For a moment, Hephaestus doubted what she had heard.
It was true that she had heard Hestia mention that Eiji could use his powers as a god in the lower world. He was different from the other gods in their world.
But, this was the first time she had heard of Eiji having a divinity related to healing!
"Eiji, you're not joking, are you?"
"I'm not joking."
"Did Hestia also tell you about the defect in one of my eyes? Do you know how many gods in heaven tried to heal me and failed? This eye of mine is a permanent defect, an aesthetic curse that even the power of Arcanum cannot touch. If they can't, I doubt you... you don't need to bother helping me with that, Eiji. Without that, I would still do business with you."
Hephaestus said all that with a bitter smile. She had certainly tried to enlist the help of the gods who had the ability to cure diseases and curses. Even so, none of them were able to heal her eyes.
She didn't want to be given any more hope because she had given up.
She hoped Eiji understood.
However, what she said in his inner voice made her heart tremble.
[Poor Hephaestus. She was clearly a beautiful goddess and had a good figure. But because of the defect in her right eye, she became insecure about her appearance and after several weak gods failed to heal her, she lost hope.]
[She even doubts the power of a Hegemony God like me in solving her small problem. How can I make her believe in my power?]
The inner voice excluded Hestia from the list of listeners. Eiji must have sensed her arrival and decided to surprise her.
From what Eiji said, he seemed to be very confident in his power. Hephaestus didn't know how strong the Hegemony God was, but in his heart, Eiji also called her beautiful.
It made her both embarrassed and moved.
If it's Eiji... Would it be possible to heal her eye?
Hope grew in Hephaestus' heart. But before their conversation could continue, the door to her office opened and Hestia walked in.
Hestia was stunned and looked at the two of them with her mouth open.
Back to the present.
"What kind of thing? Hestia, my relationship with Hephaestus hasn't reached that level yet. We just got acquainted a few minutes ago."
Right when Eiji said that after Hestia asked what they were doing.
Hephaestus refrained from asking what Eiji's words about their relationship not reaching that level meant?
Did it mean that in the future, he wanted their relationship to reach that level?
Without realizing it, her cheeks flushed slightly.
"Really? But the face Hephaestus is making right now looks suspicious." Hestia said while holding her chin.
She was like a detective suspecting two suspects.
"Suspicious? Hestia, instead of saying nonsense...! Tell me, why did you come here? I remember you're off today, you shouldn't have come here."
Hephaestus controlled her expression, she returned to her serious mode. Hestia's aura instantly weakened, she was intimidated and folded her arms before saying, "Is it wrong for me to visit my best friend when I'm off? I was just visiting to play for a while. But I didn't expect... Eiji is also here, you two even held hands while talking about business."
There was a hint of jealousy mixed into her words.
Hephaestus realized this.
'Hestia, don't tell me you... What about your familia member, Bell? You were crazy about him before, but now? You've changed your heart!'
She complained in her heart.
Eiji was enjoying the argument between the two women, he felt like he was on the Shura Field.
What was the Shura Field?
It's a term in certain novels that defines the situation when a protagonist is caught up in the fight of two heroines fighting over him.
[Err... Host, they're not fighting over you.]
'They're doing it a bit.'
[Whatever.]
Miss System gave up on stopping her host's narcissism.
Eiji waited a moment before saying, "We were actually talking business and... I also offered my help to heal one of Hephaestus' eyes."
"Ehh!? Eiji, you can heal Hephaestus' eye? How sure are you that you can do it!?" Hestia asked with a cute surprised expression on her face.
At that moment, Hephaestus understood that she had misunderstood. It was not Hestia who told Eiji about her eye problem, but he knew from another source.
Was that the thing he often called the original work?
"100%." Eiji raised one of his fingers. He looked very confident.
Hestia immediately turned to her best friend, "Hephaestus, what are you waiting for? Hurry up and accept Eiji's offer! I believe in him!"
She certainly knew about the complexity of Hephaestus' eyes, and had always felt inferior because of that.
If Eiji could really cure Hephaestus, she would be happy for her.
"Even you are urging me, Hestia? I have no choice but to accept it."
