For a moment both Fergus and Hephaestus were stunned by what Kai had said, before Fergus busted out in boisterous laughter as he struggled to stand.
"You meet a Goddess, and that's the first you say," Fergus cackled loudly, struggling to breath. "The balls on you, kid. You're really something else."
Kai felt his face immediately flush and he tried his best to ignore Fergus's loud laughter, while quickly attempting to apologize. He had only blurted that out cause it was honestly the truth. Although Hephaestus wasn't a main character in the show, Kai always felt that she was such a kind and generous person in the anime.
She was always one of his favorites.
Smiling softly, Hephaestus chuckled and lightly chastened Fergus, "Leave the boy alone. I rather like to be complemented every once in awhile, especially if it's by such a cute child."
"*Cough* Cradle Robber," Fergus cough loudly in his hand and looked away as Hephaestus glared ferociously at him.
"I-I'm sorry. My name is Kai, it's nice to meet you, Goddess Hephaestus," Kai bowed, trying his best to appear respectful. While bowing, he tried not to blush too much at the fact that Hephaestus called him cute.
"Greetings, Kai, so I've heard from Fergus that you lost your memory," Hephaestus mentioned as she looked at him curiously, "Is that the truth? Can you really recall nothing, not even your family?"
"I know my name...but besides that not much else," Kai repiled, making sure to keep his eyes level with the ground.
"That's quite unfortunate," Hephaestus said before nodding her head and smiling, "How about you join my familia then?"
It took Kai and Fergus a moment to try and process what Hephaestus, before they simultaneously cried out loudly in absolute shock.
""...WHAT!""
"Lady Hephaestus, are you sure this is wise?" Fergus asked hurriedly, wondering if his Goddess was sick or something. If gods could even get sick in the first place.
After finally realizing that Hephaestus wasn't kidding, Kai bowed again and asked hurriedly, "I-I'd be honored to, but why? I'm just some random kid off the street." Even though he just came to this world, Kai couldn't help but wonder why Hephaestus would even want him in her familia. There wasn't really anything special about him, besides being from another world where this world is actually fiction, but she didn't know that.
Hephaestus hearing Kai's question pondered from a moment before answering, "Hmm...I don't quite know myself, but I'd say it's your eyes."
With that, Hephaestus reached forward and raised Kai's chin until he was looking directly at her. His pale blue eyes peering directly into her sole red eye.
"My eyes?" Kai muttered in surprise. He couldn't quite understand what's so special about his boring blue eyes.
"They have a certain...spark to them. I'm quite interested," Hephaestus smiled, her sole eye sparkling madly. For a moment, Kai was completely speechless. He could only stare at Hephaestus and admire her beauty as he tried to think if he should accept her offer or not.
"...Can you stare into each others eyes somewhere else," Fergus said, obviously annoyed, "You guys are starting to really creep me out."
"Shut it!" Hephaestus growled at Fergus, before taking a deep breath and smiling at Kai once again, "Ahem- so, what do you say? Do you wish to be apart of my Familia? To become one of my child?"
"I would say yes, kid. It's not everyday a Goddess of her reputation offers," Fergus added, further cementing Kai's decision.
"I...I would love to join your familia, Goddess Hephaestus!" Kai exclaim, feeling a warm sensation in his chest. It had always been a dream of his to join a familia, one that is actually coming true.
"Terrific!" Hephaestus announced and clapped her hands, "Now then, take off your shirt."
Simultaneously, Kai and Fergus froze once again as they their shoulders sagged and they stared wearily at Hephaestus's happy expression. Finally at the end of his rope, Fergus suddenly exclaimed loudly and pointed towards the back door.
"That's it! Go to the backroom or something. You're gonna scare away my customers if you keep doing weird shit."
"Sorry," Kai immediately apologized while Hephaestus blushed slightly.
"Trying to run a friggin business here," Fergus grumbled, ready to shoe off the pair before the kid actually starting stripping.
Hephaestus, at least, had the deficiency to look embarrassed, "Ahem-I apologize. Can you go to the backroom, Kai. I just need to talk to Fergus for a moment ," she asked.
Kai nodded his head and excitedly went to the door, "Got it!"
After Kai went into the other room, it was only Fergus and Hephaestus in the store as the mood suddenly turned serious. "Did you sense it?" Fergus asked, his expression hardened.
Hephaestus crossed her arms and replied, "I did. The boy is giving off magic, without having an actual falna."
Fergus pondered before asking, "Are you sure he's human?"
"Positive."
Hearing this, Fergus sighed heavily and rubbed his eyes. He knew that letting that boy into his shop was only gonna cause him unnecessary trouble.
