by Fujino Omori
“Like I said, pay it no mind. We are helping each other. Each of us took full advantage of the bathing facilities as collateral,” said the deity. “Rest assured, they were thoroughly cleaned afterward.” The whole group shared a laugh.
“Thank you very much,” said the group of adventurers one last time.
The two familias planned on sharing a large meal later that evening, so Bell and his allies returned to their rooms to remove their armor.
“Excuse me, Lord Takemikazuchi…Please take this.”
Telling Haruhime, who shared a room with her, that she’d catch up in a moment, Mikoto went to speak with Takemikazuchi by herself. She held out a small bag full of something heavy.
Each of them had received their share of the money earned in the Dungeon that day; this was Mikoto’s portion.
“Please send this to support the shrine.”
The reason that Takemikazuchi and his familia had traveled to Orario in the first place was to raise money for the shrine in their homeland.
Mikoto pleaded with him to send the money to the shrine that had raised her, but the deity shook his head.
“Surely this is the money you earned fighting alongside Bell Cranell and his company. Don’t use it for us; use it for your allies.”
Going into the Dungeon required a lot of preparation, including weapon repairs and a small mountain of items.
Takemikazuchi urged Mikoto to use this money to benefit her battle party.
“B-but I’m the only one doing nothing to assist the shrine…”
Mikoto tried to insist again that Takemikazuchi take the money, but…
“Mikoto, you stand here now as a member of Hestia Familia.”
“…!”
Those words put an abrupt end to her argument.
There was no way for her to refute such an obvious truth. Putting her current allies at risk for the benefit of former compatriots went against logic.
After all, she had joined Hestia Familia to repay a debt to Bell.
Even still, I…
Memories of that morning’s dream floated to the front of her mind.
The moment that Takemikazuchi asked her to become his daughter. The connection by blood of a shared family; the word familia.
She had no regrets becoming a member of Hestia’s family. She was proud to be one of Bell’s allies and happily fought at his side. It was thanks to her new family that Haruhime was still alive.
But deep down—she didn’t want to forget that she had once been a part of Takemikazuchi’s family. She looked at the floor as all these thoughts ran through her head.
“…Mikoto, do you remember the day I asked you to become my daughter?”
“!”
Mikoto looked up in surprise. He had used the exact phrase from her memory.
Takemikazuchi stood before her, eyebrows sinking as he broke into an endearing smile—a tender, fatherly smile.
“The first ichor a child receives never completely disappears, even if they go through Conversion. Just as Hestia can sense you through the Blessing she bestowed, I, too, can feel every breath you take.”
“…”
“You will always be my daughter, my family. I will never forget that. So please, don’t make that face.”
He read her feelings like a book. Stepping forward, the deity gently stroked her hair. The girl turned bright red in the blink of an eye.
His hand felt smaller than she remembered; she’d grown a lot since then. However, it still possessed the same warmth as it did all those years ago.
Takemikazuchi didn’t notice the degree to which the girl was blushing as he ran his fingers through her silky black hair and lightly chuckled to himself.
“I am happy you still care about the well-being of the shrine. But you should know that Chigusa and Ouka reached Level Two during the skirmishes with Ishtar Familia. We’re doing fine; there’s no need to worry.”
Takemikazuchi then reminded her that both familias would work together in the Dungeon when their schedules would allow it, and that was enough.
“Have faith.”
Mikoto turned her face up to make eye contact with the deity. She gave him a firm nod.
“Good,” said the god as he removed his hand from her head, then turned to walk away. Takemikazuchi casually said he would go call the others for dinner and went down the main hallway. Mikoto watched him leave until he completely disappeared from sight.
…Now that I’m separated from his familia, I…
The time apart had renewed her feelings of affection for him, she thought to herself, cheeks still bright pink.
Her heart thumped wildly in her chest. She squeezed the collar of her battle cloth in an attempt to get her pulse under control, but each beat thundered through her entire body.
“…Um, Mikoto?”
“Uwah!”
A soft voice from behind nearly made Mikoto jump out of her skin.
Regaining her balance and spinning around, she spotted Chigusa standing behind her.
“Lady Chigusa! How long have you been there?”
“Umm, sorry…Quite a while.”
Chigusa’s bangs normally hid her eyes from sight, but right now they parted in such a way that Mikoto could see the girl’s right eye and the pink on her cheeks. She knew immediately her friend had seen everything.
She’d seen how Takemikazuchi had refused her donation, how red she’d turned at the deity’s touch, how she’d looked at him when he walked away—everything.
Even though Chigusa knew of her feelings for their god, Mikoto wanted nothing more than to dig a hole and bury herself right then and there.
“I really am sorry. Didn’t want to interrupt something…”
“I beg you, Lady Chigusa, not another word!”
Mikoto was normally very serious and straightforward, but the dormant feelings of a young maiden came storming to the forefront, causing her to yell at the top of her lungs.
She squeezed her head between her hands, ears burning red in shame. The two girls had been close from a young age; there was very little they didn’t know about each other. However, embarrassing situations were still embarrassing even in front of one of your best friends.
