Chapter 93: Hestia's World-Shaking Wisdom, Rozz Is Now in Your Hands! (Patreon)

How could she help Rozz?

Hestia didn't actually want to keep serving as nothing more than a useless decoration, unable to do a thing. She wanted to help him more.

The "Hero Cloud-Raising Plan"...

After all...

At this stage, Rozz was trying to raise his strength to Lv3 through his own efforts as fast as possible, so he could deal with the Apollo Familia.

That made raising his "Character Potential" an urgent matter.

This part wasn't hard. Combine the Dream Training Plan with Dungeon exploration, and efficiency would be maxed out.

The real headache was buying Rozz the time.

With Apollo's despicable nature, he'd hound and corner Adventurers until they submitted. Could Rozz possibly stall him?

Absolutely not.

Apollo surely knew about the talent her Rozz possessed. He would strangle every risk in its cradle.

Considering the safety issue...

"Hey."

"Why do I suddenly feel like I've got an idea?"

Nestled against Rozz's side, Hestia's world-shaking intellect told her she had found a reasonable solution, one that would leave Apollo with no means at all!

Since Apollo had chosen Rozz as his target, there had to be some old grudge mixed in. But at the root of it, her Familia had only just started out and had no member to carry the banner.

In that case...

All she had to do was temporarily transfer Rozz to another Familia. As long as Apollo had no way to force him, that would do.

That's right.

Shelter him under another powerful Familia and buy Rozz the time to grow, until he could take on the Apollo Familia head-on.

Then he could return to her Familia in triumph!!

As the young goddess got to this point, her eyes lit up with delight, and the perfect candidate even surfaced in her mind.

Her very, very, very best friend in Orario.

"Hephaestus."

Though hers was a merchant Familia, it had Tsubaki, an Lv5 Adventurer, and the average strength of its other smiths was impressive too.

Transferring her most important member to another Familia was something no other god could ever manage.

But for her, with the "Hero Cloud-Raising Plan", it seemed not that hard to accept. He'd just be raised in a different place.

Through the translucent panel, Hestia could check on Rozz's status at any time. Besides, she was sure she had no reason to worry about her treasure's heart changing.

Even if...

Even if Rozz moved into Hephaestus's house, she could march over there with her head held high, and it wouldn't hurt the cultivation of their bond in the slightest.

"That... actually sounds pretty good!!"

Thinking this, the goddess tilted back her fair neck and looked at the side of the boy's face, eager to try. She decided to bluff Rozz with information from the "Exploration Log".

Hestia pulled out the pair of hands that had been misbehaving under her skirt.

Suppressing the faint sense of loss in her body, she looked at Rozz and said softly, "Actually... I know everything that happened at the Gods' Banquet."

"Apollo..."

"He's the one who gave you trouble, right? He wanted to recruit you into his Familia, and if you refused, he'd use other means to force you to transfer?"

"Hm?!"

Noticing the change in Rozz's expression, the young goddess was very pleased. "I know you don't want me to worry, but some things you really should tell me," she said softly.

"Maybe I could help you, you know?"

"Besides..."

"I don't want us to be like this. Don't always... treat me like a god. We should be closer than that."

...

How did his goddess know?!

Loki's familiar face flashed through Rozz's mind. The only one he could think of was that woman secretly tipping off Hestia.

With things said this far, trying to change the subject again felt pointless. Facing the girl's worried gaze, he nodded lightly. "It's just as you said, Lady Hestia."

"But..."

"I think that although this is a thorny problem, there's definitely a way to solve it, as long as I can buy time to develop my strength."

"When that time comes, I'll definitely be able to deal with it."

Hearing those words, Hestia could feel Rozz's resolve. It was precisely because of that sincerity that she felt at ease with the choice she'd made.

He'd rather risk it all than not solve the problem with his own strength.

She took the boy's hand herself. For some reason it felt damp and slippery, but her tone left no room for argument.

"So!!"

"Buying you time to grow is what I should be doing as your goddess. If you insist on shouldering everything yourself..."

"Then what am I here for?"

Without giving Rozz any chance to refuse, the young goddess declared firmly, "So on this matter, you'll follow my arrangements."

"Hm?"

