DanMachi: Cheat? What's a Cheat?

Chapter 11: Two Restless Hearts - Part 1

— POV Eina —

The clock on the Guild wall showed two in the afternoon when I got back from that... unusual lunch.

I sat at my desk, trying to focus on the pile of documents I had to finish before work ended. Adventurer reports, registration forms, and some warning letters for familias that broke the rules.

But my mind kept wandering.

Back to Kaen-kun.

And... Goddess Hestia.

I propped my chin up with my right hand, my pen spinning between my fingers. My eyes stared blankly toward the big window across the room.

'Goddess Hestia was so... expressive,' I thought, remembering how she hugged Kaen-kun right in the middle of the street earlier.

The way she cried, the way she hugged him, the way she scolded Kaen-kun... it was all so genuine. No pretense. No formalities. Just pure emotions flowing without any filter.

I was... jealous.

Not jealous of their relationship. But jealous of... that freedom. The freedom to show your feelings without thinking about consequences or what other people might think.

As Guild staff, I always have to maintain my composure. Professional. Calm. Controlled.

Even when a reckless adventurer shows up with serious injuries from ignoring my advice, I can't show excessive worry.

But earlier...

Earlier I asked Kaen-kun to have lunch.

That's not something I usually do. Usually, I just give consultations, documents, and safety advice. Then they leave, and I continue working.

But there's something about Kaen-kun that's... different.

Maybe it's because he's so young, but his eyes don't show arrogance like most rookie adventurers.

No roughness. No blind ambition to get strong fast.

He's... like the little brother I never had.

I put down my pen and let out a long sigh.

"Why am I even thinking about this?"

Footsteps approached. I turned and saw Misha walking toward me with a mischievous smile.

"Eina-chan~ I heard you had lunch with a handsome adventurer today?"

I almost choked on my own saliva. "Where'd you hear that!?"

"The whole guild already knows," Misha said with a grin. "They're saying you were with this brown-haired kid who's... hmm... pretty cute. And Goddess Hestia even hugged him in public!"

My face immediately got hot. "T-that's not... we were just..."

"Just what?" Misha nudged my arm. "You like him, don't you?"

"No!" I answered quickly.

Too quickly.

Misha laughed. "Eina-chan, you're so easy to read. Look, your face is all red!"

I covered my face with both hands. "Misha... don't be so loud..."

"But seriously, Eina-chan. You rarely ever invite adventurers to eat. There's gotta be a reason."

I stayed quiet for a moment, still covering my face. "I don't know... he's... different. He's not like other adventurers who just want to get rich or famous quick. He's... innocent. Genuine."

"Owh~ Eina-chan fell for the innocent type~"

"It's not like that!" I protested, but my voice sounded unsure even to myself.

Misha sat on the edge of my desk. "But you know, he's already got Goddess Hestia. And their relationship... seems really close."

I nodded slowly. "I know. That's why... this is just... it's fine."

"Hmm." Misha looked at me with sympathetic eyes.

"Eina-chan, you can like whoever you want. But don't get hurt, okay."

After Misha left, I went back to staring at the pile of documents. But this time, I really tried to focus. I shouldn't be thinking too much about stuff like this.

But when I opened my drawer to get a backup pen, my eyes caught something lying in the corner of the drawer.

A small book.

Dungeon Safety Guide for Rookie Adventurers.

And suddenly, I had an idea.

Tomorrow, when Kaen-kun comes in for his progress report, I'll give him this book.

Not because I... like him. But because as a Guild consultant, I have to make sure he stays safe.

Yeah. That's my reason.

I'm not lying to myself.

Not at all.

But... why are my cheeks warm like this?

I laughed a little, then sighed.

Kaen-kun...

I hope... you stay safe in the Dungeon.

---

— POV Hestia —

I walked home to the church with weird steps.

Sometimes fast, sometimes slow, sometimes stopping completely to let out long sighs.

My mind was still full of what happened earlier. Having lunch with Kaen-kun and... that pointy-ears.

Eina.

I puffed out my cheeks. She's pretty. Mature. Has a stable job. And... she can invite Kaen-kun to eat without worrying about money.

Meanwhile, me...

I kicked a small pebble on the road. The pebble bounced and hit someone's house wall.

There was a "Hey!" from inside, but I'd already kept walking.

"I can't even buy Kaen-kun a decent lunch," I mumbled quietly.

When I got to the church, I immediately threw myself on the couch. Lying down position, staring at the ceiling full of cracks.

This morning, I woke up late. Kaen-kun was already gone.

And I... panicked.

I thought he left me.

Like the others.

But turns out... he just went to the Dungeon. Working. Looking for money.

And I... got suspicious that he ran away.

"Stupid Hestia..." I slapped my own cheek lightly.

But why did I panic like that?

I'm a goddess. I've lived for thousands of years. I've seen many humans come and go. I shouldn't panic easily just because one person isn't home.

But... Kaen-kun is different.

He's the first one to accept my falna. He's the first one willing to live in this crappy church. He's the first one to eat with me without complaining about simple food.

And he... he said I was pretty when sleeping.

My face immediately turned red remembering that.

"Idiot! Why'd he say that in front of pointy-ears!?"

I rolled around on the couch, covering my face with a pillow.

But... honestly... I was happy he said that.

No one's ever called me pretty. Other familias always looked down on me. They said I was a useless goddess. A goddess with no familia members. A poor goddess.

But Kaen-kun... he never said that.

Even when he saw this church for the first time, he didn't complain.

He didn't say "Goddess, what is this place? Why's it like a warehouse?" or "Goddess, I wanna find another familia."

He accepted everything. Accepted me.