Pushing open the wooden door to the church basement, Winping led the four beautiful girls in grandly.
"We're back, Hestia."
Hestia, who was cooking soup, smiled and turned around, saying: "Welcome ba—"
When she saw the group of beautiful girls, she suddenly froze, and the spoon clattered to the floor.
"Wh-wh-what's with all these girls?!"
Hestia rushed forward, grabbed Winping's collar, and shook him frantically, "You were only gone for half a day and you brought back three more girls without saying anything?!"
"Calm down, Hestia."
Winping helplessly pressed her shoulders, "They're all here to join our Familia, just like Karyl, and..."
He leaned close to Hestia's ear and whispered, "They're all LV11 adventurers, you know."
"Wh—"
Hestia's complaints stopped abruptly, her eyes wide.
She mechanically turned to look at the four girls, her lips trembling: "L... LV11? All three of them?"
Winping nodded.
"Hello, nice to meet you, Lady Hestia~"
Elaina bowed gracefully, "I am Elaina, the Ash Witch. Please take care of me from today onwards."
"I'm Chisato Nishikigi!"
Chisato waved with a bright smile, "I heard you're a Goddess? That's amazing! Gods really exist in this world!"
"I'm Takina Inoue."
Takina bowed slightly, "Thank you, Lady Goddess and Master, for being willing to accept us."
Hestia stood dumbfounded, only recovering after a long while: "Y-you, you really all want to join my Familia?"
All three nodded simultaneously.
"Th-that's great!"
Hestia's expression instantly changed, and she rubbed her hands together excitedly: "Well, no time to waste, I'll bestow the Divine Blessing on you all right away!"
She fumbled to get out her divine blood and silver needle, engraving the Familia emblem on each of the four.
When she saw that they were indeed all genuine LV11s, Hestia almost fainted again from excitement.
"Winping-kun..."
She trembled as she grabbed Winping's hand, "Wh-where did you find these girls?"
Karyl softly explained: "Lady Goddess, they should be like me, all summoned by Master from different worlds..."
"Sum... summoned?! I see!"
Hestia suddenly understood, then looked around the crowded basement, "But now with so many people, this place definitely won't be enough..."
Winping waved his hand grandly: "Let's just stay at an inn on the street! It's a good reason to celebrate!"
"Celebrate?"
"Are we having a welcome party for us? Yay!"
Chisato clapped her hands happily.
Winping smiled and explained: "Yes, and not only that, because Karyl and I have also leveled up to LV11."
"Wh—"
Hestia was shocked again: "You, you two are also LV11?!"
She held her forehead, waving her hand as if weak: "Forget it... I'm already numb..."
After updating Winping and Karyl's abilities.
Hestia looked at the powerful team before her, tears of excitement sparkling in her eyes: "In just a few days, our Hestia Familia... is going to rise completely!"
...The 'Hostess of Fertility' pub was brightly lit and bustling with people.
Winping and his group occupied the largest round table, which was laden with various rich dishes and delicious fruit juice drinks.
"To the arrival of Elaina, Chisato, and Takina, and to the future of the Hestia Familia, cheers!"
Six glasses clinked in the air, making a crisp sound.
Syr walked over with a tray, a professional smile on her face: "Guests, here is the grilled meat with garlic you ordered."
She subtly observed the four newly joined girls, quietly frowning.
"[They're all unfamiliar faces. Where did Hestia find these girls?]"
Even as a god, although she could see the light of souls, Syr couldn't discern the strength of these girls.
She only vaguely felt that their aura was quite extraordinary.
"Thank you, lovely waitress~"
Chisato happily took the plate, casually slipping Syr a coin as a tip, "Wow, the food here looks amazing!"
Syr bowed slightly, and as she turned, her gaze briefly met Winping's.
Those deep black eyes seemed to see through everything, making her heart tremble.
"[The aura of his soul seems to have become even colder than last time. I feel a bit scared...]"
"[Wait, scared? I, Freya, am actually afraid of a human?]"
Syr maintained a seemingly nonchalant smile on the surface, but her heart suddenly felt uneasy.
"Master."
Karyl whispered: "That waitress seems to be looking at you..."
"Hmm, I know."
Winping took a sip of juice, "Don't mind it."
Just then, the pub door was pushed open, and a commotion ensued.
"Yo, isn't that Hestia? Long time no see."
A frivolous male voice spoke.
A male god wearing a cowboy hat and a cape, looking nonchalant, walked in.
"Hermes?!"
Hestia frowned, "What are you doing here?"
"Just passing by and came in for a drink~"
"Wow, these lovely girls wouldn't all be your new Familia members, would they?"
"The quality is truly astonishing."
Hermes walked closer with a smile, his gaze sweeping back and forth over Chisato and the others.
"None of your business."
Hestia snapped, "Our Familia is having dinner. Don't bother us if you have nothing to do, go away!"
"Go, go!"
Hestia waved her hand dismissively, as if trying to shoo away an insect.
"Don't be so hostile~ Aren't we friends?"
Hermes pulled out a chair and sat down, making himself at home. He stared intently at Chisato. "Hello, I am the god Hermes. May I ask this lovely lady her name is..."
Just as his hand was about to rest on Chisato's shoulder, Ying Ping suddenly looked up, and a sharp gaze, mixed with killing intent, pierced him like a dagger.
"Ahaha..."
Feeling the strong killing intent, Hermes's hand froze in mid-air.
He chuckled, retracting his hand. "So she's already taken, huh? You should have said something earlier. I was just joking..."
Seeing that most of the people at the table were looking at him coldly, he wisely stood up and walked towards an empty table in the distance: "Then I won't disturb your Familia's dinner~"
"See you next time, Hestia. It was a pleasure to see you all~"
After he walked away, Kokkoro asked curiously, "That strange uncle is a god too?"
"Yes, Hermes, the messenger god of the heavens."
Hestia pouted, "A annoying guy who's always prying for information. He probably just wanted to come here to have some fun."
Ilena elegantly cut her steak. "He's a god, but he seems quite wary of Lord Ying Ping~"
"That's because the gods have sealed their powers in the lower world and cannot use divine power. Naturally, some of them will fear strong humans like us."
Ying Ping didn't pay much attention to Hermes.
As long as he continued to level up and grow stronger, surpassing these gods of the Dungeon was only a matter of time.
"Hmph, what if he's a god? I hate frivolous men the most."
Takina coldly glanced at Hermes in the distance. "If he dares to get close to Chisato again, I don't mind letting him have a taste of pain."
Soon, everyone forgot about the unpleasantness and clinked glasses again, laughter echoing through the tavern.
"Tsk, that guy's killing intent was not simple..."
Hermes, sitting in the distance, stroked his chin thoughtfully, his eyes gleaming with calculation.