"There really is something else about him that I just can't quite figure out," Hephaestus muttered as she turned he gaze towards the backroom where Kai was currently waiting.
"Hmm... whatever. Go have fun getting a kid naked, I need the shop now. These are prime money making hours!" Fergus said completely serious, while ignoring Hephaestus deadly glare.
.....
Kai stood nervously in the room, completely shirtless, as Hephaestus stood directly behind him and prepared to make him apart of her familia.
"So, do I need to something o-or do I-," Kai asked nervously, only to be stopped when Hephaestus placed a comforting hand on his shoulder.
Hephaestus smiled and held onto Kai's shoulder until he finally stopped fidgeting, and calmed down.
Finally relaxed, Kai turned around and smiled at Hephaestus and nodded his head, " I'm ready!"
"Great. Just relax, this will only take a moment," Hephaestus advised and pulled out a knife that she just so happened to be carrying.
Carefully, she then pricked her index finger with the knife so that a small pool of blood appeared. Hephaestus moved her finger over Kai's back and let a single drop of ichor-godly blood-fall on his back.
With a bright flash, the air around Kai began to shine as a large tattoo appeared on his back with a emblem of two crossing hammers set over a volcano.
[Goddess Hephaestus is attempting to induct you into her Familia. Do you wish to accept. Yes/No?]
'Yes,' Kai accepted immediately.
[Processing...Complete]
[Name: Malakai Lowell]
Level: 1
Age: 12
Race: Human
Familia: Hephaestus
-----
[Blacksmith(D) Development Skill Acquired]
[Forge Goddess Blessing: 2x experience gained while Forging and Crafting items]
"And that should do it," Hephaestus announced as Kai stretched his neck around to try and catch a glimpse of his new tattoo. He already saw that he gain the Blacksmith skill and a bonus blessing, which was perfect since he was just joining a Goddess of Smithing familia.
"So, I'm apart familia now? Can you see my status board?" Kai asked, curious if Hephaestus could see everything like he could.
"That's correct. Since I don't have any paper on me, I'll just tell you. Your parameters themselves are low but that's to be expect, however your magic stat is fairly high. You already have two skills: [Inventory] and [Sensory]," Hephaestus explained by reading the tattoo on his back.
Kai raised an eyebrow when he noticed that Hephaestus didn't mention his EX rank skill or locked magic skill. After some though he figured that his own status probably prevented her from seeing it. A random kid having such a godly ranked skill and magic spell would probably be too suspicious.
"[Sensory] should help you feel your surroundings, while [Inventory]... is an more than just a rare skill. Most adventures would kill to have it," Hephaestus was shocked that Kai possessed such a rare skill.
"So I should keep it a secret?" Kai questioned.
"For the time being, yes. That skill could actually help you become a first-class Support-," Hephaestus
"No!" Kai exclaimed, but blushed when Hephaestus raised her eyebrow, "I mean, I really want to be an adventurer."
Kai already knew what he wanted to be an adventurer, not a supporter. He wanted to explore the dungeon, fight powerful monsters, meet new people, and most importantly eat tasty food.
Not specifically in that order though.
"Are you sure? You have the necessary aptitude to be a Blacksmith. Being an adventurer isn't your only option," Hephaestus tried to subtly change Kai's decision, but it seemed that he was dead set on becoming an adventurer.
"I'm positive," Kai nodded his, strengthening his resolve.
"Huh, alright then, I won't stop you," Hephaestus sighed, knowing that she wouldn't be able to change his mind. Kai was just like the rest of her children; hot blooded and extremely reckless.
Seeing how annoyed Hephaestus seemed, Kai quickly added to appease her, "I'd still like to learn blacksmithing, though. It seems like an important skill to have."
Though he only said this to try and make Hephaestus happy, Kai actually though that becoming a blacksmith just seemed like the smartest thing to do. Making his own armor and weapons rather than buying it from someone else just felt like the best option to him.
Hearing this, Hephaestus smiled brightly and placed a hand on top of Kai's head. While she ruffled the boy's surprisingly soft hair and said, "Well you are now apart of my familia. Naturally you should be able to know your way around a forge, but you'll need a teacher."
"Do you know someone that would teach me?" Kai asked, obviously surprised.
"As it just so happens, I know a certain dwarf that owes me a large favor," Hephaestus grinned with an evil glint in her eye.
She still held a grudge at being called a cradle robber.
At the moment, Fergus was just about to welcome a customer into his shop when he suddenly felt a shiver go down his spine. It was like all of his senses were screaming that something horrible was about to happen to him.