Hestia was walking down one of the main streets toward the building where the Denatus would be held. She was dressed in her usual outfit, although she'd tried to dress up a little more than usual. Her long black hair was neatly tied with blue ribbons, her twin tails swaying with her steps... but she didn't carry that carefree air she usually had. Not this time.
"Ugh, this is going to be a pain in the ass…" she muttered, pursing her lips in distaste as she adjusted the hem of her dress. "And all because that flat-chested idiot decided to start a scene."
The idea of seeing Loki didn't excite her. In fact, ever since she learned that she'd summoned this Denatus because of the "Rivira incident," her mood had been deteriorating rapidly. Couldn't she just leave things alone for once?
Although, deep down, Hestia understood why the matter was serious. A god unleashing their arcanum inside the dungeon, an unknown monster, and Yharon appearing as if nothing had happened, passing through the walls of the dungeon itself... Yes, it was serious. But that didn't mean she was going to give Loki the pleasure of standing tall and believing himself superior.
"You'll pay for this if you embarrass me, Loki…" she muttered through gritted teeth.
Hestia paused for a second. She took a deep breath, stretched her arms, and gave herself a couple of gentle slaps on the cheeks.
"Come on, Hestia. You're a goddess. You can't just walk in there like you're being judged in Olympus' courtroom."
And with that inner cry, she quickened her pace, determined to maintain her composure.
Today, in that Denatus, important things were going to be discussed. Perhaps secrets would be revealed, or dangerous questions would be asked. But if Hestia was certain about one thing… then it was that for Bell's sake, it was worth facing even a room full of gods with drama complexes.
Hestia arrived in front of the enormous Guild building, her steps a little stiffer than usual. Her heart was beating fast, and it wasn't from excitement. How much were they going to say about Bell? How much did they know? Her thoughts were drifting back and forth like a disordered storm.
And then, she saw her.
Freya.
Standing in the doorway as if it were her own event. Serene. Imposing. Irritatingly perfect. The goddess of beauty gave her a faint smile as she approached. It wasn't brash or haughty... but to Hestia, it was clearly tinged with that characteristic Freya condescension.
"Ah, Hestia," Freya said softly, taking a small step toward her. "I'm glad to see you here. Shall we head to the parlor together?"
Hestia stopped, a few steps away. Her expression turned neutral, almost stony.
"I would prefer to go in alone."
Freya didn't seem offended. If anything, her smile softened even further, as if she'd already anticipated that reaction.
"Come on, we don't always have to be at opposite ends of the spectrum." Freya tilted her head slightly. "There's no need for there to be hostility between us."
Hestia crossed her arms, not looking away.
"There's no hostility, Freya. Just clarity. Clarity that if it weren't for Bell, you probably wouldn't even be talking to me."
Freya was silent for a moment. Then she lowered her gaze, as if in reflection, before looking back into her eyes.
"And don't you think Bell deserves us to get along better… for him?"
Hestia clenched her jaw and then slowly exhaled through her nose.
"He doesn't need you to be my friend, Freya. What he needs is space. And peace and quiet. And you're not exactly good at any of those things."
She wasn't aggressive. She was blunt. Direct.
Freya's smile faltered for a split second. Not in annoyance, but perhaps in acceptance. As if she'd expected it.
"As you wish, Hestia," she said finally. "See you inside."
And without further ado, she turned elegantly and began walking toward the entrance.
Hestia stood there for a moment longer, watching her back as she walked away.
"Of course she wants to talk now… Not for me. For Bell. It's always for Bell."
And with that thought, she continued on her way, her brows slightly furrowed, ready to face whatever came.
Hestia entered the great hall of the Denatus with a firm step, though inside she was a bundle of nerves. The columns of the hall rose like watchtowers, and the voices of the gods already in attendance filled the air.
Her eyes searched for her seat. And as soon as she found it, her expression hardened.
"No…" she muttered with a resigned sigh.
There it was. Her seat. Right between two people she didn't want to see so closely. To her right: Freya. To her left: Loki.
