Chapter 674: Hestia's Holy Fire Divine Will, Broly's Candor

"Yeah, Miss Eina, are you still planning to leave the party?"

Bell asked first.

"This..."

Liliruca shook her head vigorously.

Even if tonight she had obtained 1.5 million Valis, compensation for her previously miserable life experiences.

She counted as having money now, but she still wanted to stay by her partners' side.

She secretly stole a glance at the Saiyan boy, then shrank back upon meeting his gaze.

Only then did she reply: "I still want to go dungeon diving with you all."

"Welcome back to the party."

"Thank you, Broly-san."

The Pallum girl responded with a somewhat red face.

"However, in your Familia, are there still guys like that Tanuki person?"

Broly inquired.

"There are, quite a few."

Liliruca fell silent for a moment, then nodded in answer.

Guys like Kanu are the general situation of the Soma Familia members now.

In the Familia, only a minority are not like that.

"Then do you plan to go back to your Familia now?"

Broly asked again.

Liliruca: "..."

The pleasure produced from retaliating against the guys who had always bullied and exploited her gradually dissipated, and she thought of the reality she still needed to face afterwards.

"Miss Eina, you have 1.5 million Valis now, you should be able to not go back, right?"

Bell said.

Liliruca showed a bittersweet smile; if she could not go back, she would be a fool to be willing to live in a rotten place full of bullying, exploitation, and people exploiting her.

It was precisely because every other place she found to stay would be destroyed by that bunch of rotten drunks who wanted to deprive and exploit her that she had no choice but to accept the result of living at the Soma Familia headquarters; 1.5 million Valis, plus the money she had saved over these years, was still not enough to buy her own freedom.

"If you don't have any plans, then how about coming back to our Familia headquarters with me?"

Just right, the Hestia Familia headquarters had just been completed yesterday.

"Ah, Broly-san, are you willing to give me a place to stay?"

Liliruca raised her head to look at him, and received an affirmative reply.

"If you don't mind, I can even give you a home."

"Mhm mhm, that's right that's right, Broly-san can even give Miss Eina a home, huh?!"

Bell nodded in agreement at first, but as he nodded, he realized something was a bit off.

"Ah, Broly-san, the meaning of your words, could it be that you're confessing to Miss Eina?"

The white-haired boy asked with wide eyes, and the Pallum girl beside him had the same question.

Her favorability had already been pulled to the max, but a sudden confession was a bit too abrupt, feeling not very possible.

After all, in that Pleasure Street place, Broly-san hadn't attracted any attention from the flamboyant women (prostitutes) at all.

And an unremarkable Pallum Supporter like herself, how could she possibly be confessed to by him; perhaps this was Broly-san expressing his determination to take her in.

"Confession?

Hmm, counts as one.

After all, Lili also counts as a woman I wanted to encounter in this world.

And these days of getting along, I also feel she's a pretty good girl.

When coerced to deal with us, she ultimately didn't choose to betray us.

Although she somewhat didn't trust me enough, I still really appreciate and like her."

Broly thought for a bit and said, but his words caused the Pallum girl's head to somewhat crash.

This is actually real, Broly-san really confessed to me...

【How should I respond?】

Liliruca panicked a bit; this was the first time in her life being confessed to, something her previous life's self completely didn't dare imagine.

Face red, restrained, a bit at a loss — this nervous situation was appearing on the Pallum girl.

"Lili, no need to be nervous, take a deep breath, calm down, then listen to me..."

Broly soothed her, and after the Pallum girl complied and calmed down a bit, he continued: "You don't need to consider other things, only need to ask your own heart, whether you are willing to entrust your future life to me?

And if you are willing, then I will promise you, I will definitely let the future you obtain so-called happiness."

Liliruca thought for a bit, then said: "Although we haven't known each other for too long, Broly-san, you hired me, gave me a job, let me earn big money.

Also treated me to meals, gave me food, let my stomach that previously couldn't eat its fill now eat full and eat well every day.

Tonight, when I was about to get beaten, you suddenly appeared, like a hero, and gave the bastards who always bullied and exploited me a harsh lesson.

In the end, you even sold them for money, took it as their compensation for my previous life, and gave it all to me."

Liliruca took a deep breath, tried to calm her emotions, and gave an affirmative answer to the Saiyan boy before her: "Broly-san, my answer is, I am willing."

Bell at the side was somewhat stunned watching; Broly-san's surprise-attack confession, Miss Eina's natural acceptance, let this simple boy receive a huge shock, only feeling he had learned a lesson.

