The Ultimate Lich King of the Multiverse

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When Yoru once again reached out with his hand, Hephaestus flinched.

She instinctively stepped back, avoiding his touch.

Yoru responded with an amused, half-smile that only served to irritate the goddess further.

"What are you smiling at?! You think this is funny?!"

Hephaestus hated to admit it—but in that instant, she'd been afraid.

She was scared that the same thing that happened to her sword might happen to her forging hammer.

But immediately afterward, she felt ashamed. After all, she'd just declared boldly that she would show him a real divine weapon—and the moment she brought it out, she flinched?

"…Relax. I know how important this is to you. I won't break it."

"W-What are you saying?! Don't act like you could break it! This is a weapon used by a true goddess—completely different from those others you've seen!"

Hephaestus tried to cover her embarrassment with prideful defiance.

"Oh? So confident… care to test that?"

Yoru replied with a teasing tone. Hephaestus instinctively shook her head.

Even if she knew, deep in her heart, that Yoru couldn't possibly destroy her forging hammer—she couldn't take the risk.

That hammer wasn't just a tool. It was a symbol of everything she stood for. Too important. Too irreplaceable.

Even the tiniest chance it could be harmed… she couldn't bear it.

"Enough, Yoru."

Hestia stepped forward with a sheepish smile.

"Hephaestus and I… we've been good friends for a long time. All these years, she's let me freeload at her place—food, lodging, everything. Even when I left, she tried to help me find somewhere to go. I owe her so much… I can't just shamelessly ask her for favors like this anymore."

Her voice was soft and filled with gratitude.

"I really, really appreciate all you've done for me, Hephaestus. And yes, I know it's selfish of me to ask for something like this. But for this child… I don't care what happens."

She placed her hand gently on Yoru's head with a tender smile.

She had to stand on her tiptoes and stretch to do it—being shorter than him. Yoru looked like he was about to say something, but Hestia shook her head slightly.

So he fell silent.

He just stood there, letting her stroke his head like a mother soothing her child.

"I know what you want to say, but… please, let me speak first."

"I can't just sit by and do nothing anymore. As your goddess… I want to become your strength."

Even Loki, who had come hoping for a bit of entertainment, found herself looking away awkwardly.

She understood.

She'd felt the same way once.

The Loki Familia hadn't been strong from the start either. They grew slowly—step by step. Loki watched her children struggle, worried about them, supported them.

From clueless newbies at Level 1… to powerful adventurers at Level 6.

Back then, her feelings must have been exactly like Hestia's now.

"…You really are a fool, Hestia."

Yoru's voice was soft.

"Even if you want to become my strength… do you really think I could accept a favor earned this way and feel proud of it?"

The anger he had felt toward Hephaestus had faded.

Partly because of Hestia's words, and partly because he understood Hephaestus's position. She owed Hestia nothing—in fact, Hestia owed her far more.

Now, all he felt was a deep ache for the small goddess in his arms.

This so-called high and mighty deity… who was so clumsy, so human.

"…I'm sorry. But I just wanted to help you. Even if it's just a little. I want to be your strength."

Hestia whispered, her voice muffled as she leaned into his chest.

Then—

"Alright, you two, could you stop with the lovebirds act? Doing it in front of me like this is making me feel like the villain here."

Hephaestus sighed and put her hammer away, sitting down at the table.

"…And me? I guess I'm just the extra here now, huh? If there's nothing else, I'll just see myself out."

Loki mumbled weakly from the side. No one had paid her much attention for a while.

But just as she turned to leave, Yoru called out to her.

"Loki. Hestia asked you for a favor, didn't she?"

"Huh? Oh… yeah. That's right. I was kind of an afterthought, but she did ask me to let Riveria teach you magic."

Loki shrugged.

"Good. Then consider this my answer…"

"I refuse."

"…What?! You little—"

Loki blinked in surprise. Even her usually squinted eyes opened wide.

"We, the Hestia Familia, won't rely on others for anything. Whatever we want… we'll earn it with our own strength."

Yoru's voice was firm as he looked directly at Loki.

"…Hah. Interesting. You're going to win her over yourself, huh?"

Loki's grin slowly spread across her face, her eyes narrowing once more with amusement.

"Well, this just got even more fun. Don't disappoint me now, Yoru… of the Hestia Familia."

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