"Who the hell organizes the seating in this place !?" Hestia screamed internally.
She sat down with the dignity of someone accepting her sentence. And as expected, the mockery came almost immediately.
"Look who's here ! Hestia !" Loki said with a big, mocking smile, leaning toward her slightly. "Are you sure you came to the right building ? This is an adult circle, not a daycare !"
Hestia clenched her fists in her lap. She took a deep breath.
"Loki" she replied in a calm voice, without looking at her. "Did you know that your face helps me control my nausea ? It makes me forget I have a stomach."
Loki let out a loud laugh, delighted with the response.
"Oh, you still have some spark! I was wondering if the stress had already torn you apart like soft bread."
Freya, to Hestia's right, watched the scene with a small smile, not intervening. But Hestia felt her presence like a silent, elegant shadow too close.
"This is going to be a long Denatus…" She thought bitterly, sitting between the blatant mockery of one and the suggestive silence of the other.
And then, as if the universe enjoyed her discomfort, the meeting began.
The herald's voice echoed softly in the great hall.
"All gods who will be participating in the Denatus, please take your seats. We will begin shortly."
This time around, Hermes was the one who walked to the center of the large, circular marble table that presided over the room. Dressed in his usual light robes, his hat, and his charming smile, he raised a hand to try to capture the attention of his fellow immortals.
"Ladies and gentlemen!" he began enthusiastically. "As always, it is an honor to gather here to exchange wise words, relevant opinions, and not simply to complain about each other's childrens' names."
A murmur ran through the room. Some gods rolled their eyes. Others didn't even look at him.
"Would you get to the point, Hermes?" someone growled from the back. "I have more important things to do than listen to your theatrical monologues."
"Yes, yes…" another voice added. "Where's the wine? At least during Apollo's parties, we get to have more fun."
Hermes didn't flinch. He just laughed softly and snapped his fingers.
"Very well, very well. I give up, you win. Let's get to the main topic that called for this emergency Denatus."
He turned to one side of the room.
"Loki! My dearest, would you do yourself the honor of joining the center? You requested this meeting so urgently, after all."
Loki rose from her seat with a satisfied smile, clearly enjoying every second of attention she was about to receive. She stretched exaggeratedly as if waking from a nap and walked to the center of the room with that playful, mischievous air that characterized her.
Hestia, narrowing her eyes, muttered to herself as Loki walked by, "Let the circus begin…"
Freya, for her part, just looked at Loki and elegantly crossed one leg, as if she already knew exactly how the show would unfold.
Loki came to the center and with a wide gesture said:
"All right, lazybones. I hope you're not too comfortable, because what I have to say is going to wake you up more than a good Soma wine."
The murmur in the room lowered slightly. Some people sat up straighter.
Loki raised both arms with a crooked smile, enjoying every second before dropping the bomb.
"As some of you may know…" she said in a clear, theatrical voice, "there was a minor incident on the middle floors of the Dungeon."
A pause. Murmurs. Some gods leaned forward.
Loki narrowed her eyes, then blurted out:
"A god. Yes, one of us. Entered the dungeon. And not only that, they then proceeded to unleash part of their arcanum inside."
The room exploded.
"Who was the idiot!?"
"Do you want to die?!"
The murmurs turned into shouts. Some gods leapt up from their seats on impulse. Others just frowned, crossing their arms, clearly tense.
"That could have caused a catastrophe on the upper floors!" one shouted.
"My kids were exploring the 13th floor that day!" another protested.
"What if the Dungeon decides to counterattack higher up this time? Then we'll have to do something ourselves!"
"Who was the stupid one?! Say their name!"
Loki raised both hands in a sign of calm, although a part of her seemed to be enjoying the chaos.
"Hey, hey! Relax! I know, it was a bomb, right? But that's exactly why I called this emergency Denatus. To discuss the situation before anything crazier happens."
The room continued to vibrate with the chaotic energy of the immortals. Some tried to calm down, others continued to complain.
Amidst the commotion, Hestia just sighed and sank a little into her seat. She didn't look surprised at all, just tired. Her expression was that of someone who'd heard this whole story before... and would rather not do it again.
