Chương 118: Hestia and Loki

"This is what happened," Takemikazuchi said. After explaining the incident in the Dungeon, he bowed to Hestia.

"It was my failure to teach them properly that allowed this to happen." He looked at Cael with deep gratitude.

"Your child not only chose not to hold a grudge, but also helped them afterward. I am ashamed. No matter what, thank you, Cael. Every member of Takemikazuchi Familia owes you their life. If you ever need anything, they will be the first to step forward." Ouka, Mikoto, and Chigusa bowed as well.

"Then I will accept that goodwill," Cael said with a smile. They were still weak, so whether they could truly help Hestia Familia was another matter. Still, goodwill was worth keeping. Hestia looked at Cael's expression and smiled.

"Let us go in. I want to see what kind of Banquet of the Gods Apollo prepared. He is a weirdo even by divine standards." Since Cael had handled the matter himself, Hestia would not interfere. They entered the banquet hall. Statues of Apollo himself stood everywhere. In myth, Apollo was not only a god of light and prophecy, but also a god of art. Apparently, he was the kind of art god who mostly sculpted himself. Carriages continued arriving in the courtyard. Many gods and Familia members were already inside.

Most gods were unfamiliar, but Cael recognized a few. Loki, Hephaestus, Ganesha, Hermes, Set, Demeter, Dian Cecht, Goibniu, Dionysus, and others. The gods enjoyed wine, boasting, jokes, and occasionally embarrassing their companions. Their guiding principle was simple: entertainment. To eternal gods, Orario itself was a stage. As soon as Hestia entered, she began looking around. When she found her target, her expression turned smug.

"Hehe. That one came too. It looks like she did not bring any impressive children. Perfect. I can finally get back at her." This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author's consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. Hestia walked over with a wicked little smile.

"Well, if it is not the disappointing woman. Drinking wine alone in lonely solitude? Where are the family members you are so proud of? Were they scared off by your disappointing chest?" The handsome woman in men's clothing twitched. She turned around with a scowl.

"So you are here too, shrimp. When did you hop over here? Sneaking up without a word has no style at all." Loki clicked her tongue.

"And do not start bragging about children in front of me. I did not bring mine today because they happen to be on an expedition. If Ais were here, she would absolutely be the brightest star in the hall." She glanced behind Hestia.

"Unlike you, bringing three random kids and acting proud." Loki had expected Hestia to mock her if they met. Why did Apollo have to hold a banquet while Loki Familia's executives were away on expedition? If she brought ordinary members, people might think she was looking down on the banquet. If she brought no one, Hestia would mock her. Either way, it was annoying.

"Stop making excuses," Hestia said.

"Alone is alone."

"What did you say? Are those three the Lv. 1 brats rumored to have beaten the Monster Rex by luck? They do not look like much." Loki narrowed her thin eyes as she studied Cael, Kyojuro, and Tanjiro. Inside, she was sour. What was going on? Even without Freya's ability to see souls, Loki could feel that all three had outstanding qualities. Why had she not found kids like this first? Well, she had Ais. That was enough.

"If you are jealous of my excellent Familia, just say so." Hestia lifted her chin until she almost looked at the ceiling.

"Not impressive? Maybe your eyes have finally become useless." Their argument quickly drew the attention of nearby gods.

"Oh, is that Hestia?"

"Are those children the ones from that interesting rumor?"

"The story was exciting."

"I heard about it too. Something about Level-raising Magic?"

"Is it real? I want to see it."

"Hestia and Loki start fighting the moment they meet. This banquet is already worth coming to."

"If they actually fight, I bet on Loki." The brief argument ended in Hestia's overwhelming victory. Loki walked away practically radiating irritation.

"Next time. Next time I will bring my Ais and win everything back. Just wait, shrimp."

"Ahahaha! I will be waiting, disappointing woman!" Hestia stood with her hands on her hips, looking as if she had grown a tail and raised it high. Victory. Since arriving in Orario, she had lost to Loki again and again. This time, she finally won cleanly.

"Oh, Hestia, Miach, Takemikazuchi. I saw you from far away, but you and Loki looked so happy that I did not want to interrupt." Hermes walked over with his usual easy smile. While greeting them, his eyes naturally drifted to Cael.

"So this is your favorite child, Hestia. Cael, correct?"

"Hermes. Long time no see. Yes, he is the child I am most proud of."

"Oh? The more I look, the more interesting he seems." Hermes's eyes flashed for a moment. What an interesting Familia. This boy felt even more heroic than the one Zeus had chosen. That could be troublesome, Zeus. And Kyojuro Rengoku and Tanjiro Kamado also seemed more outstanding than expected. Could Zeus's chosen hero really rise above so many brilliant people in the current Orario?

"Good evening, Lord Hermes," Cael said with a polite bow. He had no fondness for this overly familiar god. Hermes seemed harmless on the surface, but he would do almost anything for entertainment. He might sell someone out and still make them thank him afterward.