After that day of the accident happened, a day has passed. Now, we can see the Hestia Familia at their sleeping beds, peacefully slumbering as the morning shines bright in through the cracks of the room One by one, they stirred awake, ready to greet the new day. Refreshed and full of energy, they each prepared to dive into their activities, eager to make the most of the day ahead.
"Now listen, you three. I have something important to tell you," Hestia said, gaining the attention of the group.
"What is it, Goddess?" Bell asked, tilting his head slightly in curiosity at her serious tone.
"Are you going somewhere, Goddess?" Lili chimed in, her ears perking up as she shared Bell's curiosity.
Aurelius crossed his arms, sensing the weight behind Hestia's words, and waited silently for her to continue.
Hestia then turned to her three children and said warmly, "Today, I will be attending the Denatus meeting."
Bell gazed at his goddess, confusion written across his face as he struggled to grasp her words."Goddess," he asked hesitantly,
"what exactly is a Denatus?"
"A Denatus is a gathering that takes place once every three months," Hestia explained, her tone carrying a hint of excitement. "It's a formal meeting where the gods decide on the titles for those who have recently leveled up." She smiled warmly at them before adding, "And that includes all three of you here today."
Bell nodded to his goddess after her explanation.
"I see," he replied simply.
"Well then, all three of you, I'll be heading out now to the Denatus," Hestia announced, adjusting her clothes as she prepared to leave. "I'll see you later today!"
"Okay, Goddess. Take care!" Bell said warmly, waving as he bid her farewell.
"Please be careful, Goddess," Lili added, offering a small bow of respect and concern.
Aurelius simply nodded, raising his hand in a small salute to her.
With a bright smile, Hestia turned and left for her meeting at the Denatus, her heart racing with excitement at the thought of the titles her children would soon receive.
"Well, what should we do now?" Bell asked, already anticipating today's activities.
"First, we should report to Eina that both of you have leveled up." Aurelius said, offering his suggestion to his two juniors. "After that, we'll take the rest of the day off."
"Eh? We're not going to the Dungeon today?" Bell said, visibly disappointed by the captain's decision.
"We're resting for today," Aurelius replied firmly, glancing at the rabbit. "You need it."
"....Alright..." Bell muttered, his shoulders slumping in defeat.
Aurelius then turned toward the small prum standing beside Bell. "You're fine with that, right, little girl?"
"Sure, why not," Lili replied with a shrug, easily accepting the titan's decision. "My body's still a bit sore after yesterday's... accident."
"Good." Aurelius nodded in approval. He then gave a light wave of his hand and said, "Go on, get yourselves ready. We'll be leaving a little earlier than usual."
The two nodded in response and hurried off to prepare. After a short while, they returned, ready and eager, and together they made their way toward the Guild.
After some time, they arrived at the Guild. To their surprise, the building was noticeably less crowded than usual. Bell and Lili exchanged glances, both silently questioning the unexpected emptiness of the typically bustling establishment.
"The Guild seems a bit... empty today," Bell remarked, glancing around at the sparsely filled hall. "Normally, it's packed with adventurers coming and going."
"Perhaps most of them are either still down in the Dungeon or simply decided to take the day off," Lili offered thoughtfully, trying to explain the unusual quiet.
"Either way, it works in our favor," Aurelius said with a shrug. "I'd rather get this done quickly so we can spend the rest of the day however we like."
With that, the three of them made their way toward the reception counter, appreciating the rare moment of peace.
As they walked through the crowded plaza, they kept their eyes sharp, scanning the area for their advisor. It didn't take long before they spotted her standing near one of the guild's meeting points. Without hesitation, they made their way toward her.
"Miss Eina!" Bell called out, waving energetically at the familiar figure.
Hearing her name, Eina turned in the direction of the voice. To her surprise, she saw a lively white-haired boy waving at her as well accompanied by a small prum and a towering giant at his side.
"Ah, Bell! It's wonderful to see you too," Eina said warmly, returning his wave with a bright smile. "Are you two feeling well from last night?"
