Chapter 243: Chapter 242: Hestia, Artemis
"Things are like this, we need to stay in this city for a while," The next morning at breakfast, Emiya spoke to the few girls who had come from the [School District].
After discovering some ruins in the mountains behind the city, Friana intended to stay several days for investigation.
At the same time, Riveria and the others weren’t feeling well, and needed a day of rest.
And for some reason, even Aki, Anya, and Chloe were listless, weak, and lacking in spirit.
"Y-yes...", Nina and the others stood in a line before Emiya, answering nervously.
As for how these Lv.5, Lv.6, Lv.7 elves and cat-people could all collapse in just one night, the girls didn’t even dare to think about asking, let alone say aloud.
"When Friana-senpai finishes her exploration, she will take you back to the [School District]. During these few days, if there’s anything you want to ask about adventurers, you can come to me anytime," Emiya said.
The girls looked at one another. After a while, one elf girl raised her hand.
Mililia: "Excuse me, if one wanted to join the Hephaestus Familia, what are the requirements?"
"Most members of the Hephaestus Familia are ’blacksmiths.’ In addition, adventurers are also recruited as guards. However, the conditions are more strict. Certainly not lower than Freya’s or Loki’s Familia," Emiya explained.
For smiths wanting to join, the main points of assessment are passion, willpower, and integrity. Talent, on the other hand, isn’t heavily emphasized. As long as one is healthy and sturdy, that is enough. No need for innate divine strength.
Because the Hephaestus Familia’s production scale is huge, there are many posts that only require excellent smiths, not necessarily geniuses. Whereas the Goibniu Familia cares much more about talent.
But when it comes to recruiting adventurers, Hephaestus’s standards are much stricter.
"Actually, every year, the number of combat adventurers wanting to join Hephaestus is even higher than Loki’s or Freya’s," Emiya smiled, "You should be able to guess the reason."
Nina reacted quickly, "Because of the income?"
Emiya nodded, "Mm. The Familia’s guard missions pay very high salaries. After joining, you can also get discounts on custom-made equipment."
Compared to "ideals" or "dreams," most people are more easily swayed by numbers.
"For you all, chances are you could pass if you wanted to join Hephaestus. But I must say this first: in the end, we are a smith’s Familia. It might not be suitable for adventurers’ development," Emiya said sincerely.
If someone has excellent talent but no great ambition, then working stably in Hephaestus is a good choice. The income is high, the training steady, and maybe in the future one might even polish themselves enough to level up.
But for those with drive and higher goals, those large Familias that do expeditions are better for growth.
"Excuse me, what about the requirements for Freya, Loki, and Ganesha Familias...", Among Friana’s students, the youngest purple-haired girl asked.
"Loki and Ganesha are similar: both value ’talent’ and ’temperament.’ The difference is, the former emphasizes ’love of family,’ while the latter emphasizes ’justice’," Emiya explained.
"And regarding talent, Loki Familia follows an elite strategy, so the standards are naturally higher than Ganesha’s."
As for Freya Familia, that was more special. It was purely based on ’eye fate.’ Whether you could join depended only on whether that goddess took a liking to you.
For Nina and the others, to be able to directly converse with the top-ranked First-Class Adventurer was a rare chance indeed. These best students of the [School District] eagerly asked questions.
Emiya’s attitude was always calm, which helped ease their tension somewhat.
Still, remembering certain rumors about this man, the girls couldn’t help but feel a little fear.
’Mr. Emiya is clearly very gentle. That ’Elf Slayer’ thing must just be a rumor,’ The human girl Nano thought.
However, she soon noticed something strange about the two girls beside her.
Elf Mililia and half-elf Nina, the way they looked at the [Grand Saber], their eyes shone with admiration and yearning.
Not long ago, they’d been critical of this man who had a close relationship with the royal princess.
"’Elf Slayer’ is real!’, Nano’s eyes trembled, her nerves tightening again.
Emiya, sharp as ever, noticed the girl’s change, "What’s wrong, Miss Nano?"
"Eh? Y-you... you remember my name," Nano was sure she had only introduced herself once, yesterday.
For someone of Emiya’s stature to actually remember her name. Nano was very surprised.
"Mm. In the [School District], Miss Nano reached Lv.3. Very impressive, you must have worked very hard," Emiya nodded.
