Seeing Hestia's flustered look, Hajime couldn't help but chuckle and offered her a way out.
"Goddess, help me check my Falna first."
"Right, okay!"
Hestia replied, pulling herself out of her embarrassment.
Hajime lay down on the sofa, exposing his back. Hestia straddled his waist and placed her hands on his back.
To Hajime, the little loli goddess already felt feather-light, but after regaining power from another world, she was practically weightless.
"Wait!"
Just as she was about to begin the status update, Hestia suddenly recalled something.
"Hajime, why the sudden interest in updating your Falna? Didn't you say you weren't going to explore the dungeon?"
"That was true before, but due to certain reasons, I've changed my mind."
Hajime answered truthfully. He didn't plan to tell her about the Fog Space. Not because he didn't trust her, but because there was no need—and it was hard to explain.
"Certain reasons?" Hestia tilted her head, not pressing further. "So you're planning to start venturing into the dungeon now?"
"Yeah," Hajime nodded. "I had a bit of a lucky encounter. I'm capable of protecting myself now, so you don't have to worry."
With his current strength, "self-protection" was an understatement. He could slay gods with ease.
Hearing this, Hestia fell silent. The danger of the dungeon was self-evident. Many adventurers had perished in it. Even if Hajime said he could handle himself, she couldn't help but worry. Still, she knew it would be hard to change his mind.
After a pause, she sighed and said with reluctant acceptance, "If that's your decision, then I'll support you."
"But—"
She leaned down, hugging him from behind, her voice trembling slightly.
"You have to promise me: safety first. You must come back alive, no matter what."
Sensing her unease, Hajime spoke with calm reassurance.
"Understood. I promise I won't be reckless. I'll never die in the dungeon."
Hearing his promise, Hestia hugged him tighter.
"We have a deal. This is a pact with a goddess—you're not allowed to break it. If something happens to you in the dungeon, I'll wait ten thousand years through the cycle of reincarnation just to find your soul and awaken your memories. I'll rebuild our familia from scratch!"
"Hajime… divine love is heavy! Anyone who entangles themselves with a goddess will be bound for eternity!"
So this was how heavy a god's love could be.
For the first time, Hestia revealed just a hint of it.
Hajime could tell she was being serious. If anything ever happened to him, she would likely never take in another familia member again, and instead, wait a lonely ten thousand years for his soul to reincarnate—just to meet him again.
In some sense, it bordered on obsession.
But personally, Hajime didn't mind that type.
"That works for me. If it's a cute goddess like you, I wouldn't mind seeing you in every lifetime."
He smiled. "And don't worry, I'll keep my promise. Nothing bad's going to happen to me."
Not only was he nearly invincible now, there were even ways to extend his lifespan. Once his other self in the Campione world slayed a god and became a God Slayer, he would gain a lifespan of a thousand years or more.
There was no need to worry about Hestia waiting a full ten thousand years. Hajime had faith that he could obtain eternal life with her.
"Mmh!"
Hestia nodded hard, her face bright with a smile. She'd feared her overwhelming emotions might scare Hajime off, but to her surprise, he accepted them warmly.
If not for her goddess dignity, she would've been rolling on the ground in joy.
Still, she had to keep up her image in front of Hajime.
She sat up again, and then suddenly recalled another odd point.
"Wait a sec. If you're only planning to go to the dungeon later, then there's no need to update your Falna right now, right?"
Her slightly dizzy brain, thrown off by Hajime's response earlier, snapped back into clarity.
"Don't tell me… Hajime, did you sneak into the dungeon today?"
She eyed him suspiciously, like a newlywed wife suspecting her husband had been cheating.
"My experience has nothing to do with the dungeon."
Hajime shook his head.
"You'll understand once you see the numbers. Just try not to get too shocked."
"Shocked? Pfft. I'm not a child! There's no way I'd be scared so easily. Don't underestimate a goddess!"
Muttering defiantly, Hestia pricked her fingertip, letting a drop of blood fall onto Hajime's back to update his Falna.
As the data formed and appeared in list format, she froze.
"W-W-What the heck is this?!"
Hestia, who had just said she wouldn't be scared, let out an uncontrollable shriek of disbelief.