"A bit sore, Miss Eina," Lili said, bowing respectfully toward the elven advisor. "Other than that, there's nothing to worry about. Though, we've decided not to head into the Dungeon today."
"Yeah! I'm perfectly fine!" Bell added with his usual energy, but his expression quickly darkened as he continued, "But....Captain here said we should rest for the day, so we can fully recover from yesterday's accident."
Upon hearing that, Eina clasped her hands together in visible relief, clearly pleased that they were finally taking a slower pace for once. Smiling warmly, she said, "That's wonderful! Please, take all the time you need to rest. It's good to see your captain making a decision that's not reckless for once."
She shot a pointed glare toward the towering Aurelius.
"If they weren't tired," Aurelius scoffed, crossing his arms, "I'd have brought them deeper into the Dungeon for even more experience. Even if I hadn't said anything, they'd still charge right in. It's simply the nature of their ambitions."
"Ah, yes... of course," Eina muttered, a look of clear exasperation clouding her face. "It's inevitable that you three will continue pulling stunts that are going to give me a heart attack one day."
"HAHAHAHA! You know it, Eina!" Aurelius boomed, flashing a proud, arrogant grin. "It's always my pleasure to deliver such treatment."
A visible tick mark appeared on Eina's temple as she shot the giant man a withering glare. With a resigned sigh, she muttered, "Tch, dealing with your endless shenanigans is such a hassle."
Aurelius only laughed harder, his booming voice echoing through the room in mockery. Shaking her head in defeat, Eina folded her arms and asked, "So then, what trouble are you three dragging me into today?"
"Actually..." Bell began, his voice slightly flustered as he struggled to find the right words. "We came to inform you about something important, Miss Eina."
"Oh? Something important?" Eina replied, leaning forward with interest. A playful smile danced on her lips. "Do tell~. Did something good happen to the three of you?"
"Well..." Lili hesitated, glancing at Bell for a moment before gathering her courage. "To tell you the truth, both Bell and I leveled up to Level 2... just yesterday."
For a moment, Eina said nothing. The air grew still as she sat in complete silence, seemingly frozen in time as she tried to process what she had just heard.
"Eh?" Eina finally uttered, blinking rapidly as if the words refused to settle in her mind.
A few heartbeats later, when the realization truly hit her, Eina erupted with a reaction that shook the entire room.
"EHHHH?!" she cried out, much louder this time, nearly jumping from her seat. "WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU TWO LEVELED UP?!"
"It's exactly as they said," Aurelius added, giving a casual shrug and rolling his eyes at her dramatic outburst. "They've both advanced to Level 2."
Eina, staring up at the towering captain, spoke in disbelief, her voice strained despite her attempt to sound composed. "HOW CAN YOU SAY THAT SO RELAXED AURELIUS?! DON'T YOU UNDERSTAND YOU PREDICAMENT HERE?!"
Aurelius simply gave a small shrug, his expression calm, as if it were just another routine day at the office.
"I understand it perfectly well," he replied without hesitation. "And I wholeheartedly accept it. After all, seeing these two youngsters fight like this....it makes me proud to call myself their captain."
As Eina listened to the giant captain speak once more in his relaxed manner, she was at a complete loss for words. Tears welled up in her eyes as she exclaimed, "I just can't with you three. How is this even possible?"
"You should be happy, you know," Aurelius said with an easy grin, while the other two nodded proudly beside him. "It's not every day that your clients turn out to be this special. Just imagine what people will say when they see you. 'Oh! Isn't that the advisor who raised the three powerhouses of Orario?'"
Another tick mark appeared on the elf advisor's forehead. Glaring sharply at the giant, she snapped, "THAT'S EXACTLY THE OPPOSITE OF WHAT I WANT TO HAPPEN." Raising her voice once again, she continued shouting at him, "Do you have any idea what could happen if this information were to spread now?!"
Bell, shrinking back slightly from her fury, gave a nervous chuckle.
"W-Well, Miss Eina..." he stammered, "you're already shouting loud enough that plenty of people are starting to notice, hehe..."
