A few hours ago.
Bell's point of view.
But still in the third point of view.
The atmosphere on Floor 17, which looked like a large room, was tense. From the large wall called the Big Wall of Grief—not one, but four rex monsters/floor bosses—Goliath appeared simultaneously. It was definitely unusual, the same that happened when Black Goliath appeared on the 18th floor of the dungeon.
Bell himself didn't realize that his presence had attracted the monsters' attention. That was because Eiji had installed many threads of destiny that allowed him to meet more monsters or enemies.
Before getting to the 17th floor, their party even had to kill more monsters that the dungeon created. If Bell wasn't the protagonist, they would have died long ago from being overwhelmed.
However, Bell's luck as the protagonist might have run out by now. He and his two party members were exhausted, but they still had to fight four Goliaths at once.
"Damn it! Why did they appear four at once?!" Welf shouted while slamming his magic sword, he tried to injure the leg of one of the Goliaths. However, his blast of fire only scratched its rock-hard skin.
Lili trembled while tightly gripping her big bag, "Bell-sama, we have to run! There's no way we can defeat four Goliaths in our current state!"
Bell didn't answer, although he knew what Lili said was true, it was too late for them to escape. He stood in front of them, his breath coming in gasps, blood oozing from his temples. His sword was cracked. As one of the Goliaths raised its giant fist to crush them, Bell raised his sword in front of his chest and prepared for impact for everyone.
As the protagonist, he was naturally willing to endure the suffering of others.
*ZING—!*
A blue streak of light split the air (shaped like an ice spike), followed by a red flash that shot faster than sound (a blood-red spear made of pure magic). In an instant, Goliath's fist that almost hit Bell and his party exploded.
"AAAAAGHHHH!"
The Goliath roared in pain, but due to the effect of the ice spikes hitting it, its massive body began to freeze.
"We... We're safe?" Lili asked as she glanced in the direction the previous attacks had come from.
Bell and Welf did the same. Even the remaining three Goliaths stepped back while looking in the same direction as them.
That was because the monsters sensed great danger approaching!
Their instincts screamed for them to run right now.
However, how could the four women who were now walking closer from the direction of the hallway let that happen?
Without a word, Scáthach darted. Her red spear moving like the god of death, she stabbed two Goliaths right in the heart or the position of their magic stones in a straight line. On the other side, Medusa moved like a black shadow; her chain wrapped around the neck of the third Goliath, and with one light tug, the giant's head came off.
"So strong!" Bell exclaimed.
Welf and Lili stood with their gazes fixed.
Morgan only raised her hand slightly. "Annoying," her voice was cold. A black magic circle appeared under the last Goliath, who was still frozen, and the pillar of magic thorns instantly smashed it to pieces.
Artoria stood at the very front, her sword still sheathed, she didn't bother to take action. The whole fight was over in less than ten seconds.
Four boss-class monsters were killed as if they were mere insects. Bell gaped, and nervously said, "That's... Thank you so much! You guys saved our lives!"
Welf wiped the sweat from his forehead and whispered, "Who are they, Lili? What level are they?"
He asked this because Lili usually knew information about powerful and famous adventurers.
Even so, this time Lili shook her head. She herself didn't know!
Those extremely strong beauties were so unfamiliar to her, she didn't know which familia they were from just from their appearance.
Seeing that the four female adventurers in front of him had not said anything, Bell bowed deeply towards Artoria who was standing closest to her. "We owe you a favor!"
Artoria glanced at the three people in front of her with an expressionless face, she was like a king receiving thanks from her subjects.
She nodded and said, "You're welcome. With the condition of the three of you, you should stop exploring the dungeon further and return to the surface."
It was just a suggestion.
She didn't really care whether Bell heard it or not.
Scáthach cleaned the tip of her spear, her eyes that were able to judge others well saw something unusual from Bell.
