DanMachi: Cheat? What's a Cheat?

Chapter 35 – POV Hestia - Meeting Freya (Part 2)

Freya's quiet for a moment, her purple eyes looking at me with an expression that's hard to read.

Then she smiles, but that smile feels cold.

"Home?" Freya repeats.

"Why are you asking something like that?"

"Kaen-kun told me about home, not just a place to live. But I don't understand what he means. As a goddess, I feel like I should know, but..."

"Ah," Freya nods slowly.

"I see."

A moment of silence surrounds us.

Freya puts down her teacup with a very graceful movement, like every movement of hers is calculated.

"Hestia," says Freya with a tone that sounds like a big sister giving advice.

Somehow, I'm reminded of my friend Hephaestus.

"You're still too naive."

"Eh?"

"Listen carefully. Adventurers, especially talented ones, always end up looking for power. The home they're looking for isn't warmth or a small family like you're thinking."

I feel something's wrong with where this conversation's going, but I can't interrupt.

I listen to what Freya's saying seriously.

"They're looking for a place where they can develop. A strong familia, proper facilities, good reputation. Romantic stuff like love and family warmth?" Freya laughs softly, but her voice sounds dismissive.

"That's just temporary illusion."

"But..."

"No buts, Hestia. This is reality you have to accept. Adventurers who are truly talented will realize that a small familia like yours won't be able to give them what they need to reach the top."

I think I hear Freya mumbling 'humans are a race that's never satisfied'

Freya's words feel like knives stabbing my heart.

I want to argue, but don't know what to say.

"You think the 'home' he's looking for is warmth and affection?" Freya continues with an increasingly cold tone.

"Dead wrong. Real home for an adventurer is a place where they can become the strongest. And a small, poor familia like yours will never be able to give that."

"Kaen-kun's not like that!" I can finally speak up, though my voice is shaking.

"Not yet," says Freya calmly.

"Not now. But just wait until he realizes how limited what you can give him is. Wait until he sees other adventurers who develop faster in bigger and stronger familias."

"I... I believe in him..."

"Believe?" Freya smiles with the coldest smile I've ever seen.

"Hestia, are you a goddess or a little kid? Trust won't stop ambition. Love won't beat the desire to become strong."

I feel my world crumbling.

Freya's words sound so logical, so convincing.

My familia is indeed small, poor, without proper facilities. How can I compete with big familias like Loki Familia or... Freya Familia?

My familia's probably at the very bottom in Orario city.

"You know what's gonna happen?" Freya continues without giving me a chance to answer.

"One day he'll come to you with a sorry face. He'll say he appreciates everything you've done, but he has to move to a familia that can better help him develop. He'll say it's a difficult decision, but it's what's best for his future."

"No..." I whisper, tears starting to pool in my eyes.

"And you know what's most painful?" Freya stands up while leaving money on the table.

"You won't be able to get mad at him. Because deep down, you know he's right. You know a small familia like yours will never be enough for a truly talented adventurer."

Freya walks toward the door, but stops and looks back.

"My advice? Just enjoy the remaining time with him. Don't hope too much, so it won't hurt too bad later."

And with that, Freya leaves, leaving me sitting alone with tears flowing down my cheeks.

— Present Time —

I shake my head, trying to get rid of that painful memory.

My hand unconsciously clenches into a fist, remembering how broken I was back then.

after that conversation with Freya, I couldn't sleep peacefully especially when I found out that Kaen-kun was so ambitious about becoming strong, he'd go to the dungeon earlier than other adventurers.

Kaen-kun even sacrificed his sleep time which made me believe Freya's words even more.

Every time Kaen went to the dungeon, I was afraid that would be the last day that young man would come back to me.

Every time Kaen talked about getting stronger quickly, my heart would pound with fear.

Is this the time? Has Kaen started to realize the limitations of Hestia Familia?

But tonight... tonight everything changed.

Kaen's words...

Home is where someone's always waiting for you to come back with a smile. A place where someone worries when you're late. A place where someone's proud of your achievements and comforts you when you're sad.

Kaen's words echo in my mind, so different from the "lies" Freya gave me.

Though maybe Freya wasn't lying or she just didn't know the meaning either.

I remember the sincere expression on Kaen's face when he said that.

No pretending, no sweet words to comfort. That was truth coming from a genuine heart.

Hestia Familia is my home. The goddess is my family. Nothing can replace that, no matter how big or strong other familias are.

"Freya... you're wrong," I whisper while looking at Kaen's peaceful face.

"You're so wrong."

Tears start flowing down my cheeks, but this time they're not sad tears.

These are tears of relief, tears of happiness because I finally understand the truth.

Kaen's not looking for power or fancy facilities. He's looking for family. He's looking for a place where he can be himself without having to prove anything. He's looking for genuine love, not admiration because of strength.

And I... I am that home.

"Forgive me," I whisper while wiping away tears.

"Forgive me for ever doubting your feelings. Forgive me for almost believing the lies that said love isn't enough."

I remember how Kaen always comes home with a smile, even when his body's covered in wounds.

How he always tells stories about his experiences in the dungeon with sparkling eyes, not because he wants to show off, but because he wants to share with his family. How he always says "I'm back" with a warm tone every time he returns to our small home.

"He's been giving the answer for so long," I mumble while smiling.

"But I was too scared to believe it."

I remember how Kaen never complained about the hard mattress, simple food, or limited facilities.

He was even grateful for every little thing I did for him. That's not the attitude of someone who's waiting for a chance to leave. That's the attitude of someone who's already found their home.

"Freya said talented adventurers will look for power," I whisper

"But she doesn't understand. Kaen is looking for power, but not for himself. He's looking for power to protect his home. To protect his family."

I look at the small window.

The night sky looks dark, but dawn has already risen in my heart.

"I will never doubt Kaen's feelings again," I say with a voice full of determination.

I even clench my fist with full spirit.

"I will never feel inadequate again. Because real home isn't built with money or fancy facilities."

I turn toward Kaen who's still sleeping soundly.

"Home is built with love, trust, and togetherness. And we already have all of that."

I go back to sleep next to the bed, this time with a much calmer heart.

I'm no longer afraid of losing Kaen.

No longer feeling inadequate as a goddess.

Because I finally understand that I have something that can't be bought with any amount of money or power.

I feel like Freya definitely wanted to ruin my relationship with Kaen.

"Thank you, Kaen-kun," I whisper while fixing the blanket on Kaen's body so he won't get cold.

"Thank you for teaching me the real meaning of home. Thank you for choosing me, choosing us, as your family."

The candlelight slowly dims.

My home is here in this cramped little room, on this hard bed, in this silence we share together.

And for the first time since that meeting, I can close my eyes...

without being afraid that Kaen will be gone when I wake up later.