Eina whipped her head around sharply to look beyond three companions, her heart sinking as she realized Bell was right.
The crowd behind them had already begun to take notice, their curious eyes fixed on the unfolding scene. They saw many onlookers, mainly adventurers, are now focused on them.
"Did I hear that right? Did they just level up?" a middle-aged man said, unable to believe what he was hearing from the four nearby.
"There's no way, right? That has to be a lie," another replied, casting a doubtful glance toward the group.
"I heard those two are part of the same Familia as that giant man with them," an elven girl added, her curiosity piqued by the small individuals standing beside the towering figure.
"Really?" her companion said, his interest growing. "If that's true, then maybe it's possible. Considering that titan reached Level 2 in under a month, it's not too far-fetched to think they could've done it too."
"I bet they had some kind of assistance," another adventurer said, his tone tinged with suspicion. "I wouldn't be surprised if the titan used something shady to level up as well."
The surrounding adventurers continued to murmur among themselves, debating whether the rapid level-ups were truly earned or the result of some unknown advantage.
Eina turned her gaze back to the three standing before her. With a small, apologetic smile, she clasped her hands together and bowed politely.
"I'm sorry for causing such a commotion," she said sincerely.
"Eh, it's fine, really," Aurelius replied, waving off her concern with a casual motion. "They were going to find out sooner or later anyway."
The other two nodded in agreement with the titan's words, sharing his indifference. Neither of them particularly cared about the attention so long as it didn't directly involve them.
"In that case," Eina said as she straightened up and reached for a few papers on her desk, "I'll proceed with registering your level-ups now. Please give me a moment to handle the necessary procedures."
The trio offered brief nods, understanding, as they watched their advisor move off to complete the paperwork on their behalf.
As they waited, they couldn't help but overhear the conversations swirling around them, mainly gossip about their rapid rise in levels.
"Hmph, people will always be people," Lili muttered, her ears twitching in irritation. "Anything that doesn't please them, they simply try to deny."
"Relax, little girl. It's nothing personal," Aurelius said, trying to ease the prum's growing distaste toward the chatter around them. "That's just how most people are. Don't let their words cloud your judgment or the goals you're aiming for."
Hearing her captain's reassuring words, Lili nodded appreciatively.
"Thank you, Captain, for the encouragement."
"No problem, kiddo," Aurelius replied with a casual thumbs-up, flashing a small grin.
After a short while, Eina returned, carrying a stack of documents in her hands. She placed them neatly on the table before the group.
"Alright, you three, your level-up registration is officially complete," Eina said, offering them a proud smile. "I'll post the notice in just a little bit after I finish up some paperwork here.
Oh, and congratulations all three of you are now officially Level 2 adventurers!"
The trio beamed with pride, offering their heartfelt thanks to the elven advisor before making their way out of the Guild and heading toward their homes.
As they strolled through the lively streets of Orario, the conversation naturally drifted toward the Denatus their goddess had attended earlier that day, curiosity bubbling between them about what new stories and titles might soon be bestowed upon them.
"What do you think our titles will be?" Bell asked, excitement lighting up his face at the prospect of earning a cool-sounding name. "I hope it's something like 'The White Swordsman' or 'The Crimson Knight'!"
Aurelius chuckled, clearly amused by the rabbit's enthusiasm. "You've got some high hopes there, kid," he said with a grin.
"Of course I do!" Bell beamed, throwing both arms into the air as he basked in the thought of a grand, heroic title. "I just know it's going to be something cool!"
Lili, watching the boy's unrestrained joy, couldn't resist the urge to tease him a little. "What if you end up with something like 'White Rabbit' or 'Bunny Boy'? Or even 'Little Rookie'?" she said, snorting at the absurd names she threw out.
"No, I won't!" Bell snapped back, flustered, his cheeks puffing out slightly in protest. "I promise you, my title will be something epic!"
"Hihi, whatever you say, Sir Bell~," Lili teased, giggling as Bell pouted even more at her playful tone.