"Get some good rest first. I... I'll change clothes and go to Hephaestus's house. From here on, all you need to do is build up your strength steadily."

"I'll clear away every other obstacle for you."

With that, Hestia resolutely sat up. Her legs felt weak and wobbly, but since this was something she could do to help Rozz, she was filled with drive.

Rozz would be temporarily attached to the "Hephaestus" Familia, then transfer back once her Rozz was strong enough to deal with the Apollo Familia.

Hehe~

Thinking of that, Hestia brimmed with eagerness. "If you want to take my Rozz away that badly, then..."

"Go take it up with my best friend!"

"..."

Rozz watched the young goddess's retreating back.

Truth be told, he ought to do something himself. Given how much weight this matter carried, he couldn't just let Hestia bear all of it.

With that thought, he stood up at once. "Lady Hestia, I'm coming with you. After all, this whole thing happened because of me."

"How could I rest here in good conscience?"

"..."

Having changed into a white dress, Hestia was putting on her shoes when she looked up and saw Rozz's brilliant brown eyes, as if holding a sky full of stars.

The girl was left a little dazed.

Then she remembered the relationship that had been slipping past the line a moment ago. Looking at the tall, dashing boy in front of her, Hestia held out her arms.

Then, once the goddess had her wish and was being carried on Rozz's back, she hummed and mumbled, "Even now... my legs still won't quite work..."

Thinking of what might happen next, Hestia raised her eyelids, her sky-blue eyes filled with tenderness. "Rozz, so from now on, you have to keep carrying me, okay?"

"Okay."

But the very last thing, the young goddess was too shy to say out loud. She just kept repeating it in her heart: "Rozz, I really, really like you."

—

Through the "Exploration Log", Hephaestus could indeed follow the incidents at the Gods' Banquet, but she had no idea how she could help Rozz.

The red-haired goddess truly had no leads.

Even if she supplied weapons and armor, the most that would do was make his Dungeon exploration go a little more smoothly.

What about everything else?

After returning to her mansion, Hephaestus began dispatching her Familia's Adventurers to gather every scrap of information on the Apollo Familia.

"Come to think of it..."

"Apollo really is rather vile."

In fact...

She hardly needed to search. Even the staff at the Adventurer Guild could tell her everything: the various means he used to force Adventurers into line.

Hard to deal with?

If Tsubaki gave up a bit of her time, Hephaestus was sure Apollo wouldn't dare act rashly. But protecting Rozz every moment of every day...

That was certainly unrealistic.

Not to mention, the man had other methods. He could declare a "War Game" on Hestia's Familia and seize Rozz outright.

The red-haired goddess finally understood why so many gods...

Why they found Apollo's way of doing things so repellent. He clearly stepped outside the rules and used shameless tactics.

"Hm."

"I wonder how far Rozz can get in a situation like this."

She wasn't pessimistic about it. Especially after learning Rozz's resolve through the "Exploration Log", what Hephaestus mostly felt was anticipation.

And then...

Using the "Dream Training Plan" feature, she followed his wishes and unlocked the Hard difficulty of training for Rozz.

Besieged by Lv4 Adventurers, his Potential to master combat techniques quickly and raise his stats could truly reveal a glimmer of dawn, a path to the far shore, even in a desperate situation like this.

"Hmm..."

"I wanted to ease your burden a little, but since you want the 'Hard' training, Rozz, then Hestia's reluctance is yours to bear."

"Let me take on this sin."

The red-haired goddess murmured softly.

She opened the cultivation function of the "Dream Training Plan" once more. Rows of data surfaced before her eyes, and she looked over the many options.

Hephaestus made her own decision.

[Character: Rozz]

[Stamina: 60 (-30)]

[Simulation plans currently available: Easy, Normal, Hard, Nightmare (Bonus Stage)]

...

"I'll talk to Tsubaki about this tomorrow."

"I should at least buy Rozz some room to improve. Once he ascends to Lv3, it should all be resolved smoothly."

The goddess murmured softly.

Just as Hephaestus was about to go back to her bedroom to rest, she saw two very familiar figures: Rozz and Hestia.

Visiting this late at night.

She could guess with her eyes closed that it had something to do with the Apollo Familia. Frowning, she said, "Why aren't you two asleep? What are you doing here?"