Freya, at her side, remained equally serene, watching with her eyes half-closed.
And Hermes, still in his place by the table, just muttered with a nervous smile, "Well, this is going to take a while…"
Loki shrugged and raised an eyebrow cheekily.
"And before you start throwing chairs… no, we still don't know who the god was who went in."
That comment was like pouring gasoline on the fire.
The tension escalated quickly. Some gods banged the tables. Others simply rolled their eyes, but most seemed genuinely annoyed.
It was then that a calm, almost sleepy voice broke the commotion.
"Well, well, there's no need for us to kill each other…"
Dionysus, with his typical lazy expression and peaceful smile, calmly stood up from his seat. He raised a hand elegantly, as if trying to calm a group of bratty children.
"We're all worried, of course," he said softly. "But losing our composure won't help. The Guild is already investigating, aren't they?"
He paused, looking at Hermes, who just nodded with some discomfort.
"So let's trust their means a little more before taking drastic measures. Let's not forget that, as gods, we are our children's role models... What kind of example do we set for them if we can't even speak calmly to each other ?"
Some voices calmed, though not entirely convinced. At least the tension eased enough for Loki to continue speaking.
Freya, for her part, smiled subtly, amused.
Loki, after the brief truce achieved by Dionysus, resumed her place in the center with a cheeky smile and the same carefree tone as always.
"Well, as I was saying before everyone got so dramatic… The result of unleashing Arcanum was that the Dungeon went haywire for a while. Not one, not two, but three variant Goliaths appeared in Rivira."
There was a ripple of murmurs. Some gods widened their eyes in surprise; others gritted their teeth.
Hestia, sitting between Freya and Loki, sighed quietly. Thank goodness she doesn't know about the spear... or Bell. Just think, all three of them appeared at the same time...
"But don't worry," Loki continued, puffing out her chest with pride. "Fortunately, my precious daughters were in the right place at the right time. Riveria-chan and Ais-tan were instrumental in putting an end to those things before they wiped out Rivira."
She crossed her arms, as if waiting for applause.
Some gods snorted; others nodded approvingly.
Meanwhile, Hestia rolled her eyes slightly. Does she always have to boast like this? she thought, though secretly she was grateful that Loki wasn't suspicious enough to dig deeper… for now.
Loki raised an eyebrow, visibly enjoying the attention she now had from the room.
"But that wasn't all," she said, raising a hand to silence the gods while some of them still murmured about the Goliaths. "While my dear daughters were dispatching those variants like it was a walk in the park, a scream was heard. Not from the adventurers or any god… but from the Dungeon itself."
A chill ran through the room. Even some of the more disinterested gods looked up, frowning.
"Shortly after," Loki continued in a more serious tone, "a new monster appeared. One that isn't in the Guild's records. We've never seen it before. And it had a strength that, according to preliminary reports, puts it in the category of a Rex monster." She paused to let her words sink in. "Perhaps even Level 4 or 5."
A wave of reactions shook the room.
"Another Monster Rex? In Rivira?" a god from the east side of the hall muttered.
"That's dangerously close to the floor where the Goliath spawns already… what happens if there are two Rex monster spawn points so close?" another goddess asked, frowning.
"What if this new monster starts appearing nearby like Goliath? Or worse, evolves ?" another added, sounding alarmed.
Freya remained silent, her expression impassive, while Hestia pursed her lips. It wasn't as if she didn't already know what had happened, but hearing it from Loki, so embellished and so half-baked… it caused her a strange mix of guilt and relief.
Loki raised both hands, in the universal gesture to relax a little.
"Alright, Alright, don't faint on me. The situation is under control… for now. But this only reinforces that something strange is going on in the Dungeon."
Loki, with that mischievous, provocative smile that so many gods detested, slowly turned to Hestia. Her eyes narrowed maliciously, and her voice took on an even more amused tone.
"And finally, there's one more thing I found curious…" she said, projecting her voice so all the gods could hear. "There was quite a spectacular sighting during the chaos on Rivira. Apparently—"
But she couldn't finish the sentence.
