Blake asked, looking at Loki with a slightly confused expression.
"This is a Grimoire, a rare book that allows the reader to acquire magic most suited to them."
Loki grinned mischievously.
"Ugh! A Grimoire?! Loki, you're just trying to butter up Blake and steal him away from me, aren't you? I won't let you succeed!"
As soon as Loki finished speaking, Hestia immediately clung to Blake, glaring at her rival like a small yet fierce guardian protecting her treasure.
"Seriously, Hestia, you're still as paranoid as ever."
Hearing this, Loki rolled her eyes. While she did have an interest in recruiting Blake, she wasn't holding her breath.
"Hestia-sama, this is something Loki won from a bet with Apollo."
At that moment, Tiona casually spilled part of the story, causing both Blake and Hestia to pause in surprise.
"Yeah, so here's the deal. A bunch of gods were placing bets today, and I went up against Apollo. As you can guess, I won. So, I got this Grimoire... and two of his top familia members as part of the wager."
Loki smirked, her Kansai dialect adding a playful flair to her explanation.
Blake nodded, his gaze shifting toward the two unfamiliar girls standing behind Loki. No wonder they looked terrified—having been taken from Apollo's Familia, they were likely still shaken.
"Still, why are you giving me something this valuable?"
Blake frowned slightly. A Grimoire wasn't something one could easily come across, and he wasn't the type to accept gifts without reason.
"Yeah, Loki! What's your angle?"
Hestia narrowed her eyes in suspicion.
"Tch, always doubting me. You two are such a pain." Loki sighed dramatically before waving her hand.
"Fine, listen up. This is partly a thank-you gift. Thanks to Blake helping my Ais, things worked out well for me today. I ended up with these two promising kids, so I figured I'd give him something in return."
"Actually, it was Ais's idea," Tiona added brightly, exposing Loki's half-truths.
Loki immediately shot her a glare. "Oi, whose side are you on? Quit ruining my cool moments!"
Blake's expression softened as he turned to Ais, who had been silently standing behind the group. He knew refusing would only make her overthink, so he accepted the gift with a gentle smile.
"...It's nothing," Ais replied quietly, her golden eyes locked onto him.
"Hmph, Loki! I knew you were up to something! If it weren't for Ais, I bet you wouldn't be so generous!"
Hestia huffed, puffing out her cheeks in frustration.
"Tch, whatever. Just take it already," Loki grumbled, more annoyed that she couldn't get one over on Hestia than anything else.
Despite the usual bickering, the group eventually settled down to eat together. Though Loki and Hestia continued to trade verbal jabs, the lively atmosphere made the night enjoyable for everyone.
Once their meal was finished, Blake bid farewell to Loki, Ais, Syr, and Ryuu before heading home with Hestia and Lili.
"Alright, Blake, spill it. What's the real reason you brought Lili back?"
The moment they stepped into their home, Hestia placed her hands on her hips, her deep blue eyes darting between Blake and Lili. She was no fool—her earlier jealousy was just instinct, but now she was ready for real answers.
Blake let out a sigh before gently placing a hand on Lili's head and explaining her situation.
"...So Soma really is like that..."
Hearing the full story, Hestia frowned and sighed heavily. Despite her possessiveness over Blake, she was ultimately kind-hearted. She looked at Lili with sympathy.
"Um, Hestia-sama... can I join the Hestia Familia?"
Lili asked nervously, her voice timid.
"Of course! From now on, you're officially our second member!"
Hestia beamed and reached out to gently pat Lili's head, her warm smile easing the girl's worries.
Lili's eyes glistened with unshed tears. The word family struck deep within her heart, melting away the loneliness and fear she had carried for so long.
Blake watched the scene unfold, smiling to himself. This warmth, this sense of belonging—it was something truly special.
Without hesitation, Hestia pricked her finger and allowed a drop of her divine blood to fall onto Lili's back, forming the Falna that marked her as a member of the Hestia Familia.
"Lili, there's only one rule you absolutely must follow in our familia."
Once the ritual was complete, Hestia raised a single finger, her expression unusually serious.
Lili gulped, feeling anxious. What kind of rule could it be? Her previous familia had imposed cruel and unfair demands, so she braced herself for something strict.
Even Blake was caught off guard. Wait... what rule? He had no idea what Hestia was about to say.
Hestia paused dramatically before delivering her decree.
"You absolutely must not steal Blake from me! And more importantly—you have to keep an eye on him so no vixen swoops in and takes him away!"
An awkward silence filled the room.
Lili stood frozen, eyes wide in shock.
Blake slowly covered his face with his hand, utterly exasperated.
"This is the only rule! Lili, make sure you follow it strictly!"
Hestia doubled down, looking completely serious.
"I-I understand, Hestia-sama! I'll make sure Blake never gets stolen by any vixens!"
Lili quickly recovered and saluted, her brown eyes flashing with determination.
"Good girl! I knew you were trustworthy!"
Hestia beamed proudly, feeling deeply satisfied.
Meanwhile, Blake sighed, shaking his head at the absurdity of the conversation.
Hestia... you've been completely fooled.
Lili had only agreed to the second rule. She never promised to follow the first one...
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