Hephaestus sighed, she glanced back at the only man in the room and touched her right eye patch. "Do it, Eiji. But be prepared to be disgusted."
Actually, the reason she had previously refused stubbornly was because she was too reluctant to show her right eye.
She was somehow afraid of seeing the disgusted expression that Eiji would show her. With Hestia around, she hoped he would be a little restrained to react honestly.
"...." Eiji did not reply to Hephaestus' words, he was now just staring at her open right eye indifferently. There was no disgust on his face, but it wouldn't be appreciation either.
He would not say "Hephaestus, your eyes are cool." as certain protagonists did in similar situations. In his previous life, he couldn't help rolling his eyes when reading the chapters about it on his phone.
Those people were obviously lying, and Hephaestus' reaction afterwards was too forced to make him angry.
How exactly do you say red-colored eyes with prominent veins, black wrinkles and sores around the eye sockets, which are even more terrifying than Ghoul eyes...
You call that cool or beautiful?
Any woman would be distraught and many of them might often think of committing suicide if they were in the same position as Hephaestus.
Rather than saying anything, Eiji immediately used the strongest healing magic he had, one of Anos' healing spells. He simply reached out, his palm emitting a soft, warm golden light-energy that felt foreign yet very pure.
As the hand touched Hephaestus' face, the Goddess felt a cool sensation she had not felt in thousands of years.
Slowly, the wrinkles and scars around her eye sockets began to fade. The dead cells came back to life. Hephaestus was wide-eyed as the vision on her right side, which had been pitch black, began to catch the light.
"This... is impossible." Hephaestus said in a trembling voice.
Standing on the other side, Hestia covered her mouth with her hand. There was admiration on her beautiful face.
Eiji really...!
"It's done. Do you feel any discomfort, Hephaestus?" Eiji asked.
"I... No, my right eye's vision is functioning just like my left eye. I no longer feel the slight itching and stinging sensation that I have often felt for thousands of years!"
Hephaestus stood up, she ran towards the silver mirror in the corner of the room. There, she saw her perfect reflection. Her eyes were now whole, beautiful, and shining. It made her who had always believed that she lacked charm as a woman surprised.
'Beautiful... This woman, is she really me?'
Her nose stinging, she tried to refrain from crying but she was unable to do so.
She covered her eyes with both hands and did not hurriedly turn around as she was too embarrassed to do so.
The Goddess of Smithing's sobs could be heard clearly in the room. Eiji was speechless and sat back down, he leaned his body on the sofa casually.
He wanted to ask if he could ask for a cup of tea?
But he was not stupid enough to do so in this situation. He consoled himself by looking at Hephaestus' positive level which had jumped to over 75.
[Hephaestus' positive level on the Harem King: 41 --> 99 (Gratitude + Love + Slightly infatuated/Nearly crossing the line into being a yandere)]
[Hestia's positive level on the Harem King: 64 --> 74 (Gratitude + Feeling Much Owed + Almost Falling in Love Because She's Still Keeping Another Man in Her Heart)]
'Is this a new feature, Leme?'
[Leme adds more descriptions when she feels like it.]
'Hmm... Good, now I know how Hephaestus and Hestia feel about me specifically.'
In other words, his love operation worked!
Imagining Demeter, Hephaestus and even Hestia hugging him in bed... Eiji tried to restrain himself from smiling too widely.
"Hephaestus... Congratulations! Your eyes are now normal!" Hestia said congratulations with teary eyes.
She was very happy and touched to see that the defect that her best friend had since birth had been cured.
From today on, the gods or goddesses who saw Hephaestus' right eye would definitely be surprised. Instead of being disgusted, they would be mesmerized.
Hestia was excited just thinking about their reactions. More than that, she glanced at Eiji and didn't forget to say, "It's all thanks to you, Eiji. Thank you very much! I'm also grateful for the help your familia members gave Bell and his party in the dungeon yesterday."
She leaned over until her large breasts swayed in the air.
Eiji could feel and even 'see' her sincerity, she deserved to be one of his future wives.
"You're welcome. But Hestia, are you just giving me a thank you?"
[A big villain finally shows his fangs!]
Miss System, you misunderstood. And no, since when does a villain have fangs? You think I'm a dog?
