Facing Hephaestus's question, Roy chose honesty.
Lies were futile against gods in this world, who could effortlessly see through mortal deception.
Having descended from Heaven and sealed their divine powers, gods retained passive abilities, like detecting lies, to ensure their safety and enjoynt in the lower world.
While Roy wasn't sure if this applied to him, he didn't want to risk it.
Besides, Hephaestus, with millennia of experience, would likely see through any ruse. Instead of crude intentions, Roy frad his goal as "seeking a aningful connection with a goddess," a more romantic phrasing.
Hephaestus's expression turned bemused. "If you want to build a new Familia from scratch, Hestia's a good fit," she said.
A bare-bones Familia, with only a god and no mbers, suited a rookie adventurer eager to carve their own path. Hestia would offer maximum support, giving Roy significant influence. "With steady effort, you could grow it into a strong Familia."
"But if you're after an ambiguous connection with a goddess," she continued, shaking her head, "Hestia's not your match."
"We'll see after I et her," Roy said politely. "The Guild said Hestia's the only god in Orario without a Familia right now."
"You're clueless, aren't you?" Hephaestus sighed. "Hestia's a virgin goddess. That detail wouldn't be in Guild records."
"Perfect. What's the issue?" Roy asked, feigning confusion.
Hestia's purity was precisely why he'd chosen her. A less chaste goddess might draw unwanted attention from rival Familias if Roy showcased his skills too boldly. He kept these thoughts to himself, wary of Hephaestus's reaction.
"What to say about you…" Hephaestus chuckled.
At sixteen or seventeen, Roy was at an age brimming with romantic fantasies and pure infatuations. His interest in a virgin goddess like Hestia was unsurprising, even endearing. Goddesses, symbols of beauty, often captivated mortals with their allure alone. Hephaestus didn't mock his ambition—it was a natural impulse.
"Hestia's one of Heaven's fad virgin goddesses," she explained. "We've been friends since our days there, and in all that ti, I've never seen her take to any man or show interest in intimacy." Staring at Roy, she added, "Get my drift?"
"So, Lady Hestia doesn't fancy male gods?" Roy asked, playing dumb.
"Virginity symbolizes purity. To maintain it, romantic ties with n are off-limits," Hephaestus said, rubbing her forehead.
"In short, if you're chasing a goddess encounter, pick another deity's Familia," she advised.
"Where's Lady Hestia now?" Roy pressed.
Seeing his persistence, Hephaestus relented. She could nudge him later when Hestia returned. "She's out. She'll be back when she's hungry."
Back when hungry? Roy thought, amused by the maternal vibe.
Noting his odd look, Hephaestus added, "Hestia's hunting for Familia mbers, probably trying her luck in town. Wait here if you want, or co back at noon."
"I've got ti. Mind if I stay?" Roy asked courteously.
"My shop's quiet most days. Nothing urgent," Hephaestus said, smiling. "Only tea to offer, though."
As the flagship of the Hephaestus Familia, the forge sold top-tier, exorbitantly priced weapons. Roy glanced at a price tag, spotting a string of zeros—far beyond most adventurers' budgets. The shop's apparent sluggishness belied the Familia's imnse wealth, one of Orario's richest.
"Feel free to browse. If you like sothing…" Hephaestus trailed off, grinning.
"You'll gift it to ?" Roy quipped cheekily.
"In your dreams!" Hephaestus laughed. "Buy it when you're rich."
Roy nodded, wandering the shop, chatting idly with Hephaestus.
"By the way, Lady Hephaestus, you must have lovers, right?" he asked casually.
Her smile froze, and she shot him a glare. 'This kid picks the worst topics,' she thought, exasperated.
Ti passed swiftly.
"Hephaestus~~~!" a singsong voice called, and a petite, black-haired, blue-eyed loli goddess entered cautiously—Hestia, evicted by Hephaestus to fend for herself.
"What do I do?" Hestia whined, her face pitiful. "No one wants to join my Familia! They hear I'm a new goddess and bolt!"
After mooching off Hephaestus, Hestia had been ordered to recruit mbers or find work. As a chronic slacker, she'd hit dead ends everywhere.
Hestia was about to plead for more ti when she noticed Roy. "Hephaestus, a custor today?" she asked, swapping her pitiful act for a dignified goddess pose, chuckling awkwardly.
"Right on ti," Hephaestus said, nodding. "This young man, Roy Flott, ca for you. He's waited all morning."
"For ?" Hestia flinched, shrinking back. "I didn't cause trouble or skip a bill today!"
Hephaestus snorted, amused. "Not that. Let him explain."
"Hello, Lady Hestia," Roy said, smiling politely. "I'm here to ask about joining your Familia."
"No problem, you're in!" Hestia's eyes sparkled, agreeing instantly.
"Hestia…" Hephaestus groaned, palming her forehead.
Desperate for mbers, Hestia would accept anyone, a urgency fueled by Hephaestus's ultimatum: recruit or be kicked out to the streets.
"Don't you want to hear his terms?" Hephaestus asked.
"Whatever he wants, I'm ga," Hestia said without missing a beat.
"He's hoping for a special connection with a goddess," Hephaestus said, eyeing her. "As a virgin goddess, that's not your thing, right?"
"Who says I can't?" Hestia huffed, glaring. "I'm open to romance!"
Hephaestus gaped, speechless, before muttering, "Where's your dignity?"
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