But that was it, her self before meeting Eiji in the past might have wanted to accept a new apprentice. But now? She nonchalantly said, "Your potential is interesting. But for now, you and your two friends are too fragile. You should listen to the advice of our captain."
Captain?
Bell, Welf, and Lili's gazes changed. They now looked at Artoria with respect because she was the leader of the women.
Artoria did not say a word.
Morgan turned her back to them with her cape fluttering, "Let's not waste any more of our time. Let's move on, we still have to go to the next floor."
Medusa only gave Bell a small nod, then followed the others silently. Without looking back, the four women walked quietly towards the hallway leading to the next floor.
"W-Wait! At the very least, please tell us which familia you're from!?" Bell suddenly remembered something important he needed to know about their savior.
Artoria stopped stepping and looked back, "We are from the Seiya Familia."
After that, she took another step forward. Their figures slowly disappeared in the darkness, leaving Bell, Welf, and Lili standing still amidst a pile of monster dust.
"Seiya Familia?"
"This is the first time Lili has heard of the familia."
"The members of that familia are so powerful! Their level is probably no less than the top executives of the Loki Familia!"
Bell was confused, Lili had never even heard of Eiji's familia name, although she was somewhat familiar as it reminded her of the surname of the god she had recently gotten to know.
Wait, is that his familia?
Lili suddenly guessed something.
Not only did he compare the members of Seiya Familia to the top executives in Loki Familia, Welf also ranted that they really should return to the surface.
Bell reluctantly agreed. Although in his heart, he was a little sad that the excelia of the previous four Goliaths was not accepted by him.
Since a few days ago, precisely after he met Eiji. He somehow felt anxious, he wanted to immediately become stronger and stand next to the woman he liked, Ais!
Even so, Bell didn't know the woman who was his motivation right now had been mesmerized by another man. When he found out, it might be too late.
The next day.
"That's what happened, Hestia-sama." Bell recounted how he and his party were rescued by the people of the Seiya Familia.
He had returned to his familia's home.
It took a day for him to do so and he was very tired, but he was satisfied with his two attribute ranks which had now reached S and SS.
In a normal case, Hestia would have praised how great Bell was, but after she learned the status of the women of Eiji's familia, she felt it was normal.
More than that—
"I see. Bell-kun, you idiot! I know you want to level up immediately, but continuing to dive all the way to the 17th floor with just two members of your party for two days is quite excessive. If it weren't for Eiji's familia members, you and the people following you would probably be dead."
Hestia folded her arms and glared at the man in front of her.
Bell scratched the back of his head like a protagonist... Ehem! There was an awkward expression on his face.
"I'm sorry, kami-sama."
"Hmph! You're sorry? But I feel like you'll still do other careless things in the future, Bell-kun."
"Ugh..."
Bell groaned, he couldn't argue because he knew his own personality.
Hestia sighed, she suddenly compared Bell and Eiji in her mind. At that moment, she immediately shook her head with a blush on her cheeks.
'What am I thinking!?'
'Why am I comparing Bell-kun to a god like Eiji?'
They were clearly different from each other. Putting aside the difference in power. In many ways, she felt Eiji was also still better than Bell.
It made her have complicated feelings, especially when she heard that Demeter had wooed him yesterday!
"Um... Kami-sama, you look very upset. I'm really sorry, please stop being angry."
Bell thought Hestia was very upset because of his carelessness this time.
Hestia gasped, her expression returning to normal before she said, "I'm not angry. Bell-kun, you should rest right now and not go to the dungeon for a week. Do you understand?"
"A week is a bit... I understand."
Bell wanted to say that a week was too long, resting for a day or two was more than enough for him.
But when he saw the indifferent look on his goddess's face, he was frightened and didn't dare to refuse.
He wondered what had happened to Hestia in the past few days?
She seemed to have changed a bit and was not very enthusiastic about him anymore. It made him sad, Bell also wasn't sure why he felt like something was almost stolen from him.
