Chương 117: The Gods' Banquet

Hestia looked at the invitation in her hand with visible conflict. She and Apollo had many unpleasant memories from Heaven. To be honest, she did not want to go at all. But the invitation had already arrived. If she refused, it would look as if she were openly snubbing Apollo. More importantly, this was a Banquet of the Gods. Most gods in Orario would attend. If everyone else went and Hestia did not, those bored gods would surely start spreading strange stories. They lived for entertainment.

If something could become interesting, they would not miss it.

"Why is Cael so sure Apollo will propose a War Game?" Hestia asked, blinking in curiosity.

"Intuition," Cael said with a shrug.

"Normally, if someone gets provoked, they fight and settle it. But after the fight, Apollo sent an invitation. That makes it a banquet with a trap."

"I am still worried," Hestia said with a sigh. Then her expression firmed.

"But since everyone has already decided, I will not stop you. Let us do this properly."

"Apollo's condition is interesting too," she added.

"This banquet allows gods to bring one to three Familia members. If I had not heard Cael's explanation, I might have thought Apollo was being thoughtful. Now it feels like he wants to inspect my children." She folded her arms and snorted.

"Lady Goddess is amazing," Cael said, clapping lightly.

"You saw through him at once." If he had not warned her first, she might not have noticed. That absentminded side of Hestia was adorable.

"Of course. I am a goddess." Hestia puffed up proudly.

"Then which three members should we bring?" She looked around the basement. If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. This was the Banquet of the Gods. Opportunities for Familia members to attend were rare.

"Simple," Cael said.

"We draw lots. Whoever draws the long slips goes. That is fair."

"I do not mind either way," Tengen said.

"I am fine whether I go or not," Giyu said.

"I will not participate," Lili said.

"I would like to see it," Tanjiro admitted. Everyone expressed their thoughts. For those from the Demon Slayer world, attending a banquet of gods carried more awe than excitement. Soon, Hestia prepared the slips and held them tightly in her hand.

"The long slips win." She glanced at Cael. She wanted to go with him very badly, but since he had made the chances equal, she could not act selfishly as the goddess. Still, Cael had become more mature. Since the Familia had grown and he had become its captain, his sense of leadership had become clearer. Part of Hestia wanted him to remain forever like the boy she first met. Another part looked forward to every step of his growth. Unlike the gods, who remained eternal and unchanged, mortals changed bit by bit.

Every small change in Cael drew her attention.

"Didn't draw one," Tengen said regretfully.

"I did not either," Shinobu said.

"No," Giyu said.

"It seems my luck is excellent!" Kyojuro raised the long slip energetically.

"Looks like my luck is excellent too." Cael held up his slip with obvious satisfaction. He had confidence in his own luck. Being loved by the world was not just for show.

"Then we depart!" Hestia shouted, raising a fist. They could not attend a Banquet of the Gods casually. If they went without formal clothing and proper grooming, the bored gods would laugh at them as country bumpkins. Fortunately, Hestia seemed to have banquet preparation ingrained in her bones. She handled every detail seriously. It was probably a skill from Heaven. According to rumors, Heaven was terribly boring, so the gods held banquets constantly.

They rode a carriage to Apollo Familia's garden mansion, the venue of the banquet. The mansion was brightly lit. A large number of carriages had already lined up neatly in the courtyard, proving that the gods had arrived early for entertainment. Cael stepped down from the carriage and looked at the garden mansion. His mouth curved. Just as he had thought, this place was excellent. A garden mansion, large enough to hold several hundred people.

"Cael looks especially stylish in that butler-like suit," Hestia said, cheeks flushed and eyes shining. Cael gave a small bow, then offered his hand like an attendant serving a princess. Hestia placed her hand on his with a bright smile. Kyojuro and Tanjiro looked stiff in their suits. It was their first time wearing this kind of clothing, and the attention made them uncomfortable.

"I also notified Miach and Takemikazuchi before leaving," Hestia said.

"I wonder if they have arrived." Just as she spoke, two carriages stopped nearby. Miach stepped down first.

"Hestia. You arrived before me. Looks like I am a little late."

"I just arrived too." From the other carriage, Takemikazuchi stepped out with Mikoto, Chigusa, and Ouka. His face was apologetic.

"Hestia, I was delayed by something. But before entering the banquet, I must apologize to you."

"Apologize?" Hestia blinked in confusion. Cael folded his arms and looked at the three members behind Takemikazuchi with amusement. No need to ask. Their god had come to clean up the embarrassing mess his children had made.