-no! I just..." Kael tried to deny, but Hestia giggled.
"You're so funny, Kael-kun!" Hestia pinched his cheek playfully. "No need to be shy. We're family now, right?"
Kael sighed deeply. "Right... family."
"Besides," Hestia added in a softer voice, "I've wanted to feel like this for a long time. Having someone close... who cares about me."
Hearing the sincere tone in Hestia's voice, Kael's nervousness slowly disappeared, replaced by a warm feeling in his chest. He finally found the courage to gently hug Hestia back.
"I'm not going anywhere, Goddess. I promise," he whispered.
"Hm~ I'm holding you to that promise!" replied Hestia, tightening her hug again. "Ah! Your heart is still beating fast, Kael-kun! You're really funny!"
"S-stop teasing me!" protested Kael, making Hestia laugh again.
"I don't want to~ Your reactions are too adorable!" Hestia became even more playful, now poking his cheek.
In the darkness of the basement of the old church, Kael couldn't stop smiling. In his previous life, he had never imagined he would end up like this—reborn in his favorite fictional world and becoming a Familia member of the character he had always admired.
*Is all this coincidence? Or destiny?*
That question kept spinning in his mind until he finally fell asleep, with the sound of Hestia's soft snoring as his lullaby.
---
[STATUS]
Kael Forgebrand
Level 1
STR: I 0
END: I 0
DEX: I 0
AGI: I 0
MAG: I 0
Development Abilities:
- Blacksmith (I)
Skill:
- Technocraft: The ability to understand, modify, and create mechanical devices with high efficiency.
Magic:
(No magic)