His increased status of being stronger than the other adventurers suddenly no longer pleased him.
After Bell rested in his bedroom, Hestia sighed for the second time in a day and she glanced in a certain direction outside the window.
"I owe Eiji again... Should I use this excuse to meet him and thank him in person?"
"O-Of course, I just want to thank him!"
Hestia's face heated up, she was even making excuses for herself. How cute, one of the Virgin Goddesses.
Still, while she was thinking, Eiji's inner voice sounded in her head.
[Today... who should I make a connection with again? Demeter has already been checked off the list of 100 regrets in Danmachi. I managed to satisfy the wish of the fanfic readers in my previous life where an MC should add a woman as beautiful as Demeter to his harem!]
[Otherwise, you'll be labeled as boring and uncultured.]
"This guy... he added Demeter to his harem!?" Hestia was surprised and subconsciously felt a little jealous.
She didn't think much about the other things Eiji said because she didn't really understand.
Her focus was only on Eiji and Demeter's relationship. She certainly knew Demeter. After all, that woman was one of her friends in heaven.
Their relationship was arguably good.
Still, she didn't expect Demeter to rush into dating a man like Eiji!
Was it because he was more handsome than any god?
"I must discuss this with Hephaestus."
To be honest, Hestia just wanted to gossip and vent her frustration at the same time.
However, she did not expect that when she came to Valka's Crimson Chamber, she saw a man she knew talking with her best friend.
"Oh? Hestia, you came here too? This must be fate." Eiji said with a slightly surprised expression. However, he was still holding one of Hephaestus' hands.
Hephaestus panicked, she pulled her hand that was being held by Eiji and hurriedly explained. "Hestia, don't misunderstand!"
Actually, she herself wasn't sure why she had to explain this situation happening in her office to Hestia.
Why did she feel like a woman caught cheating on her best friend's boyfriend?
It shouldn't be, right?
Hestia was not Eiji's girlfriend. Not long ago, Eiji had only dated Demeter.
"You two..." Hestia widened her eyes, her mouth gaped and she pointed at the two people in front of her with trembling fingers. "What are you guys doing!? It's early in the morning, don't do things like... like..."
She hesitated to say the wild thing she was thinking.
"What kind of thing? Hestia, my relationship with Hephaestus hasn't reached that level yet. We just got acquainted a few minutes ago."
Eiji casually cleared up the misunderstanding.
But before we continue this scene-back to a few moments ago, he was telling the women in his familia house to just relax for today. As for himself? He decided to visit Hephaestus Familia.
With the reward he had gotten from the Miss System before, he thought it was the perfect time to establish a good relationship with a Goddess of Smithing in Danmachi.
"Hello sir, how may I help you?" Tsubaki asked when she saw Eiji enter Valka's Crimson Chamber.
She thought he was a customer looking to buy a weapon and since he was so handsome, she would serve him herself. Usually, there were other familia members who did that.
However, she was surprised when she found out his identity.
"Hello, I'm Eiji Seiya, the god of the Seiya Familia. I came here to do business with Hephaestus."
"Eiji Seiya? Seiya Familia? You... You are that famous god!?"
"Am I that famous?" Eiji pretended not to know how many things he had done that everyone in Orario had heard of him and his familia.
The attention of many gods or goddesses was even on the member of his familia who was said to have reached the 24th floor within five hours and brought back a mountain of magic stones to the Guild.
Oh, he certainly recognized the woman in front of him. Although not particularly beautiful, her large breasts and tanned skin made her a little sexy.
"Yes, you are very famous... Eiji-sama. By the way, I'll tell my goddess soon. Wait a moment!" Tsubaki withdrew her gaze from the face of the man in front of her.
He was more handsome than she had heard and his figure seemed to be very good. Her cheeks felt a little hot. She turned around and walked towards Hephaestus' office.
Eiji watched Tsubaki's ass slowly disappear into another room.