Chigusa looked remorseful and gave Mikoto a few minutes to regain her bearings before revealing why she was looking for her in the first place.
“So, it’s a little late, but Ouka and the rest of us are planning to do our usual celebration for Lord Takemikazuchi…”
The normally shy Chigusa could talk about anything with Mikoto. Her words were smooth and clear as she informed her friend about the plan in the works.
“We’d like to invite Haruhime and prepare a present for him…What will you do?”
The change in topic finally pulled Mikoto away from her feelings of shame.
There was a glint of determination in her eyes.
Two days had passed since dinner with Takemikazuchi Familia.
Mikoto, who wanted some time off after a day in the Dungeon, made her way onto Orario’s streets under the clear morning skies.
Bell and Welf were with her.
“So why are we here…?”
“My apologies to the both of you…but please lend me your assistance for today’s shopping!!”
Welf mumbled as the group made their way through a street lined with many different vibrant shops that branched off North Main Street.
Mikoto put her hands together and bowed many times, asking the two who had to give up time in the Dungeon and the forge to join her. Bell forced a smile and asked a question.
“Well, um, you said we were going shopping, so what do you want to buy?”
“The truth is…Ouka and the others have been planning a celebration for Lord Takemikazuchi these past few days…”
Mikoto told Bell and Welf more about the celebration that Chigusa had brought to her attention.
Before they came to Orario, the children of the shrine did something special for the gods and goddesses o
n the anniversary of their arrival on Earth—similar to a birthday party for the deities. However, due to the War Game and the events involving Haruhime, they’d forgotten to do something for Takemikazuchi this year on the actual date just a few days prior.
Mikoto wanted to do the same thing that her childhood friends were planning to do: give their god presents to commemorate the special day.
“I have always put a lot of thought and sincerity into my gifts, but there was never enough money for something truly great. This being my second year in Orario, and having a decent income, I would like to give him a proper gift.”
“I get that…but why are we here?”
“Oh yes! I would like your opinions as men, just like him, to find something that would make Lord Takemikazuchi happy…!”
Mikoto leaned in close to Welf as she answered his question.
The celebration was planned for tomorrow.
“Please lend me your assistance…!”
“That’s…easier said than done.”
“I, um, well…I’d really like to help.”
Mikoto bowed even lower in front of the two young men. Welf scratched the back of his head at the same time Bell was scratching his chin. Neither of them looked up to the task.
Both of them were thinking the same thing. Basically, they didn’t think their advice would be of any use.
When it came to the Dungeon or a forge, Bell and Welf were very knowledgeable. However, neither had much interest in anything else. If asked what most men enjoyed doing or wanted as a gift, both would struggle to come up with an answer.
“But, you know, you’ve known Lord Takemikazuchi a lot longer than we have. Wouldn’t your ideas be better than whatever we come up with?”
“Y-yes, but…!”
“Hee-hee-hee…As long as we’re here, we might as well have a look around.”
Mikoto couldn’t deny the truth in Welf’s words and momentarily lost confidence. Bell smiled awkwardly at the look of shock on the girl’s face and suggested the three of them see what the shopping area had to offer.
North Main Street ran along the side of Orario’s first district. Shops that tailored to every race of demi-human stood out the most in the shopping area, but there were plenty of smaller stores and street stalls that sold handmade goods and other interesting items. Mikoto, being as serious and thorough as she usually was, took her time at each place and examined every item for sale one by one before moving on to the next shop. Just like Bell, she had lived in modest poverty until very recently and wasn’t used to having so many options. She drifted left and right like an overwhelmed country girl in the big city for the first time.
Bell and Welf exchanged concerned glances as they followed close behind.
The sun was in the middle of the sky before they knew it. The three humans decided to take a break in the shade of a tall building after making one complete circuit of the shopping area.
“Miss Mikoto, did you see anything promising?”
“I-I don’t know…”
“Oi.”
Mikoto answered Bell’s question honestly, only to receive a verbal jab from Welf.
An apologetic expression played over her face as she twiddled her thumbs, unsure how to proceed.
“In that case, what kind of presents did you used to give him?”
“While in the Far East, I collected pretty shells, acorns, and seeds to make necklaces and other little things…”
That information didn’t do much to solve Mikoto’s quandary.
Chigusa had told her that all of them were going to prepare individual gifts for Takemikazuchi this year, but she had no idea choosing one would be so difficult…She sat there, racking her brain, when Bell’s eyes suddenly lit up. He turned to her and said:
“What about food? Is that an option?”
“Eh?”
“Miss Mikoto, you’re a really good cook. So why not make something delicious for the party…? Just an idea.”
He must’ve remembered the miso soup he had the other morning and made the suggestion. Mikoto gave it some thought.
“…Thinking back, there was never much food at the celebrations back at the shrine…”
At the very least, they had never made anything all that fancy.
Welf could see the gears turning in Mikoto’s head while standing off to her side. “Why don’t we try something along that line?” he proposed. “It’s a party, after all. How about a cake?”
