Chapter 41: Familial Affection Transformed
The plot development completely exceeded Hestia's expectations. At first, she thought Liam was looking for Hephaestus because of a problem with his weapon. She had never imagined that Liam had earned enough money to pay off the debt, helping her end this daily routine of part-time work!
"Liam-kun…"
There was a clear height difference. Hestia looked up at the young man standing beside her, his eyes firm, his smile sincere.
Observing closely, one could see the lingering traces of fatigue between his brows.
And when she created the Familia, she had thought of interacting with him in a "family" way. Only when interacting with Liam would her heart flutter.
Even though she was a somewhat useless goddess.
He put in all his effort to help solve the debt problem. Feeling her accelerating heartbeat, Hestia gradually realized…
Familial affection was gradually transforming!
Had it really transformed?
She subconsciously glanced at Liam's side profile. She knew that lower-world citizens couldn't lie to gods, but this question was simply impossible to ask!
If he only held respect for her as a goddess…
Then, she wouldn't even know how to handle the situation, especially when Liam turned his head and their eyes met.
Hestia's fair face was quickly covered in a blush. Not yet having figured out how to interact, she had to turn her head to avoid his gaze.
She used a smile to cover her inner turmoil, "The money, just put it here!"
"Tomorrow, I still have to make a trip to the weapon shop branch to return the uniform. If there's nothing else, shall we go home first?"
"Okay."
Looking at the beautiful young woman standing before him, who was exceptionally nervous after learning the truth, Liam felt an inexplicable sense of accomplishment.
Just as he was about to leave, he looked down and noticed her current state.
Barefoot, her small, fair feet resting on the porcelain floor. The light from the weapon shop's overhead fixture shone on the perfect arch of her foot.
Her pearly, jade-like fair toes were slightly curled, a true reflection of her current nervousness.
The "Hephaestus Weapon Shop Branch" had fixed attire requirements. Hestia hadn't continued her usual slipper style.
Matching the uniform were grayish-brown round-toed flat shoes. It was just that she had been too hasty when running over earlier and hadn't had time to put them on.
Indeed, something was missing!
"Lady Hestia."
When this thought arose, Liam had already put it into action. He took out 70,000 Valis from his money pouch and placed it on the counter.
He bent down and picked up the pair of small women's flat leather shoes.
Half-squatting in front of Hestia, knowing that what he was about to do might be blasphemous to a god, Liam still reminded her with an unchanged expression.
"So before we go home, would you like to put on some shoes first?"
"."
Discovering Liam suddenly squatting in front of her, Hestia, whose heart was already in turmoil, her mind went blank for a moment.
The grayish-brown flat shoes held in his hand already indicated his intention.
She could even hear the heavy thumping of her heart. Back when she was alone with Liam, she had felt that maintaining the status quo was quite good.
She had never imagined such a development!
Now, half-squatting before her, his eyes filled with an incomparably sincere emotion.
Hestia gently bit her lip. Even in her long years in the heavens, she had never had such intimate contact with someone of the opposite sex.
Now…
She didn't refuse, but she tightly closed her eyes as she lifted her foot.
It was an undeniable fact that she had a good impression of Liam. Feeling the emotional stirrings in her heart, Hestia finally realized…
This feeling surpassed that of family!
"Um..."
Although she really wanted to say, "I can put on shoes myself," when she truly felt the electrifying, numbing sensation.
Hestia pressed her lips together even more tightly, but the blush on the young woman's face already said everything.
Jade.
Skin as smooth as suet jade, warm and exceptionally delicate, with a just-right fleshiness. He could only say it was perfectly delectable. (Playful, appreciative description)
After all, she was a goddess who had sealed her divine power to descend to the lower world.
It was simply impossible for a situation like stinky feet from wearing shoes all day to occur!
His understanding of the "DanMachi" world's plot was quite comprehensive. He knew that Hestia recruited dependants simply with familial affection in mind.
And precisely because of this.
Liam felt he had to take swift and decisive action. No one would refuse a gentle, considerate, understanding, and loli-type goddess.
He would, of course, make his choice firmly. Feeling the residual warmth of her jade-like foot on his fingertips, he suppressed the smile at the corners of his mouth, gradually becoming serious, "Lady Hestia, let's go home."
"...Mm."
Hestia nodded lightly, not feigning her usual mature goddess demeanor. Feeling the exceptionally well-fitting flat shoes.
After tilting her head up, she saw the young man's face, seemingly serious but with a smile flowing underneath.
She felt that this kind of daily interaction was quite nice?
The debt problem was already resolved. Liam proactively reached out and took Hestia's hand, turning his head to ask, "What are you planning to eat tonight?"
"I'll go with Liam-kun's arrangements…"
She didn't pull her hand away from Liam's grasp. It was just that the young woman's already flushed face now looked as if water might drip from it.
Their destination was still "The Hostess of Fertility" restaurant.
Just as they were about to pack up dinner to go home, Hestia, whose mood had gradually calmed, made a request to Liam for the first time.
"I want to drink some wine!"
So much had happened during this period. She felt it was very necessary to have some alcohol to let her mind relax briefly.
Only in this way could Hestia calmly reflect on her feelings for Liam.
By the time they packed dinner and returned to the Familia home, night had already fallen. Liam, of course, had no need for alcohol.
It was purely physical hunger compelling him to replenish his energy.
After filling his stomach, boiling hot water, and a simple wash-up, when he returned to the basement of the abandoned church, the result was not unexpected.
Having changed back into her white short skirt, what appeared before him were those gracefully lined, well-proportioned legs.
Wearing her iconic "holy relic" blue chest-lifting ribbon. It was just Hestia's slightly flushed cheeks – clearly, she had drunk too much!
"As for ability scores..."
"It's fine to wait until tomorrow. After maxing out all ability scores, then consider updating, and conveniently undergo the adventurer level sublimation."
Putting aside the thought of updating his status, Liam looked at Hestia, drunk on the sofa, looking surprisingly cute.
It was just that when their eyes met.
Hestia, already completely tipsy, confidently draped her arms over the back of the sofa, her conflicted expression quickly replaced by a smile upon seeing Liam's figure.
The young woman had no divine airs, more like a lightweight drunkard who insisted on drinking. She directly stood on the sofa and began her righteous declaration.
"Liam-kun."
"This old lady thinks she really likes you!!"
From a relatively objective viewpoint, rather than yearning for the extremely distant Ais Wallenstein, Liam had always felt deep down…
Hestia was the best!!
"Same here."
Even though Hestia was drunk, Liam still responded with a smile, clearing the takeaway boxes and empty wine bottles from the table. After handling these matters.
Returning to the basement again, Hestia was already asleep on the sofa.
Considering whether a god could catch a cold was quite superfluous, but he still gently lifted the young woman and placed her on the softer bed.
Actually, this bed was Hestia's own.
Back when he joined the Familia, she had used the reason "a god must give her dependant the best of everything" to forcibly arrange it for him.
There were no untoward actions.
Liam merely covered Hestia with a blanket, noticing the slight flutter of the young woman's eyelashes, and the smile in her sleep.
"See you tomorrow, Lady Goddess."
(End of this chapter)