Chapter 3: Okay, Don't Dream, A Loser is a Loser for Life!
Labyrinth City Orario.
The daytime clamor faded, leaving the streets empty.
The night air carried a coolness that seeped into the skin.
Fireflies chased each other, dancing over the withered pond outside the poor district.
The paving stones of the street were wide and damp, with tender green moss climbing into every crevice.
"Kami-sama! Wait a moment, please wait!"
Hearing the shouting from behind, Hestia paused slightly, looked left and right.
None of those boring god friends who usually liked to tease her about her height seemed to be around.
So... was he calling her?
This was truly rare...
Although she was technically a true god, naturally incomparably noble compared to the mortals of the lower world, Hestia, in fact, didn't have the fame of other gods.
Even in the epics spread about her, the descriptions weren't particularly flattering.
Goddess of Poverty, Virgin Goddess, Loli Goddess, and whatnot...
So, hearing someone actually recognize her now, and even using the gratifying honorific "Kami-sama," a smile instantly appeared on Hestia's face.
At the same time, she made a decision.
She had been looking everywhere these past few days for humans willing to join her Familia.
Unfortunately, none of those vulgar adventurers thought much of a poor goddess with such an obscure reputation like her...
If, if this child didn't have a Familia, she would invite him to join hers, to become her first family member.
Thinking this, the smile on Hestia's face widened slightly, her eyes crinkling with laughter.
Simultaneously, she pivoted, her sandals striking the stone slabs with a crisp sound.
The next moment, Hestia turned around, hands clasped behind her back, looking expectantly at the person who had called out to her.
...
Not good!
Not good, not good, not good, not good!
Luke stood rooted to the spot, his face frozen mid-smile.
He could clearly hear his own heart pounding.
His cheeks... were they starting to feel hot?
Based on past experience, he was probably blushing all the way to his ears by now?
Hey hey, do you have to be so lame...
Show some backbone, will you!
Although he had seen this virgin loli goddess's appearance in the anime, and Luke had even read H-doujins featuring Hestia as the main female lead, he could never have imagined that witnessing her beauty in person, that feeling like his heart was being squeezed, like electricity surging through his entire body, would be so intense!
Her facial features and figure weren't drastically different from how they were portrayed in the anime.
If there was any difference, it was perhaps that she had become slightly more delicate and defined.
But what made Luke lose his composure wasn't Hestia's appearance.
Admittedly, in terms of looks, this virgin goddess who possessed both world-class assets and a loli figure was undoubtedly flawless.
But compared to the aura she exuded, all these things paled in significance!
How to describe that feeling?
Noble, venerable, supreme, like the world's most untouchable treasure, transparent and ethereal, making one uncontrollably want to prostrate oneself in worship...
This was probably the legendary divinity?
And when the girl's divinity combined with her bright and lovely appearance, plus that smile as brilliant as spring flowers...
Luke could be 100% certain that in his entire twenty-three years of life, he had never felt such a strong heart-fluttering sensation.
Are all gods such unreasonable existences?
Just witnessing their form could potentially make one lose themselves in that astonishing divinity!
Suddenly, he felt a great admiration for the people living in Orario...
To be able to maintain their sense of self after coming into contact with such existences beyond common sense was truly remarkable in various ways.
"Ka- Ka... Kami... sama..."
Although the throbbing sensation from his heart was intense enough to make his whole body tremble, Luke's mind was crystal clear at this moment.
He tried his best to control himself from doing anything foolish on impulse, while simultaneously meeting Hestia's eyes, carefully observing her reaction.
If gods could really detect his identity as a "stowaway," Hestia would definitely react.
As long as her eyes showed even the slightest hint of abnormality, he would leave Orario overnight immediately.
To his relief, Hestia showed no abnormality.
However, the expectant gaze she directed at him left him somewhat at a loss.
This look... what does it mean?
Should I say something?
Or should I do something?
Just as Luke was feeling awkward from being stared at and was about to say something, anything, Hestia spoke.
"My name is Hestia. What's your name?"
While asking Luke, Hestia kept her hands behind her back, bouncing lightly on her feet as she walked up to him.
She winked playfully, then stood still, staring at him, awaiting his reply.
"..."
This... what does this mean now?
This friendly attitude, this inexplicable goodwill...
When did I become so popular?
Or perhaps, the [Black Swordsman] job legacy actually includes Kirito's Harem King attribute?
The sweet fragrance from the girl lingered near his nose.
Luke looked down at Hestia's pale blue eyes from close range, then his gaze couldn't help but drift slightly lower, past her delicate cheeks, moist lips, the pale blue ribbon at her collar, her exquisite collarbones...
"Kami-sama, I... My name is..."
Although surprised by this virgin loli goddess's assets, Luke still managed to speak, his voice hoarse, "Kami-sama... My name is Luke Starr."
