Though it was called the residence of a goddess and her Familia, the place was honestly far too shabby.
Yoru looked up at the building before him.
At the far end of a narrow, lifeless alley stood a dilapidated church.
It might be more accurate to say it had completely collapsed. This two-story building, once constructed to honor the gods, was now barely standing. Chunks of stone had fallen away in various places, and the façade reeked of age and abandonment—a kind of quiet sorrow that felt like it had faded from people's memories long ago.
At the top of the front entrance loomed a statue of a goddess, worn and broken. Half her face was missing, and her tattered form seemed to smile down at Yoru.
The thought that a bona fide goddess lived in a place like this made Yoru feel a mix of helplessness and heartache. At the same time, a heavy sense of responsibility settled on his shoulders.
He had to work hard to earn money… at the very least, he had to give Hestia a home worthy of her.
Yoru stepped inside. The condition of the interior was no better than the outside. The cracked floorboards had grass growing up through the gaps, and most of the ceiling had long since collapsed. Only a few remnants remained, with sunlight pouring in through a gaping hole in the roof, gently illuminating the barely intact altar.
He didn't linger in what could only be called the ruins of a church. Instead, he made his way to a small room behind the altar and stepped inside. In the dim space was a row of bookshelves—though not a single book lined them. Behind the last shelf at the back was a staircase descending underground.
He followed the seemingly endless stairs, and at the bottom appeared a door, slightly ajar. From the small window in the door, a faint light spilled out.
"You back already, Hestia?"
Unlike most people who respectfully addressed gods with formal titles, Yoru simply called her by name as he stepped through the door.
The goddess he called out to was lying on a purple sofa, sprawled out on her back with an open book in hand. At the sound of his voice, she immediately jumped up.
"You're back, you're back! So? How was your lesson on the basics of adventuring?"
A bright, eager smile bloomed on Hestia's youthful face as she ran up to Yoru with quick, excited steps.
Despite her exaggerated curves, she was small—her childlike figure standing a whole head shorter than Yoru. Standing beside him, she looked more like a clingy little sister than a goddess.
Still, even though they hadn't been together long, it was obvious this divine being loved to cling to people. Maybe it was because she had been alone for too long—too lonely for far too long.
That thought crossed Yoru's mind, and his hand gently fell onto Hestia's head, patting her lightly.
Instantly, she pouted in displeasure.
"That's so rude! Both your attitude and your actions! First of all, as my Familia, you're supposed to call me Lady Goddess! And second, head-pats are totally banned! That's something you do to little girls!"
She brushed his hand away and jabbed her finger against the bridge of his nose.
"Sorry… I just thought calling you by your name felt more familiar. We're family, right? Calling you Lady Goddess feels too formal and distant."
Yoru replied with a faint smile, and Hestia bashfully averted her gaze, fidgeting slightly.
"Ugh… Well, if you put it like that, I guess I can permit you to call me by name. You are my beloved Familia, after all!"
With that, she pulled Yoru down onto the sofa and began firing off questions at him one after another.
"So? So? Was the lesson hard? You're heading into the Dungeon tomorrow—are you nervous? Scared? Oh, and that half-elf advisor—did she do anything weird to you?!"
As she said that, she began patting Yoru down with both hands, as if checking for signs of any "suspicious activity."
"Uh… it was all very basic and easy to understand. Nothing really worth mentioning. Theory is just theory anyway. I'll only know how useful it really is once I put it into practice in the Dungeon."
"Mm, true. Well, you'd better get plenty of rest! You need to be in top shape for your first Dungeon dive!"
Hestia nodded seriously and tugged Yoru toward the bed like she was the one about to explore the Dungeon herself.
"Sit here, okay? I'm going to make dinner. Business at the stand was great today! The shop owner was so grateful he gave me a bunch of fried potato balls!"
Yoru could only sigh in quiet exasperation and let the overenthusiastic goddess fuss over him. Watching her cheerful face as she rushed off to make dinner, he found himself briefly overwhelmed with emotion.
She was a goddess—an exalted being who should have been high above all mortals. Yet here she was, living in a run-down old church, working part-time jobs just to survive…
And yet… even like this, she could still smile so warmly?
Was this enough?
Was this humble lifestyle truly happiness for a goddess like Hestia?
Why?
Yoru stared blankly as the question stirred in his heart. He reached up and touched his own face.
Cold. Stiff.
Even when he smiled, he probably gave off an icy, unapproachable aura.
He had already sensed it when he was with Eina today. This behavior felt like a subconscious defense mechanism—something deeply ingrained in him.
No doubt he had already irritated her by keeping such a cold, emotionless expression, even as she patiently explained everything about the Dungeon and adventuring. Anyone would be annoyed.
Thinking that, Yoru gave a bitter little smile.
Maybe… only when he was with her—only with Hestia—could he let his guard down, even just a little. Only then did he feel a fleeting, precious warmth.
As he thought that, Hestia came back, beaming as she carried a huge plate of golden fried potatoes.
Seeing the smile on her face, Yoru found himself smiling again, almost involuntarily.
Just that one smile from her seemed to melt the chill in his soul.
It was like a small moment of salvation.
Hestia—my goddess—I will do everything in my power to protect that smile.
In the name of the Familia of the goddess Hestia.
Looking at the girl's joyful expression, Yoru made a silent vow in his heart.
In that moment, he completely shed his frozen past.
As a member of Hestia's Familia, he was now fully part of this world.