“Cake…”
Her lips involuntarily traced his words.
It wasn’t Far Eastern, but Mikoto had a general idea—a soft and fluffy dough was baked in an oven and then decorated with cream and fruit…She had a feeling she had seen many examples of it when she attended the banquet that was hosted by Apollo.
It made more and more sense the more she thought about it. That was it.
“I will try…I will make a cake.”
Welf and Bell thought it was a good idea and agreed.
Mikoto apologized for the hours of walking gone to waste and tried to figure out where to go from here.
“I’m sure you want to make it yourself, but can you?” Welf asked.
“I’ve never done it before, so I can’t say with any certainty…But probably, if I have a recipe and taste one myself first,” Mikoto replied.
“The Benevolent Mistress sells cake…Think they’d give us a recipe if we asked?” Bell said.
Although The Benevolent Mistress served as a watering hole for adventurers in the evening, it operated as a café during the day for the average townspeople. Bell had eaten cake there before and did his best to explain. Mikoto listened to every word and decided to visit The Benevolent Mistress where Syr, Lyu, and many other waitresses worked.
It was a little past noon.
Mikoto led the group to West Main Street and into The Benevolent Mistress.
Lyu was there to meet them at the door, and they explained the situation. Bell was in the middle of negotiating when the cat people Ahnya and Chloe, as well as the rest of the girls on staff, detected the presence of a juicy love story in the air and gathered around with grins on their faces. They agreed to help after teasing Mikoto into another blushing fit. Mia came in and added, “As long as you’re eatin’ lunch, I can look the other way, sure,” and granted her permission. The cat-people cooks working in the kitchen wrote down the recipe and gave it to Mikoto.
After listening to Ahnya and the other waitresses complain about Syr being absent from work yet again, the three adventurers left The Benevolent Mistress.
“Well, we definitely got what we came for and then some…but do you think you can take it from here?”
“Yes, thank you so much, Sir Welf, Sir Bell.”
“I’m glad we could help.”
Recipe in hand and itching to get started, Mikoto said a quick thank-you to the two young men as they made their way back home.
She was carrying a box that contained a whole cake. Mia had been rather insistent that they buy the entire thing. They had eaten a few pieces while at the café, but now that they had the finished product and the recipe, Mikoto couldn’t help but feel confident.
Lips curled up, she felt as though she was one step closer to her goal.
“Oh…”
“Something up, Bell?”
“Isn’t that…Lord Takemikazuchi?”
They were in the middle of a side street when Bell suddenly stopped walking. Welf asked him what was wrong and he pointed farther down the road.
Mikoto turned to have a look, and sure enough, Takemikazuchi was standing not too far away.
He stopped a goddess with honey-colored hair who happened to be passing by.
“Oi, Demeter. You look pale. Are you feeling all right?”
“…Oh my, I must be a little under the weather and didn’t realize it.”
“Why are you acting so unconcerned? Come now, show me your face.”
—With that, he wrapped his arm around her shoulders and pressed his che
ek against hers without warning.
“You don’t seem…to have a fever.”
“Oh my my my…Y-you can’t, Takemikazuchi. This kind of thing is for someone important, not just someone on the street.”
“Don’t be stupid, I’m concerned because it’s you.”
“…”
“I remember well who it was that brought fresh fruit and vegetables when my children were starving. We are forever in your debt.”
“…Haaa! This is why you and Miach shouldn’t be allowed to talk to women.”
A small exchange of words with Takemikazuchi was enough to make Demeter blush.
The goddess certainly didn’t look angry when she stepped away from him and walked off.
“…”
“M-Miss Mikoto?”
“H-hey.”
Concerned, Bell and Welf glanced at Mikoto and tried to get her attention, but the girl pretended she couldn’t hear them.
“L-Lord Takemikazuchi! Thank you so much for saving us from those perverted gods the other day!”
“Please, please accept this.”
“Hold on, don’t you think this is a bit much for such a small favor?”
Two human girls ran up to Takemikazuchi not a moment later.
They appeared to be average citizens who didn’t belong to any familia. Both of them held out small bags of cookies, their cheeks bright pink. The deity tried to play off his good deed as common sense, laughing as he stepped closer to them and accepted their gift.
Then came the final blow. He gently stroked their hair, and both girls’ faces turned beet red.
“……”
Squish! The box containing the cake twisted in Mikoto’s grip after she watched the events from beginning to end.
“Geh!”
“Oi! Hel-looo?”
Shivers of fright jolted up Bell’s and Welf’s spines as the girl’s fingers crumpled the container even further. But once again, she didn’t acknowledge them.
From there, the physical contact between Takemikazuchi and other women on the street only continued to increase.
Sometimes the girls initiated, sometimes he did. Young or old, race or divinity made no difference, every interaction involved a certain degree of skinship. All the women reacted very innocently, turning various shades of red and smiling back at him. The worst part about all this was that it appeared Takemikazuchi had no idea what he was doing, nor did he notice their reactions.