A deep, stern, and omnipresent voice resonated throughout the room, silencing even the hum of murmurs among the gods. It came from nowhere in particular… and yet, it was everywhere.
"Loki. Enough."
The goddess froze for a second.
"That matter isn't part of this emergency," Ouranos' voice continued. "I've already spoken with the person in charge. It won't be a matter for the Denatus."
[N/A: He didn't do it XD]
A heavy silence fell over the hall. Some gods looked at each other, surprised that even Ouranos had appeared at this meeting, when he normally remained in the background.
Freya, seated elegantly beside Hestia, merely smiled. A calm, refined smile, as if she weren't bothered at all by the turn of events... Although her eyes, if anyone had looked closely, shone with a spark of suppressed satisfaction. Her fingers calmly intertwined in her lap, glad that the opportunity to expose Bell's connection to Yharon had been neutralized.
Hestia, for her part, allowed herself a small internal respite. Not for Ouranos' protection, but so the commotion wouldn't spread to Bell... at least not yet.
Loki shrugged with a fake smile. "Tch, how boring. Just when I was about to get to the interesting part." She sauntered back to her seat, as if she hadn't just received a public reprimand from the god who practically ruled the Guild.
Hermes, still in the center of the room, clapped his hands lightly to get everyone's attention. His smile was as relaxed as ever, though his tone had a slightly more serious tone now.
"Well, after all this chaos, the Guild has informed me that some stricter rules will be implemented regarding the monitoring of certain gods."
There was a small murmur among those present, but no one really protested. For the vast majority of the gods present, the measure posed no problem. After all, few ever went near the Dungeon, and even fewer had any intention of sticking their hands directly into its depths. For many, it sounded more like a symbolic warning, something said to calm tensions, but which everyone knew would be ineffective and purely decorative.
Hermes, perfectly sensing the general apathy, shrugged with a half-smile. "Yeah, yeah, I know everyone's thinking this is mostly about compliance... and honestly, they're not wrong. But hey, we have to pretend we're taking action, right?"
Some gods laughed reluctantly. Hestia just rolled her eyes.
"Furthermore, the entire situation will continue to be investigated. So if anyone has any useful information, the Guild would be grateful to receive it..." he added, though he clearly wasn't expecting any response.
"And finally, it has been decided that, for now, stopping at Rivira is strictly prohibited. Passing through is fine, of course, but camping, resting, or establishing a temporary base in that settlement is completely restricted until further notice."
Some gods frowned, others simply nodded indifferently.
"With that said," Hermes concluded with a dramatic bow, "this part of the Denatus is closed. Thank you for your attention, esteemed deities!"
Just as Hermes was preparing to withdraw from the center of the room, a male voice rose from one of the seats furthest from the circle of gods.
"Since we're gathered here and this has become an impromptu Denatus," he said, raising his voice. "Why don't we follow tradition and assign names to the adventurers who recently reached level 2? At least we can take advantage of everyone being here."
A murmur of approval ran through the room. Despite the chaos surrounding the meeting, many gods liked such things, especially when they could mock or praise the accomplishments of other adventurers. It was one of the few parts of the Denatus they genuinely enjoyed.
"Pff… of course, nothing says 'emergency' like a name-calling session," Loki muttered sarcastically, albeit with an amused smile.
Hermes, already expecting something like this, raised his hands in a gesture of acceptance and said:
"Well, well, who am I to stop the natural flow of Denatus? Let's move on to the nominations then! As always, we're starting with the most notable adventurers who have recently ascended. And I imagine you already know who I'm referring to…"
His eyes slid pointedly to Hestia, who sighed as she realized the inevitable.
Freya smiled. Hermes approached her with a stifled chuckle.
"Wow, Hestia-chan… looks like your cub is about to receive his official title."
The atmosphere in the Denatus room became slightly more lively. Although the meeting had started tensely, the process of assigning nicknames to new adventurers always brought a more relaxed… and chaotic air.
