No matter how much she usually acted like a total deadbeat.
Still.
There were some things.
She naturally understood far better than anyone in the mortal world.
She knew exactly what this sight meant to the gods down here.
As the [War Calamity] who had given the gods endless headaches even in Heaven.
From the moment he descended.
He had unanimously been deemed a troublemaker who "must never get his hands on a weapon in the mortal world."
And now he was openly carrying a weapon down here?!!
Faced with this sight.
Hestia no longer dared imagine how the gods would react when they gathered at the next quarterly divine assembly and learned of this.
And that was not all.
The change in Hestia's expression.
Had not escaped Shakti's notice.
She could not help frowning.
As a mortal of the lower world.
She knew nothing of Heaven's secrets.
But even so.
She could tell that her patron god, Ganesha, was not the only one whose tone grew unusually grave when discussing this god.
Even this goddess, who had seemed utterly carefree from the start, had changed dramatically upon noticing the weapon in his hand.
As though she had seen something that absolutely should not exist.
At this.
Shakti could not help turning her gaze back to Haimo.
The black-haired figure still looked utterly nonchalant from behind.
But.
Why would the gods fear a god holding a weapon?
In the thousand years since the gods descended, there had never been any explicit rule forbidding them from possessing weapons in the mortal world.
Why did this particular god touching a weapon seem to violate some inviolable taboo?
Shakti simply could not make sense of it.
But her instincts told her.
The answer to that question.
Would probably turn her entire worldview upside down.
"Come on, don't look like you've seen a ghost."
"I haven't even killed a chicken since coming down here."
"I'm still just an ordinary, law-abiding god who loves life."
At the words "ordinary god," Hestia puffed out her cheeks.
"That's only because killing chickens does you no good."
Chapter 39: Tsubaki's vision of a bumper harvest, returning from the Dungeon!
"But more importantly..."
"Ha-Haimo... where did you get that thing?"
"Don't tell me you snuck into Hephaestus's armory in the middle of the night and stole it..."
At that.
Hestia guiltily lowered her voice and stole a glance into the depths of the workshop.
Haimo could not help rolling his eyes at her.
"Relax."
"I got it through a trade with Hephaestus."
"A trade with Hephaestus?"
"That's right."
"Last night, I noticed that all the kids in my Familia were interested in the weapons from Hephaestus's Familia."
"And you know how she is."
"Hephaestus may be generous, but she places tremendous value on the weapons she and the others forge. If you want her high-end stuff, you have to offer something worthwhile."
"So..."
Haimo paused, raising his other hand to tap lightly on the spear's shaft with his fingertips.
"I used a little of my divine blood, a few strands of hair, and..."
"[Holy Script] that only I can write."
"With those as my payment, I forged a God-Forged Weapon beyond the usual limits in her private workshop."
"I gave that God-Forged Weapon to Hephaestus."
"In exchange."
"Hephaestus agreed to give the kids in my Familia free rein to pick any suitable weapon from her treasury."
"And since we could pick whatever we wanted."
"I originally intended to go through the formalities and ask Hephaestus whether I could pick a weapon for self-defense too."
"But you know how things stand now."
"Hephaestus shut herself in her workshop at dawn."
"So-"
"In the end, she left Tsubaki, her captain, in charge."
"Tsubaki was right beside me when I took this spear, and she didn't object."
"So, naturally, I brought it along."
"..."
With that.
Haimo raised the spear in his hand.
And casually twirled it.
After hearing his explanation.
"..."
A deathly silence fell over the hall.
Only the faint sound of hammering drifted over from far, far away.
Whatever hope Hestia had still been clinging to was now completely dead.
She knew Hephaestus's personality all too well!
Whenever she encountered an exceptional material that interested her, or a divine technique she had never seen before.
She would throw absolutely everything else to the back of her mind!
Even if the sky fell, it would have to wait until she finished her research!
And that meant...
Hephaestus, you idiot!!!
She must have been so excited that she forgot to tell Tsubaki the most important thing!
Hestia let out an anguished cry inwardly.
Tsubaki knew nothing of the circumstances!
From Tsubaki's perspective, since her patron goddess had already agreed to let them choose freely.
What was wrong with Haimo, a god, picking a handy weapon from the armory to play with or add to his collection?
Absolutely nothing!
But this was a colossal misunderstanding!
Now, however, the deed was done, and the weapon was already in Haimo's grasp.
And Ganesha definitely knew by now.
Which meant the news would spread through Orario faster than a plague.
In that case.
"..."
Forget it!
Let it all burn!
I give up!
Hestia simply stopped thinking and surrendered completely.
After all, if the sky fell, the taller gods could hold it up.
Surely no one expected her to make Haimo put the spear back?
Give me a break.
I'm just an innocent freeloader!
At that thought, Hestia's little face instantly grew much calmer.
Then.
Grrrrumble-
A long, drawn-out stomach growl.
Rose from that shriveled little belly again at a thoroughly inappropriate moment.
Clutching her flat little stomach, Hestia scrunched her face up like a little bun and looked miserably at Haimo.
"Ugh..."
"I'm so hungry..."
"I'm so hungry I'm starting to hallucinate Heaven..."
Seeing Hestia looking so utterly listless that she could not even be bothered to stir.
Haimo sighed helplessly, then turned to look at the darkening sky outside.
The sunset's lingering glow had stained the red brick walls of [Valka's Red House] an even deeper shade.
"All right."
"In that case."
"It's getting late anyway."
"It's almost dinnertime."
"Tell me what you want to eat while you have the chance."