Chapter 41: The Corruption of Kinship

The turn of events was completely beyond Hestia's expectations. At first, she had assumed Liang Yue was visiting Hephaestus because something was wrong with his weapon.

She had never imagined that he was there to pay off his debts, bringing an end to her daily routine of working part-time jobs.

"Liang Yue..."

With a clear height difference between them, Hestia tilted her head to look up at the young man standing beside her, his expression resolute and his smile sincere. Upon closer inspection, she could see traces of exhaustion lingering around his brow.

When she founded her Familia, she had intended to treat her followers like "family," but her heart would flutter whenever she was alone with Liang Yue. Even though she was a goddess who didn't seem to be of much use, seeing him put in every effort to help resolve her debt issues, and feeling the accelerated beating of her own heart, Hestia slowly began to realize...

The nature of her affection was changing!

Was it really... changing?

She subconsciously glanced at Liang Yue's profile. She knew that mortals of the lower world could not lie to a deity, but she found herself unable to even broach the subject! If he only felt the respect a mortal owes a god... she wouldn't know how to handle the aftermath. Especially when Liang Yue turned his head, and their gazes met.

A crimson flush quickly enveloped Hestia’s fair face. Not knowing how to act, she looked away to avoid his eyes.

She covered her inner panic with a smile: "If it's the money, just leave it here!"

"I have to stop by the weapon shop branch tomorrow to return the uniform. If there’s nothing else, shall we head home?"

"Sure."

Watching the beautiful young girl standing before him, who looked so nervous after learning the truth of his actions, Liang Yue felt a strange sense of accomplishment. Just as he was about to leave, he looked down and noticed her state.

She wasn't wearing shoes; her small, fair feet were planted on the tiled floor. The overhead lights of the weapon shop cast a glow on the perfect arch of her feet. Her round, pearl-white toes were slightly curled, likely a true reflection of her current nervous state.

The "Hephaestus Weaponry Branch" had a strict dress code, and Hestia had abandoned her usual flip-flop style. The matching uniform came with gray-brown rounded-toe flats, but she had been in too much of a hurry to put them on when she ran over.

Something was definitely missing!

"Lady Hestia."

As the thought crossed his mind, Liang Yue took action. He took 70,000 Valis from his coin purse and placed them on the counter. He bent down and picked up the pair of dainty women’s leather flats.

Kneeling before Hestia, fully aware that he might be committing an act of blasphemy against a deity, Liang Yue calmly reminded her.

"So, before we head home, would you like to put on your shoes?"

"..."

Finding Liang Yue suddenly kneeling before her, Hestia, already in a state of panic, felt her mind go blank.

The gray-brown flats in his hands made his intentions clear. She could even hear the heavy thumping of her own heart. Back when she used to spend time alone with Liang Yue, she had felt that keeping things as they were was perfectly fine. She never thought it would develop into this!

Now, seeing those sincere eyes as he knelt before her, Hestia bit her lower lip. Even throughout her long existence in the heavens, she had never had such intimate contact with the opposite sex.

And now...

She did not refuse, though she squeezed her eyes shut as she lifted her foot. It was beyond doubt that she harbored deep affection for Liang Yue. Feeling the fluttering in her heart, Hestia finally realized...

This emotion had moved beyond that of family!

"Um..."

Though she wanted to say, "I can put on my own shoes," the moment she felt the electrifying sensation of his touch, Hestia pressed her lips together even tighter. The blush on her face said everything.

Jade. Her skin was as smooth as suet jade, warm and exceptionally delicate, with just the right amount of softness. He could only describe it as perfect. After all, she was a goddess who had sealed her divine power to descend to the lower world; it was impossible for her to have the foul odor that comes from wearing shoes all day!

Having a comprehensive grasp of the "DanMachi" world's plot, he knew that Hestia recruited Familia members out of a sense of familial love. Precisely because of that, Liang Yue felt he had to cut through the confusion decisively. No one would reject a gentle, considerate, and understanding goddess who happened to be of the loli-type.

Naturally, he would make his choice firmly.

Feeling the residual warmth of her jade-like feet on his fingertips, he smoothed his expression and grew serious: "Lady Hestia, let’s go home."

"...Mm."

Hestia nodded gently. She didn't put on her usual facade of a mature goddess, instead savoring the fit of the flats. Looking up, she caught the sight of the young man’s face, seemingly serious but with a hint of a smile.

She thought that perhaps, this kind of daily life wasn't so bad after all.

With the debt resolved, Liang Yue reached out to hold Hestia's hand and asked, "What would you like to eat tonight?"

"Whatever Liang Yue decides..."

She didn't pull her hand away. Her face, already flushed, seemed as if it might drip with water at any moment. Their destination remained the "Hostess of Fertility" tavern. As they were about to pack up their dinner to head home, Hestia, having regained some of her composure, made a request to Liang Yue for the first time.

"I want to have a drink!"

A lot had happened recently, and she felt it was necessary to have some alcohol to let her mind relax for a while. Only then could Hestia calmly contemplate her feelings for Liang Yue.

—

By the time they returned to the Familia's base with their dinner, night had fallen. Liang Yue had no need for alcohol; his hunger was purely physical, demanding that he replenish his energy.

After filling his stomach and boiling water to wash up, he returned to the basement of the abandoned church. The result was exactly as expected.

Having changed back into her white skirt, she sat there with her beautifully shaped, well-proportioned legs on display. Wearing her signature blue breast ribbon, Hestia’s cheeks were slightly flushed—it was clear she had drunk too much!

"As for my Status..."

"I can wait until tomorrow to max out all my abilities before updating them, and while I'm at it, I can also handle the level-up for my adventurer rank."

Setting aside the thought of updating his status, Liang Yue looked at Hestia, who was sitting on the sofa, tipsy and looking exceptionally cute.

Just as their eyes met, Hestia, completely under the influence, boldly draped her arms over the back of the sofa. The conflicted look on her face vanished the moment she saw Liang Yue, replaced by a radiant smile.

The young goddess dropped all pretense, acting more like a heavy drinker who couldn't hold her liquor but insisted on it, and stood up on the sofa to make a righteous declaration.

"Liang Yue."

"I think... I really love you!!"

From a god's-eye perspective, rather than pining for the distant Ais Wallenstein, Liang Yue had always felt in his heart that...

Hestia was the best!!

"Me too."

Even though Hestia was drunk, Liang Yue responded with a smile. He tidied up the meal boxes and empty bottles, finishing his chores.

When he returned to the basement, Hestia had already fallen asleep on the sofa. It was redundant to worry about whether a goddess could catch a cold, but he still gently picked her up and placed her onto the softer bed.

In fact, this bed was Hestia's own. After he joined the Familia, he had forced her to take it, using the excuse that "a goddess should give her followers the best of everything."

He didn't do anything out of line. Liang Yue simply covered Hestia with a blanket, noticing the slight flutter of her eyelashes and the smile on her face even in her dreams.

"See you tomorrow, Lady Goddess."