After a while of lighthearted banter, the trio finally arrived at home, their hearts beating a little faster in anticipation. Soon, they would hear from their goddess what titles the gods had chosen for them, and perhaps, their destinies would begin to take even greater shape.
"Wait a minute..." Lili suddenly spoke up, a hint of realization flashing across her face. "How are we supposed to receive our titles if we haven't even registered our level-ups yet? Captain will get his since he leveled up earlier than us, but for the rest of us? We only registered today."
"Now that you mention it, you're right!" Bell exclaimed, now fully grasping the situation. A shadow of dread fell over him. "I really hope I don't end up with a weird title because of that..." he muttered, a pitiful stream of comedic tears flowing down his cheeks.
"Don't worry," Aurelius said with a confident smile. "I'm sure our goddess will handle everything at the meeting."
He paused, scratching his cheek awkwardly.
"…Or at least, I hope she will."
Well, maybe not too much hope.
________________________
Meanwhile at the Denatus Meeting
Hestia walked briskly through the grand halls of the tower that housed the Denatus chamber. The soft echo of her footsteps bounced off the polished stone floor as she approached the ornate double doors ahead, her destination for the day. Just as she neared, a familiar voice called out from behind.
"Hestia!"
She paused, turning toward the source. Her eyes lit up with recognition as she spotted a figure she knew all too well.
"Take!" she greeted warmly as the god Takemikazuchi approached, a cheerful smile on his face.
"Are you here to receive a title for your children as well?" she asked, pleased to see him.
"Yes, indeed," he replied with enthusiasm. "One of my children recently reached Level Two. I'm hoping the Denatus will grant her something fitting. Though I must say, the meeting seems to be happening earlier than usual this time. Any idea why?"
Hestia nodded thoughtfully, resting a finger on her chin. "Well… I think it might be because my child, Aurelius, never received an official title when he leveled up. That could be the reason they've called this session ahead of schedule."
"Oh! I've heard of him," Takemikazuchi said with a glimmer of recognition. "Isn't he the one people have been calling 'Titan' lately? I heard that he leveled to level 2 in just under a month. That's unheard of."
"Well, He always was the reckless one, even being the captain." Hestia sighed, her expression a mix of amusement and resignation. "Unofficially, yes. That's what the rumors call him. But I'm guessing the gods will choose something else entirely today."
Takemikazuchi placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "Whatever name they choose, I'm sure it'll be something grand. You should be proud. Your child's name is already echoing through Orario."
Hestia's smile returned, bright and hopeful. "Thank you, Take. Let's both aim for titles that will make our children smile."
"Agreed," he said with a nod. "Let's secure names worthy of their growth and of us as their gods."
Together, they stepped toward the great doors, ready to enter the Denatus and shape the reputation of their beloved children.
As they entered the chamber, they immediately noticed that many gods and goddesses were already gathered within. A low hum of conversation filled the air, but several heads turned at the sudden arrival of the two.
"Oh, it's Takemikazuchi and Hestia," a god remarked, casually announcing their presence to the others nearby.
With brief glances acknowledging them, the deities soon returned to their own business, the room once again settling into its lively murmur.
Hestia and Takemikazuchi quietly made their way through the gathering, looking for open seats. Fortunately, a pair of empty chairs near the side caught their attention, and they moved quickly to claim them.
After settling into their chosen spots, Hestia heard a familiar voice call out from behind her.
"Hestia! Hello there."
Turning around, Hestia spotted the speaker, a woman with short red hair and a black eyepatch covering her left eye.
"Oh, Hephaestus!" Hestia exclaimed, beaming warmly at the goddess of the forge.
"I heard your child is receiving a title today, is that right?" Hephaestus asked, a curious glint in her eye as she inquired about her friend's precious Familia member.
"Yeah! I'm going to make sure we bring back a title worthy of my troublemaking giant!" Hestia replied, her voice bubbling with excitement and pride.
As the two continued chatting, a familiar voice called out from behind them.
"Well now, look at you three," the voice said casually, drawing their attention. "It seems like you're having quite the fun gathering, aren't you?"
