Beneath the city walls, Hestia led the boy's two "lovers" away together. Laurier watched their retreating figures, sensing a troublesome aura and suppressing the urge to reveal her identity. The current situation was already complicated enough; she couldn't burden the boy further.
As Bell and the others approached the church, a flippant voice sounded beside Laurier.
"You were discussing something quite interesting earlier. Care to share with me?"
"Hermes-sama, when did you arrive?"
"H-H-Hermes..."
Faced with the sudden appearance of the god, Laurier was momentarily startled, while Takemikazuchi frowned.
"Oh, Takemikazuchi, long time no see. Such a rare reunion—don't look so downcast." Hermes approached with a smile.
"I didn't want to see you at all. Why did this trip come so quickly?" Takemikazuchi couldn't fathom the god before him. Every time they met, Hermes always seemed to enjoy joking around. Hermes' approach to his Familia was equally carefree—wandering the world, leaving them to their own devices.
"Because I heard something rather amusing! My child has become the lover of the Little Rookie, so I've decided to stay in Orario for now, watching over them!" Hermes declared, almost boastfully.
"So the harem rumors were true after all..." Takemikazuchi murmured in admiration.
"You should understand how an old father feels watching his daughter marry off, right?" Hermes exaggerated his tone.
"...You don't care about your Familia members at all. What truly troubles me is that my child is too rigid, unable to find a lover." Takemikazuchi recalled his own love-starved Familia member and sighed deeply.
"Why not seek help from that youth? He's the sort to rescue damsels in distress like a true hero." Hermes suggested with a smile.
"Best not. My child isn't in that predicament yet. Let her find her own path. But what did you just say... a hero?" Takemikazuchi lifted his gaze toward the towering city walls.
The wind whistled over the walls, drifting toward the far east like a maiden's lament. The image of a certain fox-girl flashed through the god's mind.
...
Outside Twilight Manor, Bell avoided the crowds, visiting Loki Familia alone. After a brief wait, Finn met the youth at a secluded spot. Bell recounted the details and suspicions of their journey.
Once the business was settled, he asked softly:
"You must have had your reasons regarding Lefiya-san, right?"
"Yes. Using your identities as a shield spared us much trouble. If it caused you any distress, please accept my apologies." Since the youth had already noticed, Finn made no attempt to conceal it, candidly informing him about the affairs of the Great Magic Nation.
"I see... It doesn't really concern me, but Lefiya-san might get into trouble..." Bell recalled the blushing golden-yellow-haired elf and gave a bitter smile.
…
In the church crypt, Hestia sat upright, her gaze fixed on the two Elf maidens before her.
"Let's skip the pleasantries. You both know why I summoned you."
Hestia assumed the demeanor of a goddess, surveying them as if passing judgment.
"So, do you truly love Bell?"
The goddess's first question cut straight to the heart of the matter. The boy was clever and brave; Hestia didn't wish to doubt his judgment. Yet, as a god, she must properly manage these harem affairs. Perhaps someone harbored ulterior motives, deliberately drawing near the youth.
Under Hestia's gaze, Lefiya's voice trembled as she spoke.
"I... I don't like him at all!"
"Hmph..." Hestia staggered back as if struck by a sledgehammer. The girl's words were a lie. Knowing full well that the god could discern truth from falsehood, she deliberately spoke thus. As if declaring that such questions had no purpose.
Hestia steeled herself and turned to the tavern attendant beside her. Ryuu blinked and spoke with unwavering resolve.
"Of course I like Bell Cranel."
"Hmm..." Hestia's resolve weakened slightly. The tavern attendant's words were undoubtedly truthful.
What the goddess didn't know was that Ryuu, skilled in sophistry, didn't mean affection in a romantic sense. Hestia, lacking in deep thought, hadn't considered this at all.
She pursed her lips and spoke again.
"Both of you... can you accept the idea of a harem?"
In Hestia's understanding, while some nations in this world practiced polygamy, Elves were absolutely not included among them. For a race renowned for its purity and innocence, it was hard to imagine them so readily accepting a harem declaration.
Facing this question, Lefiya surprisingly showed no shyness. After all, she was merely an observer, not one of the harem members.
"Of course it's fine. No matter what others think, the most important thing is what Bell and everyone else (not including me, right?) think, right?"
Having left her homeland early, Lefiya's perspective on others' relationships was far more open-minded than most elves. Precisely because of this, she had understood the nature of harems long before their journey began.