【Miss Anna, I want to give you a home.】

Bell imagined a bit, a possible future development like this with the Flower Shop Clerk Miss, and his fair face rapidly reddened.

The toes in his shoes couldn't help but curl, feeling he absolutely could not, like Broly-san, so naturally say such words.

【Truly, as expected of Broly-san!】

Bell once again admired the boy in his heart, and the effect of his wholehearted admiration increased once more.

As for Broly, he didn't have mind reading jutsu, so he didn't know what Bell was thinking.

He simply reached out and patted the Pallum girl's shoulder after receiving Liliruca's affirmative reply.

With a relieved expression, he said: "Good, Lili, from now on you are my girl."

Although he could accept it if the Pallum girl refused, her agreement made him feel happy.

"Broly-san……"

Liliruca blushed, not knowing whether she should lean into him, but considering she seemed to be a bit older than the boy, leaning in would be a bit weird, so she stood there reservedly, accepting the boy's words that were like a chairman praising an outstanding new employee, as well as the action of patting her shoulder.

"Since you're my girl now, come back to the Familia residence with me, and once we're back we'll discuss matters concerning your future life."

Broly's emotions toward capture targets were quite varied, most starting from friendship, and Liliruca's agreement just now was like branding an 'insider' label on herself, causing the friendship he held for her to shift toward a family-like affection.

"Mhm."

The Pallum girl had her hand taken and was led away, offering no resistance.

Bell watched the two walk far off before he suddenly reacted.

"Ah, Broly-san, don't forget me!"

The boy hurriedly chased after them.

It took some time before the three people returned to the Hestia Familia's current residence.

Deep in a forgotten alley, a luxurious villa now stood tall.

On the outermost iron bar gate was the Holy Fire mark of the Goddess of the Hearth.

When Broly pushed open the large iron gate, the road leading to the villa's front door also lit up with magic stone lamps producing a flame effect, one after another.

"Ah, so this is the Hestia Familia's residence? It's seriously luxurious!"

The Pallum girl's mouth gaped slightly in amazement; the luxurious mansion residence before her eyes already didn't lose out to some High Level Familia residences in the slightest.

"After all, it's a luxury mansion built with a full 40 million Valis, and the Hephaestus Familia's artisans, out of consideration for their own Main God and our Goddess being friends, constructed this villa mansion with a meticulous attitude."

Bell explained from the side.

"Of course, because only I and Goddess Hestia live here currently, the rooms inside that are decorated and furnished are only a few; as for the other rooms, they're all still empty."

Broly added separately.

"Eh, only Broly-san and the Hestia Familia's Goddess live here? Doesn't Bell live here?"

Liliruca asked with some surprise.

"Me? Goddess did invite me to live here (after Hestia learned Bell actually had a girl he liked), but I refused due to personal reasons (Forgotten Alley this way and Irene's flower shop aren't on the same route)."

Bell scratched his cheek, too embarrassed to explain that he refused the Goddess's invitation to move into the Familia residence because he wanted to see the girl he liked every day.

"What kind of Goddess is Hestia-sama? Would she refuse to take me in?"

Approaching the mansion's front door, Liliruca grew somewhat worried; she had just decisively agreed to the boy's confession, but now she recalled that men and women of different Familias are actually very hard to unite, and the Goddess's attitude is crucial in this.

"Hestia-sama is a very good Goddess; if she knows about Arde-san's circumstances, she definitely won't refuse to take you in."

Before Broly could speak, Bell spoke up for Hestia; in his view, a Goddess willing to grant him a Falna was also a super great Goddess.

"Rest assured."

Broly also said a sentence.

"Mhm."

The Pallum girl nodded.

The mansion door was pushed open, and bright light from inside shone out.

"Hestia-sama, I'm back."

Broly took the lead walking inside, and shouted toward the interior.

"Ah, Broly, you're finally back, I prepared lots of delicious food today to celebrate our move into the new residence!"

Hestia's voice came from inside, and she was busy setting the dining table in the dining hall.

The Hephaestus Familia's One-Eyed Craftsman Tsubaki, and the Mia Familia's Dog Person girl Naza, were both helping at the side.

But as for Gods, only Hephaestus came.

The Male God Miach went to distribute free medicine daily to adventurers who can't afford potions, so he didn't come.

However, he sent Dog Person Naza to help, representing himself in celebrating Hestia's housewarming.

"Eh, Broly, who is this?"