"It's something very important!"

Hestia's face was deadly serious.

Since the special light screen of the "Hero Cloud-Raising Plan" obviously couldn't be mentioned, she could only blur the source of her information.

In the office, the black tea set before the young goddess sent up steam, but she had no desire to taste it. She quickly explained how it all began.

"In short..."

"Rozz's situation exploring the Dungeon is very dangerous right now, and I have no other way. I can only come to you for help, Hephaestus."

"..."

She actually knew all this already. But to avoid exposing that she could also see the translucent light screen, Hephaestus could only keep a grave face and listen patiently.

Until the very end.

The red-haired goddess looked at her dear friend, who only ever brought her trouble. "I know how Apollo operates. His methods really are dirty."

"Obstructing Dungeon exploration, hunting Adventurers down, forcing them to compromise."

"Hmm..."

"Even if I have my Familia's members protect Rozz, are you prepared for Apollo to declare a War Game on you?"

"I believe Apollo isn't a brainless fool. He must have thought of that."

Since Rozz was, one way or another, a character she was raising herself, an opportunity like this to quickly farm his Affection was something Hephaestus absolutely couldn't miss.

"Hestia, how do you want me to help you?"

"Simple."

"If I only asked your Familia's members for help to stamp out Apollo's ideas, it would treat the symptoms but not the cause."

Speaking of her own world-shaking intellect, the young goddess's childlike face was brimming with pride. "So I plan to have Rozz transfer into your Familia."

"Once he's capable of dealing with the Apollo Familia, he'll transfer back."

"What do you think?"

"?"

Rozz, who hadn't said a word the whole time, found his fairly relaxed expression hard to hold when he heard Hestia's plan.

My ministers were ready to fight to the death, so why did Your Majesty surrender first!

And from the exchange just now, he could also sense the care in his beautiful goddess's heart, and her resolve.

Rozz's mouth twitched. "I think... we don't need to go this far, do we?"

"I said it already!"

"On the matter of the Apollo Familia, you'll follow my arrangements. As your goddess... I want to help you with this."

She gave Rozz no chance to cut in.

Hestia looked at her dear friend. Hephaestus knew the Potential her Familia's member held, so she certainly wouldn't refuse this request.

Things went exactly as the young goddess had guessed. Hearing the details of the plan, the expression on Hephaestus's flawless face gradually turned strange.

Really...

She had considered many protection schemes, but never once imagined that this girl would be willing to hand Rozz over to her Familia with her own hands!

Even if only temporarily.

And an opportunity like this, to get personal access to Rozz's talent? Hephaestus figured there was no reason to refuse.

"You're sure?"

"Hestia, do you trust me that much?"

"Of course."

The young goddess put her hands on her hips, her tone full of certainty.

"You're my best friend in Orario, after all! If I handed Rozz over to some other god, even for a short while, I really wouldn't feel at ease!"

—

And so, under Hestia's high-handed decision, Rozz temporarily transferred to the Hephaestus Familia to face the threat of the Apollo Familia.

He didn't go back to the Familia Home at the "Traveler's Hostel".

Rozz moved straight into Hephaestus's super mansion. He looked around the luxurious guest room, which was even more spacious than his own Familia Home.

Really...

He had thought about the wealth gap between them, but never imagined it would be this extreme.

"What's done is done."

"I hope Senior Ryuu will train me tonight too. Even if I can't raise my Adventurer level to Lv3 in a short time..."

"Maybe I'll be able to fight above my level?"

Rozz lay down on the soft bed.

The exhaustion from the Dungeon exploration and the Gods' Banquet seemed to drain all his energy, and drowsiness washed over him in an instant.

When he opened his eyes again, the familiar pure-white room appeared before him, along with the familiar figure of the elf girl in her leaf-patterned maid outfit.

Only...

Compared with the previous night's dream training, when Senior Ryuu had been filled with killing intent, her eyes now seemed full of bewilderment at an unfamiliar situation.

Rozz took a deep breath.

Even in a dream training session, he felt he ought to greet her before the fight began. "Please take care of me, Senior Ryuu."

"Okay..."

...

[Author's Note: P.S. Second update. If there's an update before 1 AM tonight, count it as today's...]