Even in the Dungeon City with its [Dungeon], rising to Lv.3 was no easy feat. For Nano to reach that level at such a young age, completing two level-ups in the [School District], spoke to her outstanding talent, and one could imagine the hardships she endured.
He smiled gently and said, "You’ve worked hard."
For some reason, hearing these words of praise from one of the world’s strongest First-Class Adventurers, especially his recognition of her efforts, Nano’s eyes grew moist.
"Luke, that idiot, has never once told me ’you’ve worked hard’...", Nano sniffled.
Luke was her childhood friend, a genius like her who had also reached Lv.3 as a student.
Because he had witnessed too many monster tragedies, especially those caused by the black dragons that escaped from the [Valley of Dragons], Luke bore an extreme hatred for monsters. He acted recklessly, always charging into life-or-death fights.
Nano, worried about him, desperately chased after the boy who fought for the suffering.
Her magic had saved Luke countless times, but had also thrown her into danger countless times.
Otherwise, as a rear-guard mage who gained less experience than front-liners, there’s no way she could have leveled up to Lv.3 so easily.
Yet when she and her companions urged Luke not to be so rash, not to overdo things—
("I can handle it alone! I don’t need Nano’s power, I’ll go myself!")
("Shut up! You’re just tagging along on your own, aren’t you? Clumsy as you are, get lost! I don’t need to be dragged down by you!")
Those were the cruel words he said.
Mililia had been furious, and dragged Nano along to join Professor Friana’s mission.
("I don’t want to see that idiot’s face for now. And you too, Nano, don’t spoil him so much!"), The blunt elf girl had said, requesting leave from Baldr-class teacher Leon. Leon could only give a wry smile and agree.
The atmosphere in the party had dropped to freezing. Even the [Knight of Knights] thought some time apart might be good.
Leon’s only worry was, knowing Friana’s personality, she might say things like, ("Forget about that boy, come study magic with me.")
If both of his top mage students got poached by her, that would be a real headache.
As for them meeting Emiya along the journey, that was an accident no one expected.
"Th-thank you...", Nano said, tears flowing uncontrollably. Emiya was stunned. Even if he wanted to comfort her, he didn’t know how.
"Nano," Mililia reached out and hugged the human girl. Though Nano was the senior, because of their height difference, it looked more like an older sister comforting a little one.
"We all know your efforts. It’s just that idiot who doesn’t cherish them..."
Because Nano suddenly broke down in tears, the Q&A session was forced to end. Emiya couldn’t help but wonder, ’Am I unsuited for teaching?’
———
By noon, Emiya left the inn to buy some local ingredients at the market.
Though the inn had plenty of supplies, they were all adventurers with [Falna]. Their appetites far exceeded normal people, so he needed to prepare more.
"Your Majesty, [Grand Saber], if you have any requests, please just say," As expected, the moment he left the inn, someone came to greet him.
Emiya said helplessly, "Calling me ’Your Majesty’ is too much. Just call me by my name."
A young elf girl stationed at the inn entrance hesitated, then cautiously said, "Then... Lord Emiya?"
He nodded lightly, and she sighed in relief, "Lord Emiya, whatever you need, please don’t hesitate."
The elf girl had been sent by the city’s merchant guild. Beside her, a cat-girl said she was their guide.
When the names Emiya Shirou, Riveria, Ryuu... were tied with "slaying ancient monsters," people in Orario thought of heroic legends.
But rulers outside the city remembered instead how, after slaying "Scorpio Antares," Emiya’s group had nearly destroyed the Rakia Kingdom just by passing through.
Of course, Rakia had provoked them first, that everyone knew. Still, when Lv.7 and Lv.6 powerhouses step into your borders, it’s only natural for rulers to be nervous.
Some feared them. Others were greedy, dreaming of having the [Grand Saber] forge a sword to auction off.
Either way, whether fear or greed, Emiya’s group was given the highest courtesy all along their route, making travel much more comfortable.
But being greeted at the door by maids dressed as elves and cat-girls. That level of reception was still a bit much.
"I want to go to the market myself," Emiya said, "No need to follow."
Though he could have food delivered, personally choosing ingredients was part of the joy of being a cook.
The two girls were tactful enough to agree at once, then withdrew.
Emiya put on a hooded cloak that hid his face and entered the city market.
The city wasn’t big, but surrounded by wide farmland, it was the only town in the region, so it was lively.