After Broly walked in, Hestia noticed the Pallum girl being led in by the boy's hand, and the Goddess immediately asked alertly.

"Hestia-sama, this is Liliruca Arde."

Broly introduced the Pallum girl beside him to Hestia.

"Oh, the Pallum supporter you hired? Did you invite her over to participate in the housewarming feast?"

"That's not it, Hestia-sama, I invited her over to live at our Familia residence."

"Eh?!"

Hestia blinked, seeming to not quite understand the meaning of those words.

"The situation is like this……"

Broly recounted the Divine Wine incident once through.

"Ah, how did Soma manage his Familia into this state?"

After hearing the Divine Wine incident and Liliruca's past experiences, Hestia frowned.

She originally knew Soma back in Heaven too.

And the other party counted as a shut-in god, solitary god similar to her.

However, Hestia hadn't expected that the atmosphere within the other party's Familia in the Lower World would actually be this absurd.

And they were even preparing to use every trick in the book — fraud, deception, abduction, and enticement — on her own boy.

This made this Goddess of the Hearth feel fairly indignant.

"Ah, you can't blame it all on Soma-sama. Many years ago, Soma-sama already stopped managing the Familia's internal affairs. The one truly in charge is our Captain, Chanes Lustra, and that guy is an insidious and greedy bastard."

The Pallum girl spoke up in defense of her own God.

"The Main God's insufficient capability is also one of the reasons for problems arising in the Familia's internal atmosphere. But you, this child, clearly suffered an unfortunate life — why are you still willing to speak up for the God Soma?"

Hephaestus asked curiously. Given the exploitation and oppression the Pallum girl had suffered in the Soma Familia, she really couldn't figure out why she would speak for an inactive Main God.

"Uh, if it weren't for Soma-sama's compassion, Lili, who lost her parents at age three, might not have even survived until the age of memory……"

The Soma Familia indeed had many bad points, but the God Soma truly had the grace of nurturing her. Regarding this point, Liliruca also could not deny it.

"I packaged up the bastards who threatened Lili into feeding us Divine Wine and sold them to the Ishtar Familia on Pleasure Street. But inside the Soma Familia, there are still some bastards like the ones I packaged and sold off. I think Lili shouldn't go back to that kind of place, so I proposed the idea of giving her a new home."

Broly continued speaking.

"Ah, this counts as abducting another Familia's child. If we really calculate it, it violates Familia rules, and it might even trigger contradictions and conflicts between Familias."

The catgirl Naza gave a reminder.

Broly bringing Liliruca back to the Hestia Familia — the situation was pretty much equivalent to a girl suffering domestic violence in her birth family, and a male friend bringing her back to his home. But this world has no child protection laws; instead, it has something like a mutually acknowledged family protection law.

That is, a Familia's own children — no matter life or death, good or bad within their own Familia — that is their own Familia's business. Other Familias have no right to intervene. Once they intervene, it is unreasonable.

"Ah, then I……"

Liliruca tensed up, but before she could finish speaking, she was interrupted by Hestia.

"No need to worry, Lili. Hmm, can I call you that?"

"Uh, sure."

Liliruca hurriedly nodded. Hestia smiled and continued to the girl: "My Holy Fire's intent is Protection.

The light of the furnace, the soul of the family — providing the last shelter for displaced children, guarding their last place of belonging.

So, please don't worry. I guarantee in the name of divine will that I will provide you shelter. Even if it is your birth Familia, they likewise cannot drag you back into past suffering."

Hestia's Authority is exactly this — professionally, it's just the right fit.

"Hestia-sama……"

Hearing this, Liliruca's eyes instantly welled up with tears.

The Loli Goddess image of the Goddess Hestia at first sight — at this moment, in the Pallum girl's heart, it was incomparably tall, and also compassionate.

At this, Hestia revealed a smile like a compassionate mother goddess, quite enjoying the reverent gaze the Pallum girl projected.

"Alright, everyone sit down and eat."

"Eh?"

"What's wrong, Lili?"

"I already ate at Babel Tower. It was Broly-san who treated me. I'm not hungry right now."

Pallums don't have a very large appetite. In the evening, thinking that might be her last good meal, Liliruca actually ate quite a lot.

"Is that so? Then you go rest over there for a bit. Or you can also walk around the base, familiarize yourself with the place you'll be living from now on, and by the way pick a room you like."

Hestia didn't force it, handed the girl a glass of juice, and let her act freely.

"Mm."

Liliruca nodded in agreement and went to tour the Hestia Familia's newly built mansion.