"Alright... I suppose..." Hestia responded reluctantly, deflated like a punctured balloon. The golden-yellow-haired elf's words held no pretense.
To Hestia, as a member of the harem, Lefiya had conquered the possessiveness inherent in everyone. Her affection was as solid as rock. Before such radiant devotion, no words could make a difference.
Hestia turned her gaze back to the tavern attendant, seeking some validation from them. Instead, Ryuu sighed softly and spoke slowly.
"If Bell were in mortal danger, I'd risk my own life to save him. I feel the same way about his harem."
"..."
Hestia slumped onto the sofa. The sincerity in those words was undeniable. Whether it was the boy or the harem members, Ryuu would fight to the death to protect them.
This resolve was far heavier than Hestia had ever imagined. Accepting the harem was merely lip service. True love could transcend life and death, staking one's very existence.
Before this noble and unyielding devotion, Hestia was utterly defeated.
She bit her lip in frustration before speaking:
"I approve of your relationship... So, how far have you two gone?"
"...?"
Lefiya blinked in confusion.
"Well... you know, kissing... you must have done that, right?"
Hestia knew this was an abyss she shouldn't touch, yet she couldn't resist peering into it.
"Kissing?! Of course not!"
Lefiya retorted, her face flushing red.
"Hmm..."
Hestia heard this obvious lie, her entire body stiffening like a statue, cracks appearing in her composure.
"..."
Ryuu sat frozen in place, speechless.
Hestia, however, showed no suspicion toward her. "You... you sly fox, needless to say... When Bell isn't here at night, you all end up in his bed, right?!"
"Sly... sly fox?!"
Ryuu was flustered by this sudden term and the increasingly inappropriate topic.
"Wh-what?! You too?!"
Lefiya's eyes widened, her cheeks flushing crimson. During their journey, she had witnessed Laurier emerge from the young man's room, her clothes askew. Lefiya had assumed the stern Ryuu was an ally on her side.
"What do you mean 'not coming home all night'?! And what do you mean 'running to his bed'?!"
Lefiya's face flushed as she shouted her accusations.
"..."
Ryuu's cheeks grew increasingly scorching. None of this was her doing—how could she possibly answer these questions?
"I... I know, you know? When we go bathing, those lovestruck women always talk dirty..."
Hestia spoke with a smile, like a doll broken by reality.
"Hestia-sama?" Lefiya sensed the goddess's unusual aura.
"They must have pressed every inch of their skin together... Licking and hugging... even... even making... making babies... Ah! That damn fox spirit!"
Hestia recalled the bathhouse gossip, grabbing a pillow and kneading it fiercely.
"..."
Ryuu's rationality snapped completely. As the goddess recounted, the unspeakable acts between Syr and the youth surfaced in Ryuu's mind. Her fantasies spiraled out of control.
In the next instant, her friend's face was replaced by her own.
!
No.
It can't be.
Absolutely not.
It shouldn't be like this.
It's impossible!!
How could she even entertain such filthy thoughts!!!
An unprecedented turmoil erupted within Ryuu's heart. As if fleeing her own thoughts, she covered her burning cheeks with both hands, refusing to answer any questions.
"Ah! So it was like that!!"
Seeing the tavern attendant's utterly bashful expression, Hestia was certain her guess was spot on.
"To actually do such things to my Bell! You wanted to throw yourself at Bell the very first time you came to the church basement, didn't you?!"
"You idiot, love-struck fool, fox spirit, shameless elf!!!"
Hestia gasped deeply, her hands clutching the pillow so tightly it was covered in wrinkles.
"Um... Hestia-sama, may I leave first...."
Lefiya asked, trembling.
"You actually want to go find Bell right now?!"
Hestia shook her twin ponytails, glaring at her viciously.
"After thinking about it, I'll just stay here..."
Lefiya pressed her lips together and lowered her head.
In the neglected basement, the useless Ryuu remained silent, the flustered Lefiya didn't know what to do, and the pure goddess, crushed by reality, complained incessantly.
Thus, the conversation descended into utter chaos.
...
Dusk fell.
Ryuu and Lefiya dragged their weary bodies away.
Bell couldn't tell who emerged victorious from this exchange between the girls. But upon his return, Hestia had just updated her stats and promptly kicked him out. The goddess slammed the door shut. Unable to interfere with the two elven maidens' affection, she vented all her frustration onto the boy.
"Bell! Don't come back today!! Go find that fox spirit!!!"