"Sir, want to try some fried potato balls?", The moment he stepped in, someone grabbed him.
"Fresh from the pan, with local mushroom sauce. You can’t get this flavor anywhere else!"
The vendor was a very small-statured girl, only about 1.4 meters tall. Her face was childlike, but her figure unexpectedly full. Especially with her petite frame, her chest looked even more prominent. [T/N: The time has come]
Her beauty was overly delicate, at once lovable and spirited. Dark-blue-tinged black hair was tied into twin tails with flower ornaments. She wore the potato-ball shop’s apron, but underneath was an unexpectedly sexy formal dress.
At its center, beneath her chest, was tied a blue ribbon, which only highlighted her curvaceous figure.
But Emiya wasn’t surprised by her looks or outfit. What caught his attention was something else: the blazing divine aura radiating from her.
"A goddess?", Emiya asked.
"Mm-hmm, that’s right," She nodded. Gods shone like beacons to children of the Lower World, so it wasn’t strange he saw through her.
"Buy some potato balls now, add a little tip, and you can pat this goddess’s head~", With zero goddess dignity, she shamelessly sold her divinity for thirty valis a serving of potato balls, giving off an utterly hopeless vibe.
Emiya chuckled, handed over a hundred valis, and bought one serving, "The rest is a tip."
"Thank you for your patronage!", The goddess said happily, leaning her head out for him to pat.
Meeting a goddess in a small town like this, especially one selling potato balls, Emiya had been surprised at first. But thinking again, it wasn’t strange.
Not all gods came down to form bonds. Many lived alone, enjoying life in different ways.
Choosing to work for her livelihood was far better than "selling blood."
Emiya ate the potato balls with local mushroom sauce as he moved on to the food stalls.
After he left, the tiny goddess clenched her fists.
"So lucky! Met a rich guy, today I made a killing~"
She muttered, "Next, once I save enough for the trip to Orario, I can finally start the Hestia Familia!"
The more she thought, the more excited she became, "Then, with my wisdom, I’ll build Hestia Familia into the strongest, punching Freya, kicking Loki! Hahaha!"
In her mind, the tiny goddess saw Freya and Loki kneeling before her in defeat, saying, ("Hestia Familia is too strong, we can’t win...")
Thinking of it, she couldn’t help laughing smugly.
"But... still so far from enough...", Reality shattered her dream.
Even with odd jobs, after daily expenses she could barely save anything.
"I’ll just borrow from my god-friends who came down with me. Once Hestia Familia grows, I’ll pay them back."
"But working part-time has been so tiring lately. Once I get to the city, maybe I’ll rest first... Art’s Familia should be rich, I’ll go depend on her."
Thus, goddess Hestia decisively chose freeloading over self-reliance.
"That boy earlier was pretty handsome though... If he doesn’t have a Familia, maybe I could invite him to join...", she murmured.
But then she shook her head, "No, better not... way too much of a flirt, a total enemy of women."
As the "Pure Goddess," the instant she touched Emiya she sensed those countless tangled threads of affection around him.
If he hadn’t been her potato-ball customer, she really would have called him "scumbag," "enemy of women," even "Lower World Zeus."
"That won’t do. My Familia members must be devoted, pure, with hearts only for their goddess, me!", Hestia swore in her heart to find such children.
———
Emiya stopped walking.
Passing by a flower shop, his [Mind’s Eye (True)] clearly told him he should go in.
Not only that, but the star-forged holy sword within [Unlimited Blade Works] was faintly trembling.
"Welcome~", The first thing he saw was a beautiful goddess, with sky-colored light-blue hair, elegant curved horns, and a voluptuous body wrapped in white divine robes, her chest showing pale skin.
"Sir, have we met before? I feel my divinity resonates with you... Ah, you are!", The goddess froze, then shouted in excitement.
"What’s wrong, Lady Tiamat...", Another goddess came out from the back storeroom.
And the instant she saw Emiya, the vase in her hands fell and shattered.
Her eyes widened, "Shi-Shirou..."
Emiya: "Artemis... gu—"
His words cut off, because he was suddenly embraced by an excited Tiamat, "At last I’ve found you, my beloved child~"
The warmth of maternal love, equal to, or greater than, Demeter’s, made even Emiya’s will falter for a moment.
The Moon Goddess could only stare, petrified.
Then Artemis (the useless goddess) let out a pitiful cry.
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