Miss System did not answer.
Hearing what Eiji said, Hestia was stunned and raised her face in confusion. "Ehh... That... I wanted to give you something as a thank you, but Eiji... I'm a poor goddess, I don't have much money!"
Thinking of her financial condition and her debt to Hephaestus, Hestia was suddenly a little depressed.
Eiji said, "Just kidding. Hestia, your thanks are enough for me."
[Although I actually want to get a kiss, and have a romantic relationship with goddesses as beautiful as you and Hephaestus, Hestia.]
"!!!"
This man's inner voice contrasted with the words that came out of his mouth.
While Asfi, Ais, Riveria, Lefiya, Shakti, Demeter and the other women out there were silent.
Hestia and even Hephaestus blushed. The latter had finished crying and wondered if she should...
She turned around and looked at Eiji with a different gaze than before. In both eyes, there was now a soft light like a woman looking at the man she loved.
After all, Eiji was the man who had healed her defect that no other god could do.
A man like that made her heart beat fast. It was hard for her not to have such feelings for him. His extremely handsome face didn't help either, it made her feel a little infatuated.
As for Hestia? She was completely confused and didn't know what to say!
"Eiji, thank you very much. The help you gave me was so great that I..." In front of her best friend, Hestia. Hephaestus shyly said, "I can probably only repay your kindness with everything I have. Whatever you want, I will give it to you as long as I have it."
She placed one of her hands on her chest as she said that. Her eyes were still a little red from crying earlier, but without her innate flaw... Her gaze would make many men gulp and feel like they were being seduced by the Goddess of Smithing.
Eiji was no exception.
"Hephaestus, you..." Hestia did not expect her best friend to go that far to repay Eiji's kindness.
She didn't know it was her way of offering to become one of his women!
Eiji of course knew this, he was not a dense protagonist. However, there was Hestia here. He could not say his wishes bluntly, at least not before she was completely in love with him.
"Anything? Can it be more than one?"
[I think that's pretty blunt, host.]
Miss System, silent.
"Of course, as long as that's what you want... I—Hephaestus—don't mind." Hephaestus narrowed her eyes coquettishly.
Eiji rubbed his nose.
Hestia glanced at the two people back and forth with a question mark on top of her head. Was it just her feelings or was the atmosphere in this room a little ambiguous?
"For now, let's talk about my business to come here."
Eiji was in no hurry to cook raw rice with Hephaestus.
Hephaestus understood, she sat back down beside him and asked enthusiastically, "I remember you saying that before. What business? My familia will definitely help you and give you the best support."
"I'll make tea for everyone!" Hestia took the initiative to return to work as Hephaestus' servant to pay off her debt.
It was also so that she would have an excuse to stay there and be able to listen in on their conversations.
"I'm glad to hear that." Eiji said before explaining that he wanted the Hephaestus Familia to sponsor the Seiya Familia. In return, his familia would give 50% of the drop items such as magic stones and etc. that they got from the dungeon.
Of course, this was just an excuse. He just wanted more people in Orario to know that he and Hephaestus were connected to each other.
He wanted to show off.
Originally, it was also one of his ways to woo Hephaestus. However, healing her eye was more effective than he thought.
Hephaestus did not refuse, she happily agreed and even offered a super exclusive contract where her own familia was at a slight disadvantage.
Eiji drank the tea that Hestia made and continued by saying, "Then, I would also like to borrow your workshop, Hephaestus."
"Borrow my workshop? I don't mind, but what for?" Hephaestus asked curiously.
Hestia also felt the same way.
They did not expect Eiji to say, "To make equipment for my familia members."
"Making equipment!?"
"Wait, Eiji... Do you also have such abilities? You're a Blacksmith God!?"
Hestia and Hephaestus asked in turn.
Eiji smiled faintly and replied, "I'm not a Blacksmith God, I'm just 'slightly' skilled at it."
He was being humble.
Miss System rolled her eyes. Her host clearly just wanted to show off! He wanted to show off his legendary blacksmithing skills!
And maybe make the people of Orario say: Hey, do you know God Eiji? He is... blah blah blah, amazing!
