After leaving the Guild, Bell cautiously asked nearby shopkeepers for directions to Lady Hephaestus’s store. He was fairly certain that Lady Hestia, who was still slacking off at this hour, had holed up there—so this time, he planned to strike directly.
While asking around, he got more than a few strange looks. Bell could practically hear what most of those eyes were saying: "What’s a broke kid like you thinking?"
After all, Hephaestus was the Goddess of the Forge, famed for her unparalleled craftsmanship. Even the cheapest weapon in her shop would cost upwards of ten million Valis—a price high-ranking Adventurers had to think twice about. For a stranger to walk in hoping to buy something? Pure fantasy.
But Bell wasn’t there to buy anything. He was there to find Lady Hestia.
From the moment he saw that she hadn’t registered with the Guild, Bell had suspected she was freeloading at Hephaestus’s place. What he needed was a reason to speak with Lady Hephaestus—and, through her, a way to connect with Lady Hestia.
And sure enough, he’d guessed right. Standing at the entrance of the shop, he spotted a black-haired girl with twin tails and a blue ribbon. There she was—the goddess he had been searching for.
’Found her. The goddess who suits me best—Hestia.’
Bell took a deep breath, steadied himself, and pushed open the door.
The clear ring of the doorbell caught the attention of the two goddesses inside. Bell could feel their eyes on him, especially Lady Hephaestus.
He composed himself and addressed her with full respect.
"Greetings, Lady Hephaestus. My name is Bell Cranel. I’ve just arrived in Orario. I registered at the Guild earlier and am currently looking for a Familia willing to take me in."
He introduced himself simply and added that he was still unaffiliated—not just for Hephaestus’s benefit, but also for Lady Hestia’s ears.
Hephaestus steadied her thoughts. The boy clearly was new to Orario, and it made sense that he hadn’t found a Familia yet. Without special talent, joining one of the major Familia was just a pipe dream.
"Bell Cranel, then why come to me? Do you want to join my Familia?"
"No. I understand that all of Lady Hephaestus’s Familia members are gifted blacksmiths. As much as I would love to be part of it, I don’t have any talent in that area. Even if I wanted to join, I’m simply not qualified."
That answer earned Hephaestus’s approval. This child knew where he stood. Rather than chase after an impossible goal, he had made a realistic choice. Too many people obsessed over joining large Familia without realizing the fierce competition inside—those without talent would be crushed.
"Then why seek me out? If you’re looking for a fitting Familia, wouldn’t the Guild be the better place to ask?"
Approval didn’t mean she understood his motives.
If he didn’t want to join her Familia, then why show up at her store?
Bell answered with sincerity.
"The truth is, Lady Hephaestus, I know my abilities are lacking. I’m not qualified for any well-known Familia. That’s why I hope to join one that hasn’t yet taken on any members. At least then, the goddess leading it wouldn’t have high expectations of me. Unfortunately, the Guild had no such Familia available."
"I believe Lady Hephaestus, as the goddess of blacksmithing, must have connections with many Familia. So I was hoping you could introduce me to one."
Hearing that, Hestia’s eyes lit up. Talk about perfect timing! She’d just been worrying about how to find a follower and start her Familia. She had thought it was nearly impossible to get anyone at this point—yet here someone was, walking right to her.
Of course, Hephaestus wasn’t that naïve. She didn’t doubt the truth behind the boy’s words—just looking at him, it was obvious he was a newcomer, fresh off the streets of Orario. But what puzzled her was why he thought she would be willing to make such an introduction.
That made Hephaestus ask curiously:
"And if I don’t help you with an introduction?"
"Then I hope Lady Hephaestus would be willing to take me in. Even if I can’t be a follower, I could at least help out around the shop. I know Orario is the center of the world, but I also know that without a place to stand, this city will eat me alive."
Hephaestus frowned slightly. In that moment, her impression of the boy shifted—he was no longer just some naïve rookie, but someone who could assess his situation and act with clarity, someone willing to make the choices necessary to survive.
Orario was a city that devoured people. Not just the Dungeon, but the city itself. New Adventurers arrived full of dreams and ambition, only to be crushed before those hopes could take shape.
Children of the Lower World couldn’t lie to the gods, which made Hephaestus believe every word he’d said. Even knowing what kind of city Orario was, he’d still come—because of a belief, a resolve? That stirred a bit of curiosity in her.
"You knew how dangerous this city is, and you still came. Why?"
Bell recognized the question for what it was: a test. And he answered seriously. Maybe this was the original protagonist’s answer, and now it had become his too. But the reason Bell had arrived at it might not have been noble—it was simply personal.
A straightforward reason, yet in the boy’s eyes, Hephaestus saw a deep sadness and unwavering determination.
’Every child of the Lower World has their own reasons. They’re not like us. They’re too fragile, and they care too deeply.’
Hephaestus didn’t press further. She had seen countless Adventurers and could guess why this child had come to Orario. For someone this young to arrive alone, it already said enough. And Hephaestus was not one of those frivolous gods who played with mortals for fun. She felt a measure of pity—and from that, a desire to help.
’Still... handing him off to that idiot Hestia might be the most irresponsible thing I could do.’
Now, she couldn’t help but feel a bit worried. Would Hestia really be able to act like a proper goddess?