Now standing before Hestia, time resumes.
"What did you say?" she asks.
"Oh, sorry. I was saying I want to join a Familia, and I'm looking for Hestia, the Greek goddess of the hearth. Do you know where I can meet her?"
I pretend not to recognize her, intentionally playing ignorant to test her response and set the tone for my expectations of her as a goddess.
Hestia's eyes sparkle, and suddenly—she rushes forward with an exaggerated burst of enthusiasm.
For a moment, I feel like I've just met The Flash.
She puffs out her chest, adopting an arrogant stance and dramatically announces:
*"New adventurer, you are in luck! The goddess you seek has graced you with her presence and will *allow you to join my glorious Familia!""
My expression darkens instantly—disappointment etched across my face.
She notices.
If there's one thing I despise, it's arrogance without substance, especially from someone who should embody humility and dignity.
"What? What's wrong?" she asks, frowning.
"I'll be honest—I'm disappointed. I don't want to join your Familia anymore. Sorry, and thanks for your time."
I turn to leave, keeping my tone firm but indifferent.
Hestia panics, grabbing my hand.
"Eh?! Wait—why are you leaving? Please join my Familia! If it's about the house—or that there are no members—I'll work hard to make it better!"
She's desperate, almost on the verge of tears, making me pause for a moment.
I suspect she's been rejected multiple times already, with adventurers citing the same reasons.
I meet her gaze.
"It's not about the house—or the lack of members. I can change all that myself."
"I chose this Familia for one reason only—you, the goddess of hearth, home, and family."
"Home and family are what I cherish most, so I chose you over every other deity."
"But instead of the elegance, prestige, and motherly wisdom I expected—you present yourself like you're Freya or Ishtar, drowning in arrogance and theatrics."
Hestia flinches at my words.
She looks shaken, eyes wide.
Then, she does something I didn't expect—she confesses.
"It wasn't my choice!" she blurts out, her voice wavering.
She takes a deep breath before explaining:
"I had to change to survive. People forgot about me—when the other gods and goddesses descended, they built their reputations first, making their names worshiped."
"Every deity had something to offer—combat skills, trickery, beauty, alcohol, craftsmanship—but my domain is family, love, and stability."
"In a world obsessed with power and status, those things held no value."
"When I arrived, I thought people would flock to join my Familia—but they didn't even know what I was the goddess of."
"At first, I lived with Hephaestus, my friend—but her children, and other gods, saw me as a burden. They whispered that I was living off her generosity."
"I couldn't stand it. I'm the goddess of family—I wasn't meant to depend on others like a beggar."
"So I took on this persona, hiding my shame behind arrogance, hoping to drown out the ridicule."
"But it never stopped."
"Hephaestus tried to help me—she punished those who insulted me, even exiling some of her Familia members for their cruelty."
"A law was even passed to punish disrespect toward gods—but not for me."
"They refused to extend that protection—not for Hestia, the forgotten goddess."
"I left, trying to stand on my own—but other goddesses spread rumors, saying Hephaestus kicked me out."
"Now, my only goal is to build a Familia and make every single person regret looking down on me."
Her voice trembles, but her eyes burn with raw determination.
I see anger, pain, disbelief—but also unbreakable resolve.
In that moment—I know.
She needs someone who believes in her.
Without hesitation, I step forward and hug her, patting her back.
"It's okay. You did well. Don't be sad—I'm here now."
She looks at me, startled.
"What do you mean?"
"I mean—you just found your first family member."
"The one who will make your Familia the strongest in this world."
I step back, giving her a warm smile.
"So let's start over."
"I am Sora, an adventurer looking to join a Familia."
Hestia takes a deep breath, steadies herself, then returns my smile.
She stands tall, wiping away any trace of uncertainty.
"I am Hestia, goddess of the Hestia Familia, and I welcome you into my Familia."
She extends her hand.
I take it firmly, shaking her hand.
"It is my honor to join your Familia, Hestia-sama."
We both pause, grinning.
Then—we both laugh, a genuine moment of joy.
After a brief silence, I say:
"Well—since I am now a member, and the captain position is vacant, may I assume the role?"
Hestia nods without hesitation.
"It would be an honor to have you as our captain."
"Then as captain," I say, turning to the ruined church, "my first action is to rebuild our base—properly fit for a Familia of our caliber."
Hestia looks confused, but I smirk.
"Enjoy the show."
I summon Jarvis.
"Buy me a mansion blueprint and all the materials needed to build it. Optimize resources using the existing church structure and surrounding debris."
"Let's show what a civil engineer can build using magic instead of labor."
Jarvis responds instantly:
"Right away, sir."