When Emiya saw Bell Cranel, his expression twitched uncontrollably.
This was his first time meeting the male protagonist of DanMachi.
If Emiya didn't know that Freya hadn't read the story, he would've almost thought she was deliberately bringing Bell over to greet Hestia-just to size her up.
But seeing the scene with his own eyes actually put him at ease.
It was clearly just a coincidence.
Freya wasn't here for him.
He had overthought it.
No matter how one looked at it, he wasn't the kind of person whose soul shone brightly.
"Huh?"
When Hestia saw Bell Cranel, she couldn't help but gasp.
Without a doubt, this was a classic scene.
If Loki were here, she'd probably laugh until she passed out.
If Hestia had read the story, she might even try to fight Freya on the spot.
"What's wrong, Hestia?" Freya asked calmly.
"Is there something wrong with my familia member?"
"No, not at all." Hestia laughed brightly. "He's a very excellent familia member."
Bell Cranel immediately said, "Thank you for the compliment, Goddess."
"Well then, we'll take our leave." Hestia smiled. "I won't disturb you anymore."
She waved politely, then grabbed Emiya and pulled him away.
Freya watched Emiya's back.
Her eyes flickered briefly.
Then she turned, smiled faintly, and said, "Let's go, Bell."
"Yes, Goddess."
Bell followed her with an expression full of admiration.
On the way to the Hephaestus Familia, Emiya quietly glanced at Hestia.
She was in a great mood, humming the entire way.
Emiya, however, couldn't forget what he had just seen.
After hesitating for a while, he asked, "Hestia, what do you think of that Bell Cranel?"
"What do I think?" Hestia placed a finger on her chin, tilted her head, and thought. "An adventurer who looks like a rabbit?"
"...Did you feel anything strange?" Emiya asked.
"Strange?" Hestia looked at him curiously. "What do you mean?"
"Like something was taken away from you," Emiya said more directly.
Hestia shook her head without hesitation.
"No."
Emiya sighed.
It seemed Bell and Hestia really weren't meant to meet this time.
Soon, the two arrived at the Hephaestus Familia.
"Welcome, Goddess Hestia. Emiya."
The one greeting them was Tsubaki, the familia's captain.
"Tsubaki, where's Hephaestus?" Hestia asked.
"In her office."
"Then go back to work. Emiya and I will find her ourselves."
Hestia waved casually and walked inside.
Emiya nodded to Tsubaki and followed.
Tsubaki didn't stop them.
This wasn't the first time, after all.
The relationship between the two goddesses was well known.
They went upstairs, down a long corridor, and pushed open the office door.
Hephaestus sat at her desk, reviewing orders.
"Hey, Hephaestus. I came to see you," Hestia said cheerfully.
Hephaestus put down the papers and sighed.
"I knew it. Someone walks in without knocking, and it's you. When will you ever fix that habit?"
"What's the big deal?" Hestia said. "We're best friends."
"That's not an excuse," Hephaestus replied flatly. "Knock next time. If you don't, I'll throw you out."
"I know, I know. I'll knock next time. You're so stingy."
"This has nothing to do with being stingy."
"Yeah, yeah." Hestia nodded perfunctorily.
Hephaestus gave up and turned to the other person.
"Long time no see, Emiya."
"Long time no see," Emiya replied. "I've already seen what your familia is selling. You've really brought a new kind of revolution to Orario."
"I have you to thank for that," Hephaestus said, smiling. "I never would've thought of it myself."
Mechanical watches, glasses, nail clippers.
None of them were hard to forge.
She had simply never thought of them.
Many things were like that.
Once you knew them, they seemed trivial.
But if you'd never considered them, they might as well not exist.
After visiting Emiya's world and seeing countless everyday items, she had been genuinely amazed.
Behind each small object was the wisdom of one person-or many.
So she borrowed those ideas without hesitation.
They weren't expensive.
But they sold in massive quantities.
Accumulated profits were enormous.
With production lines created using her abilities, output wasn't an issue.
Now, the Hephaestus Familia had penetrated every level of society.
Adventurers trusted them.
Ordinary citizens recognized them.
Their influence in Orario had grown even further.
In terms of reputation alone, they had surpassed their competitors completely.
The intangible benefits were enormous.
Faced with Hephaestus's praise, Emiya responded modestly.
Hephaestus didn't bother with formalities.
"Why did you come with Hestia today?" she asked. "Did something happen?"
"No," Emiya replied. "I actually brought something for you."
"Oh?" Hephaestus leaned forward. "What is it?"
"It's a very interesting ability," Hestia added.
"Interesting?" Hephaestus raised an eyebrow.
Emiya passed on the Nen cultivation method.
After listening, Hephaestus smiled wryly.
"This is far more than interesting."
As a goddess, she immediately understood its value.
Low entry threshold.
Extremely high ceiling.
If it spread, it would completely reshape Orario.
By then, countless influential figures would rise.
Even the Loki and Freya Familias would face serious pressure.
She took a deep breath.
"Don't worry. I won't spread this to others."
Emiya felt that spreading it wouldn't matter, but seeing her seriousness, he nodded.
"I trust you."
Hephaestus smiled helplessly.
"I owe you a huge favor now."
Though Nen meant nothing to her personally, it was priceless to her familia.
Emiya smiled and shook the ring on his finger.
"Don't worry about it. Compared to the divine artifact you forged for me, this is nothing."
Hephaestus knew better.
That artifact had been part of a deal.
Nen was something else entirely.
She silently remembered the debt.
If she ever had the chance, she would repay it.
When Emiya left the Hephaestus Familia, night had already fallen.
Hestia stayed for dinner.
Emiya went alone to Shizuka Hiratsuka's house.
She was watching TV by herself.
Beer in hand.
Feet on the coffee table.
Completely relaxed.
Emiya rubbed his temples.
"You're drinking alone. That's kind of sad."
Shizuka jumped at the sudden voice.
When she saw Emiya, she relaxed.
"Why are you here?"
"To see you. And to teach you something new."
He sat beside her.
A glass of beer appeared in his hand.
"Something new?" Shizuka glanced at him. "You went to another world again?"
"Yeah."
"What kind?"
"A modern world with supernatural powers," Emiya said calmly. "Want to learn them?"
Shizuka shook her head.
"I haven't even awakened Armament Haki yet. I'm not interested."
"These powers can keep you eternally young," Emiya said casually.
"Please. You must teach me."
Her attitude flipped instantly.
"I see you haven't awakened Armament Haki yet. Forget it for now," Emiya replied indifferently.
"I apologize. I'm sorry. Please teach me how to stay young forever."
Shizuka bowed without hesitation.
For eternal youth, pride was optional.
"It's common sense to show your chest when apologizing, right?" Emiya teased.
To his surprise, Shizuka didn't call him a pervert.
She hesitated, then asked seriously, "If you're willing to take responsibility..."
"Let's forget it," Emiya said immediately.
Shizuka frowned.
"Am I really that unattractive?"
Emiya wasn't fazed.
"If you don't mind me being with other women-and even serving me together-I'll take responsibility."
"Then forget it," Shizuka said instantly.
She wasn't married.
But that was too much.
She thought for a moment.
Then spoke again.
"If I'm still not married by forty, I'll be yours. I won't care how many women you have by then."
Emiya: ...