That’s a serious humblebrag.
Of course, Bell knew just how revolting the "Poison of Envy" was.
It stemd from desire—every sentient being with emotions possessed at least a trace of jealousy. Even the gods in Tenkai, lounging around with nothing better to do, weren’t exempt. Otherwise, how could Ishtar be so openly hostile toward Freya?
If not for desire twisting things, would there have even been a clash between those two gods?
What Bell was really curious about was how the Poison of Envy had ended up on Hephaestus-sama’s face. That question kept his gaze fixed on her.
"Hephaestus-sama, when did your right cheek beco like that?"
It was a personal question, one that might touch a nerve.
As a mber of a Familia, Bell wasn’t really in a position to ask sothing like that—not about his own god, and especially not about another Familia God.
Hestia understood that Bell ant no harm, but she still worried Hephaestus might take it the wrong way.
Thankfully, her concern was unnecessary. Hephaestus didn’t seem to mind at all and answered plainly.
"Since the day I beca aware of myself, my right cheek has always looked the way you saw."
"Since the day you beca aware...?"
The answer made Bell pause in thought.
’If Hephaestus-sama had already been afflicted by the Poison of Envy from the mont she gained consciousness, then it probably wasn’t the work of another god. It might’ve occurred naturally.’
All Bell really knew about the origins of the Seven Deadly Sins was that they were born from desire. But this kind of manifestation—he had no clue how it actually ca about.
Honestly, it would make more sense if soone had intentionally directed the curse at Hephaestus-sama.
But if it had been there since birth, then the possibility of outside interference could likely be ruled out.
Still... could a god really be born carrying such corruption?
When Bell examined her earlier, he had already noticed that the Poison of Envy wasn’t just on the surface anymore—it had started corroding even deeper.
’That mask must have so kind of sealing effect, otherwise Hephaestus-sama wouldn’t have been able to hold out for that long.’
But that was as far as Bell’s speculation went.
He quickly set the thought aside—right now, he had to escort both goddesses to et the newly arrived Loki.
’I’ll look into the issue of the ’Poison of Envy’ thoroughly afterward. Once I’ve drawn so conclusions, I’ll compile a full report.’
At the mont, Bell still knew too little about the ’Poison of Envy.’ There was only so much he could say, and even that ca from a partial understanding.
"Now, Goddess-sama and Hephaestus-sama need to get ready."
"Why?"
"Because Loki-sama is here—with her Familia. They’re right upstairs."
"Huh!?"
That woke Hestia up completely. She couldn’t understand why Loki would show up so early in the morning with her whole Familia.
"What’s she doing here this early? Wasn’t the last ti humiliating enough?"
"Wait! Bell-kun, how did Loki even get in? With all the traps and barriers we set up outside, she still managed to bring people in?"
Bell had to explain, or it’d make it seem like all his preparations had been sloppy.
"Goddess-sama, the traps and barriers worked perfectly. They successfully incapacitated everyone. In fact, the Nine Hell triggered the barrier’s counterattack chanism and suffered a critical injury from a magic explosion."
Loki and her entire Familia had been knocked out cold.
Just hearing that much was enough for Hestia and Hephaestus to picture the scene. Considering Bell had ntioned the Nine Hell, it confird that Loki had brought the highest-ranking mbers of her Familia—her elite Level 6 .
But what really caught their attention was that the Nine Hell had suffered a fatal injury.
Sure, it was normal for regular adventurers to get seriously hurt by traps—but a Level 6?
Now Hestia started to worry that her child might’ve gone too far.
"Bell-kun... you didn’t kill one of Loki’s children, did you?"
Bell’s face twitched slightly.
"Goddess-sama, we’re about to set off on an expedition, and I have no personal grudges against Loki Familia. It was just that the Nine Hell tried to probe the barrier’s weak point by releasing magic—and ended up triggering one of my traps. That’s how the serious injury happened."
Hestia let out a quiet sigh of relief. As long as Bell hadn’t intentionally tried to kill them, it was fine.
She also understood why Bell had chosen to ally with Loki Familia.
Partly to give their own Familia a reliable backer—and partly for the sake of the expedition itself.
’Thinking about it, there’s no reason for Bell to randomly target Loki’s kids.’
"Then... are Loki’s children okay?"
"They’re fine. After so basic healing, their physical injuries are mostly recovered."
"That’s good."
Hestia might not get along with that flat-chested Loki, but she wasn’t petty enough to wish harm on her children.
She kicked her legs off the bed, spotted her slippers nearby, slipped them on, and looked up.
"Alright. Let’s go et Loki."
"Hestia, wait a mont."
Hephaestus, still sitting on the bed, also stood up.
"I’m coming too."
This visit from Loki definitely wasn’t just casual. After all, she had just wrapped up the raid on the Ishtar Familia. There was no way Loki would recklessly show up with several key subordinates just for a friendly visit.
Hephaestus wasn’t worried about Hestia.
Loki hadn’t tricked Hestia too many tis, and she wouldn’t let things go so far that Hestia got hurt.
She was just concerned about the real reason for Loki’s visit.
’Even without thinking too hard, I can tell—Loki ca here for Bell.’
And with that in mind, she had so questions of her own she wanted answered.
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