Hermes, with his typical sly smile, stood up with a tablet in his hand.
"Very well. We'll start with the adventurers who recently reached level 2. First on the list is Kaleo, of the Skadi Family."
Almost immediately, a grim-looking god raised his hand without enthusiasm.
"'The Midnight Lament'."
"Wouldn't that be too much for someone who barely fights during the day?" a more cheerful god murmured.
"It's poetic!" the dark god replied in all seriousness.
Another god smiled mockingly.
"I propose 'The Echo from the 18th Floor.' Technically true, since she never leaves there."
Several laughs were heard, but most seemed dissatisfied.
Then a goddess in a theater mask leaned forward.
"How about 'Guardian of the Threshold'?"
That made some gods look at each other and nod.
Hermes snapped his fingers.
"Noted. 'Guardian of the Threshold.' It has that ambiguous air that people love."
They moved on to the next one.
"Yuna, from the Eir Family."
"Crimson Maiden of a Thousand Arrows"
"Didn't she use a sword?" someone repeated from the back.
"Whatever! It sounds epic!" he replied proudly.
"No," another goddess chimed in. "How about 'The Silent Spear'? Even though she uses a bow, it feels more precise."
"That sounds boring,"
Hermes let them debate for a moment, until a soft but firm voice spoke.
"'Crimson Breath,'" one proposed.
There was a brief silence. Many exchanged glances, then nodded.
"It's short, classy, and easy to remember," Hermes said. "It goes like 'Crimson Breath.'"
And so they continued, with the gods throwing out suggestions—some ridiculous, others with an unexpected touch of genius—until little by little they completed the list, leaving the adventurers with new aliases that would define their history in Orario.
The murmur of the room grew stronger again when Hermes, standing in the center, announced with a half smile:
"And next on the list… Bell Cranel, of the Hestia Familia."
The reaction was immediate. The word "Bell" had barely left his lips when a wave of voices and exclamations erupted among the gathered gods. Some sat up in their seats, others murmured to each other in obvious surprise or annoyance.
"Is that the boy who leveled up in record time?"
"Yes, he broke the previous record of Ais Wallenstein!"
"What kind of freak is that rabbit?"
"He must have a special blessing..."
Comments rained down like hail. Several gods narrowed their eyes with renewed interest, while others simply shook their heads in disbelief. Among them all, one voice rose above the rest with a mixture of anger and wounded pride.
"What kind of joke is this?!" Loki exclaimed, standing up with a scowl and pointing an accusatory finger at Hestia. "Are you saying that runt of yours surpassed MY Ais?! Don't fuck with me, Hestia! You must have cheated!"
Everyone turned to Hestia, waiting for her reaction. Sitting between Loki and Freya, the busty goddess simply leaned back with an insolent smile, crossing her arms with obvious relish for the confrontation.
"Cheating? Please, Loki. If I had cheated, I'd be back in heaven with a kick in the ass by now. Have you forgotten how divine punishment works?" she retorted sarcastically.
Some gods let out stifled chuckles at the response, enjoying the exchange as if it were a play.
"It was all thanks to Bell and his determination," Hestia continued proudly, her voice now steadier. "He fought with everything he had… and more. He leveled up on his own merits."
[N/A: I'm just going to say ... xD]
Loki gritted her teeth, visibly annoyed, though lacking a good comeback. Despite her protest, she knew Hestia was right. A god who used Arcanum to alter an adventurer's parameters would be immediately returned to heaven. There was no room for error there.
"Pfff... rookie luck. That was it," Loki muttered, sitting back down with a snort.
Hestia only smiled wider, proud, as the room continued to discuss possible nicknames for the young adventurer who had just unwittingly shaken up Orario's divine politics.
Hermes, still in the center of the room, raised his hands in a conciliatory gesture, his voice projecting over the growing din.
"Now, now, my dear colleagues... Please! A little composure! I know it's impressive, but we don't all need to shout at once, do we?" he said with a strained smile.
Of course, no one paid any attention to him.
The commotion escalated as the gods murmured and argued among themselves with a mixture of amazement, skepticism, and pure divine frustration.
