Chương 34: Call Me Captain

"Lady Hestia, wake up. The sun is already out." Cael looked at Hestia, who was hugging her blanket in a daze, and gently shook her shoulder. It gave him a strange feeling, like waking a girlfriend who refused to get out of bed.

"Cael, good morning." Hestia opened her eyes sleepily and rubbed them.

"Lady Hestia, wake up properly. I brought back three people who want to join Hestia Familia, and they definitely have rare Skills." Cael leaned close and whispered in Hestia's ear.

"Huh?" In an instant, Hestia became fully awake. Then she looked at Cael standing before her, his clothes dirty and his face marked with bruises and scrapes, and jumped in shock.

"Cael, what happened to you? Your clothes are filthy, and your face is hurt. Did you sneak into the Dungeon last night while I was asleep?" Hestia jumped onto him like he was a tree trunk, her small hands rapidly checking him for injuries.

"Are you hurt? If you died out there while I was asleep, I would be devastated too!"

"I am fine, Lady Hestia. Last night, I went out and met a powerful enemy. I saved three people from it, and after I invited them, they were willing to join Hestia Familia. I thought our Familia did need more members, so I brought them back." Cael caught the little hands searching his body and answered with a serious face. Then he guided Hestia toward the wardrobe with a hand at her back and pulled out her long white dress, draping it over her.

"So, Lady Hestia, you need to show divine dignity. Dignity. Leave a good impression on the new members. They are waiting."

"Eh, eh? Cael, did you sneak out last night and run into something exciting? New children are joining Hestia Familia?" Hestia grew excited. She quickly put on her dress and jogged out of the basement, only to see the three people standing outside the ruined church. All three were stained with blood, as if they had just returned from a battlefield.

"A goddess." Rengoku and the others looked at the girl who had come out of the old church. A sacred presence washed over them: holy, beautiful, pure, dignified, yet strangely close. Mortals might not know a god. But once they saw one, they knew.

"We greet you, Goddess." Rengoku, Tanjiro, and Inosuke instinctively knelt on one knee. This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

"So holy and sacred. This is a god?" Tanjiro felt deeply shaken. His body wanted to kneel before her on its own.

"Amazing. I want to bow without thinking." Inosuke shouted inside his mind.

"Please rise. You are badly injured, so there is no need for ceremony." Hestia smiled with sacred gentleness and lifted her hand. Cael looked at the three kneeling people and thought of how their world revered gods, with shrines everywhere. Besides, ordinary people could not resist the presence of a god.

"Your injuries are serious. Wait here. We have to treat you quickly." After saying that, Hestia turned and ran back into the basement. She rummaged through the wardrobe and brought out several healing potions.

"Huh? Lady Hestia, where did you get healing potions? I remember they are expensive." Cael was surprised. Could his poor goddess really have something like this? Even the cheapest third-tier potion should cost five thousand valis.

"Miach gave them to me last time when Cael got hurt. We did not use them all, so I saved the rest as a surprise for you. Now they are perfect." Hestia showed a bright, energetic smile. She could leave a good impression on the new members now.

"These are healing potions. The three of you, drink them quickly." Rengoku and the others respectfully accepted the gifts from the goddess.

"Thank you, Goddess." After they drank the healing potions, their injuries recovered visibly.

"Amazing. My body does not hurt anymore. Even the wound on my stomach is healing." Tanjiro spoke in disbelief and lifted his clothes. The wound on his abdomen was already almost fully closed.

"Ohhh, it does not hurt anymore." Inosuke slapped his chest, full of curiosity.

"Incredible. A gift from a goddess indeed. Thank you very much." Rengoku thanked her loudly. Even if his injuries had healed in his own world, he would not have been able to continue slaying demons. Now he was actually fully recovered, and even old hidden injuries had vanished. This truly was the place where gods lived. It was miraculous. If he brought this medicine back, could it heal the curse afflicting the Master?

"It is nothing. Hee hee. Welcome to Hestia Familia." Hestia became a little embarrassed by how respectfully the three treated her. She clasped her hands behind her back and swayed slightly. Since coming to Orario, this was the first time so many people had treated her with such reverence.

"Lady Hestia, your divine majesty lasted less than three seconds." Cael held his forehead with an amused smile.

"We are the honored ones to become your Familia members," Rengoku said loudly and sincerely.

"Since none of you mind that I am a poor goddess, let us all work hard together from now on." Hestia clenched her fist and raised her right hand high, full of energy. A blush appeared on her cheeks. Finally, aside from Cael, new members willing to join despite her poverty had come to Hestia Familia.

"Yes, Goddess." The three answered in unison.

"Idiots. Call her Lady Hestia, and call me Captain." Cael grew fired up too, folding his arms with a little pride. Although Hestia was poor, and ordinary people in this world would not join her Familia, Rengoku and the others would not look down on her for that. Or rather, they did not care at all. They had not joined for money or material comfort. Each of them carried an ideal of their own.

"Yes, Lady Hestia. Captain."

"Then let us form the contract and grant everyone the Falna of Hestia Familia." Hestia shouted impatiently. Following her instructions, Rengoku removed his outer clothing, exposed his back, and crouched on one knee. His body was still stained with blood, but his injuries had completely healed. They did not receive the same treatment Cael did. After all, Hestia's feelings for him were different. He had filled the emptiness in her heart at the most important moment.

"Right. I have not asked your names yet, my adorable children." Hestia pricked her finger with a needle and asked.

"My name is Kyojuro Rengoku, Lady Hestia. I look forward to your guidance." Rengoku spoke in a strong, clear voice.

"My name is Tanjiro Kamado, Lady Hestia. I look forward to your guidance."

"I'm Inosuke Hashibira, the mighty king of the mountain. Ahahaha!"

"Good. You all have wonderful energy." Hestia nodded in satisfaction. A drop of blood fell onto Rengoku's back. Blue magical light rose, and sacred characters began to appear.

"This!" When Hestia saw the sacred characters, she cried out in surprise, her eyes round.

"Kyojuro, is this really your first time receiving Falna?"