As the sun dipped below the rooftops of Orario, Felis strolled back to the church, his steps lighter than usual. Today's dive had been productive—not too long, not too short. He had spent most of his time honing his combat skills on the 4th floor, getting used to how monsters moved and reacted. Out of curiosity, he had gone down to the 5th floor, just to get a feel for the place. The monsters were noticeably stronger, but nothing unmanageable.
He had even encountered a Needle Rabbit—a swift, aggressive creature with sharp quills bristling along its back. Unlike Goblins or Kobolds, it didn't hesitate, lunging at him the moment their eyes met. Its powerful hind legs gave it surprising speed, forcing Felis to rely on precise footwork to evade. The real danger came when it spun, launching razor-like quills in a wide arc. One had grazed his shoulder—not enough to wound, but a reminder that recklessness could get him skewered.
Still, once he understood its attack pattern, bringing it down had been just a matter of timing and precision. A well-placed slash as it lunged sealed the fight, its body dissolving into black ash, leaving behind a faintly glowing magic stone and a few Needle Rabbit Horns—valuable materials for potion-making.
Satisfied with his progress, he had decided to call it early.
When he pushed open the rickety church doors, he was met with an excited Hestia, practically bouncing on her feet.
"Welcome back, Felis!" she chirped. "We're eating out tonight!"
Felis raised an eyebrow. "We are?"
"Yep! We have extra money, so why not treat ourselves?" Hestia grinned.
It was true. Felis made sure to leave some household funds every day, and since their expenses were minimal, a little surplus had built up. He had no complaints—eating out sounded nice after a long day.
"Alright, sounds good," he said with a small smirk. "Where to?"
Hestia hummed, tapping her chin. "Somewhere good but not too expensive… Let's figure it out on the way!"
And with that, the two set off, walking side by side through the bustling evening streets of Orario while talking about Felis today experienced.
As they wandered, they passed by a familiar pair outside a tavern—Miach and Takemikazuchi. The two gods were in the middle of a conversation, but when they spotted Hestia, they perked up.
"Well, if it isn't Hestia!" Miach greeted warmly.
Takemikazuchi gave a small smirk. "Out on a date?"
Hestia puffed up her cheeks. "We're just getting dinner, thank you very much!"
Miach chuckled. "Come, join us. We were just about to grab a drink."
Hestia glanced at Felis, who simply shrugged. "Why not?"
As they stepped inside, Miach's gaze flickered to Felis, curiosity evident in his expression. "And this young man?"
Hestia beamed. "Oh! Right! This is Felis Veltheris—my first Familia member!"
Miach and Takemikazuchi exchanged a glance before giving Felis a once-over.
Takemikazuchi nodded. "So, you finally got one, huh?"
Felis gave a polite nod. "Pleasure to meet you both."
"Well, congratulations are in order then." Miach smiled.
The conversation flowed naturally as they settled in, the night filled with warm laughter and good company.
---
As the night deepened, the lively hum of the tavern wrapped around their small table like a familiar old tune. Laughter, the clinking of mugs, and the occasional exclamation of a rowdy adventurer filled the air, but at their table, the conversation remained light and comfortable.
Hestia, now a couple of drinks in, was positively glowing—her usual energy amplified by the warmth of alcohol and good company. "I'm telling you, it's a completely different feeling! Having a Familia member… It's like I finally belong." She grinned, looking up at Felis with a hint of pride.
Miach chuckled, his calm demeanor unchanged. "It's good to see you so happy, Hestia. And Felis, I take it things have been going well for you too?"
Felis, who had been idly swirling his drink, smirked. "Can't complain. Things are shaping up."
Takemikazuchi, who had been listening quietly, raised an eyebrow. "Hestia mentioned you've already reached the fifth floor. That's no small feat for a newcomer."
"More like a test run," Felis replied with a shrug. "Figured I should get a feel for the place first."
"That's a wise approach," Miach said approvingly. "If you happen to come across any Dungeon Lizard Scales or Needle Rabbit Horns, I'd be happy to buy them from you. They're useful for my potions."
Felis stored that away in his mind for later. A direct buyer for materials? That was good to know.
Takemikazuchi, meanwhile, leaned back, studying him. "Well, if you ever run into any of my children down there, I hope you'll look out for each other. The Dungeon isn't kind to solo adventurers."
Felis simply nodded. He understood the sentiment, even if he wasn't planning to rely on others just yet.
Hestia, oblivious to any subtext, raised her mug with a beaming smile. "See? Felis is great, isn't he?"
Felis sighed. "You're drunk, aren't you?"
