After handling everything outside, Bell quickly returned to the Familia’s territory.
He checked on the progress of the fusion between the external barrier and the world barrier.
The area wrapped by the barrier was starting to beco void-like, with space showing signs of stretching outward.
Bell understood this was the result of the world barrier gradually enclosing the pseudo–subspace. Once it fully rged with the surrounding barrier, Hestia Familia’s ho would be completely detached from the land of Orario, its original location left behind like a foothold.
Once the fusion was complete, this place would truly beco "outside the world," reaching the highest level of security.
’Still a bit more to go.’
The fusion was proceeding rapidly, even faster than expected.
The original estimate had been three months, but at the current pace, it might be completed in just one.
After confirming the fusion’s progress, Bell didn’t return to the treehouse imdiately. Instead, he took a walk around.
’The space has stretched quite a bit. The area inside the barrier is still relatively stable—makes sense since it’s still rging with the world barrier.’
This stage of fusion was often the most dangerous.
Thankfully, Bell had always been cautious. He had surrounded the area with dense barrier layers specifically to prepare for this phase.
The internal space was expanding and stretching, but it didn’t significantly affect the spatial perception inside.
It was a necessary step in adapting to being "outside the world." The pseudo–subspace Bell had created to deceive space was now starting to shift into a true alternate space.
He stretched, stored his filthy cloak into four-dinsional space, and then finally stepped into the treehouse.
"Goddess-sama, I’m back."
"Welco back, Bell-kun!"
As usual, Goddess-sama ca flying out of the room like a gust of wind and leapt into his arms.
Bell reached out to catch her. Her soft body pressed close, along with those two round mounds against his stomach.
Having this happen every day always left a ticklish feeling in his heart.
"Hehe~"
Like a cute little creature, Hestia sniffed around on Bell, but then recoiled, pinching her nose and jumping off him.
"Uwah! Bell-kun, what’s that weird fishy sll on you?"
Bell imdiately recalled the four Minotaurs he’d killed using the Hydra Dagger for an experint. He scratched his head a little awkwardly, lifted his shirt and sniffed—it really did stink.
"Sorry, Goddess-sama. It’s probably blood from when I killed the Minotaurs. I’ll go wash my clothes in a bit."
"Mm-hmm~ Then I’ll help Bell-kun with his bath today!"
At the ntion of cleaning, Hestia’s eyes lit up.
Back when they lived in the underground space, they didn’t have a proper bathhouse—just a makeshift tub where you couldn’t even stretch your legs, let alone properly relax and enjoy a bath.
’Good grief! Goddess-sama, you’re not even pretending anymore, huh?’
Bell nearly bugged his eyes out at the thought.
Unconsciously, his mind built an image of Goddess-sama’s figure—then ntally removed that useless ultra-short dress.
"Pfft!"
...Yeah, the image was a bit too spicy.
With no practical experience, Bell found such scenes way too intense for a rookie like him.
He hurriedly used a cooling Rune on himself, trying to calm his overheated imagination.
Under the Rune’s effect, his feverish thoughts quickly subsided.
"Goddess-sama, I’ll wash myself."
Staying true to one’s resolve was never easy.
"Is that so?"
Her disappointnt was written all over her face, and Bell knew that if he kept looking, his will would definitely crumble.
So, without another word, Bell vanished from Goddess-sama’s view, leaving only his voice behind.
"Goddess-sama, I’ll be going ahead."
As she watched Bell retreat, Hestia’s cheeks gradually turned pink.
"Hmm~ Why doesn’t Bell-kun try just a little harder?"
...
Bell arrived at the bath—sothing he had specially built for Goddess-sama.
Its interior design mirrored the large treehouse they lived in. The floor, made of tree bark, was smooth enough to reflect light despite being natural. It could absorb and purify used water, which was then processed by the tree and recycled back into the bath.
It was a self-sustaining, pollution-free circulation system.
All it took was a proper and well-thought-out modification of the Spirit Tree.
At the far end of the room sat a large, tree-ford bath. At first glance, it looked like a natural hollow inside the treehouse itself.
Near the back, a hollow trunk continuously poured out hot water. This was the output for the bath’s internal circulation system.
Bell, having removed his excess clothing, headed straight to the washing area.
He picked a ripe fruit off the wall. With a gentle squeeze, the fruit burst, releasing a thick stream of juice. Bell poured it over his head, then tossed the crushed fruit aside.
As he scrubbed his hair with both hands, a sweet fruity scent slowly filled his nose. The juice began to foam as he rubbed, gradually washing away the gri and odor from his hair, leaving only a clean, fragrant scent behind.
Looking at his reflection in the mirror, Bell felt his restless emotions begin to settle.
"Ah... Goddess-sama being too cute really is a problem."
"I an, I am still a man. If she keeps teasing like this, I won’t be able to keep the promise I made to her."
Lately, Bell had clearly noticed that Goddess-sama’s hints were becoming more and more obvious.
Maybe it was because of Hephaestus-sama’s involvent. The once calm and steady Goddess-sama had started getting a little flustered.
"Hmm, she’s probably jealous."
Yes, Bell had figured it out—Goddess-sama’s constant teasing stemd from pure jealousy.
He’d been spending a lot of ti with Hephaestus-sama lately, and the two were pretty close even before that. That must have triggered her.
"But when I’m with Hephaestus-sama, she’s always the one teasing ."
Thinking back on it, Bell realized he had never been the one to initiate anything. Hephaestus-sama always took the lead—he just got swept along.
...
(100 Chapters Ahead)
p@treon com / PinkSnake
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