DanMachi: Cheat? What's a Cheat?

Chapter 31 - Market Day and Cooking Together

The central market of Orario in the afternoon was really crowded and full of life.

Merchants shouted enthusiastically offering their wares, children ran between stalls laughing, and the aroma of various delicious foods mixed in the air creating a captivating symphony.

I walked beside Hestia who looked very enthusiastic.

Her eyes sparkled looking at various goods being sold, as if she was seeing a new world.

And maybe that's exactly what it was - when was the last time she could shop leisurely without having to worry about a very limited budget?

Three days of working with goblins made me collect valis quickly.

As easy as drinking water.

"Wow, these tomatoes look so fresh!" she exclaimed while approaching a vegetable stall, her eyes sparkling like a child seeing candy.

"Goddess," I said while handing her a valis pouch containing almost all my savings.

"Today, you decide what we buy. Consider this our family's shopping fund."

Hestia stared at the valis pouch in my hand with wide eyes.

"Eh? But this is the result of Kaen-kun's hard work in the dungeon... I can't—"

"The result of a familia member's hard work belongs to the whole familia," I interrupted with a warm smile.

"Besides, you definitely know better what our house needs. I don't even know the difference between good and bad tomatoes."

Hearing the words "our house," Hestia's face turned slightly red.

She accepted the valis pouch carefully, as if holding something very precious and sacred.

"Alright!" she exclaimed with adorable enthusiasm.

"I'll shop wisely! I'll make sure we get the best food ingredients at the best prices!"

We walked from stall to stall, and I just realized how good Hestia was at shopping.

Seems like Goddess Hestia was really serious about learning to cook.

She could bargain politely but firmly, could choose food ingredients with trained eyes, and what impressed me most - she was very respected by the merchants.

"Goddess Hestia! Haven't seen you in a while!" greeted a vegetable merchant warmly.

"What ingredients does the goddess want to buy today?"

"How nice! This is Kaen-kun, my familia member!" Hestia introduced me with unbridled pride.

"Wow, finally we can see the face that Goddess Hestia always talks about."

"Yeah, I've been curious for a long time. Turns out he's a handsome kid."

I realized that even though Hestia familia was still small and new, she was already known and loved by many people.

Seems like I really hadn't been paying attention to Goddess Hestia this whole week.

Made me a bit ashamed.

Goddess Hestia was famous not because of power or wealth, but because of her warm and sincere personality.

"Kaen-kun, look! My favorite jagamarukun!" Hestia suddenly pointed toward a snack vendor with eyes sparkling like stars.

But then her expression turned hesitant.

"But..." she glanced at the valis pouch in her hands with guilty feelings.

"This isn't a necessity... we need to save money..."

Seeing Goddess Hestia hesitate.

Without thinking much, I approached the merchant and bought two portions of jagamarukun that were still warm.

I gave one to Hestia, kept one for myself.

"This is a small gift from a familia member to his goddess," I said with a smile.

"Besides, your happiness is a necessity for me."

Hestia stared at the jagamarukun in her hands with a very complex expression. Her eyes were teary, but her lips smiled very widely.

Her hands trembled slightly holding that small food.

"Kaen-kun... you know? It's been so long since I could buy jagamarukun freely. Before you came, I couldn't even eat three meals a day regularly..."

she whispered with a voice that was almost inaudible.

I was shocked - Goddess Hestia wasn't eating enough? Seems like I need to work harder.

Honestly, my chest felt tight hearing that confession.

How hard was my goddess's life before I came? How lonely was she?

"But not anymore," I said with a strange look in my eyes.

"Now you have me. And I'll make sure you never go hungry again."

"Thank you, Kaen-kun..." she whispered with a voice full of emotion.

"Thank you for coming and wanting to join Hestia familia."

We ate jagamarukun while walking, and for the first time I saw Hestia truly happy without any burden.

Looking at the jagamarukun that Hestia ate, I felt a bit strange. If I remember correctly from the original story...

Goddess Hestia sold jagamarukun.

Seems like some things had changed. Seems like because of my arrival, Goddess Hestia didn't sell jagamarukun.

Looking at Goddess Hestia.

She laughed when I complained that the jagamarukun was too sweet, she teased me when I choked from eating too fast.

