Chapter 44 44: Hestia’s Confidence

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As August and Liliruca Arde ventured deeper into the Dungeon to set up another monster trap, noon was approaching in Orario.

The warm rays of the midday sun shone through the windows of the ruined church, finally waking Hestia from her deep slumber.

Hestia put away the money August had left her for food and wandered through the busy streets, searching for something to eat. She had no idea about the chaos that had happened earlier—she just wanted a cheap meal.

"Hestia!"

Takemikazuchi, who was busy working his food stall, spotted the wandering Goddess and called out to her. "Where have you been all morning?"

"Oh, Take. What's going on?" Hestia yawned as she walked up to his stall. She spotted the hot potato snacks right away. "Give me a Jagamarukun. I'm starving."

She pulled out some coins and gave them to him.

"Sure thing." Takemikazuchi grabbed a piping-hot potato snack and handed it to her.

Hestia took a happy bite and enjoyed the crispy, salty flavor.

"Your child stirred up another massive storm today," Takemikazuchi said. He had caught wind of the morning's events the moment they happened.

A War Game.

It was shocking that August had actually challenged another Familia to a War Game.

"August? What could my child possibly have done?" Hestia replied.

"You really don't know?" Takemikazuchi stared at her in disbelief. "This morning, August publicly humiliated the Soma Familia in the middle of Babel Plaza. He called them a garbage Familia led by a garbage God. More importantly, he told them that if they had a problem with it, they could have their Patron God officially declare a War Game against you."

Takemikazuchi still couldn't believe how bold the boy was. Not only did he insult a whole Familia, but he also asked their God to declare war. The kid had balls of steel.

"Hah? A War Game?" Hestia blinked, surprised that her child had escalated things to that level. But a second later, she processed the target.

"Oh. The Soma Familia?" Hestia sat at a nearby table, not bothered at all. "Then it's fine. They're just a bunch of trash anyway."

If he had picked a fight with the Apollo Familia, Hestia might have been a little worried, since they were known for hiring mercenaries. But the Soma Familia? With all due disrespect, they were a joke.

The strongest Adventurer in the Soma Familia was only Level 2. Against August's heavy weapons, they would be easy targets. More importantly, their group only stayed together because of their addictive divine wine. A Familia like that would surrender as soon as a single artillery shell hit their base.

"Even you're saying that?" Takemikazuchi sighed, shaking his head. He couldn't help but sense that his friend was letting her ego get the better of her.

"Don't worry, Take. Like I said, their best member is only a Level 2 captain," Hestia said as she ate. "If it was the Apollo Familia, I'd worry they might hire strong Adventurers. But Soma? They just make wine. I know exactly what they can do. Unless Freya or Loki secretly send their best people to help, I have nothing to worry about."

With August as her trump card, Hestia knew losing was mathematically impossible. Knowing how cautious August was, if a real Familia War broke out, he would just make a call to Earth.

The modern military backing him would probably overnight ship him a tactical ballistic missile just to ensure absolute victory. Never underestimate the industrial might of a modern superpower fully committed to backing an interdimensional pioneer.

Seeing how confident Hestia was, Takemikazuchi realized the saying was true: like child, like Goddess. With August being so bold, it was a wonder Hestia wasn't showing off even more.

"Incredible," Takemikazuchi chuckled. "But Hestia, why did your kid hire a Supporter from the Soma Familia in the first place?"

"She saw my child going into the Dungeon on his first day wearing top-quality Hephaestus armor, so she tried to trick him," Hestia said, waving it off. "But she was smart. She knew when to give up and tell the truth."

Hestia honestly didn't hate Liliruca Arde.

The girl had always wanted some hope in her life. Hestia just had to show her some kindness to earn her loyalty.

Even more impressive, the girl was strong enough to resist the pull of Soma's divine wine. Any God would want a child with that kind of willpower.

"I get it. That makes sense," Takemikazuchi said with a nod. If she could leave the Soma Familia and look for Hestia's help, it showed she really wanted to change her life. She was meant for something better.

"Alright, enough about that," Hestia said, waving her hand. "I just hope Soma accepts the challenge so I can have some fun."

She really didn't care. As far as she was concerned, unless the strongest Familias cheated, August would always win.

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And Hestia was right. The Soma Familia was a group she could beat easily.

At that very moment, the atmosphere inside the Soma compound was incredibly grim.

Zanis Lustra, the Soma Familia's captain, never thought the only member of the new Hestia Familia would embarrass his whole group in public. They were angry at first, but that didn't last. The idea of fighting that rookie was terrifying.

Numerous Adventurers active on the upper floors had witnessed the massacre firsthand.

They saw the Hestia Familia's rookie gather huge groups of monsters and wipe them out with heavy firepower. The monsters weren't just beaten in close combat—they were blown apart by nonstop gunfire.

In the history of Orario's Adventurers, who else could enter the Labyrinth on their very first day and effortlessly instantly-kill a multi-floor horde of monsters?

Only August had done something like that as a rookie. His potential was scary. If the Soma Familia tried to fight him, they wouldn't last a moment before being wiped out.

As for the Soma Familia's Patron God, Soma himself, he listened quietly to the reports brought back by his children.

No one knew what he was thinking. In truth, his mind had just gone blank. He got the insulting message, but he didn't feel offended. Soma had been disappointed in his Familia for a long time and had no plans to challenge August.

If he accepted the War Game, it would just mean sending his children to die. He might have lost hope in his Familia, but he wasn't going to waste their lives for nothing.

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