Chương 121: A Dance Interrupted

"Ohhh, Apollo, well done!"

"Wonderful! That is a great idea. Do this again next time." The gods cheered at the banquet. The night had only just begun, but the hall was already noisy and lively.

"Apollo, what was that look he gave me?" Hestia muttered, immediately displeased.

"Is he after my Familia after all? Tch." Her irritation quickly turned into appetite. She ate as if she intended to bankrupt Apollo through the banquet table.

"Hehe. Perhaps it is not only Apollo," Hermes said with a strange smile.

"Hestia, you have heard the rumors, have you not?"

"Of course I have. They are only rumors. Anyone who takes them seriously is a fool." Hestia snorted. She would never admit Cael and the others' real strength.

"True. Anyone who takes rumors seriously is a fool. But there seem to be quite a few fools in Orario." Behind Hermes, Asfi looked away. Had this not spread through the whole city because of him?

"By the way, Cael, correct?" Hermes patted Cael's shoulder with his usual overfamiliar ease.

"How did you become one of Hestia's children? I am rather interested in that."

"It was coincidence," Cael said calmly, though the corner of his mouth twitched.

"I had just arrived in Orario and happened to meet Lady Hestia. Before I knew it, I had become her first Familia member."

"I see. Hmm. It seems I am not very welcome with you, Cael. How painful." Hermes pressed a hand to his chest in a dramatic display of heartbreak. Gods could sense certain things about mortals. Cael did not like Hermes at all. Getting involved with Hermes was not much better than drawing Freya's attention. In some ways, it might be worse. At least Freya offered help when she wanted to watch a hero grow. Hermes caused trouble purely because it amused him. The banquet continued.

Kyojuro Rengoku and Tanjiro Kamado were not used to this kind of scene. They eventually withdrew to the edge of the hall.

"Are you uncomfortable at a banquet of the gods?" Cael asked.

"Not uncomfortable," Kyojuro said.

"I am simply used to finding a quiet place when there are too many people." If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

"There are so many gods that I feel nervous," Tanjiro admitted, scratching his head.

"Think of them as ordinary people," Cael said, leaning against the wall with his arms folded. His gaze drifted across the gods and Familia members dancing under the lights.

"In Orario, gods really are not that different from ordinary people, at least in daily life. Most of them are easy to speak with on the surface."

"That may be true, but speaking with them so naturally is impressive," Kyojuro said with admiration.

"Captain Cael, I respect how easily you speak with gods."

"Kyojuro, you have not truly become an adventurer yet. Your role is still that of a demon slayer." Cael raised a finger with a faintly mysterious air.

"Once you truly become an adventurer, you will understand what adventuring means." Let go of excessive restraint. Let your personality show. Throw your life into adventure, stop worrying so much about the future, live in the present, and enjoy what stands before you. Then the heart would naturally become stronger.

"I hope so," Kyojuro said with a nod.

"Once I complete my duty as a demon slayer, perhaps I will understand what you mean, Captain."

"For now, the real show will begin soon. Until then, enjoy the banquet." Cael walked toward Hestia, who had been attacking Apollo's food with fierce determination, and offered her a handkerchief.

"Beautiful goddess, would you grant this humble mortal a dance?"

"Hehe. Yes, yes!" Hestia accepted the handkerchief, wiped the sauce from her face, and bounced away from the table like an excited child.

"Amazing," Tanjiro said, dumbfounded.

"That is our captain," Kyojuro said with a firm nod. Gentle music flowed through the hall. More and more dancers entered the floor. Gods danced with their children, and Familia members danced with one another. The banquet reached its brightest moment.

"Cael, have you ever danced with another girl?" Hestia asked, looking straight into his eyes.

"No. I can dance because I observed the others and copied their steps." Cael held Hestia lightly at the waist with one hand and held her slender hand with the other. His eyes were warm.

"Then I am the first person to dance with Cael. I am so happy." A rosy blush appeared on Hestia's cheeks.

"Making you happy is my happiness," Cael said.

"I almost wish this moment could last forever." This kind of dance naturally brought two people closer. Their eyes met, their rhythm matched, and the distance between them seemed to shrink with every step. No wonder social dances had that name.

"Since we have done it once, there will definitely be a next time," Hestia said sweetly.

"Gods are always finding excuses to make things happen."

"That sounds strange coming from Lady Hestia. You are also a goddess." It felt odd to hear a goddess describe gods as people who made trouble when bored. On the other side of the hall, Freya elegantly held a glass of red wine. Displeasure flickered through her enchanting violet eyes.

"Ottar, can you close off this hall?"

"I cannot, Lady Freya."

"Then never mind. It is only temporary." Freya's smile turned mysterious.

"You noticed those three children, did you not?"

"Yes."

"Keep them in mind."

"Understood." Ottar was briefly surprised, but he nodded without question. Any command from Freya would be obeyed. For Freya to notice someone meant that person's soul shone brightly. They were heroes in the making. Since following Freya, Ottar had seen many so-called young heroes. Most failed her trials. Some died halfway, and others abandoned themselves. At the height of the banquet, a cheerful voice suddenly filled the hall.

"Everyone, are you enjoying yourselves?" Apollo stood at the center of the stage with his arms spread wide, welcoming the gods' attention. The music stopped. The gods looked at him curiously. The lights in the hall went out, leaving only a spotlight over Hestia and Cael.

"What are you doing, Apollo?" Hestia puffed out her cheeks.

"Interrupting such an important moment between Cael and me. You really are as annoying as ever."