"Kaen-kun, you eat like someone who's never tasted good food," she teased while laughing with a melodious voice.

"Because that's exactly right," I answered honestly.

Hestia was quiet for a moment, then with a very gentle movement, she stood on her tiptoes and patted my head.

"From now on, we'll eat together more often. I'll cook delicious food for Kaen-kun every day. Promise?"

I saw Hestia's face change between guilt, embarrassment, and determination.

"Promise," I answered while feeling warmth spreading from her touch.

This was the first time I leisurely strolled around since coming to Orario.

After all, I'd been focused on the dungeon.

After shopping to our heart's content, we went home with full shopping bags.

In the simple basement, we cooked lunch together for the first time.

Not just eating together, but really cooking together.

"Goddess, don't cut the carrots too big," I suggested while watching Hestia cutting vegetables with full concentration.

Looking at Goddess Hestia's innocent face, I initially wanted to say "if you cut like that, won't it hurt your teeth?"

"Eh? Why?"

"Because it'll be hard to cook evenly. Cut them a bit smaller, then the taste will mix better."

"Oh I see! Kaen-kun is so smart!" Hestia's eyes sparkled like a student who just discovered new knowledge.

"Not smart, but I used to cook for myself a lot," I explained while helping cut the meat.

"Living alone must have been hard..." Hestia murmured with a sad tone.

"It's not hard anymore," I answered with a smile.

"Now I have a home. Have a family."

We laughed when Hestia almost spilled the soup broth (because she was too enthusiastic stirring), or when I almost burned the rice because I was too busy preventing Hestia from causing further damage.

"Goddess, salt and sugar are different," I said while saving the dish from disaster.

"Ah! Good thing Kaen-kun stopped me quickly! Hehehe..."

I wiped the sweat from my forehead, looking at Goddess Hestia's innocently laughing face.

I started thinking doubtfully - was the reason I got stomachaches not from eating too much?

But from food cooked by Goddess Hestia? No wonder it tasted weird.

Seems like I need to teach Goddess Hestia how to cook.

Just like that.

Our small kitchen was filled with laughter and warmth that I'd never felt before.

"A weird family," I muttered while saving the rice from burning.

"Not a weird family, but a happy family," Hestia corrected with a heart-melting smile.

For some reason I felt a bit nervous seeing Goddess Hestia's innocent smile.

When we ate together, I realized that the food we cooked together tasted much better than any food I'd ever eaten.

Was it because I cooked it?

Not because the ingredients were expensive or the cooking technique was perfect, but because there was love in it.

Looking at our masterpiece.

We started eating it together.

After the heartwarming lunch, I expressed an intention that I'd actually been thinking about since training with the Goblin.

"Goddess, I actually have another plan for today."

"Another plan?" Hestia looked at me with eyes full of curiosity.

"I want to replace my weapon," I explained while pointing to the double-edged sword leaning against the wall.

"While training in the dungeon, I realized this sword doesn't match my fighting style that's been developing."

Hestia nodded seriously, showing that she was really paying attention to my development as an adventurer.

"Indeed, for Kaen-kun's body that's not too big, a double-edged sword might be too heavy and slow."

What do you mean not too big? Obviously it's big, okay.

"That's why I want to go to Hephaestus Familia's workshop to look for more suitable weapons. And..." I hesitated a bit, not sure how she'd react.

"I want you to come with me."

"Eh? Me?" Hestia pointed to herself in confusion.

"But isn't this adventurer business? I don't understand about weapons—"

"No," I interrupted firmly but gently.

"This is familia business. The weapon I'm going to buy is an investment for our familia's future. As the familia head, you should be involved in this important decision."

I didn't say the reason I was inviting Goddess Hestia was so we'd be welcomed warmly at Goddess Hephaestus's workshop.

I didn't want to get involved with unnecessary drama at the entrance of Goddess Hephaestus's workshop.

Hestia's eyes started tearing up again, but this time from happiness.

"Kaen-kun... you really consider me as a real familia head..."

"Of course. You're my goddess, and I'm your familia member. We're a team. Partners. Family."

"Alright!" Hestia stood up with burning enthusiasm, even standing on the table with hands on her hips.

"I'll come! As familia head, I need to make sure my best member gets the best weapon we can buy!"