Turning toward the source, the trio instantly recognized the figure approaching. A smile spread across Hestia's face the moment she saw who it was.
"Miach!" she called out happily. "I'm so glad you came. This day wouldn't feel right without you here!"
"Haha, you're exaggerating, Hestia," Miach chuckled as he took a seat beside the petite goddess. He glanced at her curiously before asking, "So, what do you think your child's title will be, Hestia?"
"A lot of people are already calling him 'Titan', unofficially, of course," Hestia replied, her gaze shifting toward the crowd of deities. "But knowing this lot, I doubt they'd make such a straightforward choice."
The gods and goddesses around them seemed relaxed and carefree, laughing and chatting as if the upcoming Denatus wasn't a matter of significance, at least, not for all of them.
"Yeah," Take said with a weary smile and a bead of sweat trickling down his temple, "they'll probably pick something completely outrageous."
"Mmhmm," Hephaestus hummed in agreement, her expression calm. "Still, I wish you the best of luck, Hestia."
"My hopes are with you as well," Miach added warmly, offering her a supportive nod.
Hestia sighed softly, her fingers gripping the hem of her sleeve. "I hope so….But with this Denatus, who knows what they'll come up with."
As the gods and goddesses continued discussing the affairs of their immortal lives, a sudden announcement rang out across the grand chamber, drawing their attention.
"Good morning, ladies and gentlemen, gods and goddesses alike!" came a voice, vibrant and full of theatrical flair, echoing through the hall with unmistakable energy.
"I am….GANESHA!"
The voice belonged, of course, to none other than Ganesha himself. A moment of silence followed, thick with awkwardness. If one listened closely, they might have imagined the creaking of metaphorical grasshoppers filling the air.
Clearing his throat with pride undeterred, Ganesha continued, "I am here today to begin the Denatus, where we shall bestow fitting titles upon our beloved children, honors chosen and agreed upon by all of us present!"
All eyes were now focused on the ceremony at hand, anticipation hanging thick in the air. The gods and goddesses were eager, some to bestow epic titles upon promising adventurers, others to deliver humorous or even embarrassing monikers to the less fortunate.
"Now, let us begin!" Ganesha declared, taking a deep breath before shouting with pride, "GANESHA!"
With that, the ceremony commenced.
One by one, adventurers were called by the announcer, and their names were offered up to the divine audience. The deities deliberated, debated, and decided on aliases. Some glorious, some dreadful, some awe-inspiring, and others destined to be the butt of jokes throughout Orario.
Take's child, Yamato Mikoto, was eventually called. After a short discussion, the gods granted her the title 'Absolute Shadow.' Needless to say, Take was more than pleased to bring such good news to his devoted follower.
The ceremony continued, with more names being drawn and more titles being granted. And then, after a short while, the moment arrived.
It was Hestia's child's turn.
"Well now, the moment we've all been waiting for has finally arrived!" Ganesha declared, his voice echoing grandly across the hall as he presented the final adventurer yet to receive an alias. "Hestia's child, Aurelius!"
A wave of intrigue swept through the divine assembly. The gods leaned forward, murmuring among themselves as the name sparked memories of a rising star who had shaken Orario's foundations.
"Isn't that the boy who leveled up to two in less than a month?" one god asked in astonishment.
"Yes… I remember now. He climbed faster than even the Sword Princess," another murmured, eyes wide.
Ganesha smiled, feeding the growing excitement. "Indeed! This child reached Level Two in just three weeks and four days, shattering the record once held by the Sword Princess, and by no small margin!"
Gasps filled the air.
"But that's not all," Ganesha continued, raising a hand for silence. "He defeated a Silverback with nothing but his bare hands while still Level One. Not only that, he fought off a second one simultaneously.....alone!"
Stunned silence gripped the room, followed quickly by a chorus of disbelief and awe.
"What?! At Level One?!" a god cried.
"That's outrageous!"
"Unbelievable… to think a true super rookie walks among us!"
