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"You must find it unbelievable, don't you? That I, a goddess, have such a flaw…"
Hephaestus sighed, pulling away from Yuto's embrace. Her voice was soft, yet it carried the weight of countless divine mockeries and cruel words, scars etched deep from the disdain of male gods who had scorned her. Though she appeared stern and unapproachable, the goddess of the forge harbored a deep-seated insecurity and self-loathing.
She wielded the power of fire and craftsmanship, yet bore a flaw that no god should have; a scar that even divine power couldn't heal. This mark had become her identity, but it also brought her endless grief.
"Only Hestia has ever seen beneath this eyepatch without laughing or recoiling in fear," Hephaestus murmured, her words tinged with a rare vulnerability as she confided in Yuto.
Their bond, tangled and complex, was perhaps why she and the blue-ribboned goddess had become such close friends.
"Enough. I won't let you wallow in self-pity," Yuto said firmly, gripping her shoulders and turning her to face him. With a swift motion, he reached for her eyepatch.
"Ah! What are you doing?!" Hephaestus gasped, startled.
He lifted the eyepatch, revealing her true face. Far from hideous, Hephaestus was strikingly beautiful, her features refined and elegant. But to the gods who prized "perfection," her unique beauty was seen as a flaw. Her right eye, unlike her left, was not a matching crimson but a soft, cat-like green, a heterochromatic gaze that lacked the divine glow, making her an outcast among her kind.
Yuto stared into her mismatched eyes, one red and one green, his expression unchanging. Instead of recoiling, he stepped closer, his heart cursing the shallow gods who couldn't appreciate her. 'How could anyone call her ugly?' he thought. 'They're blind.'
"You're not ugly," he said sincerely. "To me, this is the real you."
A faint blush crept onto Hephaestus's cheeks, and she glanced away, a mix of surprise and shyness in her eyes. She could tell he meant every word, he truly found her beautiful.
"Stop with the sweet talk," she muttered, trying to mask her embarrassment. "Get out. I have work to do."
She reached for the eyepatch in his hand, but Yuto moved closer, his presence overwhelming.
"You don't need to wear that around me," he whispered.
"Ugh…" The stern goddess melted under his words, letting out a soft, almost animal-like whimper. Her heterochromatic eyes shimmered with emotion, like ripples on a lake.
"Let's go to your room," Yuto said, lifting her limp form and carrying her to a nearby bedroom.
"But… you belong to Hestia. I…" Hephaestus protested weakly, burying her face in her ample chest, her cheeks burning with shame.
The thought of betraying her closest friend filled her with guilt, yet she couldn't deny the thrill of the forbidden. Her heart raced with a strange, exhilarating sense of transgression.
Bang!
The door slammed shut behind them, and Hephaestus's mismatched eyes clouded with desire.
…..
The next day, standing at the entrance of the weapon shop, Hestia stomped her foot in frustration, her luggage in hand.
'Hephaestus didn't even come to see me off?!'
Beside her, Yuto stroked the new weapon Hephaestus had forged for him, a knowing smile playing on his lips.
With Hestia's belongings too numerous to carry, they hired several carriages to transport everything while they rode comfortably in a larger one, heading toward their grand villa.
;I've already given Ais her weapon along with the lion plushie,' Yuto mused, admiring the black katana in his hands. 'This one's all mine.'
His fingers traced the blade's edge, feeling the divine runes etched into it. Even he, with his enhanced body, felt a slight sting from its power.
'Forged with materials from multiple worlds and inscribed with my own runes… this weapon rivals a Noble Phantasm.'
The katana resembled a samurai's blade but with the flair of a Tang sword—long, wide, and straight-backed. Its surface shimmered like flowing water, reflecting light like a rainbow after rain.
'It contains not only Hephaestus and Hestia's divine blood but also my own contributions…'
Leaping from the carriage, Yuto swung the blade at an empty lot. A flash of light sliced through the air, and the ground exploded into a deep crater.
Boom!
Dust filled the air, revealing a bottomless pit. The weapon's power was undeniable.
"If I unleash its divine runes, it'll be even stronger. I'll call you [God Cutter]," he decided, confident it could sever even a god.
Before long, they arrived at their elegant villa, surrounded by lush gardens and ornate decor. The scenery was breathtaking.
"Master, Lady Hestia," two beautiful maids greeted them at the entrance.
Upon closer inspection, those girls were Daphne and Cassandra from the former Apollo Familia.
After defeating Apollo, Yuto had claimed all of the sun god's wealth and properties. The girls by their own wish joined his familia.
"Rise," he said generously. "You two will manage the villa. Hire maids with the funds I've provided."
Having looted Apollo's entire fortune, Yuto was now one of the wealthiest in Orario.
Truth be told, Daphne and Cassandra were talented. Cassandra possessed the rare "Prophetic Dreams" ability, and Daphne was sharp and decisive. Managing the villa was almost a waste of their skills. Once new maids arrived, he planned to send them back to adventuring to strengthen Hestia's Familia.
"Hmm…" Hestia eyed the two attractive maids in their uniforms, a hint of jealousy flickering in her eyes. But as Yuto reassured her of her place as his main companion, her mood brightened.
In the spacious dining hall, the four of them sat down to a champagne toast and a lavish meal, celebrating the birth of the new Hestia Familia.
…..
Several Days Later
After settling in his new house, Yuto visited the "Hostess of Fertility" for the first time in a while.
No sooner had he stepped through the door than Ryuu Lion tossed aside her cleaning rag and charged at him, her face a mix of anger and relief.
"You dare show your face here?!" she shouted. "Do you have any idea how worried I was?!"
The blonde elf's delicate features were twisted with fury, her concern for him palpable.
"Come here," Yuto said, flashing a grin. In a blur of motion, he scooped her up in a princess carry, eliciting gasps from the tavern's staff as he whisked her away.
"Wha—what are you doing?! Put me down!" Ryuu protested, pounding her fists against his chest.
"Nope," Yuto replied, unfazed by her struggles. He let her vent her frustrations, knowing she needed the release.
"Idiot…!" Ryu huffed, finally tiring herself out. She jumped from his arms, panting, and glared at him.
"Your eyes are beautiful," Yuto said, gazing into her clear, bright orbs.
"Hmph! Flattery won't work on me!" Ryu snapped, though her cheeks flushed slightly.
"I mean it," he insisted, wrapping his arms around her waist, his expression tender and sincere.
"…"
Ryuu's face turned crimson, her heart pounding as she looked away, unable to meet his gaze.
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