NOVEL WEB Chapter 20 – Deal With Hephaestus Part 1
Chapter 20 - Deal With Hephaestus Part 1
In the evening, Hephaestus' store closed early. Normally busy with adventurers, it was quiet tonight because Hephaestus had two important customers to deal with.
She looked at the cheerful goddess in front of her, a mix of amusement and annoyance crossing her face. Hestia had just been here yesterday, and now she was back again with Bell.
Hephaestus could already tell that Hestia had some thing to deal with. After knowing her for so long, Hephaestus could basically predict her moves.
"Hestia, you were literally here yesterday. Why are you back instead of staying home? You should ask him out about his first dungeon run."
Hephaestus was already on guard, expecting Hestia to drop some bombshell. She didn't want to be caught off guard by whatever mess Hestia was bringing this time.
But Hestia, not caring about Hephaestus' cautious look, kept a smug little smile on her face. She was here to talk about cooperation and to brag about Bell's progress.
"Bell already told me everything about his experience. After updating his status, I brought him over. So, Hephaestus, guess how strong his stats are now?"
Hephaestus glanced at Hestia's full-on grin, realizing Bell must've had some major growth. But how crazy was it?
"Skills with traits grow fast," Hephaestus thought, setting the bar high. "Over 500 points?"
Each adventurer has five basic abilities, and a total over 500 meant each stat averaged 100. It was a solid guess, considering no one had ever hit that in a single day.
"Hmph~ Of course not. How could Bell be that average?"
Hestia's smile got even wider. She knew Hephaestus wasn't ready for the real number. Hell, even Hestia was shocked when she updated Bell's stats.
"Don't freak out, Hephaestus."
"Okay, just tell me already."
Hephaestus rolled her eyes at Hestia's cocky attitude. She didn't mind the showing off, but calling 500 points 'average' got her more curious.
"The lowest basic ability of Bell-kun is almost 300, and two of his stats are over 400."
"What?!"
Even prepared for some wild news, Hephaestus couldn't help but be surprised. The lowest ability at 300, two over 400, and the rest above 300 meant Bell pulled up at least 1700 points in just one day!
Hephaestus took a long look at Bell, who stood quietly behind Hestia. With growth like that in a single day, Bell was on a level that could make any adventurer jealous.
'No wonder Hestia called 500 points average. My guess was way off.'
Hephaestus couldn't help but feel some excitement. Even though she didn't focus on building a strong familia, it was still nice to see such quick improvement.
One day. That's all it took!
Bell had pulled off something insane, proving just how ridiculous his "Combat Judgement" skill was. And if this was just the start, Bell's potential seemed endless.
Hephaestus gave Hestia a sideways glance, deciding not to ask what was going on in her head. Instead, she turned her attention to Bell.
"So, why did Hestia drag you here?"
Bell bowed slightly and stepped forward, answering carefully.
"Hephaestus-sama, Hestia-sama hopes we can have a long-term partnership between our familias."
"Oh~ So, you're here to talk business."
Now Hephaestus was interested. She wasn't down for other nonsense, especially Hestia freeloading, but business? That caught her attention. She gestured for Bell to keep going.
Bell noticed Hephaestus' interest and continued.
"Because I gained a new skill related to luck."
"I found myself getting 284 goblin fangs from monster drops. I'm now pretty sure monster drops are going to be lot in future, so I'll need a way to handle all that loot."
Hephaestus gave Bell a weird look. One new skill and magic from yesterday were already overkill. Now, after just one dungeon run, he had a luck-based skill and pulled in 284 goblin fangs? That kind of drop rate was just ridiculous.
No wonder Hestia brought him to her shop for help. After hearing all this, Hephaestus didn't mind discussing the cooperation idea.
Hestia's proud attitude made Hephaestus grind her teeth a bit, but she was used to it and didn't bother getting mad.
Hephaestus knew that because of Bell's unusual abilities, Hestia could only show off in front of her. Outside, she wouldn't dare, or others would target her in no time.
