"What did Loki say about the request I mentioned earlier?"
"Loki said it's up to me to decide. After all, once we go there, there will be many things that neither she nor you, Lady Hephaestus, can easily act upon."
Hephaestus gave a small nod.
Both she and Loki were still bound by the seal on their divine power, and even in another world, that was unlikely to change.
They were the ones who needed to be looked after.
And considering their true purpose for going—well, that was something they couldn't handle themselves. It had to be Tsuna's responsibility.
From that standpoint, whether they went to his world or not depended entirely on his decision.
"And what did you decide?"
Hephaestus turned her head slightly to glance behind her.
"Of course, I agreed."
Tsuna's hands rested firmly on Hephaestus's shoulders. He had already made up his mind long ago about bringing both Loki and Hephaestus to his world.
"Lady Hephaestus is going there to search for materials that can ignite the Dying Will Flame. Even if the flame itself won't spread beyond the three Familias, future weapons for those three will still require such materials."
"So naturally, Lady Hephaestus must go."
"If that's the only reason, I suppose I don't necessarily have to go myself, do I?"
Hephaestus's lips curved faintly. From what Tsuna said, it was clear that she didn't have to personally make the trip.
Forging weapons that could channel the Dying Will Flame and gathering materials for them didn't require her direct presence as a craftsman.
"In theory, yes. But in principle—no."
"Loki's going mainly to observe the other world's situation. I imagine that's also part of your own curiosity, Lady Hephaestus. Asking for your help in forging weapons was my idea—but I can't very well ask that of you without at least satisfying your own curiosity about the new world, can I?"
Trying to have it both ways only ever ended in losing everything.
Tsuna understood that truth perfectly.
If he wanted Hephaestus's help, he had to indulge her curiosity as a smith.
Just like he had to with Loki.
"Heh. I think I'm beginning to understand why Loki likes you so much."
Hephaestus laughed brightly.
She rose from her seat—a valkyrie-like figure, standing tall at over one-seventy, her presence towering slightly above the boy before her.
"You think things through carefully. You understand what equivalent exchange means. And in some ways, you've got that straightforward, boyish charm. A bit of a pervert, maybe."
Her smile softened. "But you're capable. Thoughtful. And honestly, quite adorable."
Hephaestus truly did like this child.
Not just because of his strength,
but because of his way of doing things.
She had long noticed how Tsubaki was fond of him, how comfortable she was around him—always touching, always teasing, utterly unguarded.
Hephaestus had always looked upon that with quiet amusement.
But now… she found herself liking him a little too.
"If you weren't Loki's child," she said playfully, "I might've stolen you away for myself."
Hephaestus reached forward and pulled Tsuna into a warm embrace.
"But I am curious—do you like Tsubaki more, or that pair of Amazon sisters?"
It was the kind of question that could spark all sorts of chaos.
"Whether it's Tiona, Tione, or Tsubaki…" He smiled. "Honestly, I like all of them."
"Oh my, how greedy. You'll be quite the troublemaker in the future. Still," she chuckled, "I like your honesty."
"Lying before a Goddess is a boring thing to do, don't you think, Lady Hephaestus?"
Hephaestus lightly tapped his head.
"Idiot. That kind of honesty isn't something you should blurt out so casually." Her grin widened. "But fine—I'll take it as one of your three redeeming qualities."
"Really, such a fool."
Despite her words, there was not a trace of anger on her face—only tenderness.
"I'll allow things between you and Tsubaki. But as for the others… that's not for me to say."
"If you have the ability, then bring them all home yourself."
"…Does that include you too, Lady Hephaestus?"
Hephaestus froze for a moment, then released him, cupping his cheeks in both hands.
"I said bring them home. Are you planning to take me as well?"
"I'm a Goddess, you know. What are you thinking—trying to take me away?"
It wasn't unheard of for mortals to fall for Gods. Most were either impossibly beautiful or impossibly charming—it was only natural that some children would become infatuated.
Just like Freya, who had no shortage of admirers.
But that was because of more than just her looks. It was her overwhelming presence.
Hephaestus, however, never thought she possessed that kind of allure.
Her hand rose unconsciously to the eyepatch covering her right eye.
"Well… there's no particular reason," Tsuna replied softly. "It's just the feeling I get after spending time with you."
"Spending time, huh? That's a rather reasonable answer. But…" her tone lowered, "…will you still say that after you see what's beneath this eyepatch?"
She could tell the boy wasn't lying. There was no point in deceiving a God; falsehoods were transparent to divine sight.
He was sincere.
But once he saw the hideous truth beneath—
would he still hold such pure feelings?
Hephaestus slowly removed her eyepatch.
The skin around her right eye was warped and ridged, veins bulging like tangled roots beneath the surface.
That eye itself was grotesque—so out of place upon the face of a Goddess that it shattered the image of divine beauty, leaving only darkness and imperfection.
But Tsuna only looked at her, a hint of surprise flashing across his face—nothing more.
"I see," he said simply.
He smiled, stepping closer.
His calmness left Hephaestus momentarily speechless.
Not afraid? Even after seeing something so ugly… why does he look at me like that?
While she was still trying to understand, Tsuna had already stopped before her.
"I know you wear that eyepatch to hide what you don't like about yourself," he said gently. "And yes—it really is that way."
"Your right eye looks like the price of something—a wound, ugly and twisted, nothing like a Goddess should have."
Yes… that's right…
Hephaestus clenched her fists.
"But it's not just the scars around it that matter," he continued softly. "What about the eye itself?"
"The eye…?"
When she turned to him, there was no disgust, no fear, no trace of rejection on his face.
"In that eye, I can see only Lady Hephaestus's kindness—the love you hold for your Familia and your children. The skin may be marred with poison, but within that poison burns the red beauty of your eye. A Goddess's warmth, hidden beneath the scars."
"Ah…"
Hephaestus trembled.
In his eyes, she saw a boy's pure sincerity—words so honest they made her heart flutter, words that felt almost like a confession.