She waved him off. "Shhh. Just let me brag a little."
Miach and Takemikazuchi exchanged amused glances, while Felis leaned back in his chair, exhaling. This night had turned out more eventful than he expected.
As the night stretched on, the easy flow of conversation continued. Hestia, still riding the high of having her own Familia, kept the mood lively with her cheerful energy. Felis, while playing it cool, found himself enjoying the company more than he expected.
At some point, Miach leaned forward slightly, resting his arms on the table. "Felis, I don't mean to pry, but I'm curious—what made you join Hestia's Familia?"
Felis glanced at Hestia, who was eagerly waiting for his answer like a child hoping to hear praise. He chuckled inwardly before answering, "She asked."
Takemikazuchi blinked. "That's it?"
Hestia pouted. "Hey! It wasn't just that! We had a deep and meaningful conversation!"
Felis smirked. "Yeah, she made a good case."
Miach chuckled at their dynamic. "Well, it seems to have worked out for both of you."
Takemikazuchi nodded, though his gaze remained thoughtful. "You're an interesting one, Felis."
Felis tilted his head. "How so?"
The war god tapped a finger against the table. "Most adventurers seek out the strongest Familias or ones with the best support. You chose one with no reputation, no backing… just Hestia."
Felis met his gaze, then simply shrugged. "Strength isn't everything."
Hestia beamed at his words, looking like she might explode from happiness. Meanwhile, Miach smiled knowingly. "That's a rare mindset."
Takemikazuchi exhaled, a small smirk playing on his lips. "Well, at least we don't have to worry about your loyalty."
Felis raised an eyebrow at the remark before smirking. "Was that ever in question?"
The war god chuckled. "Not anymore."
Hestia, still basking in the moment, suddenly perked up. "Oh! We should do this more often! It's fun!"
Miach laughed softly. "I don't see why not."
Takemikazuchi took a sip of his drink. "Just don't try to leave me to settle the bill."
She grinned mischievously. "No promises!"
Felis sighed, but his smirk never faded. Tonight had been a lot more entertaining than he expected.
---
With the night winding down, the lively hum of the tavern gave way to the quiet streets of Orario as Felis and Hestia stepped outside. The cool night air was refreshing, but for Hestia—who swayed slightly as she walked—it seemed to do little to clear the alcohol from her system.
Felis sighed, watching her with mild amusement. "You really went all in, huh?"
Hestia huffed, puffing up her cheeks. "I did not! I'm just… a little tipsy."
"A little?" He raised an eyebrow as she took a step too wide and wobbled. Without thinking, he reached out and steadied her by the shoulder. "Right. And I'm a High Elf."
Hestia giggled, leaning slightly into his touch. "Nope. You're a cat." She poked his chest playfully. "A big, golden-eyed cat."
Felis rolled his eyes but didn't move his hand from her shoulder. "Come on, let's get you home before you decide to sleep in the middle of the street."Hestia let out a pleased hum but made no effort to pull away, seemingly content with the casual support. As they strolled through the quiet streets, she sighed, her earlier energy giving way to something softer.
"Tonight was nice," she murmured. "I haven't had a night like that in… well, ever."
Felis glanced at her. "Yeah?"
She nodded. "Being around other gods is fun, but it's different now. Before, I was just there. But now… now, I have a Familia. I have you." She turned her head up to look at him, her bright blue eyes reflecting the lantern lights. "That means a lot to me."
Felis didn't respond right away. He wasn't the sentimental type, but there was something about the way she said it—simple, honest, and unguarded. He smirked slightly. "You're getting emotional. Definitely drunk."
Hestia pouted but didn't argue. Instead, she leaned in a little more, resting some of her weight against him. "So what? You're warm."
Felis let out a low chuckle. "Sure. Just don't fall asleep on me."
"I make no promises."
By the time they reached the church, she was barely standing on her own, her body growing heavier against him with each step.
"Alright, that's enough of that," Felis muttered, easily sweeping her up into his arms.
Hestia let out a sleepy giggle, wrapping her arms around his neck. "Mmm… Knew you'd carry me~"
Felis sighed but didn't complain. As they stepped inside, Hestia nuzzled into his shoulder, her breath tickling his neck.
"Hey, Felis?"
"…Yeah?"
She smiled against his skin. "You're the best."
Felis blinked, feeling a strange warmth settle in his chest. He scoffed lightly, smirking. "You better not forget you said that when you wake up."
Hestia just hummed, already halfway asleep.
And as Felis carried her to bed, he found himself thinking—just for a moment—that maybe, just maybe, he didn't mind this at all.