Anyone who had read Overgeared probably understood what she meant.
...
On the other side.
Hearing the latest news about Eiji including his familia, his victory at the Ganesha Familia event yesterday and his Executor alias—sitting on the throne holding a glass of wine, the Goddess of Beauty Freya smiled proudly as if Eiji's achievements were hers.
"Worthy of being the man who caught my attention and I wonder how a god like him uses his power casually in the lower world?"
Unlike most people in Orario who believed that Eiji was an adventurer of a very high level, she was not fooled and knew he was a god.
Eiji himself had said so when he met Syr at the Hostess of Fertility
However, Freya didn't yet know Eiji was a god from another universe.
"What's the power like, Ottar?"
"That's... Sorry Freya-sama, but I only heard this information and I didn't see Eiji's battle with the adventurers in the Colosseum firsthand."
Ottar said that regretfully, he was worried about disappointing his goddess and added. "However, according to the people who witnessed the battle firsthand... Eiji was able to make the people watching feel hungry and weak just because he released his aura that looked like black mist. Every adventurer who became his opponent fainted from wounds and lost all their energy."
"He was also able to cover the entire sky above the arena with his abilities. Many people reacted that the sight was very frightening. As a mage, Eiji is also rumored to use magic without chanting."
Enforcing this, Freya laughed seductively. "Fufu. Not only his appearance, his power is also very interesting. Is there any other news about him?"
Ottar hesitated slightly before saying, "There is, Freya-sama."
"Oh? Tell me."
Freya was in a good mood, her desire to make Eiji her own was also getting stronger.
She did not give up just because she knew Eiji was different from other gods who could not use Arcanum at will in the underworld.
Still, what Ottar said next made her smile freeze.
"There was a rumor that after Eiji won the Ganesha Familia event. He and Goddess Demeter were seen together, many people thought they were dating. They even saw the two hugging before walking towards the Wheat Manor."
"Demeter? She and Eiji seem to have a good relationship."
Freya's smile faded, her eyes narrowed. She felt her head a little green and asked, "How long has Eiji been staying at Wheat Manor?"
"According to reports from the members on guard around there, they seem to get along very well. Considering how Goddess Demeter is holding Eiji... it's likely that they're not just having dinner. They are thought to have spent the night together there."
Ottar and the other Freya Familia members spying on Eiji did not see him leave Wheat Manor shortly after sunset.
That was because he immediately teleported to the front door of his familia house.
After Ottar said that, an eerie silence suddenly filled the room. Freya's previously gentle aura turned extremely cold.
"Demeter... that wheat woman dares to touch something I already like? I can't believe she and Eiji didn't do something for hours while together under the same roof."
*PRANG!*
Freya threw her crystal glass to the floor until it shattered into pieces. Red wine seeped on the expensive carpet until it looked like blood stains.
"How dare she... I was the first to realize the uniqueness of Eiji's soul. How dare she take that man to her bed before I had a chance to touch him!"
She was not an innocent goddess, although in her current memory, Demeter was one of the Virgin Goddesses, she suspected she had lost her virginity.
Eiji and her had had sex!
Freya is very possessive, and that's why she feels like a victim of NTR. In the original work, Bell was too herbivorous that he never got too close to the other women even though he pursued Ais. Because of that, Freya was very patient and it took a long time before she lost her composure as a hunter.
Ottar was silent for a moment. "Do you want me to fetch Eiji, Freya-sama?"
Although he didn't know if he could defeat Eiji, he was prepared to use force for the sake of his goddess.
Freya took a deep breath, she tried to calm down even though her eyes still flashed with jealousy.
"There's no need, Ottar. Leave it alone for now. From the start, I knew Eiji was different from Bell, he's very flirtatious like a playboy. I'll be patient... at least until the party Apollo is throwing starts. Eiji should also be invited to the party, especially since he's so famous recently."
When she said that, she certainly had an idea.
It was only a matter of time before Eiji became her property and she would confine him to her bed.
When imagining that scene, Freya's expression was lascivious and she wiped away the saliva that was almost dripping from her mouth. Ottar clenched his fists, his head also green, he wanted to make his goddess react like that because of him.