[Our King, her body shape is not bad. Her ass is also suitable for bearing children. With the buffs from the Master-Servant contract, you can make her even prettier.]
[She is not a bad addition to your harem.]
Good analysis, Leme.
Let's see it later.
Shortly after, Tsubaki returned to his presence and informed him, "Hephaestus-sama said you can enter her office and agreed to speak with you, Eiji-sama."
"Thank you."
Eiji said that while placing one hand on Tsubaki's shoulder. There was also a smile on his face before he walked into Hephaestus' office.
Tsubaki froze, it took a few seconds for her to stop being dazed. "That man is so dangerous, he's like a male version of the Goddess of Beauty Freya. Hephaestus-sama won't be mesmerized by his appearance until she becomes an idiot, right?"
She was a little anxious, but also interested to know how the outcome of the two people's meeting would be.
Inside the office.
"You are Eiji Seiya? The god that Hestia often talks about?" Hephaestus looked at the man sitting in front of her in a daze.
Just a moment ago, she heard his relationship with Demeter from his inner voice. She understood why Demeter moved so fast that she did not hesitate to take off her panties.
It was because this guy was too handsome, right?!
Hephaestus could not even resist glancing at him up and down many times. But soon, she was a little embarrassed and tried to look calm.
"I'm sure the man Hestia is referring to is me. You must be the best friend she's been talking about." Eiji sat down casually, he leaned his back on the sofa and just like Hephaestus, he also glanced at her up and down.
In his heart, he thought the Hephaestus in front of him was slightly more beautiful than the version of her in the original work. Her neck-length red hair and face were still the same, but her curves seemed to stand out more from under her white shirt.
The anime version definitely doesn't show how beautiful she really is now.
After all, Hephaestus was a goddess.
Right now, Eiji decided that she was also his future wife!
[I'm not surprised at all.]
Miss System commented.
Eiji ignored her.
"Hestia and I do have a good relationship. So Eiji, what business do you want to talk to me about? My familia is a familia that focuses on making weapons and other equipment that adventurers need. As long as it's within our scope, I don't mind giving you a discount."
Hephaestus thought Eiji had come to have him make weapons for his familia members.
She was glad he took the initiative to come to her familia rather than another familia of the same type as them.
"Not only are you beautiful, you are also kind, Hephaestus. I made the right choice to come here." Eiji said sweet words.
Hephaestus refrained from rolling her eyes, "No need to flatter me. I'm good enough, especially since Hestia says good things about you. But beautiful? I'm not very beautiful. Hestia is still more beautiful and cute than me."
Her voice was indifferent, but she slightly averted her gaze and rubbed her blindfold.
She was confident in her abilities as the Goddess of Smithing, but not in her appearance. The male gods in the past who had even come close to her were always frightened whenever they saw what was hidden behind her blindfold.
They ran away and according to her, Eiji was no exception.
Eiji was getting more and more interested in Hephaestus. Business was just an excuse, he actually came here just to woo her. In the original work, he knew she had a complex due to her disability, underestimated herself as a woman without attractiveness and resigned herself to not getting a partner.
However, a member of her familia, Welf, expressed feelings for her in the future and she would act shyly when he tried to ask her to be his lover.
There was no way Eiji would let such a future happen after he came to this world. Just like protagonist Bell, an npc like Welf would receive a green hat from him.
"I'm not being flattering, I'm serious. It's not just business—" He got up from his seat and sat next to Hephaestus.
Hephaestus was confused, she wondered what Eiji wanted to do to sit beside her?
He even grabbed one of her hands, and looked directly into her eyes from such a close distance.
Her face feeling hot, Hephaestus blushed and was upset because she thought Eiji was playing with her! She couldn't believe he actually thought she was beautiful. He was obviously lying!
But before she opened her mouth, Eiji finished his words. "If you want, I can also heal one of your eyes. From Hestia, you must have also heard that I can use my power as I please, unlike the gods in this world."
"...!"