"Can someone explain to me how the hell he broke the Sword Princess's record?"
"That white rabbit did it in how long?!"
"I only heard it was fast. But… How fast are we talking?"
"According to the Guild report," a bearded god replied with a know-it-all air as he flipped through a glossy papyrus document, "they say he leveled up in about two weeks."
An awkward silence fell over part of the room at those words. Then:
"Two weeks?! That shouldn't even be possible!"
"Is that report accurate? Maybe the Guild made a mistake?"
"Or perhaps the Guild is covering something up? That would explain everything!"
"Covering up what? The fact that that brat is a monster of pure talent?"
"Maybe it's a new kind of spirit disguised as a human… that would explain everything!"
Meanwhile, Hestia remained seated between Loki and Freya, now with her arms crossed and a smug smile she couldn't be bothered to hide.
"Ridiculous, completely ridiculous…" Loki muttered, frowning. "I don't like this at all…"
"But you can't deny it's interesting," Freya said, cupping her hands over her face as if remembering something… something delicious.
Hestia rolled her eyes. "Yeah, right, incredibly interesting… until conspiracy theories start swirling and the Guild has to write explanatory essays. Again."
Hermes, noticing that he wasn't in control of the situation even in his sleep, just sighed and moved slightly away from the center table, resigned, as the chaos of rumors and theories continued to snowball downhill.
Immediately, several gods leaned forward, their eyes shining with mischief or interest. The atmosphere became more agitated, as if everyone had suddenly awakened from their slumber.
"Rabbit face!" a god shouted with a laugh. "Have you seen his face? It's perfect."
"I vote for 'Super Adventurer 3000,'" said another, raising a glass of wine. "With a name like that, no one will forget it!"
Hestia, sitting between Loki and Freya, was on the edge of her seat. Her eyebrow twitched. Her expression was a mixture of horror, frustration, and suppressed fury.
"Bunny face!? Super Adventurer 3000!? They're playing with his future!!" She thought, biting her lip to keep from screaming in the middle of the Denatus. The rules were clear: the adventurers' patron gods couldn't intervene in the choice of alias. They could only watch… and suffer.
[N/A: Although it is not impossible to use another god as an intermediary. So that there is no problem.]
"What if we call him 'Killer Snowball'?" someone else said in the background.
"NO!" another exclaimed. "That sounds like a psycho cat, not an adventurer."
Hestia sank into her seat, wanting to disappear. Every new name made her imagine Bell reading the tabloids and bursting into tears. Or worse: accepting it with that same shy, polite expression as always.
"If you come up with another stupid name I'm going to… aaaaah!!"
Just when it seemed the situation was spiraling out of control, a soft but distinctive voice rose above the chaos.
"Sword Saint."
Freya.
The room fell silent. Several gods blinked, others tilted their heads in curiosity. The serene goddess of beauty still had one hand in her lap, her expression calm and unperturbed, as if she had just commented on the weather.
"'Sword Saint'..."
A bearded god stroked his jaw. "Isn't that what they used to call someone at the Monster Feria a while back?"
"Yes… yes, I remember something like that," another murmured. "That young man who defeated a Silverback. Was it him?"
"They say it was an impressive performance."
"So that was Bell Cranel…"
"Sword Saint, huh? He's got strength. It has dignity… and class."
Little by little, the room began to lean toward consensus. Even the most joking gods, albeit somewhat reluctantly, began to nod.
Hermes raised his tablet and smiled.
"Then it's settled. Bell Cranel, of the Hestia Familia… will be known as the 'Sword Saint'."
Hestia let out the breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding. Her balled fists trembled slightly in her lap. She was relieved… more than she cared to admit.
But then she turned her head slightly. Freya was still there, with that soft, elegant smile. She said nothing, made no gesture beyond a slight nod. A smile that said, "You're welcome."
Hestia looked at her out of the corner of her eye, glaring at her.
"Don't even think I'm going to thank you for that."
Freya didn't reply. She didn't need to. Her smile said it all.