As he spoke, he took two small steps back.
He didn't know if Hestia was doing it intentionally or not, but regardless of whether she deliberately approached him, he just wanted to put as much distance between them as possible right now.
Otherwise, if he wasn't careful, he might fall into the divine temptation emanating from her again.
"Luke Starr? What a rare name... Are you from outside Orario?"
"Yes, that's right, Kami-sama."
Seeing Hestia didn't approach him again, Luke showed a reminiscent look on his face, then slowly began, "I come from a country in the Far East..."
That's right, the classic all-purpose answer from fantasy novels!
You ask where I'm from? I'm from the East!
Otherwise, he could play the amnesia card, but Luke couldn't be bothered to pretend to be some innocent white lotus after losing his memory, so he vaguely said he was from a country in the Far East.
"The East, huh?"
Hestia nodded thoughtfully.
But then, her face lit up with a smile again, her eyes sparkling as she stared at Luke, her expression rather sly, like a weasel planning to steal chickens.
Hey hey, Kami-sama, could you please not look at me like that?
If you keep this up, I'm going to shout!
Feeling somewhat unnerved by her stare, he was just thinking of an excuse to slip away when Hestia's voice sounded again.
"Well then, Luke-kun... Would you like to join the Hestia Familia and become my family?"
"...Huh?"
Luke was stunned by this completely unexpected question.
He had been plotting how to join a Familia and obtain [Falna] from a god, yet this virgin loli goddess whom he had just met was already eagerly extending an invitation?
Am... Am I dreaming?
"Luke-kun, would you like to join Hestia Familia and, starting today, become my family?"
Seeing Luke remain silent with a dazed expression, Hestia thought he hadn't heard clearly, so she repeated herself.
Alright, confirmed now, not dreaming...
Hearing Hestia's invitation clearly, Luke felt somewhat complex emotions.
So, my period of popularity, after being delayed for 23 years, has finally arrived?
What should I do? Suddenly feeling quite moved, feel like crying...
Looking back calmly at Hestia's expectant eyes, Luke was actually ecstatic inside, but the more ecstatic he felt, the calmer his expression became.
This must be the so-called [Aura], right?
Luke was quite satisfied with his composed demeanor at this moment.
So, he gave a cool nod and uttered a light "Mm," accepting Hestia's invitation.
Seeing Luke nod in agreement, Hestia jumped up excitedly, cheering like a child.
"Great! Great! Luke-kun agreed!..."
Watching Hestia jumping around, beside himself with joy, Luke's lips curled slightly into a charmingly wicked smile.
He seemed to envision his future massive crystal palace spanning endless planes!
"...Great! Finally, someone is willing to join my Familia! I won't have to be mocked by those gods anymore! Great! This is really great!"
Just as Luke was lost in fantasy, Hestia's cheers reached his ears, causing his aloof and cold expression to falter.
"...Wait, Kami-sama, what do you mean 'finally someone willing to join'... What about Bell-kun?"
"Bell? What Bell?"
Hearing Luke's question, Hestia shook her head.
"Luke-kun, you are the very first member of our Hestia Familia... But who is this Bell-kun? A friend of yours?"
"No, it's nothing. Please pretend I didn't say anything..."
The heroic aspirations that had just risen in Luke's heart were instantly shattered by Hestia's words.
His entire being wilted like a frost-bitten eggplant.
The white-haired boy Bell Cranel hadn't met Hestia yet.
So he had simply encountered Hestia, who was desperately looking for members, before Bell did.
That explained things somewhat.
No wonder Hestia acted so enthusiastically earlier; he was merely enjoying the treatment destined for the future protagonist.
Probably, if anyone had just walked up and told her they wanted to join the Hestia Familia, she would have been overjoyed beyond measure.
Meaning... the popularity period... hehe...
Why, suddenly, do I feel a bit like life is meaningless?
Obviously everything went smoothly: his abnormality wasn't exposed, he successfully joined Hestia Familia, he even gained the favor of Hestia, this virgin loli goddess.
But why... what is this slight aching feeling in my heart?
"Luke-kun, what's wrong?"
Once Hestia had calmed down a bit from her excitement, she happened to see Luke's expression that screamed 'loser seeking comfort.'
Although she didn't understand what had happened, in that instant, she somehow awakened her maternal instincts without any prior training.
Taking a few steps to his side, she stood on her tiptoes, stretched out her arms, and gently patted his head.
While patting his head, she whispered softly, "There, there, it's okay. I'll take you home..."
"..."
Looking down at Hestia's face full of loving kindness, Luke suddenly couldn't muster a single wicked thought.
Is this the feeling of motherly love... My ass!
I have something to say, and I absolutely f***ing have to say it!!!
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