The gods and goddesses erupted into excited discussion, voices overlapping with suggestions and praise. Names, epic, grand, and legendary, were being thrown into the air like confetti, each one more glowing than the last.
"It seems luck has smiled on you today, Hestia," said Take, offering a warm smile and a nod of respect. "All I hear are good names, and I mean very good names."
The others beside him nodded in agreement, proud of their petite friend and her Familia's incredible rise.
Ganesha raised his arms once more, his voice booming over the crowd. "So, dear gods and goddesses, what shall be the alias of this extraordinary mortal?"
Just as the first name was about to be voiced, the chamber doors burst open with a loud crash.
"Lord Ganesha!" a mortal voice rang out through the divine hall, a follower of the God of Order himself. The young man hurried forward, reverently holding two sealed parchments in hand.
"Oh?" Ganesha rumbled with interest, turning toward his approaching child.
"Here you are, Lord Ganesha," the mortal said, offering the documents with both hands. The god's eyes gleamed as he accepted them and unfolded the contents with practiced ease. A wide, satisfied grin slowly stretched across his face.
"Ah! It seems we have two more mortals who have recently ascended, both newly minted Level Twos!" he declared, his booming voice echoing through the chamber. "And as a matter of fact, both belong to none other than Hestia herself!"
A stunned silence fell over the gathered gods and goddesses, only to erupt moments later into a cacophony of disbelief.
"What?! More of them?!" a goddess cried.
"Impossible! Didn't she descend to the Lower World just recently?" another god exclaimed, shaking his head.
The divine assembly murmured amongst themselves, bewildered that the so-called "hopeless goddess" had somehow gathered such promising children under her banner.
Ganesha raised a hand for silence, his grin undimmed. "Yes, truly! The first is Liliruca Arde, who, within a mere week of joining the Hestia Familia, has already ascended to Level Two! Her feat? A solo victory over a Minotaur!"
The murmurs turned to gasps. One god dropped his wine cup.
"And the second..." Ganesha paused for effect, holding up the second parchment, "...is Bell Cranel, who has likewise reached Level Two, in just one month and five days since becoming an adventurer. And he, too, felled a Minotaur with his own hands!"
Stunned silence.
The gods sat motionless, trying to grasp what they had just heard. Then came the thunderous outcry once more, this time louder, mixed with awe, disbelief, and rising intrigue.
Hestia's Familia had shaken the heavens once again.
"Heh," a female voice echoed through the air, laced with amusement. "Looks like you've got some interesting little ones there, pipsqueak."
Everyone present, including the four friends, turned toward the voice. Standing there, unmistakable with her fiery red hair and mischievous grin, was none other than Loki herself.
"Hmph! Jealous much, flat chest?" Hestia shot back with a scowl, clearly irritated by the goddess's sudden appearance. "I know you don't have anyone like my children. Even that Wallen-something isn't as incredible as mine. So there!"
Loki's eye twitched at the insult, and she lunged toward Hestia in a fit of rage. "Why you little—!"
Before their petty squabble could escalate, a smooth, alluring voice cut through the tension. "Now, now, ladies....must you really bicker like children in front of everyone?"
The voice turned every man's head, stealing the attention with effortless grace. The speaker was none other than the goddess of beauty herself, Freya.
"It truly is remarkable," Freya said, her silver gaze settling on Hestia. "To think that your children have grown so gifted. You have my sincerest congratulations on their level up."
Hestia blinked, momentarily caught off guard by the unexpected praise. While a bit skeptical of Freya's intent, she still offered a polite nod. "Thank you, Freya. I appreciate it."
Just then, breaking the growing tension between the goddesses, Ganesha stepped forward with his booming voice. "Very well then, everyone! Let us move on to the matter at hand!"
He raised his arms dramatically, addressing the assembled divine audience. "What shall be the aliases for these three exceptional children of the Hestia Familia?"
Murmurs spread among the gods and goddesses as they pondered, eyes lingering thoughtfully on the trio that had captured everyone's attention. The air was heavy with expectation, for names that would mark the beginning of their legends.