"I'm not mad about it, but how did you awaken such skill?"
Luck-based skills are some of the rarest.
If this skill doesn't have limits, it basically means Bell can control his own fate. Even gods don't have that kind of power.
The stronger the luck, the more powerful the destiny. In a way, controlling luck is like controlling fate.
Hephaestus knew it was just a saying, but still.
Hestia's child awakening something like "luck" was insane. He already had Spatial Pocket and Combat Judgement, and now he's got other the next day.
This Child had some of the most broken skills and magic in all of Orario.
'What the hell is up with this child?'
Hephaestus couldn't wrap her head around it. Bell, some random child from the countryside, had awakened insane abilities. She'd been around the lower world (genkai) long enough, but she had never seen something like this.
Bell, hearing all this, didn't know what to say. He was just some normal guy, a lucky traveler.
"Combat Judgement" was just a system reward. The "Spatial Pocket" was also. Both were part of his transmigrator perks, not really his magic.
As for "Luck," maybe that's why he got picked as a transmigrator in the first place.
Whatever it was, he didn't want to dig too deep.
Bell wasn't expecting to unlock more skills. After all, he wasn't the original Bell.
"Hephaestus-sama, I'm just an average guy. I have no clue how I'm awakening these skills."
Hephaestus nodded, not too surprised.
Falna itself was basically a way to help children in the lower world level up faster. The blessings weren't something they could control, but the skills and magic that awakened were a reflection of the person.
No one could decide what skills they'd get. But the more unique the child, the more likely they were to get something powerful.
'Bell must have one of a pure soul. But the problem is... the more impressive the soul, the more likely Freya will go after him.'
Hephaestus started to get worried.
Once Freya got a look at Bell's soul, she might want him. Other gods might not notice, but Freya sure as hell would.
"Hestia, watch out for Freya. If she sets her eyes on Bell, she'll take him."
Hestia frowned. She knew this all too well.
Freya, the goddess of beauty, was one of the twin rulers of Orario. Hestia definitely didn't want to deal with her. Freya wasn't above using any dirty tricks to get her way.
"I don't want Bell to ever be on her radar. That vixen just snatches up any guy she likes. My Bell's just a child; he can't get wrapped up with her."
Hestia hugged Bell tight, her eyes full of worry.
"Bell, you wouldn't let that woman seduce you, right?"
Bell, feeling the weight of Hestia's embrace, wished he had some kind of charm resistance. He was just an ordinary guy, after all.
If the Type-Moon System had something like that, he'd feel way more confident.
"Hestia-sama, the real problem isn't whether I'll get seduced. It's if she'll try something physical."
"She... might."
Hestia went silent, glancing at Hephaestus. Hephaestus just shrugged.
Plenty of gods had some morals, but Freya wasn't one of them. If she wanted someone, she'd do whatever it took.
"Most gods wouldn't go that far, but Freya's not the patient type. She likes it when they come to her willingly."
"Well..."
Hestia's confidence took a hit. Freya, being the goddess of beauty, could use her charm ability freely. Unlike divine power, her charm wasn't restricted.
"Freya can use her charm any time she wants in the lower world (genkai)."
"Her charm?"
Hestia's frustrated voice echoed in Bell's ears.
Hephaestus didn't look too happy either. Every god had some kind of ability. Even though divine power was limited in the genkai, certain abilities didn't need it.
"Yeah, innate abilities aren't restricted like divine power. Gods can't go too far, though. If they overuse them, it starts to resonate with divine power."
"Too much divine power, and Ouranos will kick them back to heaven."
"Why the hell isn't it banned!?"
Hestia snapped. She thought gods coming to the lower world meant no divine powers, no cheats.
Hephaestus rolled her eyes.
"You think all gods are like you? Just because you don't use your power doesn't mean the rest of us don't."
"Using innate abilities keeps gods from getting sent back to heaven immediately. That's how most gods survive down here, and even Ouranos can't completely ban them."