"Hephaestus, I'll ask you one thing."

After the Pallum girl left, Hestia leaned over to her red-haired Smith God close friend and said.

"What is it?"

Hephaestus looked over at her.

"Is the Soma Familia powerful?"

Hestia asked.

Hephaestus's mouth corner twitched, and she retorted: "You're only coming to ask this now? Don't you think it's a bit late?"

Meaning: you've already spoken the words of protection, and only now come to inquire about the other Familia's strength.

"Ah, Hephaestus, don't misunderstand. I absolutely don't regret protecting that child. I just want a general understanding of the Soma Familia's strength that we might potentially face later."

Hestia's face was a little red. Just now her emotions were all in place — she, this Goddess who gives displaced children their last shelter, couldn't possibly not say any scene-setting words, right?

【I thought you had deliberated deeply before speaking those words promising protection!】

Hephaestus retorted internally. On the surface she said: "Don't worry. The Soma Familia is just a production-type Familia. Their strength isn't that great.

Although for the sake of drinking good wine, that Familia's kids are all quite driven. But that Familia's Captain has too great a desire for control. The opponent who has stayed at Lv. 2 and can't rise to Lv. 3 seemingly doesn't allow anyone stronger than herself to appear within the Familia.

So, she has always suppressed her own promising people, causing the Soma Familia to still not have a single Lv. 3 member appear until now.

And your Familia has this child Broly. Just with Broly's talent, even without using any Skills, he can probably easily beat the entire Soma Familia's combat power."

3S Ability Values, plus the combat talent that could solo Goliath even at single S — a mere production-type Soma Familia fundamentally cannot win against Hestia's current Familia.

Even if the Hestia Familia currently has only two members — oh no, should say, as long as Broly this one person is there, with that boy's terrifyingly high amplification multiplier 【Wrath】 Skill, no Familia in Orario dares say they can steadily beat Hestia's Familia.

After all, getting angry and multiplying Ability Values by ten times — who can take that?

"Eh, hearing you put it like that, I'm relieved then."

Hestia patted her own bouncy, full chest, then said: "Hey, with such an outstanding child as Broly, even I, this Main God, have bottom qi when I speak!"

Hephaestus: "……"

She suddenly reacted. Hestia this — where is she inquiring about the Soma Familia's strength? This is clearly showing off her own child's ability.

Broly's Ability Values and Skills — how could she, as the other party's Goddess, not know?

Feigning a worried appearance to come ask me about the Soma Familia's strength — this should be a scheme to pump me for info, right?

Hephaestus stared at Hestia, while Hestia guiltily averted her gaze elsewhere.

Seeing the Loli Goddess's reaction, Hephaestus confirmed his thoughts: she was showing off her child.

【Sigh, my old friend was once a simple heavenly mansion god; how long has it been since he came to the Lower World, and he's already become so scheming, actually playing tricks to show off his child in front of me—the gods' hearts are no longer pure, truly the gods' hearts are no longer pure!】

Marveling at how quickly the gods change after coming to the Lower World, Hephaestus came up with some bad ideas.

"Hestia, you're showing off your child to me like this—aren't you afraid I can't help but go seduce your Broly?"

Hephaestus said in Hestia's ear, and then saw his old friend thrust out his proud chest, saying confidently: "Haha, Broly in this world is single-mindedly devoted to me, this Goddess-sama."

As the Loli Goddess's words fell, the crab claw Bell had picked up snapped back onto the plate with a snap, making a crisp sound.

As everyone looked over, Bell looked toward the boy, but he almost forgot that Broly was opening a harem, and one of the harem targets was Goddess Hestia herself, but tonight another had been added, Miss Erde, and he had even brought her back.

【Broly-san, this is a super huge crisis, how can you eat so calmly?

Could it be that you want to keep Goddess Hestia in the dark and have two boats at once?

If that's the case, isn't it just…】

Although Bell had been deeply influenced since childhood by his grandfather, who could say that opening a harem is a man's romance, as a pure boy, while yearning for a harem, he could also detect the immoral emotional situation existing within it.

【If Broly-san really hides it from Goddess Hestia, then I…】

Just as Bell was torn—whether to help the boy deceive the Goddess-sama, or to help the boy keep the secret of tonight's confession—

Broly, having eaten a bowl of rice and put down the bowl, spoke: "Goddess Hestia, there's something I want to tell you."

"What is it, Broly? Go ahead and say it."

"Tonight, I confessed to Liliruca."

Broly spoke frankly and honestly.

(Chapter End)