"Ughhh... my first kiss... I've saved it for millennia, and now it's just gone..."
Hestia's enchanting blue eyes shimmered with unshed tears, her expression a mix of shock and devastation. She looked so pitiful that even strangers on the street felt compelled to glare at Blake as if he were the worst kind of scoundrel.
The weight of those judgmental stares was almost enough to make him sigh—almost.
Join the virgin goddess Hestia's Familia. Mission reward: +30 Luck Points.
Hearing the sudden notification from Sia, Blake's lips twitched slightly. This system really knows how to pick its moments...
He exhaled softly and turned to Hestia, his expression sincere.
"This was my fault. As an apology, I'll grant you one request. Name it."
Hestia, who had been moments away from a full-blown breakdown, abruptly stopped crying. She blinked at him, her tears forgotten, replaced by a sudden glimmer of hope.
"...Are you serious?"
Without hesitation, she pointed straight at him. "Then join my Familia!"
Her excitement was almost tangible, her tiny frame practically vibrating with energy.
Hestia hadn't even considered forming a Familia when she first descended to the lower world. She had been perfectly content mooching off a divine friend, enjoying life without responsibilities. But after freeloading for so long, her friend had finally had enough and kicked her out, forcing her to recruit followers—or face homelessness.
Desperate, she had tried inviting anyone—even old men in their seventies. But without money, influence, or a reputation, no one was willing to join her.
After all, divine blessings—Falna—weren't unique. Any god could grant them, and they all worked the same way. If an adventurer had the choice, they'd naturally choose a powerful Familia with resources and security, rather than a struggling one that left them to fend for themselves.
And so, despite her beauty ranking among the top goddesses in Orario—despite her fairy-like face, childlike cuteness, and undeniably generous curves—not a single person had agreed to follow her.
Which left her in a hopeless situation.
And now, just as she was about to be abandoned by fate... Blake had given her a chance.
"I am the goddess Hestia," she declared, looking up at him with newfound determination. "What's your name? Have you joined a Familia yet?"
"Blake. Just arrived in Orario. No Familia."
Hestia brightened immediately. "Blake kun! My request is for you to join my Familia!"
The moment she spoke, murmurs rippled through the crowd.
"Yeah... Hestia's Familia has no members. It's literally the weakest Familia in Orario."
"There's no way he's gonna accept. No one would risk their life for that."
Hestia's excitement dimmed as she heard their words. Her lips pressed together, and she lowered her gaze.
She knew she was in a tough spot. She wouldn't even blame him if he rejected her. Maybe this was just how things were meant to be...
"Familia, huh? If that's your request, then I accept."
The world seemed to pause.
Hestia's eyes widened. The bystanders froze, blinking as if they had misheard.
"No way... Is he crazy?"
An older adventurer, seeing Blake's sincere expression, stepped forward. "Young man, I get that you're feeling guilty, but you don't have to go that far. You do know that Hestia's Familia has nothing, right? You'd be starting at a huge disadvantage."
Blake met his gaze evenly. "I said I'd keep my word. Besides—if you see someone in need, isn't it natural to help them?"
The sincerity in his voice caught everyone off guard.
Hestia's blue eyes shimmered again—not with sadness this time, but with pure, overwhelming joy. A warmth spread through her chest, filling her with a happiness she hadn't felt since coming to the lower world.
Before he could react, she launched herself at him, wrapping her arms tightly around his waist.
"Ahhh! I can't believe it! Blake kun, you're amazing!"
Because while Hestia was undeniably small and cute... there was also no escaping the softness that was now firmly pressed against him.
He fought to keep a straight face.
Meanwhile, the onlookers had completely lost their composure.
"He really agreed? Just like that?"
"Is he actually just a really nice guy?"
"...I take back what I said earlier. He's either noble, insane, or ridiculously lucky."
Hestia, of course, was oblivious to all of this. Clinging to Blake, she practically radiated excitement.
"Come on, come on! We need to get back and give you a Falna right away!"
As if terrified he might change his mind, she kept her arms locked around him, dragging him off into the night.
Blake let himself be pulled along, his thoughts swirling.
Yep. This was definitely the right decision.
Childlike charm, ridiculous curves, and the purest enthusiasm he'd ever seen in a god.
From the crowd, two figures watched as Hestia and Blake disappeared down the street.
One of them—a young woman with long, pointed ears and shimmering green eyes—tilted her head, her lips curling into an amused smile.
"He's an interesting one."
Her brown hair gleamed under the lamplight as she turned and walked away, her steps light and deliberate.
In another direction, a gray-haired girl silently slipped into the shadows, her expression unreadable.
Neither of them knew it yet, but their paths would cross with Blake's soon enough.