Loki had to give him so credit—this newcor actually had the guts to say sothing so pointed to her.
Sure, she usually joked around and acted carefree, but that didn’t an she didn’t care about anything. Not many people dared to talk to her like that, or even use that kind of tone. And yet, Loki actually appreciated kids like this. Especially ones who stepped up to defend their Familia God when they sensed soone was trying to slander them.
Hestia imdiately stood up, eyes sharp as she glared at Loki.
"Loki, don’t you dare lay a finger on my Bell."
"Don’t make out to be so petty, shorty."
Loki rolled her eyes at Hestia’s outburst. Sure, she could be willful, but she wasn’t petty enough to get angry at a brave kid just for standing up for their god. And besides, did she really look like the type of goddess who only knew how to throw tantrums?
Loki ignored Hestia’s vigilance. She genuinely liked this brave kid, and from the looks of it, he hadn’t been an Adventurer for long. But this kind of personality? Definitely her type.
"Newbie, I really like your personality."
"Standing up to defend your god when they’re being mocked—while I wouldn’t exactly recomnd doing that, I do admire the courage."
"Since you’re this brave, if you ever run into trouble, feel free to co find ."
Bell only shook his head slightly. He could tell what was really going on between Loki and Goddess-sama.
"Loki-sama, I think the only reason you’re going easy on is because I’m part of Goddess-sama’s Familia."
Was I really that obvious?
Loki couldn’t help but question if her acting had gotten that bad. For a kid who just beca an Adventurer to see through her that easily...
She admitted, her appreciation for this "newbie" had a lot to do with that shorty. After all, she hadn’t known that the shorty had already picked up a follower—and not just anyone, but soone with so real potential.
’As expected, Goddess-sama really has so pull among the gods.’
Bell could tell from Loki’s reaction that his hunch had been right. The relationship between Loki and Goddess-sama was... complicated. The kind where neither could stand the other.
But they weren’t mortal enemies. If anything, they were like frenemies—each waiting for the other to trip up.
Bell couldn’t help but reflect.
Goddess-sama isn’t without her advantages. She’s got strong social skills and good relationships with many gods, and that alone is a huge asset for any Familia.’
’Massive.’
Though Goddess-sama started from nothing as an unaffiliated god, it wasn’t like she was truly empty-handed. She had a circle of friends that were basically billionaires. Starting out might’ve been tough, but with a network like that, she was bound to gain ground fast.
"Unlike the shorty, you’re actually pretty sharp, newbie."
"What did you just say!?"
There was no mistaking the implication—she’d just called Hestia dumb. She exploded on the spot.
"Of course I an you, you dumb dwarf."
"Hah!? Like you’re any smarter, you flat board!"
"Flat... flat board!?"
That hit Loki hard.
As a goddess, she was the rugged type. Even if she personally didn’t care too much about it, comparisons were still comparisons.
What she hated most was being compared to this damn shorty.
No matter how indifferent she pretended to be, she still didn’t want to lose to the shorty—especially not in the one area she, as a goddess, took pride in.
But for so reason, she was the type who could see her toes just by looking down.
And this shorty, who was way shorter than her, was the kind who could drink milk tea without even using her hands.
The contrast between them was like the earth and the Babel Tower—ridiculously far apart.
Every ti soone poked at that sore spot, Loki couldn’t help but tear up a little.
It wasn’t that she didn’t want to grow, but as a god, she simply had no room to.
That completely ruined her mood for the day. She grabbed the shorty’s cheeks with crab-claw-like hands and pinched down with all her might.
"You damn midget, don’t you know it’s low to insult people by pointing out their flaws?"
"Hmph! You’re the flat one! Flat as a board, yet you go after girls with curves. You’re just jealous, aren’t you? Jealous of my amazing figure."
Each jab struck Loki right in the heart, bringing tears to the corners of her eyes.
"Uwaaah! Mama! This stupid midget is bullying !"
Though she was the one being teased, tears stread down Loki’s face. She didn’t feel like pinching the midget’s cheeks anymore. Instead, she turned and dove into the arms of one of her Familia mbers.
"Who’s ’Mama’?!"
The royal Elf she pounced on gave her a sharp glare. She was barely of age—still a young adult—and definitely not old enough to be called a mother. But for so reason, people in their Familia kept calling her "Mama."
The whole thing had started thanks to their ridiculous deity.
...Riveria’s gaze swept toward Hestia’s Familia, landing on the white-haired boy.
"Hmm?"
Loki caught Riveria staring, changed her expression, and sat back down.
"What? You interested in the midget’s kid too?"
Riveria shook her head slightly.
She wasn’t sure what it was, but just now, for a brief mont, she felt a strange sense of unease from that boy. His aura clearly marked him as a re Level 1 adventurer.
Maybe it was just the aftereffects of the expedition. Her nerves might still be frayed.
"Loki, did you sense anything?"
Loki’s narrowed eyes deepened slightly.
"So you felt it too, huh."
Even if it lasted only a mont, she’d definitely sensed sothing unusual—sothing oddly familiar—coming from that "newbie." It was right there, on the tip of her tongue, but she couldn’t quite say it aloud.
"That lucky midget. His first kid turns out to be soone like that."
She didn’t know exactly what the "newbie" was hiding, but she was sure he wasn’t just so nobody.
Maybe in a year or two, he’d make a na for himself.
Still, lately, it had been harder to read anything about Hestia’s children.
With that thought, Loki dropped the idea of watching him any further.
"Whatever he’s hiding, it doesn’t matter for now."
"...Yeah."
As long as he was still a rookie, there was no reason to be concerned just yet.
Riveria quietly withdrew her attention as well.
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